4. Since all the people of the town had decided to do this, the Jews suspected nothing and accepted the invitation out of a feeling of good will. But when they were out at sea, the people of Joppa drowned all 200 of them.
5. As soon as Judas heard of this inhuman thing that had been done to his fellow-Jews, he informed his men.
6. After they had prayed to God, the just judge, they attacked the murderers. Under cover of darkness they set fire to the harbour, burning all the ships, and killing everyone they found hiding there.
7. The gates of the city were locked, so Judas withdrew; but he was determined to return at some other time and wipe out everyone living there.
8. Judas heard that the people of Jamnia had plans to kill the Jews of their city also.
9. So he attacked Jamnia at night, setting fire to its harbour and the ships there. The flames could be seen as far as Jerusalem, fifty kilometres away.
10. When Judas and his men were about two kilometres away from Jamnia on their way to meet Timothy in battle, they were attacked by more than 5,000 Arabs, supported by 500 cavalry.
11. It was a hard fight, but with the help of God they defeated those desert tribesmen, who then asked to be on friendly terms with the Jews, promising to give them some livestock and offering to help them in other ways as well.
12. Judas thought their friendship might prove useful in many ways, so he agreed to make peace with them; after that the Arabs returned to their tents.
13. Judas also attacked the heavily fortified walled city of Caspin. The people who lived there were a mixed population of Gentiles
14. who relied on the strength of their walls and felt confident that they had enough food stored up to last through a siege. So they made fun of Judas and his men, shouting out insults against them and profanities against their God.
15. But the Jews prayed to the Almighty Lord of the universe, who had torn down the walls of Jericho in the days of Joshua without using battering-rams or siege-weapons. Then they made a fierce attack against the wall
16. and because it was God's will, they captured the city. The Jews slaughtered so many people that a nearby lake, which was about a quarter of a mile wide, seemed to be overflowing with blood.
17. From the city of Caspin, Judas and his men marched about 150 kilometres, until they came to the Jewish settlement of Charax, near the city of Tob.
18. But they did not find Timothy there, because he had already left the region. He had been able to do nothing there except leave behind a strong garrison in one place.
19. Two of Judas' generals, Dositheus and Sosipater, attacked the garrison and killed all 10,000 men stationed there.