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[375]
But Judas, seeing the strength of the enemy, retired to Jerusalem,
and prepared to endure a siege. As for Antiochus, he sent part of his army
to Bethsura, to besiege it, and with the rest of his army he came against
Jerusalem; but the inhabitants of Bethsura were terrified at his strength;
and seeing that their provisions grew scarce,. they delivered themselves
up on the security of oaths that they should suffer no hard treatment from
the king. And when Antiochus had thus taken the city, he did them no other
harm than sending them out naked. He also placed a garrison of his own
in the city. But as for the temple of Jerusalem, he lay at its siege a
long time, while they within bravely defended it; for what engines soever
the king set against them, they set other engines again to oppose them.
But then their provisions failed them; what fruits of the ground they had
laid up were spent and the land being not ploughed that year, continued
unsowed, because it was the seventh year, on which, by our laws, we are
obliged to let it lay uncultivated. And withal, so many of the besieged
ran away for want of necessaries, that but a few only were left in the
temple.
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