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The First Book of Maccabees

World English Bible Catholic :: King James Version

- Chapter 9 -

Bacchides is sent again into Judea: Judas fights against him with eight hundred men and is slain. Jonathan succeeds him and revenges the murder of his brother John. He fights against Bacchides. Alcimus dies miserably. Bacchides besieges Bethbessen. He is forced to raise the siege and leave the country.

1
Demetrius heard that Nicanor had fallen with his forces in battle, and he sent Bacchides and Alcimus again into the land of Judah a second time, and the right wing of his army with them.
2
They went by the way that leads to Gilgal, and encamped against Mesaloth, which is in Arbela, and took possession of it, and killed many people.
3
The first month of the one hundred fifty-second year, (a) they encamped against Jerusalem.
4
Then they marched away and went to Berea with twenty thousand infantry and two thousand cavalry.
5
Judas was encamped at Elasa with three thousand chosen men.
6
They saw the multitude of the forces, that they were many, and they were terrified. Many slipped away out of the army. There were not left of them more than eight hundred men.
7
Judas saw that his army slipped away and that the battle pressed upon him, and he was very troubled in spirit, because he had no time to gather them together, and he became faint.
8
He said to those who were left, “Let’s arise and go up against our adversaries, if perhaps we may be able to fight with them.”
9
They tried to dissuade him, saying, “There is no way we are able; but let’s rather save our lives now. Let’s return again with our kindred, and fight against them; but we are too few.”
10
Judas said, “Let it not be so that I should do this thing, to flee from them. If our time has come, let’s die in a manly way for our kindred’s sake, and not leave a cause of reproach against our honor.”
11
The army marched out from the camp, and stood to encounter them. The cavalry was divided into two companies, and the slingers and the archers went before the army, and all the mighty men that fought in the front of the battle.
12
Bacchides was in the right wing. The phalanx advanced on the two parts, and they blew with their trumpets.
13
The men by Judas’ side sounded with their trumpets, and the earth shook with the shout of the armies, and the battle was joined, and continued from morning until evening.
14
Judas saw that Bacchides and the strength of his army were on the right side, and all that were brave in heart went with him,
15
and the right wing was defeated by them, and he pursued after them to the mount Azotus.
16
Those who were on the left wing saw that the right wing was defeated, and they turned and followed in the footsteps of Judas and of those who were with him.
17
The battle became desparate, and many on both sides fell wounded to death.
18
Judas fell, and the rest fled.
19
Jonathan and Simon took Judas their brother, and buried him in the tomb of his ancestors at Modin.
20
They wept for him. All Israel made great lamentation for him, and mourned many days, and said,
21
“How is the mighty fallen, the savior of Israel!”
22
The rest of the acts of Judas, and his wars, and the valiant deeds which he did, and his greatness, are not written; for they were exceedingly many.
23
It came to pass after the death of Judas, that the lawless emerged within all the borders of Israel. All those who did iniquity rose up.
24
In those days there was an exceedingly great famine, and the country went over to their side.
25
Bacchides chose the ungodly men and made them rulers of the country.
26
They inquired and searched for the friends of Judas, and brought them to Bacchides, and he took vengeance on them and used them despitefully.
27
There was great suffering in Israel, such as was not since the time prophets stopped appearing to them.
28
All the friends of Judas were gathered together, and they said to Jonathan,
29
“Since your brother Judas has died, we have no man like him to go out against our enemies and Bacchides, and among those of our nation who hate us.
30
Now therefore we have chosen you this day to be our prince and leader in his place, that you may fight our battles.”
31
So Jonathan took the governance upon him at that time, and rose up in the place of his brother Judas.
32
When Bacchides found out, he tried to kill him.
33
Jonathan, and Simon his brother, and all who were with him, knew it; and they fled into the wilderness of Tekoah, and encamped by the water of the pool of Asphar.
34
Bacchides found this out on the Sabbath day, and came—he and all his army—over the Jordan.
35
Jonathan sent his brother, a leader of the multitude, and implored his friends the Nabathaeans, that they might store their baggage, which was much, with them.
36
The children of Jambri came out of Medaba, and seized John and all that he had, and went their way with it.
37
But after these things, they brought word to Jonathan and Simon his brother that the children of Jambri were celebrating a great wedding, and were bringing the bride, a daughter of one of the great nobles of Canaan, from Nadabath with a large escort.
38
They remembered John their brother, and went up, and hid themselves under the cover of the mountain.
39
They lifted up their eyes and looked, and saw a great procession with much baggage. The bridegroom came out with his friends and his kindred to meet them with timbrels, musicians, and many weapons.
40
They rose up against them from their ambush and killed them, and many fell wounded to death. The remnant fled into the mountain, and the Jews took all their spoils.
41
So the wedding was turned into mourning, and the voice of their musicians into lamentation.
42
They avenged fully the blood of their brother, and turned back to the marshes of the Jordan.
43
Bacchides heard it, and he came on the Sabbath day to the banks of Jordan with a great army.
44
Jonathan said to his company, “Let’s stand up now and fight for our lives, for things are different today than they were yesterday and the day before.
45
For, behold, the battle is before us and behind us. Moreover the water of the Jordan is on this side and on that side, and marsh and thicket. There is no place to escape.
46
Now therefore cry to heaven, that you may be delivered out of the hand of your enemies.”
47
So the battle was joined, and Jonathan stretched out his hand to strike Bacchides, and he turned away back from him.
48
Jonathan and those who were with him leapt into the Jordan, and swam over to the other side. The enemy didn’t pass over the Jordan against them.
49
About a thousand men of Bacchides’ company fell that day;
50
and he returned to Jerusalem. They built strong cities in Judea, the stronghold that was in Jericho, and Emmaus, Bethhoron, Bethel, Timnath, Pharathon, and Tephon, with high walls and gates and bars.
51
He set garrisons in them to harass Israel.
52
He fortified the city Bethsura, Gazara, and the citadel, and put troops and stores of food in them.
53
He took the sons of the chief men of the country for hostages, and put them under guard in the citadel at Jerusalem.
54
And in the one hundred fifty-third year,(b) in the second month, Alcimus gave orders to pull down the wall of the inner court of the sanctuary. He also pulled down the works of the prophets.
55
He began to pull down. At that time was Alcimus stricken, and his works were hindered; and his mouth was stopped, and he was taken with a palsy, and he could no more speak anything and give orders concerning his house.
56
Alcimus died at that time with great torment.
57
Bacchides saw that Alcimus was dead, and he returned to the king. Then the land of Judah had rest for two years.
58
Then all the lawless men took counsel, saying, “Behold, Jonathan and his men are dwelling at ease and in security. Now therefore we will bring Bacchides, and he will capture them all in one night.
59
They went and consulted with him.
60
He marched out and came with a great army, and sent letters secretly to all his allies who were in Judea, that they should seize Jonathan and those who were with him; but they couldn’t, because their plan was known to them.
61
Jonathan’s men seized about fifty of the men of the country who were authors of the wickedness, and he killed them.
62
Jonathan, Simon, and those who were with him, went away to Bethbasi, which is in the wilderness, and he built up that which had been pulled down, and they made it strong.
63
Bacchides found out about it, and he gathered together all his multitude, and sent orders to those who were of Judea.
64
He went and encamped against Bethbasi and fought against it many days, and made engines of war.
65
Jonathan left his brother Simon in the city, and went out into the country, and he went with a few men.
66
He struck Odomera and his kindred, and the children of Phasiron in their tents.
67
They began to strike them, and to go up with their forces. Then Simon and those who were with him went out of the city, and set the engines of war on fire,
68
and fought against Bacchides, and he was defeated by them. They afflicted him severely; for his counsel and expedition was in vain.
69
They were very angry with the lawless men who gave him counsel to come into the country, and they killed many of them. Then he decided to depart into his own land.
70
Jonathan learned of this and sent ambassadors to him, to the end that they should make peace with him, and that he should restore to them the captives.
71
He accepted the thing, and did according to his words, and swore to him that he would not seek his harm all the days of his life.
72
He restored to him the captives which he had taken before out of the land of Judah, and he returned and departed into his own land, and didn’t come any more into their borders.
73
Thus the sword ceased from Israel. Jonathan lived at Michmash. Jonathan began to judge the people; and he destroyed the ungodly out of Israel.

Footnotes

(a)9:3 circa B.C. 161.
(b)9:54 circa B.C. 160.

Bacchides is sent again into Judea: Judas fights against him with eight hundred men and is slain. Jonathan succeeds him and revenges the murder of his brother John. He fights against Bacchides. Alcimus dies miserably. Bacchides besieges Bethbessen. He is forced to raise the siege and leave the country.

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:
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.
3
Also the first month of the hundred fifty and second year they encamped before Jerusalem:
4
From whence they removed, and went to Berea, with twenty thousand footmen and two thousand horsemen.
5
Now Judas had pitched his tents at Eleasa, and three thousand chosen men with him:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
12
As for Bacchides, he was in the right wing: so the host drew near on the two parts, and sounded their 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.
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,
15
Who discomfited the right wing, and pursued them unto the mount Azotus.
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:
17
Whereupon there was a sore battle, insomuch as many were slain on both parts.
18
Judas also was killed, and the remnant fled.
19
Then Jonathan and Simon took Judas their brother, and buried him in the sepulchre of his fathers in Modin.
20
Moreover they bewailed him, and all Israel made great lamentation for him, and mourned many days, saying,
21
How is the valiant man fallen, that delivered 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.
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.
24
In those days also was there a very great famine, by reason whereof the country revolted, and went with them.
25
Then Bacchides chose the wicked men, and made them lords of the country.
26
And they made enquiry and search for Judas’ friends, and brought them unto Bacchides, who took vengeance of them, and used them despitefully.
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.
28
For this cause all Judas’ friends came together, and said unto 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.
30
Now therefore we have chosen thee this day to be our prince and captain in his stead, that thou mayest fight our battles.
31
Upon this Jonathan took the governance upon him at that time, and rose up instead of his brother Judas.
32
But when Bacchides gat knowledge thereof, he sought for to slay him
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.
34
Which when Bacchides understood, he came near to Jordan with all his host upon the sabbath day.
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.
36
But the children of Jambri came out of Medaba, and took John, and all that he had, and went their way with it.
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.
38
Therefore they remembered John their brother, and went up, and hid themselves under the covert 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.
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.
41
Thus was the marriage turned into mourning, and the noise of their melody into lamentation.
42
So when they had avenged fully the blood of their brother, they turned again to the marsh of Jordan.
43
Now when Bacchides heard hereof, he came on the sabbath day unto the banks of Jordan with a great power.
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:
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.
46
Wherefore cry ye now unto heaven, that ye may be delivered from the hand of your enemies.
47
With that they joined battle, and Jonathan stretched forth his hand to smite Bacchides, but he turned back from him.
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.
49
So there were slain of Bacchides’ side that day about a thousand men.
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.
51
And in them he set a garrison, that they might work malice upon Israel.
52
He fortified also the city Bethsura, and Gazera, and the tower, and put forces in them, and provision of victuals.
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.
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
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.
56
So Alcimus died at that time with great torment.
57
Now when Bacchides saw that Alcimus was dead, he returned to the king: whereupon the land of Judea was in rest 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.
59
So they went and consulted with 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.
61
Wherefore they took of the men of the country, that were authors of that mischief, about fifty persons, and slew them.
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.
63
Which thing when Bacchides knew, he gathered together all his host, and sent word to them that were of Judea.
64
Then went he and laid siege against Bethbasi; and they fought against it a long season and made 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.
66
And he smote Odonarkes and his brethren, and the children of Phasiron in their tent.
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,
68
And fought against Bacchides, who was discomfited by them, and they afflicted him sore: for his counsel and travail was in vain.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.