24
During this time, Judas Maccabeus and his brother Jonathan had crossed the Jordan River and had marched for three days through the desert.
25
They met some friendly Nabateans who told them all that had happened to the Jews in Gilead.
26
They reported that many Jews were imprisoned in the fortified cities of Bozrah, Bosor, Alema, Chaspho, Maked, and Karnaim,
27
while others were imprisoned in the smaller towns of Gilead. They also reported that the enemy was drawn up to make an attack the next day on the Jewish fortresses, hoping to destroy all the Jews in a single day.
28
So Judas and his army suddenly turned and attacked Bozrah by the desert road, captured the town, and killed every man in it. They looted the town and set it on fire.
29
They left there and marched all night to the fortress at Dathema.
30
At dawn Judas and his men saw a vast army attacking the fortress; they were bringing up ladders, siege platforms, and battering rams in an effort to capture it.
31
When Judas heard the noise, the shouts, and the sound of trumpets coming from the city, he realized that the battle had begun,
32
so he said to his men, "Fight today for our fellow Jews!"
33
He ordered his men to march in three columns and attack the enemy from the rear. As they moved forward, they blew trumpets and shouted prayers.
34
When the army under Timothy's command saw that it was Judas Maccabeus, the soldiers turned and fled. Judas crushed them and killed about 8,000 men that day.