21
But when it was told to Maccabeus what was done, he called the governors of the people together, and accused those men of having sold their brethren for money, and set their enemies free to fight against them.
22
So he slew those who were found traitors, and immediately took the two castles.
23
And having good success with his weapons in all things he took in hand, he slew in the two strongholds more than twenty thousand.
24
Now Timothy, whom the Jews had overcome before, when he had gathered a great multitude of foreign forces and horses out of Asia not a few, came as though he would take Judea by force of arms.
25
But when he drew near, those who were with Maccabeus turned to pray unto God, and sprinkled earth upon their heads, and girded their loins with sackcloth,
26
and fell down at the foot of the altar, and besought Him to be merciful to them, and to be an enemy to their enemies and an adversary to their adversaries, as the law declareth.
27
So after the prayer they took their weapons and went on further from the city; and when they drew near to their enemies, they kept to themselves.
28
Now the sun being newly risen, they joined both together, the one part having, together with their virtue, their refuge also in the Lord as a pledge of their success and victory, the other side making their rage leader of their battle.
29
But when the battle waxed strong, there appeared unto the enemies from heaven five comely men upon horses with bridles of gold, and two of them led the Jews,
30
and took Maccabeus between them, and covered him on every side with their weapons and kept him safe, but shot arrows and lightnings against the enemies so that, being confounded with blindness and full of trouble, they were killed.
31
And there were slain of footmen twenty thousand and five hundred, and six hundred horsemen.