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,
28. Let there be no battle between me and you; I will come with a few men, that I may see your faces in peace.
29. And he came to Judas, and they saluted one another peaceably. And the enemies were ready to take away Judas by violence.
30. And the thing was known to Judas, to wit, that he came to him with deceit, and he was sore afraid of him, and would see his face no more.
31. And Nicanor knew that his counsel was discovered; and he went out to meet Judas in battle beside Capharsalama;
32. and there fell of Nicanor’s side about five hundred men, and they fled into the city of David.
33. And after these things Nicanor went up to mount Sion: and there came some of the priests out of the sanctuary, and some of the elders of the people, to salute him peaceably, and to show him the whole burned sacrifice that was being offered for the king.
34. And he mocked them, and laughed at them, and entreated them shamefully, and spoke haughtily,