Mattathiah was dying. According to the Chronicles of Jerahmeel, a 12th-century Hebrew chronicle preserved by Moses Gaster in 1899, the father of the Maccabean revolt called his five sons to his bedside for a final charge. He did not offer comfort. He offered a battle plan.
"I know that fierce battles will be waged in the land of Judah," he told them. "Now, my sons, be zealous for your God, for His sanctuary, and for His people. Fight, and do not be afraid of death. If you die in battle, you will be received among your brethren, and their portion shall be shared with you." He reminded them of every ancestor who had fought with zeal—Abraham, who battled the four kings; Joseph, who kept God's commandments in a foreign land; Phinehas, who acted with righteous fury and received an eternal covenant of priesthood; Joshua, who became judge of Israel through obedience; David, who inherited the throne through mercy.
Then Mattathiah turned to the question of leadership. He appointed Simeon, his wisest son, as the family's counselor: "He shall be a father unto you." For the battlefield, he chose Judah—the one they would call Maccabee. "He shall go forth and wage your wars," Mattathiah declared, "and he will gather our people about him."
Mattathiah died and was buried at Mod'aith, mourned by all Israel. His son Judah rose to take his place. The chronicle describes him as a figure who struck terror into kings—appearing to his enemies "as a roaring lion seeking prey appears to cattle." Jacob rejoiced at his deeds from beyond, for Judah's name rang from one end of the world to the other. The text concludes with a blessing rarely given to a warrior: "Peace and repose upon his righteous couch, for he did not withhold his soul from death to defend Israel, God's people."
XCI. (1) Now, the days of Mattathiah were drawing to a
close, so, calling his five sons to his bedside, he encouraged
them and exhorted them, saying, ' I know that now fierce
battles will be waged in the land of Judah, since we have
been stirred up to fight for our people. Now, my sons,
be zealous for your God, for His sanctuary, and for His
people. Fight, and do not be afraid of death; if you die
270 [XCI. 2
in battle, you will be received among your brethren, and
their portion shall be shared with you, for to all our
ancestors who have been zealous for God, God has given
honour and favour. Did not our ancestor Pinehas receive
the everlasting covenant, and did not our other ancestors
who were zealous for the Lord receive their reward from the
Lord ?' (2) Then, addressing Simeon his son, he said, ' I
know the wisdom that God has put in thy heart; withhold
not, then, thy counsel from this people, and be to thy
brethren as a father, and they shall hearken to thee and to
all thy counsels, since our God has given thee might and
wisdom.' (3) Next Mattathiah called his son Judah, who
came and stood before him; and he said, ' 0 my son Judah,
who art called Maccabee (^''2Da) on account of thy power,
I know, my son, that thou art a man of war, and that God
has given thee strength and might, and a heart like a lion's
that flees from nothing. Now, my son, honour the Lord
with all the strength the Lord hath granted thee; fight
His battles without stopping; do not be reluctant to
travel the four corners of the land — east, west, south and
north — to capture the country from the power of the
uncircumcised; be to them the captain of their host and
the anointed of battle.' Then, bringing out a horn of
oil, he poured it upon his head, and thus anointed him for
battle, while all the people raised a shout, and, blowing
upon their trumpets, exclaimed, 'Long live the anointed!'
(4) When he had finished his exhortation to his sons, he died
and was gathered to his people, and Judah his son, sur-
named Maccabee, arose in his place. He had the assistance
of his brothers, his father's household, and all the assembly
of the Hassidim. And Judah was glad to fight the battles
of Israel. Having clothed himself in a coat of mail as a
warrior, and equipped himself with the implements of war,
he looked like one of the sons of Anak. He protected the
camp of Israel with his sword, and, pursuing the enemy,
he crushed out their life. He burnt the sinners with the
fire of his mouth, confounded the wicked with terror, and
confused all the evil-doers through fear of him, for he
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appeared to them just as a roaring lion seeking prey appears
to cattle. Jacob rejoiced at his deeds and was glad at his
actions, for he confounded great kings, so that his name
rang from one end of the world to the other, and people con-
tinually spoke of the wars he waged. Blessed be his name
among the people of Israel; peace and repose be upon his
righteous couch, and blessing on his holy bed, for he has
not withheld his soul from death to defend Israel, God's
people, and has slain all the wicked of the people of Judah
who led the Israelites astray.
