1 Maccabees 2:15-29
Chapter 2
Mattathias and his sons separated themselves, while many Israelites joined them.
The king’s representatives approached Mattathias and said: “You are one of the city’s leaders, a prominent and well-respected man, and your many children and relatives follow your lead.
Come now, and be the first to carry out the king’s order, just as the men of Judah have already done, along with the survivors in Jerusalem. You and your sons will be the king’s friends, and he will send you gold, silver, and many other gifts.”
But Mattathias answered loudly: Even if all the nations within the kingdom should abandon the religion of their ancestors and submit to King Antiochus’s rule,
I, my sons, and my family will remain faithful to the Covenant of our ancestors.
May God keep us from forsaking the law and its precepts.
We will not obey the king’s orders nor turn away from our religion, neither to the right nor to the left.
When he finished speaking these words, a Jew stepped forward, in front of everyone, to offer incense on the altar built in Modein, according to the king’s decree.
When Mattathias saw him, he was fired with zeal. His heart was stirred, and giving vent to his righteous anger, he threw himself on the Jew and cut the man’s throat on the altar.
At the same time, he killed the king’s representative, who was forcing the people to offer a sacrifice, and then tore down the altar.
In doing so, he demonstrated his passion for the law, just as Phinehas did with Zimri, son of Salu.
Mattathias then loudly announced in the city: “Everyone who is zealous for the law and supports the Covenant, come out and follow me!”
He and his sons immediately fled to the mountains and left behind all they had in the city.
Many Jews who sought justice and wanted to be faithful to the law went into the desert.
Commentaries
The Rebellion of Mattathias.
Just as we divide the history of the patriarchs into cycles—Abraham, Jacob, and Joseph (Gn 12-50)—we can also split the first book of Maccabees into cycles: the cycle of Mattathias (2:1-70), Judas (3:1-9:22), Jonathan (9:23-12:53), and Simon (13:1-16:24). Opposing Antiochus IV Epiphanes, a symbol of imperial power, Mattathias—meaning “gift of God”—emerges as the leader of the Jewish resistance. The empire’s officials attempt to buy the loyalty of Mattathias and his sons by offering them titles and riches. However, they reject the empire’s offer and organize armed resistance—a “holy war”—from the mountains of Judah. Mattathias’ army is joined by a group of ‘loyalists’ or “pious ones,” from which the Pharisees and Essenes later originate. The Maccabean army campaigns across the country, aiming to “rescue the Law from the hands of the pagans.” Matthias’s testament echoes those of Jacob (Gn 49) and Moses (Dt 33). The testament contains two pieces of advice, presented in an imperative tone: to persevere in the struggle and to be willing to sacrifice one’s life for God’s plan (50).
Additionally, a list of virtues to follow exists: faith, fidelity, zeal, observance, witness, mercy, trust, and active resistance. Walking in their ancestors’ footsteps guarantees victory over the pagans. The army’s command is given to Judas (66), who, although not the oldest, is the most experienced in battle.