habees Chapter 9

Bacchides is sent again into Judea: Judas fights against him with eight
hundred men and is slain. Jonathan succeeds him and revenges the murder
of his brother John. He fights against Bacchides. Alcimus dies
miserably. Bacchides besieges Bethbessen. He is forced to raise the
siege and leave the country.

9:1. 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.

9:2. 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.

9:3. In the first month of the hundred and fifty-second year they
brought the army to Jerusalem:

9:4. And they arose and went to Berea, with twenty thousand men, and two
thousand horsemen.

9:5. Now Judas had pitched his tents in Laisa, and three thousand chosen
men with him:

9:6. 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.

9:7. 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.

9:8. Then he said to them that remained: Let us arise, and go against
our enemies, if we may be able to fight against them.

9:9. 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.

9:10. 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.

9:11. 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.

9:12. And Bacchides was in the right wing, and the legion drew near on
two sides, and they sounded the trumpets:

9:13. 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.

9:14. And Judas perceived that the stronger part of the army of
Bacchides was on