Eleazar； whom they called Auran； saw the tallest of all the
elephants armed with royal breastplates； and supposed that the
king was upon him； he attacked him with great quickness and
bravery。 He also slew many of those that were about the elephant；
and scattered the rest； and then went under the belly of the
elephant； and smote him； and slew him； so the elephant fell upon
Eleazar； and by his weight crushed him to death。 And thus did
this man come to his end； when he had first courageously
destroyed manyof his enemies。
5。 But Judas； seeing the strength of the enemy； retired to
Jerusalem； and prepared to endure a siege。 As for Antiochus； he
sent part of his army to Bethsura； to besiege it； and with the
rest of his army he came against Jerusalem； but the inhabitants
of Bethsura were terrified at his strength； and seeing that their
provisions grew scarce；。 they delivered themselves up on the
security of oaths that they should suffer no hard treatment from
the king。 And when Antiochus had thus taken the city； he did them
no other harm than sending them out naked。 He also placed a
garrison of his own in the city。 But as for the temple of
Jerusalem； he lay at its siege a long time； while they within
bravely defended it； for what engines soever the king set against
them； they set other engines again to oppose them。 But then their
provisions failed them； what fruits of the ground they had laid
up were spent and the land being not ploughed that year；
continued unsowed； because it was the seventh year； on which； by
our laws； we are obliged to let it lay uncultivated。 And withal；
so many of the besieged ran away for want of necessaries； that
but a few only were left in the temple。
6。 And these happened to be the circumstances of such as were
besieged in the temple。 But then； because Lysias； the general of
the army； and Antiochus the king； were informed that Philip was
coming upon them out of Persia； and was endeavoring to get the
management of public affairs to himself； they came into these
sentiments； to leave the siege； and to make haste to go against
Philip； yet did they resolve not to let this be known to the
soldiers or to the officers： but the king commanded Lysias to
speak openly to the soldiers and the officers； without saying a
word about the business of Philip； and to intimate to them that
the siege would be very long； that the place was very strong；
that they were already in want of provisions； that many affairs
of the kingdom wanted regulation； and that it was much better to
make a league with the besieged； and to become friends to their
whole nation； by permitting them to observe the laws of their
fathers； while they broke out into this war only because they
were deprived of them； and so to depart home。 When Lysias had
discoursed thus to them； both the army and the officers were
pleased with this resolution。
7。 Accordingly the king sent to Judas； and to those that were
besieged with them； and promised to give them peace； and to
permit them to make use of； and live according to； the laws of
their fathers； and they gladly received his proposals； and when
they had gained security upon oath for their performance； they
went out of the temple。 But when Antiochus came into it； and saw
how strong the place was； he broke his oaths； and ordered his
army that was there to pluck down the walls to the ground； and
when he had so done； he returned to Antioch。 He also carried with
him Onias the high priest； who was also called Menelaus； for
Lysias advised the king to slay Menelaus； if he would have the
Jews be quiet； and cause him no further disturbance； for that
this man was the origin of all the mischief the Jews had done
them； by persuading his father to compel the Jews to leave the
religion of their fathers。 So the king sent Menelaus to Berea； a
city of Syria； and there had him put to death； when he had been
high priest ten years。 He had been a wicked and an impious man；
and； in order to get the government to himself； had compelled his
nation to transgress their own laws。 After the death of Menelaus；
Alcimus； who was also called Jacimus； was made high priest。 But
when king Antiochus found that Philip had already possessed
himself of the government； he made war against him； and subdued
him； and took him； and slew him。 Now as to Onias； the son of the
high priest； who； as we before informed you； was left a child
when his father died； when he saw that the king had slain his
uncle Menelaus； and given the high priesthood to Alcimus； who was
not of the high priest stock； but was induced by Lysias to
translate that dignity from his family to another house； he fled
to Ptolemy； king of Egypt； and when he found he was in great
esteem with him； and with his wife Cleopatra； he desired and
obtained a place in the Nomus of Heliopolis； wherein he built a
temple like to that at Jerusalem； of which therefore we shall
hereafter give an account； in a place more proper for it。
CHAPTER 10。
How Bacchides； The General Of Demetrius's Army； Made An
Expedition Against Judea； And Returned Without Success； And How
Nicanor Was Sent A Little Afterward Against Judas And Perished；
Together With His Army； As Also Concerning The Death Of Alcimus
And The Succession Of Judas。
1。 About the same time Demetrius； the son of Seleucus； fled away
from Rome； and took Tripoli； a city of Syria； and set the diadem
on his own head。 He also gathered certain mercenary soldiers
together； and entered into his kingdom； and was joyfully received
by all； who delivered themselves up to him。 And when they had
taken Autiochus the king； and Lysias； they brought them to him
alive； both which were immediately put to death by the command of
Demetrius； when Antiochus had reigned two years； as we have
already elsewhere related。 But there were now many of the wicked
Jewish runagates that came together to him； and with them Alcimus
the high priest； who accused the whole nation； and particularly
Judas and his brethren； and said that they had slain all his
friends； and that those in his kingdom that were of his party；
and waited for his return； were by them put to death； that these
men had ejected them out of their own country； and caused them to
be sojourners in a foreign land； and they desired that he would
send some one of his own friends； and know from him what mischief
Judas's party had done。
2。 At this Demetrius was very angry； and sent Bacchides； a friend
of Antiochus Epiphanes； （25） a good man； and one that had been
intrusted with all Mesopotamia； and gave him an army； and
committed Alcimus the high priest to his care； and gave him
charge to slay Judas； and those that were with him。 So Bacchides
made haste； and went out of Antioch with his army； and when he
was come into Judea； he sent to Judas and his brethren； to
discourse with them about a league of friendship and peace； for
he had a mind to take him by treachery。 But Judas did not give
credit to him； for he saw that he came with so great an army as
men do not bring when they come to make peace； but to make war。
However； some of the people acquiesced in what Bacchides caused
to be proclaimed； and supposing they should undergo no
considerable harm from Alcimus； who was their countryman； they
went over to them； and when they had received oaths from both of
them； that neither they themselves； nor those of the same
sentiments； should come to any harm； they intrusted themselves
with them。 But Bacchides troubled not himself about the oaths he
had taken； but slew threescore of them； although； by not keeping
his faith with those that first went over； he deterred all the
rest； who had intentions to go over to him； from doing it。 But as
he was gone out of Jerusalem； and was at the village called
Bethzetho； he sent out； and caught many of the deserters； and
some of the people also； and slew them all； and enjoined all that
lived in the country to submit to Alcimus。 So he left him there；
with some part of the army； that he might have wherewith to keep
the country in obedience and returned to Antioch to king
Demetrius。
3。 But Alcimus was desirous to have the dominion more firmly
assured to him； and understanding that； if he could bring it
about that the multitude should be his friends； he should govern
with greater security； he spake kind words to them all； and
discoursed to each of them after an agreeable and pleasant
manner； by which means he quickly had a great body of men and an
army about him； although the greater part of them were of the
wicked； and the deserters。 With these； whom he used as his
servants and soldiers； he went all over the country； and slew all
that he could find of Judas's party。 But when Judas saw that
Alcimus was already become great； and had destroyed many of the
good and holy men of the country； he also went all over the
country； and destroyed those that were of the other party。 But
when Alcimus saw that he was not able to oppose Judas； nor was
equal to him in strength； he resolved to apply himself to king
Demetrius for his assistance； so he came to Antioch； and
irritated him against Judas； and accused him； alleging that he
had undergone a great many miseries by his means； and that he
would do more mischief unless he were prevented； and brought to
punishment； which must be done by sending a powerful force
against him。
4。 So Demetrius； being already of opinion that it would be a
thing pernicious to his own affairs to overlook Judas； now he was
becoming so great； sent against him Nicanor； the most kind and
most faithful of all his friends； for he it was who fled away
with him from the city of Rome。 He also gave him as many forces
as he thought sufficient for him to conquer Judas withal； and bid
him not to spare the nation at all。 When Nicanor was come to
Jerusalem； he did not resolve to fight Judas immediately； but
judged it better to get him into his power by treachery； so he
sent him a message of peace； and said there was no manner of
necessity for them to fight and hazard themselves； and that he
would give him his oath that he would do him no harm； for that he
only came with some friends； in order to let him know what king
Demetrius's intentions were； and what opini