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But there was no food left in the Temple storage bins because it was the sabbatical year, and the people who had fled from the Gentiles and taken refuge in Judea had eaten all the food that had been stored there.
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The shortage of food had been so severe that many people had scattered to their homes, and only a few men were left in the Temple.
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Meanwhile, Philip, who had been appointed by King Antiochus before his death to educate his son to be king,
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returned from Persia and Media. He had come back with the royal army and planned to take control of the government. When Lysias heard this news,
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he made rapid preparations to depart. He said to the young king, to his officers, and to his men, "We are growing weaker each day; we are short of provisions, and this place we are besieging is strong. Besides, there are pressing government affairs which need our attention.