THE FIRST BOOK OF MACCABEES 9

1 Maccabees 9

8 After the death of Nicanor Demetrius sends his army against Judea. 18 Judas is slain. 31 Jonathan is put in the stead of his brother. 47 the battle between Jonathan, and Bacchides. 55 Alcimus is smitten with the palsy, and death. 68 He comes upon Ionathan by the counsel of certain wicked persons, and is overcome. 70 The truce of Jonathan with Bacchides.

IN the mean season when Demetrius had heard how Nicanor, and his host had given the battle, he sent Bacchides, and Alcimus again into Judea, and his chief strength with them.

So they went forth by the way that is toward Galgala, and pitched their tents before Mesaloth which is in Arbelis, and won it and slew much people.

And in the first month of the hundredth, fifty and two year, and laid their siege against Jerusalem.

But they raised their camp, and came to Berea, with twenty thousand footmen and two thousand horsemen.

Now Judas had pitched his tent at Eleasa, and three thousand chosen men with him.

And when they saw, that the multitude of the army was great, they were sore afraid, and many conveyed themselves out of the host, so that there abode no more of them, but eight hundred men.

When Judas saw that his host failed him, and that he must need fight, he was sore troubled in mind that he had no time to gather them together, and was discouraged.

Nevertheless, he said unto them that remained, Let us rise, and go up against our enemies, if peradventure we may be able to fight with them.

But they would have stayed him, saying, We are not able: but let us rather save our lives: turn back now, seeing our brethren are departed: for shall we fight against them, that are so few?

Then Judas said, God forbid, that we should do this thing, to flee from them: if our time be come, let us die manfully for our brethren, and let us not stain our honor.

Then the host removed out of the tents, and stood against them, who had divided their horsemen into two troops, and they that threw their slings, and the archers marched in the forward, and they that fought in the forward, were all valiant men.

And Bacchides was in the right wing. So the army drew near on both sides, and blew the trumpets.

They of Judas side blew the trumpets also, and the earth shook at the noise of the armies, and the battle continued from morning to night.

And when Judas saw that Bacchides and the strength of his army was on the right side, he took with him all the hardy men,

And brake the right wing, and followed upon them unto mount Azotus.

Now when they which were of the left wing, saw that the right wing was discomfited, they followed Judas behind, and them that were with him hard at the heels.

Then was there a sore battle: for many were slain of both the parties.

Judas also himself was killed, and the remnant fled.

So Jonathan and Simon took Judas their brother, and buried him in his father’s sepulchre in the city of Modin.

And all the Israelites wept for him, and mourned greatly for him, and lamented many days, saying,

How is the valiant man fallen which delivered Israel!

Concerning the other things of Judas, both the battles and the valiant acts that he did, and of his worthiness, they are not written: for they were very many.

Now after the death of Judas, wicked men came up in all the coasts of Israel, and there arose all such as gave themselves to iniquity.

In those days was there a very great famine in the land, and all the country gave over themselves with them.

And Bacchides did choose wicked men, and made them lords in the land.

These sought out, and made search for Judas friends, and brought them unto Bacchides, which avenged himself upon them, and mocked them.

And there came so great trouble in Israel, as was not since the time that no Prophet was seen among them.

Then came all Judas friends together, and said unto Jonathan,

Seeing thy brother Judas is dead, and there is none like him to go forth against our enemies, even against Bacchides, and against them of our nation that are enemies unto us,

Therefore, this day we chose thee that thou may be our prince and captain in his place to order our battle.

So Jonathan took the governance upon him at the same time, and ruled instead of his brother Judas.

But when Bacchides knew it, he sought for to slay him. Then Jonathan and Simon his brother, perceiving that, fled into the wilderness of Thecua with all their company, and pitched their tents by the water pool of Asphar.

Which when Bacchides understood, he came over Jordan with all his host upon the Sabbath day.

(Now had Jonathan sent his brother John, a captain of the people, to pray his friends the Nabathites, that they would kept their baggage which was much.

But the children of Ambri came out of Medaba, and took John, and all that he had, and when they had taken it, went their way.

After this came word unto Jonathan, and to Simon his brother, that the children of Ambri made a great marriage, and brought the bride from Medaba with great pomp: for she was daughter to one of the noblest princes of Canaan.

Therefore they remembered John their brother, and went up, and hid themselves under the court of the mountain.

So they lift up their eyes, and looked, and behold, there was a great noise, and much preparation: then the bridegroom came forth, and his friends and his brethren met them with tymbrels, and instruments of music, and many weapons.

Then Jonathan’s men that lay in ambush, rose up against them, and slew many of them, and the remnant fled into the mountains, so that they took all their spoils.

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

And so when they had avenged the blood of their brother, they turned again unto Jordan.

When Bacchides heard this, he came unto the border of Jordan with a great power upon the Sabbath day.)

Then Jonathan and Simon with their company departed unto Beth-basin which is in the wilderness, and repaired the decay thereof, and made it strong.

When Bacchides knew this, he gathered all his host, and sent word to them that were of Judea.

Then came he and laid siege to Beth-basin, and fought against it a long season, and made instruments of war.

But Johnathan had left his brother Simon in the city, and went forth into the country, and came with a certain number,

And slew Odomeras and his brethren and the children of Phasiron in their tents: so he began to slay, and increased in power.

Simon also and his company went out of the city, and burnt up the instruments of war,

And sought against Bacchides, and discomfited him, and vexed him sore, so that his counsel and journey was in vain.

Wherefore he was very wroth at the wicked men, that gave him counsel to come into the country, and slew many of them, and purposed to return into his own country.

Whereof when Jonathan had knowledge, he sent ambassadors unto him, to entreat of peace with him, and that the prisoners should be delivered.

Which thing he accepted, and did according to his desire, and made an oath, that he would never do him harm all the days of his life.

So he restored unto him the prisoners that he had taken afore time out of the land of Juda, and so returned and went into his own land, neither did he come any more into their borders.

Thus the sword ceased from Israel, and Jonathan dwelt at Machmas, and began there to govern the people, and destroyed the ungodly men out of Israel.