8
And when he had taken Jazer, with the towns belonging thereto, he returned into Judea.
9
Then the heathen who were at Gilead assembled themselves together against the Israelites who were in their borders to destroy them; but they fled to the fortress of Dathema,
10
and sent letters unto Judas and his brethren: "The heathen who are round about us are assembled together against us to destroy us.
11
And they are preparing to come and take the fortress whereunto we have fled, Timothy being captain of their host.
12
Come now therefore and deliver us from their hands, for many of us have been slain.
13
Yea, all our brethren who were in the places of Tob are put to death. Their wives and their children also they have carried away captives, and borne away their goods, and they have destroyed there about a thousand men."
14
While these letters were yet being read, behold, there came other messengers from Galilee with their clothes rent, who reported in this manner
15
and said, "They of Ptolemais, and of Tyre and Sidon, and all Galilee of the Gentiles are assembled together against us to consume us."
16
Now when Judas and the people heard these words, there assembled a great congregation together to consider what they should do for their brethren who were in trouble and assaulted by them.
17
Then said Judas unto Simon his brother, "Choose thee out men, and go and deliver thy brethren who are in Galilee, for I and Jonathan my brother will go into the country of Gilead."
18
So he left Joseph the son of Zechariah, and Azariah, captains of the people, with the remnant of the host in Judea to keep it.