22. So he put them to death as traitors, and without delay captured the two towers.
23. As he was successful at arms in all his undertakings, he destroyed more than twenty thousand in the two strongholds.
24. Timothy, who had previously been defeated by the Jews, gathered a tremendous force of foreign troops and collected a large number of cavalry from Asia; then he appeared in Judea, ready to conquer it by force.
25. At his approach, Maccabeus and his companions made supplication to God, sprinkling earth upon their heads and girding their loins in sackcloth.
26. Lying prostrate at the foot of the altar, they begged him to be gracious to them, and to be an enemy to their enemies, and a foe to their foes, as the law declares.
27. After the prayer, they took up their weapons and advanced a considerable distance from the city, halting when they were close to the enemy.
28. As soon as dawn broke, the armies joined battle, the one having as pledge of success and victory not only their valor but also their reliance on the Lord, and the other taking fury as their leader in the fight.
29. In the midst of the fierce battle, there appeared to the enemy five majestic men from the heavens riding on golden-bridled horses, leading the Jews.
30. They surrounded Maccabeus, and shielding him with their own armor, kept him from being wounded. They shot arrows and hurled thunderbolts at the enemy, who were bewildered and blinded, routed in utter confusion.
31. Twenty thousand five hundred of their foot soldiers and six hundred cavalry were slain.
32. Timothy, however, fled to a well-fortified stronghold called Gazara, where Chaereas was in command.
33. For four days Maccabeus and his forces eagerly besieged the fortress.
34. Those inside, relying on the strength of the place, kept repeating outrageous blasphemies and uttering abominable words.
35. When the fifth day dawned, twenty young men in the army of Maccabeus, angered over such blasphemies, bravely stormed the wall and with savage fury cut down everyone they encountered.
36. Similarly, others climbed up and swung around on the defenders; they put the towers to the torch, spread the fire and burned the blasphemers alive. Still others broke down the gates and let in the rest of the troops, who took possession of the city.