26
Jonathan sent spies into the enemy camp, who reported to him that the enemy forces were making plans to attack the Jews by night.
27
At sunset Jonathan ordered all his soldiers to be on the alert and to have their weapons ready for a surprise attack any time during the night. He also stationed guards all around the camp.
28
When the enemy soldiers learned that Jonathan and his men were ready for battle, they were panic-stricken and fled, leaving their campfires burning.
29
Jonathan and his men saw the campfires but did not realize what had happened until the next morning.
30
Jonathan then set out after them, but he could not overtake them because they had already crossed the Eleutherus River.
31
Then Jonathan turned aside and attacked a tribe of Arabs called Zabadeans. He defeated them and plundered their possessions.
32
Then he broke camp and went to Damascus, inspecting the entire area along the way.
33
Meanwhile, Simon had also set out on a campaign and had advanced as far as Ascalon and the neighboring fortresses. Then he turned aside to Joppa
34
and stationed a detachment of soldiers there because he had heard that the people were planning to hand over the fortress of Joppa to the soldiers of Demetrius.
35
When Jonathan returned, he called the council of the leaders together and made plans with them to build fortresses in Judea,
36
to increase the height of the walls of Jerusalem, and to build a high wall to separate the fort from the city. This would isolate the fort, making it impossible for the enemy to buy or sell anything.