153.

Idumeans, traitors, and Jews in two towers

After God killed Antiochus with a bowel disease, Judas Machabeus restored the temple and "by the protection of the Lord" destroyed the altars of the heathens.

[Judas] Machabeus, and they that were with him, by the protection of the Lord, recovered the temple and the city again. 2 Maccabees 10:1

But he threw down the altars, which the heathens had set up in the streets, as also the temples of the idols. 10:2

Then they got down on the ground and begged God to never again deliver them into the hands of barbarians and blasphemous men.

They besought the Lord, lying prostrate on the ground, that they ... not be delivered up to barbarians and blasphemous men. 10:4

After the prayer, Judas got back to the business of killing people. He hunted down the Jews that had not supported his previous acts of terrorism, by allying themselves with the Idumeans.

And the Jews that occupied the most commodious hold, received those that were driven out of Jerusalem, and attempted to make war. 10:15

(Note for v. 15 from the Douay-Reims Bible: The Jews: He speaks of them that had fallen from their religion, and were enemies of their country, who joining with the Idumeans or Edomites, kept possession of the strong holds, and from thence annoyed their countrymen.)

Then he asked God to help him attack the Idumeans. And together, God and Judas killed more than 200,000.

They that were with Machabeus, beseeching the Lord by prayers to be their helper, made a strong attack upon the strong holds of the Idumeans. 10:16

And assaulting them with great force, won the holds, killed them that came in the way, and slew altogether no fewer than twenty thousand. 10:17

But some Idumeans escaped to two towers. When Judas fount out, he killed the men who allowed the escape and killed more than 20,000 in the twin towers.

Some were fled into very strong towers. 10:18

They that were with Simon ... let some of them escape. 10:20

When it was told Machabeus what was done, he ... accused those men that ... let their adversaries escape. 10:21

So he put these traitors to death, and forthwith took the two towers. 10:22

And ... he slew more than twenty thousand in the two holds. 10:23

Here's a summary of the killings:

• Idumeans: at least 20,000 (v.17)
• Traitors: estimate 100 (v.22)
• Jews: more than 20,000 (v.23)
• Total: 40,000 (40,100 estimate)