Modi'in and Qumran

1 Maccabees 2:1-28

1In those days rose up Mattathias the son of John, the son of Simeon, a priest of the sons of Joarib, from Jerusalem; and he lived at Modin. 2And he had five sons, John, who was surnamed Gaddis; 3Simon, who was called Thassi; 4Judas, who was called Maccabaeus; 5Eleazar, who was called Avaran; Jonathan, who was called Apphus. 6And he saw the blasphemies that were committed in Judah and in Jerusalem, 7and he said, Woe is me! wherefore was I born to see the destruction of my people, and the destruction of the holy city, and to dwell there, when it was given into the hand of the enemy, the sanctuary into the hand of aliens? 8Her temple is become as a man that was glorious: 9her vessels of glory are carried away into captivity, her infants are slain in her streets, her young men with the sword of the enemy. 10What nation has not inherited her palaces, and gotten possession of her spoils? 11her adorning is all taken away; instead of a free woman she is become a bond woman: 12and, behold, our holy things and our beauty and our glory are laid waste, and the Gentiles have profaned them. 13Wherefore should we live any longer? 14And Mattathias and his sons tore their clothes, and put on sackcloth, and mourned exceedingly. 15And the king’s officers, that were enforcing the apostasy, came into the city Modin to sacrifice. 16And many of Israel came to them, and Mattathias and his sons were gathered together. 17And the king’s officers answered and spoke to Mattathias, saying, You are a ruler and an honorable and great man in this city, and strengthened with sons and kindred: 18now therefore come you first and do the commandment of the king, as all the nations have done, and the men of Judah, and those who remain in Jerusalem: and you and your house shall be in the number of the king’s Friends, and you and your sons shall be honored with silver and gold and many gifts. 19And Mattathias answered and said with a loud voice, If all the nations that are in the house of the king’s dominion hearken to him, to fall away each one from the worship of his fathers, and have made choice to follow his commandments, 20yet will I and my sons and my kindred walk in the covenant of our fathers. 21Heaven forbid that we should forsake the law and the ordinances. 22We will not hearken to the king’s words, to go aside from our worship, on the right hand, or on the left. 23And when he had left speaking these words, there came a Jew in the sight of all to sacrifice on the altar which was at Modin, according to the king’s commandment. 24And Mattathias saw it, and his zeal was kindled, and his reins trembled, and he showed forth his wrath according to judgement, and ran, and killed him upon the altar. 25And the king’s officer, who compelled men to sacrifice, he killed at that time, and pulled down the altar. 26And he was zealous for the law, even as Phinehas did to Zimri the son of Salu. 27And Mattathias cried out in the city with a loud voice, saying, Whosoever is zealous for the law, and maintains the covenant, let him come forth after me. 28And he and his sons fled into the mountains, and forsook all that they had in the city.