Renewed Attacks from Syria

(2 Macc 11:22–26; 13:1–26)

18 Meanwhile the garrison in the citadel kept hemming Israel in around the sanctuary. They were trying in every way to harm them and strengthen the Gentiles. 19 Judas therefore resolved to destroy them, and assembled all the people to besiege them. 20 They gathered together and besieged the citadelf in the one hundred fiftieth year;g and he built siege towers and other engines of war.