1 Maccabees 7:24-26

Common English Bible

²⁴ So Judas went into the surrounding Judean highlands and took vengeance on those who had deserted. He prevented them from going out into the country. ²⁵ When Alcimus saw that Judas and his companions had grown strong, he knew he couldn’t resist them. So he returned to the king and brought spiteful charges against them.

Nicanor in Judea

²⁶ Then the king sent for Nicanor, one of his honored princes who hated and despised Israel, and the king commanded him to destroy the people.