“... Taxo expects their death to result from their obedience to the Lord, which contravenes the king's ordinances: moriamur potius quam praetereamus mandata Domini dominorum, Dei parentum nostrorum. Compare with these words those spoken by the first martyr in 2 Macc. 7:2 ἕτοιμοι γὰρ ἀποθνήσκειν ἐσμὲν ἢ παραβαίνειν τοὺς πατρίους νόμους (cf. 2 Macc. 7:29); the motif often recurs in the traditions connected with the Maccabeans (see 1 Macc. 2:37, 50; 2 Macc. 7:29; 4 Macc. 9:1; Josephus, Ant. Jud. XII 281-282). In 1 Macc. 2:37, it is linked to the retreat into the desert (1 Macc. 2:29); in 1 Macc. 2:50-51 the example of the fathers is stressed. The entering into the cave in the field allows Taxo and his sons to avoid transgressing the law. [...] A retreat into the desert is also mentioned in 1 Macc. 2:29 (cf. Josephus, Ant. Jud. XII 271-275), and Ps. Sol. 17:17, but in these instances no caves are mentioned. [...] It is not explicitly stated that Taxo and his sons will actually die, but Taxo clearly expects this to happen, and the mention of “blood” also strongly suggests that the death Taxo expects will be a violent one. Thus, two motifs traditionally associated with zeal for the law are here brought together: violent death and a retreat into (caves in) the desert. ...”