Kill Blasphemers

For four days Maccabeus and his men eagerly besieged the fortress.  Those inside, relying on the strength of the place, kept repeating outrageous blasphemies and uttering abominable words.  When the fifth day dawned, twenty young men in the army of Maccabeus, angered over such blasphemies, bravely stormed the wall and with savage fury cut down everyone they encountered.  Others who climbed up the same way swung around on the defenders, taking the besieged in the rear; they put the towers to the torch, spread the fire and burned the blasphemers alive.  Still others broke down the gates and let in the rest of the troops, who took possession of the city.  Timothy had hidden in a cistern, but they killed him, along with his brother Chaereas, and Apollophanes.  On completing these exploits, they blessed, with hymns of grateful praise, the Lord who shows great kindness to Israel and grants them victory. (2 Maccabees 10:33-38 NAB)