22 and ran to the land of the Philistines.
23 Judas now went back and let his soldiers take whatever they wanted from the enemy camp. They found bags of gold and silver, as well as some blue and purple cloth, and many other valuable things.
24-25 Then on the way home, they sang hymns of praise to God who had given them a great victory that day. They sang: “Our God, your mercy lasts forever!”
26 Some enemy soldiers escaped and told Lysias everything that had happened.
27 Lysias was confused and completely disappointed, because he had failed to wipe out the Jews, as King Antiochus had ordered him to do.
28 The next year, Lysias got together 60,000 of his best soldiers and 5,000 cavalry to crush the Jews.
29 He then led this army to Idumea, where he set up camp near the town of Beth-Zur.Judas and 10,000 soldiers marched out to fight Lysias.