2 Macabees 12:42-46
Turning to supplication, they prayed that the sinful
deed might be fully blotted out. The noble Judas warned
the soldiers to keep themselves free from sin, for they
had seen with their own eyes what had happened
because of the sin of those who had fallen. He then
took up a collection among all his soldiers, amounting
to two thousand silver drachmas, which he sent to
Jerusalem to provide for an expiatory sacrifice. In doing
this he acted in a very excellent and noble way, inasmuch
as he had the resurrection of the dead in view; for if he
were not expecting the fallen to rise again, it would
have been useless and foolish to pray for them in death.
But if he did this with a view to the splendid reward that
awaits those who had gone to rest in godliness, it was a
holy and pious thought. Thus he made atonement for
the dead that they might be freed from this sin.