15
and moreover the Idumeans, having gotten into their hands the most commodious strongholds, kept the Jews occupied and, receiving those who were banished from Jerusalem, they went about to nourish war.
16
Then those who were with Maccabeus made supplication and besought God that He would be their helper; and so they ran with violence upon the strongholds of the Idumeans,
17
and, assaulting them strongly, they won the fortresses, and kept off all who fought upon the wall and slew all who fell into their hands, and killed no fewer than twenty thousand.
18
And because certain ones, who were no less than nine thousand, had fled together into two very strong castles, having all manner of things necessary to sustain the siege,
19
Maccabeus left Simon and Joseph, and Zaccheus also and those who were with him, who were enough to besiege them, and departed himself unto those places which needed his help more.