40. and fell facedown on the ground. When the trumpets sounded a signal, they cried out to heaven.
41. Then Judas chose some soldiers to fight against those stationed in the elevated fortress until he completed cleansing the sanctuary.
42. He selected priests who were blameless and devoted to the Law.
43. They cleansed the sanctuary and took the polluted stones to a ritually unclean place.
44. They discussed what to do about the altar for entirely burned offerings, since it had been polluted.
45. They decided it was best to tear it down so that it wouldn’t be a lasting shameful reminder to them that the Gentiles had defiled it. So they tore down the altar.
46. They stored the stones in a convenient place on the temple mount until a prophet should arise who could say what to do with them.