1And it came to pass, when the Gentiles round about heard that the altar was built, and the sanctuary dedicated as aforetime, they were exceeding wroth. 2And they took counsel to destroy the race of Jacob that was in the midst of them, and they began to slay and destroy among the people. 3And Judas fought against the children of Esau in Idumaea at Akrabattine, because they besieged Israel: and he smote them with a great slaughter, and brought down their pride, and took their spoils. 4And he remembered the wickedness of the children of Baean, who were unto the people a snare and a stumblingblock, lying in wait for them in the ways. 5And they were shut up by him in the towers; and he encamped against them, and destroyed them utterly, and burned with fire the towers of the place, with all that were therein. 6And he passed over to the children of Ammon, and found a mighty band, and much people, with Timotheus for their leader. 7And he fought many battles with them, and they were discomfited before his face; and he smote them, 8and gat possession of Jazer, and the villages thereof, and returned again into Judaea.
9And the Gentiles that were in Gilead gathered themselves together against the Israelites that were on their borders, to destroy them. And they fled to the stronghold of Dathema, 10and sent letters unto Judas and his brethren, saying, The Gentiles that are round about us are gathered together against us to destroy us: 11and they are preparing to come and get possession of the stronghold whereunto we are fled for refuge, and Timotheus is the leader of their host. 12Now therefore come and deliver us from their hand, for many of us are fallen. 13And all our brethren that were in the land of Tubias have been put to death; and they have carried into captivity their wives and their children and their stuff; and they destroyed there about a thousand men. 14While the letters were yet reading, behold, there came other messengers from Galilee with their clothes rent, bringing a report after this wise, 15saying, That there were gathered together against them those of Ptolemais, and of Tyre, and of Sidon, and all Galilee of the Gentiles to consume them. 16Now when Judas and the people heard these words, there assembled together a great congregation, to consult what they should do for their brethren, that were in tribulation, and were assaulted of them. 17And Judas said unto Simon his brother, Choose thee out men, and go and deliver thy brethren that are in Galilee, but I and Jonathan my brother will go into the land of Gilead. 18And he left Joseph the son of Zacharias, and Azarias, as leaders of the people, with the remnant of the host, in Judaea, for to keep it. 19And he gave commandment unto them, saying, Take ye the charge of this people, and fight no battle with the Gentiles until that we come again. 20And unto Simon were divided three thousand men to go into Galilee, but unto Judas eight thousand men to go into the land of Gilead.
21And Simon went into Galilee, and fought many battles with the Gentiles, and the Gentiles were discomfited before him. 22And he pursued them unto the gate of Ptolemais; and there fell of the Gentiles about three thousand men, and he took their spoils. 23And they took to them those that were in Galilee, and in Arbatta, with their wives and their children, and all that they had, and brought them into Judaea with great gladness. 24And Judas Maccabaeus and his brother Jonathan passed over Jordan, and went three days’ journey in the wilderness; 25and they met with the Nabathaeans, and these met them in a peaceable manner, and told them all things that had befallen their brethren in the land of Gilead: 26and how that many of them were shut up in Bosora, and Bosor, and Alema, Casphor, Maked, and Carnaim; all these cities are strong and great: 27and how that they were shut up in the rest of the cities of the land of Gilead, and that tomorrow they have appointed to encamp against the strongholds, and to take them, and to destroy all these men in one day. 28And Judas and his army turned suddenly by the way of the wilderness unto Bosora; and he took the city, and slew all the males with the edge of the sword, and took all their spoils, and burned the city with fire. 29And he removed from thence by night, and went till he came to the stronghold. 30And the morning came, and they lifted up their eyes, and, behold, much people which could not be numbered, bearing ladders and engines of war, to take the stronghold; and they were fighting against them. 31And Judas saw that the battle was begun, and that the cry of the city went up to heaven, with trumpets and a great sound, 32and he said unto the men of his host, Fight this day for your brethren. 33And he went forth behind them in three companies, and they sounded with their trumpets, and cried out in prayer. 34And the army of Timotheus perceived that it was Maccabaeus, and they fled from before him: and he smote them with a great slaughter; and there fell of them on that day about eight thousand men. 35And he turned aside to Mizpeh and fought against it, and took it, and slew all the males thereof, and took the spoils thereof, and burned it with fire. 36From thence he removed, and took Casphor, Maked, Bosor, and the other cities of the land of Gilead.
37Now after these things Timotheus gathered another army, and encamped over against Raphon beyond the brook. 38And Judas sent men to espy the army; and they brought him word, saying, All the Gentiles that be round about us are gathered together unto them, an exceeding great host. 39And they have hired Arabians to help them, and are encamping beyond the brook, ready to come against thee to battle. And Judas went to meet them. 40And Timotheus said unto the captains of his host, when Judas and his army drew nigh unto the brook of water, If he pass over first unto us, we shall not be able to withstand him; for he will mightily prevail against us: 41but if he be afraid, and encamp beyond the river, we will cross over unto him, and prevail against him. 42Now when Judas came nigh unto the brook of water, he caused the scribes of the people to remain by the brook, and gave commandment unto them, saying, Suffer no man to encamp, but let all come to the battle. 43And he crossed over the first against them, and all the people after him: and all the Gentiles were discomfited before his face, and cast away their arms, and fled unto the temple at Carnaim. 44And they took the city, and burned the temple with fire, together with all that were therein. And Carnaim was subdued, neither could they stand any longer before the face of Judas.
45And Judas gathered together all Israel, them that were in the land of Gilead, from the least unto the greatest, and their wives, and their children, and their stuff, an exceeding great army, that they might come into the land of Judah. 46And they came as far as Ephron, and this same city was great, and it was in the way as they should go, exceeding strong: they could not turn aside from it on the right hand or on the left, but must needs pass through the midst of it. 47And they of the city shut them out, and stopped up the gates with stones. 48And Judas sent unto them with words of peace, saying, We will pass through thy land to go into our own land, and none shall do you any hurt, we will only pass by on our feet. And they would not open unto him. 49And Judas commanded proclamation to be made in the army, that each man should encamp in the place where he was. 50And the men of the host encamped, and fought against the city all that day and all that night, and the city was delivered into his hands; 51and he destroyed all the males with the edge of the sword, and rased the city, and took the spoils thereof, and passed through the city over them that were slain. 52And they went over Jordan into the great plain over against Bethshan. 53And Judas gathered together those that lagged behind, and encouraged the people all the way through, until he came into the land of Judah. 54And they went up to mount Sion with gladness and joy, and offered whole burnt offerings, because not so much as one of them was slain until they returned in peace.
55And in the days when Judas and Jonathan were in the land of Gilead, and Simon his brother in Galilee before Ptolemais, 56Joseph the son of Zacharias, and Azarias, rulers of the host, heard of their exploits and of the war, what things they had done; 57and they said, Let us also get us a name, and let us go fight against the Gentiles that are round about us. 58And they gave charge unto the men of the host that was with them, and went toward Jamnia. 59And Gorgias and his men came out of the city to meet them in battle. 60And Joseph and Azarias were put to flight, and were pursued unto the borders of Judaea; and there fell on that day of the people of Israel about two thousand men. 61And there was a great overthrow among the people, because they hearkened not unto Judas and his brethren, thinking to do some exploit. 62But they were not of the seed of those men, by whose hand deliverance was given unto Israel.
63And the man Judas and his brethren were glorified exceedingly in the sight of all Israel, and of all the Gentiles, wheresoever their name was heard of; 64and men gathered together unto them, acclaiming them.
65And Judas and his brethren went forth, and fought against the children of Esau in the land toward the south; and he smote Hebron and the villages thereof, and pulled down the strongholds thereof, and burned the towers thereof round about. 66And he removed to go into the land of the Philistines, and he went through Samaria. 67In that day certain priests, desiring to do exploits there, were slain in battle, when as he went out to battle unadvisedly. 68And Judas turned aside to Azotus, to the land of the Philistines, and pulled down their altars, and burned the carved images of their gods with fire, and took the spoil of their cities, and returned into the land of Judah.