1 Macc 1

1And it happened, after that Alexander son of Philip, the Macedonian, who came out of theland of Chettiim, had struck Darius king of the Persians and Medes, that he reigned in his stead, thefirst over Greece, 2And made many wars, and won many strong holds, and killed the kings of the earth, 3And went through to the ends of the earth, and took spoils of many nations, insomuch thatthe earth was quiet before him; whereupon he was exalted and his heart was lifted up. 4And he gathered a mighty strong host and ruled over countries, and nations, and kings,who became tributaries to him. 5And after these things he fell sick, and perceived that he should die. 6Wherefore he called his servants, such as were honorable, and had been brought up withhim from his youth, and parted his kingdom among them, while he was yet alive. 7So Alexander reigned twelve years, and then died. 8And his servants bare rule every one in his place. 9And after his death they all put crowns upon themselves; so did their sons after themmany years: and evils were multiplied in the earth. 10And there came out of them a wicked root Antiochussurnamed Epiphanes, son of Antiochus the king, who had been an hostage at Rome, and he reignedin the hundred and thirty and seventh year of the kingdom of the Greeks. 11In those days went there out of Israel wicked men, who persuaded many, saying, Let usgo and make a covenant with the heathen that are round about us: for since we departed from them we havehad much sorrow. 12So this device pleased them well. 13Then certain of the people were so forward herein, that they went to the king, who gavethem licence to do after the ordinances of the heathen: 14Whereupon they built a place of exercise at Jerusalem according to the customs of theheathen: 15And made themselves uncircumcised, and forsook the holy covenant, and joined themselvesto the heathen, and were sold to do mischief. 16Now when the kingdom was established before Antiochus, he thought to reign over Egyptthat he might have the dominion of two realms. 17Wherefore he entered into Egypt with a great multitude, with chariots, and elephants,and horsemen, and a great navy, 18And made war against Ptolemee king of Egypt: but Ptolemee was afraid of him, and fled;and many were wounded to death. 19Thus they got the strong cities in the land of Egypt and he took the spoils thereof. 20And after that Antiochus had struck Egypt, he returned again in the hundred forty andthird year, and went up against Israel and Jerusalem with a great multitude, 21And entered proudly into the sanctuary, and took away the golden altar, and the candlestickof light, and all the vessels thereof, 22And the table of the show bread, and the pouring vessels, and the vials. and the censersof gold, and the veil, and the crown, and the golden ornaments that were before the temple, all whichhe pulled off. 23He took also the silver and the gold, and the precious vessels: also he took the hiddentreasures which he found. 24And when he had taken all away, he went into his own land, having made a great massacre,and spoken very proudly. 25Therefore there was a great mourning in Israel, in every place where they were; 26So that the princes and elders mourned, the virgins and young men were made feeble, andthe beauty of women was changed. 27Every bridegroom took up lamentation, and she that sat in the marriage chamber was inheaviness, 28The land also was moved for the inhabitants thereof, and all the house of Jacob was coveredwith confusion. 29And after two years fully expired the king sent his chief collector of tribute to thecities of Juda, who came to Jerusalem with a great multitude, 30And spoke peaceful words to them, but all was deceit: for when they had given him credence,he fell suddenly upon the city, and struck it very sore, and destroyed much people of Israel. 31And when he had taken the spoils of the city, he set it on fire, and pulled down thehouses and walls thereof on every side. 32But the women and children took they captive, and possessed the cattle. 33Then builded they the city of David with a great and strong wall, and with mighty towers,and made it a strong hold for them. 34And they put therein a sinful nation, wicked men, and fortified themselves therein. 35They stored it also with armor and food, and when they had gathered together the spoilsof Jerusalem, they laid them up there, and so they became a sore snare: 36For it was a place to lie in wait against the sanctuary, and an evil adversary to Israel. 37Thus they shed innocent blood on every side of the sanctuary, and defiled it: 38Insomuch that the inhabitants of Jerusalem fled because of them: whereupon the city wasmade an habitation of strangers, and became strange to those that were born in her; and her own childrenleft her. 39Her sanctuary was laid waste like a wilderness, her feasts were turned into mourning,her sabbaths into reproach her honor into contempt. 40As had been her glory, so was her dishonor increased, and her excellency was turned intomourning. 41Moreover king Antiochus wrote to his whole kingdom, that all should be one people, 42And every one should leave his laws: so all the heathen agreed according to the commandmentof the king. 43Yes, many also of the Israelites consented to his religion, and sacrificed to idols,and profaned the sabbath. 44For the king had sent letters by messengers to Jerusalem and the cities of Juda thatthey should follow the strange laws of the land, 45And forbid burnt offerings, and sacrifice, and drink offerings, in the temple; and thatthey should profane the sabbaths and festival days: 46And pollute the sanctuary and holy people: 47Set up altars, and groves, and chapels of idols, and sacrifice swine's flesh, and uncleanbeasts: 48That they should also leave their children uncircumcised, and make their souls abominablewith all manner of uncleanness and profanation: 49To the end they might forget the law, and change all the ordinances. 50And whoever would not do according to the commandment of the king, he said, he shoulddie. 51In the selfsame manner wrote he to his whole kingdom, and appointed overseers over allthe people, commanding the cities of Juda to sacrifice, city by city. 52Then many of the people were gathered to them, to wit every one that forsook the law;and so they committed evils in the land; 53And drove the Israelites into secret places, even wherever they could flee for succour. 54Now the fifteenth day of the month Casleu, in the hundred forty and fifth year, theyset up the abomination of desolation upon the altar, and builded idol altars throughout the cities ofJuda on every side; 55And burnt incense at the doors of their houses, and in the streets. 56And when they had tore in pieces the books of the law which they found, they burnt themwith fire. 57And whoever was found with any the book of the testament, or if any committed to thelaw, the king's commandment was, that they should put him to death. 58Thus did they by their authority to the Israelites every month, to as many as were foundin the cities. 59Now the five and twentieth day of the month they did sacrifice upon the idol altar, whichwas upon the altar of God. 60At which time according to the commandment they put to death certain women, that hadcaused their children to be circumcised. 61And they hanged the infants about their necks, and rifled their houses, and killed themthat had circumcised them. 62Howbeit many in Israel were fully resolved and confirmed in themselves not to eat anyunclean thing. 63Wherefore the rather to die, that they might not be defiled with meats, and that theymight not profane the holy covenant: so then they died. 64And there was very great wrath upon Israel.