In the second book of the Maccabee Series, Judah finds himself at the head of an increasing fierce rebellion against the Greek Seleucid Empire. As he readies his population for the realities of the conflict, the Jews experience unexpected victories because of the Greeks' underestimation of their resolve and training.Set against the intrigues of the Greek Empire and their collaborators, the Jewish quest for freedom and self-rule takes on an intensity that demands blood from all sides. The Jews rise from their historical status as a conquered race to a nation whose right to exist will not be denied.