The First Book of the MACCABEES.
CHAP. I.
AND it happened, after that Alex ander son of Philip, the Macedoni an, who came out of the land of H Chettiim, had smitten Darius king of the Persians and Medes, that he reigned in his stead, the first over Greece,
2 And made many wars, and won many strong holds, and flew the kings of the earth,
3 And went through to the ends of the earth, and took spoils of many nations, in somuch that the earth was quiet before him ; whereupon || he was exalted, and his heart was lifted up.
4 And he gathered a mighty strong host, and ruled over countries, and nations, and || kings, who became tributaries unto him.
5 And after these things he fell sick, and perceived + that he mould die.
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.
7 So Alexander reigned twelve years, and then died.
8 And his servants bare rule every one in his place.
9 And after his death they all put crowns upon tbemselv£S ; so did their sons after them many years : and evils were multi plied in the earth.
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.
11 In those days went there out of Israel wicked men^who persuaded many, saying, Let os go and make a covenant with the heathen that are round about us * for since we departed from them t we have had Before much sorrow.
12 So this device pleased them well. t gY.
13 Then certain of the people were so TaZjm'nd forward herein, that they went to the king, «/. who gave them licence to do after the or dinances of the heathen :
14 Whereupon 1 they || built a place of Mac. exercise at Jerusalem according to the o?/ a* customs of the heathen : «/ open
15 And b made themselves uncircum- ^/"/Xr. cised, and forsook the holy covenant, and " 1 cor. joined themselves to the heathen, and 7> c were sold to do mischief.
16 Now when the kingdom was esta- Wished before Antiochus, he thought to reign over Egypt, that he might have the dominion of two realms.
17 Wherefore he entered into Egypt J with a great multitude, with chariots, and dDan. n, elephants, and horsemen, and a great navy, *S"
18 And made war against Ptolemee king; of Egypt : but Ptolemee was afraid of him, and fled ; and many were wounded to death.
19 Thus they got the strong cities in the lana of Egypt, and he took the spoils thereof.
20 And after that Antiochus had smitten Egypt, he returned again in the hundred forty and third year, and c went up against e Dan. s. Israel and Jerusalem with a great multi- tude,
21 And f entered proudly into the sane-- 'Dan. it. tuary, and took away the golden altar, and the candlestick os light, and all the vessels thereof,
22 And the table of the fhewbread, and the pouring vessels, and the vials, and the censers of gold, and the veil, and the crowns, and the golden ornaments that were before the temple, |] all which he pulled off.
23 He took also the silver and the gold, and the f precious vessels : also he took the t hidden treasures which he found.
24 And when he had taken all away, he went into his own land, having made a great massacre, and spoken very proudly.
25 Therefore there was great mourning in Israel, in every place where they were j
26 So that the princes and elders mourn ed, the virgins and young men were- made feeble, and the beauty of women was changed.
27 Every bridegroom took up lamentation, and (lie that fat in the marriage-chamber was in heaviness.
