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.
42
Then came there unto him a company of Assideans who were mighty men of Israel, even all such as were voluntarily devoted unto the law.
43
Also all they that fled for persecution joined themselves unto them, and were a stay unto them.
44
So they joined their forces, and smote sinful men in their anger, and wicked men in their wrath: but the rest fled to the heathen for succour.
45
Then Mattathias and his friends went round about, and pulled down the altars:
46
And what children soever they found within the coast of Israel uncircumcised, those they circumcised valiantly.
47
They pursued also after the proud men, and the work prospered in their hand.
48
So they recovered the law out of the hand of the Gentiles, and out of the hand of kings, neither suffered they the sinner to triumph.
49
Now when the time drew near that Mattathias should die, he said unto his sons, Now hath pride and rebuke gotten strength, and the time of destruction, and the wrath of indignation: