The Battle of Beth-zur.

The king became enraged when he heard this, and he summoned all his Friends, his generals, and the commanders of his calvary. He also recruited mercenary forces from other kingdoms and from the islands of the seas. His forces numbered one hundred thousand foot soldiers, twenty thousand cavalry, and thirty-two elephants trained for war. They advanced through Idumea and besieged Beth-zur, continuing the attack for many days. They also constructed engines of war, but the defenders made a raid and set them on fire, fighting courageously.

       Then Judas left the citadel and encamped at Beth-zechariah, opposite the camp of the king. The king rose at daybreak, and after a forced march along the road to Beth-zechariah, his forces drew up in battle formation and sounded their trumpets. The elephants were roused for battle by being given a mixture of grapes and mulberries to drink. These beasts were distributed among the phalanxes. With each elephant there were stationed a thousand men arrayed in coats of mail, with bronze helmets. In addition, five hundred picked cavalry were assigned to each beast. They anticipated every move made by the elephant; wherever it went, they immediately accompanied it, never leaving its side. On each elephant, for its protection, and fastened to its back by a harness, was a strong wooden tower that held four soldiers who fought from that position, as well as an Indian driver. The rest of the cavalry were stationed on either side of the army, so that they could harass the enemy while being protected by the phalanxes.

       When the sun shone on the gold and bronze shields, the mountains blazed with their reflection and gleamed like burning torches. Part of the king's army was stationed on the high hills, while others were assembled in the plain. They advanced steadily and in good order, and seized all who trembled as they heard the clamor raised by this vast multitude as they marched and by the clash of their arms, for their army was a very large and powerful force.

       Judas and his army advanced to give battle, and six hundred of the king's army were slain. Eleazar, called Avaran, noted that one of the elephants was adorned with royal armor. Since it was larger than all the other beasts, he thought that the king must be astride it, and he gave his life to save his people and win for himself everlasting renown. He courageously charged toward it through the midst of the phalanx, killing men right and left, so that they fell back on all sides at his approach. He got in position under the elephant and stabbed it from below, slaying it. The beast fell to the ground on top of him, and he died there.

       When the Jews saw the strength and ferocity of the royal forces, they retreated before them. A part of the king's army marched up to Jerusalem to attack them, and the king encamped at both Judea and Mount Zion. He made terms of peace with the people of Beth-zur, and they evacuated the town, for they had no provisions there that would enable them to withstand a siege, since that was a sabbatical year in the land. The king then occupied Beth-zur and stationed a garrison there to defend it.

       He besieged the sanctuary for many days, employing artillery, engines of war to hurl fire and stones, machines to shoot arrows, and catapults. The Jews for their part set up machines of their own to counter theirs, and they continued the battle for many days. However, there was no food in the storerooms because it was the sabbatical year, and those who had fled from the Gentiles and taken refuge in Judea had consumed the last of the reserves. Only a few men remained in the sanctuary; the rest scattered to their own homes, for the famine proved too severe for them.

1ST MACCABEES: CHAPTER 6, VERSES 28 - 54