23. When Judas saw all the evils that Alcimus and those with him were bringing upon the Israelites, even more than the Gentiles had,
24. he went about all the borders of Judea and took revenge on the men who had deserted, preventing them from going out into the country.
25. But when Alcimus saw that Judas and his followers were gaining strength and realized that he could not resist them, he returned to the king and accused them of grave crimes.
26. Then the king sent Nicanor, one of his honored officers, who was a bitter enemy of Israel, with orders to destroy the people.
27. Nicanor came to Jerusalem with a large force and deceitfully sent to Judas and his brothers this peaceable message: