2 Maccabees 8:21-23

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

Judas Defeats Nicanor

²¹ With these words he filled them with courage and made them ready to die for their laws and their country; then he divided his army into four parts. ²² He appointed his brothers also, Simon and Joseph and Jonathan, each to command a division, putting fifteen hundred men under each. ²³ Besides, he appointed Eleazar to read aloud^[a] from the holy book, and gave the watchword, “The help of God”; then, leading the first division himself, he joined battle with Nicanor.