1 Maccabees 16:2

2 whereupon Simon called his two eldest sons, Judas and John, and said unto them: I and my brethren and my father's house have ever from our youth unto this day fought against the enemies of Israel, and things have prospered so well in our hands that we have delivered Israel oftentimes.

1 Maccabees 16:2 In-Context

1 Then came up John from Gazara and told Simon his father what Cendebeus had done,

2 whereupon Simon called his two eldest sons, Judas and John, and said unto them: I and my brethren and my father's house have ever from our youth unto this day fought against the enemies of Israel, and things have prospered so well in our hands that we have delivered Israel oftentimes.

3 But now I am old, and ye, by God's mercy, are of a sufficient age. Be ye in the stead of me and my brother, and go and fight for our nation; and the help from heaven be with you.

4 So he chose out of the country twenty thousand men of war with horsemen, who went out against Cendebeus, and rested that night at Modin.

5 And when they rose in the morning and went into the plain, behold, a mighty great host both of footmen and horsemen came against them; however there was a water brook between them.