Jonathan Takes the Lead

After Judas died, lawless people became strong in Israel. A severe famine came, and many in the land went over to their side. Bacchides chose ungodly men to rule and hunted down the friends of Judas, treating them harshly. In that time of great suffering, Judas’s supporters gathered and chose Jonathan to be prince and leader in his brother’s place.

When Bacchides learned this, he tried to kill Jonathan. Jonathan, Simon, and their companions fled to the wilderness of Tekoah. Jonathan sent his brother John to ask their Nabathaean friends to store their baggage, but the children of Jambri seized John and took what he had. Later Jonathan and Simon heard of a wedding procession, hid by the mountain, attacked from ambush, and avenged their brother’s blood.

After that, Bacchides came with a great army to the Jordan. Jonathan told his men to stand and fight for their lives and to cry to heaven for deliverance. In the battle, Jonathan reached out to strike Bacchides, but Bacchides drew back. Jonathan and his men leapt into the Jordan and swam across, and the enemy did not cross after them. About a thousand of Bacchides’ men fell that day.

Bacchides returned to Jerusalem and strengthened strong cities in Judea with walls, gates, bars, and garrisons to harass Israel. He also took the sons of leading men as hostages. Later Alcimus ordered part of the sanctuary wall pulled down, but he was stricken, could no longer speak or give orders, and then died. After that, Bacchides returned to the king, and Judah had rest for two years.

Then lawless men urged Bacchides to come secretly against Jonathan again, but the plan became known. Jonathan’s men seized about fifty men who had caused the wickedness and killed them. Jonathan and Simon strengthened Bethbasi. Bacchides attacked it, but Jonathan struck enemies in the country while Simon’s men burned the siege engines. Bacchides was defeated, and Jonathan sent ambassadors to make peace and ask for the captives back. Bacchides agreed, restored the captives, and left. The sword ceased from Israel, and Jonathan began to judge the people at Michmash.