18 Those who were in the citadel kept hemming Yisrael (Israel) in around the sanctuary, and always sought to harm them and to strengthen the Gentiles. 19 Yehudah planned to destroy them, and called all the people together to besiege them. 20 They were gathered together, and besieged them in[fn] the one hundred fiftieth year, and he made mounds to shoot from, and engines of war. 21 Some of those who were hemmed in came out, and some of the ungodly men of Yisrael were joined to them. 22 They went to the king, and said, “How long will you not execute judgement, and avenge our kindred? 23 We were willing to serve your father and to live by his words, and to follow his commandments. 24 Because of this, the children of our people besieged the citadel[fn] and were alienated from us; but as many of us as they could catch, they killed, and plundered our inheritances. 25 Not against us only did they stretch out their hand, but also against all their borders. 26 Listen, they are encamped this day against the citadel at Yerushalem (Jerusalem) to take it. They have fortified the sanctuary and Beyt-Tsur. 27 If you don’t quickly prevent them, they will do greater things than these, and you won’t be able to control them.

28 When the king heard this, he was angry, and gathered together all his[fn] friends, the rulers of his army, and those who were over the cavalry. 29 Bands of hired soldiers came to him from other kingdoms and from islands of the sea. 30 The number of his forces was one hundred thousand infantry, and twenty thousand cavalry, and thirty-two elephants trained for war. 31 They went through Edom, and encamped against Beyt-Tsur, and fought against it many days, and made engines of war. The Yehudim (Jews) came out and burnt them with fire, and fought valiantly.