sed way of living, which is that according to
our laws, and the customs of our country, or to submit to the most
opprobrious sufferings; nor will any seed of your nation remain if you
be beat in this battle. Fight therefore manfully; and suppose that
you must die, though you do not fight; but believe, that besides such
glorious rewards as those of the liberty of your country, of your laws,
of your religion, you shall then obtain everlasting glory. Prepare
yourselves, therefore, and put yourselves into such an agreeable
posture, that you may be ready to fight with the enemy as soon as it is
day tomorrow morning."

4. And this was the speech which Judas made to encourage them. But when
the enemy sent Gorgias, with five thousand foot and one thousand horse,
that he might fall upon Judas by night, and had for that purpose certain
of the runagate Jews as guides, the son of Mattathias perceived it, and
resolved to fall upon those enemies that were in their camp, now their
forces were divided. When they had therefore supped in good time, and
had left many fires in their camp, he marched all night to those enemies
that were at Emmaus. So that when Gorgias found no enemy in their camp,
but suspected that they were retired, and had hidden themselves among
the mountains, he resolved to go and seek them wheresoever they were.
But about break of day Judas appeared to those enemies that were at
Emmaus, with only three thousand men, and those ill armed, by reason
of their poverty; and when he saw the enemy very well and skillfully
fortified in their camp, he encouraged the Jews, and told them that they
ought to fight, though it were with their naked bodies, for that God had
sometimes of old given such men strength, and that against such as
were more in number, and were armed also, out of regard to their great
courage. So he commanded the trumpeters to sound for the battle; and by
thus falling upon the enemies when they did not expect it, and thereby
astonishing and disturbing their minds, he slew many of those that
resisted him, and went on pursuing the rest as far as Gadara, and the
plains of Idumea, and Ashdod, and Jamnia; and of these there fell about
three thousand. Yet did Judas exhort his soldiers not to be too desirous
of the spoils, for that still they must have a contest and battle with
Gorgias, and the forces that were with him; but that when they had once
overcome them, then they might securely plunder the camp, because they