Judas and Nicanor's First Campaign

Judas, also called Maccabaeus, and his companions moved secretly through the villages. They called together relatives and others who had remained faithful, and about six thousand joined them. They prayed for their oppressed people, for the profaned sanctuary, for the ruined city, and for God to remember innocent blood and punish wickedness.

After Judas trained his men, he began striking suddenly, often by night. He burned cities and villages, won back key places, and drove many enemies away. As his success grew, Philip asked Ptolemy to support the king's cause. Ptolemy appointed Nicanor, with Gorgias beside him, and sent a great army against Judea.

Nicanor planned to raise money by selling Jewish captives and invited the coastal cities to buy them as slaves. When Judas heard of the invasion, some people fled in fear, while others begged the Lord to rescue those Nicanor meant to sell. Judas gathered his six thousand and told them not to fear the enemy's numbers, but to trust God rather than weapons.

He reminded them of the outrage done to the holy place, the mocking of the city, and the attack on their ancestral way of life. He also recalled earlier times when God had helped his people. Then he divided the army into four parts, with Simon, Joseph, Jonathan, and himself leading. Eleazer read from the sacred book, and their watchword was Help of God.

In the battle, the Almighty fought on their side. More than nine thousand of the enemy were killed, many more were wounded, and the rest fled. Judas's men seized the money brought by those who had come to buy them as slaves. Because it was the day before the Sabbath, they did not chase the enemy far. They gathered weapons and spoil, then kept the Sabbath with thanks to the Lord.

After the Sabbath they gave part of the spoil to the maimed, widows, and orphans, and shared the rest among themselves and their children. They prayed again for mercy. Later they fought the forces of Timotheus and Bacchides, captured strongholds, and took much plunder, also giving shares to the aged. They killed a commander from Timotheus's forces, and in their city they punished Callisthenes and others who had burned the sacred gates.

Nicanor escaped to Antioch in disgrace and spread the news that the Jews had One who fought for them as they followed his laws.