60 Mothers who had allowed their babies to be circumcised were put to death in accordance with the king's decree.
61 Their babies were hung round their necks, and their families and those who had circumcised them were put to death.
62 But many people in Israel firmly resisted the king's decree and refused to eat food that was ritually unclean.
63 They preferred to die rather than break the holy covenant and eat unclean food — and many did die.
64 In his anger God made Israel suffer terribly.