4:19 As Judas was yet speaking these words, there appeared a part of
them looking out of the mountain:
4:20 Who when they perceived that the Jews had put their host to flight
and were burning the tents; for the smoke that was seen declared what
was done:
4:21 When therefore they perceived these things, they were sore afraid,
and seeing also the host of Judas in the plain ready to fight,
4:22 They fled every one into the land of strangers.
4:23 Then Judas returned to spoil the tents, where they got much gold,
and silver, and blue silk, and purple of the sea, and great riches.
4:24 After this they went home, and sung a song of thanksgiving, and
praised the Lord in heaven: because it is good, because his mercy
endureth forever.
4:25 Thus Israel had a great deliverance that day.
4:26 Now all the strangers that had escaped came and told Lysias what
had happened:
4:27 Who, when he heard thereof, was confounded and discouraged,
because neither such things as he would were done unto Israel, nor such
things as the king commanded him were come to pass.
4:28 The next year therefore following Lysias gathered together
threescore thousand choice men of foot, and five thousand horsemen,
that he might subdue them.
4:29 So they came into Idumea, and pitched their tents at Bethsura, and
Judas met them with ten thousand men.
4:30 And when he saw that mighty army, he prayed and said, Blessed art
thou, O Saviour of Israel, who didst quell the violence of the mighty
man by the hand of thy servant David, and gavest the host of strangers
into the hands of Jonathan the son of Saul, and his armourbearer;
4:31 Shut up this army in the hand of thy people Israel, and let them
be confounded in their power and horsemen:
4:32 Make them to be of no courage, and cause the boldness of their
strength to fall away, and let them quake at their destruction:
4:33 Cast them down with the sword of them that love thee, and let all
those that know thy name praise thee with thanksgiving.
4:34 So they joined battle; and there were slain of the host of Lysias
about five thousand men, even before them were they slain.
4:35 Now when Lysias saw his army put to flight, and the manliness of
Judas’ soldiers, and how they were ready either to live or die
valiantly, he went into Antiochia, and gathered together a company of
strangers, and having made his army greater than it was, he purposed to
come again into Judea.
4:36 Then said Judas and his brethren, Behold, our enemies are
discomfited: let us go up to cleanse and dedicate the sanctuary.
4:37 Upon this all the host assembled themselves together, and went up
into mount Sion.
4:38 And when they saw the sanctuary desolate, and the altar profaned,
and the gates burned up, and shrubs growing in the courts as in a
forest, or in one of the mountains, yea, and the priests’ chambers
pulled down;
4:39 They rent their clothes, and made great lamentation, and cast
ashes upon their heads,
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