1 Maccabees 9:32–73

32 And (when) Bacchides knew it, he sought to slay him. 33 But (when) Jonathan, cand Simon his brother, dand all that were with himd c, knew it, they fled into the wilderness of Tekoah, and encamped by the water eof the pool Asphare. 34 fAnd Bacchides got to know of this on the Sabbath day, and he came, he and all his army, over Jordanf.

35 And (Jonathan)g 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. 36 But the children of Ambri came out of Medaba, and took John, and all that he had, and went their way hwith ith. 37 iBut after these thingsi they brought word to Jonathan iand Simoni 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. 38 And they rememberedk John theirl brother, and went up, 39 and hid themselves under the covert of the mountain; mand they lifted up their eyesm, 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 nmanyo weaponsn. 40 And they rose up pfrom their ambushp against them, and slew them; and many fell wounded to death, and the rest fled into the mountain; and they took all their spoilsq. 41 And the marriage was turned into mourning, and the voice of theirr minstrels into lamentation. 42 And (thus) they avenged fully the blood of their brother; and they turned back to the marsh-lands of Jordan.

43 And (when) Bacchidest heard itu, he came on the Sabbath day unto the banks of the Jordan with a great host. 44 And Jonathan said unto his brethrenv: ‘Let us arise now and fight wfor our lives; for it is not (with us) to-day, as yesterday and the day before. 45 For, behold, the battle is before us and behind usw; moreover, the water of the Jordan is on this side and on that side, and (this is) marsh-x and wood-land, and there is no place to turn aside. 46 Now, therefore, cry unto heaven, that ye may be delivered out of the hand of youry enemies.’ 47 And the battle was joined, and Jonathan stretched forth his hand to smite Bacchides, and he turned away back from him. 48 And Jonathan, and they that were with himz, leapt into the aJordan, and swam over to the other side; and they (i.e. Bacchides and his followers) did not pass overa Jordan against them. 49 And there fellb cof Bacchides’ companyc dthat dayd about a thousande men.

50 And theyf returnedg to Jerusalem; and theyh built strong cities in Judaea, (namely), the stronghold that is in Jericho, and Emmaus, and Bethhoron, and Bethel, and Timnathi, Pharathon, and Tephon, with high walls, kand gates and barsk. 51 And theyl set garrisonsm in them to vex Israel. 52 And theyn fortified othe city Bethsurao, and Gazara, and the citadel; pand theyq put forces in them, and store of victualsp. 53 And theyr took the sonss of the chief men of the country for hostages, and putt them in ward in the citadel at Jerusalem.

54 Now in the one hundred and fifty-third year, uin the second monthu, Alcimus commanded to pull down the wall of the inner court uof the sanctuaryu, (in so doing) he pulled downv also the works of the prophets. 55 uAnd (when) he began to pull downu, at that (very) time, Alcimus was stricken, and his works were hindered; and his mouth was stopped, and he became palsied, uand he could no more speak anything, (nor) give order concerning his houseu. 56 And Alcimusw died at that time with great torment. 57 And (when) Bacchides saw that Alcimus was dead, he returned to the king. And the land of Judah had rest two years.

58 And all the lawless men took counsel, saying: ‘Behold, Jonathan, and they of his part are dwelling at peace, (and) in security; xlet us therefore now bringx Bacchides, and he will lay hands on them ally in one night.’ 59 And they went and consulted with him. 60 And hez 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 werea not able (to do so), because their plan became known to themb. 61 And they (that were of Jonathan’s part) laid hands on cabout fifty menc of the country that were the ringleaders in the wickedness, and slewd them. 62 And Jonathan, and Simon, and they that were with him, got them awaye to Bethbasi, which is in the wilderness, and he built up fthat which had been pulled down thereoff, and madeg it strong. 63 And h(when) Bacchides knew ith, he gathered together alli his multitude, and sent word to them that were in Judaea. 64 And he kwent andk encamped against Bethbasi, and fought against it kmany days, and madek enginesl (of war). 65 And Jonathan left his brother Simon in the city, and went forth into the country; and he went with a (small) number. 66 And he smote Odomera and his brethren, and the children of Phasiron in their tents. 67 And hem 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); 68 and they fought against Bacchides, and he was discomfited by them, and they afflicted him sore, nfor his plan and his attack had been in vainn. 69 And theyo 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. 70 And (when) Jonathan had knowledge (thereof), he sent ambassadors punto himp, to the end that they should make peace with him, and that he should restore unto themq the captives. 71 And her accepted (the thing), sand did according to his wordss, and sware unto him that he would not seek his hurt all the days of his life. 72 And he restored unto him the captives which he had taken captive aforetime out of tthe land oft Judah; and heu returned and departed into his own land, and camev not any more into their borders. 73 And the sword ceased from Israel. And Jonathan dwelt at Michmash. And Jonathan began to judge the peoplew; and he destroyed the ungodly out of Israelx.

10:1–66. Jonathan supports Alexander Balas in his struggle With Demetrius I.