4. and to remember also the lawless slaughter of the innocent infants, and the blasphemies that had been committed against his name; and to show his hatred of wickedness.
5. And when Maccabaeus had trained his men for service, the heathen at once found him irresistible, for that the wrath of the Lord was turned into pity.
6. And coming unawares he set fire to cities and villages. And in winning back the most important positions, putting to flight no small number of the enemies,
7. he specially took advantage of the nights for such assaults. And his courage was loudly talked of everywhere.
8. But when Philip saw the man gaining ground by little and little, and increasing more and more in his prosperity, he wrote to Ptolemy, the governor of Coelesyria and Phoenicia, that he should support the king’s cause.
9. And Ptolemy quickly appointed Nicanor the son of Patroclus, one of the king’s Chief Friends, and sent him, in command of no fewer than twenty thousand of all nations, to destroy the whole race of Judaea; and with him he joined Gorgias also, a captain and one that had experience in matters of war.
10. And Nicanor undertook by the sale of the captive Jews to make up for the king the tribute of two thousand talents which he was to pay to the Romans.
11. And immediately he sent to the cities upon the sea coast, inviting them to buy Jewish slaves, promising to allow fourscore and ten slaves for a talent, not expecting the judgement that was to follow upon him from the Almighty.
12. But tidings came to Judas concerning the inroad of Nicanor; and when he communicated to them that were with him the presence of the army,
13. they that were cowardly and distrustful of the judgement of God ran away and left the country.