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Mattathias Named the Sons Who Would Carry the Revolt

Mattathias mourns the fallen sanctuary, names his sons before the war begins, then hands the Maccabean revolt to each one by character.

Curated by Arthur · Told by Maggid ·
Table of Contents
  1. He Named the Sons Before He Named the War
  2. The Wilderness Became a Court for Those Who Sought Justice
  3. They Recovered the Law From the Gentiles
  4. He Assigned Each Son His Role Before He Died

He Named the Sons Before He Named the War

Mattathias was a priest from Modi'in, and the first thing First Maccabees does with him is name his sons. Simon, called Thassi. Judas, called Maccabeus. Eleazar, called Avaran. Jonathan, called Apphus. The names stand in the text before the grief opens. Then the grief opens.

"Why," Mattathias cried out, "was I born to see the misery of my people? The holy city handed over and given into the hands of enemies. The sanctuary in the hands of strangers. Her vessels carried away. Her infants slain in the streets. Her young men cut down by the sword. What nation has not taken part in her inheritance and taken her as a spoil?"

The list of sons stands beside the list of losses. That is not accidental. The book is showing what grief becomes. The sons who hear the lament will become its answer.

The Wilderness Became a Court for Those Who Sought Justice

When Mattathias and his sons fled to the mountains, they left everything they had in the city. Others followed: those seeking justice, those who had found affliction unbearable. They went down into the wilderness with wives, children, and cattle because staying had become impossible. The wilderness became the place where judgment could still be practiced, where those who would not bow to the king's decree could live according to the law even at great cost.

Not everyone who fled made it safely. A band of soldiers followed them into the wilderness on the Sabbath day and killed a thousand people, with their wives and children and cattle, because those attacked would not fight back or stop up the caves with stones. They died saying: "Let us all die in our innocence. Heaven and earth are witnesses that you destroy us wrongfully." When Mattathias heard, he said: "if we all do as our brothers have done and refuse to fight for our lives on the Sabbath day, they will quickly destroy us from the earth." And he made the ruling that became the precedent: "a man shall fight on the Sabbath day to preserve his life."

They Recovered the Law From the Gentiles

With their forces growing, Mattathias and his companions pursued the proud and the work prospered. They recovered the Torah out of the hand of the Gentiles and out of the hand of kings, and they did not suffer the sinner to triumph. They tore down the altars the king had built. They rescued circumcised children from those who had tried to undo them. They overthrew the arrogant, and the work prospered in their hands.

He Assigned Each Son His Role Before He Died

When Mattathias knew he was dying, he gathered his sons and spoke plainly. "Arrogance and reproach have grown strong," he said. "It is a time of ruin and the wrath of indignation. Now therefore, my sons, be zealous for the law and give your lives for the covenant of your fathers. Remember the deeds of the fathers in their generations and receive great honor and an everlasting name."

Then he named Simon: "give ear to him always, he shall be a father to you." And Judas Maccabeus, who has been mighty and strong from his youth: "let him be your captain and fight the battle of the people. Take to you all the doers of the law, and avenge the wrong of your people. Recompense fully the Gentiles, and take heed to the commandments of the law."

Maccabees IMattathiasMaccabeesTorahApocrypha
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The texts this telling draws on, in full. Open a card to read inline, or expand it for a wider, quieter read.

The Book of Maccabees I 2:8The Book of Maccabees I

Mattathias, father of the Maccabees, certainly felt that way.

Our story isn't from the Hebrew Bible we know as the Tanakh. This comes from the First Book of Maccabees, part of the Apocrypha, writings preserved outside the rabbinic canon and important historical sources for Jewish history. It paints a vivid picture of a family facing impossible choices.

Simon, later called Thassi, a title perhaps meaning "the wise." Then there's Judas, forever known as Maccabeus – "the Hammer." Eleazar, nicknamed Avaran. And Jonathan, who went by Apphus.

These weren't just names on a page; they were men of faith, living in a time of intense upheaval. Imagine witnessing the desecration of everything you hold sacred. That's precisely what Mattathias faced.

He saw the "blasphemies that were committed in Juda and Jerusalem." Just picture the scene: the Temple defiled, Jewish practices outlawed, the very essence of their faith under attack.

And what was his reaction? He cries out, "Woe is me! Wherefore was I born to see this misery of my people, and of the holy city..?"

Can you feel his anguish? The weight of history, the despair of witnessing his people's suffering. It's raw, it's visceral. He wonders why he was even born to witness such horrors.

He continues, lamenting, "Her glorious vessels are carried away into captivity, her infants are slain in the streets, her young men with the sword of the enemy."

The imagery is brutal. The sacred vessels, symbols of God's presence, stolen. Innocent children murdered. Young men, full of potential, cut down in their prime. Mattathias isn't just mourning the loss of objects; he's mourning the loss of a way of life, the potential future of his people.

This wasn't just a political conflict; it was a spiritual crisis. It was a battle for the very soul of Judaism. And in that moment of despair, Mattathias made a choice. He chose to fight back. He chose to resist. He chose to become a symbol of hope for generations to come. What would you have chosen?

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The Book of Maccabees I 2:33The Book of Maccabees I

What would you do? Where would you go?

This is precisely the situation facing Mattathias and his sons in the Book of Maccabees I, Chapter 2. They've just made a monumental decision: defying the decrees of the Seleucid king Antiochus IV Epiphanes. A decision that changes everything.

So, what do they do? "He and his sons fled into the mountains, and left all that ever they had in the city." Just like that. Gone. Leaving behind their home, their possessions, their comfortable lives. Fleeing for their lives and their faith.

It's a stark image, isn't it? This isn't some grand strategic retreat. This is a desperate flight.

But they aren’t alone.

"Then many that sought after justice and judgment went down into the wilderness, to dwell there: Both they, and their children, and their wives; and their cattle; because afflictions increased sore upon them." Not just warriors, but families. Entire communities driven into the harsh wilderness. The Book of Maccabees emphasizes the totality of this exodus. They take their children, their wives, their cattle. Everything they can carry. It’s a mass movement of people determined to live according to their conscience, even if it means enduring unimaginable hardship.

Why the wilderness? Well, it's a classic refuge in Jewish history. Think of the Israelites wandering in the desert after the Exodus from Egypt. The wilderness represents both danger and freedom – a place beyond the reach of oppressive powers, but also a place of immense challenge and vulnerability.

Of course, this act of defiance doesn't go unnoticed. King Antiochus isn't known for his patience or his tolerance.

"Now when it was told the king’s servants, and the host that was at Jerusalem, in the city of David, that certain men, who had broken the king’s commandment, were gone down into the secret places in the wilderness, They pursued after them a great number."

The hunt is on. The authorities aren't about to let this act of rebellion go unanswered. They send a "great number" after them.

What happens next? We’ll see how Mattathias and his followers respond to this new threat, and how this small act of resistance ignites a flame that will eventually lead to the Maccabean Revolt and the miracle of Hanukkah.

But for now, let's just sit with this image: families fleeing into the wilderness, clinging to their faith, facing an uncertain future. It's a powerful reminder of the sacrifices people are willing to make for what they believe in. What would you be willing to leave behind?

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The Book of Maccabees I 2:47The Book of Maccabees I

The Book of Maccabees I turns to Mattathias Studies Torah.

It’s a time of intense religious persecution in ancient Israel. The Seleucid Empire, under the rule of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, is actively trying to suppress Jewish practices. Think outlawing the Sabbath, desecrating the Temple in Jerusalem, and forcing people to worship Greek gods. Pretty heavy stuff. Enter Mattathias, a priest from the Hasmonean family. When a Seleucid official tries to make him offer a pagan sacrifice, Mattathias doesn’t just refuse – he kills the official and a Jew who was about to comply! It's a bold, decisive act of rebellion that sparks a firestorm. "Though all the nations that are under the king's dominion obey him, and fall away every one from the religion of their fathers, and give consent to his commandments: Yet will I and my sons and my brethren walk in the covenant of our fathers," Mattathias proclaims. A powerful statement of defiance! (1 Maccabees 2:19-20)

Following this act, Mattathias and his sons flee to the mountains, calling on all who are zealous for the Law to join them. And that's where our passage picks up.

"Then came there unto him a company of Assideans who were mighty men of Israel, even all such as were voluntarily devoted unto the law." (1 Maccabees 2:42). Now, who are these Assideans? They were "mighty men of Israel..voluntarily devoted unto the law." Some scholars believe the Assideans, or Hasideans, were the forerunners of the Pharisees, known for their strict adherence to Jewish law and traditions. They were deeply committed to preserving their religious identity in the face of Hellenistic influence.

And they weren’t the only ones flocking to Mattathias’ banner. "Also all they that fled for persecution joined themselves unto them, and were a stay unto them." (1 Maccabees 2:43) Anyone who was running from the persecution, anyone who refused to compromise their faith, joined the growing ranks of the rebels. They provided support, becoming a strong foundation for the resistance.

"So they joined their forces, and smote sinful men in their anger, and wicked men in their wrath: but the rest fled to the heathen for succour." (1 Maccabees 2:44) This wasn't a peaceful protest. The Maccabees and their followers actively fought against those who were collaborating with the Seleucids, those they considered "sinful" and "wicked." Those who didn’t want to take part in the rebellion, or who supported the Hellenistic ways, sought refuge with the "heathen," meaning the non-Jewish population.

The text continues, "Then Mattathias and his friends went round about, and pulled down the altars: And what children soever they found within the coast of Israel uncircumcised, those they circumcised valiantly." (1 Maccabees 2:45-46). This paints a picture of a very active resistance. They were dismantling the symbols of pagan worship and enforcing Jewish law, specifically the commandment of circumcision – a powerful symbol of the covenant between God and the Jewish people. Enforcing circumcision on uncircumcised boys powerfully reclaimed Jewish identity in the face of forced assimilation.

This passage from the First Book of Maccabees isn't just a historical account. It's a story about courage, faith, and the fight to preserve one's identity in the face of overwhelming odds. It begs the question: What would you do if your most deeply held beliefs were threatened? How far would you go to protect them? The Maccabees chose to fight, and their story continues to inspire us today.

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The Book of Maccabees I 2:53The Book of Maccabees I

That feeling, that struggle, is at the very heart of the story we find in 1 Maccabees 2.

It’s a time of immense pressure on the Jewish people. The mitzvot, the commandments, are under attack. The very fabric of their religious life is threatened. But even in the darkest times, there are sparks of hope, flickers of resistance.

They "pursued also after the proud men, and the work prospered in their hand." What does that mean, exactly? It means they fought back. They didn't just sit idly by while their traditions were being trampled on. They took action, and against all odds, their efforts bore fruit. The work prospered.

What was this "work"? Well, "they recovered the law out of the hand of the Gentiles, and out of the hand of kings, neither suffered they the sinner to triumph." They reclaimed their religious freedom. They refused to let those who sought to undermine their faith succeed. It's a powerful image, isn't it? Snatching the Torah, the law, back from the clutches of oppression.

But these victories came at a price. The shadow of mortality loomed large. Mattathias, the leader of this burgeoning rebellion, knew his time was short. As his life neared its end, he gathered his sons around him. Can you imagine the weight of those final words?

"Now hath pride and rebuke gotten strength, and the time of destruction, and the wrath of indignation." Mattathias understood the gravity of the situation. He saw the forces arrayed against them. He knew the challenges that lay ahead.

And what was his charge to his sons? "Now therefore, my sons, be ye zealous for the law, and give your lives for the covenant of your fathers." A call to action, a plea for unwavering commitment. Be passionate, be dedicated, be willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of your faith.

It's a powerful message, and one that resonates across the centuries. Mattathias implored his sons to "call to remembrance what acts our fathers did in their time; so shall ye receive great honour and an everlasting name." Remember the past. Remember the sacrifices that were made before you. Remember the legacy you are now tasked with carrying forward.

Why remember the past? Because history provides strength. Knowing what our ancestors endured, and how they overcame adversity, fortifies us in our own struggles. It reminds us that we are part of something larger than ourselves, a chain of tradition that stretches back through time.

And what is the reward for such unwavering devotion? "So shall ye receive great honour and an everlasting name." Not necessarily earthly honors, or fleeting fame, but something far more profound: a place in the ongoing story of their people, a legacy that will endure for generations to come.

So, what does this ancient text mean for us today? Perhaps it's a reminder that even when faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles, we have the power to fight for what we believe in. Maybe it's a call to remember our own traditions, to understand where we come from, and to pass that knowledge on to future generations. Or maybe it's simply a powerful story of courage, resilience, and the enduring strength of faith. Whatever it is, it’s a story worth remembering.

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The Book of Maccabees I 2:72The Book of Maccabees I

It’s a scene straight out of the Book of Maccabees, a story of courage, faith, and family legacy.

Mattathias, the patriarch, the spark that ignited the Maccabean revolt, knows his time is near. He’s gathered his sons around him, those brave warriors who dared to stand against the might of the Seleucid Empire. The air is thick with emotion, with the weight of responsibility, with the uncertainty of what's to come.

His words aren’t flowery or sentimental. They’re a call to action, a practical guide for survival and leadership. "And behold, I know that your brother Simon is a man of counsel, give ear unto him alway: he shall be a father unto you." Simon, known for his wisdom and diplomacy, is to be their advisor, their guide. A steady hand when things get rough.

It's the charge regarding Judas Maccabeus that really resonates. "As for Judas Maccabeus, he hath been mighty and strong, even from his youth up: let him be your captain, and fight the battle of the people." Judas, the hammer – that's what Maccabeus means, after all. He was the military genius, the fearless leader, the one who could inspire the troops to fight against seemingly insurmountable odds. Judas is appointed their captain, the one to lead them in battle.

Mattathias doesn’t stop there. He urges them to stay true to their values. "Take also unto you all those that observe the law, and avenge ye the wrong of your people. Recompense fully the heathen, and take heed to the commandments of the law." He knows that military might alone isn't enough. They need to remain steadfast in their faith, to uphold the principles that fueled their rebellion in the first place. It's a reminder that this isn't just a war for land, it's a war for the soul of their people.

"So he blessed them, and was gathered to his fathers." A simple, yet powerful statement. Mattathias, his mission nearing completion, gives his blessing.

"And he died in the hundred forty and sixth year, and his sons buried him in the sepulchres of his fathers at Modin." The year is counted according to the Seleucid era. Mattathias is laid to rest in Modin, the town where it all began.

It's a moment of profound transition. The old guard is passing, and the new generation must rise to the challenge. But Mattathias doesn't just leave them with a void. He leaves them with a plan, a purpose, and a blessing. A legacy of courage, faith, and the unwavering commitment to fight for what's right. He entrusted his sons with the future, placing his faith in their ability to carry on the fight. And that, perhaps, is the most powerful message of all.

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The Book of Maccabees I 2:15The Book of Maccabees I

The Book of Maccabees I turns to Mattathias and the Holy Sanctuary.

The Book of Maccabees I plunges us into a world where Jerusalem, once a beacon of freedom and spiritual light, has been brutally subjugated. "What nation hath not had a part in her kingdom and gotten of her spoils?" The question drips with bitterness and despair. It paints a picture of a city stripped bare, its treasures plundered, its people oppressed.

The weight of that reality: "All her ornaments are taken away; of a free woman she is become a bondslave." The image is stark. Jerusalem, once a proud queen, is now reduced to servitude.

The ultimate indignity? "And, behold, our sanctuary, even our beauty and our glory, is laid waste, and the Gentiles have profaned it." The Beit Hamikdash, the Holy Temple, the very heart of Jewish life, desecrated. You can almost feel the collective gasp of horror, the sense of violation.

In response to this catastrophe, we read a powerful, visceral reaction: "Then Mattathias and his sons rent their clothes, and put on sackcloth, and mourned very sore." This isn't just sadness; it's a primal scream of grief. Tearing clothes and donning sackcloth are ancient expressions of mourning, a way of physically embodying the pain of loss. It's a tradition that speaks volumes about the depth of their anguish.

The story then shifts to Modin, a city that will soon become synonymous with resistance. "In the mean while the king’s officers, such as compelled the people to revolt, came into the city Modin, to make them sacrifice." These aren't just tax collectors or bureaucrats; they are agents of religious persecution, tasked with forcing Jews to abandon their faith.

And here's the crux of the matter. The moment of decision. "And when many of Israel came unto them, Mattathias also and his sons came together." Why did they go? Were they curious? Hopeful? Or perhaps, already steeling themselves for the inevitable confrontation? The text doesn't tell us, but the tension is palpable. This is the quiet before the storm, the moment when ordinary people are about to be thrust into extraordinary circumstances.

What would you do in their place? Would you stand by and watch your faith be dismantled, brick by painful brick? Or would you find the courage to fight back, even against overwhelming odds? It is a question that echoes through history, and one that resonates powerfully even today.

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