¶But Nicanor, hearing that Judas and his company were in the region of Samaria, resolved to attack them with complete safety on the day of rest.

When the Jews who were compelled to follow him said, “Don’t destroy so savagely and barbarously, but give due glory to the day which he who sees all things has honored and hallowed above other days.”

¶Then the thrice-accursed wretch asked if there were a Sovereign in heaven who had commanded to keep the Sabbath day.

¶When they declared, “There is the Lord, living himself as Sovereign in heaven, who told us observe the seventh day.”

¶He replied, “I also am a sovereign on the earth, who commands you to take up weapons and execute the king’s business.” Nevertheless he didn’t prevail to execute his cruel plan.

¶And Nicanor, ^* in his utter boastfulness and arrogance, had determined to set up a monument of complete victory over Judas and all those who were with him.

But Maccabaeus still trusted unceasingly, with all hope that he should obtain help from the Lord.

He exhorted his company not to be fearful at the assault of the heathen, but keeping in mind the help which in former times they had often received from heaven, so now also to look for the victory which would come to them from the Almighty,

and encouraging them out of the law and the prophets, and reminding them of the conflicts that they had won, he made them more eager.

And when he had aroused their courage, he gave them orders, at the same time pointing out the faithlessness of the heathen and their breach of their oaths.

Arming each one of them, not so much with the sure defense of shields and spears as with the encouragement of good words, and moreover relating to them a dream worthy to be believed, he made them all exceedingly glad.

¶The vision of that dream was this: Onias, he who had been high priest, a noble and good man, modest in bearing, yet gentle in manner and well-spoken, and trained from a child in all points of virtue, with outstretched hands invoking blessings on the whole body of the Jews.

Then he saw a man appear, of venerable age and exceeding glory, and the dignity around him was wonderful and most majestic.

Onias answered and said, “This is the lover of the kindred, he who prays much for the people and the holy city: Jeremiah the prophet of God.

Jeremiah stretched out his right hand and delivered to Judas a gold sword, and in giving it addressed him thus:

“Take this holy sword, a gift from God, with which you shall strike down the adversaries.”

¶Being encouraged by the words of Judas, which were noble and effective, and able to incite to virtue and to stir the souls of the young to manly courage, they determined not to carry on a campaign, but nobly to bear down upon the enemy, and fighting hand to hand with all courage bring the matter to a conclusion, because the city, the sanctuary, and the temple were in danger.

For their fear for wives and children, and furthermore for family and relatives, was less important to them; but greatest and first was their fear for the consecrated sanctuary.

Also those who were shut up in the city were in no light distress, being troubled because of the encounter in the open country.

¶When all were now waiting for the decision of the issue, and the enemy had already joined battle, and the army had been set in array, and the elephants^* brought back to a convenient post,^* and the cavalry deployed on the flanks,