2 Maccabees 8:7-9

Wycliffe Bible

⁷ Soothly in (the) nights he was most borne to seek out runnings; and fame of his virtue was shed out, either showed, everywhere.

⁸ Forsooth Philip saw, that the man by little and little came to increase, and that full often things befell to him in prosperity; and he wrote to Ptolemy, duke of Celosyria and Phenice (or to Ptolemeus, the governor of Greater Syria and Phoenicia), that he should bear help to the king’s needs.

⁹ And he swiftly sent Nicanor (the son) of Patroclus, (one) of the former, (or the first), or (the) worthier, friends, and gave to him not less than twenty thousands of armed folks mingled (al)together, for to do away all the kin of (the) Jews; and joined to him Gorgias, a knightly man, and most expert (or experienced) in things of battle [or in things of battle most expert].