7 So that was how the lawbreaker Menelaus died—and without even a proper burial afterwards.
8 Such a death was a perfect punishment for someone who had so often disgraced the temple altar, together with its holy ashes and fire.
9 Antiochus was an arrogant and savage king, who wanted to punish the people of Judea more severely than his father had ever done. He was on his way to invade the country,
10 when Judas found out what was happening. So Judas told the people to pray day and night, and they prayed, “Our Lord, we need you now more than ever before! Please don't let our Law and our nation and our holy temple be destroyed.
11 You have just given your people a fresh start. Don't let those godless Gentiles rule us again.”
12 For three days, they lay face down on the ground, crying and refusing to eat, while begging the Lord to have pity and send help. After this, Judas encouraged everyone, then ordered his troops to prepare for battle.
13 Judas met privately with the nation's leaders, and together they decided that with God's help Judas could attack and defeat Antiochus before he invaded Judea and captured Jerusalem.