1 Maccabees 4:44

44 They deliberated what to do about the altar of burnt offering, which had been profaned.

1 Maccabees 4:44 In-Context

42 He chose blameless priests devoted to the law,

43 and they cleansed the sanctuary and removed the defiled stones to an unclean place.

44 They deliberated what to do about the altar of burnt offering, which had been profaned.

45 And they thought it best to tear it down, so that it would not be a lasting shame to them that the Gentiles had defiled it. So they tore down the altar,

46 and stored the stones in a convenient place on the temple hill until a prophet should come to tell what to do with them.