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  • don@saintesecritures.org


Chapter 6 33 Then the king rising very early marched fiercely with his host toward Bathzacharias, where his armies made them ready to battle, and sounded the trumpets.34 And to the end they might provoke the elephants to fight, they shewed 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 beside 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, that fought upon them, beside the Indian that ruled him.38 As for the remnant of the horsemen, they set them on this side and that side at the two parts of the host giving them signs 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 glistered therewith, and shined 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 Wherefore all that heard the noise of their multitude, and the marching of the company, and the rattling of the harness, 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 Savaran, perceiving that one of the beasts, armed with royal harness, was higher than all the rest, and supposing that the king was upon him,44 Put himself in jeopardy, to the end he might deliver his people, and get him a perpetual name:45 Wherefore he ran upon him courageously through the midst of the battle, slaying on the right hand and on the left, so that they were divided from him on both sides.46 Which done, he crept under the elephant, and thrust him under, and slew him: whereupon the elephant fell down upon him, and there he died.47 Howbeit the rest of the Jews seeing the strength of the king, and the violence of his forces, turned away from them.48 Then the king's army went up to Jerusalem to meet them, and the king pitched his tents against Judea, and against mount Sion.49 But with them that were in Bethsura he made peace: for they came out of the city, because they had no victuals there to endure the siege, it being a year of rest to the land.50 So the king took Bethsura, and set a garrison there to keep it.51 As for the sanctuary, he besieged it many days: and set there artillery with engines and instruments to cast fire and stones, and pieces to cast darts and slings.