15. And he spoke with them words of peace, and sware to them, saying, We will seek the hurt neither of you nor your friends.
16. And they gave him credence: and he laid hands on threescore men of them, and killed them in one day, according to the word which the psalmist wrote,
17. The flesh of your saints did they cast out, And their blood did they shed round about Jerusalem; And there was no man to bury them.
18. And the fear and the dread of them fell upon all the people, for they said, There is neither truth nor judgement in them; for they have broken the covenant and the oath which they sware.
19. And Bacchides removed from Jerusalem, and encamped in Bezeth; and he sent and took away many of the deserters that were with him, and certain of the people, and he killed them, and cast them into the great pit.
20. And he made sure the country to Alcimus, and left with him a force to aid him; and Bacchides went away to the king.
21. And Alcimus strove for his high priesthood.
22. And there were gathered to him all they that troubled their people, and they got the mastery of the land of Judah, and did great hurt in Israel.
23. And Judas saw all the mischief that Alcimus and his company had done among the children of Israel, even above the Gentiles,
24. and he went out into all the coasts of Judaea round about, and took vengeance on the men that had deserted from him, and they were restrained from going forth into the country.
25. But when Alcimus saw that Judas and his company waxed strong, and knew that he was not able to withstand them, he returned to the king, and brought evil accusations against them.
26. And the king sent Nicanor, one of his honorable princes, a man that hated Israel and was their enemy, and commanded him to destroy the people.
27. And Nicanor came to Jerusalem with a great host; and he sent to Judas and his brethren deceitfully with words of peace, saying,