50. So the king took Beth-zur and positioned a guard unit there to hold it.
51. Then he camped in front of the sanctuary for many days. He set up siege towers, war engines that threw fire and rocks, machines to shoot darts, and catapults.
52. The Jews made war engines to match theirs, and they battled for many days.
53. But they had no food in storage since it was the seventh year. Those people who had found safe haven in Judea from the Gentiles had eaten the last of the food.
54. Only a few people remained in the sanctuary. The famine was so intense that the others had scattered to their own homes.
55. Then Lysias heard that King Antiochus, before he died, had appointed Philip to bring up Antiochus his son to be king.
56. Philip had returned from Persia and Media with the forces that had gone with the king, and he was trying to seize control of the government.
57. So Lysias quickly gave orders to withdraw and told the king, the commanders of the forces, and the troops, "We’re growing weaker every day because our food supply is scarce. The place we’re fighting against is strong, and the affairs of the kingdom are pressing urgently on us.
58. Let’s come to terms now with these people and make peace with them and their nation.
59. Let’s agree to let them live by their laws like they used to do. It was because of their laws, which we abolished, that they got angry and did all these things."
60. This speech pleased the king and the commanders, so he sent the Jews an offer of peace, which they accepted.
61. The king and his commanders gave their word, so the Jews left the fortress.
62. However, when the king went into Mount Zion and saw how securely the place was built, he went back on his word and ordered that the wall be torn down all around.
63. Then he set off in a hurry to return to Antioch. He found that Philip was in control of the city, so he fought against him and took the city by force.