20. And when a council was held all day about this, and the commander had brought it before the multitude, they were all of one opinion to consent to an alliance.
21. And so, they appointed a day, on which they would act among themselves secretly, and seats were brought out and placed for each of them.
22. But Judas instructed armed men to be in strategic places, lest some kind of malice might unexpectedly spring up from the enemies. And they had an agreeable conference.
23. Then Nicanor stayed in Jerusalem, and he did no iniquity; he sent away the flocks of the crowds, which had been gathered together.
24. And Judas always held him dear to the heart, and was favorably inclined toward the man.
25. And he asked him to consider a wife, and to procreate sons. He got married; he lived quietly, and they all lived in common.
26. But Alcimus seeing the love that they had for one another, and the agreements, went to Demetrius, and he told him that Nicanor had assented to foreign interests, and that he had chosen Judas, a traitor to the kingdom, as his successor.
27. And so the king, being exasperated and provoked by this very wicked accusation, wrote to Nicanor, saying that he was certainly overburdened by the agreement of alliance, and he ordered him nevertheless to send Maccabeus quickly to Antioch in chains.
28. When this was known, Nicanor was in consternation, and he took it grievously that he would make void the things that were agreed, having received no injury from the man.
29. But, because he was not able to oppose the king, he watched for an opportunity to follow through with the orders.
30. But Maccabeus, seeing that Nicanor acted more formally with him, and that, when they met together as usual, he exhibited insolence, understood this austerity not to be from goodness. So, gathering together a few men, he hid himself from Nicanor.
31. But when he realized that he was effectively prevented by the man, he went to the greatest and holiest temple, and he ordered the priests, offering the usual sacrifices, to deliver the man to him.
32. When these spoke oaths to him that they did not know where he who was being sought was, he extended his hand toward the temple,