Today in Biblical History
Were Mothers Actually Killed for Circumcising Their Children?
Primary: 1 Maccabees 1:60–61 · Additional: 2 Maccabees 6:10 · Corroborating: Josephus, Antiquities 12.5
What the ancient record says
1 Maccabees: women who had children circumcised were put to death, and their families and those who performed the circumcisions were also killed. Josephus preserves the tradition with differing details (which is why both witnesses are shown, not blended).
Historical honesty: 1 Maccabees reports this, 2 Maccabees reports this, Josephus reports this, we compare; we do not rewrite three witnesses into one imaginary eyewitness account.
Read it for yourself. 1 Maccabees 1:60–61; 2 Maccabees 6:10; Josephus, Antiquities 12.5.
Evidence strength: Very strong ancient literary evidence.
Question answered: Do ancient sources report mothers killed because their children were circumcised? Yes. Multiple witnesses preserve the claim.