15
and if not for their own sakes, yet for the covenants He had made with their fathers and for His holy and glorious name's sake by which they were called.
16
So Maccabeus called his men together unto the number of six thousand, and exhorted them not to be stricken with terror by the enemy, nor to fear the great multitude of the heathen who came wrongly against them, but to fight manfully,
17
and to set before their eyes the injury that they had unjustly done to the holy place, and the cruel handling of the city, whereof they made a mockery, and also the taking away of the government of their forefathers.
18
For they, said he, trust in their weapons and boldness; but our confidence is in the Almighty, who at a beck can cast down both those who come against us and also all the world.
19
Moreover, he recounted unto them what help their forefathers had found and how they were delivered, when under Sennacherib a hundred fourscore and five thousand perished.
20
And he told them of the battle that they had in Babylon with the Galatians, how they came but eight thousand in all to the business, with four thousand Macedonians; and that, the Macedonians being perplexed, the eight thousand destroyed a hundred and twenty thousand, because of the help that they had from heaven, and so received a great booty.
21
Thus when he had made them bold with these words, and ready to die for the laws and the country, he divided his army into four parts
22
and joined with himself his own brethren, leaders of each band, to wit, Simon and Joseph and Jonathan, giving each one fifteen hundred men.
23
Also he appointed Eleazar to read the holy book. And when he had given them this watchword, The help of God, leading the first band himself, he joined battle with Nicanor.
24
And by the help of the Almighty, they slew above nine thousand of their enemies, and wounded and maimed the most part of Nicanor's host, and so put all to flight,
25
and took the money of those who came to buy them, and pursued them far. But lacking time, they returned;