1. In those days a priest from Joarib’s family named Mattathias, the son of John and grandson of Simeon, moved from Jerusalem and settled in Modein.
2. He had five sons: John, who had the surname Gaddi;
3. Simon, called Thassi;
4. Judas, called Maccabeus;
5. Eleazar, called Avaran; and Jonathan, called Apphus.
6. Mattathias saw the offensive actions against God that were taking place in Judah and Jerusalem.
7. He said:"Horrible! Why was I born to see this—the ruin of my people,the ruin of the holy city?Why was I born to live there when it was given over to the enemy,and when the sanctuarywas given over to strangers?
8. Her temple has becomelike a person stripped of honor.
9. Her glorious equipmenthas been taken away into exile.Her babies have been killedin her streets,her young peopleby the enemy’s sword.
10. Is there a nation that hasn’ttaken away some part of her majestyand seized upon her loot?
11. All her adornment has been taken away.She is no longer free,but is instead a slave.
12. Look! Our holy place, our beauty,and our glory have all been destroyed.The Gentiles have trampled them.
13. Why should we live any longer?"