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