1 Maccabees 1

Everything Apocrypha - 1 Maccabees
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1Mac 1:1 
And it happened, after that Alexander son of Philip, the 
Macedonian, who came out of the land of Chettiim, had smitten 
Darius king of the Persians and Medes, that he reigned in his 
stead, the first over Greece, 
 
1Mac 1:2 
And made many wars, and won many strong holds, and slew the 
kings of the earth, 
 
1Mac 1:3 
And went through to the ends of the earth, and took spoils of 
many nations, insomuch that the earth was quiet before him; 
whereupon he was exalted and his heart was lifted up. 
 
1Mac 1:4 
And he gathered a mighty strong host and ruled over 
countries, and nations, and kings, who became tributaries unto 
him. 
 
1Mac 1:5 
And after these things he fell sick, and perceived that he 
should die. 
 
1Mac 1:6 
Wherefore he called his servants, such as were honourable, 
and had been brought up with him from his youth, and parted his 
kingdom among them, while he was yet alive. 
 
1Mac 1:7 
So Alexander reigned twelves years, and then died. 
 
1Mac 1:8 
And his servants bare rule every one in his place. 
 
1Mac 1:9 
And after his death they all put crowns upon themselves; so 
did their sons after them many years: and evils were multiplied 
in the earth. 
 
1Mac 1:10 
And there came out of them a wicked root Antiochus surnamed 
Epiphanes, son of Antiochus the king, who had been an hostage at 
Rome, and he reigned in the hundred and thirty and seventh year 
of the kingdom of the Greeks. 
 
1Mac 1:11 
In those days went there out of Israel wicked men, who 
persuaded many, saying, Let us go and make a covenant with the 
heathen that are round about us: for since we departed from them 
we have had much sorrow. 
 
1Mac 1:12 
So this device pleased them well. 
 
1Mac 1:13 
Then certain of the people were so forward herein, that they 
went to the king, who gave them licence to do after the 
ordinances of the heathen: 
 
1Mac 1:14 
Whereupon they built a place of exercise at Jerusalem 
according to the customs of the heathen: 
 
1Mac 1:15 
And made themselves uncircumcised, and forsook the holy 
covenant, and joined themselves to the heathen, and were sold to 
do mischief. 
 
1Mac 1:16 
Now when the kingdom was established before Antiochus, he 
thought to reign over Egypt that he might have the dominion of 
two realms. 
 
1Mac 1:17 
Wherefore he entered into Egypt with a great multitude, with 
chariots, and elephants, and horsemen, and a great navy, 
 
1Mac 1:18 
And made war against Ptolemee king of Egypt: but Ptolemee was 
afraid of him, and fled; and many were wounded to death. 
 
1Mac 1:19 
Thus they got the strong cities in the land of Egypt and he 
took the spoils thereof. 
 
1Mac 1:20 
And after that Antiochus had smitten Egypt, he returned again 
in the hundred forty and third year, and went up against Israel 
and Jerusalem with a great multitude, 
 
1Mac 1:21 
And entered proudly into the sanctuary, and took away the 
golden altar, and the candlestick of light, and all the vessels 
thereof, 
 
1Mac 1:22 
And the table of the shewbread, and the pouring vessels, and 
the vials. and the censers of gold, and the veil, and the crown, 
and the golden ornaments that were before the temple, all which 
he pulled off. 
 
1Mac 1:23 
He took also the silver and the gold, and the precious 
vessels: also he took the hidden treasures which he found. 
 
1Mac 1:24 
And when he had taken all away, he went into his own land, 
having made a great massacre, and spoken very proudly. 
 
1Mac 1:25 
Therefore there was a great mourning in Israel, in every 
place where they were; 
 
1Mac 1:26 
So that the princes and elders mourned, the virgins and young 
men were made feeble, and the beauty of women was changed. 
 
1Mac 1:27 
Every bridegroom took up lamentation, and she that sat in the 
marriage chamber was in heaviness, 
 
1Mac 1:28 
The land also was moved for the inhabitants thereof, and all 
the house of Jacob was covered with confusion. 
 
1Mac 1:29 
And after two years fully expired the king sent his chief 
collector of tribute unto the cities of Juda, who came unto 
Jerusalem with a great multitude, 
 
1Mac 1:30 
And spake peaceable words unto them, but all was deceit: for 
when they had given him credence, he fell suddenly upon the 
city, and smote it very sore, and destroyed much people of 
Israel. 
 
1Mac 1:31 
And when he had taken the spoils of the city, he set it on 
fire, and pulled down the houses and walls thereof on every 
side. 
 
1Mac 1:32 
But the women and children took they captive, and possessed 
the cattle. 
 
1Mac 1:33 
Then builded they the city of David with a great and strong 
wall, and with mighty towers, and made it a strong hold for 
them. 
 
1Mac 1:34 
And they put therein a sinful nation, wicked men, and 
fortified themselves therein. 
 
1Mac 1:35 
They stored it also with armour and victuals, and when they 
had gathered together the spoils of Jerusalem, they laid them up 
there, and so they became a sore snare: 
 
1Mac 1:36 
For it was a place to lie in wait against the sanctuary, and 
an evil adversary to Israel. 
 
1Mac 1:37 
Thus they shed innocent blood on every side of the sanctuary, 
and defiled it: 
 
1Mac 1:38 
Insomuch that the inhabitants of Jerusalem fled because of 
them: whereupon the city was made an habitation of strangers, 
and became strange to those that were born in her; and her own 
children left her. 
 
1Mac 1:39 
Her sanctuary was laid waste like a wilderness, her feasts 
were turned into mourning, her sabbaths into reproach her honour 
into contempt. 
 
1Mac 1:40 
As had been her glory, so was her dishonour increased, and 
her excellency was turned into mourning. 
 
1Mac 1:41 
Moreover king Antiochus wrote to his whole kingdom, that all 
should be one people, 
 
1Mac 1:42 
And every one should leave his laws: so all the heathen 
agreed according to the commandment of the king. 
 
1Mac 1:43 
Yea, many also of the Israelites consented to his religion, 
and sacrificed unto idols, and profaned the sabbath. 
 
1Mac 1:44 
For the king had sent letters by messengers unto Jerusalem 
and the cities of Juda that they should follow the strange laws 
of the land, 
 
1Mac 1:45 
And forbid burnt offerings, and sacrifice, and drink 
offerings, in the temple; and that they should profane the 
sabbaths and festival days: 
 
1Mac 1:46 
And pollute the sanctuary and holy people: 
 
1Mac 1:47 
Set up altars, and groves, and chapels of idols, and 
sacrifice swine's flesh, and unclean beasts: 
 
1Mac 1:48 
That they should also leave their children uncircumcised, and 
make their souls abominable with all manner of uncleanness and 
profanation: 
 
1Mac 1:49 
To the end they might forget the law, and change all the 
ordinances. 
 
1Mac 1:50 
And whosoever would not do according to the commandment of 
the king, he said, he should die. 
 
1Mac 1:51 
In the selfsame manner wrote he to his whole kingdom, and 
appointed overseers over all the people, commanding the cities 
of Juda to sacrifice, city by city. 
 
1Mac 1:52 
Then many of the people were gathered unto them, to wit every 
one that forsook the law; and so they committed evils in the 
land; 
 
1Mac 1:53 
And drove the Israelites into secret places, even wheresoever 
they could flee for succour. 
 
1Mac 1:54 
Now the fifteenth day of the month Casleu, in the hundred 
forty and fifth year, they set up the abomination of desolation 
upon the altar, and builded idol altars throughout the cities of 
Juda on every side; 
 
1Mac 1:55 
And burnt incense at the doors of their houses, and in the 
streets. 
 
1Mac 1:56 
And when they had rent in pieces the books of the law which 
they found, they burnt them with fire. 
 
1Mac 1:57 
And whosoever was found with any the book of the testament, 
or if any committed to the law, the king's commandment was, that 
they should put him to death. 
 
1Mac 1:58 
Thus did they by their authority unto the Israelites every 
month, to as many as were found in the cities. 
 
1Mac 1:59 
Now the five and twentieth day of the month they did 
sacrifice upon the idol altar, which was upon the altar of God. 
 
1Mac 1:60 
At which time according to the commandment they put to death 
certain women, that had caused their children to be circumcised. 
 
1Mac 1:61 
And they hanged the infants about their necks, and rifled 
their houses, and slew them that had circumcised them. 
 
1Mac 1:62 
Howbeit many in Israel were fully resolved and confirmed in 
themselves not to eat any unclean thing. 
 
1Mac 1:63 
Wherefore the rather to die, that they might not be defiled 
with meats, and that they might not profane the holy covenant: 
so then they died. 
 
1Mac 1:64 
And there was very great wrath upon Israel. 

1:1 Now it came to pass, after that Alexander the son of Philip the Macedonian, who first reigned in Greece, coming out of the land of Cethim, had overthrown Darius king of the Persians and Medes:

1:2 He fought many battles, and took the strong holds of all, and slew the kings of the earth:

1:3 And he went through even to the ends of the earth, and took the spoils of many nations: and the earth was quiet before him.

1:4 And he gathered a power, and a very strong army: and his heart was exalted and lifted up.

1:5 And he subdued countries of nations, and princes: and they became tributaries to him.

1:6 And after these things, he fell down upon his bed, and knew that he should die.

1:7 And he called his servants the nobles that were brought up with him from his youth: and he divided his kingdom among them, while he was yet alive.

1:8 And Alexander reigned twelve years, and he died.

1:9 And his servants made themselves kings every one in his place:

1:10 And they all put crowns upon themselves after his death, and their sons after them many years, and evils were multiplied in the earth.

1:11 And there came out of them a wicked root, Antiochus the Illustrious, the son of king Antiochus, who had been a hostage at Rome: and he reigned in the hundred and thirty-seventh year of the kingdom of the Greeks.

1:12 In those days there went out of Israel wicked men, and they persuaded many, saying: Let us go, and make a covenant with the heathens that are round about us: for since we departed from them, many evils have befallen us.

1:13 And the word seemed good in their eyes.

1:14 And some of the people determined to do this, and went to the king: and he gave them license to do after the ordinances of the heathens.

1:15 And they built a place of exercise in Jerusalem, according to the laws of the nations:

1:16 And they made themselves prepuces, and departed from the holy covenant, and joined themselves to the heathens, and were sold to do evil.

1:17 And the kingdom was established before Antiochus, and he had a mind to reign over the land of Egypt, that he might reign over two kingdoms.

1:18 And he entered into Egypt with a great multitude, with chariots and elephants, and horsemen, and a great number of ships:

1:19 And he made war against Ptolemee king of Egypt, but Ptolemee was afraid at his presence, and fled, and many were wounded unto death.

1:20 And he took the strong cities in the land of Egypt: and he took the spoils of the land of Egypt.

1:21 And after Antiochus had ravaged Egypt in the hundred and forty-third year, he returned and went up against Israel.

1:22 And he went up to Jerusalem with a great multitude.

1:23 And he proudly entered into the sanctuary, and took away the golden altar, and the candlestick of light, and all the vessels thereof, and the table of proposition, and the pouring vessels, and the vials, and the little mortars of gold, and the veil, and the crowns, and the golden ornament that was before the temple: and he broke them all in pieces.

1:24 And he took the silver and gold, and the precious vessels: and he took the hidden treasures which he found: and when he had taken all away he departed into his own country.

1:25 And he made a great slaughter of men, and spoke very proudly.

1:26 And there was great mourning in Israel, and in every place where they were.

1:27 And the princes, and the ancients mourned, and the virgins and the young men were made feeble, and the beauty of the women was changed.

1:28 Every bridegroom took up lamentation: and the bride that set in the marriage bed, mourned:

1:29 And the land was moved for the inhabitants thereof, and all the house of Jacob was covered with confusion.

1:30 And after two full years the king sent the chief collector of his tributes to the cities of Juda, and he came to Jerusalem with a great multitude.

1:31 And he spoke to them peaceable words in deceit: and they believed him.

1:32 And he fell upon the city suddenly, and struck it with a great slaughter, and destroyed much people in Israel.

1:33 And he took the spoils of the city, and burnt it with fire, and threw down the houses thereof, and the walls thereof round about:

1:34 And they took the women captive, and the children, and the cattle they possessed.

1:35 And they built the city of David with a great and strong wall, and with strong towers, and made it a fortress for them:

1:36 And they placed there a sinful nation, wicked men, and they fortified themselves therein: and they stored up armour, and victuals, and gathered together the spoils of Jerusalem;

1:37 And laid them up there: and they became a great snare.

1:38 And this was a place to lie in wait against the sanctuary, and an evil devil in Israel.

1:39 And they shed innocent blood round about the sanctuary, and defiled the holy place.

1:40 And the inhabitants of Jerusalem fled away by reason of them, and the city was made the habitation to strangers, and she became a stranger to her own seed, and her children forsook her.

1:41 Her sanctuary was desolate like a wilderness, her festival days were turned into mourning, her sabbaths into reproach, her honours were brought to nothing.

1:42 Her dishonour was increased according to her glory, and her excellency was turned into mourning.

1:43 And king Antiochus wrote to all his kingdom, that all the people should be one: and every one should leave his own law.

1:44 And all nations consented according to the word of king Antiochus.

1:45 And many of Israel consented to his service, and they sacrificed to idols, and profaned the sabbath.

1:46 And the king sent letters by the hands of messengers to Jerusalem, and to all the cities of Juda: that they should follow the law of the nations of the earth,

1:47 And should forbid holocausts and sacrifices, and atonements to be made in the temple of God.

1:48 And should prohibit the sabbath, and the festival days, to be celebrated.

1:49 And he commanded the holy places to be profaned, and the holy people of Israel.

1:50 And he commanded altars to be built, and temples, and idols, and swine's flesh to be immolated, and unclean beasts.

1:51 And that they should leave their children uncircumcised, 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 God.

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 God, and they built altars throughout all the cities of Juda round about:

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 God:

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 God.

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

1:64 And they hanged the children about their necks in all their houses: and those that had circumcised 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 God, and they were put to death:

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