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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
souls； as to be ready； when it shall be necessary； to die for
your laws； as sensible of this； by just reasoning； that if God
see that you are so disposed he will not overlook you； but will
have a great value for your virtue； and will restore to you again
what you have lost； and will return to you that freedom in which
you shall live quietly； and enjoy your own customs。 Your bodies
are mortal； and subject to fate； but they receive a sort of
immortality； by the remembrance of what actions they have done。
And I would have you so in love with this immortality； that you
may pursue after glory； and that； when you have undergone the
greatest difficulties； you may not scruple； for such things； to
lose your lives。 I exhort you； especially； to agree one with
another； and in what excellency any one of you exceeds another；
to yield to him so far； and by that means to reap the advantage
of every one's own virtues。 Do you then esteem Simon as your
father； because he is a man of extraordinary prudence； and be
governed by him in what counsels be gives you。 Take Maccabeus for
the general of your army； because of his courage and strength；
for he will avenge your nation； and will bring vengeance on your
enemies。 Admit among you the righteous and religious； and augment
their power。〃
4。 When Mattathias had thus discoursed to his sons； and had
prayed to God to be their assistant； and to recover to the people
their former constitution； he died a little afterward； and was
buried at Modin； all the people making great lamentation for him。
Whereupon his son Judas took upon him the administration of
public affairs； in the hundred fbrty and sixth year； and thus； by
the ready assistance of his brethren； and of others； Judas cast
their enemies out of the country； and put those of their own
country to death who had transgressed its laws； and purified the
land of all the pollutions that were in it。
CHAPTER 7。
How Judas Overthrew The Forces Of Apollonius And Seron And Killed
The Generals Of Their Armies Themselves； And How When； A Little
While Afterwards Lysias And Gorgias Were Beaten He Went Up To
Jerusalem And Purified The Temple。
1。 When Apollonius； the general of the Samaritan forces； heard
this； he took his army； and made haste to go against Judas； who
met him； and joined battle with him； and beat him； and slew many
of his men； and among them Apollonius himself； their general；
whose sword being that which he happened then to wear； he seized
upon； and kept for himself； but he wounded more than he slew； and
took a great deal of prey from the enemy's camp； and went his
way。 But when Seron； who was general of the army of Celesyria；
heard that many had joined themselves to Judas； and that he had
about him an army sufficient for fighting； and for making war； he
determined to make an expedition against him； as thinking it
became him to endeavor to punish those that transgressed the
king's injunctions。 He then got together an army； as large as he
was able； and joined to it the runagate and wicked Jews； and came
against Judas。 He came as far as Bethhoron； a village of Judea；
and there pitched his camp； upon which Judas met him； and when he
intended to give him battle； he saw that his soldiers were
backward to fight； because their number was small； and because
they wanted food； for they were fasting； he encouraged them； and
said to them； that victory and conquest of enemies are not
derived from the multitude in armies； but in the exercise of
piety towards God； and that they had the plainest instances in
their forefathers； who； by their righteousness； exerting
themselves on behalf of their own laws； and their own children；
had frequently conquered many ten thousands； … for innocence is
the strongest army。 By this speech he induced his men to contenm
the multitude of the enemy； and to fall upon Seron。 And upon
joining battle with him； he beat the Syrians； and when their
general fell among the rest； they all ran away with speed； as
thinki