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Machabees
9
In the mean time when Demetrius heard that Nicanor and
his army were fallen in battle, he sent again Bacchides
and Alcimus into Judea; and the right wing of his army
with them.
And they took the road that leadeth to Galgal, and they
camped in Masaloth, which is in Arabella: and they made
themselves masters of it, and slew many people.
In the first month of the hundred and fifty-second year
they brought the army to Jerusalem:
And they arose, and went to Berea with twenty thousand
men, and two thousand horsemen.
Now Judas had pitched his tents in Laisa, and three
thousand chosen men with him:
And they saw the multitude of the army that they were
many, and they were seized with great fear: and many
withdrew themselves out of the camp, and there remained
of them no more than eight hundred men.
And Judas saw that his army slipped away, and the battle
pressed upon him, and his heart was cast down: because
he had not time to gather them together, and he was
discouraged.
Then he said to them that remained: Let us arise, and
go against our enemies, if we may be able to fight against
them.
But they dissuaded him, saying: We shall not be able,
but let us save our lives now, and return to our brethren,
and then we will fight against them: for we are but
few.
Then Judas said: God forbid we should do this thing,
and flee away from them: but if our time be come, let
us die manfully for our brethren, and let us not stain
our glory.
And the army removed out of the camp, and they stood
over against them: and the horsemen were divided into
two troops, and the slingers, and the archers went before
the army, and they that were in the front were all men
of valour.
And Bacchides was in the right wing, and the legion
drew near on two sides, and they sounded the trumpets:
And they also were on Judas' side, even they also cried
out, and the earth shook at the noise of the armies:
and the battle was fought from morning even unto the
evening.
And Judas perceived that the stronger part of the army
of Bacchides was on the right side, and all the stout
of heart came together with him:
And the right wing was discomfited by them, and he pursued
them even to the mount Azotus.
And they that were in the left wing saw that the right
wing was discomfited, and they followed after Judas,
and them that were with him, at their back:
And the battle was hard fought, and there fell many
wounded of the one side and of the other.
And Judas was slain, and the rest fled away.
And Jonathan and Simon took Judas their brother, and
buried him in the sepulchre of their fathers in the
city of Modin.
And all the people of Israel bewailed him with great
lamentation, and they mourned for him many days.
And said: How is the mighty man fallen, that saved the
people of Israel!
But the rest of the words of the wars of Judas, and
of the noble acts that he did, and of his greatness,
are not written: for they were very many.
And it came to pass after the death of Judas, that the
wicked began to put forth their heads in all the confines
of Israel, and all the workers of iniquity rose up.
In those days there was a very great famine, and they
and all their country yielded to Bacchides.
And Bacchides chose the wicked men, and made them lords
of the country:
And they sought out, and made diligent search after
the friends of Judas, and brought them to Bacchides,
and he took vengeance of them, and abused them.
And there was a great tribulation in Israel, such as
was not since the day, that there was no prophet seen
in Israel.
And all the friends of Judas came together, and said
to Jonathan:
Since thy brother Judas died, there is not a man like
him to go forth against our enemies, Bacchides, and
them that are the enemies of our nation.
Now therefore we have chosen thee this day to be our
prince, and captain in his stead to fight our battles.
So Jonathan took upon him the government at that time,
and rose up in the place of Judas his brother.
And Bacchides had knowledge of it, and sought to kill
him.
And Jonathan and Simon his brother, knew it, and all
that were with them: and they fled into the desert of
Thecua, and they pitched by the water of the lake of
Asphar,
And Bacchides understood it, and he came himself with
all his army over the Jordan on the sabbath day.
And Jonathan sent his brother a captain of the people,
to desire the Nabutheans his friends, that they would
lend them their equipage, which was copious.
And the children of Jambri came forth out of Madaba,
and took John, and all that he had, and went away with
them.
After this it was told Jonathan, and Simon his brother,
that the children of Jambri made a great marriage, and
were bringing the bride out of Madaba, the daughter
of one of the great princes of Chanaan, with great pomp.
And the remembered the blood of John their brother:
and they went up, and hid themselves under the covert
of the mountain.
And they lifted up their eyes, and saw: and behold a
tumult, and great preparation: and the bridegroom came
forth, and his friends, and his brethren to meet them
with timbrels, and musical instruments, and many weapons.
And they rose up against them from the place where they
lay in ambush, and slew them, and there fell many wounded,
and the rest fled into the mountains, and they took
all their spoils:
And the marriage was turned into mourning, and the noise
of their musical instruments into lamentation.
And they took revenge for the blood of their brother:
and they returned to the bank of the Jordan.
And Bacchides heard it, and he came on the sabbath day
even to the bank of the Jordan with a great power.
And Jonathan said to his company: Let us arise, and
fight against our enemies: for it is not now as yesterday,
and the day before.
And behold the battle is before us, and the water of
the Jordan on this side and on that side, and banks,
and marshes, and woods: and there is no place for us
to turn aside.
Now therefore cry ye to heaven, that ye may be delivered
from the hand of your enemies. And they joined battle.
And Jonathan stretched forth his hand to strike Bacchides,
but he turned away from him backwards.
And Jonathan, and they that were with him leaped into
the Jordan, and swam over the Jordan to them:
And there fell of Bacchides' side that day a thousand
man: and they returned to Jerusalem,
And they built strong cities in Judea, the fortress
that was in Jericho, and in Ammaus, and in Bethoron,
and in Bethel, and Thamnata, and Phara, and Thopo, with
high walls, and gates, and bars.
And he placed garrisons in them, that they might wage
war against Israel:
And he fortified the city of Bethsura, and Gazara, and
the castle, and set garrisons in them, and provisions
of victuals:
And he took the sons of the chief men of the country
for hostages, and put them in the castle in Jerusalem
in custody.
Now in the year one hundred and fifty-three, the second
month, Alcimus commanded the walls of the inner court
of the sanctuary to be thrown down, and the works of
the prophets to be destroyed: and he began to be destroyed:
and he began to destroy.
At that time Alcimus was struck: and his works were
hindered, and his mouth was stopped, and he was taken
with a palsy, so that he could no more speak a word,
nor give order concerning his house.
And Alcimus died at that time in great torment.
And Bacchides saw that Alcimus was dead: and he returned
to the king, and the land was quiet for two years.
And all the wicked held a council, saying: Behold Jonathan,
and they that are with him, dwell at ease, and without
fear: now therefore let us bring Bacchides hither, and
he shall take them all in one night.
So they went, and gave him counsel.
And he arose to come with a great army: and he sent
secretly letters to his adherents that were in Judea,
to seize upon Jonathan, and them that were with him:
but they could not, for their design was known to them.
And he apprehended of the men of the country, that were
the principal authors of the mischief, fifty men, and
slew them.
And Jonathan, and Simon, and they that were with him
retired into Bethbessen, which is in the desert: and
he repaired the breaches thereof, and they fortified
it.
And when Bacchides knew it, he gathered together all
his multitude: and sent word to them that were of Judea.
And he came, and camped above Bethbessen, and fought
against it many days, and made engines.
But Jonathan left his brother Simon in the city, and
went forth into the country: and came with a number
of men.
And struck Odares, and his brethren, and the children
of Phaseron in their tents, and he began to slay, and
to increase in forces.
But Simon and they that were with him, sallied out of
the city, and burnt the engines.
And they fought against Bacchides, and he was discomfited
by them: and they afflicted him exceedingly, for his
counsel, and his enterprise was in vain.
And he was angry with the wicked men that had given
him counsel to come into their country, and he slew
many of them: and he purposed to return with the rest
into their country.
And Jonathan had knowledge of it, and he sent ambassadors
to him to make peace with him, and to restore to him
the prisoners.
And he accepted it willingly, and did according to his
words, and swore that the would do him no harm all the
days of his life.
And he restored to him the prisoners which he before
had taken out of the land of Juda: and he returned and
went away into his own country, and he came no more
into their borders.
So the sword ceased from Israel: and Jonathan dwelt
in Machmas, and Jonathan began there to judge the people,
and he destroyed the wicked out of Israel.
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