9:1 Furthermore, when Demetrius heard that Nicanor and his host were
slain in battle, he sent Bacchides and Alcimus into the land of Judea
the second time, and with them the chief strength of his host:
9:2 Who went forth by the way that leadeth to Galgala, and pitched
their tents before Masaloth, which is in Arbela, and after they had won
it, they slew much people.
9:3 Also the first month of the hundred fifty and second year they
encamped before Jerusalem:
9:4 From whence they removed, and went to Berea, with twenty thousand
footmen and two thousand horsemen.
9:5 Now Judas had pitched his tents at Eleasa, and three thousand
chosen men with him:
9:6 Who seeing the multitude of the other army to be so great were sore
afraid; whereupon many conveyed themselves out of the host, insomuch as
there abode of them no more but eight hundred men.
9:7 When Judas therefore saw that his host slipt away, and that the
battle pressed upon him, he was sore troubled in mind, and much
distressed, for that he had no time to gather them together.
9:8 Nevertheless unto them that remained he said, Let us arise and go
up against our enemies, if peradventure we may be able to fight with
them.
9:9 But they dehorted him, saying, We shall never be able: let us now
rather save our lives, and hereafter we will return with our brethren,
and fight against them: for we are but few.
9:10 Then Judas said, God forbid that I should do this thing, and flee
away from them: if our time be come, let us die manfully for our
brethren, and let us not stain our honour.
9:11 With that the host of Bacchides removed out of their tents, and
stood over against them, their horsemen being divided into two troops,
and their slingers and archers going before the host and they that
marched in the foreward were all mighty men.
9:12 As for Bacchides, he was in the right wing: so the host drew near
on the two parts, and sounded their trumpets.
9:13 They also of Judas’ side, even they sounded their trumpets also,
so that the earth shook at the noise of the armies, and the battle
continued from morning till night.
9:14 Now when Judas perceived that Bacchides and the strength of his
army were on the right side, he took with him all the hardy men,
9:15 Who discomfited the right wing, and pursued them unto the mount
Azotus.
9:16 But when they of the left wing saw that they of the right wing
were discomfited, they followed upon Judas and those that were with him
hard at the heels from behind:
9:17 Whereupon there was a sore battle, insomuch as many were slain on
both parts.
9:18 Judas also was killed, and the remnant fled.
9:19 Then Jonathan and Simon took Judas their brother, and buried him
in the sepulchre of his fathers in Modin.
9:20 Moreover they bewailed him, and all Israel made great lamentation
for him, and mourned many days, saying,
9:21 How is the valiant man fallen, that delivered Israel!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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