In those days: Those whom King Antiochus had sent came to compel those who had taken refuge in the city of Modin to offer sacrifices, burn incense, and abandon the law of God, and many of the people of Israel agreed and joined them; but Mattathias and his sons stood firm. Then those sent by Antiochus spoke to Mattathias, saying, “Thou art the foremost, the most respected, and the greatest in this city, and thou art surrounded by thy sons and thy brethren. So come forward first and carry out the king’s command, as all the nations have done, as well as the men of Judah and those who have remained in Jerusalem; and thou and thy sons will be amongst the king’s friends and be showered with gold, silver, and many gifts.” Mattathias replied and said aloud: “Even if all the nations were to hearken and obey King Antiochus, so that everyone would abandon the law of their fathers and submit to his commands, I, my sons, and my brethren will hearken and obey the law of our fathers. May God be gracious unto us! It is of no use unto us to abandon the law and the commands of God. We will not heed the words of King Antiochus, nor will we offer sacrifices, violating the commandments of our law to follow a different path. As he finished speaking, a Jew stepped forward in full view of everyone to offer sacrifice unto the idols on the altar in the city of Modin, according unto the king’s order. Mattathias saw him and was seized with grief; his heart was stirred, and his anger flared up in accordance with the spirit of the Law; and rushing forward, he killed that man on the altar. At the same time, he also killed the man whom King Antiochus had sent and whom he was forcing to sacrifice, and he destroyed the altar. And he was filled with zeal for the Law, just as Phinehas had been toward Zimri, the son of Salomi. Then Mattathias cried out in a loud voice throughout the city: “Let everyone who is zealous for the Law and wishes to uphold the covenant follow me.” And he fled with his sons into the mountains, leaving behind everything they had in the city. Then a great number of people, who sought the Law and righteousness, went down into the wilderness.