1 Maccabees 9:53
King James VersionSource notes
“Besides, he took the chief men’s sons in the country for hostages, and put them into the tower at Jerusalem to be kept.”
Context
50Afterward returned Bacchides to Jerusalem and repaired the strong cites in Judea; the fort in Jericho, and Emmaus, and Bethhoron, and Bethel, and Thamnatha, Pharathoni, and Taphon, these did he strengthen with high walls, with gates and with bars.
51And in them he set a garrison, that they might work malice upon Israel.
52He fortified also the city Bethsura, and Gazera, and the tower, and put forces in them, and provision of victuals.
53Besides, he took the chief men’s sons in the country for hostages, and put them into the tower at Jerusalem to be kept.
54Moreover in the hundred fifty and third year, in the second month, Alcimus commanded that the wall of the inner court of the sanctuary should be pulled down; he pulled down also the works of the prophets
55And as he began to pull down, even at that time was Alcimus plagued, and his enterprizes hindered: for his mouth was stopped, and he was taken with a palsy, so that he could no more speak any thing, nor give order concerning his house.
56So Alcimus died at that time with great torment.