40. They said to one another, “If we all do as our kindred have done, and do not fight against the Gentiles for our lives and our laws, they will soon destroy us from the earth.”
41. So on that day they came to this decision: “Let us fight against anyone who attacks us on the sabbath, so that we may not all die as our kindred died in their secret refuges.”
42. Then they were joined by a group of Hasideans, mighty warriors of Israel, all of them devoted to the law.
43. And all those who were fleeing from the persecutions joined them and supported them.