innumerable people bearing ladders and other engines of war, to take the fortress: for they assaulted them.
[31] When Judas therefore saw that the battle was begun, and that the cry of the city went up to heaven, with trumpets, and a great sound,
[32] He said unto his host, Fight this day for your brethren.
[33] So he went forth behind them in three companies, who sounded their trumpets, and cried with prayer.
[34] Then the host of Timotheus, knowing that it was Maccabeus, fled from him: wherefore he smote them with a great slaughter; so that there were killed of them that day about eight thousand men.
[35] This done, Judas turned aside to Maspha; and after he had assaulted it he took and slew all the males therein, and received the spoils thereof and and burnt it with fire.
[36] From thence went he, and took Casphon, Maged, Bosor, and the other cities of the country of Galaad.
[37] After these things gathered Timotheus another host and encamped against Raphon beyond the brook.
[38] So Judas sent men to espy the host, who brought him word, saying, All the heathen that be round about us are assembled unto them, even a very great host.
[39] He hath also hired the Arabians to help them and they have pitched their tents beyond the brook, ready to come and fight against thee. Upon this Judas went to meet them.
[40] Then Timotheus said unto the captains of his host, When Judas and his host come near the brook, if he pass over first unto us, we shall not be able to withstand him; for he will mightily prevail against us:
[41] But if he be afraid, and camp beyond the river, we shall go over unto him, and prevail against him.
[42] Now when Judas came near the brook, he caused the scribes of the people to remain by the brook: unto whom he gave commandment, saying, Suffer no man to remain in the camp, but let all come to the battle.
[43] So he went first over unto them, and all the people after him: then all the heathen, being discomfited before him, cast away their weapons, and fled unto the temple that was at Carnaim.
[44] But they took the city, and burned the temple with all that were therein. Thus was Carnaim subdued, neither could they stand any longer before Judas.
[45] Then Judas gathered together all the Israelites that were in the country of Galaad, from the least unto the greatest, even their wives, and their children, and their stuff, a very great host, to the end they might come into the land of Judea.
[46] Now when they came unto Ephron, (this was a great city in the way as they should go, very well fortified) they could not turn from it, either on the right hand or the left, but must needs pass through the midst of it.
[47] Then they of the city shut them out, and stopped up the gates with stones.
[48] Whereupon Judas sent unto them in peaceable manner, saying, Let us pass through your land to go into our own country, and none shall do you any hurt; we will only pass through on foot: howbeit they would not open unto him.
[49] Wherefore Judas commanded a proclamation to be made throughout the host, that every man should pitch his tent in the place where he was.
[50] So the soldiers pitched, and assaulted the city all that day and all that night, till at the length the city was delivered into his hands:
[51] Who then slew 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.
[52] After this went they over Jordan into the great plain before Bethsan.
[53] And Judas gathered together those that came behind, and exhorted the people all the way through, till they came into the land of Judea.
[54] So they went up to mount Sion with joy and gladness, where they offered burnt offerings, because not one of them were slain until they had returned in peace.
[55] Now what time as Judas and Jonathan were in the land of Galaad, and Simon his brother in Galilee before Ptolemais,
[56] Joseph the son of Zacharias, and Azarias, captains of the garrisons, heard of the valiant acts and warlike deeds which they had done.
[57] Wherefore they said, Let us also get us a name, and go fight against the heathen that are round about us.
[58] So when they had given charge unto the garrison that was with them, they went toward Jamnia.
[59] Then came Gorgias and his men out of the city to fight against them.
[60] And so it was, that Joseph and Azaras were put to flight, and pursued unto the borders of Judea: and there were slain that day of the people of Israel about two thousand men.
[61] Thus was there a great overthrow among the children of Israel, because they were not obedient unto Judas and his brethren, but thought to do some valiant act.
[62] Moreover these men came not of the seed of those, by whose hand deliverance was given unto Israel.
[63] Howbeit the man Judas and his brethren were greatly renowned in the sight of all Israel, and of all the heathen, wheresoever their name was heard of;
[64] Insomuch as the the people assembled unto them with joyful acclamations.
[65] Afterward went Judas forth with his brethren, and fought against the children of Esau in the land toward the south, where he smote Hebron, and the towns thereof, and pulled down the fortress of it, and burned the towers thereof round about.
[66] From thence he removed to go into the land of the Philistines, and passed through Samaria.
[67] At that time certain priests, desirous to shew their valour, were slain in battle, for that they