victuals be given to them that take part against them, or weapons, or money, or ships, as it hath seemed
good to the Romans; but they shall keep their covenants, and that without deceit.
[29] According to these
articles did the Romans make a covenant with the people of the Jews.
[30] Howbeit if hereafter the one
party or the other shall think to meet to add or diminish any thing, they may do it at their pleasures, and
whatsoever they shall add or take away shall be ratified.
[31] And as touching the evils that Demetrius
doeth to the Jews, we have written unto him, saying, Wherefore thou made thy yoke heavy upon our
friends and confederates the Jews?
[32] If therefore they complain any more against thee, we will do
them justice, and fight with thee by sea and by land.
1Mac.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:
[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