1 Maccabees 4:45-47

Common English Bible

⁴⁵ They decided it was best to tear it down so that it wouldn’t be a lasting shameful reminder to them that the Gentiles had defiled it. So they tore down the altar. ⁴⁶ They stored the stones in a convenient place on the temple mount until a prophet should arise who could say what to do with them. ⁴⁷ They then took unfinished stones, in keeping with the Law, and built a new altar like the former one.