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1 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.
2 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.
3 In the
first month of the hundred and fifty-second year they brought the army to
Jerusalem:
4 And they
arose, and went to Berea with twenty thousand men, and two thousand horsemen.
5 Now
Judas had pitched his tents in Laisa, and three
thousand chosen men with him:
6 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.
7 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.
8 Then he
said to them that remained: Let us arise, and go against our enemies, if we
may be able to fight against them.
9 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.
10 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.
11 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.
12 And Bacchides was in the right wing, and the legion drew near
on two sides, and they sounded the trumpets:
13 And they
also 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.
14 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:
15 And the
right wing was discomfited by them, and he pursued them even to the mount Azotus.
16 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:
17 And the
battle was hard fought, and there fell many wounded of the one side and of
the other.
18 And
Judas was slain, and the rest fled away.
19 And
Jonathan and Simon took Judas their brother, and buried him in the sepulchre of their fathers in the city of Modin.
20 And all
the people of Israel bewailed him with great lamentation, and they mourned
for him many days.
21 And
said: How is the mighty man fallen, that saved the people of Israel!
22 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.
23 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.
24 In those
days there was a very great famine, and they and all their country yielded to
Bacchides.
25 And Bacchides chose the wicked men, and made them lords of
the country:
26 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.
27 And
there was a great tribulation in Israel, such as was not since the day, that
there was no prophet seen in Israel.
28 And all
the friends of Judas came together, and said to Jonathan:
29 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.
30 Now
therefore we have chosen thee this day to be our prince, and captain in his
stead to fight our battles.
31 So
Jonathan took upon him the government at that time, and rose up in the place
of Judas his brother.
32 And Bacchides had knowledge of it, and sought to kill him.
33 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 of Asphar,
34 And Bacchides understood it, and he came himself with all his
army over the Jordan on the sabbath day.
35 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.
36 And the
children of Jambri came forth out of Madaba, and took John, and all that he had, and went away
with them.
37 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.
38 And the
remembered the blood of John their brother: and they went up, and hid
themselves under the covert of the mountain.
39 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.
40 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:
41 And the
marriage was turned into mourning, and the noise of their musical instruments
into lamentation.
42 And they
took revenge for the blood of their brother: and they returned to the bank of
the Jordan.
43 And Bacchides heard it, and he came on the sabbath day even to the bank of the Jordan with a great
power.
44 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.
45 And
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.
46 Now
therefore cry ye to heaven, that ye may be delivered from the hand of your
enemies. And they joined battle.
47 And
Jonathan stretched forth his hand to strike Bacchides,
but he turned away from him backwards.
48 And
Jonathan, and they that were with him leaped into the Jordan, and swam over
the Jordan to them:
49 And there
fell of Bacchides' side that day a thousand man:
and they returned to Jerusalem,
50 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.
51 And he
placed garrisons in them, that they might wage war against Israel:
52 And he
fortified the city of Bethsura, and Gazara, and the castle, and set garrisons in them, and
provisions of victuals:
53 And he
took the sons of the chief men of the country for hostages, and put them in
the castle in Jerusalem in custody.
54 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 be destroyed:
and he began to destroy.
55 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.
56 And Alcimus died at that time in great torment.
57 And Bacchides saw that Alcimus was
dead: and he returned to the king, and the land was quiet for two years.
58 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.
59 So they
went, and gave him counsel.
60 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.
61 And he
apprehended of the men of the country, that were the principal authors of the
mischief, fifty men, and slew them.
62 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.
63 And when
Bacchides knew it, he gathered together all his
multitude: and sent word to them that were of Judea.
64 And he
came, and camped above Bethbessen, and fought
against it many days, and made engines.
65 But
Jonathan left his brother Simon in the city, and went forth into the country:
and came with a number of men.
66 And
struck Odares, and his brethren, and the children
of Phaseron in their tents, and he began to slay,
and to increase in forces.
67 But
Simon and they that were with him, sallied out of the city, and burnt the
engines.
68 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.
69 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.
70 And
Jonathan had knowledge of it, and he sent ambassadors to him to make peace
with him, and to restore to him the prisoners.
71 And he
accepted it willingly, and did according to his words, and swore that the would do him no harm all the days of his life.
72 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.
73 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
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1- و لما سمع ديمتريوس بان
نكانور و جيوشه قد سقطوا في الحرب عاد ثانية فارسل الى ارض يهوذا بكيديس و
الكيمس و معهما الجناح الايمن.
2- فانطلقا في طريق الجلجال و
نزلا عند مشالوت باربيل فاستولى عليها و اهلكا نفوسا كثيرة.
3- و في الشهر الاول من السنة
المئة و الثانية و الخمسين نزلا على اورشليم.
4- ثم زحفا و انطلقا الى بئروت
في عشرين الف راجل و الفي فارس.
5- و كان يهوذا قد نزل بلاشع و
معه ثلاثة الاف رجل منتخبين.
6- فلما راوا كثرة عدد الجيوش
خافوا خوفا شديدا فجعل كثيرون ينسابون من المحلة و لم يبق منهم الا ثماني مئة
رجل.
7- فلما راى يهوذا ان جيشه قد
انساب و الحرب تضايقه انكسر قلبه لانه لم يبق له وقت لردهم و استرخت عزائمه.
8- فقال لمن بقي معه لنقم و نهجم
على مناصبينا عسى ان نقدر على مدافعتهم.
9- فصرفوه عن عزمه قائلين انه ليس
في طاقاتنا اليوم الا ان ننجو بنفوسنا ثم نرجع مع اخواتنا و نقاتلهم فانا عدد
قليل.
10- فقال يهوذا حاش لي ان افعل
مثل ذلك و اهرب منهم و ان كان قد دنا اجلنا فلنموتن بشجاعة عن اخواتنا و لا
نبقين على مجدنا وصمة.
11- و برز جيش العدو من المحلة و
وقفوا بازائهم و انقسمت الفرسان قسمين و كان الرماة بالمقاليع و القسي يتقدمون
الجيش كلها من ذوي الباس.
12- و كان بكيديس في الجناح
الايمن فازدلفت الفرقة من الجانبين و هتفوا بالابواق.
13- و نفخ رجال يهوذا ايضا في
الابواق فارتجت الارض من جلبة العسكرين و التحم القتال من الصبح الى المساء.
14- و راى يهوذا ان بكيديس و قوة
الجيش في الجناح الايمن فقصدهم و معه كل ذي قلب ثابت.
15- فكسروا الجناح الايمن و
تعقبوا اثرهم الى جبل اشدود.
16- فلما راى رجال الجناح الايسر
انكسار الجناح الايمن انقلبوا على اثار يهوذا و من معه.
17- فاشتد القتال و سقط قتلى
كثيرون من الفريقين.
18- و سقط يهوذا و هرب الباقون.
19- فحمل يوناتان و سمعان يهوذا
اخاهما و دفناه في قبر ابائه في مودين.
20- فبكاه شعب اسرائيل بكاء
عظيما و لطموا عليه و ناحوا اياما و قالوا.
21- كيف سقط البطل مخلص اسرائيل.
22- و بقية اخبار يهوذا و حروبه
و ما ابداه من الحماسة و جبروته لم تكتب في هذا الموضع لانها كثيرة جدا.
23- و كان بعد وفاة يهوذا ان المنافقين برزوا في جميع تخوم اسرائيل و ظهر
كل فاعلي الاثم.
24- و في تلك الايام حدثت مجاعة
عظيمة جدا فتخاذلت البلاد اليهم.
25- فاختار بكيديس الكفرة منهم و
اقامهم رؤساء على البلاد.
26- فكانوا يتطلبون اصحاب يهوذا
و يتفقدونهم و ياتون بهم الى بكيديس فينتقم منهم و يستهزئ بهم.
27- فحل باسرائيل ضيق عظيم لم
يحدث مثله منذ لم يظهر فيهم نبي.
28- فاجتمع جميع اصحاب يهوذا و
قالوا ليوناتان.
29- انه منذ وفاة يهوذا اخيك لم
يقم له كفؤ يخرج على العدو و على بكيديس و المبغضين لامتنا.
30- فنحن نختارك اليوم رئيسا لنا
و قائدا مكانه تحارب حربنا.
31- فقبل يوناتان القيادة في ذلك
الوقت و قام في موضع يهوذا اخيه.
32- فلما علم بكيديس طلب قتله.
33- و بلغ ذلك يوناتان و سمعان
اخاه و جميع من معه فهربوا الى برية تقوع و نزلوا على ماء جب اسفار.
34- فعلم بكيديس فزحف بجميع جيشه
الى عبر الاردن يوم سبت.
35- و ارسل يوناتان يوحنا اخاه
بجماعة تحت قيادته يسال النباطيين اولياءه ان يعيروهم عدتهم الوافرة.
36- فخرج بنو يمري من ميدابا و
قبضوا على يوحنا و كل ما معه و ذهبوا بالجميع.
37- و بعد هذه الامور اخبر
يوناتان و سمعان اخوه ان بني يمري يقيمون عرسا عظيما و يزفون العروس من ميدابا
باحتفال عظيم و هي ابنة بعض عظماء كنعان.
38- فذكروا يوحنا اخاهم و صعدوا
و اختباوا وراء الجبل.
39- ثم رفعوا ابصارهم و نظروا
فاذا بجلبة و جهاز كثير و العروس و اصحابه و اخوته خارجون للقائهم بالدفوف و
الات الطرب و اسلحة كثيرة.
40- فثار عليهم رجال يوناتان من
المكمن و ضربوهم فسقط قتلى كثيرون و هرب الباقون الى الجبل فاخذوا كل اسلابهم.
41- و تحول العرس الى مناحة و
صوت الات طربهم الى نحيب.
42- و لما انتقموا لدم اخيهم
رجعوا الى غيضة الاردن.
43- فسمع بكيديس فوفد الى شطوط
الاردن يوم سبت في جيش عظيم.
44- فقال يوناتان لمن معه لننهض
الان و نقاتل عن نفوسنا فليس الامر اليوم كما كان امس فما قبل.
45- ها ان الحرب امامنا و خلفنا
و ماء الاردن و الغياض و الغاب من هنا و من هناك فليس لنا مناص.
46- و الان فاصرخوا الى السماء
فتنقذوا من ايدي اعدائكم ثم التحم القتال.
47- و مد يوناتان يده ليضرب
بكيديس فانصاع عنه الى الوراء.
48- فرمى يوناتان و من معه بانفسهم
في الاردن و عاموا الى العبر فلم يعبروا الاردن اليهم.
49- و سقط من رجال بكيديس في ذلك
اليوم الف رجل فعاد الى اورشليم.
50- ثم بنى مدائن حصينة في
اليهودية و حصن اريحا و عماوس و بيت حورون و بيت ايل و تمنة و فرعتون و تفون
باسوار عالية و ابواب و مزاليج.
51- و جعل فيها حرسا يراغمون
اسرائيل.
52- و حصن مدينة صور و جازر و
القلعة و جعل فيها جيوشا و ميرة.
53- و اخذ ابناء قواد البلاد
رهائن و جعلهم في القلعة باورشليم في الحبس.
54- و في السنة الثالثة و الخمسين في الشهر الثاني امر الكيمس ان يهدم
حائط دار المقدس الداخلية فهدم اعمال الانبياء و شرع في التدمير.
55- في ذلك الزمان ضرب الكيمس
فكف عن صنيعه و اعتقل لسانه و فلج و لم يعد يستطيع ان ينطق بكلمة و لا ان يوصي
لبنيه.
56- و مات الكيمس في ذلك الزمان
في عذاب شديد.
57- فلما راى بكيديس ان الكيمس
قد مات رجع الى الملك و هدات ارض يهوذا سنتين.
58- و بعد ائتمر المنافقون كلهم
و قالوا ها ان يوناتان و الذين معه في منازلهم هادئون مطمئنون فهلموا الان نحمل
عليهم بكيديس فيقبض عليهم اجمعين في ليلة واحدة.
59- و انطلقوا و اشاروا عليه
بذلك.
60- فقام و سار في جيش عظيم و
بعث سرا يكتب الى جميع نصرائه في اليهودية ان يقبضوا على يوناتان و الذين معه
فلم يجدوا الى ذلك سبيلا لان مشورتهم انكشفت لهم.
61- ثم قبضوا على خمسين رجلا من
البلاد و هم ارباب الفتنة و قتلوهم.
62- و انصرف يوناتان و سمعان و
من معهما الى بيت حجلة في البرية و بنى مهدومها و حصنها.
63- و لما علم بكيديس حشد جميع
جمهوره و راسل حلفاءه في اليهودية.
64- و زحف و نزل على بيت حجلة و
حاربها اياما كثيرة و نصب المجانيق.
65- و ان يوناتان ترك سمعان اخاه
في المدينة و خرج في عدد من الجند و انتشر في البلاد.
66- و ضرب ادورين و اخوته و بني
فاسرون في خيامهم و طفق يوقع بالعدو و يزداد قوة.
67- و خرج سمعان و من معه من
المدينة و احرقوا المجانيق.
68- و قاتلوا بكيديس فانكسر و
ضايقوه جدا و اذ ذهبت مشورته و خروجه في الباطل.
69- استشاط غضبا على الرجال
المنافقين الذين اشاروا عليه بالخروج من البلاد و قتل كثيرين منهم و ازمع
الانصراف الى ارضه.
70- و علم يوناتان فانفذ اليه
رسلا في عقد المصالحة و رد الاسرى.
71- فاجاب و فعل بحسب كلامه و
حلف له انه لن يطلبه بسوء كل ايام حياته.
72- و رد اليه الاسرى الذين
اسرهم من قبل في ارض يهوذا ثم عاد الى ارضه و لم يعد يسير الى تخومهم.
73- فزال السيف من اسرائيل و سكن
يوناتان في مكماش و اخذ يوناتان يحاكم الشعب و استاصل المنافقين من اسرائيل
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