20. Now as concerning Judas Machabeus, and his brethren, and the purification of the great temple, and the dedication o the altar:
21. As also the wars against Antioch the Illustrious, and his son Eupator:
22. And the manifestations that from heaven to them, that behaved themselves manfully on the behalf of the Jews, so that, being but a few, they made themselves masters of the whole country, and put to flight; the barbarous multitude:
23. And recovered again the most renowned temple in all the world, and delivered the city, and restored the laws that were abolished, the Lord with all clemency shewing mercy to them.
24. And all such things as have been comprised in five books by Jason of Cyrene, we have attempted to abridge in one book.
25. For considering the multitude of books, and the difficulty that they find that desire to undertake the narrations of histories, because of the multitude of the matter,
26. We have taken care for those indeed that are willing to read, that it might be a pleasure of mind: and for the studious, that they may more easily commit to memory: and that all that read might receive profit.