28
Just as dawn was breaking, the two armies joined battle, the one having as pledge of success and victory not only their valor but their reliance upon the Lord, while the other made rage their leader in the fight.
29
When the battle became fierce, there appeared to the enemy from heaven five resplendent men on horses with golden bridles, and they were leading the Jews.
30
Surrounding Maccabeus and protecting him with their own armor and weapons, they kept him from being wounded. And they showered arrows and thunderbolts upon the enemy, so that, confused and blinded, they were thrown into disorder and cut to pieces.
31
Twenty thousand five hundred were slaughtered, besides six hundred horsemen.
32
Timothy himself fled to a stronghold called Gazara, especially well garrisoned, where Chaereas was commander.
33
Then Maccabeus and his men were glad, and they besieged the fort for four days.
34
The men within, relying on the strength of the place, blasphemed terribly and hurled out wicked words.
35
But at dawn of the fifth day, twenty young men in the army of Maccabeus, fired with anger because of the blasphemies, bravely stormed the wall and with savage fury cut down every one they met.
36
Others who came up in the same way wheeled around against the defenders and set fire to the towers; they kindled fires and burned the blasphemers alive. Others broke open the gates and let in the rest of the force, and they occupied the city.
37
They killed Timothy, who was hidden in a cistern, and his brother Chaereas, and Apollophanes.
38
When they had accomplished these things, with hymns and thanksgivings they blessed the Lord who shows great kindness to Israel and gives them the victory.