1 When Maccabeus and his companions, under the Lord’s leadership, had recovered the temple and the city,
2 they destroyed the altars erected by the foreigners in the marketplace and the sacred shrines.
3 After purifying the temple, they made another altar. Then, with fire struck from flint, they offered sacrifice for the first time in two years, burned incense, and lighted lamps. They also set out the showbread.
4 When they had done this, they prostrated themselves and begged the Lord that they might never again fall into such misfortunes, and that if they should sin at any time, he might chastise them with moderation and not hand them over to blasphemous and barbarous Gentiles.