2 In the eighteenth year, the twenty-second day of the first month, there was talk in the house of Nevukadnetsar king of the Assyrians that he should be avenged on all the land, even as he spoke. 2 He called together all his servants and all his great men, and communicated with them his secret counsel, and with his own mouth, recounted the wickedness of all the land. 3 They decreed to destroy all flesh which didn’t follow the word of his mouth.

4 When he’d ended his counsel, Nevukadnetsar king of the Assyrians called Holofernes the chief captain of his army, who was second to himself, and said to him, 5 “The great king, the lord of all the earth, says: ‘Listen, go out from my presence, and take with you men who trust in their strength, to one hundred and twenty thousand footmen and twelve thousand horses with their riders. 6 And go out against all the west country, because they disobeyed the commandment of my mouth. 7 Tell to them that they should prepare earth and water, because I’ll go out in my anger against them, and will cover the whole face of the earth with the feet of my army, who’ll plunder them. 8 Their slain will fill their valleys and brooks, and the river will be filled with their dead until it overflows. 9 I’ll lead them as captives to the utmost parts of all the earth. 10 But go out, and take all their coasts for me first. If they’ll yield themselves to you,[fn] then you must reserve them for me until the day of their reproof. 11 As for those who resist, show no mercy; but hand them over to be slain and to be plundered in all your land. 12 Because as I live, and by the power of my kingdom, I’ve spoken, and I’ll do this with my hand. 13 Moreover, don’t disobey any of your lord’s commands, but you must carry them out, as I’ve commanded you. Don’t delay carrying them out.’ ”