1 Maccabees 2:40
King James VersionSource notes
“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.”
Context
37But said, Let us die all in our innocency: heaven and earth will testify for us, that ye put us to death wrongfully.
38So 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.
39Now when Mattathias and his friends understood hereof, they mourned for them right sore.
40And 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.
41At 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.
42Then came there unto him a company of Assideans who were mighty men of Israel, even all such as were voluntarily devoted unto the law.
43Also all they that fled for persecution joined themselves unto them, and were a stay unto them.