23. Now as he left off speaking these words, there came a certain Jew in the sight of all to sacrifice to the idols upon the altar in the city of Modin, according to the king's commandment.
24. And Mathathias saw and was grieved, and his reins trembled, and his wrath was kindled according to the judgment of the law, and running upon him he slew him upon the altar:
25. Moreover the man whom king Antiochus had sent, who compelled them to sacrifice, he slew at the same time, and pulled down the altar.
26. And shewed zeal for the law, as Phinees did by Zamri the son of Salomi.
27. And Mathathias cried out in the city with a loud voice, saying: Every one that hath zeal for the law, and maintaineth the testament, let him follow me.
28. So he, and his sons fled into the mountains, and left all that they had in the city.
29. Then many that sought after judgment, and justice, went down into the desert:
30. And they abode there, they and their children, and their wives, and their cattle: because afflictions increased upon them.
31. And it was told to the king's men, and to the army that was in Jerusalem in the city of David, that certain men who had broken the king's commandment, were gone away into the secret places in the wilderness, and that many were gone after them.
32. And forthwith they went out towards them, and made war against them on the sabbath day,
33. And they said to them: Do you still resist? come forth, and do according to the edict of king Antiochus, and you shall live.
34. And they said: We will not come forth, neither will we obey the king's edict, to profane the sabbath day.
35. And they made haste to give them battle.
36. But they answered them not, neither did they cast a stone at them, nor stopped up the secret places,