ara, and the castle,
and set garrisons in them, and provisions of victuals:

9:53. And he took the sons of the chief men of the country for hostages,
and put them in the castle in Jerusalem in custody.

9:54. 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 destroy. 9:55. 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.

9:56. And Alcimus died at that time in great torment.

9:57. And Bacchides saw that Alcimus was dead: and he returned to the
king, and the land was quiet for two years.

9:58. 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.

9:59. So they went, and gave him counsel.

9:60. 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.

9:61. And he apprehended of the men of the country, that were the
principal authors of the mischief, fifty men, and he slew them.

9:62. 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.

9:63. And when Bacchides knew it, he gathered together all his
multitude: and sent word to them that were of Judea.

9:64. And he came, and camped above Bethbessen, and fought against it
many days, and made engines.

9:65. But Jonathan left his brother, Simon, in the city and went forth
into the country, and came with a number of men,

9:66. And struck Odares, and his brethren, and the children of Phaseron,
in their tents, and he began to slay, and to increase in forces.

9:67. But Simon, and they that were with him, sallied out of the city,
and burnt the engines,

9:68. 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.

9:69. 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 p