34. But he mocked and ridiculed them, defiled them, and spoke arrogantly.
35. In a rage he swore: “If Judas and his army are not delivered to me at once, when I return victorious I will burn this temple down.” He went away in great anger.
36. The priests, however, went in and stood before the altar and the sanctuary. They wept and said:
37. “You have chosen this house to bear your name, to be a house of prayer and supplication for your people.
38. Take revenge on this man and his army, and let them fall by the sword. Remember their blasphemies, and do not let them continue.”
39. Nicanor left Jerusalem and camped at Beth-horon, where the Syrian army joined him.
40. But Judas camped in Adasa with three thousand men. Here Judas uttered this prayer:
41. “When they who were sent by the king blasphemed, your angel went out and killed a hundred and eighty-five thousand of them.
42. In the same way, crush this army before us today, and let the rest know that Nicanor spoke wickedly against your sanctuary; judge him according to his wickedness.”
43. The armies met in battle on the thirteenth day of the month Adar. Nicanor’s army was crushed, and he himself was the first to fall in the battle.
44. When his army saw that Nicanor had fallen, they threw down their weapons and fled.
45. The Jews pursued them a day’s journey from Adasa to near Gazara, blowing the trumpets behind them as signals.
46. From all the surrounding villages of Judea people came out and outflanked them. They turned them back, and all the enemies fell by the sword; not a single one escaped.
47. Then the Jews collected the spoils and the plunder; they cut off Nicanor’s head and his right arm, which he had lifted up so arrogantly. These they brought and displayed in the sight of Jerusalem.
48. The people rejoiced greatly, and observed that day as a day of much joy.
49. They decreed that it should be observed every year on the thirteenth of Adar.
50. And so for a few days the land of Judah was at rest.