12
When they had all joined in the same petition and had implored the merciful Lord with weeping and fasting and lying prostrate for three days without ceasing, Judas exhorted them and ordered them to stand ready.
13
After consulting privately with the elders, he determined to march out and decide the matter by the help of God before the king's army could enter Judea and get possession of the city.
14
So, committing the decision to the Creator of the world and exhorting his troops to fight bravely to the death for the laws, temple, city, country, and commonwealth, he pitched his camp near Modein.
15
He gave his troops the watchword, "God's victory," and with a picked force of the bravest young men, he attacked the king's pavilion at night and killed as many as two thousand men in the camp. He stabbed the leading elephant and its rider.
16
In the end they filled the camp with terror and confusion and withdrew in triumph.
17
This happened, just as day was dawning, because the Lord's help protected him.
18
The king, having had a taste of the daring of the Jews, tried strategy in attacking their positions.
19
He advanced against Beth-zur, a strong fortress of the Jews, was turned back, attacked again, and was defeated.
20
Judas sent in to the garrison whatever was necessary.
21
But Rhodocus, a man from the ranks of the Jews, gave secret information to the enemy; he was sought for, caught, and put in prison.
22
The king negotiated a second time with the people in Beth-zur, gave pledges, received theirs, withdrew, attacked Judas and his men, was defeated;