I. MATTATHIAS, Son of John, of the Family of Joarib, and of the Race of the Priests made himself very famous during the Persecution of Antiochus Epiphanes. He 1 Mac. ii. 1, 2, &c.was at Jerusalem when Apollonius arrived there, with the wicked Orders of Antiochus. Mattathias retired to Modin, his own Countrey, to let this Tempest blow over, or to expect there till God should give him some Occasion of signalizing his Zeal for his Religion and his Countrey1. Mattathias was not there long, before they that were sent by King Antiochus came thither, to compel the People of Modin to sacrifice, and renounce the Law of God. Several of the People complied, and joined themselves to the King’s Officers; but Mattathias and his Sons continued stedfast, and when they came to him to urge him to sacrifice, because he was the chief Man of the City, he lifted up his Voice and declared, that though all the Nations of the World, and the whole People of Judah should obey Antiochus, he alone would never obey him in a Thing of this Nature. And when he had left off speaking, a certain Jew advancing to sacrifice to Idols before the whole Assembly, Mattathias was so exasperated with Grief and Indignation, and transported with Zeal, that he fell upon the Man and killed him, even upon the Altar on which he was going to offer Incense. At the same Time he slew the Officer sent by the King, to compel the People to sacrifice; and having overthrown the Altar, he cried out; Whoever is zealous for the Law, and will continue firm in the Covenant of the Lord, let him follow me.
Mattathias had five Sons, Joannan called Caddis, or Gaddis, Simon surnamed Thassi, Judas called Maccabeus, Eleazar called Avaran, Avaron, or Aharon, and Jonathan surnamed Apphus. He retired into the Mountains with his five Sons, and was followed thither by several good Israelites, who withdrew themselves from the Persecution, chusing rather to leave all their Substance, than to forsake the Law of their God. The Officers and the King’s Troops that were at Jerusalem having heard of the Opposition of Mattathias, and the other Jews of Modin, marched immediately against ‘em, with a Design to attack them on the Sabbath Day. This Design they executed on the poor Israelites, who suffered themselves to be massacred without any Resistance, because they would not violate the Repose of the Sabbath. But Mattathias being informed of this, made a great Mourning for it, and calling his Sons and Friends together, they deliberated upon this Matter, how they ought to behave themselves if their Enemies should set upon them on the Sabbath Day. And they came to a Resolution of defending themselves, and fighting the Enemy, that they might not take any Advantage from their Religion, or from their Veneration for the Sabbath, which otherwise might prove to their utter Destruction.
Then were Mattathias and his Sons joined by the Assideans, who were the most religious as well as the most valiant Men of Israel, and most affectionate to the Law. They formed themselves into one Body, and fell upon the Apostates of Israel, who had deserted the Law of their Fathers. They killed a great Number of them, and obliged the rest to take Shelter among the Infidel Nations. After this Mattathias marched through all the Countrey, destroying all the Altars dedicated to false Gods, circumcised all the Children that had not yet received Circumcision, humbled the Children of Pride, and delivered the Law from its Subjection to Strangers, and from the Power of the King.
Mattathias apprehending that the Time of his Death drew near2, he called his Sons together, and observed to ‘em, that the Kingdom of Pride was strengthened, that this was a Time of Correction and Ruin, of Wrath and Indignation. “There- “fore, my Children, continued he, be “truly zealous for the Law, and sacrifice “your Lives for the Covenant of your Fa- “thers. Remember the Zeal of your An- “cestors, and the great Actions that they “done. Fear neither the Authority nor “Words of wicked Men. Fortifie your “selves, and act bravely for the Defence “of the Law. This will be the Means of “obtaining a true and solid Glory. I know “your Brother Simon to be a Man of “Council and Prudence; hearken always “to him, and he will be to you instead of “a Father. Judas Maccabæus has shewn “Proofs of his Valour and Bravery from “his earliest Youth; let him be the Ge- “neral of your Troops, and lead you out “to Battle. Keep a strict Union with all “those that are faithful to the Law, and “revenge your People upon their Enemies.” After this he blessed them, and was gathered to his Fathers. He was buried at Modin in the Sepulchre of his Ancestors, and all Israel bewailed him, and made a great Mourning for him. He had not been above one Year at the Head of the People. Some3 have pretended, that Mattathias had been High-priest of the Jews, and found their Opinion upon the Decision he made, that in Case of Necessity they might fight upon the Sabbath Day, to defend themselves. But this Decision is not sufficient to prove this; and it does not appear that he ever performed any Function belonging to the High-priesthood in the Temple, which was then profaned and abandoned to the Gentiles. Besides, Menelaus and Alcimus were then alive, and though they were Intruders and very wicked Men, yet they passed for High-priests.
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