21. Simon went into Galilee and fought many battles with the Gentiles. He defeated them
22. and pursued them all the way to the city of Ptolemais, killing about 3,000 of them, and taking the loot.
23. Then he took the Jews who were in Galilee and Arbatta, with their wives, their children, and all they owned, and brought them back to Judea with him. There was great rejoicing.
24. During this time, Judas Maccabaeus and his brother Jonathan had crossed the River Jordan and had marched for three days through the desert.
25. They met some friendly Nabateans who told them all that had happened to the Jews in Gilead.
26. They reported that many Jews were imprisoned in the fortified cities of Bozrah, Bosor, Alema, Chaspho, Maked, and Karnaim,
27. while others were imprisoned in the smaller towns of Gilead. They also reported that the enemy was drawn up to make an attack the next day on the Jewish fortresses, hoping to destroy all the Jews in a single day.