37 A strong wooden platform with four sides and a top was strapped on the back of each elephant. Then four well-armed soldiers and someone from India to guide the elephant were stationed on the platform.
38 Antiochus placed the rest of his cavalry to the right and to the left of the army, because he wanted the cavalry troops to stay close to his army for protection and to attack the Jewish forces whenever they could.
39-40 His huge army covered the hills and the valleys. And when the columns of soldiers marched forward, their gold and brass shields caught the rays of the sun and made the hillsides blaze with light.
41 The loud and clanging sound of this powerful army brought terror to the hearts of all who heard them coming.
42 But Judas and his troops still attacked, and they killed 600 of the enemy troops.
43 Eleazar noticed that the largest elephant was dressed in the royal armor. So he said to himself, “I'm certain Antiochus must be up there!”
44-46 Eleazar killed every enemy soldier around him, and others ran away as he bravely fought his way toward the huge elephant. Then he ran under it and stabbed it to death. But the heavy elephant sank down and crushed him. Eleazar gave up his life to save his people, and he will never be forgotten.