3. And the first month of the hundred and fifty and second year they encamped against Jerusalem:
4. and they removed, and went to Berea, with twenty thousand footmen and two thousand horse.
5. And Judas was encamped at Elasa, and three thousand chosen men with him:
6. and they saw the multitude of the forces, that they were many, and they feared exceedingly: and many slipped away out of the army; there were not left of them more than eight hundred men.
7. And Judas saw that his army slipped away, and that the battle pressed upon him, and he was sore troubled in heart, for that he had no time to gather them together, and he waxed faint.
8. And he said to them that were left, Let us arise and go up against our adversaries, if perhaps we may be able to fight with them.
9. And they would have dissuaded him, saying, We shall in no wise be able: but let us rather save our lives now: let us return again, we and our brethren, and fight against them: but we are few.