16. When Judas and the people heard this, a great assembly convened to consider what they should do for their kindred who were in distress and being attacked by enemies.
17. Judas said to his brother Simon: “Choose men for yourself, and go, rescue your kindred in Galilee; my brother Jonathan and I will go to Gilead.”
18. He left Joseph, son of Zechariah, and Azariah, leader of the people, with the rest of the army in Judea to guard it.
19. He commanded them, “Take charge of these people, but do not join battle against the Gentiles until we return.”
20. Three thousand men were allotted to Simon to go into Galilee, and eight thousand men to Judas, for Gilead.
21. Simon went into Galilee and fought many battles with the Gentiles. They were crushed before him,
22. and he pursued them to the very gate of Ptolemais. About three thousand of the Gentiles fell, and he gathered their spoils.
23. He took with him the Jews who were in Galilee and in Arbatta, with their wives and children and all that they had, and brought them to Judea with great rejoicing.
24. Judas Maccabeus and his brother Jonathan crossed the Jordan and marched for three days through the wilderness.