1 Maccabees 4:45

45 they thought it best to pull it down, lest it should be a reproach to them because the heathen had defiled it. Therefore they pulled it down,

1 Maccabees 4:45 In-Context

43 who cleansed the sanctuary and bore the defiled stones into an unclean place.

44 And when they considered what to do with the altar of burnt offerings which was profaned,

45 they thought it best to pull it down, lest it should be a reproach to them because the heathen had defiled it. Therefore they pulled it down,

46 and laid up the stones on the mountain of the temple in a suitable place until there should come a prophet to show what should be done with them.

47 Then they took whole stones according to the law and built a new altar according to the former,