Battle at Beth-zechariah
32 Then Judas marched away from the elevated fortress and camped at Beth-zechariah, opposite the king's camp.
33
Early in the morning the king marched out, taking his army on a forced march along the road to Beth-zechariah. His troops readied themselves for battle, and they sounded their trumpets.
34
They aroused the elephants using grape and mulberry juices, to get them ready for battle.
35
They distributed the animals among groups of soldiers. With each elephant, they stationed one thousand infantry wearing armor and brass helmets. Five hundred select cavalry were also assigned to each animal.
36
The troops positioned themselves wherever the animal was. Wherever it went, they went; and they never left it.
37
Strong covered wooden towers were set on top of the elephants. Special harnesses were fastened on each animal. On each were four armed men who fought from there, and an Indian driver also.
38
The remaining cavalry were stationed on either side of the elephants, to harass the enemy while being protected inside the two flanks of the army.
39
When the sun shone on the gold and brass shields, the hills looked like they were on fire from their reflection and glowed like burning torches.
40
Part of the king's army was spread out on the high hills, and some troops were on the plain. They held their ranks and steadily moved forward.
41
Everyone who heard the noise of marching feet and clanking arms trembled because the army was very large and powerful.
42
Nevertheless, Judas and his army went forth to do battle. Six hundred of the king's soldiers died.
43
Eleazar, called Avaran, saw that one of the animals was taller than all the others and was equipped with royal armor. He figured that the king must be on it.
44
So he gave his life to save his people and to secure an everlasting name for himself.
45
He ran courageously into the midst of a group of soldiers to reach it, killing men right and left so that they had to give way to him on both sides.
46
He got under the elephant and stabbed it from underneath. He killed it, but it fell to the ground on top of him, and he died there.
47
As the Jews experienced the might and the fierce attack of the king's forces, they turned away and fled.