Nicanor, who had escaped from Judea disguised as a slave, now returned
to Antioch, where he informed Lysias of his defeat. At this news, Lysias
was aroused; and raised a still larger army than any that had been sent
before against Judea, this time consisting of sixty thousand footmen and
five thousand horse. At the head of this vast multitude, Lysias himself
marched against the Jews. Judas with only ten thousand men met the
Syrian army at Beth-Tsur, where the battle took place. Although Lysias
lost but five thousand men, he was discouraged from continuing battle,
for he saw that the Jews were determined to conquer or die. He therefore
made his retreat from Judea and returned to Antioch.