23. When he finished speaking, a Jew came forward in plain sight to offer sacrifice on the altar in Modein, in keeping with the king’s command.
24. When Mattathias saw this action, he burned with zeal, and his spirit was stirred up. He gave way to his righteous anger, and he ran over and killed the man on the altar.
25. He also killed the king’s officer who was overseeing the sacrifice at that time, and he tore down the altar.
26. He burned with zeal for the Law, just like Phinehas did against Zimri, Salu’s son.
27. Then Mattathias shouted loudly in the town, "Everyone who is zealous for the Law and supports the covenant should come with me!"
28. So he and his sons fled to the hills and left behind all that they had in the town.
29. At that time, many who sought righteousness and justice went to live in the desert.
30. They were there with their sons, their wives, and their livestock because troubles pressed heavily on them.
31. The king’s officers and the troops in Jerusalem, David’s City, learned that those who had rejected the king’s command had gone down to hiding places in the wilderness.
32. Many pursued and overtook them. The king’s military forces camped opposite them and prepared for battle against them on the Sabbath.
33. They said to them: "Enough of this! Come out and do what the king commands, and you will live."
34. But the Israelites replied: "We won’t come out, and we won’t do what the king commands and so violate the Sabbath."
35. So the enemy immediately attacked them.
36. Still they didn’t answer or throw a rock at them or even block up their hiding places.
37. They said, "Let’s all die in our innocence. Heaven and earth testify on our behalf that you are killing us unjustly."
38. So the troops attacked them on the Sabbath. They died, with their wives and children and livestock, as many as one thousand people.
39. When Mattathias and his friends learned about this, they deeply mourned for the dead.