1 Maccabees 7:40–50

And Judas encamped in Adasa with three thousand men; and Judas prayed, and said: ‘When they that came from the king blasphemed, thine angel went out and smote among them one hundred and eighty-five thousand. Even so crush this army before us to-day; and let all the rest know that he hath spoken wickedly against thy sanctuary; and judge him according to his wickedness.’ And the armies joined battle on the thirteenth ⁽day⁽ of the month Adar; and Nicanor’s army was discomfited, and he himself was the first to fall in the battle. Now when his army saw that Nicanor was fallen, they cast away their arms, and fled. And they pursued after them a day’s journey from Adasa until thou comest to Gazara, and they sounded an alarm after them with the solemn trumpets. And they came forth out of all the villages of Judaea round about, and closed them in; and these turned back on those ⁽behind⁽, and they all fell by the sword, and there was not one of them left. And they took the spoils and the booty, and they smote off Nicanor’s head, and his right hand, which he stretched out so haughtily, and brought them, and hanged them up near Jerusalem. And the people was exceeding glad, and they kept that day as a day of great gladness. And they ordained that this day should be observed year by year ⁽on⁽ the thirteenth ⁽day⁽ of Adar. And the land of Judah had rest a little while.