13. with orders to kill Judas, scatter his followers, and make Alcimus High Priest of the greatest Temple in all the world.
14. All the foreigners in Judea, who had fled from Judas' attacks, now rushed to join forces with Nicanor, because they thought that any defeat or trouble that came to the Jews would be to their own advantage.
15. The Jews heard that Nicanor was attacking and that the foreigners in their country were giving him their support. So they threw earth on themselves and prayed to their God, who had chosen their nation as his possession for ever and had never failed to help them in time of need.
16. Then Judas, their leader, gave the order, and they immediately marched out to engage the enemy in battle near the village of Adasa.
17. Judas' brother Simon was fighting Nicanor but was gradually losing the battle because of an unexpected move on the part of the enemy.