30 The Jews who lived there told our troops that the people of the town were always kind and helpful, especially in times of trouble.
31 So our soldiers thanked those people and urged them to always stay on good terms with the Jews. Then Judas and our troops returned to Jerusalem, just before the Harvest Festival, which is also known as Pentecost.
32 Following the Harvest Festival, Judas and his troops quickly left Jerusalem and attacked Gorgias, the governor of Idumea,
33 whose army of 3,000 soldiers and 400 cavalry fought back
34 and killed a few of our troops.
35 Dositheus, a very strong man, belonged to the group of our cavalry led by Bacenor, and he did something very heroic. He wanted to capture Gorgias alive, so he grabbed that evil man by his coat and started dragging him away. However, a Thracian horseman suddenly rode by Dositheus and chopped off his right arm. Then Gorgias escaped to the town of Marisa.
36 After our troops under the command of Esdris had been fighting a long time and were worn out, Judas prayed, “Our Lord, please be our leader and help us win this battle.”