Old Testament · Deuterocanonical
The First Book of Maccabees
The First Book of Maccabees is the forty-fifth of the 46 books of the Old Testament, and one of its 7 deuterocanonical books: 16 chapters and 929 verses. The Douay-Rheims calls it 1 Machabees.
About 1 Maccabees
About 1 Maccabees · Historical narrative
The first book of Maccabees is a sober history of the Jewish revolt against the Greek king Antiochus, who outlawed the faith and desecrated the temple: the rising of the priest Mattathias, the campaigns of his son Judas Maccabeus, and the rededication of the altar still kept at Hanukkah. Written by an unknown Jewish author within living memory of the events, it is a deuterocanonical book of the Catholic canon. It was composed to honor the family that saved Israel's faith by arms and endurance, and to record what fidelity cost.
| Testament | Old Testament — book 45 of 46, 45 of 73 in the Bible |
|---|---|
| Canon | Deuterocanonical |
| Chapters | 16 |
| Verses | 929, as Bless numbers them |
| In the Douay-Rheims | 1 Machabees |
| Latin | Clementine Vulgate, every chapter |
| Bp. Challoner | Summaries of all 16 chapters · 27 notes |
| Catechism | No references |
Chapter by chapter
All 16 chapters, in brief.
Bishop Richard Challoner’s summary of each chapter, from his revision of the Douay-Rheims (1749–52). Open a chapter for the full text.
1 Maccabees 1
67 versesThe reign of Alexander and his successors: Antiochus rifles and profanes the temple of God: and persecutes unto death all that will not forsake the law of God, and the religion of their fathers.
1 Maccabees 2
70 versesThe zeal and success of Mathathias. His exhortation to his sons at his death.
1 Maccabees 3
60 versesJudas Machabeus succeeds his father, and overthrows Apollonius and Seron. A great army is sent against him out of Syria. He prepares his people for battle by fasting and prayer.
1 Maccabees 4
61 versesJudas routs the king's army. Gorgias flies before him. Lysias comes against him with a great army, but is defeated. Judas cleanses the temple, sets up a new altar, and fortifies the sanctuary.
1 Maccabees 5
68 versesJudas and his brethren attack the enemies of their country, and deliver them that were distressed. Josephus and Azarius, attempting contrary to order to fight against their enemies, are defeated.
1 Maccabees 6
63 versesThe fruitless repentance and death of Antiochus. His son comes against Judas with a formidable army. He besieges Sion: but at last makes peace with the Jews.
1 Maccabees 7
50 versesDemetrius is made king, and sends Bacchides and Alcimus the priest into Judea, and after them Nicanor, who is slain by Judas with all his army.
1 Maccabees 8
32 versesJudas hears of the great character of the Romans: he makes a league with them.
1 Maccabees 9
73 versesBacchides is sent again into Judea: Judas fights against him with eight hundred men and is slain. Jonathan succeeds him and revenges the murder of his brother John. He fights against Bacchides. Alcimus dies miserably. Bacchides besieges Bethbessen. He is forced to raise the siege and leave the country.
1 Maccabees 10
89 versesAlexander Bales sets himself up for king: both he and Demetrius seek to make Jonathan their friend. Alexander kills Demetrius in battle, and honours Jonathan. His victory over Apollonius.
1 Maccabees 11
74 versesPtolemee invades the kingdom of Alexander: the latter is slain: and the former dies soon after. Demetrius honours Jonathan, and is rescued by the Jews from his own subjects in Antioch. Antiochus the younger favours Jonathan. His exploits in divers places.
1 Maccabees 12
54 versesJonathan renews his league with the Romans and Lacedemonians. The forces of Demetrius flee away from him. He is deceived and made prisoner by Tryphon.
1 Maccabees 13
54 versesSimon is made captain general in the room of his brother. Jonathan is slain by Tryphon. Simon is favoured by Demetrius: he taketh Gaza, and the castle of Jerusalem.
1 Maccabees 14
49 versesDemetrius is taken by the king of Persia. Judea flourishes under the government of Simon.
1 Maccabees 15
41 versesAntiochus son of Demetrius honours Simon. The Romans write to divers nations in favour of the Jews. Antiochus quarrels with Simon, and sends troops to annoy him.
1 Maccabees 16
24 versesThe sons of Simon defeat the troops of Antiochus. Simon with two of his sons are treacherously murdered by Ptolemee his son in law.
Bp. Richard Challoner · chapter summaries
Coming up
Read at Mass.
From October 29, 2026 to October 28, 2027, 1 Maccabees is read at the principal Mass on 0 days in the US calendar. The next 4 readings:
| Date | Celebration | Reading | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| computed | Monday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | 1 Maccabees 1:10-15, 41-43, 54-57, 62-63 |
| computed | Thursday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | 1 Maccabees 2:15-29 |
| computed | Friday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | 1 Maccabees 4:36-37, 52-59 |
| computed | Saturday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | 1 Maccabees 6:1-13 |
No more readings are listed here; the liturgical calendar has every date through December 31, 2028.
Dates after May 31, 2027 are computed by Bless from the US Lectionary cycle — confirm with your parish.