2 Maccabees 8:21

21 Thus when he had made them bold with these words, and ready to die for the laws and the country, he divided his army into four parts

2 Maccabees 8:21 In-Context

19 Moreover, he recounted unto them what help their forefathers had found and how they were delivered, when under Sennacherib a hundred fourscore and five thousand perished.

20 And he told them of the battle that they had in Babylon with the Galatians, how they came but eight thousand in all to the business, with four thousand Macedonians; and that, the Macedonians being perplexed, the eight thousand destroyed a hundred and twenty thousand, because of the help that they had from heaven, and so received a great booty.

21 Thus when he had made them bold with these words, and ready to die for the laws and the country, he divided his army into four parts

22 and joined with himself his own brethren, leaders of each band, to wit, Simon and Joseph and Jonathan, giving each one fifteen hundred men.

23 Also he appointed Eleazar to read the holy book. And when he had given them this watchword, The help of God, leading the first band himself, he joined battle with Nicanor.