2:34. And they said: We will not come forth, neither will we obey the king's edict, to profane the sabbath day.
2:35. And they made haste to give them battle.
2:36. But they answered them not, neither did they cast a stone at them, nor stopped up the secret places,
2:37. Saying: Let us all die in our innocency: and heaven and earth shall be witnesses for us, that you put us to death wrongfully.
2:38. So they gave them battle on the sabbath: and they were slain, with their wives, and their children, and their cattle, to the number of a thousand persons.
2:39. And Mathathias and his friends heard of it, and they mourned for them exceedingly.
2:40. And every man said to his neighbour: If we shall all do as our brethren have done, and not fight against the heathens for our lives, and our justifications, they will now quickly root us out of the earth.
2:41. And they determined in that day, saying: Whosoever shall come up against us to fight on the sabbath day, we will fight against him: and we will not all die, as our brethren that were slain in the secret places.
2:42. Then was assembled to them the congregation of the Assideans, the stoutest of Israel, every one that had a good will for the law.
The Assideans… A set of men that led a religious life; and were zealous for the law and worship of God.