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general fell among the rest； they all ran away with speed； as
thinking that to be their best way of escaping。 So he pursued
them unto the plain； and slew about eight hundred of the enemy；
but the rest escaped to the region which lay near to the sea。
2。 When king Antiochus heard of these things； he was very angry
at what had happened； so he got together all his own army； with
many mercenaries； whom he had hired from the islands； and took
them with him； and prepared to break into Judea about the
beginning of the spring。 But when； upon his mustering his
soldiers； he perceived that his treasures were deficient； and
there was a want of money in them； for all the taxes were not
paid； by reason of the seditions there had been among the nations
he having been so magnanimous and so liberal； that what he had
was not sufficient for him； he therefore resolved first to go
into Persia； and collect the taxes of that country。 Hereupon he
left one whose name was Lysias； who was in great repute with him
governor of the kingdom； as far as the bounds of Egypt； and of
the Lower Asia； and reaching from the river Euphrates； and
committed to him a certain part of his forces； and of his
elephants； and charged him to bring up his son Antiochus with all
possible care； until he came back； and that he should conquer
Judea； and take its inhabitants for slaves； and utterly destroy
Jerusalem； and abolish the whole nation。 And when king Antiochus
had given these things in charge to Lysias； he went into Persia；
and in the hundred and forty…seventh year he passed over
Euphrates； and went to the superior provinces。
3。 Upon this Lysias chose Ptolemy； the son of Dorymenes； and
Nicanor； and Gorgias； very potent men among the king's friends；
and delivered to them forty thousand foot soldiers； and seven
thousand horsemen； and sent them against Judea； who came as far
as the city Emmaus； and pitched their camp in the plain country。
There came also to them auxiliaries out of Syria； and the country
round about； as also many of the runagate Jews。 And besides these
came some merchants to buy those that should be carried captives；
（having bonds with them to bind those that should be made
prisoners；） with that silver and gold which they were to pay for
their price。 And when Judas saw their camp； and how numerous
their enemies were； he persuaded his own soldiers to be of good
courage； and exhorted them to place their hopes of victory in
God； and to make supplication to him； according to the custom of
their country； clothed in sackcloth； and to show what was their
usual habit of supplication in the greatest dangers； and thereby
to prevail with God to grant you the victory over your enemies。
So he set them in their ancient order of battle used by their
forefathers； under their captains of thousands； and other
officers； and dismissed such as were newly married； as well as
those that had newly gained possessions； that they might not
fight in a cowardly manner； out of an inordinate love of life； in
order to enjoy those blessings。 When he had thus disposed his
soldiers； he encouraged them to fight by the following speech；
which he made to them： 〃O my fellow soldiers； no other time
remains more opportune than the present for courage and contempt
of dangers； for if you now fight manfully； you may recover your
liberty； which； as it is a thing of itself agreeable to all men；
so it proves to be to us much more desirable； by its affording us
the liberty of worshipping God。 Since therefore you are in such
circumstances at present； you must either recover that liberty；
and so regain a happy and blessed way of living； which is that
according to our laws； and the customs of our country； or to
submit to the most opprobrious sufferings； nor will any seed of
your nation remain if you be beat in this battle。 Fight therefore
manfully； and suppose that you must die； though you do not fight；
but believe； that besides such glorious rewards as those of the
liberty of your country； of your laws； of your religion； you
shall then obtain everlasting glory。 Prepare yourselves；
therefore； and put yourselves into such an agreeable posture；
that you may be ready to fight with the enemy as soon as it is
day tomorrow morning。〃
4。 And this was the speech which Judas made to encourage them。
But when the enemy sent Gorgias； with five thousand foot and one
thousand horse； that he might fall upon Judas by night； and had
for that purpose certain of the runagate Jews as guides； the son
of Mattathias perceived it； and resolved to fall upon those
enemies that were in their camp； now their forces were divided。
When they had therefore supped in good time； and had left many
fires in their camp； he marched all night to those enemies that
were at Emmaus。 So that when Gorgias found no enemy in their
camp； but suspected that they were retired； and had hidden
themselves among the mountains； he resolved to go and seek them
wheresoever they were。 But about break of day Judas appeared to
those enemies that were at Emmaus； with only three thousand men；
and those ill armed； by reason of their poverty； and when he saw
the enemy very well and skillfully fortified in their camp； he
encouraged the Jews； and told them that they ought to fight；
though it were with their naked bodies； for that God had
sometimes of old given such men strength； and that against such
as were more in number； and were armed also； out of regard to
their great courage。 So he commanded the trumpeters to sound for
the battle； and by thus falling upon the enemies when they did
not expect it； and thereby astonishing and disturbing their
minds； he slew many of those that resisted him； and went on
pursuing the rest as far as Gadara； and the plains of Idumea； and
Ashdod； and Jamnia； and of these there fell about three thousand。
Yet did Judas exhort his soldiers not to be too desirous of the
spoils； for that still they must have a contest and battle with
Gorgias； and the forces that were with him； but that when they
had once overcome them； then they might securely plunder the
camp； because they were the only enemies remaining； and they
expected no others。 And just as he was speaking to his soldiers；
Gorgias's men looked down into that army which they left in their
camp； and saw that it was overthrown； and the camp burnt； for the
smoke that arose from it showed them； even when they were a great
way off； what had happened。 When therefore those that were with
Gorgias understood that things were in this posture； and
perceived that those that were with Judas were ready to fight
them； they also were affrighted； and put to flight； but then
Judas； as though he had already beaten Gorgias's soldiers without
fighting； returned and seized on the spoils。 He took a great
quantity of gold； and silver； and purple； and blue； and then
returned home with joy； and singing hymns to God for their good
success； for this victory greatly contributed to the recovery of
their liberty。
5。 Hereupon Lysias was confounded at the defeat of the army which
he had sent； and the next year he got together sixty thousand
chosen men。 He also took five thousand horsemen； and fell upon
Judea； and he went up to the hill country of Bethsur； a village
of Judea； and pitched his camp there； where Judas met him with
ten thousand men； and when he saw the great number of his
enemies； he prayed to God that he would assist him； and joined
battle with the first of the enemy that appeared； and beat them；
and slew about five thousand of them； and thereby became terrible
to the rest of them。 Nay； indeed； Lysias observing the great
spirit of the Jews； how they were prepared to die rather than
lose their liberty； and being afraid of their desperate way of
fighting； as if it were real strength； he took the rest of the
army back with him； and returned to Antioch； where he listed
foreigners into the service； and prepared to fall upon Judea with
a greater army。
6。 When therefore the generals of Antiochus's armies had been
beaten so often； Judas assembled the people together； and told
them； that after these many victories which God had given them；
they ought to go up to Jerusalem； and purify the temple； and
offer the appointed sacrifices。 But as soon as he； with the whole
multitude； was come to Jerusalem； and found the temple deserted；
and its gates burnt down； and plants growing in the temple of
their own accord； on account of its desertion； he and those that
were with him began to lament； and were quite confounded at the
sight of the temple； so he chose out some of his soldiers； and
gave them order to fight against those guards that were in the
citadel； until he should have purified the temple。 When therefore
he had carefully purged it； and had brought in new vessels； the
candlestick； the table ＇of shew…bread＇； and the altar ＇of
incense＇； which were made of gold； he hung up the veils at the
gates； and added doors to them。 He also took down the altar ＇of
burnt…offering＇； and built a new one of stones that he gathered
together； and not of such as were hewn with iron tools。 So on the
five and twentieth day of the month Casleu； which the Macedonians
call Apeliens； they lighted the lamps tha