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.
3 Also the first month of the hundred fifty and second year they encamped before Jerusalem:
4 From whence they removed, and went to Berea, with twenty thousand footmen and two thousand horsemen.
5 Now Judas had pitched his tents at Eleasa, and three thousand chosen men with him:
6 Who seeing the multitude of the other army to be 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,
15 Who discomfited the right wing, and pursued them unto the mount Azotus.
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:
17 Whereupon there was a sore battle, insomuch as many were slain on both parts.
18 Judas also was killed, and the remnant fled.
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,
21 How is the valiant man fallen, that delivered Israel!
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.
25 Then Bacchides chose the wicked men, and made them lords of the country.
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.
28 For this cause all Judas’ friends came together, and said unto Jonathan,
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.
32 But when Bacchides gat knowledge thereof, he sought for to slay him
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.
34 Which when Bacchides understood, he came near to Jordan with all his host upon the sabbath day.
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.
41 Thus was the marriage turned into mourning, and the noise of their melody into lamentation.
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.
46 Wherefore cry ye now unto heaven, that ye may be delivered from the hand of your enemies.
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.
49 So there were slain of Bacchides’ side that day about a thousand men.
50 Afterward returned Bacchides to Jerusalem and repaired the strong cites in Judea; the fort in Jericho, and Emmaus, and Bethhoron, and Beth-el, and Thamnatha, Pharathoni, and Taphon, these did he strengthen with high walls, with gates and with bars.
51 And in them he set a garrison, that they might work malice upon Israel.
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.
56 So Alcimus died at that time with great torment.
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.
59 So they went and consulted with him.
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.
66 And he smote Odonarkes and his brethren, and the children of Phasiron in their tent.
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.
72 When 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.
73 Thus 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.
1 interea ubi audivit Demetrius
quia cecidit Nicanor et exercitus eius in proelio
adposuit Bacchidem et Alchimum rursum mittere in Iudaeam
et dextrum cornu cum illis
2 et abierunt viam quae ducit in Galgala
et castra posuerunt in Mesaloth quae est in Arbellis
et occupaverunt eam et peremerunt animas hominum multas
3 et mense primo anni centesimi quinquagesimi et secundi
adplicuerunt exercitum ad Hierusalem
4 et surrexerunt et abierunt in Berea
viginti milia virorum et duo milia equitum
5 et Iudas castra posuerat in Laisa
et tria milia viri cum eo electi
6 et viderunt multitudinem exercitus quia multi sunt
et timuerunt valde et multi subtraxerunt se de castris
et non remanserunt ex eis nisi octingenti viri
7 et vidit Iudas quod defluxit exercitus suus
et bellum perurguebat eum
confractus est corde quia non habebat tempus congregandi eos
et dissolutus est
8 et dixit his qui residui erant
surgamus et eamus ad adversarios nostros
si poterimus pugnare adversus eos
9 et avertebant eum dicentes
non poterimus sed liberemus animas nostras modo
et revertemur ad fratres nostros
et pugnabimus adversus eos
nos autem pauci sumus
10 et ait Iudas absit istam rem facere ut fugiamus ab eis
et si adpropiavit tempus nostrum
moriamur in virtute propter fratres nostros
et non inferamus crimen gloriae nostrae
11 et movit exercitus de castris et steterunt illis obviam
et divisi sunt equites in duas partes
et fundibalarii et sagittarii praeibant exercitum
et primi certaminis omnes potentes
12 Bacchides autem erat in dextro cornu
et proximavit legio ex duabus partibus
et clamabant tubis
13 exclamaverunt autem et hii qui erant ex parte Iudae etiam ipsi
et commota est terra a voce exercituum
et commissum est proelium a mane usque ad vesperam
14 et vidit Iudas quia firmior est pars exercitus Bacchidis in
dextris
et convenerunt cum ipso omnes constantes corde
15 et contrita est dextra pars ab eis
et persecutus est eos usque ad montem Azoti
16 et qui in sinistro cornu erant
viderunt quod contritum est dextrum cornu
et secuti sunt post Iudam et qui cum ipso erant a tergo
17 et ingravatum est proelium
et ceciderunt vulnerati multi ex his et illis
18 et Iudas cecidit et ceteri fugerunt
19 et Ionathas et Simon tulerunt Iudam fratrem suum in Modin
20 et fleverunt eum omnis populus Israhel planctu magno
et lugebant dies multos
21 et dixerunt
quomodo cecidit potens qui salvum faciebat Israhel
22 et cetera verba Iudae bellorum et virtutum quas
fecit
non sunt descripta
multa enim erant valde
23 et factum est post obitum Iudae
emerserunt iniqui in omnibus finibus Israhel
et exorti sunt omnes qui operabantur iniquitatem
24 in diebus illis facta est fames magna valde
et tradidit se Bacchidi omnis regio eorum cum ipsis
25 et elegit Bacchides impios viros
et constituit eos dominos regionis
26 et exquirebant et perscrutabantur amicos Iudae
et adducebant eos ad Bacchidem et vindicabat in illos et inludebat
27 et facta est tribulatio magna in Israhel
qualis non fuit ex qua die non est visus propheta in
Israhel
28 et congregati sunt omnes amici Iudae et dixerunt Ionathae
29 ex quo frater tuus Iudas defunctus est
vir similis ei non est qui exeat contra inimicos
Bacchidem et eos qui inimici sunt genti nostrae
30 nunc itaque te elegimus hodie esse nobis principem
et ducem ad bellandum bellum nostrum
31 et suscepit Ionathas tempore illo principatum
et surrexit loco Iudae fratris sui
32 et cognovit Bacchides et quaerebat eum occidere
33 et cognovit Ionathas et Simon frater eius et omnes qui cum eo erant
et fugerunt in desertum Thecuae
et consederunt ad aquam lacus Asphar
34 et cognovit Bacchides
et die sabbatorum venit ipse et omnis exercitus eius trans Iordanem
35 et misit fratrem suum ducem populi
et rogavit Nabatheos amicos suos
ut commendaret illis adparatum suum qui erat copiosus
36 et exierunt filii Iambri ex Madabas
et conprehenderunt Iohannem et omnia quae habebat
et abierunt habentes ea
37 post haec verba renuntiatum est Ionathae et Simoni
fratri eius
quia filii Iambri faciunt nuptias magnas
et ducunt sponsam ex Nadaba
filiam unius de magnis principibus Chanaan
cum ambitione magna
38 et recordati sunt sanguinis Iohannis fratris sui
et ascenderunt et absconderunt se sub tegumento montis
39 et levaverunt oculos suos et viderunt
et ecce tumultus et adparatus multus
et sponsus processit et amici eius et fratres eius obviam
illis
cum tympanis et musicis et armis multis
40 et surrexerunt ad eos cum insidiis et occiderunt eos
et ceciderunt multi vulnerati
et residui fugerunt in montem
et acceperunt omnia spolia eorum
41 et conversae sunt nuptiae in luctum
et vox musicorum ipsorum in lamentum
42 et vindicaverunt vindicta sanguinem fratris
sui
et reversi sunt ad ripam Iordanis
43 et audivit Bacchides
et venit die sabbatorum usque ad oram Iordanis
in virtute multa
44 et dixit ad suos Ionathas
surgamus et pugnemus contra inimicos nostros
non est enim hodie sicut heri et nudius tertius
45 ecce enim bellum ex adverso
aqua vero Iordanis hinc et inde et ripae et paludes et saltus
et non est locus devertendi
46 nunc ergo clamate in caelum
ut liberemini de manu inimicorum vestrorum
et commissum est bellum
47 et extendit Ionatha manum suam percutere
Bacchidem
et devertit ab eo retro
48 et desiluit Ionathan
et transnataverunt ad eos Iordanem
49 et ceciderunt de parte Bacchidis die illa mille viri
et reversi sunt Hierusalem
50 et aedificaverunt civitates munitas in Iudaea
munitionem quae erat in Hiericho
et in Ammaum et in Bethoron et Bethel
et Tamnatan et Phara et Thopo
muris excelsis et portis et seris
51 et posuit custodiam in eis ut inimicitias exercerent in Israhel
52 et munivit civitatem Bethsuram et Gazara et arcem
et posuit in eis auxilia et adparatum escarum
53 et accepit filios principum regionis obsides
et posuit eos in arce in Hierusalem in custodia
54 et anno centesimo quinquagesimo tertio mense secundo
praecepit Alchimus destrui muros domus sanctae interioris
et destrui opera prophetarum et coepit destruere
55 in tempore illo percussus est Alchimus et inpedita sunt opera illius
et obclusum est os eius et dissolutus est paralysin
nec ultra loqui potuit verbum et mandare de domo sua
56 et mortuus est Alchimus in tempore illo cum tormento magno
57 et vidit Bacchides quoniam mortuus est Alchimus
et reversus est ad regem et siluit terra annis duobus
58 et cogitaverunt omnes iniqui dicentes
ecce Ionathas et qui cum eo sunt
in silentio habitant confidentes
nunc ergo adducamus Bacchidem
et conprehendet eos omnes in una nocte
59 et abierunt et consilium ei dederunt
60 et surrexit ut veniret cum exercitu multo
et misit occulte epistulas sociis suis qui erant in Iudaea
ut conprehenderent Ionathan et eos qui cum eo erant
sed non potuerunt quia innotuit eis consilium eorum
61 et adprehendit de viris regionis qui principes erant malitiae
quinquaginta viros
et occidit eos
62 et secessit Ionathas et Simon et qui cum eo erant
in Bethbessi quae est in deserto
et struxit diruta eius et firmaverunt eam
63 et agnovit Bacchides
et congregavit universam multitudinem suam
et his qui de Iuda erant denuntiavit
64 et venit et castra posuit desuper a Bethbesse
et obpugnavit eam dies multos et fecit machinas
65 et reliquit Ionathas Simonem fratrem suum in civitate
et exiit in regionem
et venit cum numero
66 et percussit Odaren et fratres eius
et filios Phaseron in tabernaculo ipsorum
et coepit caedere et crescere in virtutibus
67 Simon vero et qui cum ipso erant
exierunt de civitate et succenderunt machinas
68 et pugnaverunt contra Bacchidem et contritus est ab eis
et adflixerunt eum valde
quoniam consilium eius et congressus eius erat inanis
69 et iratus contra viros iniquos
qui ei consilium dederant ut veniret in regionem ipsorum
multos ex eis occidit
ipse autem cogitavit cum reliquis abire in regionem suam
70 et cognovit Ionathas et misit ad eum legatos
conponere cum ipso pacem et reddere ei captivitatem
71 et libenter accepit et fecit secundum verba eius
et iuravit nihil se ei facturum mali
omnibus diebus vitae eius
72 et reddidit ei captivitatem quam prius erat praedatus de terra Iuda
et conversus abiit in terram suam
et non adposuit amplius venire in fines eius
73 et cessavit gladius ex Israhel
et habitavit Ionathas in Machemas
et coepit Ionathas ibi iudicare populum
et exterminavit impios ex Israhel