1 Maccabees

Judas’ Actions Outside Judea

When the pagans who lived around them learned that the altar had been rebuilt and the temple restored as before, they became outraged.

They determined to destroy the descendants of Jacob who lived among them. So, they began killing and driving away the Jews.

That is why Judas declared war against the sons of Esau in Idumea and the province of Akrabattene, because they surrounded Israel. He dealt them a deadly blow—he humbled them and looted them.

Then he remembered the wickedness of the gangs of Baean, who were a plague and a constant source of trouble for the Jews, with their ambushes on the roads.

Judas, after blockading and besieging them in their towers, took an oath to eliminate them. He then burned the towers with everyone inside.

From there, he crossed over to the land of the Ammonites, where he faced a large and well-organized army led by Timotheus.

He fought them in many battles, defeating and crushing them.

He attacked and captured the city of Jazer with its surrounding villages, then returned to Judea.

The pagans of Gilead gathered together to destroy the Israelites living in their territory. But the Israelites took refuge in the fortress of Dathema,

and sent a letter to Judas and his brothers which said: “The pagans around us have joined forces to crush us

and are now preparing to storm the fortress where we have taken refuge. Timothy is their leader.

Come at once and rescue us from their hands, since many among us have already died.

All our brothers living in the land of Tobias have been murdered; their women and children were taken captive; about a thousand men have been killed.”

They were reading this letter when other messengers arrived from Galilee, tearing their garments as they gave this message:

“The people of Ptolemais, Tyre, Sidon, and the whole of heathen Galilee have united to destroy us!”

When Judas and his men heard this news, they summoned a great assembly to determine what could be done for their brothers and sisters in distress who were fighting for their lives.

Judas said to his brother Simon: “Choose your men. Go and free our brothers in Galilee. I and my brother Jonathan and I will go to Gilead.”

He left the rest of the troops under the command of Joseph, the son of Zechariah, and Azariah, a leader of the people, to defend the land of Judea;

giving them this order: “Remain at the head of the people. But do not attack the pagans until we return.”

Three thousand men were assigned to Simon for the campaign in Galilee, and eight thousand men to Judas for Gilead.

Simon left for Galilee and defeated the pagans in many encounters,

and pursued them to the gates of Ptolemais. About three thousand of the pagans fell, and Simon seized their spoils.

Then he took away with him the Jews who were in Galilee and Arbatta, as well as their women and children, and all they had, and brought them into Judea with great rejoicing.

Meanwhile, Judas Maccabeus and his brother Jonathan crossed the Jordan and traveled through the desert for three days.

There, they met the Nabateans, who greeted them warmly and told them everything that had happened to their brothers in the Gilead region.

They shared the news that many Jews were imprisoned in Alema, Chaspho, Maked, and Carnaim; all large and fortified towns near Bozrah and Bosor.

They also said that Jews were trapped in other Gilead cities and that the pagans planned to attack their strongholds the next day, aiming to destroy all of them in a single day.

Judas quickly turned off with his army by the desert road to Bozrah. He occupied the city, put all the men to the sword, seized the booty, and then burned the city.

He left the place at night and advanced until they reached the fortress.

At dawn, the Jews looked up and saw an innumerable army carrying ladders and engines of war to attack and capture the fortress.

Judas saw that the attack had begun. From the city, an uproar rose to heaven with shouts and trumpet blasts.

He told his men: “Let us now fight for our brothers.”

Then he divided his troops into three groups and attacked the enemy from behind, sounding the trumpets and praying out loud.

When Timothy’s army recognized that it was Maccabeus, they began to escape, but Judas dealt them a heavy blow; about five thousand of the enemy fell that day.

From there, Judas went to Alema. He attacked and occupied the city, killed all the men, seized the booty, and burned the city.

From there, he captured Chaspho, Maked, Bosor, and the remaining towns of Gilead.

After these events, Timothy gathered a new army and encamped opposite Raphon on the other side of the stream.

Judas sent men to explore the camp, and they brought back the following information: “All the pagans of this region have joined forces under Timothy, forming a powerful army.

They have also hired Arab mercenaries as auxiliaries. They are now encamped on the other side of the stream, ready to attack you.” So Judas set out to confront them in battle.

Timothy saw that Judas was approaching the stream with his army, so he said to the captains of his troops: “If he crosses first and advances against us, he shall attack us with such great force that we will not be able to withstand him.

But if he hesitates and encamps on the other side of the river, we shall cross over to attack and defeat him.”

When Judas reached the banks of the stream, he assigned the officials of his men along the stream and ordered them: “Do not let anyone pitch his tent; all are to fight.”

Judas was the first to cross over to the enemy, and all his men followed. They defeated all the pagans, who threw down their weapons and took refuge in the sacred enclosure of Carnaim.

But the Jews captured the city and burned the sacred enclosure with everyone inside. So Carnaim was crushed. No one could stand up to Judas.

Judas gathered all the Israelites from the Gilead region, both big and small, including their women, children, and belongings, forming a huge crowd to take them into the land of Judea.

They reached Ephron, a strong and important town, by the road. Because it was impossible to go around it on either side, they had to go through it.

But the inhabitants had fortified themselves inside and blocked the entrance with stones.

Judas sent them a message of peace: “Allow us to traverse your land as we return to ours; we will just walk through, and none of us will harm you.” But they refused to open the gates to him.

So Judas ordered his army to take their positions around him.

The soldiers took their places, and Judas fought the city all day and night until he captured it.

He killed all the male inhabitants, destroyed the city, and took its valuables.

Then they moved through the city, stepping over the dead, and crossed the Jordan to reach the great plain, opposite Beth-shan.

During the journey, Judas kept encouraging his people and helping those who lagged behind until they reached Judah.

They climbed Mount Zion happily and satisfied, offering sacrifices because they had returned safely without losing a single man.

While Judas and Jonathan were in the land of Gilead, and their brother Simon was encamped in Galilee, opposite Ptolemais,

Zechariah’s son, Joseph, and Azariah were in command of the army. When they heard of their exploits and how well they had performed in battle,

said: “We also have to win renown, so let us go and fight the pagans who live around us.”

So they ordered their army to march against Jamnia.

But Gorgias came out of the city with his men and attacked them.

Joseph and Azariah were defeated and chased as far as the borders of Judea. About two thousand Israelites died that day.

The people suffered this severe defeat because the Jewish commanders did not listen to Judas and his brothers, believing they were capable of great deeds.

They did not belong to those entrusted with the deliverance of Israel.

The brave Judas and his brothers were highly honored in Israel, and they gained fame among foreigners who heard about them,

and many came to congratulate them.

Judas and his brothers went to the Negev to fight the Edomites. He seized Hebron and its villages, tore down its walls, and burned its defending towers.

Then he moved on to the land of the Philistines, passing through Marisa.

That day, some priests who wanted to be brave fell because they carelessly attacked the enemy.

From there, Judas headed toward Azotus in the land of the Philistines. He destroyed their altars, burned the statues of their gods, plundered the city, and then returned to Judah.