6:21. And some of the besieged got out: and some wicked men of Israel joined themselves unto them.
6:22. And they went to the king, and said: How long dost thou delay to execute judgment, and to revenge our brethren?
6:23. We determined to serve thy father, and to do according to his orders, and obey his edicts:
6:24. And for this they of our nation are alienated from us, and have slain as many of us as they could find, and have spoiled our inheritances.
6:25. Neither have they put forth their hand against us only, but also against all our borders.
6:26. And behold they have approached this day to the castle of Jerusalem to take it, and they have fortified the strong hold of Bethsura:
6:27. And unless thou speedily prevent them, they will do greater things than these, and thou shalt not be able to subdue them.
6:28. Now when the king heard this, he was angry: and he called together all his friends, and the captains of his army, and them that were over the horsemen.
6:29. There came also to him from other realms, and from the islands of the sea, hired troops.
6:30. And the number of his army was an hundred thousand footmen, and twenty thousand horsemen, and thirty-two elephants trained to battle.