17. never forgetting the crimes the Gentiles had committed against the Temple, and how they had made Jerusalem suffer terribly and had done away with Jewish traditions.
18. “They rely on their weapons and their daring,” Judas said, “but we trust in Almighty God, who is able to destroy not only these troops, but, if necessary, the entire world, with a mere nod of his head.”
19. Then Judas went on to remind them of the ways God had helped their ancestors: during the time of Sennacherib 185,000 of the enemy had been destroyed;
20. and once in Babylonia 8,000 Jews came to the aid of 4,000 Macedonians, defeating 120,000 Galatians and taking a great deal of loot, all because of God's help.
21. Judas' words encouraged his men and made them willing to die for their religion and their country. He then divided his army into four divisions
22. of about 1,500 men each, with himself and his brothers Simon, Joseph, and Jonathan each in charge of a division.
23. After ordering Eleazar to read aloud from the holy book, he gave his men the battle-cry: “God will help us,” and personally led the attack against Nicanor.
24. Almighty God fought on their side, and they killed more than 9,000 of the enemy. They wounded many others and put the entire army to flight.
25. They seized the money from the people who had come to buy them as slaves. Then they pursued the enemy a long way, until they had to return,
26. because it was almost time for the Sabbath to begin.
27. When they had collected the enemy's weapons and looted the dead, they celebrated the Sabbath, praising the Lord and giving thanks to him, because he had brought them safely to that day and had given them the first sign of his mercy.