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For the king had sent letters by messengers unto Jerusalem and the cities of Juda that they should follow the strange laws of the land,

And forbid burnt offerings, and sacrifice, and drink offerings, in the temple; and that they should profane the sabbaths and festival days:

That they should also leave their children uncircumcised, and make their souls abominable with all manner of uncleanness and profanation:

To the end they might forget the law, and change all the ordinances.

Then many of the people were gathered unto them, to wit every one that forsook the law; and so they committed evils in the land;

And drove the Israelites into secret places, even wheresoever they could flee for succour.

Now the fifteenth day of the month Casleu, in the hundred forty and fifth year, they set up the abomination of desolation upon the altar, and builded idol altars throughout the cities of Juda on every side;

And when they had rent in pieces the books of the law which they found, they burnt them with fire.

And when they had rent in pieces the books of the law which they found, they burnt them with fire.

And when they had rent in pieces the books of the law which they found, they burnt them with fire.

And whosoever was found with any the book of the testament, or if any consented to the law, the king’s commandment was, that they should put him to death.

Thus did they by their authority unto the Israelites every month, to as many as were found in the cities.

Now the five and twentieth day of the month they did sacrifice upon the idol altar, which was upon the altar of God.

At which time according to the commandment they put to death certain women, that had caused their children to be circumcised.

And they hanged the infants about their necks, and rifled their houses, and slew them that had circumcised them.

Wherefore the rather to die, that they might not be defiled with meats, and that they might not profane the holy covenant: so then they died.

Wherefore the rather to die, that they might not be defiled with meats, and that they might not profane the holy covenant: so then they died.

Wherefore the rather to die, that they might not be defiled with meats, and that they might not profane the holy covenant: so then they died.

So he and his sons fled into the mountains, and left all that ever they had in the city.

Both they, and their children, and their wives; and their cattle; because afflictions increased sore upon them.

They pursued after them a great number, and having overtaken them, they camped against them, and made war against them on the sabbath day.

They pursued after them a great number, and having overtaken them, they camped against them, and made war against them on the sabbath day.

And they said unto them, Let that which ye have done hitherto suffice; come forth, and do according to the commandment of the king, and ye shall live.

But they said, We will not come forth, neither will we do the king’s commandment, to profane the sabbath day.

So then they gave them the battle with all speed.

Howbeit they answered them not, neither cast they a stone at them, nor stopped the places where they lay hid;

Howbeit they answered them not, neither cast they a stone at them, nor stopped the places where they lay hid;

Howbeit they answered them not, neither cast they a stone at them, nor stopped the places where they lay hid;

So they rose up against them in battle on the sabbath, and they slew them, with their wives and children and their cattle, to the number of a thousand people.

So they rose up against them in battle on the sabbath, and they slew them, with their wives and children and their cattle, to the number of a thousand people.

Now when Mattathias and his friends understood hereof, they mourned for them right sore.

And one of them said to another, If we all do as our brethren have done, and fight not for our lives and laws against the heathen, they will now quickly root us out of the earth.

At that time therefore they decreed, saying, Whosoever shall come to make battle with us on the sabbath day, we will fight against him; neither will we die all, as our brethren that were murdered in the secret places.

Also all they that fled for persecution joined themselves unto them, and were a stay unto them.

So they joined their forces, and smote sinful men in their anger, and wicked men in their wrath: but the rest fled to the heathen for succour.

And what children soever they found within the coast of Israel uncircumcised, those they circumcised valiantly.

And what children soever they found within the coast of Israel uncircumcised, those they circumcised valiantly.

They pursued also after the proud men, and the work prospered in their hand.

So they recovered the law out of the hand of the Gentiles, and out of the hand of kings, neither suffered they the sinner to triumph.

So they recovered the law out of the hand of the Gentiles, and out of the hand of kings, neither suffered they the sinner to triumph.

And all his brethren helped him, and so did all they that held with his father, and they fought with cheerfulness the battle of Israel.

And all his brethren helped him, and so did all they that held with his father, and they fought with cheerfulness the battle of Israel.

Who, when they saw the host coming to meet them, said unto Judas, How shall we be able, being so few, to fight against so great a multitude and so strong, seeing we are ready to faint with fasting all this day?

They come against us in much pride and iniquity to destroy us, and our wives and children, and to spoil us:

And they pursued them from the going down of Bethhoron unto the plain, where were slain about eight hundred men of them; and the residue fled into the land of the Philistines.

So they went forth with all their power, and came and pitched by Emmaus in the plain country.

Now when Judas and his brethren saw that miseries were multiplied, and that the forces did encamp themselves in their borders: for they knew how the king had given commandment to destroy the people, and utterly abolish them;

They said one to another, Let us restore the decayed estate of our people, and let us fight for our people and the sanctuary.

Then was the congregation gathered together, that they might be ready for battle, and that they might pray, and ask mercy and compassion.

Then was the congregation gathered together, that they might be ready for battle, and that they might pray, and ask mercy and compassion.

Wherefore the Israelites assembled themselves together, and came to Maspha, over against Jerusalem; for in Maspha was the place where they prayed aforetime in Israel.

Then they fasted that day, and put on sackcloth, and cast ashes upon their heads, and rent their clothes,

They brought also the priests’ garments, and the firstfruits, and the tithes: and the Nazarites they stirred up, who had accomplished their days.

They brought also the priests’ garments, and the firstfruits, and the tithes: and the Nazarites they stirred up, who had accomplished their days.

Then cried they with a loud voice toward heaven, saying, What shall we do with these, and whither shall we carry them away?

And lo, the heathen are assembled together against us to destroy us: what things they imagine against us, thou knowest.

Then sounded they with trumpets, and cried with a loud voice.

But as for such as were building houses, or had betrothed wives, or were planting vineyards, or were fearful, those he commanded that they should return, every man to his own house, according to the law.

And they saw the camp of the heathen, that it was strong and well harnessed, and compassed round about with horsemen; and these were expert of war.

Wherefore they went out of the camp to battle; but they that were with Judas sounded their trumpets.

Wherefore they went out of the camp to battle; but they that were with Judas sounded their trumpets.

So they joined battle, and the heathen being discomfited fled into the plain.

Howbeit all the hindmost of them were slain with the sword: for they pursued them unto Gazera, and unto the plains of Idumea, and Azotus, and Jamnia, so that there were slain of them upon a three thousand men.

Who when they perceived that the Jews had put their host to flight and were burning the tents; for the smoke that was seen declared what was done:

When therefore they perceived these things, they were sore afraid, and seeing also the host of Judas in the plain ready to fight,

When therefore they perceived these things, they were sore afraid, and seeing also the host of Judas in the plain ready to fight,

They fled every one into the land of strangers.

Then Judas returned to spoil the tents, where they got much gold, and silver, and blue silk, and purple of the sea, and great riches.

After this they went home, and sung a song of thanksgiving, and praised the Lord in heaven: because it is good, because his mercy endureth forever.

So they came into Idumea, and pitched their tents at Bethsura, and Judas met them with ten thousand men.

So they joined battle; and there were slain of the host of Lysias about five thousand men, even before them were they slain.

So they joined battle; and there were slain of the host of Lysias about five thousand men, even before them were they slain.

Now when Lysias saw his army put to flight, and the manliness of Judas’ soldiers, and how they were ready either to live or die valiantly, he went into Antiochia, and gathered together a company of strangers, and having made his army greater than it was, he purposed to come again into Judea.

And when they saw the sanctuary desolate, and the altar profaned, and the gates burned up, and shrubs growing in the courts as in a forest, or in one of the mountains, yea, and the priests’ chambers pulled down;

They rent their clothes, and made great lamentation, and cast ashes upon their heads,

And when as they consulted what to do with the altar of burnt offerings, which was profaned;

They thought it best to pull it down, lest it should be a reproach to them, because the heathen had defiled it: wherefore they pulled it down,

They thought it best to pull it down, lest it should be a reproach to them, because the heathen had defiled it: wherefore they pulled it down,

Then they took whole stones according to the law, and built a new altar according to the former;

They made also new holy vessels, and into the temple they brought the candlestick, and the altar of burnt offerings, and of incense, and the table.

They made also new holy vessels, and into the temple they brought the candlestick, and the altar of burnt offerings, and of incense, and the table.

And upon the altar they burned incense, and the lamps that were upon the candlestick they lighted, that they might give light in the temple.

And upon the altar they burned incense, and the lamps that were upon the candlestick they lighted, that they might give light in the temple.

And upon the altar they burned incense, and the lamps that were upon the candlestick they lighted, that they might give light in the temple.

Furthermore they set the loaves upon the table, and spread out the veils, and finished all the works which they had begun to make.

Furthermore they set the loaves upon the table, and spread out the veils, and finished all the works which they had begun to make.

Now on the five and twentieth day of the ninth month, which is called the month Casleu, in the hundred forty and eighth year, they rose up betimes in the morning,

And offered sacrifice according to the law upon the new altar of burnt offerings, which they had made.

And so they kept the dedication of the altar eight days and offered burnt offerings with gladness, and sacrificed the sacrifice of deliverance and praise.

They decked also the forefront of the temple with crowns of gold, and with shields; and the gates and the chambers they renewed, and hanged doors upon them.

They decked also the forefront of the temple with crowns of gold, and with shields; and the gates and the chambers they renewed, and hanged doors upon them.

At that time also they builded up the mount Sion with high walls and strong towers round about, lest the Gentiles should come and tread it down as they had done before.

At that time also they builded up the mount Sion with high walls and strong towers round about, lest the Gentiles should come and tread it down as they had done before.

And they set there a garrison to keep it, and fortified Bethsura to preserve it; that the people might have a defence against Idumea.

Wherefore they thought to destroy the generation of Jacob that was among them, and thereupon they began to slay and destroy the people.

Wherefore they thought to destroy the generation of Jacob that was among them, and thereupon they began to slay and destroy the people.

Then Judas fought against the children of Esau in Idumea at Arabattine, because they besieged Israel: and he gave them a great overthrow, and abated their courage, and took their spoils.

Also he remembered the injury of the children of Bean, who had been a snare and an offence unto the people, in that they lay in wait for them in the ways.

So he fought many battles with them, till at length they were discomfited before him; and he smote them.

Then the heathen that were at Galaad assembled themselves together against the Israelites that were in their quarters, to destroy them; but they fled to the fortress of Dathema.