Part 608 (1/2)

1:51. And that they should leave their children uncirc.u.mcised, and let their souls be defiled with all uncleannesses, and abominations, to the end that they should forget the law, and should change all the justifications of G.o.d.

1:52. And that whosoever would not do according to the word of king Antiochus, should be put to death.

1:53. According to all these words he wrote to his whole kingdom: and he appointed rulers over the people that should force them to do these things.

1:54. And they commanded the cities of Juda to sacrifice.

1:55. Then many of the people were gathered to them that had forsaken the law of the Lord: and they committed evils in the land:

1:56. And they drove away the people of Israel into lurking holes, and into the secret places of fugitives.

1:57. On the fifteenth day of the month, Casleu, in the hundred and forty-fifth year, king Antiochus set up the abominable idol of desolation upon the altar of G.o.d, and they built altars throughout all the cities of Juda round about:

The abominable idol, etc... Viz., the statue of Jupiter Olympius.

1:58. And they burnt incense, and sacrificed at the doors of the houses and in the streets. 1:59. And they cut in pieces, and burnt with fire the books of the law of G.o.d:

1:60. And every one with whom the books of the testament of the Lord were found, and whosoever observed the law of the Lord, they put to death, according to the edict of the king.

1:61. Thus by their power did they deal with the people of Israel, that were found in the cities month after month.

1:62. And on the five and twentieth day of the month they sacrificed upon the altar of the idol that was over against the altar of G.o.d.

1:63. Now the women that circ.u.mcised their children were slain according to the commandment of king Antiochus,

1:64. And they hanged the children about their neck in all their houses: and those that had circ.u.mcised them, they put to death.

1:65. And many of the people of Israel determined with themselves, that they would not eat unclean things: and they chose rather to die, than to be defiled with unclean meats:

1:66. And they would not break the holy law of G.o.d and they were put to death:

1:67. And there was very great wrath upon the people.

1 Machabees Chapter 2.

The zeal and success of Mathathias. His exhortation to his sons at his death.

2:1. In those days arose Mathathias, the son of John, the son of Simeon, a priest of the sons of Joarib, from Jerusalem, and he abode in the mountain of Modin:

2:2. And he had five sons: John, who was surnamed Gaddis:

2:3. And Simon, who was surnamed Thasi;

2:4. And Judas, who was called Machabeus;

2:5. And Eleazar, who was surnamed Abaron; and Jonathan, who was surnamed Apphus.

2:6. These saw the evils that were done in the people of Juda, and in Jerusalem.

2:7. And Mathathias said: Woe is me, wherefore was I born to see the ruin of my people, and the ruin of the holy city, and to dwell there, when it is given into the hands of the enemies?