1 Maccabees 6:48-63

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

The Siege of the Temple

⁴⁸ The soldiers of the king’s army went up to Jerusalem against them, and the king encamped in Judea and at Mount Zion. ⁴⁹ He made peace with the people of Beth-zur, and they evacuated the town because they had no provisions there to withstand a siege, since it was a sabbatical year for the land.^{(A) 50} So the king took Beth-zur and stationed a guard there to hold it.^{(B) 51} Then he encamped before the sanctuary for many days. He set up siege towers, engines of war, devices to throw fire and stones, machines to shoot arrows, and catapults.^{(C) 52} The Jews^[a] also made engines of war to match theirs and fought for many days. ⁵³ But they had no food in storage,^[b] because it was the seventh year; those who had found safety in Judea from the nations had consumed the last of the stores. ⁵⁴ Only a few men were left in the sanctuary; the rest scattered to their own homes, for the famine proved too much for them.

Syria Offers Terms

⁵⁵ Then Lysias heard that Philip, whom King Antiochus while still living had appointed to bring up his son Antiochus to be king,^{(D) 56} had returned from Persia and Media with the forces that had gone with the king and that he was trying to seize control of the government.^{(E) 57} So he quickly gave orders to withdraw and said to the king, to the commanders of the forces, and to the troops, “Daily we grow weaker, our food supply is scant, the place against which we are fighting is strong, and the affairs of the kingdom press urgently on us. ⁵⁸ Now, then, let us come to terms with these people and make peace with them and with all their nation.^{(F) 59} Let us agree to let them live by their laws as they did before, for it was on account of their laws that we abolished that they became angry and did all these things.”^(G)

⁶⁰ The speech pleased the king and the commanders, and he sent to the Jews^[c] an offer of peace, and they accepted it.^{(H) 61} So the king and the commanders gave them their oath. On these conditions the Jews^[d] evacuated the stronghold. ⁶² But when the king entered Mount Zion and saw what a strong fortress the place was, he broke the oath he had sworn and gave orders to tear down the wall all around.^{(I) 63} Then he set off in haste and returned to Antioch. He found Philip in control of the city, but he fought against him and took the city by force.^(J)