While Judah Maccabee, and his four brothers are in training to become  Temple Guards they escape a surprise enemy attack when Antiochus Ephiphanes and his army enter Jerusalem  

and slaughter men, women and children. At the most holy place he defiles the temple by offering a sacrificed pig to the Greek god Zeus. He declares all Jewish customs and religious practices abolished including the Sabbath and Holy Festivals.

During the rampage, Judah’s mother is murdered also ten's of thousands of Jewish citizens. Judah’s father, Mattathias, a Jewish priest who fears God, flees with his five sons and they move to the nearby town of Modin where they bury their mother.

Enemy soldiers arrive at the village of Modin and the commander, Appolonius, orders the town leader, Mattathias to offer a sacrifice to the Greek god Zeus.  Judah’s father is tempted with great riches and authority to rule if he would sacrifice the pig on the altar. But Mattathias stands in defiance against the pagan invaders and refuses to obey. He will not depart from the law of Moses which forbids them to worship any other god but the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Another priest in the crowd steps forward willing to offer the sacrifice. A righteous anger swells up within Mattathias and he lunges forward with a sword and slays the man also killing the commander. His five sons rise up against the troops and attack the enemy. A rebellion begins.

Along with their supporters, Mattathias, and his sons flee to the hills. Many persecuted Jews join the Maccabees along with an enemy who infiltrates their camp and poisons Mattathias. Before his death he passes the leadership onto his third son, Judah who leads the patriotic army  and wears their enemy down with a string of victories. Before battle, Judah motivates his troops with the battle-cry, “Who among the gods is like you O Adonai?”

At the battle of Nahal el-Haramiah Judah defeats an Assyrian force. Many Judean recruits flock to join the Jewish cause and defeat an even bigger army sent to attack Judah’s force. Judah’s men route them near Beth-Horon, and overcome the outnumbered enemy from overhead.

Desperate, Antiochus dispatches a third army and Judah is pre-warned of an impending attack. He marches through the night and then falls upon an unsuspecting enemy at dawn destroying their camp and takes the enemy weapons for themselves.

The enemy flee Jerusalem defeated before Judah and his army arrive to reclaim their beloved city.

On the 25th Kislev, 164BC, Judah and his followers restore the altar and re-dedicate the temple ceremony. The priests are reinstated and once again perform their duties and offerings during the first Hanukkah celebration for eight days.