8. King Demetrius chose one of his advisers, a man by the name of Bacchides, who was the governor of Greater Syria. He was an important man in the empire and loyal to the king.
9. He was sent along with the godless Alcimus, whom the king had appointed High Priest; Alcimus had orders to take revenge on the Jews.
10. They left Antioch and arrived in Judea with a large army. Bacchides tried to trick Judas and his brothers by sending to them messengers with offers of peace.
11. But when Judas and his brothers saw what a large army they had brought, they did not believe what the messengers said.
12. A group of teachers of the Law came to Alcimus and Bacchides, asking for justice.
13. These devout and patriotic men were the first of the Jews to try to make peace with Alcimus and Bacchides.
14. They trusted Alcimus, who was a priest descended from Aaron, and they thought he would not cause them any harm.