1
Not long after this, Lysias the king's protector and cousin, who also managed the affairs, took sore displeasure in the things that were done.
2
And when he had gathered about fourscore thousand with all the horsemen, he came against the Jews, thinking to make the city a habitation for the Gentiles,
3
and to make a gain from the temple, as from the other chapels of the heathen, and to set out the high priesthood for sale every year,
4
not at all considering the power of God, but puffed up with his ten thousand footmen and his thousand horsemen and his fourscore elephants.
5
So he came to Judea, and drew near to Beth-zur, which was a fortified town but distant from Jerusalem about five furlongs; and he laid sore siege against it.
6
Now when those who were with Maccabeus heard that he besieged the strongholds, they and all the people with lamentation and tears besought the Lord that He would send a good angel to deliver Israel.
7
Then Maccabeus himself first of all took weapons, exhorting the others that they would jeopardize themselves together with him to help their brethren; so they went forth together with a willing mind.