3 I am an old man now. But God has shown kindness by letting you become mature enough to lead our people in battle, just as my brothers and I have done. I pray that God will be with you as you fight!
4 John immediately left to attack Cendebeus with 20,000 foot soldiers and cavalry from Judea. That night, the troops made camp at Modein.
5 Then early the next morning, they went out to the valley and stopped beside a flooding stream. On the other side of it, a large number of soldiers and cavalry were moving toward them.
6 John lined up his troops for battle. He waded into the stream first, because he knew his soldiers were afraid of the water. They watched John, then followed him across.
7 John noticed that Cendebeus had a lot of cavalry. So John divided his men into groups and ordered them to take up positions around their own cavalry.
8 Then they blew war trumpets and attacked Cendebeus. His forces ran away, and many of his troops died in the battle. Those who escaped ran back into their fortress.
9 During the battle, John's brother Judas was wounded. But John and his troops chased the enemy soldiers. Some of them ran as far as Kedron, the town that Cendebeus had rebuilt.