56. Alcimus died a painful death shortly thereafter.
57. When Bacchides saw that Alcimus was dead, he returned to the king. The land of Judah was quiet for two years.
58. Then all the people who did not live by the Law developed a plan and said, "Look! Jonathan and his people are living in quiet and confidence. Now let’s bring Bacchides back—he’ll capture them all in one night."
59. They went and talked it over with him.
60. He came with a large military force. Secretly, he sent letters to all his allies in Judea. He told them to seize Jonathan and his followers. But they weren’t able to do it because their plan was discovered.
61. Instead, Jonathan’s followers captured approximately fifty people who were leaders in this treachery and killed them.
62. Then Jonathan, his followers, and Simon withdrew to Bethbasi in the wilderness. He rebuilt the parts of it that had been demolished and fortified it.
63. When Bacchides found out about this, he assembled all his forces and gave orders to the Judeans.
64. Then he came and camped against Bethbasi. He made war machines and fought against it for many days.
65. But Jonathan left his brother Simon in the town while he went out into the country. He took only a few men and
66. struck down Odomera and his people, as well as the people of Phasiron in their tents. Then he began to attack and went into battle with his forces.
67. Simon and his group left the town and set fire to the war machines.
68. They fought Bacchides, and he was crushed by them. They put so much pressure on him that his plan and invasion came to nothing.
69. So he was very angry at the renegade Jews who had advised him to return to the country. He killed many of them before he decided to go back to his own land.