1 In those days Mattithyahu the son of Yoḥanan, the son of Shim’on, a kohĕn of the sons of Yoyariḇ, came from Yerushalayim, and dwelt in Modi’im.
2 And he had five sons: Yoḥanan, called Gaddi;
3 Shim’on; called Thassi;
4 Yahuḏah, who was called Maqqaḇah;
5 Eli’ezer, called Aḇaran; and Yahonathan, who was also called Apphus.
6 And when he saw the blasphemies that were committed in Yahuḏah and Yerushalayim,
7 he said, “Woe is me! Why was I born to see this misery of my people, and of the qodesh city, and to dwell there, when it was delivered into the hand of the enemy, and the Miqdash into the hand of foreigners?
8 “Her Hĕyḵal has become as a man without esteem.
9 “Her splendid utensils are carried away into captivity, her infants are slain in the streets, her young men – with the sword of the enemy.
10 “What nation has not had a part in her reign and received of her spoils?
11 “All her adornments are taken away; from a free woman she has become a slave!
12 “And, see, our Miqdash, even our splendour and our esteem, is laid waste, and the gentiles have profaned it.
13 “Why therefore shall we live any longer?”
14 Then Mattithyahu and his sons tore their garments, and put on sackcloth, and mourned greatly.
15 In the meantime, the sovereign’s officers, who compelled the people to revolt, came into the city of Modi’im, to make them offer.
16 And when many of Yisra’ĕl came to them, Mattithyahu and his sons also came together.
17 Then the sovereign’s officers answered and spoke to Mattithyahu in this way: “You are a ruler, and an honourable and great man in this city, and strengthened with sons and brothers.
18 “Now therefore, you come first and complete the sovereign’s command, as all the gentiles have done, and also the men of Yahuḏah, and those who remain at Yerushalayim, so you and your house shall be in the number of the sovereign’s friends, and you and your children shall be honoured with silver and gold, and many rewards.”
19 Then Mattithyahu answered and spoke with a loud voice, “Though all the nations that are under the sovereign’s reign obey him, and every one falls away from the belief of their fathers, and gives consent to his commands,
20 still my sons and my brothers and I will walk in the Covenant of our fathers.
21 “Elohim forbid that we should forsake the Torah and the Laws!
22 “We will not listen to the sovereign’s words, to go from our belief, either to the right hand, or the left.”
23 Now when he had finished speaking these words, one of the Yahuḏim came in the sight of all to offer on the altar which was at Modi’im, according to the sovereign’s command.
24 When Mattithyahu saw this matter, he burned with ardour, and he trembled within, neither could he refrain to show his wrath according to righteousness. Therefore he ran, and slew him upon the altar.
25 At that time, he also killed the sovereign’s commissioner, who compelled men to offer, and he pulled down the altar.
26 Thus he dealt with ardour for the Law of Elohim as Pineḥas did toward Zimri the son of Sallu.
27 And Mattithyahu cried throughout the city with a loud voice, saying, “Whoever is ardent for the Torah, and continues in the Covenant, let him follow me!”
28 So he and his sons fled into the mountains, and left all that they had in the city.
29 Then many that sought after right-ruling and judgment went down into the wilderness, to dwell there,
30 both they and their children, and their wives, and their cattle, because afflictions increased greatly upon them.
31 Now when it was told to the sovereign’s servants, and the army that was at Yerushalayim, in the city of Dawiḏ, that some men who had broken the sovereign’s command had gone down into the hiding places in the wilderness,
32 they pursued after them in great number, and having overtaken them, they encamped against them, and fought against them on the Shabbath day.
33 And they said to them, “Let that which you have done until now be enough! Come out, and do according to the command of the sovereign, and you shall live.”
34 But they said, “We do not come out, neither shall we do the sovereign’s command, to profane the Shabbath day!”
35 So then they fought them in haste.
36 However they did not answer them, neither threw a stone at them, nor disclosed the places where they lay hid,
37 but said, “Let us die all in our innocence. The shamayim and earth will witness for us, that you put us to death wrongfully.”
38 So they rose up against them in battle on the Shabbath, and they slew them, with their wives and children and their cattle, to the number of one thousand people.
39 Now when Mattithyahu and his friends heard of this, they mourned for them greatly.
40 And one of them said to another, “If we all do as our brothers have done, and do not fight for our lives and Laws against the gentiles, they will now quickly destroy us from the earth.”
41 At that time therefore they agreed, saying, “Whoever shall come to fight with us on the Shabbath day, we will fight against him; neither will we all die as our brothers that were murdered in the hiding places.”
42 Then an army of Ḥasiḏim came to him, who were mighty men of Yisra’ĕl, even all those who were voluntarily dedicated to the Law.
43 Also all those that fled from persecution joined themselves them, and were a support to them.
44 So they joined their forces, and smote sinful men in their wrath, and wicked men in their wrath; but the rest fled to the gentiles for support.
45 Then Mattithyahu and his friends went round about, and pulled down the altars.
46 And whatever uncircumcised children they found within the borders of Yisra’ĕl, those they courageously circumcised.
47 They also pursued after the proud men, and the work prospered in their hand.
48 So they retained the Torah from the hand of the gentiles, and out of the hand of sovereigns, neither did they allow the sinner to overcome.
49 Now when the time drew near that Mattithyahu would die, he said to his sons, “Excellence and rebuke has now gained strength, and the time of destruction, and the wrath of displeasure.
50 “Now therefore my sons, be ardent for the Torah, and give your lives for the Covenant of your fathers.
51 “Call to remembrance what acts our fathers did in their time; so shall you receive great honour and an everlasting name.
52 “Was not Aḇraham found trustworthy in temptation, and it was reckoned to him for righteousness?
53 “Yosĕph in the time of his distress kept the Command and was made master of Mitsrayim.
54 “Pineḥas our father in being ardent and fervent obtained the Covenant of an everlasting kehunnah.
55 “Yahoshua for filling the Word was made a judge in Yisra’ĕl.
56 “Kalĕḇ for bearing witness before the assembly received the inheritance of the land.
57 “Dawiḏ for being kind possessed the throne of an everlasting reign.
58 “Ĕliyahu for being ardent and fervent for the Torah was taken up into the shamayim.
59 “Ḥananyah, Azaryah, and Misha’ĕl were saved out of the fire by belief.
60 “Dani’ĕl for his innocence was delivered from the mouth of lions.
61 “And so consider throughout all the ages, that none that put their trust in Him shall be overcome.
62 “Do not fear then the words of a sinful man; for his esteem shall be dung and worms.
63 “Today he may be lifted up, but tomorrow he shall not be found, because he has returned to his dust, and his plans have come to naught.
64 “Therefore, you my sons, be brave and show yourselves men on behalf of the Torah; for by It you shall obtain esteem.
65 “And see, I know that your brother Shim’on is a man of counsel, listen to him always. He shall be a father to you.
66 “As for Yahuḏah Maqqaḇah, he has been mighty and strong, even from his youth. Let him be your captain, and fight the battle of the people.
67 “Also receive all those that observe the Law, and avenge the wrong of your people.
68 “Repay the gentiles completely, and guard the Commands of the Torah.”
69 So he baraḵ them, and was gathered to his fathers.
70 And he died in the hundred and forty-sixth year, and his sons buried him in the tomb of his fathers at Modi’im, and all Yisra’ĕl made a great lamentation for him.