29-30 Many of the Jews were now in serious trouble for trying to obey God and live right. So they took their families and livestock and moved to the desert.
31 But the king's officers and soldiers in the fortress at Jerusalem found out what these Jews had done.
32 So a large number of the troops went after them and camped nearby. Then on the Sabbath
33 they said to the Jews, “This is your last chance! Come out and obey the king's orders, or you will die.”
34 The Jews answered, “We're not coming out! And we refuse to break the laws of the Sabbath by obeying the king's orders!”
35 At once the enemy forces attacked.
36 But the Jews did not try to defend themselves; not one of them threw a rock or even tried to pile up rocks in front of the caves.