1
When Demetrius heard that Nicanor and his army had been defeated in battle, he sent Bacchides and Alcimus into the land of Judah a second time. The right wing of the army was with them.
2
They went by the road that leads to Gilgal and prepared for battle against Mesaloth in Arbela. They captured it and killed many people.
3
In the first month of the year 152, they camped against Jerusalem.
4
Then they marched off and went to Berea with twenty thousand infantry and two thousand cavalry.
5
Now Judas was camped at Elasa with three thousand handpicked soldiers.