22. So he killed these men for having turned traitors, and forthwith took possession of the two towers.
23. And prospering with his arms in all things he took in hand, he destroyed in the two strongholds more than twenty thousand.
24. Now Timotheus, who had been before defeated by the Jews, having gathered together foreign forces in great multitudes, and having collected the horsemen which belonged to Asia, not a few, came as though he would take Judaea by force of arms.
25. But as he drew near, Maccabaeus and his men sprinkled earth upon their heads and girded their loins with sackcloth, in supplication to God,
26. and falling down upon the step in front of the altar, implored him to become gracious to them, and be an enemy to their enemies and an adversary to their adversaries, as the law declares.
27. And rising from their prayer they took up their arms, and advanced some distance from the city; and when they had come near to their enemies they halted.
28. And when the dawn was now spreading, the two armies joined battle; the one part having this, beside their virtue, for a pledge of success and victory, that they had fled to the Lord for refuge, the others making their passion their leader in the strife.