21
Alcimus struggled to maintain the high priesthood.
22
All the troublemakers joined him. They gained control of Judah and did great damage in Israel.
23
Judas saw all the wrongs that Alcimus and those with him had done among the Israelites, exceeding what the Gentiles had done.
24
So Judas went into the surrounding Judean highlands and took vengeance on those who had deserted. He prevented them from going out into the country.
25
When Alcimus saw that Judas and his companions had grown strong, he knew he couldn't resist them. So he returned to the king and brought spiteful charges against them.