5
Then all the godless traitorous Jews led by Alcimus, who wanted to be High Priest, went to Demetrius.
6
They brought accusations against the other Jews and said, "Judas and his brothers have killed everybody who supported you, and they have driven us out of our country.
7
We advise you to send someone whom you can trust to go and inspect all the damage done to our property and the king's territory and to punish Judas, his brothers, and all who support them."
8
King Demetrius chose one of his advisers, a man by the name of Bacchides, who was the governor of Greater Syria. He was an important man in the empire and loyal to the king.
9
He was sent along with the godless Alcimus, whom the king had appointed High Priest; Alcimus had orders to take revenge on the Jews.
10
They left Antioch and arrived in Judea with a large army. Bacchides tried to trick Judas and his brothers by sending to them messengers with offers of peace.
11
But when Judas and his brothers saw what a large army they had brought, they did not believe what the messengers said.
12
A group of teachers of the Law came to Alcimus and Bacchides, asking for justice.
13
These devout and patriotic men were the first of the Jews to try to make peace with Alcimus and Bacchides.
14
They trusted Alcimus, who was a priest descended from Aaron, and they thought he would not cause them any harm.
15
Alcimus assured them of his peaceful intentions and solemnly promised that no harm would come to them or their friends.