1 Maccabees 9

NEW JERUSALEM	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 Demetrius, hearing that Nicanor and his army had fal en in battle, sent Bacchides and Alcimus asecond time into Judaea, and with them the right wing of his army.	1 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.
2 They took the road to Galilee and besieged Mesaloth in Arbela, and captured it, putting many people todeath.	2 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.
3 In the first month of the year 152, they encamped outside Jerusalem;	3 In the first month of the hundred and fifty-second year they brought the army to Jerusalem:
4 they then moved on, making their way to Beer-Zaith with twenty thousand foot and two thousand horse.	4 And they arose, and went to Berea with twenty thousand men, and two thousand horsemen.
5 Judas lay in camp at Elasa, with three thousand picked men.	5 Now Judas had pitched his tents in Laisa, and three thousand chosen men with him:
6 When they saw the huge size of the enemy forces they were terrified, and many slipped out of thecamp, until no more than eight hundred of the force were left.	6 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.
7 With battle now inevitable, Judas realised that his army had melted away; he was aghast, for he had notime to ral y them.	7 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.
8 Yet, dismayed as he was, he said to those who were left, 'Up! Let us face the enemy; we may yet have the strength to fight them.'	8 Then he said to them that remained: Let us arise, and go against our enemies, if we may be able to fight against them.
9 His men tried to dissuade him, declaring, 'We have no strength for anything but to escape with our livesthis time; then we can come back with our brothers to fight them; by ourselves we are too few.'	9 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.
10 Judas retorted, 'That I should do such a thing as run away from them! If our time has come, at leastlet us die like men for our countrymen, and leave nothing to tarnish our reputation.'	10 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.
11 The army marched out of camp and drew up, facing the enemy. The cavalry was drawn up in twosquadrons; the slingers and archers marched in the van of the army, and al the best fighters were put in thefront rank;	11 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.
12 Bacchides was on the right wing. The phalanx advanced from between the two squadrons, soundingthe trumpets; the men on Judas' side also blew their trumpets,	12 And Bacchides was in the right wing, and the legion drew near on two sides, and they sounded the trumpets:
13 and the earth shook with the noise of the armies. The engagement lasted from morning until evening.	13 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.
14 Judas saw that Bacchides and the main strength of his army lay on the right; al the stout-heartedral ied to him,	14 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:
15 and they crushed the right wing, pursuing them as far as the Azara Hil s.	15 And the right wing was discomfited by them, and he pursued them even to the mount Azotus.
16 But when the Syrians on the left wing saw that the right had been broken, they turned and followedhot on the heels of Judas and his men to take them in the rear.	16 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:
17 The fight became desperate, and there were many casualties on both sides.	17 And the battle was hard fought, and there fell many wounded of the one side and of the other.
18 Judas himself fel , and the remnant fled.	18 And Judas was slain, and the rest fled away.
19 Jonathan and Simon took up their brother Judas and buried him in his ancestral tomb at Modein.	19 And Jonathan and Simon took Judas their brother, and buried him in the sepulchre of their fathers in the city of Modin.
20 Al Israel wept and mourned him deeply and for many days they repeated this dirge.	20 And all the people of Israel bewailed him with great lamentation, and they mourned for him many days.
21 'What a downfall for the strong man, the man who kept Israel safe!'	21 And said: How is the mighty man fallen, that saved the people of Israel!
22 The other deeds of Judas, the battles he fought, the exploits he performed, and all his titles togreatness have not been recorded; but they were very many.	22 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.
23 After the death of Judas, the renegades came out of hiding throughout Israel and al the evil-doersreappeared.	23 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.
24 At that time there was a severe famine, and the country went over to their side.	24 In those days there was a very great famine, and they and all their country yielded to Bacchides.
25 Bacchides deliberately chose the enemies of religion to administer the country.	25 And Bacchides chose the wicked men, and made them lords of the country:
26 These traced and searched out the friends of Judas and brought them before Bacchides, who il -treated and mocked them.	26 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.
27 A terrible oppression began in Israel; there had been nothing like it since the disappearance ofprophecy among them.	27 And there was a great tribulation in Israel, such as was not since the day, that there was no prophet seen in Israel.
28 The friends of Judas then al united in saying to Jonathan,	28 And all the friends of Judas came together, and said to Jonathan:
29 'Since your brother Judas died, there has been no one like him to head the resistance against ourenemies, people like Bacchides and others who hate our nation.	29 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.
30 Accordingly, we have today chosen you to take his place as our ruler and leader and to fight ourcampaigns.'	30 Now therefore we have chosen thee this day to be our prince, and captain in his stead to fight our battles.
31 Whereupon, Jonathan took command, in succession to his brother Judas.	31 So Jonathan took upon him the government at that time, and rose up in the place of Judas his brother.
32 Bacchides, when he heard the news, made plans to kil Jonathan.	32 And Bacchides had knowledge of it, and sought to kill him.
33 But this became known to Jonathan, his brother Simon and al his supporters, and they took refuge inthe desert of Tekoa, camping by the water-supply at Asphar storage-well.	33 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,
34 (Bacchides came to know of this on the Sabbath day, and he too crossed the Jordan with his entirearmy.)	34 And Bacchides understood it, and he came himself with all his army over the Jordan on the sabbath day.
35 Jonathan sent his brother, who was one of his commanders, to ask his friends the Nabataeans tostore their considerable baggage for them.	35 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.
36 The sons of Amrai, however, those of Medeba, intercepted them, captured John and everything hehad and made off with their prize.	36 And the children of Jambri came forth out of Madaba, and took John, and all that he had, and went away with them.
37 Later, Jonathan and his brother Simon were told that the sons of Amrai were celebrating an importantwedding, and were escorting the bride, a daughter of one of the great notables of Canaan, from Nabata with alarge retinue.	37 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.
38 Remembering the bloody end of their brother John, they went up and hid under cover of the mountain.	38 And the remembered the blood of John their brother: and they went up, and hid themselves under the covert of the mountain.
39 As they were keeping watch, a noisy procession came into sight with a great deal of baggage, and thebridegroom, with his groomsmen and his family, came out to meet it with tambourines and a band, and rich,warlike display.	39 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.
40 The Jews rushed down on them from their ambush and killed them, inflicting heavy casualties; thesurvivors escaped to the mountain, leaving their entire baggage train to be captured.	40 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:
41 Thus, the wedding was turned into mourning and the music of their band into lamentation.	41 And the marriage was turned into mourning, and the noise of their musical instruments into lamentation.
42 Having in this way avenged in ful the blood of their brother, they returned to the marshes of theJordan.	42 And they took revenge for the blood of their brother: and they returned to the bank of the Jordan.
43 As soon as Bacchides heard this, he came on the Sabbath day with a considerable force to the steepbanks of the Jordan.	43 And Bacchides heard it, and he came on the sabbath day even to the bank of the Jordan with a great power.
44 Jonathan said to his men, 'Up! Let us fight for our lives, for today it is not as in the old days.	44 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.
45 You can see, we shall have to fight on our front and to our rear; we have the waters of the Jordan onone side, the marsh and scrub on the other, and we have no line of withdrawal.	45 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.
46 This is the moment to call on Heaven, to deliver you from the clutches of your enemies.'	46 Now therefore cry ye to heaven, that ye may be delivered from the hand of your enemies. And they joined battle.
47 The engagement was begun by Jonathan, who aimed a blow at Bacchides, but the Syrian disengagedhimself and withdrew,	47 And Jonathan stretched forth his hand to strike Bacchides, but he turned away from him backwards.
48 whereupon Jonathan and his men leapt into the Jordan and swam to the other bank; the enemy didnot, however, cross the Jordan in pursuit.	48 And Jonathan, and they that were with him leaped into the Jordan, and swam over the Jordan to them:
49 That day, Bacchides lost about a thousand men.	49 And there fell of Bacchides' side that day a thousand man: and they returned to Jerusalem,
50 Bacchides went back to Jerusalem and began fortifying some of the Judaean towns: the fortresses ofJericho, Emmaus, Beth-Horon, Bethel, Timnath, Pharathon and Tephon, with high wal s and barred gates,	50 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.
51 and stationed a garrison in each of them to harass Israel.	51 And he placed garrisons in them, that they might wage war against Israel:
52 He also fortified the town of Beth-Zur, Gezer and the Citadel, and placed troops in them with suppliesof provisions.	52 And he fortified the city of Bethsura, and Gazara, and the castle, and set garrisons in them, and provisions of victuals:
53 He took the sons of the leading men of the country as hostages, and had them placed under guard inthe Citadel of Jerusalem.	53 And he took the sons of the chief men of the country for hostages, and put them in the castle in Jerusalem in custody.
54 In the year 153, in the second month, Alcimus ordered the demolition of the wall of the inner court ofthe sanctuary, destroying the work of the prophets. Alcimus had just begun the demolition	54 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.
55 when he suffered a stroke, and his work was interrupted. His mouth became obstructed, and hisparalysis made him incapable of speaking at al or giving directions to his household;	55 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.
56 it was not long before he died in great agony.	56 And Alcimus died at that time in great torment.
57 On the death of Alcimus, Bacchides went back to the king, and Judaea was left in peace for twoyears.	57 And Bacchides saw that Alcimus was dead: and he returned to the king, and the land was quiet for two years.
58 The renegades then al agreed on a plan. 'Now is the time,' they said, 'while Jonathan and hissupporters are living in peace and are ful of confidence, for us to bring back Bacchides, and he wil arrest the lotof them in one night.'	58 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.
59 So they went to him and reached an understanding.	59 So they went, and gave him counsel.
60 Bacchides at once set out with a large force, and sent secret instructions to al his allies in Judaea toseize Jonathan and his supporters. But they were unable to do this because their plan became known,	60 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.
61 and Jonathan and his men arrested some fifty of the men of the country who were ringleaders in theplot, and put them to death.	61 And he apprehended of the men of the country, that were the principal authors of the mischief, fifty men, and slew them.
62 Jonathan and Simon then retired with their partisans to Beth-Bassi in the desert; they rebuilt theruinous parts of the place and fortified it.	62 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.
63 When Bacchides heard this, he mustered his whole force and notified his adherents in Judaea.	63 And when Bacchides knew it, he gathered together all his multitude: and sent word to them that were of Judea.
64 He then proceeded to lay siege to Beth-Bassi, the fighting was protracted, and he constructed siege-engines.	64 And he came, and camped above Bethbessen, and fought against it many days, and made engines.
65 Jonathan, however, leaving his brother Simon in the town, broke out into the countryside with ahandful of men.	65 But Jonathan left his brother Simon in the city, and went forth into the country: and came with a number of men.
66 He launched a blow at Odomera and his brothers, and at the sons of Phasiron in their encampment;whereupon, these too came into the struggle, joining forces with him.	66 And struck Odares, and his brethren, and the children of Phaseron in their tents, and he began to slay, and to increase in forces.
67 Simon and his people, meanwhile, made a sortie from the town and set fire to the siege-engines.	67 But Simon and they that were with him, sallied out of the city, and burnt the engines.
68 Taking the offensive against Bacchides, they defeated him. He was greatly disconcerted to find thathis plan and his assault had come to nothing,	68 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.
69 and vented his anger on those renegades who had induced him to enter the country, putting many ofthem to death; he then decided to take his own troops home.	69 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.
70 Discovering this, Jonathan sent envoys to negotiate peace terms and the release of prisoners withhim.	70 And Jonathan had knowledge of it, and he sent ambassadors to him to make peace with him, and to restore to him the prisoners.
71 Bacchides agreed to this, accepting his proposals and swearing never to seek occasion to harm himfor the rest of his life.	71 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.
72 Having surrendered to Jonathan those prisoners he had earlier taken in Judaea, he turned about andwithdrew to his own country, and never again came near their frontiers.	72 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.
73 The sword no longer hung over Israel, and Jonathan settled in Michmash, where he began to judgethe people and to rid Israel of the godless.	73 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.