1 When the neighboring nations heard that the altar and the temple were again ready to be used in worship, they became furious
2 and were determined to kill every Jew who lived among them. So they started killing the Jewish people.
3 Judas fought back by attacking the Idumeans, who had often ambushed the people of Israel. Finally, in the region of Akrabattene, he wiped out most of them and took everything of value.
4-5 Then Judas promised God, “Now I'll destroy the Baeanites, that gang of robbers and murderers who set traps for Jewish travelers.” So he ordered his troops to surround the towers where they were hiding and to burn down the towers with everyone inside.