17
"The flesh of thy saints and their blood they poured out round about Jerusalem, and there was none to bury them."
18
Then the fear and dread of them fell upon all the people, for they said, "There is no truth or justice in them, for they have violated the agreement and the oath which they swore."
19
Then Bacchides departed from Jerusalem and encamped in Beth-zaith. And he sent and seized many of the men who had deserted to him, and some of the people, and killed them and threw them into a great pit.
20
He placed Alcimus in charge of the country and left with him a force to help him; then Bacchides went back to the king.
21
Alcimus strove for the high priesthood,
22
and all who were troubling their people joined him. They gained control of the land of Judah and did great damage in Israel.
23
And Judas saw all the evil that Alcimus and those with him had done among the sons of Israel; it was more than the Gentiles had done.
24
So Judas went out into all the surrounding parts of Judea, and took vengeance on the men who had deserted, and he prevented those in the city from going out into the country.
25
When Alcimus saw that Judas and those with him had grown strong, and realized that he could not withstand them, he returned to the king and brought wicked charges against them.
26
Then the king sent Nicanor, one of his honored princes, who hated and detested Israel, and he commanded him to destroy the people.
27
So Nicanor came to Jerusalem with a large force, and treacherously sent to Judas and his brothers this peaceable message,