1st Maccabees Chapter 9

Battle of Beer-Zaith and death of Judas

9:1 In addition to that, when Demetrius heard the Nicanor and his army were killed in battle, he sent Bacchides and Alcimus into the land of Judea the second time, and with them the large part of his army:
9:2 Who went out by the road that lead to Galgala, and pitched their tents outside of  Masaloth, which is in Arbela, and after they had won it, they killed numerous people.
9:3 Also the first month of the hundred and fifty second year they camped outside of Jerusalem:
9:4 From where they left, and went to Berea, with twenty thousand footmen and two thousand horsemen.
9:5 Now Judasיהודה המכבי
romanized: Yehudah HaMakabi Judah Maccabee (or Judas Maccabaeus /mækəˈbiːəs/, also spelled Maccabeus was a Jewish priest (kohen) and a son of the priest Mattathias. He led the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire (167–160 BCE). The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah (“Dedication”) commemorates the restoration of Jewish worship at the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BCE, after Judah Maccabee removed all of the statues depicting Greek gods and goddesses and purified it. For more info click here and three thousand chosen men with him camped at Eleasa, :
9:6 Who seeing the large number of the other army was so great they were very afraid; on which many left the army, all that stayed was about eight hundred men.
9:7 So when Judasיהודה המכבי
romanized: Yehudah HaMakabi Judah Maccabee (or Judas Maccabaeus /mækəˈbiːəs/, also spelled Maccabeus was a Jewish priest (kohen) and a son of the priest Mattathias. He led the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire (167–160 BCE). The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah (“Dedication”) commemorates the restoration of Jewish worship at the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BCE, after Judah Maccabee removed all of the statues depicting Greek gods and goddesses and purified it. For more info click here  saw that his army snuck away, and that the battle pressed on him, he was very worried, and greatly distressed, because he had no time rally them.
9:8 However to those that remained he said, Let’s get up and go out against our enemies, if by chance we still are able to fight with them.
9:9 But they advised him, saying, We will never be able: rather let us now save our lives, and from this point on we will return with our brothers, and fight against them: because we are so few.
9:10 Then Judasיהודה המכבי
romanized: Yehudah HaMakabi Judah Maccabee (or Judas Maccabaeus /mækəˈbiːəs/, also spelled Maccabeus was a Jewish priest (kohen) and a son of the priest Mattathias. He led the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire (167–160 BCE). The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah (“Dedication”) commemorates the restoration of Jewish worship at the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BCE, after Judah Maccabee removed all of the statues depicting Greek gods and goddesses and purified it. For more info click here said, God forbid that I should do this thing, and run away from them: if our time has come, let us die like men for our brothers, and let us not stain our honor.
9:11 With that the army of Bacchides left their tents, and stood over next them, their horsemen being divided into two troops, and their slingers and archers going before the army and they that marched in the front were all mighty men.
9:12 As for Bacchides, he was in the right wing: so the army drew near on the two sides, and sounded their trumpets.
9:13 Those also of Judasיהודה המכבי
romanized: Yehudah HaMakabi Judah Maccabee (or Judas Maccabaeus /mækəˈbiːəs/, also spelled Maccabeus was a Jewish priest (kohen) and a son of the priest Mattathias. He led the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire (167–160 BCE). The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah (“Dedication”) commemorates the restoration of Jewish worship at the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BCE, after Judah Maccabee removed all of the statues depicting Greek gods and goddesses and purified it. For more info click here‘ side, they sounded their trumpets too, so that the earth shook at the noise of the armies, and the battle continued from morning till night.
9:14 Now when Judasיהודה המכבי
romanized: Yehudah HaMakabi Judah Maccabee (or Judas Maccabaeus /mækəˈbiːəs/, also spelled Maccabeus was a Jewish priest (kohen) and a son of the priest Mattathias. He led the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire (167–160 BCE). The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah (“Dedication”) commemorates the restoration of Jewish worship at the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BCE, after Judah Maccabee removed all of the statues depicting Greek gods and goddesses and purified it. For more info click here realized that Bacchides and the strength of his army were on the right side, he took all the hardy men with him,
9:15 Who smashed the right wing, and pursued them to mount Azotus.
9:16 But when those of the left wing saw that those of the right wing were disabled, they followed Judasיהודה המכבי
romanized: Yehudah HaMakabi Judah Maccabee (or Judas Maccabaeus /mækəˈbiːəs/, also spelled Maccabeus was a Jewish priest (kohen) and a son of the priest Mattathias. He led the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire (167–160 BCE). The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah (“Dedication”) commemorates the restoration of Jewish worship at the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BCE, after Judah Maccabee removed all of the statues depicting Greek gods and goddesses and purified it. For more info click here and those that were with him hard at the heels from behind:
9:17 On which there was a huge battle, there were many casualties on both sides.
9:18 Judasיהודה המכבי
romanized: Yehudah HaMakabi Judah Maccabee (or Judas Maccabaeus /mækəˈbiːəs/, also spelled Maccabeus was a Jewish priest (kohen) and a son of the priest Mattathias. He led the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire (167–160 BCE). The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah (“Dedication”) commemorates the restoration of Jewish worship at the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BCE, after Judah Maccabee removed all of the statues depicting Greek gods and goddesses and purified it. For more info click here was killed, and the remnant escaped.

Funeral of Judas Maccabaeus

9:19 Then Jonathanיוֹנָתָן‎ אַפְּפוּס‎
HJonathan Apphus Yōnāṯān ʾApfūs; Ancient Greek: Ἰωνάθαν Ἀπφοῦς, Iōnáthan Apphoûs) was one of the sons of Mattathias and the leader of the Hasmonean dynasty of Judea from 161 to 143 BCE. For more info click here and Simon took Judasיהודה המכבי
romanized: Yehudah HaMakabi Judah Maccabee (or Judas Maccabaeus /mækəˈbiːəs/, also spelled Maccabeus was a Jewish priest (kohen) and a son of the priest Mattathias. He led the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire (167–160 BCE). The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah (“Dedication”) commemorates the restoration of Jewish worship at the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BCE, after Judah Maccabee removed all of the statues depicting Greek gods and goddesses and purified it. For more info click here their brother, and buried him in the sepulcher | ˈsepəlkər | (British sepulchre)
noun – a small room or monument, cut in rock or built of stone, in which a dead person is laid or buried. — Middle English: via Old French from Latin sepulcrum ‘burial place’, from sepelire ‘bury’. of his fathers in Modin.
9:20 Then they wept for him, and all Israel made great lamentation for him, and mourned many days, saying,
9:21 How is the brave man fallen, that delivered Israel!
9:22 As for the other things concerning Judasיהודה המכבי
romanized: Yehudah HaMakabi Judah Maccabee (or Judas Maccabaeus /mækəˈbiːəs/, also spelled Maccabeus was a Jewish priest (kohen) and a son of the priest Mattathias. He led the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire (167–160 BCE). The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah (“Dedication”) commemorates the restoration of Jewish worship at the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BCE, after Judah Maccabee removed all of the statues depicting Greek gods and goddesses and purified it. For more info click here and his wars, and the righteous acts which he did, and his greatness, they are not written: because there were so very many.

Jonathan, Leader of the Jews and High Priest

(160 – 143 BC)

The Triumph of the Greek Party Jonathan leads the resistance

9:23 Now after the death of Judasיהודה המכבי
romanized: Yehudah HaMakabi Judah Maccabee (or Judas Maccabaeus /mækəˈbiːəs/, also spelled Maccabeus was a Jewish priest (kohen) and a son of the priest Mattathias. He led the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire (167–160 BCE). The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah (“Dedication”) commemorates the restoration of Jewish worship at the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BCE, after Judah Maccabee removed all of the statues depicting Greek gods and goddesses and purified it. For more info click here the wicked began to come out of hiding in all the coasts of Israel, and  stirred up all those that engaged in wickedness.
9:24 In those days also was there a very great famine, for reason the country revolted, and went with them.
9:25 Then Bacchides chose wicked men, and made them lords of the country.
9:26 And they made an investigation and searched for Judasיהודה המכבי
romanized: Yehudah HaMakabi Judah Maccabee (or Judas Maccabaeus /mækəˈbiːəs/, also spelled Maccabeus was a Jewish priest (kohen) and a son of the priest Mattathias. He led the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire (167–160 BCE). The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah (“Dedication”) commemorates the restoration of Jewish worship at the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BCE, after Judah Maccabee removed all of the statues depicting Greek gods and goddesses and purified it. For more info click here‘ friends, and brought them to Bacchides, who took vengeance on them, and treated them hatefully.
9:27 So was there a great torment in Israel, like it since the time that a prophet hadn’t been seen among them.
9:28 For this reason all Judasיהודה המכבי
romanized: Yehudah HaMakabi Judah Maccabee (or Judas Maccabaeus /mækəˈbiːəs/, also spelled Maccabeus was a Jewish priest (kohen) and a son of the priest Mattathias. He led the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire (167–160 BCE). The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah (“Dedication”) commemorates the restoration of Jewish worship at the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BCE, after Judah Maccabee removed all of the statues depicting Greek gods and goddesses and purified it. For more info click here‘ friends came together, and said to Jonathanיוֹנָתָן‎ אַפְּפוּס‎
Jonathan Apphus Yōnāṯān ʾApfūs; Ancient Greek: Ἰωνάθαν Ἀπφοῦς, Iōnáthan Apphoûs) was one of the sons of Mattathias and the leader of the Hasmonean dynasty of Judea from 161 to 143 BCE. For more info click here,
9:29 Since your brother Judasיהודה המכבי
romanized: Yehudah HaMakabi Judah Maccabee (or Judas Maccabaeus /mækəˈbiːəs/, also spelled Maccabeus was a Jewish priest (kohen) and a son of the priest Mattathias. He led the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire (167–160 BCE). The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah (“Dedication”) commemorates the restoration of Jewish worship at the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BCE, after Judah Maccabee removed all of the statues depicting Greek gods and goddesses and purified it. For more info click here died, there is no one like him to go out against our enemies, and Bacchides, and against those of our nation that are our enemies.
9:30 Now for that reason we have chosen you this day to be our leader and captain in his place, that you might fight our battles.
9:31 On this Jonathanיוֹנָתָן‎ אַפְּפוּס‎
Jonathan Apphus Yōnāṯān ʾApfūs; Ancient Greek: Ἰωνάθαν Ἀπφοῦς, Iōnáthan Apphoûs) was one of the sons of Mattathias and the leader of the Hasmonean dynasty of Judea from 161 to 143 BCE. For more info click here took the command on him, and rose up in place of his brother Judasיהודה המכבי
romanized: Yehudah HaMakabi Judah Maccabee (or Judas Maccabaeus /mækəˈbiːəs/, also spelled Maccabeus was a Jewish priest (kohen) and a son of the priest Mattathias. He led the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire (167–160 BCE). The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah (“Dedication”) commemorates the restoration of Jewish worship at the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BCE, after Judah Maccabee removed all of the statues depicting Greek gods and goddesses and purified it. For more info click here.

Jonathan in the desert of Tekoa.

9:32 But when Bacchides found out, he sought for to kill him
9:33 Then Jonathanיוֹנָתָן‎ אַפְּפוּס‎
Jonathan Apphus Yōnāṯān ʾApfūs; Ancient Greek: Ἰωνάθαν Ἀπφοῦς, Iōnáthan Apphoûs) was one of the sons of Mattathias and the leader of the Hasmonean dynasty of Judea from 161 to 143 BCE. For more info click here, and Simon his brother, and all that were with him, realizing that, escaped into the desert of Thecoe, and pitched their tents by the water of the pool Asphar.
9:34 Which when Bacchides found out, he came near to Jordan with all his army on the Sabbath day.
9:35 Now Jonathanיוֹנָתָן‎ אַפְּפוּס‎
Jonathan Apphus Yōnāṯān ʾApfūs; Ancient Greek: Ἰωνάθαν Ἀπφοῦς, Iōnáthan Apphoûs) was one of the sons of Mattathias and the leader of the Hasmonean dynasty of Judea from 161 to 143 BCE. For more info click here had sent his brother John, a captain of the people, to ask his friends the Nabathites, that they might leave with them their large amount of gear.
9:36 But the children of Jambri came out of Medaba, and took John, and all that he had, and went their way with it.

Bloody encounters around Medeba

9:37 After this word came to Jonathanיוֹנָתָן‎ אַפְּפוּס‎
Jonathan Apphus Yōnāṯān ʾApfūs; Ancient Greek: Ἰωνάθαν Ἀπφοῦς, Iōnáthan Apphoûs) was one of the sons of Mattathias and the leader of the Hasmonean dynasty of Judea from 161 to 143 BCE. For more info click here and Simon his brother, that the children of Jambri made a great marriage, and were bringing the bride from Nadabatha with a large convoy, as being the daughter of one of the great princes of Chanaan.
9:38 For that reason they thought of John their brother, and went up, and hid themselves under the cover of the mountain:
9:39 Where they watched, and looked, and, saw, there was a commotion and large baggage: and the bridegroom came out, and his friends and brothers, to meet them with drums, and instruments of music, and many weapons.
9:40 Then Jonathanיוֹנָתָן‎ אַפְּפוּס‎
Jonathan Apphus Yōnāṯān ʾApfūs; Ancient Greek: Ἰωνάθαν Ἀπφοῦς, Iōnáthan Apphoûs) was one of the sons of Mattathias and the leader of the Hasmonean dynasty of Judea from 161 to 143 BCE. For more info click here and those that were with him rose up against them from the place where they lay in ambush, and massacred them in such sort, as many fell down dead, and the remnant escaped to the mountain, and they took all their plunder.
9:41 So the was marriage turned into mourning, and the noise of their melody into lamentation.
9:42 So when they had avenged fully the blood of their brother, they returned to the marsh of Jordan.

Crossing the Jordan

9:43 Now when Bacchides heard of it, he came on the Sabbath day to the banks of Jordan with a great force.
9:44 Then Jonathanיוֹנָתָן‎ אַפְּפוּס‎
Jonathan Apphus Yōnāṯān ʾApfūs; Ancient Greek: Ἰωνάθαν Ἀπφοῦς, Iōnáthan Apphoûs) was one of the sons of Mattathias and the leader of the Hasmonean dynasty of Judea from 161 to 143 BCE. For more info click here said to his company, Let us go up now and fight for our lives, for it stands not with us today, as it was in the past:
9:45 For, see, the battle is in front of us and behind us, and the water of Jordan on either side, the marsh also and wood, neither is there place for us to retreat.
9:46 For that reason cry y’all now to Heaven, that y’all may be delivered from the hand of your enemies.
9:47 With that they joined battle, and Jonathanיוֹנָתָן‎ אַפְּפוּס‎
Jonathan Apphus Yōnāṯān ʾApfūs; Ancient Greek: Ἰωνάθαν Ἀπφοῦς, Iōnáthan Apphoûs) was one of the sons of Mattathias and the leader of the Hasmonean dynasty of Judea from 161 to 143 BCE. For more info click here stretched out his hand to hit Bacchides, but he retreated from him.
9:48 Then Jonathanיוֹנָתָן‎ אַפְּפוּס‎
Jonathan Apphus Yōnāṯān ʾApfūs; Ancient Greek: Ἰωνάθαν Ἀπφοῦς, Iōnáthan Apphoûs) was one of the sons of Mattathias and the leader of the Hasmonean dynasty of Judea from 161 to 143 BCE. For more info click here and they that were with him jumped into Jordan, and swam over to the other bank: However the enemy didn’t cross over Jordan to them.
9:49 So there were about a thousand men killed from Bacchides‘ side that day .

Bacchides builds fortifications.

9:50 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.
9:51 And in them he stationed a garrison, that they might work revenge on Israel.
9:52 He fortified also the city Bethsura, and Gazera, and the tower, and put forces in them, and provision of food.
9:53 Besides, he took the chief men’s sons in the country as hostages, and put them in the tower at Jerusalem to be guarded.
9:54 Then in the hundred fifty 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

The Dead of Alcimus

9:55 And as he began to pull down, even at that time Alcimus had what appeared to be a stroke, and his enterprises hindered: for his mouth was wouldn’t work, and he was taken with a palsy, so that he couldn’t say anything, or give order concerning his household.
9:56 So Alcimus died at that time in great torment.
9:57 Now when Bacchides saw that Alcimus was dead, he returned to the king: immediately after which the land of Judea was at peaceשָׁלוֹם‎
Transliteration šālôm Pronunciation shaw-lome’ shalom – completeness, soundness, welfare, peace, be well, prosperity For more info click here two years.

The siege of Beth-Bassi

9:58 Then all the ungodly men held a meeting, saying, See, Jonathanיוֹנָתָן‎ אַפְּפוּס‎
Jonathan Apphus Yōnāṯān ʾApfūs; Ancient Greek: Ἰωνάθαν Ἀπφοῦς, Iōnáthan Apphoûs) was one of the sons of Mattathias and the leader of the Hasmonean dynasty of Judea from 161 to 143 BCE. For more info click here and his company are at peaceשָׁלוֹם‎
Transliteration šālôm Pronunciation shaw-lome’ shalom – completeness, soundness, welfare, peace, be well, prosperity For more info click here, and live without care: now for that reason we will bring Bacchides here, who will bring them in all one night.
9:59 So they went and consulted with him.
9:60 Then he left, and came with a great army, and sent confidential letters to his supporters in Judea, that they should seize Jonathanיוֹנָתָן‎ אַפְּפוּס‎
Jonathan Apphus Yōnāṯān ʾApfūs; Ancient Greek: Ἰωνάθαν Ἀπφοῦς, Iōnáthan Apphoûs) was one of the sons of Mattathias and the leader of the Hasmonean dynasty of Judea from 161 to 143 BCE. For more info click here and those that were with him: However they couldn’t, because they knew their plan.
9:61 For that reason they arrested about fifty of the men of the country, that were planners of the plot, and killed them.
9:62 Afterward Jonathanיוֹנָתָן‎ אַפְּפוּס‎
Jonathan Apphus Yōnāṯān ʾApfūs; Ancient Greek: Ἰωνάθαν Ἀπφοῦς, Iōnáthan Apphoûs) was one of the sons of Mattathias and the leader of the Hasmonean dynasty of Judea from 161 to 143 BCE. For more info click here, and Simon, and they that were with him, escaped to Bethbasi, which is in the desert, and they restore the ruins of it, and made it strong.
9:63 When Bacchides knew, he gathered together all his army, and sent word to those that were in Judea.
9:64 Then went he and laid siege against Bethbasi; and they fought against it for a long time and made siege machines.
9:65 But Jonathanיוֹנָתָן‎ אַפְּפוּס‎
Jonathan Apphus Yōnāṯān ʾApfūs; Ancient Greek: Ἰωνάθαν Ἀπφοῦς, Iōnáthan Apphoûs) was one of the sons of Mattathias and the leader of the Hasmonean dynasty of Judea from 161 to 143 BCE. For more info click here left his brother Simon in the city, and went out into the country, and with a small number of men.
9:66 And he attacked Odonarkes and his brothers, and the sons of Phasiron in their camp.
9:67 And when he began to attack them, and came up with his forces, Simon and his company went out of the city, and burned up the siege machines,
9:68 And fought against Bacchides, who was embarrassed by them, and they troubled him greatly: because his advice and misery was in vain.
9:69 For that reason he was very angry at the wicked men that gave him advice to come into the country, so much that he killed many of them, and intented to return to his own country.
9:70 When Jonathanיוֹנָתָן‎ אַפְּפוּס‎
Jonathan Apphus Yōnāṯān ʾApfūs; Ancient Greek: Ἰωνάθαν Ἀπφοῦς, Iōnáthan Apphoûs) was one of the sons of Mattathias and the leader of the Hasmonean dynasty of Judea from 161 to 143 BCE. For more info click here was made aware of this, he sent ambassadors to him, negotiate peaceשָׁלוֹם‎
Transliteration šālôm Pronunciation shaw-lome’ shalom – completeness, soundness, welfare, peace, be well, prosperity For more info click here with him, and pardon the prisoners.
9:71 Which he accepted, and did according to his demands, and swore to him that he would never do him harm all the days of his life.
9:72 When he had returned to him the prisoners that he had taken in the past out of the land of Judea, he returned and went his way to his own land, never came he back to their borders.
9:73 So the sword ceased from Israel: but Jonathanיוֹנָתָן‎ אַפְּפוּס‎
Jonathan Apphus Yōnāṯān ʾApfūs; Ancient Greek: Ἰωνάθαν Ἀπφοῦς, Iōnáthan Apphoûs) was one of the sons of Mattathias and the leader of the Hasmonean dynasty of Judea from 161 to 143 BCE. For more info click here lived at Machmas, and began to govern the people; and he destroyed the ungodly men out of Israel.