26
Rulers and leaders groaned in sorrow. Young men and young women grew weak. The beauty of our women faded.
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Every bridegroom sang a funeral song, and every bride sat mourning in her room.
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All our people were clothed with shame, and our land trembled for them.
29
Two years later Antiochus sent a large army from Mysia against the towns of Judea. When the soldiers entered Jerusalem,
30
their commander spoke to the people, offering them terms of peace and completely deceiving them. Then he suddenly launched a fierce attack on the city, dealing it a major blow and killing many of the people.
31
He plundered the city, set it on fire, and tore down its buildings and walls.
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He and his army took the women and children as prisoners and seized the cattle.
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Then Antiochus and his forces built high walls and strong towers in the area north of the Temple, turning it into a fort.
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They brought in a group of traitorous Jews and installed them there.
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They also brought in arms and supplies and stored in the fort all the loot that they had taken in Jerusalem. This fort became a great threat to the city.
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The fort was a threat to the Temple, a constant, evil menace for Israel.