21
And some of the besieged got out: and some wicked men of Israel joined themselves unto them.
22
And they went to the king, and said: How long dost thou delay to execute the judgment, and to revenge our brethren?
23
We determined to serve thy father and to do according to his orders, and obey his edicts:
24
And for this they of our nation are alienated from us, and have slain as many of us as they could find, and have spoiled our inheritances.
25
Neither have they put forth their hand against us only, but also against all our borders.
26
And behold they have approached this day to the castle of Jerusalem to take it, and they have fortified the stronghold of Bethsura:
27
And unless thou speedily prevent them, they will do greater things than these, and thou shalt not be able to subdue them.
28
Now when the king heard this, he was angry: and he called together all his friends, and the captains of his army, and them that were over the horsemen.
29
There came also to him from other realms, and from the islands of the sea hired troops.
30
And the number of his army was an hundred thousand footmen, and twenty thousand horsemen, and thirty-two elephants, trained to battle.
31
And they went through Idumea, and approached to Bethsura, and fought many days, and they made engines: but they sallied forth and burnt them with fire, and fought manfully.