1 Maccabees 9:1

Bacchides returns to Judea

1 When Demetrius heard that Nicanor and his army had been defeated in battle, he sent Bacchides and Alcimus into the land of Judah a second time. The right wing of the army was with them.

1 Maccabees 9:1 In-Context

1 When Demetrius heard that Nicanor and his army had been defeated in battle, he sent Bacchides and Alcimus into the land of Judah a second time. The right wing of the army was with them.

2 They went by the road that leads to Gilgal and prepared for battle against Mesaloth in Arbela. They captured it and killed many people.

3 In the first month of the year 152, they camped against Jerusalem.

4 Then they marched off and went to Berea with twenty thousand infantry and two thousand cavalry.

5 Now Judas was camped at Elasa with three thousand handpicked soldiers.