[
393]
At this Demetrius was very angry, and sent Bacchides, a friend of
Antiochus Epiphanes,
1
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.