1 Maccabees 9

9And when Demetrius had heard that Nicanor was fallen with his forces in battle, he sent Bacchides and Alcimus again into the land of Judah a second time, and the right wing ⁽of his army⁽ with them. And they went by way of Gilgal, and encamped against Mesaloth, which is in Arbela, and gat possession of it, and destroyed much people. And in the first month of the one hundred and fifty second year they encamped against Jerusalem. And they removed and went unto Berea, with twenty thousand footmen and two thousand horse. And Judas was encamped at Elasa, and three thousand chosen men with him. And ⁽when⁽ they saw the multitude of the forces, that they were many, they feared exceedingly; and many slipped away from the army; there were not left of them more than eight hundred men. And ⁽when⁽ Judas saw that his army slipped away, and that ⁽nevertheless⁽ the battle was imminent for him, he was sore troubled in heart, for that he had no time to gather them together. And he became desperate, and said to them that were left: ‘Let us arise and go up against our adversaries, if peradventure we may be able to fight against them.’ And they turned from him, saying: ‘We shall in no wise be able ⁽to withstand them⁽; but let us rather save our lives now; let us return ⁽later on⁽ with our brethren, and fight against them; we are ⁽now too⁽ few.’ Then Judas said: ‘Far be it’ from me to do this thing, to flee from them! And if our time is come, let us die manfully for our brethren’s sake and not leave a cause ⁽of reproach⁽ against our glory.’ And the ⁽Syrian⁽ host removed from the camp and ⁽the Jews⁽ stood to encounter them; and the horse was divided into two companies, and the slingers and the archers went before the host together with all the mighty men that fought in the front ⁽of the line of battle⁽. But Bacchides was on the right wing; and the phalanx drew near from both sides, and they blew with their trumpets, and the men of Judas’ side also blew with their trumpets; and the earth shook with the shout of the armies. And the battle was joined, ⁽and continued⁽ from morning until evening. And ⁽when⁽ Judas saw that Bacchides and the main strength of ⁽his⁽ army were on the right wing, his followers concentrated their whole attention ⁽upon them⁽, and the right wing was discomfited by them, and they pursued after them unto the mount Azotus. And ⁽when⁽ they that were on the left wing saw that the right wing was discomfited, they turned ⁽and followed⁽ upon the footsteps of Judas and those that were with him. And the battle waxed sore, and manyon either side fell wounded to death. And Judas fell, and the rest fled. And Jonathan and Simon took Judas their brother, and buried him in the sepulchre of his fathers at Modin. And they bewailed him, and all Israel made great lamentation for him and mourned many days, and said:

‘How is the mighty one fallen, the saviour of Israel!’

And the rest of the acts of Judas, and ⁽his⁽ wars, and the valiant deeds which he did, and his greatness,—they are not written; for they were exceeding many.

And it came to pass after the death of Judas that the lawless put forth their heads in all the borders of Israel, and all they that wrought iniquity rose up; in those days there arose exceeding great murmuring that the land made peace with them. And Bacchides chose out the ungodly men, and made them lords of the country. And they sought out and searched for the friends of Judas, and brought them to Bacchides, and he took vengeance on them, and treated them with mockery. And there was great tribulation in Israel, such as was not since the time that a prophet appeared unto them. And all the friends of Judas were gathered together, and they said unto Jonathan: ‘Since thy brother Judas hath died, we have no man like him to go forth against our enemies and Bacchides, and against them of our nation that are inimical ⁽to us⁽. Now therefore we have chosen thee this day to be our ruler and leader in his stead, that thou mayest fight our battles.’ And Jonathan tookthe leadership upon him at that time, and rose up in the stead of his brother Judas.

And ⁽when⁽ Bacchides knew it, he sought to slay him. But ⁽when⁽ Jonathan, and Simon his brother, and all that were with him, knew it, they fled into the wilderness of Tekoah, and encamped by the water of the pool Asphar. And Bacchides got to know of this on the Sabbath day, and he came, he and all his army, over Jordan.

And ⁽Jonathan⁽ sent his brother, a leader of the multitude, and besought his friends, the Nabathaeans, that they might leave with them their baggage, which was much. But the children of Ambri came out of Medaba, and took John, and all that he had, and went their way . But after these things they brought word to Jonathan and Simon his brother, that the children of Ambri were making a great marriage, and were bringing the bride from Nadabath with a great train, a daughter of one of the great nobles of Canaan. And they remembered John their brother, and went up, and hid themselves under the covert of the mountain; and they lifted up their eyes, and saw, and behold, a great ado and much baggage; and the bridegroom came forth, and his friends and his brethren to meet them ⁽i.e. those forming the bridal procession⁽ with timbrels, and minstrels, and many weapons. And they rose up from their ambush against them, and slew them; and many fell wounded to death, and the rest fled into the mountain; and they took all their spoils. And the marriage was turned into mourning, and the voice of their minstrels into lamentation. And ⁽thus⁽ they avenged fully the blood of their brother; and they turned back to the marsh-land of Jordan.

And ⁽when⁽ Bacchides heard it, he came on the Sabbath day unto the banks of the Jordan with a great host. And Jonathan said unto his brethren: ‘Let us arise now and fight for our lives; for it is not ⁽with us⁽ to-day, as yesterday and the day before. For, behold, the battle is before us and behind us; moreover, the water of the Jordan is on this side and on that side, and ⁽this is⁽ marsh- and wood-land, and there is no place to turn aside. Now, therefore, cry unto heaven, that ye may be delivered out of the hand of your enemies.’ And the battle was joined, and Jonathan stretched forth his hand to smite Bacchides, and he turned away back from him. And Jonathan, and they that were with him, leapt into the Jordan, and swam over to the other side; and they ⁽i.e. Bacchides and his followers⁽ did not pass over Jordan against them. And there fellof Bacchides’ companythat day about a thousand men.

And they returned to Jerusalem; and they built strong cities in Judaea, ⁽namely⁽, the stronghold that is in Jericho, and Emmaus, and Bethhoron, and Bethel, and Timnath, Pharathon, and Tephon, with high walls, and gates and bars. And they set garrisons in them to vex Israel. And they fortified the city Bethsura, and Gazara, and the citadel; and they put forces in them, and store of victuals. And they took the sons of the chief men of the country for hostages, and put them in ward in the citadel at Jerusalem.

Now in the one hundred and fifty-third year, in the second month, Alcimus commanded to pull down the wall of the inner court of the sanctuary, ⁽in so doing⁽ he pulled down also the works of the prophets. And ⁽when⁽ he began to pull down, at that ⁽very⁽ time, Alcimus was stricken, and his works were hindered; and his mouth was stopped, and he became palsied, and he could no more speak anything, ⁽nor⁽ give order concerning his house. And Alcimus died at that time with great torment. And ⁽when⁽ Bacchides saw that Alcimus was dead, he returned to the king. And the land of Judah had rest two years.

And all the lawless men took counsel, saying: ‘Behold, Jonathan, and they of his part are dwelling at peace, ⁽and⁽ in security; let us therefore now bring Bacchides, and he will lay hands on them all in one night.’ And they went and consulted with him. And he removed, and came with a great host, and sent letters privily to all his confederates that were in Judaea, that they should lay hands on Jonathan, and ⁽on⁽ them that were with him; but they were not able ⁽to do so⁽, because their plan became known to them. And they ⁽that were of Jonathan’s part⁽ laid hands on about fifty men of the country that were the ringleaders in the wickedness, and slew them. And Jonathan, and Simon, and they that were with him, got them away to Bethbasi, which is in the wilderness, and he built up that which had been pulled down thereof, and made it strong. And ⁽when⁽ Bacchides knew it, he gathered together all his multitude, and sent word to them that were in Judaea. And he went and encamped against Bethbasi, and fought against it many days, and made engines ⁽of war⁽. And Jonathan left his brother Simon in the city, and went forth into the country; and he went with a ⁽small⁽ number. And he smote Odomera and his brethren, and the children of Phasiron in their tents. And he began to smite ⁽them⁽ and to go up with ⁽his⁽ troops. Then Simon and they that were with him went out of the city and set on fire the engines ⁽of war⁽; and they fought against Bacchides, and he was discomfited by them, and they afflicted him sore, for his plan and his attack had been in vain. And they were very wroth with the lawless men that gave him counsel to come into the country, and they slew many of them. And he determined to depart into his own land. And ⁽when⁽ Jonathan had knowledge ⁽thereof⁽, he sent ambassadors unto him, to the end that they should make peace with him, and that he should restore unto them the captives. And he accepted ⁽the thing⁽, and did according to his words, and sware unto him that he would not seek his hurt all the days of his life. And he restored unto him the captives which he had taken captive aforetime out of the land of Judah; and he returned and departed into his own land, and came not any more into their borders. And the sword ceased from Israel. And Jonathan dwelt at Michmash. And Jonathan began…