2 Maccabees 8:5-7

New Catholic Bible

⁵ As soon as Maccabeus had organized his army, the Gentiles found that they were unable to withstand him, for the wrath of the Lord had turned to compassion. ⁶ Attacking towns and villages without warning, he would set them on fire. He captured strategic positions and inflicted heavy losses on the enemy, ⁷ usually preferring the night as being especially advantageous for such attacks. His reputation for valor spread far and wide.