1 Maccabees 1:57–67

⁵⁷On the fifteenth day of the month, Casleu, in the hundred and forty-fifth year, king Antiochus set up the abominable idol of desolation upon the altar of God, and they built altars throughout all the cities of Juda round about:

⁵⁸And they burnt incense, and sacrificed at the doors of the houses and in the streets.

⁵⁹And they cut in pieces, and burnt with fire the books of the law of God:

⁶⁰And every one with whom the books of the testament of the Lord were found, and whosoever observed the law of the Lord, they put to death, according to the edict of the king.

⁶¹Thus by their power did they deal with the people of Israel, that were found in the cities month after month.

⁶²And on the five and twentieth day of the month they sacrificed upon the altar of the idol that was over against the altar of God.

⁶³Now the women that circumcised their children were slain according to the commandment of king Antiochus,

⁶⁴And they hanged the children about their neck in all their houses: and those that had circumcised them, they put to death.

⁶⁵And many of the people of Israel determined with themselves, that they would not eat unclean things: and they chose rather to die, than to be defiled with unclean meats:

⁶⁶And they would not break the holy law of God and they were put to death:

⁶⁷And there was very great wrath upon the people.