35
Then the enemy hastened to attack them.
36
But they did not answer them or hurl a stone at them or block up their hiding places,
37
for they said, "Let us all die in our innocence; heaven and earth testify for us that you are killing us unjustly."
38
So they attacked them on the sabbath, and they died, with their wives and children and cattle, to the number of a thousand persons.
39
When Mattathias and his friends learned of it, they mourned for them deeply.
40
And each said to his neighbor: "If we all do as our brethren have done and refuse to fight with the Gentiles for our lives and for our ordinances, they will quickly destroy us from the earth."
41
So they made this decision that day: "Let us fight against every man who comes to attack us on the sabbath day; let us not all die as our brethren died in their hiding places."
42
Then there united with them a company of Hasideans, mighty warriors of Israel, every one who offered himself willingly for the law.
43
And all who became fugitives to escape their troubles joined them and reinforced them.
44
They organized an army, and struck down sinners in their anger and lawless men in their wrath; the survivors fled to the Gentiles for safety.
45
And Mattathias and his friends went about and tore down the altars;