11. An Odd Ending
The Jewish forces proved no match for their enemy’s heavy infantry phalanx, professional cavalry, and armored war elephants. The Seleucid elephants especially unnerved the defenders, who began to panic and break in fear of the pachyderms. Elazar Maccabeus sought to encourage his comrades with a demonstration of the elephants’ vulnerability. So he charged at the biggest elephant he could find, got beneath it, and thrust his spear into its unarmored belly. That killed the pachyderm, but Elazar did not get to savor his success for long. The dying elephant collapsed on top of Elazar, and crushed him to death. His comrades did not rush in to emulate him, and the courageous demonstration did not suffice to keep the Jewish army from breaking soon thereafter.
