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and waited for his return； were by them put to death； that these
men had ejected them out of their own country； and caused them to
be sojourners in a foreign land； and they desired that he would
send some one of his own friends； and know from him what mischief
Judas's party had done。
2。 At this Demetrius was very angry； and sent Bacchides； a friend
of Antiochus Epiphanes； （25） a good man； and one that had been
intrusted with all Mesopotamia； and gave him an army； and
committed Alcimus the high priest to his care； and gave him
charge to slay Judas； and those that were with him。 So Bacchides
made haste； and went out of Antioch with his army； and when he
was come into Judea； he sent to Judas and his brethren； to
discourse with them about a league of friendship and peace； for
he had a mind to take him by treachery。 But Judas did not give
credit to him； for he saw that he came with so great an army as
men do not bring when they come to make peace； but to make war。
However； some of the people acquiesced in what Bacchides caused
to be proclaimed； and supposing they should undergo no
considerable harm from Alcimus； who was their countryman； they
went over to them； and when they had received oaths from both of
them； that neither they themselves； nor those of the same
sentiments； should come to any harm； they intrusted themselves
with them。 But Bacchides troubled not himself about the oaths he
had taken； but slew threescore of them； although； by not keeping
his faith with those that first went over； he deterred all the
rest； who had intentions to go over to him； from doing it。 But as
he was gone out of Jerusalem； and was at the village called
Bethzetho； he sent out； and caught many of the deserters； and
some of the people also； and slew them all； and enjoined all that
lived in the country to submit to Alcimus。 So he left him there；
with some part of the army； that he might have wherewith to keep
the country in obedience and returned to Antioch to king
Demetrius。
3。 But Alcimus was desirous to have the dominion more firmly
assured to him； and understanding that； if he could bring it
about that the multitude should be his friends； he should govern
with greater security； he spake kind words to them all； and
discoursed to each of them after an agreeable and pleasant
manner； by which means he quickly had a great body of men and an
army about him； although the greater part of them were of the
wicked； and the deserters。 With these； whom he used as his
servants and soldiers； he went all over the country； and slew all
that he could find of Judas's party。 But when Judas saw that
Alcimus was already become great； and had destroyed many of the
good and holy men of the country； he also went all over the
country； and destroyed those that were of the other party。 But
when Alcimus saw that he was not able to oppose Judas； nor was
equal to him in strength； he resolved to apply himself to king
Demetrius for his assistance； so he came to Antioch； and
irritated him against Judas； and accused him； alleging that he
had undergone a great many miseries by his means； and that he
would do more mischief unless he were prevented； and brought to
punishment； which must be done by sending a powerful force
against him。
4。 So Demetrius； being already of opinion that it would be a
thing pernicious to his own affairs to overlook Judas； now he was
becoming so great； sent against him Nicanor； the most kind and
most faithful of all his friends； for he it was who fled away
with him from the city of Rome。 He also gave him as many forces
as he thought sufficient for him to conquer Judas withal； and bid
him not to spare the nation at all。 When Nicanor was come to
Jerusalem； he did not resolve to fight Judas immediately； but
judged it better to get him into his power by treachery； so he
sent him a message of peace； and said there was no manner of
necessity for them to fight and hazard themselves； and that he
would give him his oath that he would do him no harm； for that he
only came with some friends； in order to let him know what king
Demetrius's intentions were； and what opinion he had of their
nation。 When Nicanor had delivered this message； Judas and his
brethren complied with him； and suspecting no deceit； they gave
him assurances of friendship； and received Nicanor and his army；
but while he was saluting Judas； and they were talking together；
he gave a certain signal to his own soldiers； upon which they
were to seize upon Judas； but he perceived the treachery； and ran
back to his own soldiers； and fled away with them。 So upon this
discovery of his purpose； and of the snares laid for Judas；
Nicanor determined to make open war with him； and gathered his
army together； and prepared for fighting him； and upon joining
battle with him at a certain village called Capharsalama； he beat
Judas； （26） and forced him to fly to that citadel which was at
Jerusalem。
5。 And when Nicanor came down from the citadel unto the temple；
some of the priests and elders met him； and saluted him； and
showed him the sacrifices which they offered to God for the king：
upon which he blasphemed； and threatened them； that unless the
people would deliver up Judas to him； upon his return he would
pull clown their temple。 And when he had thus threatened them； he
departed from Jerusalem。 But the priests fell into tears out of
grief at what he had said； and besought God to deliver them from
their enemies But now for Nicanor； when he was gone out of
Jerusalem； and was at a certain village called Bethoron； he there
pitched his camp； another army out of Syria having joined him。
And Judas pitched his camp at Adasa； another village； which was
thirty furlongs distant from Bethoron； having no more than one
thousand soldiers。 And when he had encouraged them not to be
dismayed at the multitude of their enemies； nor to regard how
many they were against whom they were going to fight； but to
consider who they themselves were； and for what great rewards
they hazarded themselves； and to attack the enemy courageously；
he led them out to fight； and joining battle with Nicanor； which
proved to be a severe one； he overcame the enemy； and slew many
of them； and at last Nicanor himself； as he was fighting
gloriously； fell： … upon whose fall the army did not stay； but
when they had lost their general； they were put to flight； and
threw down their arms。 Judas also pursued them and slew them； and
gave notice by the sound of the trumpets to the neighboring
villages that he had conquered the enemy； which； when the
inhabitants heard； they put on their armor hastily； and met their
enemies in the face as they were running away； and slew them；
insomuch that not one of them escaped out of this battle； who
were in number nine thousand This victory happened to fall on the
thirteenth day of that month which by the Jews is called Adar and
by the Macedonians Dystrus； and the Jews thereon celebrate this
victory every year； and esteem it as a festival day。 After which
the Jewish nation were； for a while； free from wars； and enjoyed
peace； but afterward they returned into their former state of
wars and hazards。
6。 But now as th