Wars with neighboring peoples
1 When the Gentiles living nearby learned that the altar had been rebuilt and the sanctuary had been dedicated just as it was before, they became very angry.
2
They sought to wipe out Jacob's descendants who lived among them. So they started to kill and destroy the people.
3
But Judas waged war on the descendants of Esau in Idumea at Akrabattene because they kept ambushing Israelites. He dealt them a heavy blow, humbling them and taking their goods.
4
He also took note of the wickedness of Baean's sons, who were trapping, catching, and ambushing people on the highways.
5
Judas shut them up in their towers. He camped against them, and by promising their complete destruction, he burned their towers and all who were in them.
6
Then he moved against the Ammonites. He found a strong group with many people and a man named Timothy as their leader.
7
Judas had many battles with them, beat them severely, and struck them down.
8
He also captured Jazer and its villages. Then he went back to Judea.