1. In year 149 the news reached Judas’ followers that Antiochus Eupator was moving against Judea with a large army.
2. With him was Lysias, Antiochus’ guardian and head of the government. Each one had a Greek force of one hundred ten thousand foot soldiers, fifty-three hundred cavalry, and twenty-two elephants, as well as three hundred chariots armed with scythes.
3. Menelaus also joined them and encouraged Antiochus with many lies, not out of a concern for the safety of his homeland but because he expected that he would be set over the government.
4. The king of kings, however, aroused Antiochus’ anger against the sinner. When Lysias informed the king that this man was the cause of all the evils, Antiochus commanded that Menelaus be brought to Beroea and executed according to the custom there.
5. That place has a tower seventy-five feet tall and full of ashes with a steep rim on all sides leading into the ashes.
6. Here anyone guilty of temple robbery or other similar crimes is thrown down to their death.
7. In this manner the lawless Menelaus died. He didn’t receive a proper burial.
8. This was completely just, since he had committed many sins against the altar whose fire and ashes were holy, so in ashes he died.
9. The king became barbaric in his thoughts and intended to show the Jews far worse things than his father did.
10. When Judas learned of these things, he commanded the community to call on the Lord day and night—now if ever—to help those soon to be deprived of the Law, the homeland, and the holy temple.
11. They were to pray that the people who had recently enjoyed temporary relief not be permitted again to come under the control of slanderous nations.
12. After everyone had prayed in the same manner together—pleading with the merciful Lord with weeping and fasting and lying facedown for three days—Judas called them together and commanded them to report for duty.
13. In consultation with the elders, Judas decided to march out to determine the matter by God’s help before the army of the king could enter Judah and take control of the city.
14. He left the decision to the creator of the universe and called on his men to fight to the death for the laws, temple, city, country, and citizenship. He made the region of Modein his headquarters