Old Testament

New Testament

1 Maccabees 9:45-51 Common English Bible (CEB)

45. Look! The battle is in front of us and behind us. The water of the Jordan is on this side and on that, with marsh and thicket. There’s no place to turn.

46. Cry out now to heaven so that you may be rescued from our enemies."

47. So the battle began. Jonathan reached out his hand to strike Bacchides, but he escaped and went to the rear.

48. Then Jonathan and his forces jumped into the Jordan and swam to the other side. The enemy didn’t cross the Jordan to attack them.

49. About one thousand of Bacchides’ soldiers died that day.

50. Then Bacchides returned to Jerusalem and built strong cities in Judea: the fortress in Jericho, Emmaus, Beth-horon, Bethel, Timnath, Pharathon, and Tephon, all with high walls and gates and bars.

51. He placed soldiers in each of them to harass Israel.

Read complete chapter 1 Maccabees 9