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Eleisa

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(Ε᾿λεασά, Alex. MS. Ἀλασά; Vulg. Laisa), a place at which Judas Maccabeus encamped before the fatal battle with Bacchides, in which he lost his life (1 Maccabees 9:5). It was apparently not far from Azotus (comp. 1 Maccabees 9:15). Josephus (Ant. 12:11, 1) has Bethzetho (Βηθζηθώ ), by which he elsewhere renders Bezeth. But this may be but a corrupt reading of Berzetha or Bethzetha, which is found in some MSS. for Berea in 1 Mace. 9:4. Elsewhere (War 1:1, 6), however, Josephus states that Judas lost his life in a battle with the generals of Antiochus Eupator at Adasa (q.v.), which is probably the correct reading here, since Adasa was where Judas had encamped on a former memorable occasion (1 Maccabees 7:40). It is singular that Bezeth should be mentioned in this connection also (see 1 Maccabees 7:19).