1   The next day Holophernes ordered his whole army and all his allies to strike camp and march on Bethulia, seize the passes into the hill-country, and make war on the Israelites. 2   So the whole force set out that day, an army of a hundred and seventy thousand infantry and twelve thousand cavalry, not counting the baggage train of the infantry, an immense host. 3   They encamped in the valley near Bethulia, beside the spring; and their camp extended in breadth towards Dothan as far as Belbaim, and in length from Bethulia to Cyamon which faces Esdraelon. 4   When the Israelites saw their numbers they said to each other in great alarm, ‘These men will strip the whole country bare; the high mountains, the valleys, and the hills will never be able to bear the burden of them.’ 5   Then each man stood to arms; and they lit the beacons on the towers and remained on guard all that night.

6   On the following day Holophernes led out all his cavalry in full view of the Israelites in Bethulia, 7   and reconnoitred the approaches to their town. He inspected the springs and seized them; and when he had stationed detachments of soldiers there, he returned to his army. 8   Then all the rulers of the Edomites and all the leaders of Moab and the commanders from the coastal region came to him and said, ‘Listen to our advice, 9   Lord Holophernes, and save your army from a crushing defeat. 10   These Israelites do not trust in their spears but in the height of the mountains where they live; for it is no easy task to get up to the tops of these mountains of theirs. 11   Now, Lord Holophernes, avoid fighting a pitched battle with them, and you will not lose a single man. 12   Remain in your camp and keep your men in their quarters; but let your servants take possession of the spring at the foot of the hill, 13   for that is where all the townspeople of Bethulia get their water. When they are dying of thirst they will surrender the

The Assyrian invasion town. Meanwhile, we and all our people will go up to the tops of the neighbouring hills and camp there to see that not a man gets away from the town. 14   They and their wives and children will waste away with famine; and before the sword reaches them, their streets will be strewn with their corpses. 15   So you will make them pay heavily for rebelling against you, instead of receiving you peaceably.’ 16   Holophernes and all his staff approved this plan; and he gave orders that it should be carried out. 17   The Moabite force moved forward in company with five thousand Assyrians and encamped in the valley, where they seized the springs which were the Israelites' water-supply. 18   Then the Edomites and Ammonites went up and encamped in the hill-country opposite Dothan, and sent some of their number southeast ^note in the direction of Egrebel, which is near Chus on the Mochmur ravine. The rest of the Assyrian army encamped on the plain. They filled the entire country-side, their tents and baggage train forming an immense encampment, for they were a vast host.

19   Then the Israelites cried out to the Lord their God. Their courage failed, because all their enemies had surrounded them and there was no way of escape. 20   The whole Assyrian army, infantry, cavalry, and chariots, kept them blockaded for thirty-four days. The citizens of Bethulia came to the end of their household supplies of water. 21   The cisterns too were running dry; drinking-water was so strictly rationed that there was never a day when their needs were satisfied. 22   The children were lifeless, the women and young men faint with thirst. They collapsed in the streets and gateways from sheer exhaustion.

23   Then all the people, young men, women, and children, gathered round Ozias and the magistrates of the town, shouting loudly. In the presence of the elders they said: 24   ‘May God judge between us, for you have done us a great wrong in not coming to terms with the Assyrians. 25   Now we have no one to help us. God has sold us into their power; they will find us dead of thirst, and the ground strewn with our corpses. 26   Surrender to them; let Holophernes' people and his army sack the town. 27   It is better for us to be taken prisoner; for even as slaves we shall still be alive, and shall not have to watch our babies dying before our eyes, and our wives and children at their last gasp. 28   We call heaven and earth to witness, we call our God, the Lord of our fathers, to witness against you—the God who is punishing us

The Assyrian invasion for our sins and for the sins of our fathers. We pray that he may not let our forebodings come true this day.’ 29   Then the whole assembly broke into loud lamentation and cried to the Lord God. 30   Ozias said to them, ‘Courage, my friends! Let us hold out for five more days; by that time the Lord our God may show us his mercy again. Surely he will not finally desert us. 31   But if by the end of that time no help has reached us, then I will do what you ask.’ 32   Then he dismissed the men to their various posts; and they went off to the walls and towers of the town. The women and children he sent indoors. Throughout the town there was deep dejection.

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