19. He also gave them examples of when God helped their ancestors, such as when one hundred eighty-five thousand of the enemy died during the time of Sennacherib,
20. or the battle with the Galatians in Babylonia. A total of eight thousand Jewish troops went into action along with four thousand Macedonians, who got into severe difficulty, yet the eight thousand Jewish forces, with the assistance they received from heaven, killed one hundred twenty thousand of the enemy and took the spoils of war.
21. With such words he so encouraged them that they were prepared to die for their laws and homeland. He divided the army into four parts and
22. appointed his brothers as commanders of each unit. Simon, Joseph, and Jonathan each commanded fifteen hundred men,
23. while Eleazar was publicly to read aloud the holy scroll.Giving the watchword of "God’s help," Judas took command of the first military unit and attacked Nicanor.
24. With the almighty as their ally, they slaughtered more than nine thousand of the enemy, wounding and disabling many of Nicanor’s army and driving them all to flight.
25. They seized the funds of those who came to buy them. After pursuing them a long way, they returned while there was still time
26. because it was the day before the Sabbath. For that reason they didn’t continue to pursue them.
27. After collecting the arms of the enemy and stripping them of their spoils, they kept the Sabbath, praising and giving thanks to the Lord for saving them that day and for giving them this initial sign of mercy.