55
he had a stroke, and work was stopped. Paralyzed and unable to open his mouth, he could not speak or even make a will for his family.
56
He died in great torment.
57
When Bacchides learned that Alcimus was dead, he returned to King Demetrius, and the land of Judea had peace for two years.
58
Then all the renegades got together and said, "Look, Jonathan and his men are living in peace and security. If we bring Bacchides here now, he can capture them all in a single night."
59
They went to discuss the matter with Bacchides,
60
and he set out with a large army. He sent secret letters to all his allies in Judea, asking them to seize Jonathan and his men. But they were not able to do so because the plot was discovered.
61
Jonathan and his men captured 50 of the traitorous leaders who had been involved in the plot and put them to death.
62
Then Jonathan, Simon, and their forces withdrew to Bethbasi in the wilderness. They rebuilt the fallen fortifications and strengthened the town's defenses.
63
When Bacchides learned about all this, he got his whole army together and alerted his supporters in Judea.
64
He attacked Bethbasi from all sides and built siege platforms. After the battle had gone on for a long time,
65
Jonathan slipped out into the country with a small body of men and left his brother Simon in charge of the town.
66
Jonathan defeated Odomera and his people, and then attacked and destroyed the Phasirite camp. Once defeated, they joined Jonathan and advanced with him in his attack against Bacchides.
67
At the same time, Simon and his men rushed from the town and burned the siege platforms.
68
In the battle Bacchides was pressed so hard that all his plans came to nothing, and he was defeated.
69
He was so furious with the traitorous Jews who had urged him to come to Judea that he put many of them to death. Then Bacchides decided to return to his own country,
70
but when Jonathan learned of this, he sent ambassadors to Bacchides to arrange for peace terms and the return of Jewish prisoners.
71
Bacchides agreed to do as Jonathan asked and gave him his solemn promise that he would let him live in peace the rest of his life.
72
Bacchides handed over the prisoners and returned to his own country. Never again did he come into Jewish territory.
73
War came to an end in Israel. Jonathan settled in Michmash and began to govern the people and to eliminate the renegade Jews from Israel.