24
Timothy, who had been defeated by the Jews once before, had gathered a large number of cavalry from Asia and a tremendous force of mercenary troops and was now advancing to take Judea by armed attack.
25
But as the enemy forces were approaching, Judas and his men prayed to God. They put on sackcloth, threw dirt on their heads,
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and lay face downward on the steps of the altar, begging God to help them by fighting against their enemies, as he had promised in his Law.
27
When they had finished praying, they took up their weapons, went out a good distance from Jerusalem, and stopped for the night not far from the enemy.
28
At daybreak the two armies joined in battle. The Jewish forces depended upon both their bravery and their trust in the Lord for victory, while the enemy relied only on their ability to fight fiercely.
29
When the fighting was at its worst, the enemy saw five handsome men riding on horses with gold bridles and leading the Jewish forces.
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These five men surrounded Judas, protecting him with their own armor and showering the enemy with arrows and thunderbolts. The enemy forces then became so confused and bewildered that they broke ranks, and the Jews cut them to pieces,
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slaughtering 20,500 infantry and 600 cavalry.
32
Timothy himself escaped to the strongly defended fort of Gezer, where his brother Chaereas was in command.
33
Judas and his men besieged the fort for four days with great enthusiasm,
34
but those inside trusted to the security of their positions and shouted all sorts of terrible insults against the Jews and their God.