39
and with them he sent forty thousand footmen and seven thousand horsemen to go into the land of Judah and to destroy it, as the king commanded.
40
So they went forth with all their power, and came and pitched camp by Emmaus in the plain country.
41
And the merchants of the country, hearing the fame of them, took very much silver and gold, with servants, and came into the camp to buy the children of Israel for slaves. A power also of Syria and of the land of the Philistines joined themselves unto them.
42
Now when Judas and his brethren saw that miseries were multiplied, and that the forces were encamped in their borders (for they knew how the king had given commandment to destroy the people and utterly abolish them),
43
they said one to another, "Let us restore the decayed estate of our people, and let us fight for our people and the sanctuary."
44
Then was the congregation gathered together, that they might be ready for battle, and that they might pray and ask mercy and compassion.
45
Now Jerusalem lay void as a wilderness; there was none of her children that went in or out. The sanctuary also was trodden down, and aliens kept the stronghold. The heathen had their habitation in that place; and joy was taken from Jacob, and the pipe with the harp ceased.
46
Therefore the Israelites assembled themselves together and came to Mizpah, opposite Jerusalem; for in Mizpah was the place where they prayed in former time in Israel.
47
Then they fasted that day, and put on sackcloth and cast ashes upon their heads and rent their clothes,
48
and laid open the Book of the Law, wherein the heathen had sought to paint the likeness of their images.
49
They brought also the priests' garments, and the firstfruits and the tithes; and the Nazirites they stirred up, who had accomplished their days.