18 Judas left the rest of his army to defend Judea and put the two leaders, Azariah and Joseph son of Zechariah, in charge of the people.
19 He said to them: “I am leaving you in command here, but don't go out and fight the Gentiles until we get back.”
20 Then 3,000 men joined Simon for the march into Galilee, and 8,000 men remained with Judas for the march into Gilead.
21 Simon went into Galilee and fought many battles with the Gentiles. He defeated them
22 and pursued them all the way to the city of Ptolemais, killing about 3,000 of them, and taking the loot.
23 Then he took the Jews who were in Galilee and Arbatta, with their wives, their children, and all they owned, and brought them back to Judea with him. There was great rejoicing.
24 During this time, Judas Maccabaeus and his brother Jonathan had crossed the River Jordan and had marched for three days through the desert.