1. When the Gentiles living nearby learned that the altar had been rebuilt and the sanctuary had been dedicated just as it was before, they became very angry.
2. They sought to wipe out Jacob’s descendants who lived among them. So they started to kill and destroy the people.
3. But Judas waged war on the descendants of Esau in Idumea at Akrabattene because they kept ambushing Israelites. He dealt them a heavy blow, humbling them and taking their goods.
4. He also took note of the wickedness of Baean’s sons, who were trapping, catching, and ambushing people on the highways.
5. Judas shut them up in their towers. He camped against them, and by promising their complete destruction, he burned their towers and all who were in them.
6. Then he moved against the Ammonites. He found a strong group with many people and a man named Timothy as their leader.
7. Judas had many battles with them, beat them severely, and struck them down.