1 Maccabees 5:38-40

Common English Bible

³⁸ Judas sent spies to observe the camp, and they reported: “All the Gentiles around us have gone over to him—it’s a very large force. ³⁹ They have also hired Arabs to help them. They’re camped across the stream, and they’re ready to come and fight against you.” So Judas went out to meet them.

⁴⁰ As Judas and his army were drawing near to the stream of water, Timothy told the officers of his forces, “If Judas crosses the water first, we won’t be able to resist him, and he’ll surely defeat us.