1 Maccabees, 9

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:

1. When Demetrius was informed of the death of Nicanor and the defeat of his army, he sent Bacchides and Alcimus back to Judea with the best troops of his army.

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.

2. They took the road to Galilee and besieged the city of Mesaloth in the Arbela region. They captured it and killed many.

3. Also the first month of the hundred fifty and second year they encamped before Jerusalem:

3. In the first month of the year one hundred and fifty-two, they encamped before Jerusalem.

4. From whence they removed, and went to Berea, with twenty thousand footmen and two thousand horsemen.

4. From there twenty thousand infantry and two thousand cavalry set out for Berea.

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

5. Judas had his camp in Elasa with three thousand picked men.

6. Who seeing the multitude of the other army to he so great were sore afraid; whereupon many conveyed themselves out of the host, insomuch as abode of them no more but eight hundred men.

6. When they saw the huge number of enemies, they were terrified. Many slipped out of the camp, and only eight hundred men were left.

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.

7. Judas saw the dispersal of his army and this crushed his spirit. The battle was imminent but he had no time to group 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.

8. Yet in spite of being dismayed, he did his best to encourage those who remained with him: "Let us fight our enemies. We may yet be able to defeat 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.

9. They tried to dissuade him, "We cannot do anything now but save ourselves. We can come back later with our brothers and fight. But now we are too 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.

10. But Judas answered them, "God forbid that I should run away from them. If our time has come, then let us die as valiant men for our brothers, without tarnishing our glory."

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.

11. The army of Bacchides marched out of their camp while the Jews remained in their place to engage them in battle. The cavalry was divided into two wings. In the first line, the veterans in war advanced, and the archers and slingers followed.

12. As for Bacchides, he was in the right wing: so the host drew near on the two parts, and sounded their trumpets.

12. Bacchides was on the right wing. At the sound of the trumpets, they advanced on both sides. The Jews also sounded the 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.

13. And the earth trembled with the noise of the armies, and a battle began which lasted the whole day.

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,

14. Judas saw that Bacchides and the main strength of his army was on the right. The most courageous of the Israelites went with him,

15. Who discomfited the right wing, and pursued them unto the mount Azotus.

15. and they defeated the right wing of the enemy, pursuing them up to the hills.

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:

16. But when those on the left wing saw the right wing being defeated, they attacked Judas and his men from the rear.

17. Whereupon there was a sore battle, insomuch as many were slain on both parts.

17. They fought bitterly and many fell on both sides.

18. Judas also was killed, and the remnant fled.

18. Judas also fell, and the rest fled.

19. THen Jonathan and Simon took Judas their brother, and buried him in the sepulchre of his fathers in Modin.

19. Jonathan and Simon took their brother and buried him in the tomb of their fathers at Modein.

20. Moreover they bewailed him, and all Israel made great lamentation for him, and mourned many days, saying,

20. All the people of Israel mourned and wept for him for many days, repeating this lamentation:

21. How is the valiant man fallen, that delivered Israel!

21. "How the hero has fallen, he who saved 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.

22. The other deeds of Judas, his battles, exploits and heroism were not written for they were 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.

23. After the death of Judas, the renegades reappeared throughout the territory of Israel and the evildoers took courage.

24. In those days also was there a very great famine, by reason whereof the country revolted, and went with them.

24. At the same time, there was a severe famine, and the country went over to their side.

25. Then Bacchides chose the wicked men, and made them lords of the country.

25. Bacchides chose renegade men and made them masters of the land.

26. And they made enquiry and search for Judas' friends, and brought them unto Bacchides, who took vengeance of them, and used them despitefully.

26. These men traced and searched out all the friends and supporters of Judas and brought them before Bacchides who punished and humiliated them in a thousand ways.

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.

27. It was a terrible trial for Israel such as had never been experienced since the disappearance of the prophets.

28. For this cause all Judas' friends came together, and said unto Jonathan,

28. So the friends of Judas came together and said to 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.

29. "Since your brother Judas died, we haven't found anyone like him to head the resistance against the enemy, against Bacchides and all the enemies of our nation.

30. Now therefore we have chosen thee this day to be our prince and captain in his stead, that thou mayest fight our battles.

30. So we now choose you to take his place, to be our head and lead us in our wars." So from that day on,

31. Upon this Jonathan took the governance upon him at that time, and rose up instead of his brother Judas.

31. Jonathan accepted the leadership and succeeded his brother Judas.

32. But when Bacchides gat knowledge thereof, he sought for to slay him

32. When Bacchides heard of this, he planned to kill Jonathan.

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.

33. But Jonathan was informed of the plot and fled to the desert of Tekoa, together with his brother Simon and his followers. They encamped by the lake Asphar.

34. Which when Bacchides understood, he came near to Jordan with all his host upon the sabbath day.

34. Bacchides found this out on the sabbath day, and with all his army he crossed the Jordan.

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.

35. Jonathan had sent his brother John, representative of the people, to ask their friends the Nabatean to store for them their large amount of baggage.

36. But the children of Jambri came out of Medaba, and took John, and all that he had, and went their way with it.

36. But the tribe of Yambri and the people of Medeba captured John and took all he had with him, then departed with the booty.

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.

37. After this had happened, Jonathan and his brother Simon were told that the Yambrites were celebrating a solemn wedding and were escorting the bride, a daughter of one of the magnates, from Nadabath with great pomp.

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

38. Both remembered the murder of their brother John, so they went up and hid under cover 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.

39. At a certain moment they heard a confusion of sounds; then they saw a great deal of baggage. The bride groom, his friends and brothers came straight to them with tambourines, musical instruments 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.

40. Then the Jews rushed down on them from their ambush and killed them. There were many casualties and others fled to the mountain. Finally the Jews seized all the plunder.

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

41. So the wedding turned to mourning and the music to lamentation.

42. So when they had avenged fully the blood of their brother, they turned again to the marsh of Jordan.

42. Having avenged the death of their brother, the Israelites went back to the marshes of the Jordan. Let us return to Bacchides.

43. Now when Bacchides heard hereof, he came on the sabbath day unto the banks of Jordan with a great power.

43. He arrived with a strong army on the sabbath day at the banks of the Jordan.

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:

44. So Jonathan said to his men, "Courage! Let us fight for our lives, for today things are going to be serious.

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.

45. Dangers surround us - we have the waters of the Jordan on this side, the marshes and the thickets on the other side - there is no place to turn.

46. Wherefore cry ye now unto heaven, that ye may be delivered from the hand of your enemies.

46. So cry out to Heaven for deliverance from our enemies."

47. With that they joined battle, and Jonathan stretched forth his hand to smite Bacchides, but he turned back from him.

47. And the battle began. Jonathan stretched out his arm to strike Bacchides, but he eluded him and withdrew.

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.

48. So Jonathan and his men leapt into the Jordan, swimming to the other side; but their enemies did not follow them.

49. So there were slain of Bacchides' side that day about a thousand men.

49. On that day, about a thousand of Bacchides' men fell.

50. Afterward returned Bacchides to Jerusalem and repaired the strong cites in Judea; the fort in Jericho, and Emmaus, and Bethhoron, and Bethel, and Thamnatha, Pharathoni, and Taphon, these did he strengthen with high walls, with gates and with bars.

50. Bacchides returned to Jerusalem. Then he began to build fortified cities in Judea - the strongholds of Jericho, Emmaus, Beth-horon, Bethel, Timnath, Pharathon and Tephon - with high walls and barred gates,

51. And in them he set a garrison, that they might work malice upon Israel.

51. and a garrison stationed in each of them to harass the Israelites.

52. He fortified also the city Bethsura, and Gazera, and the tower, and put forces in them, and provision of victuals.

52. He also fortified the cities of Beth-zur, Gazara and the Citadel, and placed troops in each of them with supplies of provisions.

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.

53. He took the sons of the leaders of the land as hostages and imprisoned them in the Citadel of Jerusalem.

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

54. In the year one hundred and fifty-three, (159 B.C.) in the second month, Alcimus ordered the demolition of the wall of the inner court of the temple. This meant no less than destroying the work 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.

55. Alcimus did in fact begin the demolition but soon after suffered a stroke, so the work was suspended. Alcimus was no longer able to speak, not even to rule over his household.

56. So Alcimus died at that time with great torment.

56. After a while, he died in great agony.

57. Now when Bacchides saw that Alcimus was dead, he returned to the king: whereupon the land of Judea was in rest two years.

57. Because of his death, Bacchides returned to the king and the land had peace for 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.

58. Then all the renegades agreed on a plan: "Jonathan and his people now live in peace without any fear at all. Let us bring Bacchides back; he can arrest them all in one night."

59. So they went and consulted with him.

59. They went to Bacchides, and when they had convinced 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.

60. he set out with a large contingent. He secretly sent letters to his supporters in Judea instructing them to seize Jonathan and his men. But their plot was found out and their plan foiled.

61. Wherefore they took of the men of the country, that were authors of that mischief, about fifty persons, and slew them.

61. Instead the supporters of Jonathan arrested fifty Jewish leaders of this conspiracy and had them executed.

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.

62. Jonathan and Simon then withdrew with their men to Bethbasi in the desert; they rebuilt the ruins and fortified it.

63. Which thing when Bacchides knew, he gathered together all his host, and sent word to them that were of Judea.

63. When Bacchides heard this, he assembled all his men and notified his adherents in Judea.

64. Then went he and laid siege against Bethbasi; and they fought against it a long season and made engines of war.

64. He went to attack Bethbasi, besieged it for many days and built 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.

65. Then Jonathan left his brother Simon in the city and went out into the countryside with a handful of men.

66. And he smote Odonarkes and his brethren, and the children of Phasiron in their tent.

66. He defeated Odomera and his brothers and the people of Phasiron in their camp.

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,

67. Then they turned back and began to attack the troops who had laid siege to the city. Meanwhile, Simon and his men went out of the city and burned the engines.

68. And fought against Bacchides, who was discomfited by them, and they afflicted him sore: for his counsel and travail was in vain.

68. They attacked Bacchides who was defeated and dismayed by the failure of his expedition.

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.

69. He was greatly enraged against the renegades who had advised him to return to the Jewish country; he executed many of them, and decided to return to his own land.

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.

70. When Jonathan learned this, he sent messengers to him to make a treaty of peace and to exchange 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.

71. Bacchides accepted his terms. For Bacchides' part, he fulfilled his promises and swore that henceforth and until the day of his death, he would never harm him in any way.

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.

72. He turned over to Jonathan the prisoners taken earlier in Judea. Then he returned to his own country and never came back again to the territory of Judea.

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.

73. So there was peace in Israel, and Jonathan resided in Michmash where he began to govern the land, and the renegades disappeared from Israel.