1 Maccabees 6:47-49

Good News Translation

⁴⁷ But when the Jews realized how strong the royal army was and how determined it was to fight, they retreated.

⁴⁸ The king and his army advanced to fight the Jews at Jerusalem and laid siege to the whole of Judea and Jerusalem. ⁴⁹ He made peace with the Jews of Bethzur, who then left the town. There had not been enough food in the town for them to withstand the siege because it was the sabbatical year, when no crops were planted.