Chapter 3 _{15 So he made him ready to go up, and there went with him a mighty host of the ungodly to help him, and to be avenged of the children of Israel.16 And when he came near to the going up of Bethhoron, Judas went forth to meet him with a small company:17 Who, when they saw the host coming to meet them, said unto Judas, How shall we be able, being so few, to fight against so great a multitude and so strong, seeing we are ready to faint with fasting all this day?18 Unto whom Judas answered, It is no hard matter for many to be shut up in the hands of a few; and with the God of heaven it is all one, to deliver with a great multitude, or a small company:19 For the victory of battle standeth not in the multitude of an host; but strength cometh from heaven.20 They come against us in much pride and iniquity to destroy us, and our wives and children, and to spoil us:21 But we fight for our lives and our laws.22 Wherefore the Lord himself will overthrow them before our face: and as for you, be ye not afraid of them.23 Now as soon as he had left off speaking, he leapt suddenly upon them, and so Seron and his host was overthrown before him.24 And they pursued them from the going down of Bethhoron unto the plain, where were slain about eight hundred men of them; and the residue fled into the land of the Philistines.25 Then began the fear of Judas and his brethren, and an exceeding great dread, to fall upon the nations round about them:26 Insomuch as his fame came unto the king, and all nations talked of the battles of Judas.27 Now when king Antiochus heard these things, he was full of indignation: wherefore he sent and gathered together all the forces of his realm, even a very strong army.28 He opened also his treasure, and gave his soldiers pay for a year, commanding them to be ready whensoever he should need them.29 Nevertheless, when he saw that the money of his treasures failed and that the tributes in the country were small, because of the dissension and plague, which he had brought upon the land in taking away the laws which had been of old time;30 He feared that he should not be able to bear the charges any longer, nor to have such gifts to give so liberally as he did before: for he had abounded above the kings that were before him.31 Wherefore, being greatly perplexed in his mind, he determined to go into Persia, there to take the tributes of the countries, and to gather much money.32 So he left Lysias, a nobleman, and one of the blood royal, to oversee the affairs of the king from the river Euphrates unto the borders of Egypt:33 And to bring up his son Antiochus, until he came again.}