camp； because they were the only enemies remaining； and they
expected no others。 And just as he was speaking to his soldiers；
Gorgias's men looked down into that army which they left in their
camp； and saw that it was overthrown； and the camp burnt； for the
smoke that arose from it showed them； even when they were a great
way off； what had happened。 When therefore those that were with
Gorgias understood that things were in this posture； and
perceived that those that were with Judas were ready to fight
them； they also were affrighted； and put to flight； but then
Judas； as though he had already beaten Gorgias's soldiers without
fighting； returned and seized on the spoils。 He took a great
quantity of gold； and silver； and purple； and blue； and then
returned home with joy； and singing hymns to God for their good
success； for this victory greatly contributed to the recovery of
their liberty。
5。 Hereupon Lysias was confounded at the defeat of the army which
he had sent； and the next year he got together sixty thousand
chosen men。 He also took five thousand horsemen； and fell upon
Judea； and he went up to the hill country of Bethsur； a village
of Judea； and pitched his camp there； where Judas met him with
ten thousand men； and when he saw the great number of his
enemies； he prayed to God that he would assist him； and joined
battle with the first of the enemy that appeared； and beat them；
and slew about five thousand of them； and thereby became terrible
to the rest of them。 Nay； indeed； Lysias observing the great
spirit of the Jews； how they were prepared to die rather than
lose their liberty； and being afraid of their desperate way of
fighting； as if it were real strength； he took the rest of the
army back with him； and returned to Antioch； where he listed
foreigners into the service； and prepared to fall upon Judea with
a greater army。
6。 When therefore the generals of Antiochus's armies had been
beaten so often； Judas assembled the people together； and told
them； that after these many victories which God had given them；
they ought to go up to Jerusalem； and purify the temple； and
offer the appointed sacrifices。 But as soon as he； with the whole
multitude； was come to Jerusalem； and found the temple deserted；
and its gates burnt down； and plants growing in the temple of
their own accord； on account of its desertion； he and those that
were with him began to lament； and were quite confounded at the
sight of the temple； so he chose out some of his soldiers； and
gave them order to fight against those guards that were in the
citadel； until he should have purified the temple。 When therefore
he had carefully purged it； and had brought in new vessels； the
candlestick； the table ＇of shew…bread＇； and the altar ＇of
incense＇； which were made of gold； he hung up the veils at the
gates； and added doors to them。 He also took down the altar ＇of
burnt…offering＇； and built a new one of stones that he gathered
together； and not of such as were hewn with iron tools。 So on the
five and twentieth day of the month Casleu； which the Macedonians
call Apeliens； they lighted the lamps that were on the
candlestick； and offered incense upon the altar ＇of incense＇； and
laid the loaves upon the table ＇of shew…bread＇； and offered
burnt…offerings upon the new altar ＇of burnt…offering＇。 Now it so
fell out； that these things were done on the very same day on
which their Divine worship had fallen off； and was reduced to a
profane and common use； after three years' time； for so it was；
that the temple was made desolate by Antiochus； and so continued
for three years。 This desolation happened to the temple in the
hundred forty and fifth year； on the twenty…fifth day of the
month Apeliens； and on the hundred fifty and third olympiad： but
it was dedicated anew； on the same day； the twenty…fifth of the
month Apeliens； on the hundred and forty…eighth year； and on the
hundred and fifty…fourth olympiad。 And this desolation came to
pass according to the prophecy of Daniel； which was given four
hundred and eight years before； for he declared that the
Macedonians would dissolve that worship ＇for some time＇。
7。 Now Judas celebrated the festival of the restoration of the
sacrifices of the temple for eight days； and omitted no sort of
pleasures thereon； but he feasted them upon very rich and
splendid sacrifices； and he honored God； and delighted them by
hymns and psalms。 Nay； they were so very glad at the revival of
their customs； when； after a long time of intermission； they
unexpectedly had regained the freedom of their worship； that they
made it a law for their posterity； that they should keep a
festival； on account of the restoration of their temple worship；
for eight days。 And from that time to this we celebrate this
festival； and call it Lights。 I suppose the reason was； because
this liberty beyond our hopes appeared to us； and that thence was
the name given to that festival。 Judas also rebuilt the walls
round about the city； and reared towers of great height against
the incursions of enemies； and set guards therein。 He also
fortified the city Bethsura； that it might serve as a citadel
against any distresses that might come from our enemies。
CHAPTER 8。
How Judas Subdued The Nations Round About； And How Simon Beat The
People Of Tyre And Ptolemais； And How Judas Overcame Timotheus；
And Forced Him To Fly Away； And Did Many Other Things After
Joseph And Azarias Had Been Beaten
1。 When these things were over； the nations round about the Jews
were very uneasy at the revival of their power； and rose up
together； and destroyed many of them； as gaining advantage over
them by laying snares for them； and making secret conspiracies
against them。 Judas made perpetual expeditions against these men；
and endeavored to restrain them from those incursions； and to
prevent the mischiefs they did to the Jews。 So he fell upon the
Idumeans； the posterity of Esau； at Acrabattene； and slew a great
many of them； and took their spoils。 He also shut up the sons of
Bean； that laid wait for the Jews； and he sat down about them；
and besieged them； and burnt their towers； and destroyed the men
＇that were in them＇。 After this he went thence in haste against
the Ammonites； who had a great and a numerous army； of which
Timotheus was the commander。 And when he had subdued them； he
seized on the city Jazer； and took their wives and their children
captives； and burnt the city； and then returned into Judea。 But
when the neighboring nations understood that he was returned；
they got together in great numbers in the land of Gilead； and
came against those Jews that were at their borders； who then fled
to the garrison of Dathema； and sent to Judas； to inform him that
Timotheus was endeavoring to take the place whither they were
fled。 And as these epistles were reading； there came other
messengers out of Galilee； who informed him that the inhabitants
of Ptolemais； and of Tyre and Sidon； and strangers of Galilee；
were gotten together。
2。 Accordingly Judas； upon considering what was fit to be done；
with relation to the necessity both these cases required； gave
order that Simon his brother should take three thousand chosen
men； and go to the assistance of the Jews in Galilee； while he
and another of his brothers； Jonathan； made haste into the land
of Gilead； with eight thousand soldiers。 And he left Joseph； the
son of Zacharias； and Azarias； to be over the rest of the forces；
and charged them to keep Judea very carefully； and to fight no
battles with any persons whomsoever until his return。
Accordingly； Simon…went into Galilee； and fought the enemy； and
put them to flight； and pursued them to the very gates of
Ptolemais； and slew about three thousand of them； and took the
spoils of those that were slain； and those Jews whom they had
made captives； with their baggage； and then returned home。
3。 Now as for Judas Maccabeus； and his brother Jonathan； they
passed over the river Jordan； and when they had gone three days
journey； they lighted upon the Nabateans； who came to meet them
peaceably； and who told them how the affairs of those in the land
of Gilead stood； and how many of them were in distress； and
driven into garrisons； and into the cities of Galilee； and
exhorted him to make haste to go against the foreigners； and to
endeavor to save his own countrymen out of their hands。 To this
exhortation Judas hearkened； and returned to the wilderness； and
in the first place fell upon the inhabitants of Bosor； and took
the city； and beat the inhabitants； and destroyed all the males；
and all that were able to fight； and burnt the city。 Nor did he
stop even when night came on； but he journeyed in it to the
garrison where the Jews happened to be then shut up； and where
Timotheus lay round the place with his army。 And Judas came upon
the city in the morning； and when he found that the enemy were
making an assault upon the walls； and that some of them brought
ladders； on which they might get upon those walls； and that
others brought engines ＇to batter them＇； he bid the trumpeter to
sound his trumpet； and he encouraged his soldiers cheerfully to
undergo dangers for the sake of their brethren and kindred； he
also parted his army into three bodies； and fell upon the backs
of their enemies。 But when Timotheus's men perceived that it was
Maccabeus that was upon them； of both whose courage and good
success in war they had formerly had sufficient experience； they
were put to flight； but Judas followed them with his army； and
slew about eight thousand of them。 He then turned aside to a city
of the foreigners called Malle； and took it； and slew all the
males； and burnt the city itself。 He then removed from thence；
and overthrew Casphom and Bosor； and many other cities of the
land of Gilead。
4。 But not long after this； Timotheus prepared a great army； and
took many others as auxiliaries； and induced some of the
Arabians； by the promise of rewards； to go with him in this
expedition； and came with his army beyond the brook； over against
the city Raphon； and he encouraged his soldiers； if it came to a
battle with the Jews； to fight courageously； and to hinder their
passing over the broo