23
When he had finished speaking these words, a Jew came forward in the sight of all to offer sacrifice on the altar in Modein, according to the king's command.
24
When Mattathias saw it, he burned with zeal and his heart was stirred. He gave vent to righteous anger; he ran and killed him on the altar.
25
At the same time he killed the king's officer who was forcing them to sacrifice, and he tore down the altar.
26
Thus he burned with zeal for the law, just as Phinehas did against Zimri son of Salu.
27
Then Mattathias cried out in the town with a loud voice, saying: "Let every one who is zealous for the law and supports the covenant come out with me!"
28
Then he and his sons fled to the hills and left all that they had in the town.
29
At that time many who were seeking righteousness and justice went down to the wilderness to live there,
30
they, their sons, their wives, and their livestock, because troubles pressed heavily upon them.
31
And it was reported to the king's officers, and to the troops in Jerusalem the city of David, that those who had rejected the king's command had gone down to the hiding places in the wilderness.
32
Many pursued them, and overtook them; they encamped opposite them and prepared for battle against them on the sabbath day.
33
They said to them, "Enough of this! Come out and do what the king commands, and you will live."
34
But they said, "We will not come out, nor will we do what the king commands and so profane the sabbath day."
35
Then the enemy quickly attacked 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 livestock, to the number of a thousand persons.
39
When Mattathias and his friends learned of it, they mourned for them deeply.
40
And all said to their neighbors: "If we all do as our kindred 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 anyone who comes to attack us on the sabbath day; let us not all die as our kindred died in their hiding places."
42
Then there united with them a company of Hasideans, mighty warriors of Israel, all who offered themselves willingly for the law.
43
And all who became fugitives to escape their troubles joined them and reinforced them.