Chapter 2 _{25 Also the king's commissioner, who compelled men to sacrifice, he killed at that time, and the altar he pulled down.26 Thus dealt he zealously for the law of God like as Phinees did unto Zambri the son of Salom.27 And Mattathias cried throughout the city with a loud voice, saying, Whosoever is zealous of the law, and maintaineth the covenant, let him follow me.28 So he and his sons fled into the mountains, and left all that ever they had in the city.29 Then many that sought after justice and judgment went down into the wilderness, to dwell there:30 Both they, and their children, and their wives; and their cattle; because afflictions increased sore upon them.31 Now when it was told the king's servants, and the host that was at Jerusalem, in the city of David, that certain men, who had broken the king's commandment, were gone down into the secret places in the wilderness,32 They pursued after them a great number, and having overtaken them, they camped against them, and made war against them on the sabbath day.33 And they said unto them, Let that which ye have done hitherto suffice; come forth, and do according to the commandment of the king, and ye shall live.34 But they said, We will not come forth, neither will we do the king's commandment, to profane the sabbath day.35 So then they gave them the battle with all speed.36 Howbeit they answered them not, neither cast they a stone at them, nor stopped the places where they lay hid;37 But said, Let us die all in our innocency: heaven and earth will testify for us, that ye put us to death wrongfully.38 So they rose up against them in battle on the sabbath, and they slew them, with their wives and children and their cattle, to the number of a thousand people.39 Now when Mattathias and his friends understood hereof, they mourned for them right sore.40 And one of them said to another, If we all do as our brethren have done, and fight not for our lives and laws against the heathen, they will now quickly root us out of the earth.41 At that time therefore they decreed, saying, Whosoever shall come to make battle with us on the sabbath day, we will fight against him; neither will we die all, as our brethren that were murdered im the secret places.42 Then came there unto him a company of Assideans who were mighty men of Israel, even all such as were voluntarily devoted unto the law.43 Also all they that fled for persecution joined themselves unto them, and were a stay unto them.}