2 Maccabees 11:5-7

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

⁵ Invading Judea, he approached Beth-zur, which was a fortified place about five stadia^[a] from Jerusalem, and pressed it hard.

⁶ When Maccabeus and his men got word that Lysias^[b] was besieging the strongholds, they and all the people, with lamentations and tears, prayed the Lord to send a good angel to save Israel. ⁷ Maccabeus himself was the first to take up arms, and he urged the others to risk their lives with him to aid their kindred. Then they eagerly rushed off together.