47. But when Judas’ troops saw the strength of the royal army and the ardor of its forces, they retreated from them.
48. Some of the king’s army went up to Jerusalem to attack them, and the king established camps in Judea and at Mount Zion.
49. He made peace with the people of Beth-zur, and they evacuated the city, because they had no food there to enable them to withstand a siege, for that was a sabbath year in the land.
50. The king took Beth-zur and stationed a garrison there to hold it.
51. For many days he besieged the sanctuary, setting up platforms and siege engines, fire-throwers, catapults and mechanical bows for shooting arrows and projectiles.
52. The defenders countered by setting up siege engines of their own, and kept up the fight a long time.
53. But there were no provisions in the storerooms, because it was the seventh year, and the reserves had been eaten up by those who had been rescued from the Gentiles and brought to Judea.
54. Few men remained in the sanctuary because the famine was too much for them; the rest scattered, each to his own home.
55. Lysias heard that Philip, whom King Antiochus, before his death, had appointed to train his son Antiochus to be king,
56. had returned from Persia and Media with the army that accompanied the king, and that he was seeking to take over the government.
57. So he hastily decided to withdraw. He said to the king, the leaders of the army, and the soldiers: “We are growing weaker every day, our provisions are scanty, the place we are besieging is strong, and it is our duty to take care of the affairs of the kingdom.
58. Therefore let us now come to terms with these people and make peace with them and all their nation.
59. Let us grant them freedom to live according to their own laws as formerly; it was on account of their laws, which we abolished, that they became enraged and did all these things.”
60. The proposal pleased the king and the leaders; he sent peace terms to the Jews, and they accepted.
61. So the king and the leaders swore an oath to them, and on these terms the Jews evacuated the fortification.
62. But when the king entered Mount Zion and saw how the place was fortified, he broke the oath he had sworn and gave orders to tear down the encircling wall.
63. Then he departed in haste and returned to Antioch, where he found Philip in control of the city. He fought against him and took the city by force.