13. And Seron, the leader of the army of Syria, heard that Judas had gathered together a company of the faithful and an assembly with him.
14. And he said, "I will make a name for myself, and I will be glorified in the kingdom, and I will defeat Judas in warfare, and those who are with him, who have spurned the word of the king."
15. And he prepared himself. And the camp of the impious went up with him, with strong auxiliaries, so as to act with vengeance upon the sons of Israel.
16. And they approached even as far as Bethhoron. And Judas went forth to meet him, with a few men.
17. But when they saw the army coming to meet them, they said to Judas, "How will we few be able to fight against so great and so strong a multitude, even though we are weakened by fasting today?"
18. And Judas said: "It is easy for many to be enclosed in the hands of a few, for there is no difference in the sight of the God of heaven to liberate by means of many, or by means of few.
19. For victory in warfare is not in the multitude of the army, but in the strength from heaven.
20. They come to us with a contemptuous multitude and with arrogance, in order to destroy us, with our wives and our sons, and to despoil us.
21. In truth, we will fight on behalf of our souls and our laws.