Open English Translation JDT Chapter 7

7 The next day Holofernes commanded all his army and all the people who’d come to be his allies, that they should move their camp towards Betulia, seize the passes of the hill country, and make war against the Israeli people. 2 Every mighty man of them moved that day. The army of their men of war was one hundred and seventy thousand footmen, plus twelve thousand horsemen, besides the baggage and the men who were on foot among them—a very great multitude. 3 They encamped in the valley near Betulia, by the fountain. They spread themselves in breadth over Dotan even to Belmaim, and in length from Betulia to Kuamon, which is near Yizre’el (Jezreel).

4 But the Israeli people, when they saw the multitude of them, were terrified, and everyone said to his neighbour, “Now these men will lick up the face of all the earth. Neither the high mountains, nor the valleys, nor the hills will be able to bear their weight. 5 Every man took up his weapons of war, and when they’d kindled fires on their towers, they remained and watched all that night.

6 But on the second day Holofernes led out all his cavalry in the sight of the Israeli people which were in Betulia, 7 viewed the ascents to their city, and searched out the springs of the waters, seized on them, and set garrisons of men of war over them. Then he departed back to his people.

8 All the rulers of the children of Esav (Esau), all the leaders of the people of Moav (Moab), and the captains of the sea coast came to him and said, 9 “Let our lord now hear a word, that there not be losses in your army. 10 Because this people of the Israeli people don’t trust in their spears, but in the height of the mountains wherein they live, for it isn’t easy to come up to the tops of their mountains. 11 And now, my lord, don’t fight against them as men fight who join battle, and there won’t so much as one man of your people perish. 12 Remain in your camp, and keep every man of your army safe. Let your servants get possession of the water spring, which flows from the foot of the mountain, 13 because all the inhabitants of Betulia get their water from there. Then thirst will kill them, and they’ll give up their city. Then we and our people will go up to the tops of the mountains that are near, and will camp on them, to watch that not one man gets out of the city. 14 They’ll be consumed with famine—they, their wives, and their children. Before the sword comes against them they’ll be laid low in the streets where they live. 15 And you’ll pay them back with evil, because they rebelled, and didn’t meet your face in peace.”

16 Their words were pleasing in the sight of Holofernes and in the sight of all his servants; and he ordered them to do as they’d spoken. 17 And the army of the children of Amon moved, and with them five thousand of the children of Ashur (Assyria), and they encamped in the valley. They seized the waters and the springs of the waters of the Israeli people. 18 The children of Esav (Esau) went up with the children of Amon, and encamped in the hill country near Dotan. They sent some of them towards the south, and towards the east, near Ekrebel, which is near Chusi, that’s on the brook Mochmur. The rest of the army of the Assyrians encamped in the plain, and covered all the face of the land. Their tents and baggage were pitched on it in a great crowd. They were a very great multitude.

19 The Israeli people cried to the master their god, for their spirit fainted; for all their enemies had surrounded them. There was no way to escape out from among them. 20 All Ashur’s army remained around them, their footmen and their chariots and their horsemen, for thirty-four days. All their vessels of water ran dry for all the inhabitants of Betulia. 21 The cisterns were emptied, and they had no water to drink their fill for one day; for they rationed drink by measure. 22 Their young children were discouraged. The women and the young men fainted for thirst. They fell down in the streets of the city, and in the passages of the gates. There was no longer any strength in them.

23 All the people, including the young men, the women, and the children, were gathered together against Ozias, and against the rulers of the city. They cried with a loud voice, and said before all the elders, 24 “God be judge between all of you and us, because you’ve done us great wrong, in that you haven’t spoken words of peace with the children of Ashur. 25 Now we have no helper; but God has sold us into their hands, that we should be laid low before them with thirst and great destruction. 26 And now summon them, and deliver up the whole city as prey to Holofernes’ people, and to all his army. 27 Because it’s better for us to be captured by them. Because we’ll be servants, and our souls will live, and we won’t see the death of our babies before our eyes, and our wives and our children fainting in death. 28 We take to witness against you the heaven and the earth, and our god and the master of our fathers, who punishes us according to our sins and the sins of our fathers. Do what we’ve said today!”

29 And there was great weeping of all with one consent in the assembly; and they cried to the master God with a loud voice. 30 And Ozias said to them, “Brethren, be of good courage! Let us endure five more days, during which the master our god will turn his mercy towards us; for he won’t forsake us utterly. 31 But if these days pass, and no help comes to us, I’ll do what you say.” 32 Then he dispersed the people, every man to his own camp; and they went away to the walls and towers of their city. He sent the women and children into their houses. They were brought very low in the city.