The Great Persecution.

Then the king issued an edict to his whole kingdom that all of his subjects should become a united people, with each nation abandoning its particular customs. All the Gentiles accepted the decree of the king, and many among the Israelites adopted his religion, sacrificing to idols and profaning the Sabbath.

       The king also sent messengers to Jerusalem and the cities of Judah with edicts commanding them to adopt practices that were foreign to their country: to prohibit holocausts, sacrifices, and libations in the sanctuary, to profane the Sabbaths and feast days, to defile the temple and its priests, to build altars, temples, and shrines for idols, to sacrifice swine and other unclean beasts, to leave their sons uncircumcised, and to allow themselves to be defiled with every kind of impurity and abomination, so that they would forget the law and change all their observances. Anyone who refused to obey the command of the king was to be put to death.

       These were the terms of the edicts he issued throughout his kingdom. He appointed inspectors to supervise all the people, and he commanded all the towns of Judah to offer sacrifices, town by town. Many of the people, abandoning the law, joined them and committed evil deeds in the land, thereby driving Israel into hiding in every possible place of refuge.

       On the fifteenth day of the month Chislev, in the year one hundred and forty-five, the king erected upon the altar of holocausts the abomination that causes desolation, and pagan altars were built in the surrounding towns of Judah. Incense was offered at the doors of the houses and in the streets. Any scrolls of the law that were found were torn to pieces and destroyed by fire. If any people were discovered in possession of a book of the covenant or acting in conformity with the law, they were condemned to death by the decree of the king.

       Month after month these wicked people used their power against any loyal Israelite found in the towns. On the twenty-fifth day of each month they offered sacrifice on the altar erected on top of the altar of holocausts. In accordance with the royal decree, any women who had their children circumcised were put to death, with their infants hung from their necks; also put to death were their families and those who had circumcised them.

       Despite all this, many in Israel stood firm and were resolved in their hearts not to eat any unclean food. They preferred to die rather than to be defiled by such food and profane the holy covenant, and they suffered death for their convictions. Great affliction was unleashed upon Israel.

1ST MACCABEES: CHAPTER 1, VERSES 41 - 64