Mattathias and his sons
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;
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 sanctuary was given over to strangers?
8
Her temple has become like a person stripped of honor.
9
Her glorious equipment has been taken away into exile. Her babies have been killed in her streets, her young people by the enemy's sword.
10
Is there a nation that hasn't taken away some part of her majesty and 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?"
14
Then Mattathias and his sons tore their clothes and put on mourning clothes, and they lamented.