23
Judas also was very earnest in pursuing them, killing those wicked wretches, of whom he slew about thirty thousand men.
24
Moreover Timothy himself fell into the hands of Dositheus and Sosipater, whom he besought with much craft to let him go with his life, because he had many of the Jews' parents and the brethren of some of them, who, if they put him to death, would not be regarded.
25
So when he had assured them with many words that he would restore them without hurt, according to the agreement, they let him go for the saving of their brethren.
26
Then Maccabeus marched forth to Carnaim and to the temple of Atargatis, and there he slew five and twenty thousand persons.
27
And after he had put to flight and destroyed them, Judas removed the host toward Ephron, a strong city wherein Lysias abode, and a great multitude of divers nations. And the strong young men kept the walls and defended them mightily, wherein also was great provision of engines and darts.
28
But when Judas and his company had called upon Almighty God, who with His power breaketh the strength of His enemies, they won the city, and slew twenty and five thousand of those who were within.
29
From thence they departed to Scythopolis, which lieth seventy-five miles from Jerusalem.
30
But when the Jews who dwelt there had testified that the Scythopolitans dealt lovingly with them and treated them kindly in the time of their adversity,
31
they gave them thanks, desiring them to be friendly still toward them; and so they came to Jerusalem, the Feast of the Weeks approaching.
32
And after the feast called Pentecost, they went forth against Gorgias, the governor of Idumea,
33
who came out with three thousand men on foot and four hundred horsemen.