45
And behold the battle is before us, and the water of the Jordan on this side and on that side, and banks, and marshes, and woods: and there is no place for us to turn aside.
46
Now therefore cry ye to heaven, that ye may be delivered from the hand of your enemies. And they joined battle.
47
And Jonathan stretched forth his hand to strike Bacchides, but he turned away from him backwards.
48
And Jonathan, and they that were with him leaped into the Jordan, and swam over the Jordan to them:
49
And there fell of Bacchides' side that day a thousand man: and they returned to Jerusalem,
50
And they built strong cities in Judea, the fortress that was in Jericho, and in Ammaus, and in Bethoron, and in Bethel, and Thamnata, and Phara, and Thopo, with high walls, and gates, and bars.
51
And he placed garrisons in them, that they might wage war against Israel:
52
And he fortified the city of Bethsura, and Gazara, and the castle, and set garrisons in them, and provisions of victuals:
53
And he took the sons of the chief men of the country for hostages, and put them in the castle in Jerusalem in custody.
54
Now in the year one hundred and fifty-three, the second month, Alcimus commanded the walls of the inner court of the sanctuary to be thrown down, and the works of the prophets to be destroyed: and he began to be destroyed: and he began to destroy.
55
At that time Alcimus was struck: and his works were hindered, and his mouth was stopped, and he was taken with a palsy, so that he could no more speak a word, nor give order concerning his house.