52. They rose early in the morning of the twenty-fifth day of the ninth month, the month of Kislev. It was the year 148.
53. They offered sacrifice, following the Law, on the new altar for entirely burned offerings that they had made.
54. In the very season, on the exact day that the Gentiles had polluted it, it was dedicated with songs, harps, lutes, and cymbals.
55. All the people bowed to the ground and worshipped and blessed heaven, which had given them success.
56. So they celebrated the rededication of the altar for eight days and joyfully made entirely burned offerings. They offered a sacrifice of deliverance and praise.
57. They decorated the front of the temple with gold crowns and small shields. They restored the gates and the priests’ chambers, furnishing them with doors.
58. The people were extremely glad, and the disgrace the Gentiles brought was lifted.
59. Then Judas, with his brothers and all the assembly of Israel, laid down a law that every year at that season the dedication of the altar should be observed with joy and happiness for eight days, beginning with the twenty-fifth day of Kislev.
60. At that same time the Israelites built high walls and strong towers all around Mount Zion so that the Gentiles did not come and trample them as they had done previously.
61. Judas stationed an occupying force there as guards. He also built up Beth-zur to protect it so that the people might have a fortress that faced in the direction of Idumea.