36 But Yehudah and his kindred said, “Listen, our enemies are defeated. Let’s go up to cleanse the holy place and to rededicate it.” 37 All the army was gathered together, and they went up to Mt. Tsiyon (Zion). 38 They saw the sanctuary laid desolate, the altar profaned, the gates burnt up, shrubs growing in the courtyards as in a forest or as on one of the mountains, and the priests’ chambers pulled down; 39 and they tore their clothes, made great lamentation, put ashes on their heads, 40 fell on their faces to the ground,[fn] blew with the solemn trumpets,[fn] and cried towards heaven. 41 Then Yehudah appointed certain men to fight against those who were in the citadel until he’d cleansed the holy place.

42 He chose blameless priests who were devoted to the law; 43 and they cleansed the holy place and carried the defiled stones out to an unclean place. 44 They deliberated what to do with the altar of burnt offerings, which had been profaned. 45 A good plan came into their mind, that they should pull it down, so that it wouldn’t bring disgrace on them, because the Gentiles had defiled it. So they pulled down the altar 46 and laid up the stones on the temple hill in a convenient place, until a prophet would come to give an answer about them. 47 They took whole stones according to the law, and built a new altar like the former. 48 They built the holy place and the inner parts of the house; and they consecrated the courtyards. 49 They made new holy vessels, and they brought the lampstand, the altar of incense, and the table into the temple. 50 They burnt incense on the altar, and they lit the lamps that were on the lampstand, and they gave light in the temple. 51 They set loaves on the table, hung up the curtains, and finished all the work which they’d done.

52 They rose up early in the morning, on the twenty-fifth day of the ninth month, which is the month Kislev, in[fn] the one hundred and forty eighth year, 53 and offered sacrifice according to the law on the new altar of burnt offerings which they’d made. 54 At the time and day the Gentiles had profaned it, even then it was dedicated with songs, harps, lutes, and with cymbals. 55 All the people fell on their faces, worshipped, and gave praise towards heaven, which had given them good success. 56 They celebrated the dedication of the altar eight days, and offered burnt offerings with gladness, and sacrificed a sacrifice of deliverance and praise. 57 They decorated the front of the temple with crowns of gold and small shields. They dedicated the gates and the priests’ chambers, and made doors for them. 58 There was very great gladness among the people, and the reproach of the Gentiles was turned away.

59 Yehudah (Judas) and his kindred and the whole congregation of Yisrael (Israel) ordained that the days of the dedication of the altar should be kept in their seasons from year to year for eight days, from the twenty-fifth day of the month Kislev, with gladness and joy.

60 At that time, they fortified Mt. Tsiyon (Zion) with high walls and strong towers around it, so that the Gentiles wouldn’t come and trample them down, as they’d done before. 61 Yehudah stationed a garrison to guard it. They fortified Beyt-Tsur to keep it, that the people might have a fortress near Edom.