25. That day brought a great victory to the people of Israel.
26. The Gentile troops that escaped went to Lysias and reported all that had happened.
27. When Lysias heard that his troops had lost the battle, he was shocked and disappointed that Israel had not been defeated as the king had commanded.
28. In the following year Lysias gathered an army of 60,000 well-trained infantry and 5,000 cavalry, intending to conquer the Jews.
29. They marched into Idumea and camped at Bethzur. Judas came to meet them with 10,000 men.
30. When Judas saw how strong the enemy's army was, he prayed, “We will praise you, Saviour of Israel. You broke the attack of the giant by the hand of your servant David and you let Saul's son Jonathan and the young man who carried his weapons defeat the entire Philistine army.
31. Now in the same way let your people Israel defeat our enemy. Put them to shame, in spite of all their confidence in their infantry and cavalry.
32. Make them afraid; let their bold strength melt away; let them tremble at the prospect of defeat.
33. We love and worship you; so let us kill our enemies, that we may then sing your praises.”
34. The battle began, and in the hand-to-hand fighting about 5,000 of Lysias' men were killed.
35. When Lysias saw that his army was being defeated and when he saw the reckless courage of Judas and his men, who showed that they were ready to live or die with honour, he returned to Antioch. There he recruited some mercenaries and planned to return to Judea later with a much larger army.
36. Judas and his brothers said, “Now that our enemies have been defeated, let's go to Jerusalem to purify the Temple and rededicate it.”
37. So the whole army was assembled and went up to Mount Zion.
38. There they found the Temple abandoned, the altar profaned, the gates torn down, the courtyards overgrown with a forest of weeds, and the priests' rooms burnt down.
39. In their sorrow, they tore their clothes, cried loudly, threw ashes on their heads,
40. and fell face downwards on the ground. When the signal was given on the trumpets, everyone cried out to the Lord.
41. Then Judas ordered some of his soldiers to attack the men in the fort, while he purified the Temple.
42. He chose some priests who were qualified and who were devoted to the Law.