Now, Judas Maccabeus fought the battles of his people with great valiance, captured the cities of Juda, drove Apollonius and a great host out of Samaria, slew Apollonius, took their spoils, and Apollonius’s sword also, and therewith he fought all his life long.  Judas also overthrew Seron and the great army of Syria.  Then Judas was renowned unto the utmost parts of the earth, and an exceeding great dread fell upon the nations round about.  Now, when King Antiochus heard these things he was full of indignation; wherefore he sent and gathered together all the forces of his realm.  And the king sent Lysias, one of the blood royal, with a great army to go into the land of Juda and destroy it.  Judas and his brethren, when he heard this, assembled the Israelites at Maspha, over against Jerusalem, where they fasted; and Judas organised and armed them to battle, and camped at Emmaus.  Gorgias, the lieutenant of Lysias, attempted to surprise Judas, but Judas joined him in battle and discomfited him, putting his host to flight and gaining great spoil.  Next year Lysias gathered another army, that he might subdue the Israelites, and came into Idumea, and pitched tents at Bethsura.  But Judas joined him in battle, and put Lysias and his army to flight.  After this, Judas and his brethren came to Jerusalem, pulled down the altar which the heathen had profaned, and set up a new altar.  He also builded up Mount Sion with strong towers and high walls.  After that Judas smote the children of Esau, Bean, and Ammon, and sent Simon into Galilee, while he, with his brother Jonathan, went over Jordan, and captured the cities of Galaad.  About that time Antiochus was in Persia, and heard of the doings of Judas.  He was astonished and sore moved, and fell sick of grief and died.  Lysias set up Antiochus, his son, as king, and called him Eupator, and brought a great army into Juda.  The number of his army was an hundred thousand footmen, twenty thousand horsemen, and two and thirty elephants.  Judas went out from Jerusalem and pitched in Bathzacharias over against the king’s camp.  Then a great battle was fought, when Judas was defeated.  There being a famine in the city, he made peace with Eupator, who, however, ordered the wall round about Sion to be pulled down.

Demetrius came from Rome and attacked Eupator in Antioch, captured the city, and slew Eupator and Lysias.  Alsimus, who wished to be high priest, complained to Demetrius of Judas, and the king sent Nicanor, a man that bare deadly hate unto Israel, to destroy the people; but he was defeated by Judas at Capharsalama with great slaughter, and in a second battle Nicanor’s host was discomfited and he himself was slain, and his head and right hand were hanged up on the tower at Jerusalem.  This was a day of great gladness to Israel, and the victory was kept holy every year after.

Now, Judas, being informed of the power and policy of the Romans, made a league with them of mutual help.  Notwithstanding, Demetrius sent Bacchides and Alcimus a second time into Judea with a great host, and camped at Berea.  Now, Judas had pitched his tent at Eleasa, where, seeing the multitude of the other army to be so great, his men began to desert him, whereupon Judas said:  God forbid that I should flee away from the enemy; if our time be come, let us die manfully for our brethren, and let us not stain our honour.