27. And there occurred a great tribulation in Israel, such as had never been, since the day that there was no prophet seen in Israel.
28. And all the friends of Judas gathered together, and they said to Jonathan:
29. "Since your brother Judas has fallen away, there is not a man like him to go forth against our enemies, against Bacchides and those who are the enemies of our nation.
30. And so now, we have chosen you in his place, on this day, to be our leader and commander in order to wage our wars."
31. And so, at that time, Jonathan took upon himself the leadership, and he rose up in the place of Judas, his brother.
32. And Bacchides knew of it, and he sought to kill him.
33. And Jonathan and his brother Simon knew of this, and so did all who were with them. And they fled into the desert of Tekoa, and they settled by the water of lake Asphar.
34. And Bacchides knew of it, and on the day of the Sabbath, he himself arrived, with all his army, across the Jordan.
35. And Jonathan sent his brother, a commander of the people, to ask the Nabateans, his friends, to lend them their equipment, which was abundant.
36. And the sons of Jambri went forth from Medeba, and they captured John, and all that he had, and they went away in possession of these.
37. After these events, it was reported to Jonathan and his brother Simon that the sons of Jambri were having a great marriage celebration, and that they would be leading the bride, a daughter of one of the great leaders of Canaan, out of Medeba with great fanfare.
38. And they remembered the blood of John, their brother. And they went up and hid themselves under the cover of the mountain.
39. And they lifted up their eyes and saw. And behold, a tumult and a well-prepared multitude. And the bridegroom proceeded, with his friends and his brothers, to meet them with timbrels, and musical instruments, and many weapons.