61. This great defeat came about because the Jewish commanders wanted to be heroes and refused to obey Judas and his brothers.
62. Besides, they did not belong to the family of the Maccabees, whom God had chosen to bring freedom to the people of Israel.
63. But Judas Maccabaeus and his brothers won great respect among all the Israelites and all the Gentiles. When people heard of their fame,
64. large crowds gathered to praise them.
65. Then Judas and his brothers went to war against the Edomites to the south. He attacked Hebron and its surrounding towns, destroyed its fortifications, and burnt down the towers round it.
66. Then he marched into the land of the Philistines and passed through Marisa.
67. That day a number of priests were killed in battle because they wanted to be heroes and foolishly went out to fight.
68. Judas turned aside to Azotus in Philistia. He pulled down the altars, burnt the images of their gods, plundered their towns, and then returned to Judea.