He advanced to the ends of the earth and plundered many nations. When the earth became quiet before him, he was exalted, and his heart was lifted up.

He gathered a very strong army and ruled over countries, nations, and princes, and they paid him tribute.

In those days certain renegades came out from Israel and misled many, saying, “Let us go and make a covenant with the nations around us, for since we separated from them many disasters have come upon us.”

and some of the people eagerly went to the king, who authorized them to observe the ordinances of the nations.

So they built a gymnasium in Jerusalem according to the customs of the nations,

and made foreskins for themselves, and abandoned the holy covenant. They joined with the nations and sold themselves to do evil.

and that all should give up their particular customs. All the nations accepted the command of the king.

And see, our holy place, our beauty, and our glory have been laid waste; the nations have profaned them.

Now be the first to come and do what the king commands, as all the nations and the people of Judah and those who are left in Jerusalem have done. Then you and your sons will be numbered among the Friends of the king, and you and your sons will be honored with silver and gold and many gifts.”

But Mattathias answered and said in a loud voice: “Even if all the nations that live under the rule of the king obey him and have chosen to obey his commandments, every one of them abandoning the religion of their ancestors,

And all said to their neighbors: “If we all do as our kindred have done and refuse to fight with the nations for our lives and for our ordinances, they will quickly destroy us from the earth.”

They organized an army and struck down sinners in their anger and renegades in their wrath; the survivors fled to the nations for safety.

They rescued the law out of the hands of the nations and kings, and they never let the sinner gain the upper hand.

Pay back the nations in full, and obey the commands of the law.”

Then Apollonius gathered together nations and a large force from Samaria to fight against Israel.

Then Judas and his brothers began to be feared, and terror fell on the nations all around them.

His fame reached the king, and the nations talked of the battles of Judas.

Jerusalem was uninhabited like a wilderness; not one of her children went in or out. The sanctuary was trampled down, and strangers held the citadel; it was a lodging place for the nations. Joy was taken from Jacob; the flute and the harp ceased to play.

And they opened the book of the law to inquire into those matters about which the nations consulted the likenesses of their gods.

Here the nations are assembled against us to destroy us; you know what they plot against us.

And Judas said, “Arm yourselves and be courageous. Be ready early in the morning to fight with these nations who have assembled against us to destroy us and our sanctuary.

And they saw the camp of the nations, strong and fortified, with cavalry all around it, and these men were trained in war.

Then all the nations will know that there is one who redeems and saves Israel.”

and engaged in battle. The nations were crushed and fled into the plain,

And they thought it best to tear it down, so that it would not be a lasting shame to them that the nations had defiled it. So they tore down the altar