Commentaria in I Machabaeorum
Chapter the Ninth. Synopsis of the Chapter
Bacchides, sent back by Demetrius into Judea, lays it waste; Judas, leading out only eight hundred into the line, engages him and conquers; but while pursuing the fugitives he is wounded from behind and falls gloriously. Soon the Jews make a pact with Bacchides, who afflicts the friends of Judas; the Jews honourably put Jonathan, his brother, in the place of the dead Judas, ver. 28. Then, ver. 35, the sons of Jambri seize and kill John, brother of Jonathan, who therefore avenges the death of John; soon, ver. 44, he engages Bacchides and slays a thousand men; Alcimus also is struck by God, ver. 44. Bacchides, ver. 58, recalled into Judea by the apostates, now by guile, now by force tries to seize Jonathan, but everywhere repulsed, at length, the apostates having been slain, makes a firm treaty with Jonathan.
1. In the mean time, when Demetrius heard that Nicanor and his army were slain in battle, he sent Bacchides and Alcimus again into Judea, and the right wing with them. 2. And they went by the way that leadeth to Galgal, and camped in Masaloth, which is in Arbela: and they made themselves masters of it, and destroyed many people. 3. In the first month of the hundred and fifty-second year they brought their army to Jerusalem. 4. And they arose, and went to Berea, twenty thousand men and two thousand horsemen. 5. And Judas had pitched his camp in Laisa, and three thousand chosen men with him. 6. And they saw the multitude of the army that they were many, and they were seized with great fear: and many withdrew themselves out of the camp, and there remained of them no more than eight hundred men. 7. And Judas saw that his army slipped away, and the battle was at hand: and his heart was cast down, because he had not time to gather them together, and he was discouraged. 8. And he said to them that were left: Let us arise and go up against our enemies, if we may be able to fight against them. 9. But they made excuses, saying: We shall not be able, but let us save our lives this time, and return to our brethren, and then we will fight against them: for we are but few. 10. And Judas said: God forbid we 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 glory. 11. And the army of Bacchides removed out of the camp, and stood over against them: and the horsemen were divided into two troops, and the slingers and the archers went before the army, and they that were in the front were all men of valour. 12. And Bacchides was in the right wing: and the legion drew near on two sides, and they sounded with trumpets. 13. And they also that were on Judas’ side cried out, and the earth shook at the noise of the armies: and the battle was fought from morning even until night. 14. And Judas saw that the strength of the army of Bacchides was on the right side, and they that were stout of heart came together with him: 15. And the right wing was discomfited by them, and he pursued them even to the mount Azotus. 16. And they that were in the left wing, saw that the right wing was broken, and they followed after Judas, and them that were with him, at their back: 17. And the battle was hard fought, and many on both sides were wounded and slain. 18. And Judas was killed, and the rest fled. 19. And Jonathan and Simon took Judas their brother, and buried him in the sepulchre of their fathers in the city of Modin. 20. And all the people of Israel bewailed him with great lamentation, and they mourned for him many days. 21. And they said: How is the mighty man fallen, that saved the people of Israel!
22. And the rest of the acts of Judas, and of his wars, and of the worthy deeds which he did, and of his greatness, have not been written: for they were very many. 23. And it came to pass after the death of Judas, that the wicked began to put forth their heads in all the confines of Israel, and all the workers of iniquity rose up. 24. In those days there was a very great famine: and all the country went over with them to Bacchides. 25. And Bacchides chose wicked men, and made them lords of the country: 26. And they sought out and made diligent search after the friends of Judas, and brought them to Bacchides, and he took vengeance of them and made sport of them. 27. And there was a great tribulation in Israel, such as was not since the day that a prophet was not seen in Israel. 28. And all the friends of Judas came together, and said to Jonathan: 29. Since the time that Judas thy brother is dead, we have no man like him, to go out against our enemies, Bacchides, and them that are the adversaries of our nation. 30. Now therefore we have chosen thee this day to be our prince and captain in his stead, to fight our battles. 31. And Jonathan took upon him the government at that time, and rose up in the place of his brother Judas. 32. And Bacchides had notice of it, and he sought to kill him. 33. And Jonathan and Simon his brother, and all that were with him, knowing it, fled into the desert of Thecua, and they pitched their tents by the water of the pool Asphar. 34. And Bacchides understood it, and he came himself with all his army over the Jordan on the sabbath day. 35. And Jonathan sent his brother, a captain of the people, to pray his friends the Nabuthites, that they would lend them their baggage, which was copious. 36. And the children of Jambri came out of Madaba, and took John, and all that he had, and went away with it. 37. After these things, it was told Jonathan, and Simon his brother, that the children of Jambri made a great marriage, and were bringing the bride from Madaba, the daughter of one of the great princes of Chanaan, with a great train. 38. And they remembered the blood of John their brother: and they went up, and hid themselves under covert of the mountain. 39. And they lifted up their eyes, and saw: and behold a tumult and great preparation: and the bridegroom came forth, and his friends and his brethren to meet them with timbrels, and instruments of music, and many weapons. 40. And they rose up against them from the place where they lay in ambush, and made a slaughter of them, and many fell wounded, and the rest fled into the mountains: and they took all their spoils. 41. And the marriage was turned into mourning, and the noise of their musical instruments into lamentation. 42. And they revenged the blood of their brother, and returned to the bank of the Jordan. 43. And Bacchides heard of it, and he came on the sabbath day to the bank of the Jordan with a great army. 44. And Jonathan said to his company: Let us arise and fight against our enemies: for it is not now as yesterday and the day before. 45. For behold the battle is before us, and the water of the Jordan on this side and on that side, and banks, and marshes, and woods: and there is no place to turn aside. 46. Cry ye now to heaven, that you may be delivered from the hand of your enemies. And the battle began. 47. And Jonathan stretched forth his hand to strike Bacchides, but he turned aside from him backwards. 48. And Jonathan and they that were with him leaped into the Jordan, and swam over the Jordan to the other side. 49. And there fell of Bacchides’ party that day a thousand men: and they returned to Jerusalem. 50. And they built strong cities in Judea, the fortress that was in Jericho, and in Emmaus, and in Bethoron, and in Bethel, and Thamnata, and Phara, and Thopo, with high walls, and gates, and bars. 51. And he set garrisons in them, that they might exercise their enmity upon Israel. 52. And he fortified the city of Bethsura, and Gazara, and the tower, and put in them auxiliaries, and stores of victuals. 53. And he took the sons of the chief men of the country for hostages, and put them in the tower at Jerusalem in custody. 54. And in the hundred and fifty-third year, in the second month, Alcimus commanded the walls of the inner holy place to be thrown down, and the works of the prophets to be pulled down: and he began to pull down. 55. At that time Alcimus was struck, and his works were hindered: and his mouth was stopped, and he was taken with a palsy, so that he could no more speak a word, nor give order concerning his house. 56. And Alcimus died at that time in great torment. 57. And Bacchides seeing that Alcimus was dead, returned to the king: and the land was quiet for two years. 58. And all the wicked held a counsel, saying: Behold Jonathan and they that are with him dwell at ease, and without fear confidently: now therefore we will bring Bacchides hither, and he shall take them all in one night. 59. And they went and consulted him. 60. And he arose to come with a great army: and he sent privately letters to all his adherents that were in Judea, that they should seize Jonathan, and them that were with him: but they could not, because their design was known to them. 61. And he took of the men of the country that were the principal authors of the mischief, fifty men, and slew them. 62. And Jonathan and Simon and they that were with him retired into Bethbessen, which is in the desert, and he built up the ruins thereof, and they made it strong. 63. And Bacchides knowing it, gathered together all his multitude: and sent word to them that were of Judea. 64. And he came and camped above Bethbessen: and fought against it many days, and made engines. 65. And Jonathan left his brother Simon in the city, and went forth into the country, and came with a number. 66. And he smote Odares and his brethren, and the children of Phaseron in their tents: and he began to slay and to increase in forces. 67. Simon also and they that were with him went out of the city, and burnt the engines, 68. And they fought against Bacchides, and he was discomfited by them: and they afflicted him sore: for his counsel and his enterprise was in vain. 69. And he was angry with the wicked men that had given him counsel to come into their country, and he slew many of them: and he purposed with the rest to return into their country. 70. And Jonathan had knowledge of it, and sent ambassadors to him to make peace with him, and to restore him the prisoners. 71. And he accepted it gladly, and did according to his words, and swore that he would do him no harm all the days of his life. 72. And he restored to him the prisoners that he had taken before out of the land of Juda: and he returned and went away into his own country, and came no more into their borders. 73. And the sword ceased from Israel: and Jonathan dwelt in Machmas, and Jonathan began there to judge the people: and he destroyed the ungodly out of Israel.