battle with the Jews； to fight courageously； and to hinder their
passing over the brook； for he said to them beforehand； that 〃if
they come over it； we shall be beaten。〃 And when Judas heard that
Timotheus prepared himself to fight； he took all his own army；
and went in haste against Timotheus his enemy； and when he had
passed over the brook； he fell upon his enemies； and some of them
met him； whom he slew； and others of them he so terrified； that
he compelled them to throw down their arms and fly； and some of
them escaped； but some of them fled to what was called the Temple
of Camaim； and hoped thereby to preserve themselves； but Judas
took the city； and slew them； and burnt the temple； and so used
several ways of destroying his enemies。
5。 When he had done this； he gathered the Jews together； with
their children and wives； and the substance that belonged to
them； and was going to bring them back into Judea； but as soon as
he was come to a certain city； whose name was Ephron； that lay
upon the road； （and it was not possible for him to go any other
way； so he was not willing to go back again；） he then sent to the
inhabitants； and desired that they would open their gates； and
permit them to go on their way through the city； for they had
stopped up the gates with stones； and cut off their passage
through it。 And when the inhabitants of Ephron would not agree to
this proposal； he encouraged those that were with him； and
encompassed the city round； and besieged it； and； lying round it
by day and night； took the city； and slew every male in it； and
burnt it all down； and so obtained a way through it； and the
multitude of those that were slain was so great； that they went
over the dead bodies。 So they came over Jordan； and arrived at
the great plain； over against which is situate the city Bethshah；
which is called by the Greeks Scythopolis。 （20） And going away
hastily from thence； they came into Judea； singing psalms and
hymns as they went； and indulging such tokens of mirth as are
usual in triumphs upon victory。 They also offered
thank…offerings； both for their good success； and for the
preservation of their army； for not one of the Jews was slain in
these battles。（21）
6。 But as to Joseph； the son of Zacharias； and Azarias； whom
Judas left generals ＇of the rest of his forces＇ at the same time
when Simon was in Galilee； fighting against the people of
Ptolemais； and Judas himself； and his brother Jonathan； were in
the land of Gilead； did these men also affect the glory of being
courageous generals in war； in order whereto they took the army
that was under their command； and came to Jamnia。 There Gorgias；
the general of the forces of Jamnia； met them； and upon joining
battle with him； they lost two thousand of their army； （22） and
fled away； and were pursued to the very borders of Judea。 And
this misfortune befell them by their disobedience to what
injunctions Judas had given them； not to fight with any one
before his return。 For besides the rest of Judas's sagacious
counsels； one may well wonder at this concerning the misfortune
that befell the forces commanded by Joseph and Azarias； which he
understood would happen； if they broke any of the injunctions he
had given them。 But Judas and his brethren did not leave off
fighting with the Idumeans； but pressed upon them on all sides；
and took from them the city of Hebron； and demolished all its
fortifications； and set all its towers on fire； and burnt the
country of the foreigners； and the city Marissa。 They came also
to Ashdod； and took it； and laid it waste； and took away a great
deal of the spoils and prey that were in it； and returned to
Judea。
CHAPTER 9。
Concerning The Death Of Antiochus Epiphane。 How Antiochus Eupator
Fought Against Juda And Besieged Him In The Temple And Afterwards
Made Peace With Him And Departed； Of Alcimus And Onias。
1。 About this time it was that king Antiochus； as he was going
over the upper countries； heard that there was a very rich city
in Persia； called Elymais； and therein a very rich temple of
Diana； and that it was full of all sorts of donations dedicated
to it； as also weapons and breastplates； which； upon inquiry； he
found had been left there by Alexander； the son of Philip； king
of Macedonia。 And being incited by these motives； he went in
haste to Elymais； and assaulted it； and besieged it。 But as those
that were in it were not terrified at his assault； nor at his
siege； but opposed him very courageously； he was beaten off his
hopes； for they drove him away from the city； and went out and
pursued after him； insomuch that he fled away as far as Babylon；
and lost a great many of his army。 And when he was grieving for
this disappointment； some persons told him of the defeat of his
commanders whom he had left behind him to fight against Judea；
and what strength the Jews had already gotten。 When this concern
about these affairs was added to the former； he was confounded；
and by the anxiety he was in fell into a distemper； which； as it
lasted a great while； and as his pains increased upon him； so he
at length perceived he should die in a little time； so he called
his friends to him； and told them that his distemper was severe
upon him； and confessed withal； that this calamity was sent upon
him for the miseries he had brought upon the Jewish nation； while
he plundered their temple； and contemned their God； and when he
had said this； he gave up the ghost。 Whence one may wonder at
Polybius of Megalopolis； who； though otherwise a good man； yet
saith that 〃Antiochus died because he had a purpose to plunder
the temple of Diana in Persia；〃 for the purposing to do a thing；
（23） but not actually doing it； is not worthy of punishment。 But
if Polybius could think that Antiochus thus lost his life on that
account； it is much more probable that this king died on account
of his sacrilegious plundering of the temple at Jerusalem。 But we
will not contend about this matter with those who may think that
the cause assigned by this Polybius of Megalopolis is nearer the
truth than that assigned by us。
2。 However； Antiochus； before he died； called for Philip； who was
one of his companions； and made him the guardian of his kingdom；
and gave him his diadem； and his garment； and his ring； and
charged him to carry them； and deliver them to his son Antiochus；
and desired him to take care of his education； and to preserve
the kingdom for him。 （24） This Antiochus died in the hundred
forty and ninth year； but it was Lysias that declared his death
to the multitude； and appointed his son Antiochus to be king； （of
whom at present he had the care；） and called him Eupator。
3。 At this time it was that the garrison in the citadel of
Jerusalem； with the Jewish runagates； did a great deal of harm to
the Jews； for the soldiers that were in that garrison rushed out
upon the sudden； and destroyed such as were going up to the
temple in order to offer their sacrifices； for this citadel
adjoined to and overlooked the temple。 When these misfortunes had
often happened to them； Judas resolved to destroy that garrison；
whereupon he got all the people together； and vigorously besieged
those that were in the citadel。 This was in the hundred and
fiftieth year of the dominion of the Seleucidse。 So he made
engines of war； and erected bulwarks； and very zealously pressed
on to take the citadel。 But there were not a few of the runagates
who were in the place that went out by night into the country；
and got together some other wicked men like themselves； and went
to Antiochus the king； and desired of him that he would not
suffer them to be neglected； under the great hardships that lay
upon them from those of their own nation； and this because their
sufferings were occasioned on his father's account； while they
left the religious worship of their fathers； and preferred that
which he had commanded them to follow： that there was danger lest
the citadel； and those appointed to garrison it by the king；
should be taken by Judas； and those that were with him； unless he
would send them succors。 When Antiochus； who was but a child；
heard this； he was angry； and sent for his captains and his
friends； and gave order that they should get an army of
mercenaries together； with such men also of his own kingdom as
were of an age fit for war。 Accordingly； an army was collected of
about a hundred thousand footmen； and twenty thousand horsemen；
and thirty…two elephants。
4。 So the king took this army； and marched hastily out of
Antioch； with Lysias； who had the command of the whole； and came
to Idumea； and thence went up to the city Bethsnra； a city that
was strong； and not to be taken without great difficulty。 He set
about this city； and besieged it。 And while the inhabitants of
Bethsura courageously opposed him； and sallied out upon him； and
burnt his engines of war； a great deal of time was spent in the
siege。 But when Judas heard of the king's coming； he raised the
siege of the citadel； and met the king； and pitched his camp in
certain straits； at a place called Bethzachriah； at the distance
of seventy furlongs from the enemy； but the king soon drew his
forces from Bethsura； and brought them to those straits。 And as
soon as it was day； he put his men in battle…array； and made his
elephants follow one another through the narrow passes； because
they could not be set sideways by one another。 Now round about
every elephant there were a thousand footmen； and five hundred
horsemen。 The elephants also had high towers ＇upon their backs＇；
and archers ＇in them＇。 And he also made the rest of his army to
go up the mountains； and put his friends before the rest； and
gave orders for the army to shout aloud； and so he attacked the
enemy。 He also exposed to sight their golden and brazen shields；
so that a glorious splendor was sent from them； and when they
shouted the mountains echoed again。 When Judas saw this； he was
not terrified； but received the enemy with great courage； and
slew about six hundred of the first ranks。 But when his brother
Eleazar； whom they called Auran； saw the tallest of all the
elephants armed with royal breastplates； and supposed that the
king was upon him；