1 Maccabees 2:42-44

Good News Translation

⁴² Then Mattathias and his friends were joined by a group of devout and patriotic Jews, the strongest and bravest men in Israel, who had all volunteered to defend the Law. ⁴³ In addition, everyone who was fleeing from the persecution joined them and strengthened their forces. ⁴⁴ Now that they had an army, they gave vent to their anger by attacking the renegade Jews. Those who escaped were forced to flee to the Gentiles for safety.