20. So in the one hundred and fiftieth year they assembled and besieged the citadel, for which purpose he constructed platforms and siege engines.
21. But some of the besieged escaped, and some renegade Israelites joined them.
22. They went to the king and said: “How long will you fail to do justice and to avenge our kindred?
23. We agreed to serve your father and to follow his orders and obey his edicts.
24. And for this our own people have become our enemies; they have put to death as many of us as they could find and have seized our inheritances.
25. They have acted aggressively not only against us, but throughout their whole territory.
26. Look! Today they have besieged the citadel in Jerusalem in order to capture it, and they have fortified the sanctuary and Beth-zur.
27. Unless you act quickly to prevent them, they will do even worse things than these, and you will not be able to stop them.”
28. When the king heard this he was enraged, and he called together all his Friends, the officers of his army, and the commanders of the cavalry.