FURTHERMORE, when Demetrius heard the Nicanor and his host were slain in battle, he sent Bacchides and Alcimus into the land of Yahudah the second time, and with them the chief strength of his host:
Who went forth by the way that leads to Gilgal, and pitched their tents before Masaloth, which is in Arb'el, and after they had won it, they slew much people.
Also the first month of the hundred fifty and second year they encamped before Yerushalayim:
From whence they removed, and went to Berea, with twenty thousand footmen and two thousand horsemen.
Now Yahudah had pitched his tents at Ele-a'leh, and three thousand chosen men with him:
Who seeing the multitude of the other army to he so great were sore afraid; whereupon many conveyed themselves out of the host, so much so as abode of them no more but eight hundred men.
When Yahudah 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.
Nevertheless unto them that remained he said, Let us arise and go up against our enemies, if perchance we may be able to fight with them.
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.
Then Yahudah said, Far be it that I should do this thing, and flee away from them: if our time has come, let us die manfully for our brethren, and let us not stain our honor.
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.
As for Bacchides, he was in the right wing: so the host drew near on the two parts, and sounded their shofars.
They also of Yahudah's side, even they sounded their shofars also, so that the earth shook at the noise of the armies, and the battle continued from morning till night.
Now when Yahudah perceived that Bacchides and the strength of his army were on the right side, he took with him all the hardy men,
Who discomfited the right wing, and pursued them unto the Mount Ashdod.
But when they of the left wing saw that they of the right wing were discomfited, they followed upon Yahudah and those that were with him hard at the heels from behind:
Whereupon there was a sore battle, so much so as many were slain on both parts.
Yahudah also was killed, and the remnant fled.
Then Yonathan and Shim`on took Yahudah their brother, and buried him in the sepulchre of his fathers in Modin.
Moreover they bewailed him, and all Yashar'el made great lamentation for him, and mourned many days, saying,
How is the valiant man fallen, that delivered Yashar'el!
As for the other things concerning Yahudah and his wars, and the noble acts which he did, and his greatness, they are not written: for they were very many.
Now after the death of Yahudah the wicked began to put forth their heads in all the coasts of Yashar'el, and there arose up all such as wrought iniquity.
In those days also was there a very great famine, by reason whereof the country revolted, and went with them.
Then Bacchides chose the wicked men, and made them adoniym of the country.
And they made inquiry and search for Yahudah's friends, and brought them unto Bacchides, who took vengeance of them, and used them despitefully.
So was there a great affliction in Yashar'el, the like whereof was not since the time that a prophet was not seen among them.
For this cause all Yahudah's friends came together, and said unto Yonathan,
Since your brother Yahudah 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.
Now therefore we have chosen you this day to be our prince and captain in his stead, that you may fight our battles.
Upon this Yonathan took the governance upon him at that time, and rose up instead of his brother Yahudah.
But when Bacchides got knowledge thereof, he sought for to slay him
Then Yonathan, and Shim`on his brother, and all that were with him, perceiving that, fled into the wilderness of Teqoa, and pitched their tents by the water of the pool Asphar.
Which when Bacchides understood, he came near to the Yardan with all his host upon the Shabbath.
Now Yonathan had sent his brother Yochanon, a captain of the people, to pray his friends the Nabathiym, that they might leave with them their carriage, which was much.
But the children of Jambri came out of Medaba, and took Yochanon, and all that he had, and went their way with it.
After this came word to Yonathan and Shim`on 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 Kena`an.
Therefore they remembered Yochanon their brother, and went up, and hid themselves under the covert of the mountain:
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.
Then Yonathan 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.
Thus was the marriage turned into mourning, and the noise of their melody into lamentation.
So when they had avenged fully the blood of their brother, they turned again to the marsh of the Yardan.
Now when Bacchides heard thereof, he came on the Shabbath unto the banks of the Yardan with a great power.
Then Yonathan said to his company, Let us go up now and fight for our lives, for it stands not with us today, as in time past:
For, behold, the battle is before us and behind us, and the water of the Yardan on this side and that side, the marsh likewise and wood, neither is there place for us to turn aside.
Wherefore cry ye now unto heaven, that ye may be delivered from the hand of your enemies.
With that they joined battle, and Yonathan stretched forth his hand to smite Bacchides, but he turned back from him.
Then Yonathan and they that were with him leapt into the Yardan, and swam over unto the other bank: howbeit the others passed not over the Yardan unto them.
So there were slain of Bacchides' side that day about a thousand men.
Afterward returned Bacchides to Yerushalayim and repaired the strong cites in Yahudah; the fort in Yeriycho, and Yemiym, and Beyt Choron, and Beyt-El, and Timnah, Pharathoni, and Tappuach, these did he strengthen with high walls, with gates and with bars.
And in them he set a garrison, that they might work malice upon Yashar'el.
He fortified also the city Beyt Sura, and Gazzam, and the tower, and put forces in them, and provision of victuals.
Besides, he took the chief men's sons in the country for hostages, and put them into the tower at Yerushalayim to be kept.
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.
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.
So Alcimus died at that time with great torment.
Now when Bacchides saw that Alcimus was dead, he returned to the king: whereupon the land of Yahudah was in rest two years.
Then all the wicked men held a council, saying, Behold, Yonathan 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.
So they went and consulted with him.
Then removed he, and came with a great host, and sent cepheriym privily to his adherents in Yahudah, that they should take Yonathan and those that were with him: howbeit they could not, because their counsel was known unto them.
Wherefore they took of the men of the country, that were authors of that mischief, about fifty persons, and slew them.
Afterward Yonathan, and Shim`on, and they that were with him, got them away to Beyt Betsiy, which is in the wilderness, and they repaired the decays thereof, and made it strong.
Which thing when Bacchides knew, he gathered together all his host, and sent word to them that were of Yahudah.
Then went he and laid siege against Beyt Betsiy; and they fought against it a long season and made engines of war.
But Yonathan left his brother Shim`on in the city, and went forth himself into the country, and with a certain number went he forth.
And he smote Odomera and his brethren, and the children of Phasiron in their tent.
And when he began to smite them, and came up with his forces, Shim`on and his company went out of the city, and burned up the engines of war,
And fought against Bacchides, who was discomfited by them, and they afflicted him sore: for his counsel and travail was in vain.
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.
Whereof when Yonathan had knowledge, he sent ambassadors unto him, to the end he should make peace with him, and deliver them the prisoners.
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.
When therefore he had restored unto him the prisoners that he had taken aforetime out of the land of Yahudah, he returned and went his way into his own land, neither came he anymore into their borders.
Thus the sword ceased from Yashar'el: but Yonathan dwelt at Mikmash, and began to govern the people; and he destroyed the wicked men out of Yashar'el.