50
Bacchides then returned to Jerusalem and built strong cities in Judea: the fortress in Jericho, and Emmaus, and Beth-horon, and Bethel, and Timnath, and Pharathon, and Tephon, with high walls and gates and bars.
51
And he placed garrisons in them to harass Israel.
52
He also fortified the city of Beth-zur, and Gazara, and the citadel, and in them he put troops and stores of food.
53
And he took the sons of the leading men of the land as hostages and put them under guard in the citadel at Jerusalem.
54
In the one hundred and fifty-third year, in the second month, Alcimus gave orders to tear down the wall of the inner court of the sanctuary. He tore down the work of the prophets!
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.