24. Timothy himself fell into the hands of Dositheus, Sosipater, and their men. He skillfully argued that he should be set free, persuading them that he held many parents and other relatives as prisoners who might not receive any consideration.
25. After he promised repeatedly to return them unharmed, they released him for the benefit of the safety of their relatives.
26. Next Judas attacked Carnaim and the temple of Atargatis, killing twenty-five thousand people.
27. After overturning and destroying these places, he made war also on Ephron, a fortified city with a mixed population, where Lysias made his home. Strong young men fought bravely, however, in front of the walls where there were also many war engines and arrows.
28. Calling on the Lord who crushes the strength of the enemy, the Jews took control of the city and killed about twenty-five thousand people.
29. Then breaking camp and marching from there, they moved swiftly against Scythopolis, seventy-five miles from Jerusalem.
30. But the Jews who lived there reported that the citizens of Scythopolis showed kindness and a civil attitude toward them even in times of misfortune.
31. They thanked them and encouraged them also to be well-disposed toward their people in the future as well. Then they returned to Jerusalem since the Festival of Weeks was about to begin.
32. After the Festival of Pentecost they moved against Gorgias, the governor of Idumea.