Judas' Stronghold Campaigns

When Antiochus Eupator came to the throne, Lysias was appointed over Coelesyria and Phoenicia. Ptolemy Macron tried to deal justly and peacefully with the Jews because of the wrong done to them. But he was accused before the king, disgraced, and ended his own life.

Then Gorgias became governor of the district and kept up war against the Jews with mercenaries. The Idumaeans also held important strongholds, sheltered people who had fled from Jerusalem, and continued the fighting. Judas Maccabaeus and his men prayed earnestly, asking God to fight on their side.

Judas attacked the Idumaean strongholds and captured them. In the fighting, no fewer than twenty thousand were killed. About nine thousand fled into two very strong towers stocked for a siege. Judas left Simon, Joseph, Zacchaeus, and their men there to continue the siege while he went where he was most needed.

But Simon and some with him gave in to greed. They took money from men in the towers and let some escape. When Judas heard, he gathered the leaders and accused those men of selling their own people for money by letting enemies go free to fight again. He put the traitors to death and then captured both towers.

Then Timotheus returned with many foreign troops and much cavalry, meaning to seize Judea by force. Judas and his men put dust on their heads, wore sackcloth, and fell before the altar in prayer. At dawn they fought. In the battle, five heavenly riders appeared. Two of them led the Jews and guarded Maccabaeus, while the enemy fell into confusion.

Timotheus fled to the strong fortress called Gazara, where Chaereas was commander. Judas besieged it for four days. On the fifth day, after blasphemous words from inside, some of Judas's young men fought their way up the wall, others opened the gates, and the city was taken. Timotheus, Chaereas, and Apollophanes died. Then the people blessed the Lord with hymns and thanksgiving for victory.