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 t