30 until he had 100,000 soldiers and 20,000 cavalry. He also had 32 elephants trained for war.
31 He led his army through Idumea, and for a long time, he attacked the town of Beth-Zur with weapons to break through the wall. But the people fought back bravely. They even rushed out of the town and set fire to the weapons of war.
32 Judas called off his attack on the Jerusalem fortress and led his army to the town of Beth-Zechariah, where he camped not far from the army of Antiochus the Fifth.
33 Early the next morning, Antiochus moved his army toward them at Beth-Zechariah. Then he ordered his troops to line up for battle and to blow their war trumpets.
34 Some of the soldiers gave the elephants grape juice and mulberry juice to make them eager to fight.
35 Others then led the elephants to their places among the troops. Five hundred expert cavalry and 1,000 troops with bronze helmets and metal armor worked with each animal.
36 These men were commanded not to leave the elephants until the battle was over.