37
But said, Let us die all in our innocency: heaven and earth will testify for us, that ye put us to death wrongfully.
38
So they rose up against them in battle on the sabbath, and they slew them, with their wives and children and their cattle, to the number of a thousand people.
39
Now when Mattathias and his friends understood hereof, they mourned for them right sore.
40
And one of them said to another, If we all do as our brethren have done, and fight not for our lives and laws against the heathen, they will now quickly root us out of the earth.
41
At that time therefore they decreed, saying, Whosoever shall come to make battle with us on the sabbath day, we will fight against him; neither will we die all, as our brethren that were murdered in the secret places.