Single lesson
Judas Maccabeus' Final Battle
1 Maccabees 9:1–22
Judas Maccabeus faces a much larger army, falls in battle, and is mourned by Israel.
Before you teach
After Nicanor was killed in battle, Demetrius sent Bacchides and Alcimus back into Judah a second time, with the right wing of his army. They went by the road to Gilgal, camped against Mesaloth in Arbela, took it, and killed many people there. In the first month of that year, they camped against Jerusalem. Then they marched on to Berea with twenty thousand infantry and two thousand cavalry. Judas was camped at Elasa with three thousand chosen men. But when his soldiers saw how many enemies there were, they were…
Explain the central teaching of Judas Maccabeus' Final Battle, using two details from the reading. Judas Maccabeus faces a much larger army, falls in battle, and is mourned by Israel.
Welcome: Judas Maccabeus' Final Battle
5 minIntroduce “Judas Maccabeus' Final Battle” and locate 1 Maccabees 9:1–22. Judas Maccabeus faces a much larger army, falls in battle, and is mourned by Israel. Invite each learner to name a detail or question they will listen for.
1 Maccabees 9:1, 1 Maccabees 9:12, 1 Maccabees 9:22
Read and explain the passage
12 minAfter Nicanor was killed in battle, Demetrius sent Bacchides and Alcimus back into Judah a second time, with the right wing of his army. They went by the road to Gilgal, camped against Mesaloth in Arbela, took it, and killed many people there. In the first month of that year, they camped against Jerusalem.
Judas was deeply troubled. The battle was pressing on him, and there was no time to gather his scattered men again. He urged the ones who remained to rise and fight. They tried to persuade him to retreat and return later with their kindred, because they were too few. Judas refused to flee and said he would not leave behind dishonour.
But the left wing turned and followed Judas and the men with him. The battle became desperate, and many on both sides fell dead from their wounds. Judas fell, and the rest fled. Then Jonathan and Simon buried their brother in the tomb of his ancestors at Modin. All Israel wept and mourned many days, crying out that the mighty one, the saviour of Israel, had fallen.
Read the selected verses together, pausing at “Judas Maccabeus' Final Battle”. Use the source reading below and check the explanation against the words of the passage.
1 Maccabees 9:1, 1 Maccabees 9:2, 1 Maccabees 9:3, 1 Maccabees 9:9, 1 Maccabees 9:7, 1 Maccabees 9:10, 1 Maccabees 9:19, 1 Maccabees 9:17, 1 Maccabees 9:20
Discuss the details and their meaning
8 minUse the three questions below. Begin with ““Then they marched on to Berea with twenty thousand infantry and two thousand cavalry.” Which details explain how the account reaches this point?” and allow time to find the supporting verses. Judas Maccabeus faces a much larger army, falls in battle, and is mourned by Israel. Ask learners to explain which details support their answer and to identify a question they would like to explore further.
1 Maccabees 9:6, 1 Maccabees 9:4, 1 Maccabees 9:5, 1 Maccabees 9:9, 1 Maccabees 9:7, 1 Maccabees 9:10, 1 Maccabees 9:19, 1 Maccabees 9:17, 1 Maccabees 9:20
Make and respond: Choices and outcomes evidence map
12 minWork on “Judas Maccabeus' Final Battle: Choices and outcomes evidence map”. Follow the materials and steps below, using “Judas Maccabeus' Final Battle” as reading headings. Each learner should include at least two accurate details and their verse references. Share one observation from the finished sheet and explain how it connects with the central teaching.
1 Maccabees 9:1, 1 Maccabees 9:12, 1 Maccabees 9:22
Closing: return to Judas Maccabeus' Final Battle
3 minRevisit 1 Maccabees 9:1–22. Invite a learner to summarise what the group has learned about Judas Maccabeus' Final Battle and another to support the summary with a verse. Give learners a moment to complete their response sheet. They can share a question or, if appropriate for the group, join the optional prayer.
1 Maccabees 9:1, 1 Maccabees 9:12, 1 Maccabees 9:22
Questions to explore
“Then they marched on to Berea with twenty thousand infantry and two thousand cavalry.” Which details explain how the account reaches this point?
Then they marched on to Berea with twenty thousand infantry and two thousand cavalry. Judas was camped at Elasa with three thousand chosen men. But when his soldiers saw how many enemies there were, they were afraid. Many slipped away until no more than eight hundred men were left.
1 Maccabees 9:6, 1 Maccabees 9:4, 1 Maccabees 9:5
How does this moment affect the rest of the account: “Judas was deeply troubled.”?
Judas was deeply troubled. The battle was pressing on him, and there was no time to gather his scattered men again. He urged the ones who remained to rise and fight. They tried to persuade him to retreat and return later with their kindred, because they were too few. Judas refused to flee and said he would not leave behind dishonour.
1 Maccabees 9:9, 1 Maccabees 9:7, 1 Maccabees 9:10
“But the left wing turned and followed Judas and the men with him.” How does this ending connect with the beginning?
But the left wing turned and followed Judas and the men with him. The battle became desperate, and many on both sides fell dead from their wounds. Judas fell, and the rest fled. Then Jonathan and Simon buried their brother in the tomb of his ancestors at Modin. All Israel wept and mourned many days, crying out that the mighty one, the saviour of Israel,…
1 Maccabees 9:19, 1 Maccabees 9:17, 1 Maccabees 9:20
Make, think or respond
Judas Maccabeus' Final Battle: Choices and outcomes evidence map
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or pens
- a Bible or the source reading on this page
Try it together
- Fold a sheet into three panels or draw three columns. Label them “Words or actions”, “What happens next”, “Verse reference”.
- Read 1 Maccabees 9:1–22. Use “Judas Maccabeus' Final Battle” as your reading headings and add a short quotation or detail with its verse reference to each panel.
- Compare your notes with a partner. Check that every quotation is accurate and every conclusion has support in the passage.
- Compare two actions or statements in the account and explain their different outcomes.
The finished sheet keeps the details of Judas Maccabeus' Final Battle connected to their Bible references and gives the group a way to explain what they noticed.
Adapt for your group
- For learners who need more support, prepare the reading headings “Judas Maccabeus' Final Battle” and let them match short quotations to the correct heading.
- For confident readers, compare two sections of 1 Maccabees 9:1–22. Ask for a written explanation with two supporting references and one question that the text leaves open.
An optional closing prayer
“God, help us listen carefully as we read 1 Maccabees 9:1–22. Help us understand what we have read, ask thoughtful questions and respond with care for others. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
1 Maccabees 9
1 Demetrius heard that Nicanor had fallen with his forces in battle, and he sent Bacchides and Alcimus again into the land of Judah a second time, and the right wing of his army with them.
2 They went by the way that leads to Gilgal, and encamped against Mesaloth, which is in Arbela, and took possession of it, and killed many people.
3 The first month of the one hundred fifty-second year, they encamped against Jerusalem.
4 Then they marched away and went to Berea with twenty thousand infantry and two thousand cavalry.
5 Judas was encamped at Elasa with three thousand chosen men.
6 They saw the multitude of the forces, that they were many, and they were terrified. Many slipped away out of the army. There were not left of them more than eight hundred men.
7 Judas saw that his army slipped away and that the battle pressed upon him, and he was very troubled in spirit, because he had no time to gather them together, and he became faint.
8 He said to those who were left, “Let’s arise and go up against our adversaries, if perhaps we may be able to fight with them.”
9 They tried to dissuade him, saying, “There is no way we are able; but let’s rather save our lives now. Let’s return again with our kindred, and fight against them; but we are too few.”
10 Judas said, “Let it not be so that I should do this thing, to flee from them. If our time has come, let’s die in a manly way for our kindred’s sake, and not leave a cause of reproach against our honor.”
11 The army marched out from the camp, and stood to encounter them. The cavalry was divided into two companies, and the slingers and the archers went before the army, and all the mighty men that fought in the front of the battle.
12 Bacchides was in the right wing. The phalanx advanced on the two parts, and they blew with their trumpets.
13 The men by Judas’ side sounded with their trumpets, and the earth shook with the shout of the armies, and the battle was joined, and continued from morning until evening.
14 Judas saw that Bacchides and the strength of his army were on the right side, and all that were brave in heart went with him,
15 and the right wing was defeated by them, and he pursued after them to the mount Azotus.
16 Those who were on the left wing saw that the right wing was defeated, and they turned and followed in the footsteps of Judas and of those who were with him.
17 The battle became desperate, and many on both sides fell wounded to death.
18 Judas fell, and the rest fled.
19 Jonathan and Simon took Judas their brother, and buried him in the tomb of his ancestors at Modin.
20 They wept for him. All Israel made great lamentation for him, and mourned many days, and said,
21 “How the mighty has fallen, the savior of Israel!”
22 The rest of the acts of Judas, and his wars, and the valiant deeds which he did, and his greatness, are not written; for they were exceedingly many.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.