Death of Nicanor
39 Now Nicanor, along with the Syrian army, left Jerusalem and camped in Beth-horon.
40
Judas camped in Adasa with three thousand men. Then Judas prayed:
41
When the messengers from the king of the Assyrians insulted us with words, your angel went out and struck down one hundred eighty-five thousand.
42
So crush this army before us today. Let the rest learn that he has spoken against your sanctuary in an evil way, and judge him for this wickedness.
43
So the armies met in battle on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar. Nicanor's army was crushed, and he himself was the first to die in the battle.
44
When his army saw that Nicanor had died, they threw down their weapons and fled.
45
The Jews pursued them a day's journey, from Adasa to Gazara. As they followed them, they kept blasting the battle call on the trumpets.
46
People came out of the surrounding Judean villages. They outflanked the enemy and drove them back toward their pursuers so that they all died by the sword. Not a single one of them was left alive.
47
Then the Jews seized the spoils and the goods left behind. They cut off Nicanor's head and his right hand, which he had arrogantly stretched out. They brought them and displayed them just outside Jerusalem.
48
The people rejoiced greatly and celebrated that day as a day of great happiness.
49
They established this day as a day of annual celebration on the thirteenth day of Adar.
50
And the land of Judah enjoyed peace for a while.