10 Apolonios gathered the Gentiles together with a great army from Shomron (Samaria) to fight against Yisrael. 11 Yehudah learnt of it, and he went out to meet him, struck him, and killed him. Many fell wounded to death, and the rest fled. 12 They took their spoils, and Yehudah took Apolonios’ sword, and he fought with it all his days.

13 Seron, the commander of Aram’s (Syria’s) army, heard that Yehudah had gathered a large company, including a body of faithful men who stayed with him, went out to war. 14 He said, “I’ll make myself a name and get myself glory in the kingdom. I’ll fight against Yehudah and those who are with him, who despise the king’s command. 15 A mighty army of the ungodly went up with him to help him, to take vengeance on the Israeli people.

16 He came near to the ascent of Beyt-Horon, and Yehudah went out to meet him with a small company. 17 But when they saw the army coming to meet them, they said to Yehudah, “How can our small group fight against such a large, strong army? We’re exhausted, and we haven’t eaten anything today.”

18 Yehudah said, “It’s an easy thing for many to be hemmed in by the hands of a few. With[fn] heaven it’s all one, to save by many or by few; 19 for victory in battle stands not in the multitude of an army, but strength is from heaven. 20 They come to us in fullness of insolence and lawlessness, to destroy us and our wives and our children, and to plunder us, 21 but we fight for our lives and our laws. 22 He himself will crush them before our face; but as for you, don’t be afraid of them.

23 Now when he’d finished speaking, he rushed suddenly against Seron and his army, and they were defeated before him. 24 They pursued them down the descent of Beyt-Horon to the plain, and about eight hundred men of them fell; but the rest fled into the land of the Pelishtim.

25 The fear of Yehudah and his kindred, and the dread of them, began to fall on the nations around them. 26 His fame reached the king, and every nation told of the battles of Yehudah.