Good News [1976], GOOD NEWS BIBLE WITH DEUTEROCANONICALS / APOCRYPHA Today's English Version (AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY, New York) [word count] [B15000].
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Israel's Victory
1 When the soldiers heard what
had happened, they were horrified
2 and began to tremble with
fear. They all scattered in different
directions from the camp, making
no effort to stay together as they
tried to escape along the paths in the
mountains and valleys.
3 The soldiers
who had camped in the mountains
around Bethulia also began to
retreat. Then all the Israelite soldiers
came charging down on them.
4 Uzziah sent messengers to the
towns of Betomesthaim, Bebai, Choba,
and Kola, and throughout the
land of Israel to tell everyone what
had happened and to urge them to
join in pursuing and destroying the
enemy.
5 When they received the
message, they all attacked the Assyrians
and chased them as far as
Choba, slaughtering them as they
went. Even the people of Jerusalem
and others living in the mountains
joined the attack when the messengers
told them what had happened
in the Assyrian camp. The people of
the regions of Gilead and Galilee
blocked the path of the retreating
Assyrians and inflicted heavy losses
on them. They pursued them as far
as the region around Damascus.
6 The rest of the people in Bethulia
went down to the Assyrian camp,
plundered it and carried away
enough loot to make themselves
very rich.
7 When the Israelite soldiers
returned from the slaughter,
they helped themselves to what was
left. There was so much of it that the
people of the towns and villages in
the hill country also shared in the
loot.
Israel Celebrates the Victory
8 The High Priest Joakim and the
Council of Israel came from Jerusalem
to see for themselves what great
things the Lord had done for his people
and to meet Judith and congratulate
her.
9 When they arrived, they
all praised her, “You are Jerusalem's
crowning glory, the heroine of Israel,
the pride and joy of our people!
10 You have won this great victory
for Israel by yourself. God, the Almighty,
is pleased with what you
have done. May he bless you as long
as you live.”
10 All the people responded,
“Amen.”
11 It took the people thirty days to
finish looting the camp of the Assyrians.
Judith was given Holofernes'
tent, all his silver, his bowls, his
-- --
couches, and all his furniture. She
took them and loaded as much as
she could on her mule; then she
brought her wagons and loaded
them too.
12 All the Israelite women
came to see her; they sang her
praises and danced in her honor. On
this joyful occasion Judith and the
other women waved ivy-covered
branches
13 and wore wreaths of olive
leaves on their heads. Judith
took her place at the head of the procession
to lead the women as they
danced. All the men of Israel followed,
wearing wreaths of flowers
on their heads, carrying their weapons,
and singing songs of praise.
Good News [1976], GOOD NEWS BIBLE WITH DEUTEROCANONICALS / APOCRYPHA Today's English Version (AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY, New York) [word count] [B15000].
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