40. Then those who were with Jonathan ambushed them and began killing them. They wounded and killed many. The rest fled to the mountain, and the Jews took all their goods.
41. So the wedding turned into mourning, and the sound of their musicians into a funeral hymn.
42. After they had fully avenged their brother’s death, they returned to the marshes of the Jordan.
43. When Bacchides heard about this, he came with a large force to the banks of the Jordan on the Sabbath.
44. Jonathan said to his companions, "Let’s get up now and fight for our lives. Today things are not like they were before.
45. Look! The battle is in front of us and behind us. The water of the Jordan is on this side and on that, with marsh and thicket. There’s no place to turn.
46. Cry out now to heaven so that you may be rescued from our enemies."
47. So the battle began. Jonathan reached out his hand to strike Bacchides, but he escaped and went to the rear.
48. Then Jonathan and his forces jumped into the Jordan and swam to the other side. The enemy didn’t cross the Jordan to attack them.
49. About one thousand of Bacchides’ soldiers died that day.
50. Then Bacchides returned to Jerusalem and built strong cities in Judea: the fortress in Jericho, Emmaus, Beth-horon, Bethel, Timnath, Pharathon, and Tephon, all with high walls and gates and bars.
51. He placed soldiers in each of them to harass Israel.
52. He also fortified Beth-zur, Gazara, and the elevated fortress. He put soldiers and stores of food in them.
53. He took hostage the sons of the leading citizens and put them under guard in the elevated fortress at Jerusalem.
54. In the second month of the year 153, Alcimus gave orders to tear down the wall of the inner court of the sanctuary—to tear down the work of the prophets. But he only initiated the project.
55. Right at that moment Alcimus had a stroke, and his work was stalled. He was paralyzed and couldn’t speak or give commands concerning his house.
56. Alcimus died a painful death shortly thereafter.
57. When Bacchides saw that Alcimus was dead, he returned to the king. The land of Judah was quiet for two years.
58. Then all the people who did not live by the Law developed a plan and said, "Look! Jonathan and his people are living in quiet and confidence. Now let’s bring Bacchides back—he’ll capture them all in one night."