In the hundred and fifty-first year, Demetrius, the son of Seleucus, departed from the city of Rome, and came up with few men into a city of the sea coast, and reigned there.

And it came to pass as he entered into the house of the kingdom of his fathers, that the army seized upon Antiochus, and Lysias, to bring them unto him.

And when he knew it, he said: Let me not see their face.

So the army slew them. And Demetrius sat upon the throne of his kingdom:

And there came to him the wicked and ungodly men of Israel: and Alcimus was at the head of them, who desired to be made high priest.

And they accused the people to the king, saying: Judas and his brethren have destroyed all thy friends, and he hath driven us out of our land.

Now, therefore, send some men whom thou trustest, and let him go, and see all the havoc he hath made amongst us, and in the king’s lands: and let him punish all his friends and their helpers.

Then the king chose Bacchides, one of his friends, that ruled beyond the great river in the kingdom, and was faithful to the king: and he sent him,

To see the havoc that Judas had made: and the wicked Alcimus he made high priest, and commanded him to take revenge upon the children of Israel.

And they arose, and came with a great army into the land of Juda: and they sent messengers, and spoke to Judas and his brethren with peaceable words, deceitfully.

But they gave no heed to their words: for they saw that they were come with a great army.

Then there assembled to Alcimus and Bacchides a company of the scribes, to require things that are just:

And first the Assideans, that were among the children of Israel, and they sought peace of them.

For they said: One that is a priest of the seed of Aaron is come, he will not deceive us.

And he spoke to them peaceably: and he swore to them, saying: We will do you no harm, nor your friends.

And they believed him. And he took threescore of them, and slew them in one day, according to the word that is written:

The flesh of thy saints, and the blood of them they have shed round about Jerusalem, and there was none to bury them.

Then fear and trembling fell upon all the people: for they said: There is no truth, nor justice among them: for they have broken the covenant, and the oath which they made.

And Bacchides removed the camp from Jerusalem, and pitched in Bethzecha: and he sent, and took many of them that were fled away from him, and some of the people he killed, and threw them into a great pit.

Then he committed the country to Alcimus, and left with him troops to help him. So Bacchides went away to the king.

But Alcimus did what he could to maintain his chief priesthood.

And they that disturbed the people resorted to him, and they got the land of Juda into their power, and did much hurt in Israel.

And Judas saw all the evils that Alcimus, and they that were with him, did to the children of Israel, much more than the Gentiles.

And he went out into all the coasts of Judea round about, and took vengeance upon the men that had revolted, and they ceased to go forth any more into the country.

And Alcimus saw that Judas and they that were with him, prevailed: and he knew that he could not stand against them, and he went back to the king, and accused them of many crimes.

And the king sent Nicanor, one of his principal lords, who was a great enemy to Israel: and he commanded him to destroy the people.

And Nicanor came to Jerusalem with a great army, and he sent to Judas and to his brethren deceitfully, with friendly words,

Saying: Let there be no fighting between me and you: I will come with a few men, to see your faces with peace.

And he came to Judas, and they saluted one another peaceably: and the enemies were prepared to take away Judas by force.

And the thing was known to Judas that he was come to him with deceit: and he was much afraid of him, and would not see his face any more.

And Nicanor knew that his counsel was discovered: and he went out to fight against Judas, near Capharsalama.

And there fell of Nicanor’s army almost five thousand men, and they fled into the city of David.

And after this Nicanor went up into mount Sion: and some of the priests and the people came out to salute him peaceably, and to shew him the holocausts that were offered for the king.

But he mocked and despised them, and abused them: and he spoke proudly,

And swore in anger, saying: Unless Judas and his army be delivered into my hands, as soon as ever I return in peace, I will burn this house. And he went out in a great rage.

And the priests went in, and stood before the face of the altar and the temple: and weeping, they said:

Thou, O Lord, hast chosen this house for thy name to be called upon therein, that it might be a house of prayer and supplication for thy people.

Be avenged of this man, and his army, and let them fall by the sword: remember their blasphemies, and suffer them not to continue any longer.

Then Nicanor went out from Jerusalem, and encamped near to Bethoron: and an army of Syria joined him.

But Judas pitched in Adarsa with three thousand men: and Judas prayed, and said:

O Lord, when they that were sent by king Sennacherib blasphemed thee, an angel went out, and slew of them a hundred and eighty-five thousand:

Even so destroy this army in our sight today and let the rest know that he hath spoken ill against thy sanctuary: and judge thou him according to his wickedness.

And the armies joined battle on the thirteenth day of the month, Adar: and the army of Nicanor was defeated, and he himself was first slain in the battle.

And when his army saw that Nicanor was slain they threw away their weapons, and fled:

And they pursued after them one day’s journey from Adazer, even till ye come to Gazara, and they sounded the trumpets after them with signals.

And they went forth out of all the towns of Judea round about, and they pushed them with the horns, and they turned again to them, and they were all slain with the sword, and there was not left of them so much as one.

And they took the spoils of them for a booty, and they cut off Nicanor’s head, and his right hand, which he had proudly stretched out, and they brought it, and hung it up over against Jerusalem.

And the people rejoiced exceedingly, and they spent that day with great joy.

And he ordained that this day should be kept every year, being the thirteenth of the month of Adar.

And the land of Juda was quiet for a short time.

Now Judas heard of the fame of the Romans, that they are powerful and strong, and willingly agree to all things that are requested of them: and that whosoever have come to them, they have made amity with them, and that they are mighty in power.

And they heard of their battles, and their noble acts which they had done in Galatia, how they had conquered them, and brought them under tribute:

And how great things they had done in the land of Spain, and that they had brought under their power the mines of silver and of gold that are there, and had gotten possession of all the place by their counsel and patience:

And had conquered places that were very far off from them, and kings that came against them from the ends of the earth, and had overthrown them with great slaughter: and the rest pay them tribute every year.

And that they had defeated in battle Philip and Perses the king of the Ceteans, and the rest that had borne arms against them, and had conquered them:

And how Antiochus, the great king of Asia, who went to fight against them, having a hundred and twenty elephants, with horsemen, and chariots, and a very great army, was routed by them.

And how they took him alive, and appointed to him, that both he and they that should reign after him, should pay a great tribute, and that he should give hostages, and that which was agreed upon,

And the country of the Indians, and of the Medes, and of the Lydians, some of their best provinces: and those which they had taken from them, they gave to king Eumenes.

And that they who were in Greece, had a mind to go and to destroy them: and they had knowledge thereof,

And they sent a general against them, and fought with them, and many of them were slain, and they carried away their wives, and their children captives, and spoiled them, and took possession of their land, and threw down their walls, and brought them to be their servants unto this day.

And the other kingdoms, and islands, that at any time had resisted them, they had destroyed and brought under their power.

But with their friends, and such as relied upon them, they kept amity, and had conquered kingdoms that were near, and that were far off: for all that heard their name, were afraid of them.

That whom they had a mind to help to a kingdom, those reigned: and whom they would, they deposed from the kingdom: and they were greatly exalted.

And none of all these wore a crown, or was clothed in purple, to be magnified thereby.

And that they had made themselves a senate house, and consulted daily three hundred and twenty men, that sat in council always for the people, that they might do the things that were right:

And that they committed their government to one man every year, to rule over all their country, and they all obey one, and there is no envy nor jealousy amongst them.

So Judas chose Eupolemus, the son of John, the son of Jacob, and Jason, the son of Eleazar, and he sent them to Rome to make a league of amity and confederacy with them:

And that they might take off from them the yoke of the Grecians, for they saw that they oppressed the kingdom of Israel with servitude.

And they went to Rome, a very long journey, and they entered into the senate house, and said:

Judas Machabeus, and his brethren, and the people of the Jews, have sent us to you to make alliance and peace with you, and that we may be registered your confederates and friends.

And the proposal was pleasing in their sight.

And this is the copy of the writing that they wrote back again, graven in tables of brass, and sent to Jerusalem, that it might be with them there for a memorial of the peace, and alliance.

GOOD SUCCESS BE TO THE ROMANS, and to the people of the Jews by sea, and by land, for ever: and far be the sword and enemy from them.

But if there come first any war upon the Romans, or any of their confederates, in all their dominions:

The nation of the Jews shall help them according as the time shall direct, with all their heart:

Neither shall they give them, whilst they are fighting, or furnish them with wheat, or arms, or money, or ships, as it hath seemed good to the Romans: and they shall obey their orders, without taking any thing of them.

In like manner also if war shall come first upon the nation of the Jews, the Romans shall help them with all their heart, according as the time shall permit them:

And there shall not be given to them that come to their aid, either wheat, or arms, or money, or ships, as it hath seemed good to the Romans: and they shall observe their orders without deceit.

According to these articles did the Romans covenant with the people of the Jews.

And, if after this, one party or the other shall have a mind to add to these articles, or take away any thing, they may do it at their pleasure: and whatsoever they shall add, or take away, shall be ratified.

Moreover, concerning the evils that Demetrius, the king, hath done against them, we have written to him, saying: Why hast thou made thy yoke heavy upon our friends and allies, the Jews?

If, therefore, they come again to us complaining of thee, we will do them justice, and will make war against thee by sea and land.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

And they also that were on Judas’s 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.

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:

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

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:

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

And Judas was slain, and the rest fled away.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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,

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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:

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

And Alcimus died at that time in great torment.

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

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.

So they went, and gave him counsel.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.