2 Maccabees 15:18-20

New Catholic Bible

¹⁸ Their concern was not so much for their wives and children or their brothers and sisters and kindred as it was for the consecrated sanctuary. ¹⁹ Those who remained in the city experienced a similar anxiety, for they were anxious about the battle that was about to take place in the open country.

²⁰ Everyone now awaited the moment of decision. The enemy was already mounting the attack, with their troops drawn up in battle formation, with their elephants deployed in strategic positions, and with the cavalry stationed on the flanks.