Bible Browser

The Early Victories of Judas

3Then his son Judas, who was called Maccabeus, took command in his place. ²All his brothers and all who had joined his father helped him; they gladly fought for Israel.
³ He extended the glory of his people.
   Like a giant he put on his breastplate;
he bound on his armour of war and waged battles,
   protecting the camp by his sword.
⁴ He was like a lion in his deeds,
   like a lion’s cub roaring for prey.
⁵ He searched out and pursued those who broke the law;
   he burned those who troubled his people.
⁶ Lawbreakers shrank back for fear of him;
   all the evildoers were confounded;
   and deliverance prospered by his hand.
⁷ He embittered many kings,
   but he made Jacob glad by his deeds,
   and his memory is blessed for ever.
⁸ He went through the cities of Judah;
   he destroyed the ungodly out of the land;^*
   thus he turned away wrath from Israel.
⁹ He was renowned to the ends of the earth;
   he gathered in those who were perishing.

10 Apollonius now gathered together Gentiles and a large force from Samaria to fight against Israel. ¹¹When Judas learned of it, he went out to meet him, and he defeated and killed him. Many were wounded and fell, and the rest fled. ¹²Then they seized their spoils; and Judas took the sword of Apollonius, and used it in battle for the rest of his life.