3 Maccabees 6:37

³⁵But the Jews, as we just said, instituted a dance, and then gave themselves up to feasting, glad thanksgivings, and psalms.

³⁶They made a public ordinance to commemorate these things for generations to come, as long as they should be sojourners. They thus established these days as days of mirth, not for the purpose of drinking or luxury, but because God had saved them.

— 3 Maccabees 6:37 —

³⁸They were being enrolled from the twenty-fifth of Pachon to the fourth of Epeiph, a period of forty days: the measures taken for their destruction lasted from the fifth of Epeiph till the seventh, that is, three days.

³⁹The Ruler over all did during this time manifest forth his mercy gloriously, and did deliver them all together unharmed.