Open English Translation JDT Chapter 4

4 The Israeli people (Israel) who lived in Yehudah heard all that Holofernes the chief captain of Nevukadnetsar king of the Assyrians had done to the nations, and how he’d plundered all their temples and destroyed them utterly. 2 They were extremely afraid at his approach, and were troubled for Yerushalem (Jerusalem) and for the temple of the master their god; 3 because they’d newly come up from the captivity, and all Yehudah’s people were recently gathered together; and the vessels, the altar, and the house were sanctified after being profaned.

4 And they sent into every coast of Shomron (Samaria), to Konae, to Beyt-Horon, Belmaim, Yeriho (Jericho), to Choba, Aesora, and to the valley of Shalem; 5 and they occupied beforehand all the tops of the high mountains, fortified the villages that were in them, and stored supplies for the provision of war, because their fields were newly harvested. 6 Yehoyakim the high priest, who was in those days at Yerushalem, wrote to those who lived in Betulia and Betomesthaim, which is opposite Yizre’el (Jezreel) towards the plain that’s near to Dotan, 7 charging them to seize on the ascents of the hill country; because by them was the entrance into Yehudah, and it was easy to stop them from approaching, since the approach was narrow, with space for two men at the most. 8 And the Israeli people did as Yehoyakim the high priest had commanded them, as did the senate of all Yisrael’s people, which was in session at Yerushalem.

9 And every man of Yisrael cried to God with great earnestness, and with great earnestness they humbled their souls. 10 They, their wives, their children, their cattle, and every sojourner, hireling, and servant bought with their money put sackcloth on their loins. 11 Every man and woman of Yisrael, including the little children and the inhabitants of Yerushalem, fell prostrate before the temple, threw ashes on their heads, and spread out their sackcloth before the master. They put sackcloth around the altar. 12 They cried to the god of Yisrael earnestly with one consent, that he wouldn’t give their children as prey, their wives as plunder, the cities of their inheritance to destruction, and the sanctuary to being profaned and being made a reproach, for the nations to rejoice at. 13 The master heard their voice, and looked at their affliction. The people continued fasting many days in all Yehudah and Yerushalem before the sanctuary of the master Almighty. 14 And Yehoyakim the high priest, and all the priests who stood before the master, and those who ministered to the master, had their loins dressed in sackcloth and offered the continual burnt offering, the vows, and the free gifts of the people. 15 They had ashes on their turbans. They cried to the master with all their power, that he’d look on all the house of Yisrael for good.