57 The people decorated the front of the temple with gold crowns and small shields, and they repaired the rooms where the priests lived, hanging new doors in them, as well as new gates for the temple.
58 Everyone was happy because the disgrace that the Gentiles had brought on the temple had been removed.
59 Judas and his brothers, together with everyone else, decided to celebrate the dedication of the altar each year at this same time. This joyous festival would begin on the twenty-fifth day of the month of Chislev and last eight days.
60 Then they built strong walls and high towers around Mount Zion to protect the temple from being destroyed by Gentiles again,
61 and Judas stationed soldiers there. He also built a fortress in the town of Beth-Zur to keep Israel safe from attack by the Idumeans.