1 And when Demetrius had heard that Nicanor awas fallena with his forces ain battlea, he sent Bacchides and Alcimus again into the land of Judah ba second timeb, and the right wing (of his army) with them. 2 And theyc went by way of Gilgald, and encamped against Mesaloth, which is in Arbela, eand gat possession of ite, and destroyedf much people. 3 And gin the first month of the one hundred and fifty second yearg they encamped against Jerusalem. 4 And they removed and went unto Berea, with twenty thousand footmen and two thousand horse. 5 And Judas was encamped at Elasa, and three thousand chosen men with him. 6 And (when) they saw the multitude hof the forcesh, kthat theyi were manyk, they feared exceedingly; and many slipped away from the army; there were not left lof theml more than eight hundred men. 7 And (when) Judas saw that his army slipped away, mand that (nevertheless) the battle was imminent for himm, he was sore troubled in heart, for that he had no time to gather them together. 8 nAnd he became desperaten, 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.’ 9 And they turned from him, saying: ‘We shall in no wise be able o(to withstand them)o; but let us rather save our lives nowp; let us return (later on) with our brethren, and fight qagainst themq; we are (now too) few.’ 10 Then Judas said: ‘Far be it’ rfrom mer to do this thing, to flee from them! sAnd ift our time is comes, let us die manfullyu for our brethren’s sake vand not leave a cause (of reproach) against our gloryv.’ 11 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 wall the mighty men that fought in the front (of the line of battle)w. 12 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 xJudas’ sidex also blew ywith their trumpetsy; and the earth shook zwith the shoutz of thea armies. 13 And the battle was joined, (and continued) from morning until evening. 14 And (when) Judas saw that Bacchides and the main strength of (his) army were on the right wing, bhis followers concentrated their whole attention (upon them)b, 15 and the right wingc was discomfited by them, and they pursued after them unto the mount Azotusd. 16 And (when) they that were on the left winge saw that the right winge was discomfited, they turned (and followed) upon the footsteps of Judas and those that were with him. 17 And the battle waxed sore, and manyf gon either sideg fell hwounded to deathh. 18 And Judas fell, and the rest fled. 19 And Jonathan and Simon itook Judas their brother, andi buried him in the sepulchre of hisk fathers at Modin. 20 And they bewailed himl, and all Israel mmade great lamentation for him andm mournedn many days, oand saido:

21 ‘pHow is the mighty one fallen, the saviour of Israel!p’

22 And the rest of the acts of Judas, pand (his) warsp, and the valiant deeds qwhich he didq, pand his greatnessp,—they are not written; for they were exceeding many.

Jonathan Maccabaeus. 9:23–12:53.

9:23–31. Jonathan succeeds Judas.