51 He stationed soldiers in these towns, and they caused trouble for the Jews.
52 Bacchides also strengthened the fortress in Jerusalem and the towns of Beth-Zur and Gazara. He put soldiers and food supplies in these strongholds.
53 Then he took the sons of the Jewish leaders as hostages and locked them up in the Jerusalem fortress.
54 In the second month of the year 153 of the Syrian Kingdom, Alcimus the high priest ordered his followers to destroy the wall in the temple courtyard that prophets of earlier times had said should be built.
55 But no sooner had the work begun, than Alcimus got sick and everything stopped. He couldn't move or even give instructions for making out his will.
56 He died a very painful death.
57 After Bacchides learned that Alcimus had died, he returned to King Demetrius, and Judea had peace for two years.