2
For about forty days, there were visions of soldiers on horses running through the air around the city. They wore gold garments and were armed with spears and
3
with drawn swords. They organized companies of cavalry, each attacking and counterattacking, wielding shields and spears and shooting arrows. Gold ornaments and armor gleamed brightly.
4
As a result, everyone hoped that the visions were a good sign.
5
When a false rumor spread that Antiochus had died, Jason took no fewer than a thousand soldiers and made an unexpected assault on the city. When the troops on the wall had been defeated, and the city had been seized at last, Menelaus fled into the elevated fortress.
6
Jason mercilessly slaughtered his own citizens. He failed to realize military success against one's own people is the greatest misfortune but thought that he was winning trophies from his enemies and not from his fellow citizens.