1 Maccabees 6:55–63

Syria Offers Terms

⁵⁵Then Lysias heard that Philip, whom King Antiochus while still living had appointed to bring up his son Antiochus to be king,^{* 56}had returned from Persia and Media with the forces that had gone with the king and that he was trying to seize control of the government.^{* 57}So he quickly gave orders to withdraw and said to the king, to the commanders of the forces, and to the troops, “Daily we grow weaker, our food supply is scant, the place against which we are fighting is strong, and the affairs of the kingdom press urgently on us. ⁵⁸Now, then, let us come to terms with these people and make peace with them and with all their nation.^{* 59}Let us agree to let them live by their laws as they did before, for it was on account of their laws that we abolished that they became angry and did all these things.”^*

⁶⁰The speech pleased the king and the commanders, and he sent to the Jews^r an offer of peace, and they accepted it.^{* 61}So the king and the commanders gave them their oath. On these conditions the Jews^s evacuated the stronghold. ⁶²But when the king entered Mount Zion and saw what a strong fortress the place was, he broke the oath he had sworn and gave orders to tear down the wall all around.^{* 63}Then he set off in haste and returned to Antioch. He found Philip in control of the city, but he fought against him and took the city by force.^*