3. In the first month of the one hundred and fifty-second year, they positioned the army near Jerusalem.
4. And they rose up and went to Berea, with twenty thousand men and two thousand horsemen.
5. Now Judas had stationed his camp in Elasa, and three thousand chosen men were with him.
6. And they saw the multitude of the army, that they were many, and they became very afraid. And many withdrew themselves from the camp, and there remained of them no more than eight hundred men.
7. And Judas saw that his army had slipped away and that the battle pressed upon him, and his heart was shattered, because he did not have time to gather them together, and he was very discouraged.
8. And so, he said to those who were remaining, "Let us rise up and go against our enemies, perhaps we may be able to fight against them."
9. But they dissuaded him, saying: "We will not be able, but let us try to save our lives and return to our brothers, and then we will fight against them. For we are but few."
10. And Judas said: "Far be it from us, to do this thing, so as to flee away from them. But if our time has drawn near, let us die with virtue, on behalf of our brothers, and let us not inflict guilt upon our glory."