In the one hundred and fifty-first year, Demetrius the son of Seleucus departed from Rome, and went up with a few men to a city by the sea, and reigned there; for they went and entered the land of Judea with a great army, and sent messengers to Judas and his brethren, speaking to them with words of peace deceitfully. And they believed him, and he seized sixty men from among them and slew them in one day, as it is written: “They made the flesh of your holy ones, and shed their blood around Jerusalem, and no one buried them.” Then fear and dread fell upon all the people, for they said, “There is no truth or justice in them, for they have broken the covenant and the oath they swore.”

When he entered the royal court of his father, the armies seized Antiochus and Lysias to bring them before him; then he delivered the land to Alcimus, and left with him an army to support him. And Bacchides departed to the king. Then he went out to all the borders of Judea roundabout, and brought his vengeance upon the people who had deserted him, so they ceased from attacking the country. When Alcimus saw that Judas and his company had become strong, and knew that he could not stand before them, he returned to the king and slandered them with many accusations. Then Nicanor came to Jerusalem with a great army, and sent to Judas and his brethren, speaking to them with words of peace deceitfully, saying, “Let there be no fight between me and you, for I am coming with a small number of men to meet you in peace.”

When he knew this, he said, “Do not let me see them face to face.”

For the armies were slain, and Demetrius sat upon the throne of his kingdom.

And all the men of iniquity and ungodliness in Israel came to him, with Alcimus at their head, hoping to become high priest.

And they slandered the people to the king, saying, “Judas and his brethren have destroyed your friends and driven us from our land.”

“Now, therefore, send a man whom you trust, that he may go and inquire into all the destruction they have brought upon us and upon the king's land, and punish them with all their helpers.”

So the king chose Bacchides, one of the king's friends, ruling beyond the river, who was great in the kingdom and faithful to the king, and sent him.

He and Alcimus the ungodly, and he invested him with the priesthood and commanded him to take vengeance on the children of Israel.

But they paid no attention to their words, for they saw them coming with a great army.

And a company of scribes gathered to Alcimus and Bacchides, demanding their rights.

The Hasideans, who were the foremost among the children of Israel, came to them, asking for peace.

For they said, “Since there is a priest of the lineage of Aaron with their armies, he will not oppress us.”

So he spoke to them words of peace, and swore to them, saying, “We desire no harm to you nor to your companions.”

And Bacchides departed from Jerusalem and encamped at Beth-zaith. And he sent and seized many of those who had deserted him, and some of the people, and slew them on the great mountain.

And Alcimus diligently sought to obtain the high priesthood.

And all the corrupt among the people gathered to him, and they took possession of the land of Judea, and dealt a grievous blow to Israel.

And Judas saw all the evil that Alcimus and his company had done to the children of Israel, which was beyond what the nations had done.

So the king sent Nicanor, one of his famous commanders, who was a bitter enemy of Israel, and commanded him to destroy the people.

And he came to Judas and greeted him with words of peace, while the enemies were prepared to seize Judas.

And Judas knew that his approach was deceitful, so he was afraid of him and refused to meet him again.

When Nicanor saw that his counsel was discovered, he went out to fight Judas at Capharsalama.

And there fell from Nicanor's army about five thousand men, and the rest fled to the city of David.

After these things, Nicanor went up to Mount Zion, and some of the priests came out from the sanctuary and some of the elders of the people, greeting him with words of peace and showing him the burnt offerings offered for the king.

But he mocked them and scorned them and defiled them, and spoke to them proudly.

And he swore in wrath, saying, “Unless Judas and his army are delivered into my hands this day, when I return in peace, I will burn this house!” And he left in great anger.

Then the priests entered and stood before the altar and the temple, and wept and said,

“O Lord, you have chosen this house to be called by your name, and to be a house of prayer and supplication for your people.

Therefore, bring down vengeance upon this man and his army, and let them fall by the sword; remember their blasphemies, and spare them not.”

Then Nicanor departed from Jerusalem and encamped at Beth-horon, and the army of Syria joined him.

And Judas encamped at Adasa with three thousand men, and Judas prayed and said,

“When those who were with the king of Assyria blasphemed, your angel, O Lord, went forth and struck down one hundred and eighty-five thousand of them.

So likewise, destroy this army before us today, that the rest may know that they have spoken evil against your holy things, and judge him according to his wickedness.”

Then the armies engaged in battle on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, and Nicanor's army was broken, and he was the first to fall in the battle.

When Nicanor's army saw that he had fallen, they cast away their weapons and fled.

And they pursued them for a day's journey from Adasa to the entrance of Gezer, and blew trumpets behind them for a sign.

Then the people came out from all the villages of Judea on every side and met them, so they turned back towards those who pursued them, and they all fell by the sword, and none remained of them.

Then they took the spoils and the booty, and cut off Nicanor's head and his right hand which he had stretched out proudly, and brought them and hung them opposite Jerusalem.

And the people rejoiced greatly, and spent that day with great gladness.

And they ordained that the thirteenth day of Adar should be kept as a feast every year.

And the land of Judea had rest for a little while.