Judas Faces Antiochus Eupator

News reached Judas and his companions that Antiochus Eupator was coming against Judea with a great army, and Lysias was with him. Menelaus joined them, hoping to gain power for himself. Instead, the king was stirred up against Menelaus, and Menelaus was put to death for his crimes, especially his sins against the holy altar.

The king was coming in anger, planning to bring very great suffering on the Jews. Judas told the people to call on the Lord day and night. Together they wept, fasted, and lay before God for three days, begging that they would not lose their law, their country, and the holy temple.

After speaking privately with the elders, Judas decided they should go out before the enemy gained control of the city. He placed the decision in God’s hands and urged everyone to stand bravely for their laws, temple, city, country, and way of life. Then he camped by Modin.

Judas gave his men a watchword declaring that victory belongs to God. Then, with a chosen force of brave young men, he struck the king’s camp at night. They killed about two thousand soldiers, brought down the leading elephant, filled the army with fear, and withdrew as day was dawning. The passage says the Lord protected Judas.

After that, the king made further attacks and came against the strong fortress at Bethsura, but he was turned back. Judas sent needed supplies to those inside. A man named Rhodocus betrayed Jewish secrets to the enemy, but he was found and imprisoned. The king negotiated again at Bethsura, fought Judas and was beaten back, then, after troubling news from Antioch, offered peace, recognised Jewish rights, honoured the sanctuary, and left. In Ptolemais some were angry about the treaty, but Lysias persuaded them and the army went back to Antioch.