16
But as soon as they began to trust him, he arrested 60 of them and put them all to death on the same day. As the scripture says,
17
"The blood of your faithful people was poured out,
1 their bodies were scattered around Jerusalem, and there was no one left to bury the dead."
18
When this happened, all the people were afraid of Alcimus and Bacchides, and they said, "They don't know what truth or justice means. They gave their solemn word and then broke it!"
19
Bacchides left Jerusalem and set up his headquarters at Beth Zaith. He ordered the arrest of some of the faithful Jews and even many of the renegades who had willingly joined him; he had them killed and thrown into a deep pit.
20
Bacchides put the country under the control of Alcimus, left troops there to help him, and returned to the king.
21
Alcimus then began his struggle to establish himself as High Priest.
22
Every troublemaker in the country joined him. They gained control of the land of Judea and caused great difficulties for the Jews.
23
Judas saw that the trouble Alcimus and his men had caused was even worse than the damage done by the Gentiles.
24
So he went around the whole country of Judea taking revenge on all the men who had willingly joined Alcimus and preventing them from leaving the towns and going into the country.
25
When Alcimus saw that Judas and his men were growing more powerful and when he realized that he would not be able to stand against them, he returned to the king and accused them of great crimes.
26
Then the king sent Nicanor, one of his most honored officers, who hated the Jews, with orders to exterminate them.