2 Maccabees 11:5-7

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

⁵ Invading Judea, he approached Beth-zur, which was a fortified place about five leagues^[a] from Jerusalem, and pressed it hard.

⁶ When Maccabe′us and his men got word that Lys′ias^[b] was besieging the strongholds, they and all the people, with lamentations and tears, besought the Lord to send a good angel to save Israel. ⁷ Maccabe′us himself was the first to take up arms, and he urged the others to risk their lives with him to aid their brethren. Then they eagerly rushed off together.