1 Maccabees 4:36–61

But Judas and his brethren said: ‘Behold, our enemies are discomfited; let us go up to cleanse the Holy Place, and re-dedicate it. And all the army was gathered together, and they went unto mount Sion. And they saw our sanctuary laid desolate, and the altar profaned, and the gates burned up, and shrubs growing in the courts as in a forest or upon one of the mountains, and the chambers ⁽of the priests⁽ pulled down; and they rent their garments, and made great lamentation, and put ashes on their heads; and they fell on their faces to the ground, and they blew the solemn blasts upon the trumpets, and cried unto heaven. Then Judas appointed ⁽a certain number of⁽ men to fight against those ⁽that were⁽ in the citadel, until he should have cleansed the Holy Place. And he chose blameless priests, such as had delight in the Law; and they cleansed the Holy Place, and bare out the stones of defilement into an unclean place. And they took counsel concerning the altar of burnt offerings, which had been profaned, what they should do with it. And a good idea occurred to them ⁽namely⁽ to pull it down, lest it should be a reproach unto them, because the Gentiles had defiled it; so they pulled down the altar, and laid down the stones in the mountain of the House, in a convenient place, until a prophet should come and decide ⁽as to what should be done⁽ concerning them. And they took whole stones according to the Law, and built a new altar after the fashion of the former ⁽one⁽; and they built the Holy Place, and the inner parts of the house, and hallowed the courts. And they made the holy vessels new, and they brought the candlestick, and the altar of burnt offerings and of incense, and the table, into the temple. And they burned incense upon the altar, and they lighted the lamps that were upon the candlestick in order to give light in the temple. And they set loaves upon the table, and hung up the veils, and finished all the works which they had undertaken. And they rose up early in the morning on the twenty-fifth ⁽day⁽ of the ninth month, which is the month Chislev, in the one hundred and forty-eighth year, and offered sacrifice, according to the Law, upon the new altar of burnt offerings which they had made. At the corresponding time ⁽of the month⁽ and on the ⁽corresponding⁽ day on which the Gentiles had profaned it, on that day was it dedicated afresh, with songs and harps and lutes, and with cymbals. And all the people fell upon their faces, and worshipped, and gave praise, ⁽looking up⁽ unto heaven, to him who had prospered them. And they celebrated the dedication of the altar for eight days, and offered burnt offerings with gladness, and sacrificed a sacrifice of deliverance and praise. And they decked the forefront of the temple with crowns of gold and small shields, and dedicated afresh the gates and the chambers ⁽of the priests⁽, and furnished them with doors. And there was exceeding great gladness among the people, and the reproach of the Gentiles was turned away. And Judas and his brethren and the whole congregation of Israel ordained, that the days of the dedication of the altar should be kept in their seasons year by year for eight days, from the twenty-fifth ⁽day⁽ of the month Chislev, with gladness and joy. And at that season they built high walls and strong towers around mount Sion, lest haply the Gentiles should come and tread them down, as they had done aforetime. And he set there a force to keep it, and they fortified Bethsura to keep it, that the people might have a stronghold over against Idumaea.