§ IX. I Macc. ix. 1-22.
IX. It was afterwards told the king Demetrius,
that Nicanor fell, and all his folk with him.
Then would he yet send and slay the Jews,
and found then Bacchides, who was filled with wickedness,
and Aleimus with him, the impious priest,
and sent them with a troop to the Jewish folk.
They came then suddenly with battle against Judas,
and his companions were slothful, except eight hundred men,
that fought with him against the hostile host.
Then quoth his companions that they would flee,
because their company was diminished with the flight (of the rest),
and would save themselves against the furious army.
Then answered Judas, as he was wholly bold,
'Let it never happen in our lives, that we. lay aside our glory
with slothful flight, but let us fight against them;
and if God so foreordains, we shall die in our might
for our brethren, without shameful flight.'
They came then together, and began to fight
in two troops, throughout the whole day,
and Judas then looked to the right side,
that they were the stronger, and advanced thither soon
with the most hardy men, that fought with him,
and chased that end (of the army), but after him went
the other troop, with battle, behind (him);
and there fell then on both sides many in the battle,
and Judas fell also, and the rest fled away.
Then his brothers brought his body out of the carnage,
and buried it in Modin, beside Mattathias his father,
and all the people mourned him, in the ancient manner.
