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1 Furthermore, when Demetrius heard the Nicanor and his host were slain in battle, he sent Bacchides and
Alcimus into the land of Judea the second time, and with them the chief strength of his host:
2 Who went forth by the way that leadeth to Galgala, and pitched their tents before Masaloth, which is
in Arbela, and after they had won it, they slew much people.
4 From whence they removed, and went to Berea, with twenty thousand footmen and two thousand horsemen.
6 Who seeing the multitude of the other army to he so great were sore afraid; whereupon many conveyed themselves
out of the host, insomuch as abode of them no more but eight hundred men.
7 When Judas therefore saw that his host slipt away, and that the battle pressed upon him, he was sore
troubled in mind, and much distressed, for that he had no time to gather them together.
8 Nevertheless unto them that remained he said, Let us arise and go up against our enemies, if peradventure
we may be able to fight with them.
9 But they dehorted him, saying, We shall never be able: let us now rather save our lives, and hereafter
we will return with our brethren, and fight against them: for we are but few.
10 Then Judas said, God forbid that I should do this thing, and flee away from them: if our time be come,
let us die manfully for our brethren, and let us not stain our honour.
11 With that the host of Bacchides removed out of their tents, and stood over against them, their horsemen
being divided into two troops, and their slingers and archers going before the host and they that marched
in the foreward were all mighty men.
12 As for Bacchides, he was in the right wing: so the host drew near on the two parts, and sounded their
trumpets.
13 They also of Judas’ side, even they sounded their trumpets also, so that the earth shook at the noise
of the armies, and the battle continued from morning till night.
14 Now when Judas perceived that Bacchides and the strength of his army were on the right side, he took
with him all the hardy men,
16 But when they of the left wing saw that they of the right wing were discomfited, they followed upon Judas
and those that were with him hard at the heels from behind:
19 THen Jonathan and Simon took Judas their brother, and buried him in the sepulchre of his fathers in Modin.
20 Moreover they bewailed him, and all Israel made great lamentation for him, and mourned many days, saying,
22 As for the other things concerning Judas and his wars, and the noble acts which he did, and his greatness,
they are not written: for they were very many.
23 Now after the death of Judas the wicked began to put forth their heads in all the coasts of Israel, and
there arose up all such as wrought iniquity.
24 In those days also was there a very great famine, by reason whereof the country revolted, and went with
them.
26 And they made enquiry and search for Judas’ friends, and brought them unto Bacchides, who took vengeance
of them, and used them despitefully.
27 So was there a great affliction in Israel, the like whereof was not since the time that a prophet was
not seen among them.
29 Since thy brother Judas died, we have no man like him to go forth against our enemies, and Bacchides,
and against them of our nation that are adversaries to us.
30 Now therefore we have chosen thee this day to be our prince and captain in his stead, that thou mayest
fight our battles.
31 Upon this Jonathan took the governance upon him at that time, and rose up instead of his brother Judas.
33 Then Jonathan, and Simon his brother, and all that were with him, perceiving that, fled into the wilderness
of Thecoe, and pitched their tents by the water of the pool Asphar.
35 Now Jonathan had sent his brother John, a captain of the people, to pray his friends the Nabathites,
that they might leave with them their carriage, which was much.
36 But the children of Jambri came out of Medaba, and took John, and all that he had, and went their way
with it.
37 After this came word to Jonathan and Simon his brother, that the children of Jambri made a great marriage,
and were bringing the bride from Nadabatha with a great train, as being the daughter of one of the great
princes of Chanaan.
38 Therefore they remembered John their brother, and went up, and hid themselves under the covert of the
mountain:
39 Where they lifted up their eyes, and looked, and, behold, there was much ado and great carriage: and
the bridegroom came forth, and his friends and brethren, to meet them with drums, and instruments of
musick, and many weapons.
40 Then Jonathan and they that were with him rose up against them from the place where they lay in ambush,
and made a slaughter of them in such sort, as many fell down dead, and the remnant fled into the mountain,
and they took all their spoils.
42 So when they had avenged fully the blood of their brother, they turned again to the marsh of Jordan.
43 Now when Bacchides heard hereof, he came on the sabbath day unto the banks of Jordan with a great power.
44 Then Jonathan said to his company, Let us go up now and fight for our lives, for it standeth not with
us to day, as in time past:
45 For, behold, the battle is before us and behind us, and the water of Jordan on this side and that side,
the marsh likewise and wood, neither is there place for us to turn aside.
47 With that they joined battle, and Jonathan stretched forth his hand to smite Bacchides, but he turned
back from him.
48 Then Jonathan and they that were with him leapt into Jordan, and swam over unto the other bank: howbeit
the other passed not over Jordan unto them.
50 Afterward returned Bacchides to Jerusalem and repaired the strong cites in Judea; the fort in Jericho,
and Emmaus, and Bethhoron, and Bethel, and Thamnatha, Pharathoni, and Taphon, these did he strengthen
with high walls, with gates and with bars.
52 He fortified also the city Bethsura, and Gazera, and the tower, and put forces in them, and provision
of victuals.
53 Besides, he took the chief men’s sons in the country for hostages, and put them into the tower at Jerusalem
to be kept.
54 Moreover in the hundred fifty and third year, in the second month, Alcimus commanded that the wall of
the inner court of the sanctuary should be pulled down; he pulled down also the works of the prophets
55 And as he began to pull down, even at that time was Alcimus plagued, and his enterprizes hindered: for
his mouth was stopped, and he was taken with a palsy, so that he could no more speak any thing, nor give
order concerning his house.
57 Now when Bacchides saw that Alcimus was dead, he returned to the king: whereupon the land of Judea was
in rest two years.
58 Then all the ungodly men held a council, saying, Behold, Jonathan and his company are at ease, and dwell
without care: now therefore we will bring Bacchides hither, who shall take them all in one night.
60 Then removed he, and came with a great host, and sent letters privily to his adherents in Judea, that
they should take Jonathan and those that were with him: howbeit they could not, because their counsel
was known unto them.
61 Wherefore they took of the men of the country, that were authors of that mischief, about fifty persons,
and slew them.
62 Afterward Jonathan, and Simon, and they that were with him, got them away to Bethbasi, which is in the
wilderness, and they repaired the decays thereof, and made it strong.
63 Which thing when Bacchides knew, he gathered together all his host, and sent word to them that were of
Judea.
64 Then went he and laid siege against Bethbasi; and they fought against it a long season and made engines
of war.
65 But Jonathan left his brother Simon in the city, and went forth himself into the country, and with a
certain number went he forth.
67 And when he began to smite them, and came up with his forces, Simon and his company went out of the city,
and burned up the engines of war,
68 And fought against Bacchides, who was discomfited by them, and they afflicted him sore: for his counsel
and travail was in vain.
69 Wherefore he was very wroth at the wicked men that gave him counsel to come into the country, inasmuch
as he slew many of them, and purposed to return into his own country.
70 Whereof when Jonathan had knowledge, he sent ambassadors unto him, to the end he should make peace with
him, and deliver them the prisoners.
71 Which thing he accepted, and did according to his demands, and sware unto him that he would never do
him harm all the days of his life.