2 Maccabees 11:5-7

New Catholic Bible

⁵ Therefore, he invaded Judea, and when he reached Beth-zur, a fortified place about twenty miles distant from Jerusalem, he launched a strong attack against it.

⁶ When Maccabeus and his men were informed that Lysias was besieging the strongholds, they and all the people implored the Lord with lamentations and tears to send a good angel to deliver Israel. ⁷ Maccabeus himself was the first to take up arms, and he urged the others to join him in risking their lives to save their fellow Jews. Then they all resolutely set out together.