altar ＇of burnt…offering＇； and did not abstain from even the
veils； which were made of fine linen and scarlet。 He also emptied
it of its secret treasures； and left nothing at all remaining；
and by this means cast the Jews into great lamentation； for he
forbade them to offer those daily sacrifices which they used to
offer to God； according to the law。 And when he had pillaged the
whole city； some of the inhabitants he slew； and some he carried
captive； together with their wives and children； so that the
multitude of those captives that were taken alive amounted to
about ten thousand。 He also burnt down the finest buildings； and
when he had overthrown the city walls； he built a citadel in the
lower part of the city； （17） for the place was high； and
overlooked the temple； on which account he fortified it with high
walls and towers； and put into it a garrison of Macedonians。
However； in that citadel dwelt the impious and wicked part of the
＇Jewish＇ multitude； from whom it proved that the citizens
suffered many and sore calamities。 And when the king had built an
idol altar upon God's altar； he slew swine upon it； and so
offered a sacrifice neither according to the law； nor the Jewish
religious worship in that country。 He also compelled them to
forsake the worship which they paid their own God； and to adore
those whom he took to be gods； and made them build temples； and
raise idol altars in every city and village； and offer swine upon
them every day。 He also commanded them not to circumcise their
sons； and threatened to punish any that should be found to have
transgressed his injunction。 He also appointed overseers； who
should compel them to do what he commanded。 And indeed many Jews
there were who complied with the king's commands； either
voluntarily； or out of fear of the penalty that was denounced。
But the best men； and those of the noblest souls； did not regard
him； but did pay a greater respect to the customs of their
country than concern as to the punishment which he threatened to
the disobedient； on which account they every day underwent great
miseries and bitter torments； for they were whipped with rods；
and their bodies were torn to pieces； and were crucified； while
they were still alive； and breathed。 They also strangled those
women and their sons whom they had circumcised； as the king had
appointed； hanging their sons about their necks as they were upon
the crosses。 And if there were any sacred book of the law found；
it was destroyed； and those with whom they were found miserably
perished also。
5。 When the Samaritans saw the Jews under these sufferings； they
no longer confessed that they were of their kindred； nor that the
temple on Mount Gerizzim belonged to Almighty God。 This was
according to their nature； as we have already shown。 And they now
said that they were a colony of Medes and Persians； and indeed
they were a colony of theirs。 So they sent ambassadors to
Antiochus； and an epistle； whose contents are these： 〃To king
Antiochus the god； Epiphanes； a memorial from the Sidonians； who
live at Shechem。 Our forefathers； upon certain frequent plagues；
and as following a certain ancient superstition； had a custom of
observing that day which by the Jews is called the Sabbath。 （18）
And when they had erected a temple at the mountain called
Gerrizzim； though without a name； they offered upon it the proper
sacrifices。 Now； upon the just treatment of these wicked Jews；
those that manage their affairs； supposing that we were of kin to
them； and practiced as they do； make us liable to the same
accusations； although we be originally Sidonians； as is evident
from the public records。 We therefore beseech thee； our
benefactor and Savior； to give order to Apollonius； the governor
of this part of the country； and to Nicanor； the procurator of
thy affairs； to give us no disturbance； nor to lay to our charge
what the Jews are accused for； since we are aliens from their
nation； and from their customs； but let our temple； which at
present hath no name at all be named the Temple of Jupiter
Hellenius。 If this were once done； we should be no longer
disturbed； but should be more intent on our own occupation with
quietness； and so bring in a greater revenue to thee。〃 When the
Samaritans had petitioned for this； the king sent them back the
following answer； in an epistle： 〃King Antiochus to Nicanor。 The
Sidonians； who live at Shechem； have sent me the memorial
enclosed。 When therefore we were advising with our friends about
it； the messengers sent by them represented to us that they are
no way concerned with accusations which belong to the Jews； but
choose to live after the customs of the Greeks。 Accordingly； we
declare them free from such accusations； and order that；
agreeable to their petition； their temple be named the Temple of
Jupiter Hellenius。〃 He also sent the like epistle to Apollonius；
the governor of that part of the country； in the forty…sixth
year； and the eighteenth day of the month Hecatorabeom
CHAPTER 6。
How； Upon Antiochus's Prohibition To The Jews To Make Use Of The
Laws Of Their Country Mattathias； The Son Of Asamoneus； Alone
Despised The King； And Overcame The Generals Of Antiochus's Army；
As Also Concerning The Death Of Mattathias； And The Succession Of
Judas。
1。 Now at this time there was one whose name was Mattathias； who
dwelt at Modin； the son of John； the son of Simeon； the son of
Asamoneus； a priest of the order of Joarib； and a citizen of
Jerusalem。 He had five sons； John； who was called Gaddis； and
Simon； who was called Matthes； and Judas； who was called
Maccabeus； （19） and Eleazar； who was called Auran； and Jonathan；
who was called Apphus。 Now this Mattathias lamented to his
children the sad state of their affairs； and the ravage made in
the city； and the plundering of the temple； and the calamities
the multitude were under； and he told them that it was better for
them to die for the laws of their country； than to live so
ingloriously as they then did。
2。 But when those that were appointed by the king were come to
Modin； that they might compel the Jews to do what they were
commanded； and to enjoin those that were there to offer
sacrifice； as the king had commanded； they desired that
Mattathias； a person of the greatest character among them； both
on other accounts； and particularly on account of such a numerous
and so deserving a family of children； would begin the sacrifice；
because his fellow citizens would follow his example； and because
such a procedure would make him honored by the king。 But
Mattathias said he would not do it； and that if all the other
nations would obey the commands of Antiochus； either out of fear；
or to please him； yet would not he nor his sons leave the
religious worship of their country。 But as soon as he had ended
his speech； there came one of the Jews into the midst of them；
and sacrificed； as Antiochus had commanded。 At which Mattathias
had great indignation； and ran upon him violently； with his sons；
who had swords with them； and slew both the man himself that
sacrificed； and Apelles the king's general； who compelled them to
sacrifice； with a few of his soldiers。 He also overthrew the idol
altar； and cried out； 〃If；〃 said he；〃 any one be zealous for the
laws of his country； and for the worship of God； let him follow
me。〃 And when he had said this； he made haste into the desert
with his sons； and left all his substance in the village。 Many
others did the same also； and fled with their children and wives
into the desert； and dwelt in caves。 But when the king's generals
heard this； they took all the forces they then had in the citadel
at Jerusalem； and pursued the Jews into the desert； and when they
had overtaken them； they in the first place endeavored to
persuade them to repent； and to choose what was most for their
advantage； and not put them to the necessity of using them
according to the law of war。 But when they would not comply with
their persuasions； but continued to be of a different mind； they
fought against them on the sabbath day； and they burnt them as
they were in the caves； without resistance； and without so much
as stopping up the entrances of the caves。 And they avoided to
defend themselves on that day； because they were not willing to
break in upon the honor they owed the sabbath； even in such
distresses； for our law requires that we rest upon that day。
There were about a thousand； with their wives and children； who
were smothered and died in these caves； but many of those that
escaped joined themselves to Mattathias； and appointed him to be
their ruler； who taught them to fight； even on the sabbath day；
and told them that unless they would do so； they would become
their own enemies； by observing the law ＇so rigorously＇； while
their adversaries would still assault them on this day； and they
would not then defend themselves； and that nothing could then
hinder but they must all perish without fighting。 This speech
persuaded them。 And this rule continues among us to this day；
that if there be a necessity； we may fight on sabbath days。 So
Mattathias got a great army about him； and overthrew their idol
altars； and slew those that broke the laws； even all that he
could get under his power； for many of them were dispersed among
the nations round about them for fear of him。 He also commanded
that those boys which were not yet circumcised should be
circumcised now； and he drove those away that were appointed to
hinder such their circumcision。
3。 But when he had ruled one year； and was fallen into a
distemper； he called for his sons； and set them round about him；
and said； 〃O my sons； I am going the way of all the earth； and I
recommend to you my resolution； and beseech you not to be
negligent in keeping it； but to be mindful of the desires of him
who begat you； and brought you up； and to preserve the customs of
your country； and to recover your ancient form of government；
which is in danger of being overturned； and not to be carried
away with those that； either by their own inclination； or out of
necessity； betray it； but to become such sons as are worthy of
me； to be above all force and necessity； and so to dispose your