1. Now Gorgias took five thousand infantry and a thousand picked cavalry, and this detachment set out at night
2. in order to fall upon the camp of the Jews in a surprise attack. Some from the citadel were his guides.
3. Judas heard of it and himself set out with his soldiers to attack the king’s army at Emmaus
4. while these forces were still scattered away from the camp.
5. During the night Gorgias came into the camp of Judas, and found no one there; so he sought them in the mountains, saying, “They are fleeing from us.”
6. But at daybreak Judas appeared in the plain with three thousand men; furthermore they lacked the helmets and swords they wanted.
7. They saw the army of the Gentiles, strong, breastplated, and flanked with cavalry, and made up of experienced soldiers.
8. Judas said to the men with him: “Do not fear their numbers or dread their attack.
9. Remember how our ancestors were saved in the Red Sea, when Pharaoh pursued them with an army.
10. So now let us cry to Heaven in the hope that he will favor us, remember the covenant with our ancestors, and destroy this army before us today.