38. Remembering the blood of John their brother, they went up and hid themselves under cover of the mountain.
39. As they watched there appeared a noisy throng with much baggage; then the bridegroom and his friends and kinsmen had come out to meet them with tambourines and musicians with their instruments.
40. Jonathan and his party rose up against them from their ambush and killed them. Many fell wounded; the rest fled toward the mountain; all their spoils were taken.
41. Thus the wedding was turned into mourning, and the sound of their music into lamentation.
42. Having taken their revenge for the blood of their brother, they returned to the marshes of the Jordan.
43. When Bacchides heard of it, he came on the sabbath to the banks of the Jordan with a large force.
44. Then Jonathan said to his companions, “Let us rise up now and fight for our lives, for today is not like yesterday and the day before.
45. The battle is before us, behind us are the waters of the Jordan, on either side of us, marsh and thickets; there is no way of escape.
46. Cry out now to Heaven so that you may be delivered from the hand of our enemies.”
47. When they joined battle, Jonathan raised his hand to strike Bacchides, but Bacchides backed away from him.
48. Jonathan and those with him jumped into the Jordan and swam across to the other side, but the enemy did not pursue them across the Jordan.
49. About a thousand men on Bacchides’ side fell that day.
50. On returning to Jerusalem, Bacchides built strongholds in Judea: the Jericho fortress, as well as Emmaus, Beth-horon, Bethel, Timnath, Pharathon, and Tephon, with high walls and gates and bars.
51. In each he put a garrison to harass Israel.
52. He fortified the city of Beth-zur, Gazara and the citadel, and put troops in them and stores of provisions.
53. He took as hostages the sons of the leading people of the country and put them in custody in the citadel at Jerusalem.