Judah and the Maccabees

King Antiochus was an evil man. He had taken over the city of Jerusalem.

He destroyed the Jewish temples there.

The Jewish people were forced to flee.

A priest named Mattathias had tried to defeat the King. But he could not win.

It was up to his son, Judah, to beat the King and save the Jewish people.

Judah was strong and brave. He was called Judah Maccabee or sometimes Judah the Hammer.

His army was small, but he showed no fear.

“God will help us,” Judah said.