12
Then there assembled to Alcimus and Bacchides a company of the scribes to require things that are just:
13
And first the Assideans that were among the children of Israel, and they sought peace of them.
14
For they said: One that is a priest of the seed of Aaron is come, he will not deceive us.
15
And he spoke to them peaceably: and he swore to them, saying: We will do you no harm nor your friends.
16
And they believed him. And he took threescore of them, and slew them in one day, according to the word that is written:
17
The flesh of thy saints, and the blood of them they have shed round about Jerusalem, and there was none to bury them.
18
Then fear and trembling fell upon all the people: for they said: There is no truth, nor justice among them: for they have broken the covenant, and the oath which they made.
19
And Bacchides removed the camp from Jerusalem, and pitched in Bethzecha: and he sent, and took many of them that were fled away from him, and some of the people he killed, and threw them into a great pit.
20
Then he committed the country to Alcimus, and left with him troops to help him. So Bacchides went away to the king:
21
But Alcimus did what he could to maintain his chief priesthood.
22
And they that disturbed the people resorted to him, and they got the land of Juda into their power, and did much hurt in Israel.