42 Judas and his brothers realized things were worse now than ever, because their enemies had invaded Judea with orders from the king to wipe out the Jewish people.
43 But Judas and his brothers were determined to make their nation strong again and to defend their people and temple.
44 So Judas organized an army, and when his troops were ready, they prayed for God's mercy and kindness.
45 Jerusalem was a barren desertthat no one could enteror leave.The temple was trampled down,and foreign troopstook over the fortress.Everyone in Israel was sad;their flutes and harpswere silent.
46 Judas led his army a short distance from Jerusalem to the town of Mizpah, which had been a place of worship.
47 That day Judas and his troops went without eating; they put on sackcloth, then rubbed ashes on their heads and tore their clothes.
48 Instead of praying to idols, as the Gentiles do, they read in their Jewish Law to find what God wanted them to do.