23
We were happy to serve your father, to live by what he said, and to follow his commands.
24
For this reason the sons of our people besieged the citadel and became hostile to us; moreover, they have put to death as many of us as they have caught, and they have seized our inheritances.
25
It is not against us alone that they have stretched out their hands; they have also attacked all the lands on their borders.
26
And see, today they have encamped against the citadel in Jerusalem to take it; they have fortified both the sanctuary and Beth-zur;
27
unless you quickly prevent them, they will do still greater things, and you will not be able to stop them."
28
The king was enraged when he heard this. He assembled all his Friends, the commanders of his forces and those in authority.
29
Mercenary forces also came to him from other kingdoms and from islands of the seas.
30
The number of his forces was one hundred thousand foot soldiers, twenty thousand horsemen, and thirty-two elephants accustomed to war.
31
They came through Idumea and encamped against Beth-zur, and for many days they fought and built engines of war; but the Jews sallied out and burned these with fire, and fought courageously.
32
Then Judas marched away from the citadel and encamped at Beth-zechariah, opposite the camp of the king.
33
Early in the morning the king set out and took his army by a forced march along the road to Beth-zechariah, and his troops made ready for battle and sounded their trumpets.