1 Maccabees 9 — GMV

9 Verse 1 Furthermore when Demetrius heard that 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: ^{Verse 2} who went forth by the way that leadeth to Gilgal, and pitched their tents before Mesaloth, which is in Arbela, and after they had won it, they slew much people. ^{Verse 3} Also the first month of the hundred fifty and second year they encamped before Jerusalem: ^{Verse 4} from whence they removed, and went to Berea, with twenty thousand footmen and two thousand horsemen. ^{Verse 5} Now Judas had pitched his tents at Elasa, and three thousand chosen men with him: ^{Verse 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 there abode of them no more but eight hundred men. ^{Verse 7} When Judas therefore saw that his host slipped 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. ^{Verse 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. ^{Verse 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. ^{Verse 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 honor. ^{Verse 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. ^{Verse 12} As for Bacchides, he was in the right wing: so the host drew near on the two parts, and sounded their trumpets. ^{Verse 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. ^{Verse 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, ^{Verse 15} who discomfited the right wing, and pursued them unto the Mount Azotus. ^{Verse 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: ^{Verse 17} whereupon there was a sore battle, insomuch as many were slain on both parts. ^{Verse 18} Judas also was killed, and the remnant fled. ^{Verse 19} Then Jonathan and Simon took Judas their brother, and buried him in the sepulcher of his fathers in Modein. ^{Verse 20} Moreover they bewailed him, and all Israel made great lamentation for him, and mourned many days, saying, ^{Verse 21} How is the valiant man fallen, that delivered Israel! ^{Verse 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. ^{Verse 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. ^{Verse 24} In those days also was there a very great famine, by reason whereof the country revolted, and went with them. ^{Verse 25} Then Bacchides chose the wicked men, and made them lords of the country. ^{Verse 26} And they made inquiry and search for Judas’ friends, and brought them unto Bacchides, who took vengeance of them, and used them despitefully. ^{Verse 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. ^{Verse 28} For this cause all Judas’ friends came together, and said unto Jonathan, ^{Verse 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. ^{Verse 30} Now therefore we have chosen thee this day to be our prince and captain in his stead, that thou mayest fight our battles. ^{Verse 31} Upon this Jonathan took the governance upon him at that time, and rose up instead of his brother Judas. ^{Verse 32} But when Bacchides got knowledge thereof, he sought for to slay him. ^{Verse 33} Then Jonathan, and Simon his brother, and all that were with him, perceiving that, fled into the wilderness of Tekoa, and pitched their tents by the water of the pool Asphar. ^{Verse 34} Which when Bacchides understood, he came near to Jordan with all his host upon the Sabbath day. ^{Verse 35} Now Jonathan had sent his brother John, a captain of the people, to pray his friends the Nabateans, that they might leave with them their carriage, which was much. ^{Verse 36} But the children of Jambri came out of Medeba, and took John, and all that he had, and went their way with it. ^{Verse 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 Nadabath with a great train, as being the daughter of one of the great princes of Canaan. ^{Verse 38} Therefore they remembered John their brother, and went up, and hid themselves under the covert of the mountain: ^{Verse 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 music, and many weapons. ^{Verse 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. ^{Verse 41} Thus was the marriage turned into mourning, and the noise of their melody into lamentation. ^{Verse 42} So when they had avenged fully the blood of their brother, they turned again to the marsh of Jordan. ^{Verse 43} Now when Bacchides heard hereof, he came on the Sabbath day unto the banks of Jordan with a great power. ^{Verse 44} Then Jonathan said to his company, Let us go up now and fight for our lives, for it standeth not with us today, as in time past: ^{Verse 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. ^{Verse 46} Wherefore cry ye now unto heaven, that ye may be delivered from the hand of your enemies. ^{Verse 47} With that they joined battle, and Jonathan stretched forth his hand to smite Bacchides, but he turned back from him. ^{Verse 48} Then Jonathan and they that were with him leapt into Jordan, and swam over unto the farther bank: howbeit the other passed not over Jordan unto them. ^{Verse 49} So there were slain of Bacchides’ side that day about a thousand men. ^{Verse 50} Afterward returned Bacchides to Jerusalem, and repaired the strong cities in Judea; the fort in Jericho, and Emmaus, and Beth-horon, and Bethel, and Timnath, Pharathon, and Tephon, these did he strengthen with high walls, with gates, and with bars. ^{Verse 51} And in them he set a garrison, that they might work malice upon Israel. ^{Verse 52} He fortified also the city Beth-zur, and Gazara, and the tower, and put forces in them, and provision of victuals. ^{Verse 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. ^{Verse 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. ^{Verse 55} And as he began to pull down, even at that time was Alcimus plagued, and his enterprises hindered: for his mouth was stopped, and he was taken with a palsy, so that he could no more speak anything, nor give order concerning his house. ^{Verse 56} So Alcimus died at that time with great torment. ^{Verse 57} Now when Bacchides saw that Alcimus was dead, he returned to the king: whereupon the land of Judah was in rest two years. ^{Verse 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. ^{Verse 59} So they went and consulted with him. ^{Verse 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. ^{Verse 61} Wherefore they took of the men of the country, that were authors of that mischief, about fifty persons, and slew them. ^{Verse 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. ^{Verse 63} Which thing when Bacchides knew, he gathered together all his host, and sent word to them that were of Judea. ^{Verse 64} Then went he and laid siege against Bethbasi; and they fought against it a long season, and made engines of war. ^{Verse 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. ^{Verse 66} And he smote Odomera and his brethren, and the children of Phasiron in their tent. ^{Verse 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, ^{Verse 68} and fought against Bacchides, who was discomfited by them, and they afflicted him sore: for his counsel and travail was in vain. ^{Verse 69} Wherefore he was very wroth at the wicked men that gave him counsel to come into the country, insomuch as he slew many of them, and purposed to return into his own country. ^{Verse 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. ^{Verse 71} Which thing he accepted, and did according to his demands, and swore unto him that he would never do him harm all the days of his life. ^{Verse 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 anymore into their borders. ^{Verse 73} Thus the sword ceased from Israel: but Jonathan dwelt at Michmash, and began to govern the people; and he destroyed the ungodly men out of Israel.