1 Maccabees 9:1-18

Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition

9 In the mean time when Demetrius heard that Nicanor and his army were fallen in battle, he sent again Bacchides and Alcimus into Judea; and the right wing of his army with them.

² And they took the road that leadeth to Galgal, and they camped in Masaloth, which is in Arabella: and they made themselves masters of it, and slew many people.

³ In the first month of the hundred and fifty-second year they brought the army to Jerusalem:

⁴ And they arose, and went to Berea with twenty thousand men, and two thousand horsemen.

⁵ Now Judas had pitched his tents in Laisa, and three thousand chosen men with him:

⁶ And they saw the multitude of the army that they were many, and they were seized with great fear: and many withdrew themselves out of the camp, and there remained of them no more than eight hundred men.

⁷ And Judas saw that his army slipped away, and the battle pressed upon him, and his heart was cast down: because he had not time to gather them together, and he was discouraged.

⁸ Then he said to them that remained: Let us arise, and go against our enemies, if we may be able to fight against them.

⁹ But they dissuaded him, saying: We shall not be able, but let us save our lives now, and return to our brethren, and then we will fight against them: for we are but few.

¹⁰ Then Judas said: God forbid we should do this thing, and flee away from them: but if our time be come, let us die manfully for our brethren, and let us not stain our glory.

¹¹ And the army removed out of the camp, and they stood over against them: and the horsemen were divided into two troops, and the slingers, and the archers went before the army, and they that were in the front were all men of valour.

¹² And Bacchides was in the right wing, and the legion drew near on two sides, and they sounded the trumpets:

¹³ And they also were on Judas' side, even they also cried out, and the earth shook at the noise of the armies: and the battle was fought from morning even unto the evening.

¹⁴ And Judas perceived that the stronger part of the army of Bacchides was on the right side, and all the stout of heart came together with him:

¹⁵ And the right wing was discomfited by them, and he pursued them even to the mount Azotus.

¹⁶ And they that were in the left wing saw that the right wing was discomfited, and they followed after Judas, and them that were with him, at their back:

¹⁷ And the battle was hard fought, and there fell many wounded of the one side and of the other.

¹⁸ And Judas was slain, and the rest fled away.