Part 614 (2/2)

6:36. These before the time wheresoever the beast was they were there: and whithersoever it went, they went, and they departed not from it.

These before the time... That is, these were ready for every occasion.

6:37. And upon the beast, there were strong wooden towers which covered every one of them: and engines upon them, and upon every one thirty-two valiant men, who fought from above: and an Indian to rule the beast.

6:38. And the rest of the hors.e.m.e.n he placed on this side and on that side, at the two wings, with trumpets to stir up the army, and to hasten them forward that stood thick together in the legions thereof.

6:39. Now when the sun shone upon the s.h.i.+elds of gold, and of bra.s.s, the mountains glittered therewith, and they shone like lamps of fire.

6:40. And part of the king's army was distinguished by the high mountains, and the other part by the low places: and they marched on warily and orderly.

6:41. And all the inhabitants of the land were moved at the noise of their mult.i.tude, and the marching of the company, and the rattling of the armour, for the army was exceeding great and strong.

6:42. And Judas and his army drew near for battle: and there fell of the king's army six hundred men.

6:43. And Eleazar, the son of Saura, saw one of the beasts harnessed with the king's harness: and it was higher than the other beasts; and it seemed to him that the king was on it:

6:44. And he exposed himself to deliver his people, and to get himself an everlasting name.

6:45. And he ran up to it boldly in the midst of the legion, killing on the right hand, and on the left, and they fell by him on this side and that side.

6:46. And he went between the feet of the elephant, and put himself under it: and slew it, and it fell to the ground upon him, and he died there.

6:47. Then they seeing the strength of the king and the fierceness of his army, turned away from them.

6:48. But the king's army went up against them to Jerusalem: and the king's army pitched their tents against Judea and Mount Sion.

6:49. And he made peace with them that were in Bethsura: and they came forth out of the city, because they had no victuals, being shut up there, for it was the year of rest to the land.

6:50. And the king took Bethsura: and he placed there a garrison to keep it.

6:51. And he turned his army against the sanctuary for many days: and he set up there battering slings, and engines, and instruments to cast fire, and engines to cast stones and javelins, and pieces to shoot arrows, and slings.

6:52. And they also made engines against their engines, and they fought for many days.

6:53. But there were no victuals in the city, because it was the seventh year: and such as had stayed in Judea of them that came from among the nations, had eaten the residue of all that which had been stored up.

6:54. And there remained in the holy places but a few, for the famine had prevailed over them: and they were dispersed every man to his own place.

6:55. Now Lysias heard that Philip; whom king Antiochus while he lived had appointed to bring up his son, Antiochus, and to reign,

6:56. Was returned from Persia, and Media, with the army that went with him and that he sought to take upon him the affairs of the kingdom:

6:57. Wherefore he made haste to go, and say to the king and to the captains of the army: We decay daily, and our provision of victuals is small, and the place that we lay siege to is strong, and it lieth upon us to take order for the affairs of the kingdom.

6:58. Now, therefore, let us come to an agreement with these men, and make peace with them and with all their nation.

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