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peace； but afterward they returned into their former state of
wars and hazards。
6。 But now as the high priest Alcimus； was resolving to pull down
the wall of the sanctuary； which had been there of old time； and
had been built by the holy prophets； he was smitten suddenly by
God； and fell down。 （27） This stroke made him fall down
speechless upon the ground； and undergoing torments for many
days； he at length died； when he had been high priest four years。
And when he was dead； the people bestowed the high priesthood on
Judas； who hearing of the power of the Romans； and that they had
conquered in war Galatia； and Iberia； and Carthage； and Libya；
and that； besides these； they had subdued Greece； and their
kings； Perseus； and Philip； and Antiochus the Great also； he
resolved to enter into a league of friendship with them。 He
therefore sent to Rome some of his friends； Eupolemus the son of
John； and Jason the son of Eleazar； and by them desired the
Romans that they would assist them； and be their friends； and
would write to Demetrius that he would not fight against the
Jews。 So the senate received the ambassadors that came from Judas
to Rome； and discoursed with them about the errand on which they
came； and then granted them a league of assistance。 They also
made a decree concerning it； and sent a copy of it into Judea。 It
was also laid up in the capitol； and engraven in brass。 The
decree itself was this： 〃The decree of the senate concerning a
league of assistance and friendship with the nation of the Jews。
It shall not be lawful for any that are subject to the Romans to
make war with the nation of the Jews； nor to assist those that do
so； either by sending them corn； or ships； or money； and if any
attack be made upon the Jews； the Romans shall assist them； as
far as they are able； and again； if any attack be made upon the
Romans； the Jews shall assist them。 And if the Jews have a mind
to add to； or to take away any thing from； this league of
assistance； that shall be done with the common consent of the
Romans。 And whatsoever addition shall thus be made； it shall be
of force。〃 This decree was written by Eupolemus the son of John；
and by Jason the son of Eleazar； （28） when Judas was high priest
of the nation； and Simon his brother was general of the army。 And
this was the first league that the Romans made with the Jews； and
was managed after this manner。
CHAPTER 11。
That Bacchides Was Again Sent Out Against Judas； And How Judas
Fell As He Was Courageously Fighting。
1。 But when Demetrius was informed of the death of Nicanor； and
of the destruction of the army that was with him； he sent
Bacchides again with an army into Judea； who marched out of
Antioch； and came into Judea； and pitched his camp at Arbela； a
city of Galilee； and having besieged and taken those that were
there in caves； （for many of the people fled into such places；）
he removed； and made all the haste he could to Jerusalem。 And
when he had learned that Judas had pitched his camp at a certain
village whose name was Bethzetho； he led his army against him：
they were twenty thousand foot…men； and two thousand horsemen。
Now Judas had no more soldiers than one thousand。 （29） When these
saw the multitude of Bacchides's men； they were afraid； and left
their camp； and fled all away； excepting eight hundred。 Now when
Judas was deserted by his own soldiers； and the enemy pressed
upon him； and gave him no time to gather his army together； he
was disposed to fight with Bacchides's army； though he had but
eight hundred men with him； so he exhorted these men to undergo
the danger courageously； and encouraged them to attack the enemy。
And when they said they were not a body sufficient to fight so
great an army； and advised that they should retire now； and save
themselves and that when he had gathered his own men together；
then he should fall upon the enemy afterwards； his answer was
this： 〃Let not the sun ever see such a thing； that I should show
my back to the enemy and although this be the time that will
bring me to my end； and I must die in this battle； I will rather
stand to it courageously； and bear whatsoever comes upon me； than
by now running away bring reproach upon my former great actions；
or tarnish their glory。〃 This was the speech he made to those
that remained with him； whereby he encouraged them to attack the
enemy。
2。 But Bacchldes drew his army out of their camp； and put them in
array for the battle。 He set the horsemen on both the wings； and
the light soldiers and the archers he placed before the whole
army； but he was himself on the right wing。 And when he had thus
put his army in order of battle； and was going to join battle
with the enemy； he commanded the trumpeter to give a signal of
battle； and the army to make a shout； and to fall on the enemy。
And when Judas had done the same； he joined battle with them； and
as both sides fought valiantly； and the battle continued till
sun…set； Judas saw that Bacehides and the strongest part of the
army was in the right wing； and thereupon took the most
courageous men with him； and ran upon that part of the army； and
fell upon those that were there； and broke their ranks； and drove
them into the middle； and forced them to run away； and pursued
them as far as to a mountain called Aza： but when those of the
left wing saw that the right wing was put to flight； they
encompassed Judas； and pursued him； and came behind him； and took
him into the middle of their army； so being not able to fly； but
encompassed round about with enemies； he stood still； and he and
those that were with him fought； and when he had slain a great
many of those that came against him； he at last was himself
wounded； and fell and gave up the ghost； and died in a way like
to his former famous actions。 When Judas was dead； those that
were with him had no one whom they could regard ＇as their
commander＇； but when they saw themselves deprived of such a
general； they fled。 But Simon and Jonathan； Judas's brethren；
received his dead body by a treaty from the enemy； and carried it
to the village of Modin； where their father had been buried； and
there buried him； while the multitude lamented him many days； and
performed the usual solemn rites of a funeral to him。 And this
was the end that Judas came to。 He had been a man of valor and a
great warrior； and mindful of the commands of their father
Matrathins； and had undergone all difficulties； both in doing and
suffering； for the liberty of his countrymen。 And when his
character was so excellent ＇while he was alive＇； he left behind
him a glorious reputation and memorial； by gaining freedom for
his nation； and delivering them from slavery under the
Macedonians。 And when he had retained the high priesthood three
years； he died。
BOOK XIII。
Containing The Interval Of Eighty…Two Years；
From The Death Of Judas Maccabeus To The Death Of Queen
Alexandra。
CHAPTER 1。
How Jonathan Took The Government After His Brother Judas； And How
He； Together With His Brother Simon； Waged War Against Bacchides。
1。 By what means the nation of the Jews recovered their freedom
when they had been brought into slavery