24 Yehudah Makabi (Maccabaeus) and his brother Yonatan passed over the Yarden (Jordan), and went three days’ journey in the wilderness. 25 They met with the Nabataeans, and these met them in a peaceful manner and told them all things that had happened to their kindred in the land of Gilead, 26 and how many of them were shut up in Bosora, Bosor, Alema,[fn] Kasfor, Maked, and[fn] Karnayim—all these cities are strong and large—27 and how they were shut up in the rest of the cities of the land of Gilead, and that tomorrow they planned to encamp against the strongholds, and to take them, and to destroy all these men in one day.

28 Yehudah and his army turned suddenly by the way of the wilderness to Bosora; and he took the city, and killed all the males with the edge of the sword, took all their spoils, and burnt the city with fire. 29 He left there at night, and went until he came to the stronghold. 30 When the morning came, they lifted up their eyes and saw many people who couldn’t be counted, bearing ladders and engines of war, to take the stronghold; and they were fighting against them. 31 Yehudah saw that the battle had begun, and that the cry of the city went up to heaven, with trumpets and a great sound, 32 and he said to the men of his army, “Fight today for your kindred!” 33 Then he went out behind them in three companies. They sounded with their trumpets and cried out in prayer. 34 And the army of Timotheos perceived that it was Makabi (Maccabaeus), and they fled from before him. He struck them with a great slaughter. About eight thousand men of them fell on that day.

35 He turned away to Mitspah and fought against it, took it, killed all its males, took its spoils, and burnt it with fire. 36 From there he marched and took[fn] Kasfor, Maked, Bosor, and the other cities of the land of Gilead.

37 Now after these things, Timotheos gathered another army and encamped near Rafon beyond the brook. 38 Yehudah sent men to spy on the army; and they brought him word, saying, “All the Gentiles who are around us are gathered together to them, an exceedingly great army. 39 They have hired Aravim to help them, and are encamped beyond the brook, ready to come against you to battle.” So Yehudah went to meet them.

40 Timotheos said to the captains of his army when Yehudah and his army drew near to the brook of water, “If he crosses over to us first, we won’t be able to withstand him, for he will certainly defeat us; 41 but if he is afraid, and encamps beyond the river, we will cross over to him, and defeat him.” 42 Now when Yehudah came near to the water brook, he caused the scribes of the people to remain by the brook, and commanded them, saying, “Allow no man to encamp, but let all come to the battle.” 43 Then he crossed over the first against them, and all the people after him; and all the Gentiles were defeated before his face, and threw away their weapons, and fled to the temple at Karnayim.[fn] 44 They took the city and burnt the temple with fire, together with all who were in it. Karnayim was subdued. They couldn’t stand any longer before the face of Yehudah.