that God would help them.

15:8. And he exhorted his people not to fear the coming of the nations,
but to remember the help they had before received from heaven, and now
to hope for victory from the Almighty.

15:9. And speaking to them out of the law, and the prophets, and withal
putting them in mind of the battles they had fought before, he made them
more cheerful:

15:10. Then after he had encouraged them, he shewed withal the falsehood
of the Gentiles, and their breach of oaths.

15:11. So he armed every one of them, not with defence of shield and
spear, but with very good speeches, and exhortations, and told them a
dream worthy to be believed, whereby he rejoiced them all.

15:12. Now the vision was in this manner. Onias, who had been high
priest, a good and virtuous man, modest in his looks, gentle in his
manners, and graceful in speech, and who from a child was exercised in
virtues holding up his hands, prayed for all the people of the Jews:

15:13. After this there appeared also another man, admirable for age,
and glory, and environed with great beauty and majesty:

15:14. Then Onias answering, said: This is a lover of his brethren, and
of the people of Israel: this is he that prayeth much for the people,
and for all the holy city, Jeremias, the prophet of God.

15:15. Whereupon Jeremias stretched forth his right hand, and gave to
Judas a sword of gold, saying:

15:16. Take this holy sword, a gift from God, wherewith thou shalt
overthrow the adversaries of my people Israel.

15:17. Thus being exhorted with the words of Judas, which were very
good, and proper to stir up the courage, and strengthen the hearts of
the young men, they resolved to fight, and to set upon them manfully:
that valour might decide the matter, because the holy city, and the
temple were in danger.

15:18. For their concern was less for their wives, and children, and for
their brethren, and kinsfolks: but their greatest and principal fear was
for the holiness of the temple.

15:19. And they also that were in the city, had no little concern for
them that were to be engaged in battle.

15:20. And now when all expected what judgment would be given, and the
enemies were at hand, and the army was set in array, the beasts and the
horsemen ranged in convenient places,

15:21. Machabeus considering the coming of the multitude, and the divers
preparations of armour, and the fierceness of the beasts, stretching out
his hands to heaven