Battling surrounding neighbours

The struggle continues for Judas and the Israelites. Like their ancestors before them, they had numerous victories. It wasn't the case where they went to the surroundings demanding their surrender. On the contrary, their neighbours decided to destroy them. With the help of God, Judas and the Israelites manage to gain numerous victories.




1 Maccabees 5 Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)
Wars with Neighboring Peoples
5 When the Gentiles round about heard that the altar had been built and the sanctuary dedicated as it was before, they became very angry, 2 and they determined to destroy the descendants of Jacob who lived among them. So they began to kill and destroy among the people. 3 But Judas made war on the sons of Esau in Idume′a, at Akrabatte′ne, because they kept lying in wait for Israel. He dealt them a heavy blow and humbled them and despoiled them. 4 He also remembered the wickedness of the sons of Baean, who were a trap and a snare to the people and ambushed them on the highways. 5 They were shut up by him in their towers; and he encamped against them, vowed their complete destruction, and burned with fire their[a] towers and all who were in them. 6 Then he crossed over to attack the Am′monites, where he found a strong band and many people with Timothy as their leader. 7 He engaged in many battles with them and they were crushed before him; he struck them down. 8 He also took Jazer and its villages; then he returned to Judea.

Liberation of Galilean Jews
9 Now the Gentiles in Gil′ead gathered together against the Israelites who lived in their territory, and planned to destroy them. But they fled to the stronghold of Dath′ema, 10 and sent to Judas and his brothers a letter which said, “The Gentiles around us have gathered together against us to destroy us. 11 They are preparing to come and capture the stronghold to which we have fled, and Timothy is leading their forces. 12 Now then come and rescue us from their hands, for many of us have fallen, 13 and all our brethren who were in the land of Tob have been killed; the enemy[b] have captured their wives and children and goods, and have destroyed about a thousand men there.”

14 While the letter was still being read, behold, other messengers, with their garments rent, came from Galilee and made a similar report; 15 they said that against them had gathered together men of Ptolema′is and Tyre and Sidon, and all Galilee of the Gentiles,[c] “to annihilate us.” 16 When Judas and the people heard these messages, a great assembly was called to determine what they should do for their brethren who were in distress and were being attacked by enemies.[d] 17 Then Judas said to Simon his brother, “Choose your men and go and rescue your brethren in Galilee; I and Jonathan my brother will go to Gil′ead.” 18 But he left Joseph, the son of Zechari′ah, and Azari′ah, a leader of the people, with the rest of the forces, in Judea to guard it; 19 and he gave them this command, “Take charge of this people, but do not engage in battle with the Gentiles until we return.” 20 Then three thousand men were assigned to Simon to go to Galilee, and eight thousand to Judas for Gil′ead.

21 so Simon went to Galilee and fought many battles against the Gentiles, and the Gentiles were crushed before him. 22 He pursued them to the gate of Ptolema′is, and as many as three thousand of the Gentiles fell, and he despoiled them. 23 Then he took the Jews[e] of Galilee and Arbat′ta, with their wives and children, and all they possessed, and led them to Judea with great rejoicing.

Judas and Jonathan in Gilead
24 Judas Maccabe′us and Jonathan his brother crossed the Jordan and went three days’ journey into the wilderness. 25 They encountered the Nabate′ans, who met them peaceably and told them all that had happened to their brethren in Gil′ead: 26 “Many of them have been shut up in Bozrah and Bosor, in Al′ema and Chaspho, Maked and Car′naim”—all these cities were strong and large— 27 “and some have been shut up in the other cities of Gil′ead; the enemy[f] are getting ready to attack the strongholds tomorrow and take and destroy all these men in one day.”

28 Then Judas and his army quickly turned back by the wilderness road to Bozrah; and he took the city, and killed every male by the edge of the sword; then he seized all its spoils and burned it with fire. 29 He departed from there at night, and they went all the way to the stronghold of Dath′ema.[g] 30 At dawn they looked up, and behold, a large company, that could not be counted, carrying ladders and engines of war to capture the stronghold, and attacking the Jews within.[h] 31 So Judas saw that the battle had begun and that the cry of the city went up to Heaven with trumpets and loud shouts, 32 and he said to the men of his forces, “Fight today for your brethren!” 33 Then he came up behind them in three companies, who sounded their trumpets and cried aloud in prayer. 34 And when the army of Timothy realized that it was Maccabe′us, they fled before him, and he dealt them a heavy blow. As many as eight thousand of them fell that day.

35 Next he turned aside to Al′ema,[i][j] and fought against it and took it; and he killed every male in it, plundered it, and burned it with fire. 36 From there he marched on and took Chaspho, Maked, and Bosor, and the other cities of Gil′ead.

37 After these things Timothy gathered another army and encamped opposite Raphon, on the other side of the stream. 38 Judas sent men to spy out the camp, and they reported to him, “All the Gentiles around us have gathered to him; it is a very large force. 39 They also have hired Arabs to help them, and they are encamped across the stream, ready to come and fight against you.” And Judas went to meet them.

40 Now as Judas and his army drew near to the stream of water, Timothy said to the officers of his forces, “If he crosses over to us first, we will not be able to resist him, for he will surely defeat us. 41 But if he shows fear and camps on the other side of the river, we will cross over to him and defeat him.” 42 When Judas approached the stream of water, he stationed the scribes of the people at the stream and gave them this command, “Permit no man to encamp, but make them all enter the battle.” 43 Then he crossed over against them first, and the whole army followed him. All the Gentiles were defeated before him, and they threw away their arms and fled into the sacred precincts at Car′naim. 44 But he took the city and burned the sacred precincts with fire, together with all who were in them. Thus Car′naim was conquered; they could stand before Judas no longer.

The Return to Jerusalem
45 Then Judas gathered together all the Israelites in Gil′ead, the small and the great, with their wives and children and goods, a very large company, to go to the land of Judah. 46 So they came to Ephron. This was a large and very strong city on the road, and they could not go round it to the right or to the left; they had to go through it. 47 But the men of the city shut them out and blocked up the gates with stones. 48 And Judas sent them this friendly message, “Let us pass through your land to get to our land. No one will do you harm; we will simply pass by on foot.” But they refused to open to him. 49 Then Judas ordered proclamation to be made to the army that each should encamp where he was. 50 So the men of the forces encamped, and he fought against the city all that day and all the night, and the city was delivered into his hands. 51 He destroyed every male by the edge of the sword, and razed and plundered the city. Then he passed through the city over the slain.

52 And they crossed the Jordan into the large plain before Beth-shan. 53 And Judas kept rallying the laggards and encouraging the people all the way till he came to the land of Judah. 54 So they went up to Mount Zion with gladness and joy, and offered burnt offerings, because not one of them had fallen before they returned in safety.

Joseph and Azariah Defeated
55 Now while Judas and Jonathan were in Gil′ead and Simon his brother was in Galilee before Ptolema′is, 56 Joseph, the son of Zechari′ah, and Azari′ah, the commanders of the forces, heard of their brave deeds and of the heroic war they had fought. 57 So they said, “Let us also make a name for ourselves; let us go and make war on the Gentiles around us.” 58 And they issued orders to the men of the forces that were with them, and they marched against Jam′nia. 59 And Gor′gias and his men came out of the city to meet them in battle. 60 Then Joseph and Azari′ah were routed, and were pursued to the borders of Judea; as many as two thousand of the people of Israel fell that day. 61 Thus the people suffered a great rout because, thinking to do a brave deed, they did not listen to Judas and his brothers. 62 But they did not belong to the family of those men through whom deliverance was given to Israel.

63 The man Judas and his brothers were greatly honored in all Israel and among all the Gentiles, wherever their name was heard. 64 Men gathered to them and praised them.

Success at Hebron and Philistia
65 Then Judas and his brothers went forth and fought the sons of Esau in the land to the south. He struck Hebron and its villages and tore down its strongholds and burned its towers round about. 66 Then he marched off to go into the land of the Philistines, and passed through Mar′isa.[k][l] 67 On that day some priests, who wished to do a brave deed, fell in battle, for they went out to battle unwisely. 68 But Judas turned aside to Azo′tus in the land of the Philistines;[m] he tore down their altars, and the graven images of their gods he burned with fire; he plundered the cities and returned to the land of Judah.

Judas defeats Gorgias and Lysias

In the previous chapter we saw Lysias appointed 3 mighty generals; Ptolemy, Nicanor and Gorgias. They had 40,000 infantry and 7,000 cavalry among them. Gorgias took 5,000 infantry and 1000 cavalry to launch a surprise attack on Judah at night. Judas' army of 3000 men were clearly outnumbered but he knew Gorgias plan for the night attack and avoided it. Judas encouraged his men how God saved His people in the Red Sea from Pharoah and led them in prayer. So that day, Judas defeated their enemy and plundered their spoils.

The defeat of Gorgias surprised Lysias, who now prepared a larger army of 60,000 infantry and 5000 cavalry. Judas met them with only 10,000 men and even more outnumbered than before. Judas turned to the only help he can get, which is by prayer. The prayer remined how God helped Jonathan, Saul's son in battle. And in the battle, Lysias was heavily defeated, losing 5000 men.

When Judas group recaptured Mt Zion, they saw the temple had fallen into a very poor state. So they repaired what was necessary, cleaned the whole place and restored it to a good condition again. At the end, the reinstated temple worship and the sacrifices according to the Law. They also fortified the city to protect it from further invaders.


1 Maccabees 4 Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

The Battle at Emmaus

4 Now Gor′gias took five thousand infantry and a thousand picked cavalry, and this division moved out by night 2 to fall upon the camp of the Jews and attack them suddenly. Men from the citadel were his guides. 3 But Judas heard of it, and he and his mighty men moved out to attack the king’s force in Emma′us 4 while the division was still absent from the camp. 5 When Gor′gias entered the camp of Judas by night, he found no one there, so he looked for them in the hills, because he said, “These men are fleeing from us.”

6 At daybreak Judas appeared in the plain with three thousand men, but they did not have armor and swords such as they desired. 7 And they saw the camp of the Gentiles, strong and fortified, with cavalry round about it; and these men were trained in war. 8 But Judas said to the men who were with him, “Do not fear their numbers or be afraid when they charge. 9 Remember how our fathers were saved at the Red Sea, when Pharaoh with his forces pursued them. 10 And now let us cry to Heaven, to see whether he will favor us and remember his covenant with our fathers and crush this army before us today. 11 Then all the Gentiles will know that there is one who redeems and saves Israel.”

12 When the foreigners looked up and saw them coming against them, 13 they went forth from their camp to battle. Then the men with Judas blew their trumpets 14 and engaged in battle. The Gentiles were crushed and fled into the plain, 15 and all those in the rear fell by the sword. They pursued them to Gazar′a, and to the plains of Idume′a, and to Azo′tus and Jam′nia; and three thousand of them fell. 16 Then Judas and his force turned back from pursuing them, 17 and he said to the people, “Do not be greedy for plunder, for there is a battle before us; 18 Gor′gias and his force are near us in the hills. But stand now against our enemies and fight them, and afterward seize the plunder boldly.”

19 Just as Judas was finishing this speech, a detachment appeared, coming out of the hills. 20 They saw that their army[a] had been put to flight, and that the Jews[b] were burning the camp, for the smoke that was seen showed what had happened. 21 When they perceived this they were greatly frightened, and when they also saw the army of Judas drawn up in the plain for battle, 22 they all fled into the land of the Philistines. 23 Then Judas returned to plunder the camp, and they seized much gold and silver, and cloth dyed blue and sea purple, and great riches. 24 On their return they sang hymns and praises to Heaven, for he is good, for his mercy endures for ever. 25 Thus Israel had a great deliverance that day.

First Campaign of Lysias

26 Those of the foreigners who escaped went and reported to Lys′ias all that had happened. 27 When he heard it, he was perplexed and discouraged, for things had not happened to Israel as he had intended, nor had they turned out as the king had commanded him. 28 But the next year he mustered sixty thousand picked infantrymen and five thousand cavalry to subdue them. 29 They came into Idume′a and encamped at Beth-zur,[c] and Judas met them with ten thousand men.

30 When he saw that the army was strong, he prayed, saying, “Blessed art thou, O Savior of Israel, who didst crush the attack of the mighty warrior by the hand of thy servant David, and didst give the camp of the Philistines into the hands of Jonathan, the son of Saul, and of the man who carried his armor. 31 So do thou hem in this army by the hand of thy people Israel, and let them be ashamed of their troops and their cavalry. 32 Fill them with cowardice; melt the boldness of their strength; let them tremble in their destruction. 33 Strike them down with the sword of those who love thee, and let all who know thy name praise thee with hymns.”

34 Then both sides attacked, and there fell of the army of Lys′ias five thousand men; they fell in action.[d] 35 And when Lys′ias saw the rout of his troops and observed the boldness which inspired those of Judas, and how ready they were either to live or to die nobly, he departed to Antioch and enlisted mercenaries, to invade Judea again with an even larger army.

Cleansing and Dedication of the Temple

36 Then said Judas and his brothers, “Behold, our enemies are crushed; let us go up to cleanse the sanctuary and dedicate it.” 37 So all the army assembled and they went up to Mount Zion. 38 And they saw the sanctuary desolate, the altar profaned, and the gates burned. In the courts they saw bushes sprung up as in a thicket, or as on one of the mountains. They saw also the chambers of the priests in ruins. 39 Then they rent their clothes, and mourned with great lamentation, and sprinkled themselves with ashes. 40 They fell face down on the ground, and sounded the signal on the trumpets, and cried out to Heaven. 41 Then Judas detailed men to fight against those in the citadel until he had cleansed the sanctuary.

42 He chose blameless priests devoted to the law, 43 and they cleansed the sanctuary and removed the defiled stones to an unclean place. 44 They deliberated what to do about the altar of burnt offering, which had been profaned. 45 And they thought it best to tear it down, lest it bring reproach upon them, for the Gentiles had defiled it. So they tore down the altar, 46 and stored the stones in a convenient place on the temple hill until there should come a prophet to tell what to do with them. 47 Then they took unhewn[e] stones, as the law directs, and built a new altar like the former one. 48 They also rebuilt the sanctuary and the interior of the temple, and consecrated the courts. 49 They made new holy vessels, and brought the lampstand, the altar of incense, and the table into the temple. 50 Then they burned incense on the altar and lighted the lamps on the lampstand, and these gave light in the temple. 51 They placed the bread on the table and hung up the curtains. Thus they finished all the work they had undertaken.

52 Early in the morning on the twenty-fifth day of the ninth month, which is the month of Chislev, in the one hundred and forty-eighth year,[f] 53 they rose and offered sacrifice, as the law directs, on the new altar of burnt offering which they had built. 54 At the very season and on the very day that the Gentiles had profaned it, it was dedicated with songs and harps and lutes and cymbals. 55 All the people fell on their faces and worshiped and blessed Heaven, who had prospered them. 56 So they celebrated the dedication of the altar for eight days, and offered burnt offerings with gladness; they offered a sacrifice of deliverance and praise. 57 They decorated the front of the temple with golden crowns and small shields; they restored the gates and the chambers for the priests, and furnished them with doors. 58 There was very great gladness among the people, and the reproach of the Gentiles was removed.

59 Then Judas and his brothers and all the assembly of Israel determined that every year at that season the days of the dedication of the altar should be observed with gladness and joy for eight days, beginning with the twenty-fifth day of the month of Chislev.

60 At that time they fortified Mount Zion with high walls and strong towers round about, to keep the Gentiles from coming and trampling them down as they had done before. 61 And he stationed a garrison there to hold it. He also[g] fortified Beth-zur, so that the people might have a stronghold that faced Idume′a.

Judas Maccabeus' victories and preparation agains Lysias

Judas Maccabeus is introduced here and he rallied his people around him. Together they fought many battles and were victorious. Two campaigns were mentioned, the first was against Apollonius which had a large army. The second was against Seron who had an even larger army. Judas appealed to God and appealed to his troops to depend on God because they knew they were clearly outnumbered. He also reminded them that they were fighting for their lives and the laws, whereas the enemies were fighting for greed and personal glory.

After the two great victories mentioned here, the king Antiochus decide to amass an even greater force to go against Judas. Antiochus found that his treasury was almost empty and went to Persia to extract more revenue while instructing Lysias to rule in his place and also to rid the enemy, Judas and his people. He commanded over 40,000 infantry and 7000 cavalry and enticed more people to join him. At this point, the odds were incredibly bleak for Judas to defend Jerusalem. They organized themselves, but before marching out, they prayed, fasted, searched the Scriptures .......



1 Maccabees 3  (RSVCE)
The Early Victories of Judas
3 Then Judas his son, who was called Maccabe′us, took command in his place. 2 All his brothers and all who had joined his father helped him; they gladly fought for Israel.

3 He extended the glory of his people.
    Like a giant he put on his breastplate;
he girded on his armor of war and waged battles,
    protecting the host by his sword.
4 He was like a lion in his deeds,
    like a lion’s cub roaring for prey.
5 He searched out and pursued the lawless;
    he burned those who troubled his people.
6 Lawless men shrank back for fear of him;
    all the evildoers were confounded;
    and deliverance prospered by his hand.
7 He embittered many kings,
    but he made Jacob glad by his deeds,
    and his memory is blessed for ever.
8 He went through the cities of Judah;
    he destroyed the ungodly out of the land;[a]
    thus he turned away wrath from Israel.
9 He was renowned to the ends of the earth;
    he gathered in those who were perishing.

10 But Apollo′nius gathered together Gentiles and a large force from Samar′ia to fight against Israel. 11 When Judas learned of it, he went out to meet him, and he defeated and killed him. Many were wounded and fell, and the rest fled. 12 Then they seized their spoils; and Judas took the sword of Apollo′nius, and used it in battle the rest of his life.

13 Now when Seron, the commander of the Syrian army, heard that Judas had gathered a large company, including a body of faithful men who stayed with him and went out to battle, 14 he said, “I will make a name for myself and win honor in the kingdom. I will make war on Judas and his companions, who scorn the king’s command.” 15 And again a strong army of ungodly men went up with him to help him, to take vengeance on the sons of Israel.

16 When he approached the ascent of Beth-hor′on, Judas went out to meet him with a small company. 17 But when they saw the army coming to meet them, they said to Judas, “How can we, few as we are, fight against so great and strong a multitude? And we are faint, for we have eaten nothing today.” 18 Judas replied, “It is easy for many to be hemmed in by few, for in the sight of Heaven there is no difference between saving by many or by few. 19 It is not on the size of the army that victory in battle depends, but strength comes from Heaven. 20 They come against us in great pride and lawlessness to destroy us and our wives and our children, and to despoil us; 21 but we fight for our lives and our laws. 22 He himself will crush them before us; as for you, do not be afraid of them.”

23 When he finished speaking, he rushed suddenly against Seron and his army, and they were crushed before him. 24 They pursued them[b] down the descent of Beth-hor′on to the plain; eight hundred of them fell, and the rest fled into the land of the Philistines. 25 Then Judas and his brothers began to be feared, and terror fell upon the Gentiles round about them. 26 His fame reached the king, and the Gentiles talked of the battles of Judas.

The Policy of Antiochus
27 When king Anti′ochus heard these reports, he was greatly angered; and he sent and gathered all the forces of his kingdom, a very strong army. 28 And he opened his coffers and gave a year’s pay to his forces, and ordered them to be ready for any need. 29 Then he saw that the money in the treasury was exhausted, and that the revenues from the country were small because of the dissension and disaster which he had caused in the land by abolishing the laws that had existed from the earliest days. 30 He feared that he might not have such funds as he had before for his expenses and for the gifts which he used to give more lavishly than preceding kings. 31 He was greatly perplexed in mind, and determined to go to Persia and collect the revenues from those regions and raise a large fund.

32 He left Lys′ias, a distinguished man of royal lineage, in charge of the king’s affairs from the river Euphra′tes to the borders of Egypt. 33 Lys′ias was also to take care of Anti′ochus his son until he returned. 34 And he turned over to Lys′ias[c] half of his troops and the elephants, and gave him orders about all that he wanted done. As for the residents of Judea and Jerusalem, 35 Lys′ias was to send a force against them to wipe out and destroy the strength of Israel and the remnant of Jerusalem; he was to banish the memory of them from the place, 36 settle aliens in all their territory, and distribute their land. 37 Then the king took the remaining half of his troops and departed from Antioch his capital in the one hundred and forty-seventh year.[d] He crossed the Euphra′tes river and went through the upper provinces.

Preparations for Battle
38 Lys′ias chose Ptol′emy the son of Dorym′enes, and Nica′nor and Gor′gias, mighty men among the friends of the king, 39 and sent with them forty thousand infantry and seven thousand cavalry to go into the land of Judah and destroy it, as the king had commanded. 40 So they departed with their entire force, and when they arrived they encamped near Emma′us in the plain. 41 When the traders of the region heard what was said of them, they took silver and gold in immense amounts, and fetters,[e] and went to the camp to get the sons of Israel for slaves. And forces from Syria and the land of the Philistines joined with them.

42 Now Judas and his brothers saw that misfortunes had increased and that the forces were encamped in their territory. They also learned what the king had commanded to do to the people to cause their final destruction. 43 But they said to one another, “Let us repair the destruction of our people, and fight for our people and the sanctuary.” 44 And the congregation assembled to be ready for battle, and to pray and ask for mercy and compassion.

45 Jerusalem was uninhabited like a wilderness;
    not one of her children went in or out.
The sanctuary was trampled down,
    and the sons of aliens held the citadel;
    it was a lodging place for the Gentiles.
Joy was taken from Jacob;
    the flute and the harp ceased to play.

46 So they assembled and went to Mizpah, opposite Jerusalem, because Israel formerly had a place of prayer in Mizpah. 47 They fasted that day, put on sackcloth and sprinkled ashes on their heads, and rent their clothes. 48 And they opened the book of the law to inquire into those matters about which the Gentiles were consulting the images of their idols. 49 They also brought the garments of the priesthood and the first fruits and the tithes, and they stirred up the Naz′irites who had completed their days; 50 and they cried aloud to Heaven, saying,

“What shall we do with these?
    Where shall we take them?
51 Thy sanctuary is trampled down and profaned,
    and thy priests mourn in humiliation.
52 And behold, the Gentiles are assembled against us to destroy us;
    thou knowest what they plot against us.
53 How will we be able to withstand them,
    if thou dost not help us?”

54 Then they sounded the trumpets and gave a loud shout. 55 After this Judas appointed leaders of the people, in charge of thousands and hundreds and fifties and tens. 56 And he said to those who were building houses, or were betrothed, or were planting vineyards, or were fainthearted, that each should return to his home, according to the law. 57 Then the army marched out and encamped to the south of Emma′us.

58 And Judas said, “Gird yourselves and be valiant. Be ready early in the morning to fight with these Gentiles who have assembled against us to destroy us and our sanctuary. 59 It is better for us to die in battle than to see the misfortunes of our nation and of the sanctuary. 60 But as his will in heaven may be, so he will do.”

Mattathias organizes resistance and recaptures Israel

Jerusalem and the greater part of Israel had been occupied. There lived Mattathias who was a descendant of the priestly in of Israel. His son is Judas Maccabeus. In that time, the occupier forced the Israelites to abandon their religion and worshipped idols and the king. In addition, all that is regarded holy in Israel, including the temple, the rituals, the sacrifice customs were trampled upon.

In one occassion, the occupiers had gathered all the Israelites, including Mattathias and the people who followed him. They were offered a chance to denounce their religion but Mattathias rejected that in front of everyone. When one of the Israelites came out to offer sacrifices, Mattathias ran up to the altar and killed his fellow Israelites. The zeal of Mattathias was compared with the priest Phinehas who killed another sinner of the Law, Zimri, out of zeal for the Law.

Mattathias and his followers called for everyone to join him as he fled into the wilderness. Apparently a large group of Israelites did go into the wilderness and was surrounded. Because it was Sabbath, and they also wanted to show that they were unarmed so that any attack on them would be unjust, then the enemy slaughtered them, over a thousand people.

News reached Mattathias who then decided to declare an armed resistance against the occupiers. They joined up with the Haside′ans and together they reclaimed the lands of Israel. Whereever they re-occupied, they re-instituted the Law, including circumcising the people and tore down the altars to idols - and were successful in this.

Before his passing, Mattathias named his son Judas Maccabeus as the next leader. He encouraged everyone to continue to have the zeal for the Law and named various examples from Israel's history. He was 146 years old.

1 Maccabees 2 

Mattathias and His Sons

2 In those days Mattathi′as the son of John, son of Sim′eon, a priest of the sons of Jo′arib, moved from Jerusalem and settled in Mo′de-in. 2 He had five sons, John surnamed Gaddi, 3 Simon called Thassi, 4 Judas called Maccabe′us, 5 Elea′zar called Av′aran, and Jonathan called Apphus. 6 He saw the blasphemies being committed in Judah and Jerusalem, 7 and said,

“Alas! Why was I born to see this,

    the ruin of my people, the ruin of the holy city,

and to dwell there when it was given over to the enemy,

    the sanctuary given over to aliens?

8 Her temple has become like a man without honor;[a]

9     her glorious vessels have been carried into captivity.

Her babes have been killed in her streets,

    her youths by the sword of the foe.

10 What nation has not inherited her palaces[b]

    and has not seized her spoils?

11 All her adornment has been taken away;

    no longer free, she has become a slave.

12 And behold, our holy place, our beauty,

    and our glory have been laid waste;

the Gentiles have profaned it.

13     Why should we live any longer?”

14 And Mattathi′as and his sons rent their clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourned greatly.

Pagan Worship Refused

15 Then the king’s officers who were enforcing the apostasy came to the city of Mo′de-in to make them offer sacrifice. 16 Many from Israel came to them; and Mattathi′as and his sons were assembled. 17 Then the king’s officers spoke to Mattathi′as as follows: “You are a leader, honored and great in this city, and supported by sons and brothers. 18 Now be the first to come and do what the king commands, as all the Gentiles and the men of Judah and those that are left in Jerusalem have done. Then you and your sons will be numbered among the friends of the king, and you and your sons will be honored with silver and gold and many gifts.”

19 But Mattathi′as answered and said in a loud voice: “Even if all the nations that live under the rule of the king obey him, and have chosen to do his commandments, departing each one from the religion of his fathers, 20 yet I and my sons and my brothers will live by the covenant of our fathers. 21 Far be it from us to desert the law and the ordinances. 22 We will not obey the king’s words by turning aside from our religion to the right hand or to the left.”

23 When he had finished speaking these words, a Jew came forward in the sight of all to offer sacrifice upon the altar in Mo′de-in, according to the king’s command. 24 When Mattathi′as saw it, be burned with zeal and his heart was stirred. He gave vent to righteous anger; he ran and killed him upon the altar. 25 At the same time he killed the king’s officer who was forcing them to sacrifice, and he tore down the altar. 26 Thus he burned with zeal for the law, as Phin′ehas did against Zimri the son of Salu.

27 Then Mattathi′as cried out in the city with a loud voice, saying: “Let every one who is zealous for the law and supports the covenant come out with me!” 28 And he and his sons fled to the hills and left all that they had in the city.

29 Then many who were seeking righteousness and justice went down to the wilderness to dwell there, 30 they, their sons, their wives, and their cattle, because evils pressed heavily upon them. 31 And it was reported to the king’s officers, and to the troops in Jerusalem the city of David, that men who had rejected the king’s command had gone down to the hiding places in the wilderness. 32 Many pursued them, and overtook them; they encamped opposite them and prepared for battle against them on the sabbath day. 33 And they said to them, “Enough of this! Come out and do what the king commands, and you will live.” 34 But they said, “We will not come out, nor will we do what the king commands and so profane the sabbath day.” 35 Then the enemy[c] hastened to attack them. 36 But they did not answer them or hurl a stone at them or block up their hiding places, 37 for they said, “Let us all die in our innocence; heaven and earth testify for us that you are killing us unjustly.” 38 So they attacked them on the sabbath, and they died, with their wives and children and cattle, to the number of a thousand persons.

39 When Mattathi′as and his friends learned of it, they mourned for them deeply. 40 And each said to his neighbor: “If we all do as our brethren have done and refuse to fight with the Gentiles for our lives and for our ordinances, they will quickly destroy us from the earth.” 41 So they made this decision that day: “Let us fight against every man who comes to attack us on the sabbath day; let us not all die as our brethren died in their hiding places.”

Counter-Attack

42 Then there united with them a company of Haside′ans, mighty warriors of Israel, every one who offered himself willingly for the law. 43 And all who became fugitives to escape their troubles joined them and reinforced them. 44 They organized an army, and struck down sinners in their anger and lawless men in their wrath; the survivors fled to the Gentiles for safety. 45 And Mattathi′as and his friends went about and tore down the altars; 46 they forcibly circumcised all the uncircumcised boys that they found within the borders of Israel. 47 They hunted down the arrogant men, and the work prospered in their hands. 48 They rescued the law out of the hands of the Gentiles and kings, and they never let the sinner gain the upper hand.

The Last Words of Mattathias

49 Now the days drew near for Mattathi′as to die, and he said to his sons: “Arrogance and reproach have now become strong; it is a time of ruin and furious anger. 50 Now, my children, show zeal for the law, and give your lives for the covenant of our fathers.

51 “Remember the deeds of the fathers, which they did in their generations; and receive great honor and an everlasting name. 52 Was not Abraham found faithful when tested, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness? 53 Joseph in the time of his distress kept the commandment, and became lord of Egypt. 54 Phin′ehas our father, because he was deeply zealous, received the covenant of everlasting priesthood. 55 Joshua, because he fulfilled the command, became a judge in Israel. 56 Caleb, because he testified in the assembly, received an inheritance in the land. 57 David, because he was merciful, inherited the throne of the kingdom for ever. 58 Eli′jah because of great zeal for the law was taken up into heaven. 59 Hanani′ah, Azari′ah, and Mish′a-el believed and were saved from the flame. 60 Daniel because of his innocence was delivered from the mouth of the lions.

61 “And so observe, from generation to generation, that none who put their trust in him will lack strength. 62 Do not fear the words of a sinner, for his splendor will turn into dung and worms. 63 Today he will be exalted, but tomorrow he will not be found, because he has returned to the dust, and his plans will perish. 64 My children, be courageous and grow strong in the law, for by it you will gain honor.

65 “Now behold, I know that Sim′eon your brother is wise in counsel; always listen to him; he shall be your father. 66 Judas Maccabe′us has been a mighty warrior from his youth; he shall command the army for you and fight the battle against the peoples.[d] 67 You shall rally about you all who observe the law, and avenge the wrong done to your people. 68 Pay back the Gentiles in full, and heed what the law commands.”

69 Then he blessed them, and was gathered to his fathers. 70 He died in the one hundred and forty-sixth year[e] and was buried in the tomb of his fathers at Mo′de-in. And all Israel mourned for him with great lamentation.

Antiochus Epiphanes violates Temple

The book of 1 Maccabees start with the history from when Alexander conquered the land from the Persians. At his passing, he divded the kingdoms in four. Then it tells of Antiochus from one of the kingdoms expanded aggressively including defeating the kingdom of Ptolemy of Egypt. who was also one of the four kingdoms.

Soon Antiochus also oppressed Israel which he later conquered. Through collaboration of some Israelites, harsh laws were introduced and forced the Israelites to break or go against their customs. Increasingly the Holy Temple was affected. Sacrifices were stopped, religious items were plundered, and finally idols were installed in the temple. Israelites who did not agree with the new reqime were persecuted. A lot more details of the oppression of Jerusalem and the Temple were described.



1 Maccabees 1
1 Alexander the Great
After Alexander son of Philip, the Macedonian, who came from the land of Kittim, had defeated[a] Dari′us, king of the Persians and the Medes, he succeeded him as king. (He had previously become king of Greece.) 2 He fought many battles, conquered strongholds, and put to death the kings of the earth. 3 He advanced to the ends of the earth, and plundered many nations. When the earth became quiet before him, he was exalted, and his heart was lifted up. 4 He gathered a very strong army and ruled over countries, nations, and princes, and they became tributary to him.

5 After this he fell sick and perceived that he was dying. 6 So he summoned his most honored officers, who had been brought up with him from youth, and divided his kingdom among them while he was still alive. 7 And after Alexander had reigned twelve years, he died.

8 Then his officers began to rule, each in his own place. 9 They all put on crowns after his death, and so did their sons after them for many years; and they caused many evils on the earth.

Antiochus Epiphanes and Renegade Jews
10 From them came forth a sinful root, Anti′ochus Epiph′anes, son of Anti′ochus the king; he had been a hostage in Rome. He began to reign in the one hundred and thirty-seventh year of the kingdom of the Greeks.[b]

11 In those days lawless men came forth from Israel, and misled many, saying, “Let us go and make a covenant with the Gentiles round about us, for since we separated from them many evils have come upon us.” 12 This proposal pleased them, 13 and some of the people eagerly went to the king. He authorized them to observe the ordinances of the Gentiles. 14 So they built a gymnasium in Jerusalem, according to Gentile custom, 15 and removed the marks of circumcision, and abandoned the holy covenant. They joined with the Gentiles and sold themselves to do evil.

Antiochus in Egypt
16 When Anti′ochus saw that his kingdom was established, he determined to become king of the land of Egypt, that he might reign over both kingdoms. 17 So he invaded Egypt with a strong force, with chariots and elephants and cavalry and with a large fleet. 18 He engaged Ptol′emy king of Egypt in battle, and Ptol′emy turned and fled before him, and many were wounded and fell. 19 And they captured the fortified cities in the land of Egypt, and he plundered the land of Egypt.

Persecution of the Jews
20 After subduing Egypt, Anti′ochus returned in the one hundred and forty-third year.[c] He went up against Israel and came to Jerusalem with a strong force. 21 He arrogantly entered the sanctuary and took the golden altar, the lampstand for the light, and all its utensils. 22 He took also the table for the bread of the Presence, the cups for drink offerings, the bowls, the golden censers, the curtain, the crowns, and the gold decoration on the front of the temple; he stripped it all off. 23 He took the silver and the gold, and the costly vessels; he took also the hidden treasures which he found. 24 Taking them all, he departed to his own land.

He committed deeds of murder,
    and spoke with great arrogance.
25 Israel mourned deeply in every community,
26     rulers and elders groaned,
maidens and young men became faint,
    the beauty of the women faded.
27 Every bridegroom took up the lament;
    she who sat in the bridal chamber was mourning.
28 Even the land shook for its inhabitants,
    and all the house of Jacob was clothed with shame.

The Occupation of Jerusalem
29 Two years later the king sent to the cities of Judah a chief collector of tribute, and he came to Jerusalem with a large force. 30 Deceitfully he spoke peaceable words to them, and they believed him; but he suddenly fell upon the city, dealt it a severe blow, and destroyed many people of Israel. 31 He plundered the city, burned it with fire, and tore down its houses and its surrounding walls. 32 And they took captive the women and children, and seized the cattle. 33 Then they fortified the city of David with a great strong wall and strong towers, and it became their citadel. 34 And they stationed there a sinful people, lawless men. These strengthened their position; 35 they stored up arms and food, and collecting the spoils of Jerusalem they stored them there, and became a great snare.

36 It became an ambush against the sanctuary,
    an evil adversary of Israel continually.
37 On every side of the sanctuary they shed innocent blood;
    they even defiled the sanctuary.
38 Because of them the residents of Jerusalem fled;
    she became a dwelling of strangers;
she became strange to her offspring,
    and her children forsook her.
39 Her sanctuary became desolate as a desert;
    her feasts were turned into mourning,
her sabbaths into a reproach,
    her honor into contempt.
40 Her dishonor now grew as great as her glory;
    her exaltation was turned into mourning.

Installation of Gentile Cults
41 Then the king wrote to his whole kingdom that all should be one people, 42 and that each should give up his customs. 43 All the Gentiles accepted the command of the king. Many even from Israel gladly adopted his religion; they sacrificed to idols and profaned the sabbath. 44 And the king sent letters by messengers to Jerusalem and the cities of Judah; he directed them to follow customs strange to the land, 45 to forbid burnt offerings and sacrifices and drink offerings in the sanctuary, to profane sabbaths and feasts, 46 to defile the sanctuary and the priests, 47 to build altars and sacred precincts and shrines for idols, to sacrifice swine and unclean animals, 48 and to leave their sons uncircumcised. They were to make themselves abominable by everything unclean and profane, 49 so that they should forget the law and change all the ordinances. 50 “And whoever does not obey the command of the king shall die.”

51 In such words he wrote to his whole kingdom. And he appointed inspectors over all the people and commanded the cities of Judah to offer sacrifice, city by city. 52 Many of the people, every one who forsook the law, joined them, and they did evil in the land; 53 they drove Israel into hiding in every place of refuge they had.

54 Now on the fifteenth day of Chislev, in the one hundred and forty-fifth year,[d] they erected a desolating sacrilege upon the altar of burnt offering. They also built altars in the surrounding cities of Judah, 55 and burned incense at the doors of the houses and in the streets. 56 The books of the law which they found they tore to pieces and burned with fire. 57 Where the book of the covenant was found in the possession of any one, or if any one adhered to the law, the decree of the king condemned him to death. 58 They kept using violence against Israel, against those found month after month in the cities. 59 And on the twenty-fifth day of the month they offered sacrifice on the altar which was upon the altar of burnt offering. 60 According to the decree, they put to death the women who had their children circumcised, 61 and their families and those who circumcised them; and they hung the infants from their mothers’ necks.

62 But many in Israel stood firm and were resolved in their hearts not to eat unclean food. 63 They chose to die rather than to be defiled by food or to profane the holy covenant; and they did die. 64 And very great wrath came upon Israel.

Judith Offers her Hymn of Praise

To commerate the deliverance of Israel by God through Judith, a Hymn was written below. It has some similarities to the hymns found in Psalm. The story of Judith was captured in this Hymn. After this, event there was peace in Israel for a number of years.


Judith Offers Her Hymn of Praise
Then Judith began this thanksgiving before all Israel, and all the people loudly sang this song of praise. 2 And Judith said,

Begin a song to my God with tambourines,
    sing to my Lord with cymbals.
Raise to him a new psalm;[a]
    exalt him, and call upon his name.
3 For God is the Lord who crushes wars;
    for he has delivered me out of the hands of my pursuers,
    and brought me to his camp, in the midst of the people.

4 The Assyrian came down from the mountains of the north;
    he came with myriads of his warriors;
their multitude blocked up the valleys,
    their cavalry covered the hills.
5 He boasted that he would burn up my territory,
    and kill my young men with the sword,
and dash my infants to the ground
    and seize my children as prey,
    and take my virgins as booty.

6 But the Lord Almighty has foiled them
    by the hand of a woman.
7 For their mighty one did not fall by the hands of the young men,
    nor did the sons of the Titans smite him,
    nor did tall giants set upon him;
but Judith the daughter of Merar′i undid him
    with the beauty of her countenance.

8 For she took off her widow’s mourning
    to exalt the oppressed in Israel.
She anointed her face with ointment
    and fastened her hair with a tiara
    and put on a linen gown to deceive him.
9 Her sandal ravished his eyes,
    her beauty captivated his mind,
    and the sword severed his neck.
10 The Persians trembled at her boldness,
    the Medes were daunted at her daring.

11 Then my oppressed people shouted for joy;
    my weak people shouted[b] and the enemy[c] trembled;
    they lifted up their voices, and the enemy[d] were turned back.
12 The sons of maidservants have pierced them through;
    they were wounded like the children of fugitives,
    they perished before the army of my Lord.

13 I will sing to my God a new song:
O Lord, thou are great and glorious,
    wonderful in strength, invincible.
14 Let all thy creatures serve thee,
    for thou didst speak, and they were made.
Thou didst send forth thy Spirit,[e] and it formed them;
    there is none that can resist thy voice.
15 For the mountains shall be shaken to their foundations with the waters;
    at thy presence the rocks shall melt like wax,
but to those who fear thee
    thou wilt continue to show mercy.
16 For every sacrifice as a fragrant offering is a small thing,
    and all fat for burnt offerings to thee is a very little thing,
but he who fears the Lord shall be great for ever.

17 Woe to the nations that rise up against my people!
    The Lord Almighty will take vengeance on them in the day of judgment;
fire and worms he will give to their flesh;
    they shall weep in pain for ever.

18 When they arrived at Jerusalem they worshiped God. As soon as the people were purified, they offered their burnt offerings, their freewill offerings, and their gifts. 19 Judith also dedicated to God all the vessels of Holofer′nes, which the people had given her; and the canopy which she took for herself from his bedchamber she gave as a votive offering to the Lord. 20 So the people continued feasting in Jerusalem before the sanctuary for three months, and Judith remained with them.

The Renown and Death of Judith
21 After this every one returned home to his own inheritance, and Judith went to Bethu′lia, and remained on her estate, and was honored in her time throughout the whole country. 22 Many desired to marry her, but she remained a widow all the days of her life after Manas′seh her husband died and was gathered to his people. 23 She became more and more famous, and grew old in her husband’s house, until she was one hundred and five years old. She set her maid free. She died in Bethu′lia, and they buried her in the cave of her husband Manas′seh, 24 and the house of Israel mourned for her seven days. Before she died she distributed her property to all those who were next of kin to her husband Manas′seh, and to her own nearest kindred. 25 And no one ever again spread terror among the people of Israel in the days of Judith, or for a long time after her death.[f]

The Assyrians Flee in Panic

The Assyrians learnt that their great general Holofernes had been destroyed and broke into disarray. The Israelites noticy the other tribes and were able to engage and also destroy part of the Assyrian army. In their celebration, the Israelites recognized Judith and the role she had played in saving them. Women came out to dance for Judith and the men followed as well.

Judith 15 Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

When the men in the tents heard it, they were amazed at what had happened. 2 Fear and trembling came over them, so that they did not wait for one another, but with one impulse all rushed out and fled by every path across the plain and through the hill country. 3 Those who had camped in the hills around Bethu′lia also took to flight. Then the men of Israel, every one that was a soldier, rushed out upon them. 4 And Uzzi′ah sent men to Betomastha′im and Be′bai and Choba and Kola, and to all the frontiers of Israel, to tell what had taken place and to urge all to rush out upon their enemies to destroy them. 5 And when the Israelites heard it, with one accord they fell upon the enemy,[a] and cut them down as far as Choba. Those in Jerusalem and all the hill country also came, for they were told what had happened in the camp of the enemy; and those in Gil′ead and in Galilee outflanked them with great slaughter, even beyond Damas′cus and its borders. 6 The rest of the people of Bethu′lia fell upon the Assyrian camp and plundered it, and were greatly enriched. 7 And the Israelites, when they returned from the slaughter, took possession of what remained, and the villages and towns in the hill country and in the plain got a great amount of booty, for there was a vast quantity of it.

The Israelites Celebrate Their Victory
8 Then Jo′akim the high priest, and the senate of the people of Israel who lived at Jerusalem, came to witness the good things which the Lord had done for Israel, and to see Judith and to greet her. 9 And when they met her they all blessed her with one accord and said to her, “You are the exaltation of Jerusalem,[b] you are the great glory of Israel, you are the great pride of our nation! 10 You have done all this singlehanded; you have done great good to Israel, and God is well pleased with it. May the Almighty Lord bless you for ever!” And all the people said, “So be it!”

11 So all the people plundered the camp for thirty days. They gave Judith the tent of Holofer′nes and all his silver dishes and his beds and his bowls and all his furniture; and she took them and loaded her mule and hitched up her carts and piled the things on them.

12 Then all the women of Israel gathered to see her, and blessed her, and some of them performed a dance for her; and she took branches in her hands and gave them to the women who were with her; 13 and they crowned themselves with olive wreaths, she and those who were with her; and she went before all the people in the dance, leading all the women, while all the men of Israel followed, bearing their arms and wearing garlands and with songs on their lips.