29. They came to Idumea and camped at Beth-zur. Judas, on the other hand, went out to meet them with ten thousand men.
30. When Judas saw how numerous their army was, he prayed:Blessed are you, Savior of Israel,who crushed the attackof the mighty warriorthrough the powerof your servant David.You handed over the campof the Philistinesto Saul’s son Jonathanandand the man who carried his armor.
31. So surround this armyby the power of your people Israel,and let them be disappointedby their troops and cavalry.
32. Fill them with cowardice.Melt away the boldnessof their strength.Let them quake in their destruction.
33. Strike them down with the swordof those who love you,and let all who know your namepraise you with hymns.
34. Then both sides attacked each other. Five thousand men from Lysias’ army died in the fighting.
35. Lysias saw his troops being defeated and took note of the boldness that inspired Judas’ troops—how ready they were to live or die bravely. So he withdrew to Antioch and enlisted mercenaries so that he could invade Judea again with an even bigger army.
36. At that time Judas and his brothers said, "Look, our enemies have been crushed. Let’s go up to cleanse and rededicate the sanctuary."
37. All the army gathered together and went up to Mount Zion.
38. They found the sanctuary deserted, the altar treated with disrespect, and the gates burned. In the courts, bushes had sprung up like in an open field or on one of the mountains. They saw that the priests’ chambers were in ruins as well.
39. So they tore their clothes and mourned with great sorrow. They sprinkled their heads with ashes
40. and fell facedown on the ground. When the trumpets sounded a signal, they cried out to heaven.
41. Then Judas chose some soldiers to fight against those stationed in the elevated fortress until he completed cleansing the sanctuary.