BACCHIDES, General of the Troops belonging to Demetrius Soter King of Syria1 Macc. xii. 8. In the Year of the World 3843, before J. C. 157, before the vulgar Æra 161., and Governour of Mesopotamia. He was sent by Demetrius together with the High Priest Alcimus, to examine into the depredations which Judas Maccabæus was accused of committing in the Country. He came therefore with a great Army to Jerusalem, and sent a deputation of some persons to Judas Maccabæus and his Brothers, with fraudulent propositions of peace. But neither Judas nor his Brethren had any confidence in them. A Priest with some Assideans coming to Bacchides, he put to death sixty of them. After which he left Jerusalem, and incamping at Bethzekah, he gave directions to apprehend some of those who had deserted the party of the Syrians, and having murdered them threw them into a well. This done, he put the whole Province into the hands of Alcimus, whom he left with Troops for his defence, and so returned to Antioch, where the King was.
1 Macc. ix. 1.Some time after, towards the end of the same year, Bacchides returned again into Judæa with some of the King’s choicest Troops, to put a stop to the progress, which Judas was making, who had obtained a signal Victory over Nicanor. Bacchides went directly to Jerusalem, thinking to find Judas there; but he had retreated to Laïsa or Lesen; whither Bacchides went in search of him. Judas’s Army consisted of no more than three thousand men, whereas in that of Bacchides there were twenty thousand foot, and two thousand horse. Judas’s forces were intimidated by the great numbers of their Enemies, and insensibly stole away from him, so that not above eight hundred men were left; with these he encountered Bacchides chides, broke his right wing, and pursued him as far as mount Azotus. But Bacchides’s left wing having hem’d in Judas and his little Army, this Hero was born In the Year of the World 3843, before J. C. 157, before the vulg. Æra 161. במתניוdown by multitudes, and killed by the Enemy.
The whole Country after this submitted to Bacchides; and he gave the government of it to a set of wicked men, who exercised their cruelty upon all Judas’s friends. But all the people having chosen Jonathan to 1 Macc. xi. 24. & seq.succeed his Brother Judas Maccabæus, Bacchides used his utmost endeavours to lay hold of him and put him to death: which Jonathan being informed of, retired to Tekoe near Jerusalem, and from thence passed the Jordan. Bacchides pursued him, and inclosed him in a place, where behind him he had the river Jordan, and woods on each side of him; so that there was a necessity either to conquer or die. He gave battle, and fought valiantly with his Troops, but being overpowered by the great number of his Enemies, he threw himself into the river, and swam over it with his people. Bacchides left a thousand of his men dead upon the spot, and afterwards returned to Jerusalem. He fortified several places in the Country, took the children of the chief men in Israel for hostages, secured them in the fortress of Jerusalem, and, Alcimus dying some time In the year of the World 3846, before J. C. 154. before the vulg. Æra 159.after, left Judæa, and returned to Antioch.
Two years after, Bacchides was recalled by a wicked party of the Jews, accordingly he came with an Army, and solicited those in his interest to seize Jonathan. But he avoided the ambuscades they laid for him, 1 Macc. xi. 57, 58, 59, &c.and retired; he fortified Bethbesen, and there abode with his Brother Simon. Bacchides upon notice of this, besieged him; but Jonathan after he had defended himself for a long time, left his Brother Simon in the place, and himself took the field at the head of some Troops. Simon in the mean time on his part made several successful sallies on the Enemy, burnt their machines, and compell’d them to raise the siege. In short, Jonathan having sent to demand peace of Bacchides, it was granted, the prisoners were restored, and he returned to Antioch; from whence he made no more expeditions into Judæa. This is all we know relating to the history of Bacchides. There is mention in 2 Macc. viii. 30. of some conflicts between Judas and Bacchides; but we know no particulars of them, nor of their date, unless they happened after the year of the world 3840.