1 Maccabees 5:9-19

9 Then the heathen that were at Galaad assembled themselves together against the Israelites that were in their quarters, to destroy them; but they fled to the fortress of Dathema.
10 And sent letters unto Judas and his brethren, The heathen that are round about us are assembled together against us to destroy us:
11 And they are preparing to come and take the fortress whereunto we are fled, Timotheus being captain of their host.
12 Come now therefore, and deliver us from their hands, for many of us are slain:
13 Yea, all our brethren that were in the places of Tobie are put to death: their wives and their children also they have carried away captives, and borne away their stuff; and they have destroyed there about a thousand men.
14 While these letters were yet reading, behold, there came other messengers from Galilee with their clothes rent, who reported on this wise,
15 And said, They of Ptolemais, and of Tyrus, and Sidon, and all Galilee of the Gentiles, are assembled together against us to consume us.
16 Now when Judas and the people heard these words, there assembled a great congregation together, to consult what they should do for their brethren, that were in trouble, and assaulted of them.
17 Then said Judas unto Simon his brother, Choose thee out men, and go and deliver thy brethren that are in Galilee, for I and Jonathan my brother will go into the country of Galaad.
18 So he left Joseph the son of Zacharias, and Azarias, captains of the people, with the remnant of the host in Judea to keep it.
19 Unto whom he gave commandment, saying, Take ye the charge of this people, and see that ye make not war against the heathen until the time that we come again.
The King James Version is in the public domain.