Page:The Holy Bible, containing the Old & New Testament & the Apocrypha (Volume 3).djvu/1475

XV] didst slay in the host of Sennacherib an hundred four-score and five thousand: wherefore now also, O Lord of heaven, send a good angel before us for a fear and dread unto them; and through the might of thine arm let those be stricken with terror, that come against thy holy people to blaspheme. And he ended thus.

Then Nicanor and they that were with him came forward with trumpets and songs. But Judas and his company encountered the enemies with invocation and prayer. So that fighting with their hands, and praying unto God with their hearts, they slew no less than thirty and five thousand men: for through the appearance of God they were greatly cheered. Now when the battle was done, returning again with joy, they knew that Nicanor lay dead in his harness. Then they made a great shout and a noise, praising the Almighty in their own language. And Judas, who was ever the chief defender of the citizens both in body and mind, and who continued his love toward his countrymen all his life, commanded to strike off Nicanor's head, and his hand with his shoulder, and bring them to Jerusalem. So when he was there, and had called them of his nation together, and set the priests before the altar, he sent for them that were of the tower, and shewed them vile Nicanor's head, and the hand of that blasphemer, which with proud brags he had stretched