1 Maccabees 3:41-43

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

⁴¹ When the traders of the region heard what was said of them, they took silver and gold in immense amounts, and fetters,^[a] and went to the camp to get the sons of Israel for slaves. And forces from Syria and the land of the Philistines joined with them.

⁴² Now Judas and his brothers saw that misfortunes had increased and that the forces were encamped in their territory. They also learned what the king had commanded to do to the people to cause their final destruction. ⁴³ But they said to one another, “Let us repair the destruction of our people, and fight for our people and the sanctuary.”