25. When Alcimus saw that Judas and his companions had grown strong, he knew he couldn’t resist them. So he returned to the king and brought spiteful charges against them.
26. Then the king sent for Nicanor, one of his honored princes who hated and despised Israel, and the king commanded him to destroy the people.
27. So Nicanor went to Jerusalem with a large force. He deceitfully sent a peaceful message to Judas and his brothers:
28. "Let there be no fighting between you and me. I’ll come with a few men to see you personally in peace."
29. So he came to Judas, and they greeted each other peaceably. But the enemy was preparing to kidnap Judas.
30. Judas found out that Nicanor had come to him with treacherous intentions. He was afraid of him and wouldn’t meet with Nicanor again.
31. When Nicanor learned that his plan had been discovered, he went out to meet Judas in battle near Caphar-salama.
32. About five hundred of Nicanor’s soldiers died. The rest fled into David’s City.
33. After these events, Nicanor went up to Mount Zion. Some priests from the sanctuary and some of the elders of the people came out to greet him peacefully. They pointed out to him the entirely burned offering that was being offered on behalf of the king.
34. But he mocked, ridiculed, and defiled them, and spoke in an arrogant way.
35. Angrily, he swore, "Unless Judas and his army are handed over to me this time, I will burn down this house if I return safely in the future." And he departed in great fury.
36. Then the priests went inside and stood before the altar and the temple. They wept out loud and said: