5. And there came to him all the lawless and ungodly men of Israel; and Alcimus was their leader, desiring to be high priest;
6. and they accused the people to the king, saying, Judas and his brethren have destroyed all your friends, and have scattered us from our own land.
7. Now therefore send a man whom you trust, and let him go and see all the havock which he has made of us, and of the king’s country, and how he has punished them and all that helped them.
8. And the king chose Bacchides, one of the king’s Friends, who was ruler in the country beyond the river, and was a great man in the kingdom, and faithful to the king.
9. And he sent him, and that ungodly Alcimus, and made sure to him the high priesthood, and he commanded him to take vengeance upon the children of Israel.
10. And they removed, and came with a great host into the land of Judah, and he sent messengers to Judas and his brethren with words of peace deceitfully.
11. And they gave no heed to their words; for they saw that they were come with a great host.
12. And there were gathered together to Alcimus and Bacchides a company of scribes, to seek for justice.
13. And the Hasidaeans were the first among the children of Israel that sought peace of them;
14. for they said, One that is a priest of the seed of Aaron is come with the forces, and he will do us no wrong.
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.