1 Maccabees 6:55-63
New Catholic Bible
55 Offer of a Peace Treaty. Lysias heard that Philip, whom King Antiochus, prior to his death, had appointed to bring up his son Antiochus to be king, 56 had returned from Persia and Media with the forces that had accompanied the king, and that he was attempting to seize control of the government. 57 Therefore, he quickly gave orders to withdraw, saying to the king, to the commanders of the army, and to the soldiers, “Every day we are growing weaker, our provisions are running low, the place we are besieging is strong, and the affairs of the kingdom demand our attention. 58 Let us now come to terms with these people and make peace with them and with their entire nation. 59 Let us grant them permission to live in accordance with their laws as they used to do, for it was on account of our abolition of these laws that they became angry and were provoked into doing all these things.”
60 This proposal met with the approval of the king and his commanders, and he presented the Jews with peace terms, which they accepted. 61 Therefore, the king and his commanders ratified the treaty by oath, and accordingly the Jews emerged from their stronghold. 62 However, when the king entered Mount Zion and saw how strongly the place was fortified, he broke the oath that he had sworn and gave orders to demolish the encircling wall. 63 Then he departed and returned in haste to Antioch. He found Philip in control of the city, but he engaged in battle against him and took the city by force.
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