Interea, ut audivit Demetrius quia cecidit Nicanor et exercitus ejus in prælio, apposuit Bacchidem et Alcimum rursum mittere in Judæam, et dextrum cornu cum illis.

While this was afoot, news came to Demetrius that Nicanor and his men had perished in the encounter. But he would still have his way; Bacchides and Alcimus should be sent back to Judaea, and the northern command of his army with them.

In the mean time when Demetrius heard that Nicanor and his army were fallen in battle, he sent again Bacchides and Alcimus into Judea; and the right wing of his army with them.

Et abierunt viam quæ ducit in Galgala, et castra posuerunt in Masaloth, quæ est in Arbellis: et occupaverunt eam, et peremerunt animas hominum multas.

Marching out along the Galgala road, they encamped at Masaloth in Arbella; the town was surprised, and many of its inhabitants massacred.

And they took the road that leadeth to Galgal, and they camped in Masaloth, which is in Arabella: and they made themselves masters of it, and slew many people.

In mense primo anni centesimi et quinquagesimi secundi, applicuerunt exercitum ad Jerusalem:

Then, in the first month of the hundred and fifty-second year, they began an attack on Jerusalem,

In the first month of the hundred and fifty-second year they brought the army to Jerusalem:

et surrexerunt, et abierunt in Beream viginti millia virorum, et duo millia equitum.

moving their camp to Berea. It was a force of twenty thousand foot and two thousand horse;

And they arose, and went to Berea with twenty thousand men, and two thousand horsemen.

Et Judas posuerat castra in Laisa, et tria millia viri electi cum eo:

Judas, encamped at Laisa, had three thousand picked followers with him,

Now Judas had pitched his tents in Laisa, and three thousand chosen men with him:

et viderunt multitudinem exercitus, quia multi sunt, et timuerunt valde: et multi subtraxerunt se de castris, et non remanserunt ex eis nisi octingenti viri.

but these were greatly daunted when they saw what heavy odds were against them, and began to desert their lines, till no more than eight hundred of them were left.

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.

Et vidit Judas quod defluxit exercitus suus, et bellum perurgebat eum, et confractus est corde, quia non habebat tempus congregandi eos, et dissolutus est.

One by one they slipped away, and raise fresh levies he might not, with the battle so hard upon his heels; what wonder if Judas lost heart, and was unmanned?

And Judas saw that his army slipped away, and the battle pressed upon him, and his heart was cast down: because he had not time to gather them together, and he was discouraged.

Et dixit his qui residui erant: Surgamus, et eamus ad adversarios nostros, si poterimus pugnare adversus eos.

Yet said he to the remnant that was left him, Up, go we to the attack, and try conclusions with the enemy!

Then he said to them that remained: Let us arise, and go against our enemies, if we may be able to fight against them.

Et avertebant eum, dicentes: Non poterimus, sed liberemus animas nostras modo, et revertamur ad fratres nostros, et tunc pugnabimus adversus eos: nos autem pauci sumus.

In vain they sought to dissuade him; Speed we may not, they said; let us save our skins now, we may yet join hands with our brethren, and do battle hereafter; why, we are but a handful!

But they dissuaded him, saying: We shall not be able, but let us save our lives now, and return to our brethren, and then we will fight against them: for we are but few.

Et ait Judas: Absit istam rem facere ut fugiamus ab eis: et si appropiavit tempus nostrum, moriamur in virtute propter fratres nostros, et non inferamus crimen gloriæ nostræ.

Nay, said Judas, that may I never do; what, shew them our backs? If our time is come, die we manfully in our brethren’s cause, nor suffer any foul blot to fall on our name!

Then Judas said: God forbid we should do this thing, and flee away from them: but if our time be come, let us die manfully for our brethren, and let us not stain our glory.

Et movit exercitus de castris, et steterunt illis obviam: et divisi sunt equites in duas partes, et fundibularii et sagittarii præibant exercitum, et primi certaminis omnes potentes.

By this, the opposing army had moved forward out of its lines, and stood fronting them; here were the two bodies of horse, the slingers and archers going on before the rest, and the choice troops that would bear the shock of the encounter;

And the army removed out of the camp, and they 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.

Bacchides autem erat in dextro cornu, et proximavit legio ex duabus partibus, et clamabant tubis:

here was Bacchides himself, on the right wing. This side and that the phalanx drew nearer, with a great blowing of trumpets,

And Bacchides was in the right wing, and the legion drew near on two sides, and they sounded the trumpets:

exclamaverunt autem et hi qui erant ex parte Judæ etiam ipsi, et commota est terra a voce exercituum: et commissum est prælium a mane usque ad vesperam.

and Judas’ men, they raised a great cry on their own part, till the earth rang again with the noise of the two armies. Thus begun, the battle went on from morning till dusk.

And they also that were on Judas side, even they also cried out, and the earth shook at the noise of the armies: and the battle was fought from morning even unto the evening.

Et vidit Judas quod firmior est pars exercitus Bacchidis in dextris, et convenerunt cum ipso omnes constantes corde:

On the right, where he saw Bacchides’ army was strongest, Judas made the attack, and all the most valiant of his men with him;

And Judas perceived that the stronger part of the army of Bacchides was on the right side, and all the stout of heart came together with him:

et contrita est dextera pars ab eis, et persecutus est eos usque ad montem Azoti.

broke their line, and chased them all the way to mount Azotus.

And the right wing was discomfited by them, and he pursued them even to the mount Azotus.

Et qui in sinistro cornu erant, viderunt quod contritum est dextrum cornu, et secuti sunt post Judam, et eos qui cum ipso erant, a tergo:

But now those on the left, seeing their right wing routed, cut off Judas and his men from the rear;

And they that were in the left wing saw that the right wing was discomfited, and they followed after Judas, and them that were with him, at their back:

et ingravatum est prælium, et ceciderunt vulnerati multi ex his et ex illis.

now indeed the battle grew fierce, and there were many fell wounded on either part,

And the battle was hard fought, and there fell many wounded of the one side and of the other.

Et Judas cecidit, et ceteri fugerunt.

till at last Judas fell, and with that, all the rest took to their heels.

And Judas was slain, and the rest fled away.

Et Jonathas et Simon tulerunt Judam fratrem suum, et sepelierunt eum in sepulchro patrum suorum in civitate Modin.

As for his body, his brothers Jonathan and Simon recovered it, and so buried him where his fathers were buried, in the city of Modin.

And Jonathan and Simon took Judas their brother, and buried him in the sepulchre of their fathers in the city of Modin.

Et fleverunt eum omnis populus Israël planctu magno, et lugebant dies multos,

Great lament all Israel made over him, and long they mourned him;

And all the people of Israel bewailed him with great lamentation, and they mourned for him many days.

et dixerunt: Quomodo cecidit potens, qui salvum faciebat populum Israël!

Here is a great warrior fallen, they said, that once brought his people deliverance!

And said: How is the mighty man fallen, that saved the people of Israel!

Et cetera verba bellorum Judæ, et virtutum, quas fecit, et magnitudinis ejus, non sunt descripta: multa enim erant valde.

What other battles Judas fought, deeds did, greatness achieved, you shall not find set down here; too long the record of them.

But the rest of the words of the wars of Judas, and of the noble acts that he did, and of his greatness, are not written: for they were very many.

Et factum est: post obitum Judæ emerserunt iniqui in omnibus finibus Israël, et exorti sunt omnes qui operabantur iniquitatem.

Once Judas was dead, there was no corner in Israel but treason began to shew its face there, and lawlessness to abound;

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.

In diebus illis facta est fames magna valde, et tradidit se Bacchidi omnis regio eorum cum ipsis.

under such leadership the whole country, at this time much distressed by famine, went over to Bacchides.

In those days there was a very great famine, and they and all their country yielded to Bacchides.

Et elegit Bacchides viros impios, et constituit eos dominos regionis:

Good care he took to choose out godless men, that should have the governance of his territory;

And Bacchides chose the wicked men, and made them lords of the country:

et exquirebant, et perscrutabantur amicos Judæ, et adducebant eos ad Bacchidem, et vindicabat in illos, et illudebat.

and these raised a hue and cry after Judas’ partisans, haling them before Bacchides to be punished and used despitefully;

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 abused them.

Et facta est tribulatio magna in Israël, qualis non fuit ex die qua non est visus propheta in Israël.

never, since prophecy died out among them, had the men of Israel known such distress.

And there was a great tribulation in Israel, such as was not since the day, that there was no prophet seen in Israel.

Et congregati sunt omnes amici Judæ, et dixerunt Jonathæ:

And now all that had loved Judas rallied to Jonathan instead;

And all the friends of Judas came together, and said to Jonathan:

Ex quo frater tuus Judas defunctus est, vir similis ei non est, qui exeat contra inimicos nostros, Bacchidem et eos qui inimici sunt gentis nostræ.

Since thy brother’s death, they told him, none is left to take the field against our enemies as he did, this Bacchides and all else that bear a grudge against our race.

Since thy brother Judas died, there is not a man like him to go forth against our enemies, Bacchides, and them that are the enemies of our nation.

Nunc itaque, te hodie elegimus esse pro eo nobis in principem, et ducem ad bellandum bellum nostrum.

There is but one way of it; this day we have chosen thee to be our ruler, our chieftain, to fight our battles for us.

Now therefore we have chosen thee this day to be our prince, and captain in his stead to fight our battles.

Et suscepit Jonathas tempore illo principatum, et surrexit loco Judæ fratris sui.

So, from that day forward, Jonathan took command, in succession to his brother Judas.

So Jonathan took upon him the government at that time, and rose up in the place of Judas his brother

Et cognovit Bacchides, et quærebat eum occidere.

Bacchides no sooner heard of it than he marked him down for death;

And Bacchides had knowledge of it, and sought to kill him.

Et cognovit Jonathas, et Simon frater ejus, et omnes qui cum eo erant: et fugerunt in desertum Thecuæ et consederunt ad aquam lacus Asphar.

but of this Jonathan had warning, and took refuge, with his brother Simon and all his company, in the desert of Thecue. It was there, by Asphar pool, they halted;

And Jonathan and Simon his brother, knew it, and all that were with them: and they fled into the desert of Thecua, and they pitched by the water of the lake Asphar,

Et cognovit Bacchides, et die sabbatorum venit ipse et omnis exercitus ejus trans Jordanem.

and it was there that Bacchides, well informed of their movements, crossed Jordan at the head of his army and came upon them, one sabbath day.

And Bacchides understood it, and he came himself with all his army over the Jordan on the sabbath day.

Et Jonathas misit fratrem suum ducem populi, et rogavit Nabuthæos amicos suos, ut commodarent illis apparatum suum, qui erat copiosus.

This was the manner of it. Jonathan had sent his brother John, that was in command of the camp followers, on an errand to his good friends the Nabuthaeans. They had brought a deal of their household stuff with them; would the Nabuthaeans take it into safe keeping?

And Jonathan sent his brother a captain of the people, to desire the Nabutheans his friends, that they would lend them their equipage, which was copious.

Et exierunt filii Jambri ex Madaba, et comprehenderunt Joannem et omnia quæ habebat, et abierunt habentes ea.

But, as they went, some of Jambri’s folk came out from Madaba, seized John and all that he had with him, and went off with them.

And the children of Jambri came forth out of Madaba, and took John, and all that he had, and went away with them.

Post hæc verba, renuntiatum est Jonathæ et Simoni fratri ejus, quia filii Jambri faciunt nuptias magnas, et ducunt sponsam ex Madaba filiam unius de magnis principibus Chanaan cum ambitione magna.

Afterwards, Jonathan and Simon heard that the men of Jambri had a great wedding toward; they must bring home the bride from Nadabatha, and with much pomp, because her father was a notable Chanaanite chief.

After this it was told Jonathan, and Simon his brother, that the children of Jambri made a great marriage, and were bringing the bride out of Madaba, the daughter of one of the great princes of Chanaan, with great pomp.

Et recordati sunt sanguinis Joannis fratris sui: et ascenderunt, et absconderunt se sub tegumento montis.

So, to avenge the death of their brother John, they climbed the hill-side and lay in ambush there.

And they remembered the blood of John their brother: and they went up, and hid themselves under the covert of the mountain.

Et elevaverunt oculos suos, et viderunt: et ecce tumultus, et apparatus multus: et sponsus processit, et amici ejus, et fratres ejus obviam illis cum tympanis, et musicis, et armis multis.

What a sight was this met their eyes! All manner of rout and display; the bridegroom, his friends and his brethren, passing on their way to the trysting-place, with beating of drums, and making of music, and all manner of warlike array!

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 musical instruments, and many weapons.

Et surrexerunt ad eos ex insidiis, et occiderunt eos, et ceciderunt vulnerati multi, et residui fugerunt in montes: et acceperunt omnia spolia eorum:

Then rose they up from their ambush and laid about them, till many fell wounded, and the rest fled into the hills, leaving all their spoil behind them.

And they rose up against them from the place where they lay in ambush, and slew them, and there fell many wounded, and the rest fled into the mountains, and they took all their spoils:

et conversæ sunt nuptiæ in luctum, et vox musicorum ipsorum in lamentum.

So turned they wedding mirth into funeral dirge,

And the marriage was turned into mourning, and the noise of their musical instruments into lamentation.

Et vindicaverunt vindictam sanguinis fratris sui: et reversi sunt ad ripam Jordanis.

to avenge the murder of their brother, and withdrew to the banks of Jordan again.

And they took revenge for the blood of their brother: and they returned to the bank of the Jordan.

Et audivit Bacchides, et venit die sabbatorum usque ad oram Jordanis in virtute magna.

Hearing of these alarms, Bacchides marched down to Jordan bank one sabbath day, in great force.

And Bacchides heard it, and he came on the sabbath day even to the bank of the Jordan with a great power.

Et dixit ad suos Jonathas: Surgamus, et pugnemus contra inimicos nostros: non est enim hodie sicut heri et nudiustertius:

Up now! cried Jonathan to his men; engage our enemy we must. Gone is the vantage we had till now;

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.

ecce enim bellum ex adverso, aqua vero Jordanis hinc et inde, et ripæ, et paludes, et saltus: et non est locus divertendi.

here is armed force confronting us, and all around us is Jordan stream, Jordan banks full of marshes and thickets; escape is none.

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 for us to turn aside.

Nunc ergo, clamate in cælum, ut liberemini de manu inimicorum vestrorum. Et commissum est bellum.

Cry we rather upon heaven, for deliverance out of the enemy’s hand. So the battle was joined;

Now therefore cry ye to heaven, that ye may be delivered from the hand of your enemies. And they joined battle.

Et extendit Jonathas manum suam percutere Bacchidem, et divertit ab eo retro:

and here was Jonathan exerting all his strength to deal a blow at Bacchides, who declined the encounter!

And Jonathan stretched forth his hand to strike Bacchides, but he turned away from him backwards.

et desiliit Jonathas, et qui cum eo erant, in Jordanem, et transnataverunt ad eos Jordanem.

What did Jonathan then? With all his company, he leapt into Jordan. So now, to reach them, the enemy must swim for it across the stream.

And Jonathan, and they that were with him leaped into the Jordan, and swam over the Jordan to them:

Et ceciderunt de parte Bacchidis die illa mille viri. Et reversi sunt in Jerusalem,

A thousand men of his following Bacchides lost that day, and was fain to return to Jerusalem.

And there fell of Bacchides’ side that day a thousand men: and they returned to Jerusalem,

et ædificaverunt civitates munitas in Judæa, munitionem quæ erat in Jericho, et in Ammaum, et in Bethoron, et in Bethel, et Thamnata, et Phara, et Thopo muris excelsis, et portis, et seris.

After this, they took to fortifying the cities of Judaea with high walls and barred gates, making strongholds at Jericho, Ammaum, Bethoron, Bethel, Thamnata, Phara and Thopo;

And they built strong cities in Judea, the fortress that was in Jericho, and in Ammaus, and in Bethoron, and in Bethel, and Thamnata, and Phara, and Thopo, with high walls, and gates, and bars.

Et posuit custodiam in eis, ut inimicitias exercerent in Israël:

here garrisons were set, for the harrying of Israel.

And he placed garrisons in them, that they might wage war against Israel:

et munivit civitatem Bethsuram, et Gazaram, et arcem, et posuit in eis auxilia, et apparatum escarum:

Bethsura, too, Bacchides fortified, and Gazara, and the Citadel itself, keeping all of them well manned and provisioned;

And he fortified the city of Bethsura, and Gazara, and the castle, and set garrisons in them, and provisions of victuals:

et accepit filios principum regionis obsides, et posuit eos in arce in Jerusalem in custodiam.

ay, and the great men of all the country round must yield up their children as hostages, to be held in Jerusalem citadel for safe keeping.

And he took the sons of the chief men of the country for hostages, and put them in the castle in Jerusalem in custody.

Et anno centesimo quinquagesimo tertio, mense secundo, præcepit Alcimus destrui muros domus sanctæ interioris, et destrui opera prophetarum: et cœpit destruere.

Then, in the second month of the hundred and fifty-third year, came an order from Alcimus, the dividing wall of the temple’s inner court should be dismantled. The Prophets’ Building he had already cleared away, and begun the dismantling,

Now in the year one hundred and fifty-three, the second month, Alcimus commanded the walls of the inner court of the sanctuary to be thrown down, and the works of the prophets to be destroyed: and he began to destroy.

In tempore illo percussus est Alcimus: et impedita sunt opera illius, et occlusum est os ejus, et dissolutus est paralysi, nec ultra potuit loqui verbum, et mandare de domo sua.

when himself was smitten down, and all his plans interrupted. Dumbstricken and palsied, he never spoke again, even to dispose of his goods,

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.

Et mortuus est Alcimus in tempore illo cum tormento magno.

but died there and then, in great torment.

And Alcimus died at that time in great torment.

Et vidit Bacchides quoniam mortuus est Alcimus, et reversus est ad regem. Et siluit terra annis duobus.

Alcimus dead, Bacchides was for Judaea no longer; away he went to the king’s court, and for two years the land was at peace.

And Bacchides saw that Alcimus was dead: and he returned to the king, and the land was quiet for two years.

Et cogitaverunt omnes iniqui, dicentes: Ecce Jonathas, et qui cum eo sunt, in silentio habitant confidenter: nunc ergo adducamus Bacchidem, et comprehendet eos omnes una nocte.

But ere long there was conspiracy afoot among the godless party; here were Jonathan and his men living secure of their safety; let Bacchides come in again, he might seize them all, and make one night’s work of it.

And all the wicked held a council, saying: Behold Jonathan, and they that are with him, dwell at ease, and without fear: now therefore let us bring Bacchides hither, and he shall take them all in one night.

Et abierunt, et consilium ei dederunt.

To Bacchides, then, they went, and imparted their scheme to him;

So they went, and gave him counsel.

Et surrexit ut veniret cum exercitu multo: et misit occulte epistolas sociis suis qui erant in Judæa, ut comprehenderent Jonathan, et eos qui cum eo erant: sed non potuerunt, quia innotuit eis consilium eorum.

whereupon he raised a great army for marching on Judaea, but first sent word privately to his partisans there, bidding them seize Jonathan and his company for themselves. Word went abroad, and the plan miscarried;

And he arose to come with a great army: and he sent secretly letters to his adherents that were in Judea, to seize upon Jonathan, and them that were with him: but they could not, for their design was known to them.

Et apprehendit de viris regionis, qui principes erant malitiæ, quinquaginta viros, et occidit eos:

it was Jonathan seized fifty notables of Judaea, that were the authors of the conspiracy, and put them to death.

And he apprehended of the men of the country, that were the principal authors of the mischief, fifty men, and slew them.

et secessit Jonathas, et Simon, et qui cum eo erant, in Bethbessen, quæ est in deserto: et exstruxit diruta ejus, et firmaverunt eam.

Then, with Simon and the rest of his following, he removed to Bethbessen, out in the desert, and set about rebuilding it, to make a stronghold for them.

And Jonathan, and Simon, and they that were with him retired into Bethbessen, which is in the desert: and he repaired the breaches thereof, and they fortified it.

Et cognovit Bacchides, et congregavit universam multitudinem suam: et his, qui de Judæa erant, denuntiavit.

Bacchides had news of this; mustering his whole force, and sending word to his Jewish supporters,

And when Bacchides knew it, he gathered together all his multitude: and sent word to them that were of Judea.

Et venit, et castra posuit desuper Bethbessen: et oppugnavit eam dies multos, et fecit machinas.

he marched in and pitched his camp so as to command Bethbessen. Long time he besieged it, and brought up engines against it;

And he came, and camped above Bethbessen, and fought against it many days, and made engines.

Et reliquit Jonathas Simonem fratrem suum in civitate, et exiit in regionem, et venit cum numero:

meanwhile, Jonathan had left his brother Simon in command of the city, and was roaming the country-side. When he came back, it was with a band of men at his heels;

But Jonathan left his brother Simon in the city, and went forth into the country: and came with a number of men.

et percussit Odaren et fratres ejus, et filios Phaseron in tabernaculis ipsorum: et cœpit cædere, et crescere in virtutibus.

smote he Odares and his clan, smote he the men of Phaseron where they lay encamped; everywhere laid about him, and still gained strength.

And struck Odares, and his brethren, and the children of Phaseron in their tents, and he began to slay, and to increase in forces.

Simon vero, et qui cum ipso erant, exierunt de civitate, et succenderunt machinas,

As for Simon and his company, they made a sally out of the town, and set fire to the engines;

But Simon and they that were with him, sallied out of the city, and burnt the engines,

et pugnaverunt contra Bacchidem, et contritus est ab eis: et afflixerunt eum valde, quoniam consilium ejus et congressus ejus erat inanis.

afterwards they engaged Bacchides himself, and worsted him, so that he must pay dearly for plot and tryst of his that came to nothing.

And they fought against Bacchides, and he was discomfited by them: and they afflicted him exceedingly, for his counsel, and his enterprise was in vain.

Et iratus contra viros iniquos, qui ei consilium dederant ut veniret in regionem ipsorum, multos ex eis occidit: ipse autem cogitavit cum reliquis abire in regionem suam.

So enraged was he with the malcontents whose counsel had brought him into Judaea, he put many of them to death, and was for marching home again with the rest of his following,

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 to return with the rest into their country.

Et cognovit Jonathas: et misit ad eum legatos componere pacem cum ipso, et reddere ei captivitatem.

when Jonathan, hearing of it, sent envoys to offer peace, and an exchange of prisoners.

And Jonathan had knowledge of it and he sent ambassadors to him to make peace with him, and to restore to him the prisoners.

Et libenter accepit, et fecit secundum verba ejus, et juravit se nihil facturum ei mali omnibus diebus vitæ ejus.

This offer he gladly accepted, and carried out the terms of it, giving his word he would do Jonathan no more injury as long as he lived,

And he accepted it willingly, and did according to his words, and swore that he would do him no harm all the days of his life.

Et reddidit ei captivitatem, quam prius erat prædatus de terra Juda: et conversus abiit in terram suam, et non apposuit amplius venire in fines ejus.

and restoring all the prisoners he had ever taken in the land of Juda. So he took himself back to his own country, and never came that way again.

And he restored to him the prisoners which he before had taken out of the land of Juda: and he returned and went away into his own country, and he came no more into their borders.

Et cessavit gladius ex Israël: et habitavit Jonathas in Machmas, et cœpit Jonathas ibi judicare populum, et exterminavit impios ex Israël.

Israel had a respite from fighting at last, and Jonathan took up his dwelling at Machmas, whence he ruled the people thenceforward, ridding the land of godless folk altogether.

So the sword ceased from Israel: and Jonathan dwelt in Machmas, and Jonathan began there to judge the people, and he destroyed the wicked out of Israel.