33
Then the king, rising very early, marched fiercely with his host toward Beth-zechariah, where his armies made ready for battle and sounded the trumpets.
34
And to the end that they might provoke the elephants to fight, they showed them the blood of grapes and mulberries.
35
Moreover they divided the beasts among the armies, and for every elephant they appointed a thousand men, armed with coats of mail and with helmets of brass on their heads; and besides this, for every beast were ordained five hundred horsemen of the best.
36
These were ready at every occasion: wheresoever the beast was and whithersoever the beast went, they went also, neither departed they from him.
37
And upon the beasts were there strong towers of wood, which covered every one of them, and were girt fast unto them with devices. There were also upon every one two and thirty strong men who fought upon them, besides the Indian that ruled him.
38
As for the remainder of the horsemen, they set them on this side and that side at the two flanks of the host, giving them signs as to what to do, and being harnessed all over amidst the ranks.
39
Now when the sun shone upon the shields of gold and brass, the mountains glittered therewith and shone like lamps of fire.
40
So part of the king's army being spread upon the high mountains and part on the valleys below, they marched on safely and in order.
41
Therefore all who heard the noise of their multitude and the marching of the company and the rattling of the arms were moved, for the army was very great and mighty.
42
Then Judas and his host drew near and entered into battle, and there were slain of the king's army six hundred men.
43
Eleazar also, surnamed Avaran, perceiving that one of the beasts, armed with royal armor, was higher than all the rest, and supposing that the king was upon him,