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.
41
All who heard the noise made by their multitude, by the marching of the multitude and the clanking of their arms, trembled, for the army was very large and strong.
42
But Judas and his army advanced to the battle, and six hundred of the king's army fell.
43
Now Eleazar, called Avaran, saw that one of the animals was equipped with royal armor. It was taller than all the others, and he supposed that the king was on it.
44
So he gave his life to save his people and to win for himself an everlasting name.