17 Judas said to his brother Simon, “Take some soldiers to Galilee and rescue our people. Our brother Jonathan and I will lead an army to Gilead.”
18-19 Judas left two officials, Azariah and Joseph, in command of his troops in Judea, and he told them, “You're in charge. But don't attack the Gentiles until we return.”
20 Simon led 3,000 soldiers to Galilee, and Judas took 8,000 to Gilead.
21 In Galilee, Simon had to attack the Gentiles many times before completely destroying them.
22 He and his soldiers pushed them back to the city of Ptolemais, where they killed about three thousand Gentiles and took everything they wanted.
23 Simon brought the Jews of Galilee and Arbatta, along with their families and their possessions, to Judea. When they arrived, everyone was shouting and celebrating.
24 Meanwhile, Judas Maccabeus and his brother Jonathan crossed the Jordan River and traveled through the desert for three days.