Judith

But Holofernes on the next day gave orders to his army, to go up against Bethulia.

Now there were in his troops a hundred and twenty thousand footmen, and twelve thousand horsemen, besides the multitude of those that were taken, and those that had been brought out of captivity, from the provinces.

And they prepared themselves, all the men of war, against the children of Israel, and they came and encamped in the valley near Bethulia, by the fountain.

And they extended themselves in breadth over Dothain, from Belma to Chelmon, which is over against Esdraelon.

And when the children of Israel saw the multitude of them, they prostrated themselves upon the ground, putting ashes upon their heads, and praying with one accord, that the God of Israel would shew his mercy upon his people.

And taking their arms of war, they posted themselves at the places, which by a narrow path lead directly between the mountains, and they guarded them all day and night.

Now Holofernes, going round about, found that the fountain which supplied the city with water, ran through an aqueduct without the city on the south side: and he commanded their aqueduct to be cut off.

Nevertheless there were springs not far from the walls, out of which they were seen secretly to draw water, to refresh themselves a little rather than to drink their fill.

But the children of Ammon and Moab went to Holofernes, saying: The children of Israel trust not in their spears, nor in their darts, but the mountains are their defense, and the steep hills and precipices defend them.

Now therefore that thou mayst overcome them without joining battle, set guards at the springs that they may not draw water out of them, and thou shalt destroy them without sword, or at least being wearied out they will yield up their city, which they think, because it is situated in the mountains, to be impregnable.

And these words pleased Holofernes, and his officers, and he placed all round about a hundred men at every spring.

And when they had kept this watch for full twenty days, the cisterns, and the reserve of waters failed, among all the inhabitants of Bethulia, so that there was not within the city, enough to satisfy them, no not for one day, for water was given out to the people daily by measure.

Then all the men and women, young men, and children, gathering together to Ozias, all together with one voice said:

God be judge between us and thee, for thou hast done evil against us, because thou wouldst not speak peaceably with the Assyrians, and for this cause God hath sold us into their hands.

And therefore there is no one to help us, while we are cast down before their eyes in thirst, and sad destruction.

Now therefore assemble ye all that are in the city, that we may of our own will yield ourselves all up to the people of Holofernes.

For it is better, that being captives we should live and bless the Lord, than that we should die and be a reproach to all men, after we have seen our wives and our infants die before our eyes.

We call to witness this day heaven and earth, and the God of our fathers, who taketh vengeance upon us according to our sins, conjuring you to deliver now the city into the hand of the army of Holofernes, that our end may be short by the edge of the sword, which is made longer by the drought of thirst.

And when they had said these things, there was great weeping and lamentation of all in the assembly, and they cried to the Lord God with a loud voice.

And Ozias said to them: Be of good courage, my brethren, and let us endure these five days, in which space the Lord our God may look upon us, and deliver us, for he will not utterly forsake us.

And if after these days passed, there come no aid unto us, we will do the things as you have spoken.

And he sent every man from thence to his own quarters, and they went up to the walls and bulwarks of the city, and sent the women and children into their houses: and there was great sadness in the city.