Tolomeo inmediatamente eligió a Nicanor hijo de Patroclo, uno de sus más cercanos asociados, y lo envió con no menos de veinte mil soldados reclutados de todas las naciones, para aniquilar al pueblo judío entero, emparejándolo con Gorgias, un comandante con amplia experiencia militar.
Then forthwith choosing Nicanor the son of Patroclus, one of his special friends, he sent him with no fewer than twenty thousand of all nations under him, to root out the whole generation of the Jews; and with him he joined also Gorgias a captain, who in matters of war had great experience.
