23 It came to pass after the death of Yehudah, that the lawless emerged within all the borders of Yisrael (Israel). All those who did iniquity rose up. 24 In those days there was an exceedingly great famine, and the country went over to their side. 25 Bakides chose the ungodly men and made them rulers of the country. 26 They enquired and searched for the friends of Yehudah, and brought them to Bakides, and he took vengeance on them and used them despitefully. 27 There was great suffering in Yisrael, such as was not since the time prophets stopped appearing to them.

28 All the friends of Yehudah were gathered together, and they said to Yonatan (Jonathan), 29 “Since your brother Yehudah has died, we have no man like him to go out against our enemies and Bakides, and amongst those of our nation who hate us. 30 Now therefore we have chosen you this day to be our prince and leader in his place, that you may fight our battles.” 31 So Yonatan took the governance upon him at that time, and rose up in the place of his brother Yehudah.

32 When Bakides found out, he tried to kill him. 33 Yonatan, and Shim’on (Simon) his brother, and all who were with him, knew it; and they fled into the wilderness of Tekoa, and encamped by the water of the pool of Asphar. 34 Bakides found this out on the Sabbath day, and came—he and all his army—over the Yarden (Jordan).