2 Maccabees 8:21-29

Common English Bible

²¹ With such words he so encouraged them that they were prepared to die for their laws and homeland. He divided the army into four parts and ²² appointed his brothers as commanders of each unit. Simon, Joseph, and Jonathan each commanded fifteen hundred men, ²³ while Eleazar was publicly to read aloud the holy scroll.

Giving the watchword of “God’s help,” Judas took command of the first military unit and attacked Nicanor. ²⁴ With the almighty as their ally, they slaughtered more than nine thousand of the enemy, wounding and disabling many of Nicanor’s army and driving them all to flight. ²⁵ They seized the funds of those who came to buy them. After pursuing them a long way, they returned while there was still time ²⁶ because it was the day before the Sabbath. For that reason they didn’t continue to pursue them. ²⁷ After collecting the arms of the enemy and stripping them of their spoils, they kept the Sabbath, praising and giving thanks to the Lord for saving them that day and for giving them this initial sign of mercy. ²⁸ When the Sabbath had ended, they shared the loot with those who had suffered torture, with the widows, and with the orphans. They divided up the rest with their children. ²⁹ When they had completed these final tasks, they made a common appeal and prayed for the merciful Lord to be reconciled finally with his servants.