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Description

Detailed battle scene showing the armies of Jonathan and Bacchides near the Jordan River, with some of the forces crossing the Jordan.

Demetrius, "ruler in the country beyond the river" (the Euphrates) sent Bacchides to Judea in 161 B.C. with a large army, in order to establish Alcimus as high priest (I Macc. vii. 8, 9). Bacchides left an unexpected path of descruction, killing 60 Assideans and leading a similar massacre in Bezeth (Bethzecha).

After a Syrian army led by Nicanor suffered defeat at the hands of Judas Maccabeus (ib. vii. 26-50), Demetrius again sent Bacchides and Alcimus to Judea with an army of twenty thousand infantry and two thousand cavalry. At Eleasa (Laisa) he met Judas and ultimately defeated a force led by Judas, who was killed in the battle (ib. ix. 1-18). Bacchides established the Hellenists as rulers in Judea. The Judean forces, commanded by Juda's brother Jonathan, fled beyond the Jordan. Bacchides attacked them on a Sabbath, but suffered a significant defeat, losing one thousand men (ib. ix. 43-49).

Bacchides returned to Jerusalem, and, in order to subdue the Jews, fortified not only the Acro, but also Jericho, Emmaus, Beth-horon, Beth-el, Thamnata (Timnatha), Pharathon, Tephon, Beth-zur, and Gazara (ib. ix. 50-52). After Alcimus died, Bacchides led an unsuccessful attack on Jonathan's Army, before returning to Syria. Late, incited by the Hellenists, he moved a third time against the Jews. Only after he had been defeated several times by Simon, brother of Judas and Jonathan, did he enter into a treaty with Judea (ib. ix. 58-73; Josephus, "Ant." xii. 10, § 13; xiii. 1).