except through the city, and then they prayed earnestly
that they might in peace pass through the town,
because they could not turn aside; but the burghers would not
permit them the passage, but fastened the gate
with great hewn stones, and J;rusted to the wall.
Then would not Judas meatless abide there,
but bade (them) break down the wall, though it was broad.
Then went all in, and slew all the heathen,
and destroyed the borough, and turned them homeward,
until that they came safe to (their) land,
and offered their offerings to the living God,
thanking His protection that they all (thus) sound
had come again to their country out of so great danger.
But their comrades at home fought unwarily
against the heathen people, transgressing Judas' leave,
the while that he was away, and were then slain,
very many men, when they fought without wisdom.
The Second Book tells us [2. Macc. xii. 39] that they fought on one occasion,
when some of them were deceived with covetousness,
so that they took spoil, and wickedly hid it,
in their bosoms, of the devilish offerings,
against God's law; and they all fell there
that hid the spoil, slain in the battle.
And their comrades found the spoil in their bosoms,
and said that God Himself manifested their sin,
and praised God's doom, who discovered their secrets.
Judas then gathered a good deal of spoil,
that amounted to twelve thousand shillings, all of white silver,
and sent to Jerusalem to offer for their sins
for the release of the souls of them that were there slain.
