30
The number of his forces was one hundred thousand foot soldiers, twenty thousand horsemen, and thirty-two elephants accustomed to war.
31
They came through Idumea and encamped against Beth-zur, and for many days they fought and built engines of war; but the Jews sallied out and burned these with fire, and fought courageously.
32
Then Judas marched away from the citadel and encamped at Beth-zechariah, opposite the camp of the king.
33
Early in the morning the king set out and took his army by a forced march along the road to Beth-zechariah, and his troops made ready for battle and sounded their trumpets.
34
They offered the elephants the juice of grapes and mulberries, to arouse them for battle.
35
They distributed the animals among the phalanxes; with each elephant they stationed a thousand men armed with coats of mail, and with brass helmets on their heads; and five hundred picked horsemen were assigned to each beast.
36
These took their position beforehand wherever the animal was; wherever it went, they went with it, and they never left it.
37
On the elephants were wooden towers, strong and covered; they were fastened on each animal by special harness, and on each were four armed men who fought from there, and also its Indian driver.
38
The rest of the cavalry were stationed on either side, on the two flanks of the army, to harass the enemy while being themselves protected by the phalanxes.
39
When the sun shone on the shields of gold and brass, the hills were ablaze with them and gleamed like flaming torches.
40
Now a part of the king's army was spread out on the high hills, and some troops were on the plain, and they advanced steadily and in good order.