27
Then Mattathias went through the town shouting, "Everyone who is faithful to God's covenant and obeys his Law, follow me!"
28
With this, he and his sons fled to the mountains, leaving behind all they owned.
29
At that time also many of the Israelites who were seeking to be right with God through obedience to the Law went out to live in the wilderness, taking their children, their wives, and their livestock with them, because of the terrible oppression they were suffering.
31
The report soon reached the king's officials and the soldiers in the fort at Jerusalem that some men who had defied the king's command had gone into hiding in the wilderness.
32
A large force of soldiers pursued them, caught up with them, set up camp opposite them, and prepared to attack them on the Sabbath.
1
33
"There is still time," they shouted out to the Jews. "Come out and obey the king's command, and we will spare your lives."
34
"We will not come out," they answered. "We will not obey the king's command, and we will not profane the Sabbath."
35
The soldiers attacked them immediately,
36
but the Jews did nothing to resist; they did not even throw stones or block the entrances to the caves where they were hiding.
37
They said, "We will all die with a clear conscience. Let heaven and earth bear witness that you are slaughtering us unjustly."