iaries; and induced some of the Arabians, by the
promise of rewards, to go with him in this expedition, and came with his
army beyond the brook, over against the city Raphon; and he encouraged
his soldiers, if it came to a battle with the Jews, to fight
courageously, and to hinder their passing over the brook; for he said
to them beforehand, that "if they come over it, we shall be beaten." And
when Judas heard that Timotheus prepared himself to fight, he took all
his own army, and went in haste against Timotheus his enemy; and when
he had passed over the brook, he fell upon his enemies, and some of
them met him, whom he slew, and others of them he so terrified, that
he compelled them to throw down their arms and fly; and some of them
escaped, but some of them fled to what was called the Temple of Camaim,
and hoped thereby to preserve themselves; but Judas took the city, and
slew them, and burnt the temple, and so used several ways of destroying
his enemies.

5. When he had done this, he gathered the Jews together, with their
children and wives, and the substance that belonged to them, and was
going to bring them back into Judea; but as soon as he was come to a
certain city, whose name was Ephron, that lay upon the road, [and it was
not possible for him to go any other way, so he was not willing to go
back again,] he then sent to the inhabitants, and desired that they
would open their gates, and permit them to go on their way through the
city; for they had stopped up the gates with stones, and cut off their
passage through it. And when the inhabitants of Ephron would not
agree to this proposal, he encouraged those that were with him, and
encompassed the city round, and besieged it, and, lying round it by day
and night, took the city, and slew every male in it, and burnt it all
down, and so obtained a way through it; and the multitude of those that
were slain was so great, that they went over the dead bodies. So they
came over Jordan, and arrived at the great plain, over against which is
situate the city Bethshah, which is called by the Greeks Scythopolis.
[20] And going away hastily from thence, they came into Judea, singing
psalms and hymns as they went, and indulging such tokens of mirth as are
usual in triumphs upon victory. They also offered thank-offerings, both
for their good success, and for the preservation of their army, for not
one of the Jews was slain in these battles.[21]

6. But as to Joseph, the son of Za