17. The king's officials said to Mattathias, “You are a respected leader in this town, and you have the support of your sons and relatives.
18. Why not be the first one here to do what the king has commanded? All the Gentiles, the people of Judea, and all the people left in Jerusalem have already done so. If you do, you and your sons will be honoured with the title of ‘Friends of the King,’ and you will be rewarded with silver and gold and many gifts.”
19. Mattathias answered in a loud voice, “I don't care if every Gentile in this empire has obeyed the king and yielded to the command to abandon the religion of his ancestors.
20. My children, my relatives, and I will continue to keep the covenant that God made with our ancestors.
21. With God's help we will never abandon his Law or disobey his commands.
22. We will not obey the king's decree, and we will not change our way of worship in the least.”
23. Just as he finished speaking, one of the men from Modein decided to obey the king's decree and stepped out in front of everyone to offer a pagan sacrifice on the altar that stood there.
24. When Mattathias saw him, he became angry enough to do what had to be done. Shaking with rage, he ran forward and killed the man right there on the altar.
25. He also killed the royal official who was forcing the people to sacrifice, and then he tore down the altar.
26. In this way Mattathias showed his deep devotion for the Law, just as Phinehas had done when he killed Zimri son of Salu.
27. Then Mattathias went through the town shouting, “Everyone who is faithful to God's covenant and obeys his Law, follow me!”
28. With this, he and his sons fled to the mountains, leaving behind all they owned.
29-30. At that time also many of the Israelites who were seeking to be right with God through obedience to the Law went out to live in the wilderness, taking their children, their wives, and their livestock with them, because of the terrible oppression they were suffering.
31. The report soon reached the king's officials and the soldiers in the fort at Jerusalem that some men who had defied the king's command had gone into hiding in the wilderness.