1 Maccabees 9

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
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 When Demetrius heard that Nicanor and his army had fallen in battle, he again sent Bacchides and Alcimus into the land of Judah, along with the right wing of his army.
2 They took the road to Galilee and besieged Mesaloth in Arbela, and captured it, putting many people todeath.	2 They took the road to Galilee, and camping opposite the ascent at Arbela, they captured it and killed many people.
3 In the first month of the year 152, they encamped outside Jerusalem;	3 In the first month of the year one hundred and fifty-two, they encamped against Jerusalem.
4 they then moved on, making their way to Beer-Zaith with twenty thousand foot and two thousand horse.	4 Then they set out for Berea with twenty thousand men and two thousand cavalry.
5 Judas lay in camp at Elasa, with three thousand picked men.	5 Judas, with three thousand picked men, had camped at Elasa.
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 When his men saw the great number of the troops, they were very much afraid, and many slipped away from the camp, until only eight hundred men remained.
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 As Judas saw that his army was melting away just when the battle was imminent, he was panic-stricken, because he had no time to gather them together.
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 But in spite of his discouragement, he said to those who remained: "Let us go forward to meet our enemies; perhaps we can put up a good 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 They tried to dissuade him, saying: "We certainly cannot. Let us save our lives now, and come back with our kinsmen, and then fight against them. Now we are too 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 But Judas said: "Far be it from me to do such a thing as to flee from them! If our time has come, let us die bravely for our kinsmen and not leave a stain upon 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 Then the army of Bacchides moved out of camp and took its position for combat. The cavalry were divided into two squadrons, and the slingers and the archers came on ahead of the army, and all the valiant men were in the front line.
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 Bacchides was on the right wing. Flanked by the two squadrons, the phalanx attacked as they blew their trumpets. Those who were on Judas' side also blew their trumpets.
13 and the earth shook with the noise of the armies. The engagement lasted from morning until evening.	13 The earth shook with the noise of the armies, and the battle raged from morning until 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 Seeing that Bacchides was on the right, with the main force of his army, Judas, with all the most stouthearted rallying to him,
15 and they crushed the right wing, pursuing them as far as the Azara Hil s.	15 drove back the right wing and pursued them as far as the mountain slopes.
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 But when the men on the left wing saw that the right wing was driven back, they turned and followed Judas and his men, taking them in the rear.
17 The fight became desperate, and there were many casualties on both sides.	17 The battle was fought desperately, and many on both sides fell wounded.
18 Judas himself fel , and the remnant fled.	18 Then Judas fell, and the rest fled.
19 Jonathan and Simon took up their brother Judas and buried him in his ancestral tomb at Modein.	19 Jonathan and Simon took their brother Judas and buried him in the tomb of their fathers at Modein.
20 Al Israel wept and mourned him deeply and for many days they repeated this dirge.	20 All Israel bewailed him in great grief. They mourned for him many days, and they said,
21 'What a downfall for the strong man, the man who kept Israel safe!'	21 "How the mighty one has fallen, the savior 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 The other acts of Judas, his battles, the brave deeds he performed, and his greatness have not been recorded; but they were very many.
23 After the death of Judas, the renegades came out of hiding throughout Israel and al the evil-doersreappeared.	23 After the death of Judas, the transgressors of the law raised their heads in every part of Israel, and all kinds of evildoers appeared.
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 the country deserted to them.
25 Bacchides deliberately chose the enemies of religion to administer the country.	25 Bacchides chose impious men and made them masters 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 These sought out and hunted down the friends of Judas and brought them to Bacchides, who punished and derided them.
27 A terrible oppression began in Israel; there had been nothing like it since the disappearance ofprophecy among them.	27 There had not been such great distress in Israel since the time prophets ceased to appear among the people.
28 The friends of Judas then al united in saying to Jonathan,	28 Then 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 your brother Judas died, there has been no one like him to oppose our enemies, Bacchides and those who are hostile to 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 you today to be our ruler and leader in his place, and to fight our battle."
31 Whereupon, Jonathan took command, in succession to his brother Judas.	31 From that moment Jonathan accepted the leadership, and took the place of Judas his brother.
32 Bacchides, when he heard the news, made plans to kil Jonathan.	32 When Bacchides learned of it, he 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 But Jonathan and his brother Simon and all the men with him discovered this, and they fled to the desert of Tekoa and camped by the waters of the pool of Asphar.
34 (Bacchides came to know of this on the Sabbath day, and he too crossed the Jordan with his entirearmy.)	34
35 Jonathan sent his brother, who was one of his commanders, to ask his friends the Nabataeans tostore their considerable baggage for them.	35 Jonathan sent his brother as leader of the convoy to ask permission of his friends, the Nabateans, to deposit with them their great quantity of baggage.
36 The sons of Amrai, however, those of Medeba, intercepted them, captured John and everything hehad and made off with their prize.	36 But the sons of Jambri from Medaba made a raid and seized and carried off John and everything he had.
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, word was brought to Jonathan and his brother Simon: "The sons of Jambri are celebrating a great wedding, and with a large escort they are bringing the bride, the daughter of one of the great princes of Canaan, from Nadabath."
38 Remembering the bloody end of their brother John, they went up and hid under cover of the mountain.	38 Remembering the blood of John their brother, they went up and hid themselves under cover 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 They watched, and suddenly saw a noisy crowd with baggage; the bridegroom and his friends and kinsmen had come out to meet the bride's party with tambourines and musicians and much equipment.
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 The Jews rose up against them from their ambush and killed them. Many fell wounded, and after the survivors fled toward the mountain, all their spoils were taken.
41 Thus, the wedding was turned into mourning and the music of their band into lamentation.	41 Thus the wedding was turned into mourning, and the sound of music into lamentation.
42 Having in this way avenged in ful the blood of their brother, they returned to the marshes of theJordan.	42 Having taken their revenge for the blood of their brother, the Jews returned to the marshes 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 When Bacchides heard of it, he came on the sabbath to the banks of the Jordan with a large force.
44 Jonathan said to his men, 'Up! Let us fight for our lives, for today it is not as in the old days.	44 Then Jonathan said to his companions, "Let us get up now and fight for our lives, for today is not like 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 The battle is before us, and behind us are the waters of the Jordan on one side, marsh and thickets on the other, and there is no way of escape.
46 This is the moment to call on Heaven, to deliver you from the clutches of your enemies.'	46 Cry out now to Heaven for deliverance from our enemies."
47 The engagement was begun by Jonathan, who aimed a blow at Bacchides, but the Syrian disengagedhimself and withdrew,	47 When they joined battle, Jonathan raised his arm to strike Bacchides, but Bacchides backed away from him.
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 Jonathan and his men jumped into the Jordan and swam across to the other side, but the enemy did not pursue them across the Jordan.
49 That day, Bacchides lost about a thousand men.	49 A thousand men on Bacchides' side fell that day.
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 On returning to Jerusalem, Bacchides built strongholds in Judea: the Jericho fortress, as well as Emmaus, Beth-horon, Bethel, Timnath, Pharathon, and Tephon, with high walls and gates and bars.
51 and stationed a garrison in each of them to harass Israel.	51 In each he put a garrison to oppose Israel.
52 He also fortified the town of Beth-Zur, Gezer and the Citadel, and placed troops in them with suppliesof provisions.	52 He fortified the city of Beth-zur, Gazara and the citadel, and put soldiers in them and stores of provisions.
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 He took as hostages the sons of the leaders of the country and put them in custody in the citadel at Jerusalem.
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 In the year one hundred and fifty-three, in the second month, Alcimus ordered the wall of the inner court of the sanctuary to be torn down, thus destroying the work of the prophets. But he only began to tear it down.
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 Just at that time he had a stroke, and his work was interrupted; his mouth was closed and he was paralyzed, so that he could no longer utter a word to give orders concerning his house.
56 it was not long before he died in great agony.	56 Finally he died in great agony.
57 On the death of Alcimus, Bacchides went back to the king, and Judaea was left in peace for twoyears.	57 Seeing that Alcimus was dead, Bacchides returned to the king, and the land of Judah was quiet for two years. Bacchides and Jonathan
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 Then all the transgressors of the law held a council and said: "Jonathan and his companions are living in peace and security. Now then, let us have Bacchides return, and he will capture all of them in a single night."
59 So they went to him and reached an understanding.	59 So they went and took counsel with him.
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 When Bacchides was setting out with a large force, he sent letters secretly to all his allies in Judea, telling them to seize Jonathan and his companions. They were not able to do this, however, because their plot became known.
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 In fact, Jonathan's men seized about fifty of the men of the country who were ringleaders in the mischief and put them to death.
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 Then Jonathan and Simon and their companions withdrew to Bethbasi in the desert; they rebuilt and strengthened its fortifications that had been demolished.
63 When Bacchides heard this, he mustered his whole force and notified his adherents in Judaea.	63 When Bacchides learned of this, he gathered together his whole force and sent word to those who were in Judea.
64 He then proceeded to lay siege to Beth-Bassi, the fighting was protracted, and he constructed siege-engines.	64 He came and pitched his camp before Bethbasi, and constructing siege-machines, he fought against it for many days.
65 Jonathan, however, leaving his brother Simon in the town, broke out into the countryside with ahandful of men.	65 Leaving his brother Simon in the city, Jonathan, accompanied by a small group of men, went out into the field.
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 He struck down Odomera and his kinsmen and the sons of Phasiron in their encampment; these men had set out to go up to the siege with their forces.
67 Simon and his people, meanwhile, made a sortie from the town and set fire to the siege-engines.	67 Simon and his men then sallied forth from the city and set fire to the machines.
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 They fought against Bacchides, and he was beaten. This caused him great distress. Because the enterprise he had planned came to nought,
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 he was angry with the lawless men who had advised him to invade the province. He killed many of them and resolved to return to his own country.
70 Discovering this, Jonathan sent envoys to negotiate peace terms and the release of prisoners withhim.	70 Jonathan learned of this and sent ambassadors to make peace with him and to obtain the release of 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 He agreed to do as Jonathan had asked. He swore an oath to him that he would never try to injure him for the rest 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 released the prisoners he had previously taken from the land of Judah. He returned to his own country and never came into their territory again.
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 Then the sword ceased in Israel. Jonathan settled in Michmash; he began to judge the people and he destroyed the impious in Israel.