1
Not long after Timothy was defeated, Lysias, the King's guardian and relative, and head of the government, heard what had happened. He became angry
2
and led 80,000 infantry and all his cavalry against the Jews with the intention of turning Jerusalem into a Greek city.
3
The Temple would be taxed, as were all Gentile places of worship, and the office of High Priest would be up for sale each year.
4
Lysias was so pleased with his tens of thousands of infantry, his thousands of cavalry, and his eighty elephants that he failed to take into account the power of God.
5
He invaded Judea and attacked the fort of Bethzur, about twenty miles south of Jerusalem.
6
When Judas and his men heard that Lysias was laying siege to their forts, they and all the people cried and wept, begging the Lord to send a good angel to save them.
7
Judas was the first to take up his weapons, and he urged the others to join him in risking their lives to help the other Jews. So with great eagerness they all set out together.
8
But they had not gone far from Jerusalem, when suddenly they noticed they were being led by a horseman dressed in white and carrying gold weapons.