9. By encouraging them with words from the law and the prophets, and by reminding them of the battles they had already won, he filled them with fresh enthusiasm.
10. Having stirred up their courage, he gave his orders and pointed out at the same time the perfidy of the Gentiles and their violation of oaths.
11. When he had armed each of them, not so much with the security of shield and spear as with the encouragement of noble words, he cheered them all by relating a dream, a kind of waking vision, worthy of belief.
12. What he saw was this: Onias, the former high priest, a noble and good man, modest in bearing, gentle in manner, distinguished in speech, and trained from childhood in all that belongs to excellence, was praying with outstretched arms for the whole Jewish community.
13. Then in the same way another man appeared, distinguished by his white hair and dignity, and with an air of wondrous and majestic authority.
14. Onias then said of him, “This is a man who loves his fellow Jews and fervently prays for the people and the holy city—the prophet of God, Jeremiah.”
15. Stretching out his right hand, Jeremiah presented a gold sword to Judas. As he gave it to him he said,
16. “Accept this holy sword as a gift from God; with it you shall shatter your adversaries.”
17. Encouraged by Judas’ words, so noble and capable of instilling valor and stirring young hearts to courage, they determined not merely to march, but to charge gallantly and decide the issue by hand-to-hand combat with the utmost courage, since city, sanctuary and temple were in danger.
18. They were not so much concerned about wives and children, or family and relations; their first and foremost fear was for the consecrated sanctuary.
19. Those who were left in the city suffered no less an agony, anxious as they were about the battle in the open country.
20. Everyone now awaited the decisive moment. The enemy were already drawing near with their troops drawn up in battle line, their beasts placed in strategic positions, and their cavalry stationed on the flanks.