33
After this went Nicanor up to Mount Zion; and there came out of the sanctuary certain of the priests and certain of the elders of the people to salute him peaceably, and to show him the burnt sacrifice that was offered for the king.
34
But he mocked them and laughed at them, and abused them shamefully and spoke proudly,
35
and swore in his wrath, saying, "Unless Judas and his host are now delivered into my hands, if ever I come again in safety I will burn up this house." And with that he went out in a great rage.
36
Then the priests entered in, and stood before the altar and the temple, weeping and saying,
37
"Thou, O Lord, didst choose this house to be called by Thy name, and to be a house of prayer and petition for Thy people.
38
Be avenged upon this man and his host, and let them fall by the sword; remember their blasphemies, and suffer them not to continue any longer."
39
So Nicanor went out of Jerusalem and pitched his tents in Beth-horon, where a host out of Syria met him.
40
But Judas pitched camp in Adasa with three thousand men, and there he prayed, saying,
41
"O Lord, when those who were sent from the king of the Assyrians blasphemed, Thine angel went out and smote a hundred fourscore and five thousand of them.
42
Even so destroy Thou this host before us this day, that the rest may know that he hath spoken blasphemously against Thy sanctuary, and judge Thou him according to his wickedness."
43
So the thirteenth day of the month of Adar the hosts joined in battle; but Nicanor's host was discomfited, and he himself was first slain in the battle.