1 Maccabees 9:23-31

Common English Bible

Jonathan succeeds Judas

²³ After Judas’ death, renegades appeared throughout Israel. All the immoral people reappeared. ²⁴ There was also a very great famine at that time, and the country went over to the enemy’s side. ²⁵ Bacchides chose the godless and put them in charge of the country. ²⁶ They hunted down Judas’ friends and brought them to Bacchides. He took vengeance on them and treated them terribly. ²⁷ So there was great distress in Israel, the worst since the time when prophets ceased to appear among them.

²⁸ Then the other friends of Judas assembled and said to Jonathan, ²⁹ “Since your brother Judas died, there hasn’t been anyone like him to fight against our enemies and Bacchides, and to deal with those among our people who hate us. ³⁰ So we’ve chosen you today to take his place as our ruler and leader to fight our battle.” ³¹ Jonathan accepted the leadership at that time in place of his brother Judas.