1 Maccabees 1

How to read these pages: the text itself comes first, verse by verse, in the volume's own translation. Beneath each verse stands its Meaning — a rendering of what the passage's terms name in the inner life, drawn from the correspondences the text itself uses. The text is never altered; the meaning is offered, not imposed.

King James Version

1And it happened, after that Alexander son of Philip, the Macedonian, who came out of the land of Chettim, had smitten Darius king of the Persians and Medes, that he reigned in his stead, the first over Greece,

And it happened, after Alexander son of Philip, the Macedonian, coming out of the land of Chettim, had smitten Darius, ruling state of the Persians and Medes, that he reigned in his stead, the first over Greece — one outer ruling state displacing another, the empire of sense succeeding empire.

2And made many wars, and won many strong holds, and slew the kings of the earth,

And he made many wars — the conflict of ambition with every state that opposed it — and won many strong holds, and slew the ruling states of the outer life.

3And went through to the ends of the earth, and took spoils of many nations, insomuch that the earth was quiet before him; whereupon he was exalted and his heart was lifted up.

And he went through to the ends of the outer life, and took spoils of many nations, until the outer life was quiet before him; whereupon he was exalted and his heart was lifted up — the ruling state swollen with its own dominion.

4And he gathered a mighty strong host and ruled over countries, and nations, and kings, who became tributaries unto him.

And he gathered a mighty strong host and ruled over countries, and nations, and ruling states, who became tributaries unto him — every lesser state paying tribute to the one enthroned ambition.

5And after these things he fell sick, and perceived that he should die.

And after these things he fell sick, and perceived that he should die — even the mightiest outer ruling state meets its own end.

6Wherefore he called his servants, such as were honourable, and had been brought up with him from his youth, and parted his kingdom among them, while he was yet alive.

Wherefore he called his servants, such as were honourable, and had been brought up with him from his youth, and parted his realm among them, while he was yet alive — the dominion divided among the faculties that had served it.

7So Alexander reigned twelve years, and then died.

So Alexander reigned twelve years, and then died — the count kept exact: twelve years of the outer empire, then its passing.

8And his servants bare rule every one in his place.

And his servants bare rule every one in his place — the divided dominion settling into lesser ruling states.

9And after his death they all put crowns upon themselves; so did their sons after them many years: and evils were multiplied in the earth.

And after his death they all put crowns upon themselves — a crown, a ruling state acknowledged — so did their sons after them many years: and evils were multiplied in the outer life, disorder breeding disorder under divided rule.

10And there came out of them a wicked root Antiochus surnamed Epiphanes, son of Antiochus the king, who had been an hostage at Rome, and he reigned in the hundred and thirty and seventh year of the kingdom of the Greeks.

And there came out of them a wicked root, Antiochus surnamed Epiphanes, son of Antiochus the king, who had been an hostage at Rome, and he reigned in the hundred and thirty and seventh year of the kingdom of the Greeks — out of the divided empire arose the persecuting ruling state, the outer empire's state demanding the inner law's surrender.

11In those days went there out of Israel wicked men, who persuaded many, saying, Let us go and make a covenant with the heathen that are round about us: for since we departed from them we have had much sorrow.

In those days went there out of Israel — the spiritual man who has striven with God and prevailed — wicked men, states twisted away from the order, who persuaded many, saying, Let us go and make a covenant with the heathen round about us: for since we departed from them we have had much sorrow — a false covenant, a law of relationship written with the sense-states instead of with God.

12So this device pleased them well.

So this device pleased them well — the counsel of surrender sounding good to the sense-mind.

13Then certain of the people were so forward herein, that they went to the king, who gave them licence to do after the ordinances of the heathen:

Then certain of the people were so forward herein, that they went to the ruling state, who gave them licence to do after the ordinances of the heathen — permission sought from the outer empire to live by the outer order.

14Whereupon they built a place of exercise at Jerusalem according to the customs of the heathen:

Whereupon they built a place of exercise at Jerusalem — the established center of spiritual consciousness — according to the customs of the heathen: the gymnasium of sense-training set up in the very center where the divine order should rule.

15And made themselves uncircumcised, and forsook the holy covenant, and joined themselves to the heathen, and were sold to do mischief.

And made themselves uncircumcised — undoing circumcision, the cutting away of sense-excess, the covenant's sign — and forsook the holy covenant, and joined themselves to the heathen, and were sold to do mischief: the merely natural life restored and the covenant renounced.

16Now when the kingdom was established before Antiochus, he thought to reign over Egypt that he might have the dominion of two realms.

Now when the kingdom was established before Antiochus, he thought to reign over Egypt — the material sense-realm, bondage to the outer — that he might have the dominion of two realms: the persecuting state reaching to rule the sense-realm also.

17Wherefore he entered into Egypt with a great multitude, with chariots, and elephants, and horsemen, and a great navy,

Wherefore he entered into Egypt with a great multitude, with chariots, and elephants, and horsemen, and a great navy — the full apparatus of outer dominion marshalled against the sense-realm.

18And made war against Ptolemee king of Egypt: but Ptolemee was afraid of him, and fled; and many were wounded to death.

And made war against Ptolemee king of Egypt: but Ptolemee was afraid of him, and fled; and many were wounded to death — one ruling state of sense fleeing before a stronger.

19Thus they got the strong cities in the land of Egypt and he took the spoils thereof.

Thus they got the strong cities in the land of Egypt and he took the spoils thereof — the sense-realm's strongholds and substance passing to the persecuting state.

20And after that Antiochus had smitten Egypt, he returned again in the hundred forty and third year, and went up against Israel and Jerusalem with a great multitude,

And after Antiochus had smitten Egypt, he returned again in the hundred forty and third year, and went up against Israel and Jerusalem with a great multitude — the empire turning from the outer conquest to the assault on the center of spiritual consciousness itself.

21And entered proudly into the sanctuary, and took away the golden altar, and the candlestick of light, and all the vessels thereof,

And entered proudly into the sanctuary — the established sanctuary-state — and took away the golden altar, the built point of consecration where a faculty is yielded to God, and the candlestick of light, and all the vessels thereof: the instruments of consecration carried off by pride.

22And the table of the shewbread, and the pouring vessels, and the vials, and the censers of gold, and the veil, and the crown, and the golden ornaments that were before the temple, all which he pulled off.

And the table of the shewbread, and the pouring vessels, and the vials, and the censers of gold, and the veil — the division in consciousness between the holy place and the Most Holy — and the crown, and the golden ornaments that were before the temple, all which he pulled off.

23He took also the silver and the gold, and the precious vessels: also he took the hidden treasures which he found.

He took also the silver and the gold, and the precious vessels: also he took the hidden treasures which he found — even the stored, unseen riches of the sanctuary-state seized by the outer empire.

24And when he had taken all away, he went into his own land, having made a great massacre, and spoken very proudly.

And when he had taken all away, he went into his own land, having made a great massacre, and spoken very proudly — the life-stream of many states poured out, and pride speaking great things over the spoil.

25Therefore there was a great mourning in Israel, in every place where they were;

Therefore there was a great mourning in Israel, in every place where they were — grief through every faculty of the spiritual house.

26So that the princes and elders mourned, the virgins and young men were made feeble, and the beauty of women was changed.

So that the princes and elders mourned, the virgins and young men were made feeble, and the beauty of women was changed — the pure affections and the young strengths alike weakened under the despoiling.

27Every bridegroom took up lamentation, and she that sat in the marriage chamber was in heaviness,

Every bridegroom took up lamentation, and she that sat in the marriage chamber was in heaviness — joy's unions turned to sorrow in every chamber of the heart.

28The land also was moved for the inhabitants thereof, and all the house of Jacob was covered with confusion.

The outer life also was moved for the inhabitants thereof, and all the house of Jacob — the striving intellect and all his house — was covered with confusion: shame settling over the whole house.

29And after two years fully expired the king sent his chief collector of tribute unto the cities of Juda, who came unto Jerusalem with a great multitude,

And after two years fully expired the king sent his chief collector of tribute unto the cities of Juda — Judah, Praise — who came unto Jerusalem with a great multitude: the empire's taxing power entering the praise-state's cities in force.

30And spake peaceable words unto them, but all was deceit: for when they had given him credence, he fell suddenly upon the city, and smote it very sore, and destroyed much people of Israel.

And spake peaceable words unto them, but all was deceit: for when they had given him credence, he fell suddenly upon the city, and smote it very sore, and destroyed much people of Israel — fair speech as the snare of the adversarial state, striking the center once trust was given.

31And when he had taken the spoils of the city, he set it on fire, and pulled down the houses and walls thereof on every side.

And when he had taken the spoils of the city, he set it on fire, and pulled down the houses and walls thereof on every side — the center's defences broken down by the state it had trusted.

32But the women and children took they captive, and possessed the cattle.

But the women and children took they captive, and possessed the cattle — the affections, the young states, and the tamed affections carried off as the empire's possession.

33Then builded they the city of David with a great and strong wall, and with mighty towers, and made it a strong hold for them.

Then builded they the city of David — David, Love enthroned — with a great and strong wall, and with mighty towers, and made it a strong hold for them: Love's own city refortified as the persecuting state's citadel.

34And they put therein a sinful nation, wicked men, and fortified themselves therein.

And they put therein a sinful nation, wicked men, and fortified themselves therein — error-bound states garrisoned in the stronghold.

35They stored it also with armour and victuals, and when they had gathered together the spoils of Jerusalem, they laid them up there, and so they became a sore snare:

They stored it also with armour and victuals, and when they had gathered together the spoils of Jerusalem, they laid them up there, and so they became a sore snare — the defensive furnishings and nourishment of the center hoarded to entrap it.

36For it was a place to lie in wait against the sanctuary, and an evil adversary to Israel.

For it was a place to lie in wait against the sanctuary, and an evil adversary to Israel — the citadel become an ambush set permanently against the sanctuary-state.

37Thus they shed innocent blood on every side of the sanctuary, and defiled it:

Thus they shed innocent blood on every side of the sanctuary, and defiled it — the life-stream of the innocent poured out around the consecrated place, and the place itself profaned.

38Insomuch that the inhabitants of Jerusalem fled because of them: whereupon the city was made an habitation of strangers, and became strange to those that were born in her; and her own children left her.

Insomuch that the inhabitants of Jerusalem fled because of them: whereupon the city was made an habitation of strangers, and became strange to those that were born in her; and her own children left her — the center emptied of its own faculties, occupied by foreign states.

39Her sanctuary was laid waste like a wilderness, her feasts were turned into mourning, her sabbaths into reproach her honour into contempt.

Her sanctuary was laid waste like a wilderness — the untended waste-state — her feasts were turned into mourning, her sabbaths into reproach, her honour into contempt: even the Sabbath, rest in God, made a reproach under the occupation.

40As had been her glory, so was her dishonour increased, and her excellency was turned into mourning.

As had been her glory — the manifested weight of the Presence — so was her dishonour increased, and her excellency was turned into mourning: the measure of the former radiance become the measure of the fall.

41Moreover king Antiochus wrote to his whole kingdom, that all should be one people,

Moreover king Antiochus wrote to his whole kingdom, that all should be one people — the persecuting decree: one enforced uniformity, every state made to conform to the outer empire.

42And every one should leave his laws: so all the heathen agreed according to the commandment of the king.

And every one should leave his laws: so all the heathen agreed according to the commandment of the king — every faculty ordered to abandon its own law, the written order of its divine life.

43Yea, many also of the Israelites consented to his religion, and sacrificed unto idols, and profaned the sabbath.

Yea, many also of the Israelites consented to his religion, and sacrificed unto idols — formed images of lesser goods, worshipped in the Source's place — and profaned the sabbath: yielding their faculties to idols and breaking the rest in God.

44For the king had sent letters by messengers unto Jerusalem and the cities of Juda that they should follow the strange laws of the land,

For the king had sent letters by messengers unto Jerusalem and the cities of Juda that they should follow the strange laws of the land — the decree carried by messengers into the center and the praise-state's cities.

45And forbid burnt offerings, and sacrifice, and drink offerings, in the temple; and that they should profane the sabbaths and festival days:

And forbid burnt offerings, and sacrifice, and drink offerings, in the temple; and that they should profane the sabbaths and festival days — the whole yielding of the faculty to God forbidden, the burnt offering, the whole state yielded up, outlawed in the sanctuary-state.

46And pollute the sanctuary and holy people:

And pollute the sanctuary and holy people — the consecrated place and the set-apart states deliberately defiled.

47Set up altars, and groves, and chapels of idols, and sacrifice swine’s flesh, and unclean beasts:

Set up altars, and groves, and chapels of idols, and sacrifice swine's flesh, and unclean beasts — rival points of consecration raised everywhere, and the faculty yielded to what the law calls unclean.

48That they should also leave their children uncircumcised, and make their souls abominable with all manner of uncleanness and profanation:

That they should also leave their children uncircumcised, and make their souls abominable with all manner of uncleanness and profanation — the next generation kept from the covenant's sign, the cutting away of sense-excess, and trained into defilement.

49To the end they might forget the law, and change all the ordinances.

To the end they might forget the law, and change all the ordinances — the decree's true aim named: forgetfulness of the written order of the divine life, and every articulation of it altered.

50And whosoever would not do according to the commandment of the king, he said, he should die.

And whosoever would not do according to the commandment of the king, he said, he should die — death decreed for fidelity: the outer empire's final argument.

51In the selfsame manner wrote he to his whole kingdom, and appointed overseers over all the people, commanding the cities of Juda to sacrifice, city by city.

In the selfsame manner wrote he to his whole kingdom, and appointed overseers over all the people, commanding the cities of Juda to sacrifice, city by city — enforcement organized faculty by faculty, city by city.

52Then many of the people were gathered unto them, to wit every one that forsook the law; and so they committed evils in the land;

Then many of the people were gathered unto them, to wit every one that forsook the law; and so they committed evils in the land — the apostate states clustering to the persecutors, and disorder spreading through the outer life.

53And drove the Israelites into secret places, even wheresoever they could flee for succour.

And drove the Israelites into secret places, even wheresoever they could flee for succour — the faithful driven into hiding, fidelity itself become fugitive.

54Now the fifteenth day of the month Casleu, in the hundred forty and fifth year, they set up the abomination of desolation upon the altar, and builded idol altars throughout the cities of Juda on every side;

Now the fifteenth day of the month Casleu, in the hundred forty and fifth year, they set up the abomination of desolation upon the altar, and builded idol altars throughout the cities of Juda on every side — an idol enthroned on the very point of consecration, the desolating image where the faculty was yielded to God alone.

55And burnt incense at the doors of their houses, and in the streets.

And burnt incense at the doors of their houses, and in the streets — the rival worship practised openly at every threshold.

56And when they had rent in pieces the books of the law which they found, they burnt them with fire.

And when they had rent in pieces the books of the law which they found, they burnt them with fire — the written order itself torn and burned wherever it was found.

57And whosoever was found with any the book of the testament, or if any consented to the law, the king’s commandment was, that they should put him to death.

And whosoever was found with any the book of the testament, or if any consented to the law, the king's commandment was, that they should put him to death — possession of the Word, or mere consent to the law, made a capital crime.

58Thus did they by their authority unto the Israelites every month, to as many as were found in the cities.

Thus did they by their authority unto the Israelites every month, to as many as were found in the cities — the persecution administered as a standing, monthly routine of the empire.

59Now the five and twentieth day of the month they did sacrifice upon the idol altar, which was upon the altar of God.

Now the five and twentieth day of the month they did sacrifice upon the idol altar, which was upon the altar of God — the faculty yielded to the idol on God's own altar, on the appointed day.

60At which time according to the commandment they put to death certain women, that had caused their children to be circumcised.

At which time according to the commandment they put to death certain women, that had caused their children to be circumcised — the mothers slain for keeping the covenant's sign upon their children.

61And they hanged the infants about their necks, and rifled their houses, and slew them that had circumcised them.

And they hanged the infants about their necks, and rifled their houses, and slew them that had circumcised them — the sign-children hung upon the slain, and those who performed the cutting away of sense-excess killed for it.

62Howbeit many in Israel were fully resolved and confirmed in themselves not to eat any unclean thing.

Howbeit many in Israel were fully resolved and confirmed in themselves not to eat any unclean thing — the remnant, the faithful kernel preserved through judgment, refusing defiling nourishment.

63Wherefore the rather to die, that they might not be defiled with meats, and that they might not profane the holy covenant: so then they died.

Wherefore the rather to die, that they might not be defiled with meats, and that they might not profane the holy covenant: so then they died — fidelity choosing death over defilement, the covenant kept at the price of the life-stream.

64And there was very great wrath upon Israel.

And there was very great wrath upon Israel — the crisis of the divine order confronting the whole house at once, darkness to the error and grief to the faithful.

Companion volume to The Why Bible — the King James Apocrypha, rendered in its spiritual meanings. First final edition, October 2026.