23 When Mattathias finished speaking, everyone watched as a Jew from Modein stepped forward to obey the king by offering a sacrifice on the altar.
24 Mattathias was furious, and he was so eager to see justice done that he rushed over to the altar and killed the man.
25 Then he destroyed the altar and killed the official who ordered the sacrifice.
26 Indeed, Mattathias showed that he loved God's Law as much as Phinehas, who had killed Zimri the son of Salu many years ago.
27 Mattathias shouted to everyone in Modein, “Follow me, if you truly love the Law of Moses and want to keep our agreement with God!”
28 Then Mattathias and his sons ran to the hills, leaving behind everything they owned.
29-30 Many of the Jews were now in serious trouble for trying to obey God and live right. So they took their families and livestock and moved to the desert.