The main camp was pitched at Emmaus at the southeastern side of the Plain of Ajalon under the Judean hills.

Learning this, Gorgias took five thousand men, one thousand horsemen, under guides from the castle on Mount Zion, and departed from his camp at Emmaus by night, with a view of surprising and capturing the Jewish force.

And they set out with all their army and pitched their camp near Emmaus in the plain.