In those days lawless men came forth from Israel, and misled many, saying, “Let us go and make a covenant with the Gentiles round about us, for since we separated from them many evils have come upon us.”

Now be the first to come and do what the king commands, as all the Gentiles and the men of Judah and those that are left in Jerusalem have done. Then you and your sons will be numbered among the friends of the king, and you and your sons will be honored with silver and gold and many gifts.”

Then Mattathi′as cried out in the city with a loud voice, saying: “Let every one who is zealous for the law and supports the covenant come out with me!”

And they said to them, “Enough of this! Come out and do what the king commands, and you will live.”

But they said, “We will not come out, nor will we do what the king commands and so profane the sabbath day.”

So they made this decision that day: “Let us fight against every man who comes to attack us on the sabbath day; let us not all die as our brethren died in their hiding places.”

It is not on the size of the army that victory in battle depends, but strength comes from Heaven.

They come against us in great pride and lawlessness to destroy us and our wives and our children, and to despoil us;

and stored the stones in a convenient place on the temple hill until there should come a prophet to tell what to do with them.

They are preparing to come and capture the stronghold to which we have fled, and Timothy is leading their forces.

Now then come and rescue us from their hands, for many of us have fallen,

They also have hired Arabs to help them, and they are encamped across the stream, ready to come and fight against you.” And Judas went to meet them.

I said to myself, ‘To what distress I have come! And into what a great flood I now am plunged! For I was kind and beloved in my power.’

I know that it is because of this that these evils have come upon me; and behold, I am perishing of deep grief in a strange land.”

Now then let us come to terms with these men, and make peace with them and with all their nation,

But they paid no attention to their words, for they saw that they had come with a large force.

for they said, “A priest of the line of Aaron has come with the army, and he will not harm us.”

“Let there be no fighting between me and you; I shall come with a few men to see you face to face in peace.”

It became known to Judas that Nica′nor had come to him with treacherous intent, and he was afraid of him and would not meet him again.

The Greeks planned to come and destroy them,

If war comes first to Rome or to any of their allies in all their dominion,

In the same way, if war comes first to the nation of the Jews, the Romans shall willingly act as their allies, as the occasion may indicate to them.

But they tried to dissuade him, saying, “We are not able. Let us rather save our own lives now, and let us come back with our brethren and fight them; we are too few.”

But Judas said, “Far be it from us to do such a thing as to flee from them. If our time has come, let us die bravely for our brethren, and leave no cause to question our honor.”

He started to come with a large force, and secretly sent letters to all his allies in Judea, telling them to seize Jonathan and his men; but they were unable to do it, because their plan became known.