50
So the king took Beth-zur and stationed a guard there to hold it.
51
Then he encamped before the sanctuary for many days. He set up siege towers, engines of war to throw fire and stones, machines to shoot arrows, and catapults.
52
The Jews also made engines of war to match theirs, and fought for many days.
53
But they had no food in storage, because it was the seventh year; those who found safety in Judea from the Gentiles had consumed the last of the stores.
54
Few men were left in the sanctuary, because famine had prevailed over the rest and they had been scattered, each to his own place.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.