20. In truth, those who were with Simon, being led by avarice, were persuaded by money from certain ones who were in the towers. And accepting seventy thousand didrachmas, they allowed certain ones to flee.
21. But when what was done had been reported to Maccabeus, gathering together the leaders of the people, he accused those who had sold their brothers for money, having sent away their adversaries.
22. Therefore, he executed these who had acted as traitors, and he quickly captured the two towers.
23. And so, having success in arms and in all things that he took in hand, he destroyed more than twenty thousand in the two fortresses.
24. And Timothy, who had been overcome by the Jews before, calling together a multitude of foreign troops and gathering horsemen from Asia, arrived as if he would capture Judea with arms.
25. But Maccabeus, and those who were with him, as he was approaching, beseeched the Lord, sprinkling dirt on their heads and wrapping their waists with haircloth.
26. And lying prostrate at the pedestal of the altar, they beseeched him to be forgiving to them, but to be an enemy to their enemies, and an adversary to their adversaries, just as the law says.
27. And so, after prayer, taking up arms, they proceeded further from the city, and, reaching close proximity to the enemies, they settled in.
28. But, as soon as the sun rose, both sides joined battle: these ones having the guarantee of victory and success by the strength of the Lord, yet the others having courage as their leader in battle.
29. But, while they were fighting vehemently, to the adversaries there appeared from heaven five men on horses, which were adorned with bridles of gold, providing leadership to the Jews.
30. Two of them, having Maccabeus in the middle and surrounding him with their weapons, kept him safe. But, at the enemy, they cast darts and lightning, so that they fell down, being both confused with blindness and filled with disturbances.
31. Moreover, there were slain twenty thousand five hundred, along with six hundred horsemen.
32. In fact, Timothy fled away to Gazara, to a fortified stronghold, where Chaereas was in charge.
33. Then Maccabeus, and those who were with him, joyfully besieged the stronghold for four days.
34. But those who were inside, trusting to the strength of the place, spoke evil without limit and cast out nefarious words.
35. But when the fifth day began to dawn, twenty youths of those who were with Maccabeus, inflamed in soul because of the blasphemy, manfully approached to the wall, and, advancing with fierce courage, ascended it.
36. Moreover, others also getting up after them, went to set fire to the towers and the gates, and to burn the blasphemers alive.
37. Then, having continued throughout two days to lay waste to the fortress, they killed Timothy, who was found hiding himself in a certain place. And they also killed his brother Chaereas, and Apollophanes.
38. When this was done, they blessed the Lord with hymns and confessions, who had done great things in Israel and had given them the victory.