I Maccabees 9

¹Meanwhile, when Demetrius heard that Nicanor and his army had fallen in battle, he again positioned Bacchides and Alcimus in Judea, and the right horn of his army with them.

²And they traveled by the way that leads to Gilgal, and they set up camp in Mesaloth, which is in Arbela. And they occupied it, and they destroyed the lives of many men.

³In the first month of the one hundred and fifty-second year, they positioned the army near Jerusalem.

⁴And they rose up and went to Berea, with twenty thousand men and two thousand horsemen.

⁵Now Judas had stationed his camp in Elasa, and three thousand chosen men were with him.

⁶And they saw the multitude of the army, that they were many, and they became very afraid. And many withdrew themselves from the camp, and there remained of them no more than eight hundred men.

⁷And Judas saw that his army had slipped away and that the battle pressed upon him, and his heart was shattered, because he did not have time to gather them together, and he was very discouraged.

⁸And so, he said to those who were remaining, “Let us rise up and go against our enemies, perhaps we may be able to fight against them.”

⁹But they dissuaded him, saying: “We will not be able, but let us try to save our lives and return to our brothers, and then we will fight against them. For we are but few.”

¹⁰And Judas said: “Far be it from us, to do this thing, so as to flee away from them. But if our time has drawn near, let us die with virtue, on behalf of our brothers, and let us not inflict guilt upon our glory.”

¹¹And the army moved from the camp, and they stood to meet them. And the horsemen were divided into two parts, and the stone-slingers and archers went before the army, and the first ones were all powerful men, experienced in combat.

¹²Moreover, Bacchides was with the right horn, and the legion drew near on both sides, and they sounded the trumpets.

¹³But those also who were from the side of Judas, these also now cried out, and the earth shook at the noise of the armies. And the battle was joined from morning, even until evening.

¹⁴And Judas saw that the stronger part of the army of Bacchides was on the right side, and all the steadfast in heart came together with him.

¹⁵And the right part was crushed by them, and he pursued them even to Mount Azotus.

¹⁶And those who were with the left horn saw that the right horn was crushed, and so they followed after Judas, and those who were with him, at their back.

¹⁷And the battle was hard fought, and there fell many wounded from one side and the other.

¹⁸And Judas fell, and the others fled away.

¹⁹And Jonathan and Simon carried Judas, their brother, and they buried him in the sepulcher of their fathers, in the city of Modin.

²⁰And all the people of Israel wept for him with a great wailing, and they mourned him for many days.

²¹And they said, “Such a powerful man has fallen, who accomplished the salvation of the people of Israel!”

²²But the rest of the words, about the wars of Judas, and the virtuous acts that he did, and his magnitude, have not been written. For they were very many.

²³And it happened that, after the death of Judas, the iniquitous began to emerge in all the parts of Israel, and they began to encourage all those who worked iniquity.

²⁴In those days, there occurred a very great famine, and the entire region handed itself over to Bacchides.

²⁵And Bacchides chose impious men, and he appointed them as rulers of the region.

²⁶And they sought out and persecuted the friends of Judas, and they led them to Bacchides, and he took vengeance on them and abused them.

²⁷And there occurred a great tribulation in Israel, such as had never been, since the day that there was no prophet seen in Israel.

²⁸And all the friends of Judas gathered together, and they said to Jonathan:

²⁹“Since your brother Judas has fallen away, there is not a man like him to go forth against our enemies, against Bacchides and those who are the enemies of our nation.

³⁰And so now, we have chosen you in his place, on this day, to be our leader and commander in order to wage our wars.”

³¹And so, at that time, Jonathan took upon himself the leadership, and he rose up in the place of Judas, his brother.

³²And Bacchides knew of it, and he sought to kill him.

³³And Jonathan and his brother Simon knew of this, and so did all who were with them. And they fled into the desert of Tekoa, and they settled by the water of lake Asphar.

³⁴And Bacchides knew of it, and on the day of the Sabbath, he himself arrived, with all his army, across the Jordan.

³⁵And Jonathan sent his brother, a commander of the people, to ask the Nabateans, his friends, to lend them their equipment, which was abundant.

³⁶And the sons of Jambri went forth from Medeba, and they captured John, and all that he had, and they went away in possession of these.

³⁷After these events, it was reported to Jonathan and his brother Simon that the sons of Jambri were having a great marriage celebration, and that they would be leading the bride, a daughter of one of the great leaders of Canaan, out of Medeba with great fanfare.

³⁸And they remembered the blood of John, their brother. And they went up and hid themselves under the cover of the mountain.

³⁹And they lifted up their eyes and saw. And behold, a tumult and a well-prepared multitude. And the bridegroom proceeded, with his friends and his brothers, to meet them with timbrels, and musical instruments, and many weapons.

⁴⁰And they rose up against them out of ambush, and they killed them, and there fell many wounded, and the remainder fled into the mountains, and they took all their spoils.

⁴¹And the marriage celebration was turned into mourning, and the voice of their musical instruments into lamentation.

⁴²And they took revenge for the blood of their brother, and they returned to the bank of the Jordan.

⁴³And Bacchides heard about this, and he came on the day of the Sabbath all the way to the coast of the Jordan, with a great force.

⁴⁴And Jonathan said to his own: “Let us rise up and fight against our enemies. For it is not today, as it was yesterday, or the day before.

⁴⁵For behold, the war is before us, and truly, with the water of the Jordan here and there, and the banks, and the marshes, and the woods: there is no place for us to turn aside.

⁴⁶Therefore, cry out now to heaven so that you may be freed from the hand of your enemies.” And they joined together in warfare.

⁴⁷And Jonathan extended his hand to strike Bacchides, but he turned away from him in retreat.

⁴⁸And Jonathan, and those who were with him, leaped forward into the Jordan, and they swam across the Jordan to them.

⁴⁹And there fell from the side of Bacchides on that day one thousand men. And they returned to Jerusalem.

⁵⁰And they built fortified cities in Judea: the fortification that was in Jericho, and in Emmaus, and in Bethhoron, and in Bethel, and Timnath, and Pharathon, and Tephon, with high walls, and gates, and bars.

⁵¹And he stationed garrisons in them, so that those in Israel became trained in warfare.

⁵²And he fortified the city of Bethzur, and of Gazara, and the stronghold, and he stationed auxiliaries in them, with supplies of rations.

⁵³And he took the sons of the leaders of the region for hostages, and put them in the stronghold in Jerusalem under guard.

⁵⁴Now in the second month of the one hundred and fifty-third year, Alcimus instructed that the walls of the inner court of the sanctuary be destroyed, and that the works of the prophets be destroyed. And he began to destroy them.

⁵⁵At that time, Alcimus was struck, and his works were hindered, and his mouth was closed shut, and he was weakened with paralysis, so that he was no longer able speak a word, nor to give orders concerning his house.

⁵⁶And Alcimus died at that time, in great torment.

⁵⁷And Bacchides saw that Alcimus was dead. And he returned to the king. And the land was quiet for two years.

⁵⁸And all the iniquitous considered together, saying, “Behold, Jonathan, and those who are with him, live in quietude and confidence. Now, therefore, let us bring forth Bacchides, and he will capture them all, in one night.”

⁵⁹So they went and gave counsel to him.

⁶⁰And he rose up, so as to advance with a great army. And he secretly sent letters to his associates who were in Judea, to seize Jonathan and those who were with him. But they were not able, for their plan became known to them.

⁶¹And he apprehended, from the men of the region, those who were the leaders of this malice, fifty men. And he killed them.

⁶²And Jonathan, and Simon, and those who were with him, withdrew into Bethbasi, which is in the desert. And he repaired its breaches, and they fortified it.

⁶³And Bacchides knew about it, and he gathered together all his multitude. And he reported it to those who were from Judea.

⁶⁴And he came and made camp above Bethbasi, and he fought against it for many days, and he made machines of war.

⁶⁵But Jonathan left behind his brother Simon in the city, and he went out into the country, and he approached with a number of men,

⁶⁶and he struck Odomera and his brothers, and the sons of Phasiron, in their tents. And he began to slaughter and to increase in forces.

⁶⁷In truth, Simon, and those who were with him, went forth from the city and burned the machines of war,

⁶⁸and they fought against Bacchides, and he was crushed by them. And they afflicted him greatly, because his counsel and his meetings were in vain.

⁶⁹And he was angry with the men of iniquity who had given him counsel to come into their region, and he killed many of them. But he decided to depart with the remainder into their country.

⁷⁰And Jonathan knew of it, and he sent ambassadors to him to arrange a peace with him, and to restore the captives to him.

⁷¹And he accepted it willingly, and he acted according to his words, and he swore that he would do him no evil all the days of his life.

⁷²And he restored to him the captives which he previously had been given from the land of Judah. And he turned back and went away into his own land, and he no longer drew near, in order to enter into their borders.

⁷³And so the sword ceased from Israel. And Jonathan lived in Michmash, and, in that place, Jonathan began to judge the people, and he destroyed the impious out of Israel.

I Maccabees 9

¹Furthermore, 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:

²Who 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.

³Also the first month of the hundred fifty and second year they encamped before Jerusalem:

⁴From whence they removed, and went to Berea, with twenty thousand footmen and two thousand horsemen.

⁵Now Judas had pitched his tents at Eleasa, and three thousand chosen men with him:

⁶Who 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.

⁷When 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.

⁸Nevertheless 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.

⁹But 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.

¹⁰Then 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.

¹¹With 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.

¹²As for Bacchides, he was in the right wing: so the host drew near on the two parts, and sounded their trumpets.

¹³They 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.

¹⁴Now when Judas perceived that Bacchides and the strength of his army were on the right side, he took with him all the hardy men,

¹⁵Who discomfited the right wing, and pursued them unto the mount Azotus.

¹⁶But 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:

¹⁷Whereupon there was a sore battle, insomuch as many were slain on both parts.

¹⁸Judas also was killed, and the remnant fled.

¹⁹Then Jonathan and Simon took Judas their brother, and buried him in the sepulchre of his fathers in Modin.

²⁰Moreover they bewailed him, and all Israel made great lamentation for him, and mourned many days, saying,

²¹How is the valiant man fallen, that delivered Israel!

²²As 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.

²³Now 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.

²⁴In those days also was there a very great famine, by reason whereof the country revolted, and went with them.

²⁵Then Bacchides chose the wicked men, and made them lords of the country.

²⁶And they made enquiry and search for Judas’ friends, and brought them unto Bacchides, who took vengeance of them, and used them despitefully.

²⁷So was there a great affliction in Israel, the like whereof was not since the time that a prophet was not seen among them.

²⁸For this cause all Judas’ friends came together, and said unto Jonathan,

²⁹Since 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.

³⁰Now therefore we have chosen thee this day to be our prince and captain in his stead, that thou mayest fight our battles.

³¹Upon this Jonathan took the governance upon him at that time, and rose up instead of his brother Judas.

³²But when Bacchides gat knowledge thereof, he sought for to slay him

³³Then 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.

³⁴Which when Bacchides understood, he came near to Jordan with all his host upon the sabbath day.

³⁵Now 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.

³⁶But the children of Jambri came out of Medaba, and took John, and all that he had, and went their way with it.

³⁷After 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.

³⁸Therefore they remembered John their brother, and went up, and hid themselves under the covert of the mountain:

³⁹Where 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.

⁴⁰Then 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.

⁴¹Thus was the marriage turned into mourning, and the noise of their melody into lamentation.

⁴²So when they had avenged fully the blood of their brother, they turned again to the marsh of Jordan.

⁴³Now when Bacchides heard hereof, he came on the sabbath day unto the banks of Jordan with a great power.

⁴⁴Then 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:

⁴⁵For, 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.

⁴⁶Wherefore cry ye now unto heaven, that ye may be delivered from the hand of your enemies.

⁴⁷With that they joined battle, and Jonathan stretched forth his hand to smite Bacchides, but he turned back from him.

⁴⁸Then 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.

⁴⁹So there were slain of Bacchides’ side that day about a thousand men.

⁵⁰Afterward 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.

⁵¹And in them he set a garrison, that they might work malice upon Israel.

⁵²He fortified also the city Bethsura, and Gazera, and the tower, and put forces in them, and provision of victuals.

⁵³Besides, he took the chief men’s sons in the country for hostages, and put them into the tower at Jerusalem to be kept.

⁵⁴Moreover 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

⁵⁵And 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.

⁵⁶So Alcimus died at that time with great torment.

⁵⁷Now when Bacchides saw that Alcimus was dead, he returned to the king: whereupon the land of Judea was in rest two years.

⁵⁸Then 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.

⁵⁹So they went and consulted with him.

⁶⁰Then 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.

⁶¹Wherefore they took of the men of the country, that were authors of that mischief, about fifty persons, and slew them.

⁶²Afterward 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.

⁶³Which thing when Bacchides knew, he gathered together all his host, and sent word to them that were of Judea.

⁶⁴Then went he and laid siege against Bethbasi; and they fought against it a long season and made engines of war.

⁶⁵But Jonathan left his brother Simon in the city, and went forth himself into the country, and with a certain number went he forth.

⁶⁶And he smote Odonarkes and his brethren, and the children of Phasiron in their tent.

⁶⁷And 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,

⁶⁸And fought against Bacchides, who was discomfited by them, and they afflicted him sore: for his counsel and travail was in vain.

⁶⁹Wherefore 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.

⁷⁰Whereof when Jonathan had knowledge, he sent ambassadors unto him, to the end he should make peace with him, and deliver them the prisoners.

⁷¹Which 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.

⁷²When therefore he had restored unto him the prisoners that he had taken aforetime out of the land of Judea, he returned and went his way into his own land, neither came he any more into their borders.

⁷³Thus the sword ceased from Israel: but Jonathan dwelt at Machmas, and began to govern the people; and he destroyed the ungodly men out of Israel.