1
Very soon after this, Lysias, the king's guardian and kinsman, who was in charge of the government, being vexed at what had happened,
2
gathered about eighty thousand men and all his cavalry and came against the Jews. He intended to make the city a home for Greeks,
3
and to levy tribute on the temple as he did on the sacred places of the other nations, and to put up the high priesthood for sale every year.
4
He took no account whatever of the power of God, but was elated with his ten thousands of infantry, and his thousands of cavalry, and his eighty elephants.
5
Invading Judea, he approached Beth-zur, which was a fortified place about five leagues from Jerusalem, and pressed it hard.
6
When Maccabeus and his men got word that Lysias was besieging the strongholds, they and all the people, with lamentations and tears, besought the Lord to send a good angel to save Israel.
7
Maccabeus himself was the first to take up arms, and he urged the others to risk their lives with him to aid their brethren. Then they eagerly rushed off together.
8
And there, while they were still near Jerusalem, a horseman appeared at their head, clothed in white and brandishing weapons of gold.