37 In his native language, Judas sang some hymns and then shouted the battle cry, as he led his troops in a surprise attack that forced Gorgias and his army to retreat.
38 Judas brought his troops together and led them to the town of Adullam. It was now the day before the Sabbath, so they went through the traditional ceremonies to prepare themselves for that holy day. Then they celebrated the Sabbath.
39 The next day, Judas and his troops had to collect the bodies of those who had been killed in battle and to bring them home for burial in their family graves.
40 But under the shirt of each dead soldier they found good luck charms in the shape of those idols in the temple at Jamnia. Since our Jewish Law doesn't allow us to wear such things, everyone knew why these soldiers had died in the fighting.
41 Our troops praised the Lord, who judges fairly and makes all secrets known.
42 They also begged the Lord to forgive this terrible sin. Judas, that wonderful man, said, “You have seen for yourselves how God punished those who disobeyed him. So I warn you not to sin!”
43 Then Judas collected from his troops 2,000 silver coins, which he sent to Jerusalem as payment for a sacrifice to forgive this sin. Judas did this generous and honorable thing because he firmly believed God raises the dead to life.