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1 Maccabees 1:1-64 (Revised Standard Version)

1 After Alexander son of Philip, the Macedonian, who came from the land of
Kittim, had defeated King Darius 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 descendants after them for
many years; and they caused many evils on the earth.

10 From them came forth a sinful root, Antiochus Epiphanes, son of King
Antiochus; he had been a hostage in Rome. He began to reign in the one
hundred thirty-seventh year of the kingdom of the Greeks. 11 In those days
certain renegades came out from Israel and misled many, saying, "Let us go
and make a covenant with the Gentiles around us, for since we separated from
them many disasters have come upon us." 12 This proposal pleased them, 13
and some of the people eagerly went to the king, who 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.

16 When Antiochus saw that his kingdom was established, he determined to
become king of the land of Egypt, in order 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 King Ptolemy of
Egypt in battle, and Ptolemy turned and fled before him, and many were
wounded and fell. 19 They captured the fortified cities in the land of
Egypt, and he plundered the land of Egypt.

20 After subduing Egypt, Antiochus returned in the one hundred forty-third
year. 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 that he
found. 24 Taking them all, he went into his own land. He shed much blood,
and spoke with great arrogance. 25 Israel mourned deeply in every community,
26 rulers and elders groaned, young women 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 trembled for its
inhabitants, and all the house of Jacob was clothed with shame.

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 They took captive the women and children, and
seized the livestock. 33 Then they fortified the city of David with a great
strong wall and strong towers, and it became their citadel. 34 They
stationed there a sinful people, men who were renegades. 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 menace, 36 for the
citadel became an ambush against the sanctuary, an evil adversary of Israel
at all times. 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 like 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.

41 Then the king wrote to his whole kingdom that all should be one people,
42 and that all should give up their particular 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 towns 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
festivals, 46 to defile the sanctuary and the priests, 47 to build altars
and sacred precincts and shrines for idols, to sacrifice swine and other
unclean animals, 48 and to leave their sons uncircumcised. They were to make
themselves abominable by everything unclean and profane, 49 so that they
would forget the law and change all the ordinances. 50 He added, "And
whoever does not obey the command of the king shall die." 51 In such words
he wrote to his whole kingdom. He appointed inspectors over all the people
and commanded the towns of Judah to offer sacrifice, town by town. 52 Many
of the people, everyone 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 forty-fifth
year, they erected a desolating sacrilege on the altar of burnt offering.
They also built altars in the surrounding towns of Judah, 55 and offered
incense at the doors of the houses and in the streets. 56 The books of the
law that they found they tore to pieces and burned with fire. 57 Anyone
found possessing the book of the covenant, or anyone who adhered to the law,
was condemned to death by decree of the king. 58 They kept using violence
against Israel, against those who were found month after month in the towns.
59 On the twenty-fifth day of the month they offered sacrifice on the altar
that was on top of 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 Very
great wrath came upon Israel.