19
So Judas decided to destroy them, and assembled all the people to besiege them.
20
They gathered together and besieged the citadel in the one hundred and fiftieth year; and he built siege towers and other engines of war.
21
But some of the garrison escaped from the siege and some of the ungodly Israelites joined them.
22
They went to the king and said, "How long will you fail to do justice and to avenge our brethren?
23
We were happy to serve your father, to live by what he said and to follow his commands.
24
For this reason the sons of our people besieged the citadel and became hostile to us; moreover, they have put to death as many of us as they have caught, and they have seized our inheritances.
25
And not against us alone have they stretched out their hands, but also against all the lands on their borders.
26
And behold, today they have encamped against the citadel in Jerusalem to take it; they have fortified both the sanctuary and Beth-zur;
27
and unless you quickly prevent them, they will do still greater things, and you will not be able to stop them."
28
The king was enraged when he heard this. He assembled all his friends, the commanders of his forces and those in authority.
29
And mercenary forces came to him from other kingdoms and from islands of the seas.