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Chapter 1
Arphaxat the King of the Medes
subdued many people unto his dominion, and builded a noble strong
city, which he called *Egbathanis. The walls of it he made of free
stone, four squared, seventy cubits high, and thirty cubits broad.
He made towers thereupon of an hundred cubits high. But upon the
four corners every side was twenty foot broad. He made the ports in
the height, like as was the towers. This King trusted in his mighty
host, and in his glorious chariots.
So in the twelfth year of his reign it happened, that
Nabuchodonosor the King of the Assirians ( which reigned in the
great city of Nineve ) fought against Arphaxat, and overcame him in
the great field called Ragau, beside Euphrates and Tigris and
Jadason in the field of Erioth the King of the Elikes.
Then was the kingdom of Nabuchodonosor exalted, and his heart
was lift up: and sent unto all them that dwelt in Celicia, and
Damascus, and Libanus, and unto the Heathen that dwell in Carmel,
and Cedar and to such as dwell in Galilee in the great field of
Esdrelon, and all them that were in Samaria, and beyond the river
Jordan unto Jerusalem, and the whole land of Jesse unto the
mountains of Ethiopia. Unto all these did Nabuchodonosor the King of
the Assyrians send messengers. But they all with one consent would
not agree unto him and sent the messengers again empty, and put them
away without honor. Then Nabuchodonosor the King took indignation at
all those lands, and swore by his throne and his kingdom, that he
would be avenged of all those countries.
*Egbathanis (kjv and other bibles of man = Ecbatane)
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Chapter 2
In the
thirteenth year of King Nabuchodonosor, upon the twenty second day
of the first month, it was devised in the court of Nabuchodonosor
the King of the Assyrians, that he would defend himself. So he
called unto him all the elders, all his Captains, and men of war,
and showed them his secret counsel, and told them, that his purpose
was, to bring the whole earth under his dominion. Now when they were
all content with this saying, Nabuchodonosor the King called
Holofernes the chief Captain of his wars and said unto him: Go thy
way forth against all the Kingdoms of the West, and specially
against those that have despised my commandment. Thou shalt spare no
realm, all the strong cities shalt thou bring in subjection unto me.
Then Holofernes called together all the Captains and rulers of
all the power in Assyria, and mustered the soldiers unto the host (
like as the King commanded him) namely, an hundred and twenty
thousand fighting men upon foot, and twelve thousand archers upon
horseback. All his ordinance sent he before with an innumerable
multitude of camels, so that the host was well provided for with
oxen, and small cattle, and that without number. He caused the corn
to be prepared out of all Syria for his host. Much gold and silver
took he out of the Kings house. So he took his journey , he and all
his host, with chariots, horsemen, and archers: of whom there were
so many, that they covered the ground of the land, like as
grasshoppers.
And when he was gone past the borders of the Assyrians, he
came toward the great mountains of Ange, which lie upon the left
side of Celicia: and so he went up in to all their castles, and won
every stronghold. As for the wealthy city of Melothus, he break it
down, and spoiled all the children of Tharsis and the Ismaelites,
which lay toward the wilderness, and upon the South side of the land
of Chelon. He went over Euphrates also, and came into Mesopotamia,
and break down all the high cities that were there from the brook of
Nambre till a man come to the sea: and he took the boarders in from
Celicia unto the coasts of Japhet toward the South. He carried away
all the Madianites, and spoiled all their goods: and whosoever with
stood him, he slew them with the sword. After this he went down to
the field of Damascus in the time of harvest, and burnt up all the
corn and all the trees, and caused the vines to be cut down. And the
fear of him fell upon all them that dwelt on the earth.
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Chapter 3
So the Kings and the princes of
all the cities and lands sent their ambassadors: namely they of
Syria and Mesopotamia, Syria Sobal, and Libia, and Celicia, which
came to Holofernes, and said: Let thy wrath cease toward us: It is
better for us to serve the great King Nabuchodonosor with our lives,
and to be subject unto thee, then that we should die, and be slain,
and receive greater hurt. All our cities and possessions, all
mountains and hills, all fields, great and small cattle, sheep,
goats, horses, and camels, all our goods and households, be in thy
power, under thy subjection be it all together. We ourselves also
and our children will be thine own, come unto us a peaceable Lord,
and use our service at thy pleasure.
Then came Holofernes down from the mountains with horsemen and
with great power, and conquered all strong cities, and all that
dwelt in the land. And out of all cities he took strong men, such as
were *mete for war, to help him. There came such a fear also upon
those countries, that the indwellers of all the cities, the Princes
and Rulers, and the people together, went forth to meet him as he
came, and received him honorably with garlands and torches, with *daunces,
tabrettes and pipes.
Nevertheless though they did this, yet might they not *swage
his rigorous stomach: but he destroyed their cities, and hewed down
their woods. For Nabuchodonosor the king had commanded him, that he
should root out all the Gods of the land: to the intent that he only
might be called and taken for God, of the nations which Holofernes
with his power brought under him. So went he through Syria Sobal,
and through all Appamia, and all Mesopotamia, came to the Idumeans,
in the land of Gabaa, and Septopoly, and took their cities, and
remained there thirty days, wherein he caused all the whole
multitude of his Host to be gathered together.
*mete (worthy) *daunces (dances), *swage (bend, move )
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Chapter 4
When the children of Israel that
dwelt in Jewry heard this, they were sore afraid of him. There came
forth trembling also and fear upon them, that they sorrowed he
should do unto the city of Jerusalem and the temple of the Lord, as
he had done to other cities and their temples. So they sent into all
Samaria round about unto Jericho, took in and occupied all the tops
of the mountains, and made fast the towns with walls, and prepared
corn for them against the battle.
Eliachim also the Priest wrote unto all them that dwell toward
Esdrelon (which layeth over against the great field by Dotha Im )
and unto all those by whom men might have passage unto them, that
they should take in the ways of the mountains, whereby there might
be any way and passage to Jerusalem, and that they should hold
diligent watch where any straight way was betwixt the mountains. And
the children of Israel did as Eliachim the Priest of the Lord had
commanded them. And all the people cried earnestly, and humbled
their souls with fasting and prayers, they and their wives. The
Priests put on hairy clothes, and layed the young babes before the
temple of the Lord, and covered the Altar of the Lord with an hairy
cloth. And with one accord they cried unto the Lord God of Israel,
that their children should not be given in to a prey, and their
wives into a spoil, that their cities should not be layed waste, and
that their Sanctuary should not be unhallowed, and so they to be a
shame and rebuke unto the Heathen.
Then Eliachim the high Priest of the Lord went round about all
Israel, and spake unto them, saying: Be ye sure, that the Lord will
hear your petitions, if ye continue steadfast in fastings and
prayers in the sight of the Lord. Remember Moses the servant of the
Lord, which overthrew the Amalechites ( that trusted in their might
and power, in their host, in their shields, in their chariots and
horsemen ) not with weapons, but with holy prayers. Even so shall
all the enemies of Israel be, if ye continue in this work, that ye
have begun. So upon this exhortation they continued in prayer before
the Lord. In so much that they which offered burnt sacrifices unto
the Lord, offered offerings unto the Lord being arrayed in hairy
clothes and had ashes upon their heads. And they all besought God
from their whole heart, that he would visit his people of Israel.
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Chapter 5
And the word came to Holofernes
the Prince of the wars of the of the Assyrians, that the children of
Israel prepared themselves to make resistance, and how they had
stopped the ways betwixted the mountains. Then was he exceedingly
wroth, and called all the Princes of Moab, and the Captains of Ammon,
and said unto them: Tell me, what people is this, that keepeth in
the mountains? Or what manner of the cities are they ? What is their
power ? Or what manner of Host have they ? who is their Captain ?
And why do they despise us ( more than those that dwell in the East
) and come not forth to meet us, that they might receive us with
peace ? Then Achior the Captain of the Ammonites answered, and said:
Sir, if it please thee to hear me, I will tell the truth before thee
concerning this people that dwell in the mountains, and there shall
no lie go out of my mouth.
This people is of the generation of the Chaldees, they dwelt
first in Mesopotamia, for they would not follow the gods of their
fathers that were in the land of Chaldees, and forsook they the
customs of their forefathers ( which had many gods ) and worshipped
one God, that made heaven and earth: which also commanded them that
they should go from thence, and dwell at Haran. Now when there came
*dearth into the whole land, they went down to Egypt, and there they
dwelt four hundred years, in the which they multiplied so greatly,
that their Host might not be numbered. And when the King of Egypt
oppressed them, and subdued them in the building of his cities with
making clay and brick, they cried unto God their Lord, which
punished the whole land of Egypt with diverse plagues.
Now when King of Egypt let them go their way, and the plague
ceased, and then followed after them, and to bring them again into
his service, while they were fleeing away, the God of heaven opened
the sea, so that the waters stood fast upon both sides as a wall,
and these went through the bottom of the sea dry shod. In the which
place when an innumerable people of the Egyptians followed upon
them, they were so overwhelmed with the waters, that there remained
not one, to tell them that came after, how it happened. So when this
people was passed through the reed sea, they came into the
wilderness of the mount Sinai, where never a man might dwell afore,
and where the *son of man had never rested. There were the bitter
waters made sweet for them, that they might drink, and forty years
had they meat from heaven. Wheresoever they went ( without bow and
arrow, without buckler or sword ) their God fought for them, and
caused them to have the victory. Yee no man was able to hurt this
people, except it were so, that they departed unfaithfully from the
worshiping of the Lord their God. But as often as they worshiped any
other beside their God, he gave them over to be spoiled, to be
slain, and to be put to confusion. Nevertheless as often as they
were sorry for departing from the worship of their God, the same God
of heaven gave them power and strength to withstand their enemies.
Moreover they slew the King of the Cananites, Jebusites,
Pheresits, Hethits, Euites and Amorites, and all the mighty in
Hesbon, and took their lands and cities in possession: and so long
as they sinned not in the sight of their God, it went well with
them, for their God hateth unrighteousness. For in times past when
they went out of the way, which God had given them, that they should
walk in it, they were destroyed in diverse battles of many nations:
and many of them were carried away prisoners unto a strange country.
But now lately they have turned themselves again unto the Lord their
God, and are come together again out of the countries where they
were scattered abroad: and thus they have conquered these mountains,
and dwell therein: and as for Jerusalem where their Sanctuary is,
they have it again in possession.
And therefore my lord, make diligent inquisition, if this
people have done wickedness in the sight of their God, then let us
go up against them, for doubtless their God shall deliver them into
thy hands, and subdue them unto thy power. But if this people have
not displeased their God, we shall not be able to withstand them,
for their God shall defend them, and so shall we be a shame to all
the world.
Now when Achior had spoken out these words, all the Princes of
Holofernes were wroth, and thought to slay him, and said one to
another: what is he this, which dare say, that the children of
Israel are able to withstand Nabuchodonosor the King and his Host ?
whereas they are an unweaponed people, without strength or
understanding of the feats of war ? That Achior therefore may know
that he hath deceived us, we will go up in to the mountains: and
when the mighty men of them are taken, he also shall be struck with
the sword, that all people may know, that Nabuchodonosor is the God
of the earth, and there is none other without him.
*dearth (famine/ drought)
where the *son of man had never rested. RN
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Chapter 6
So when they had left off
speaking, Holofernes took sore indignation and said unto Achior. For
so much as thou hast prophesied unto us, saying: That the people of
Israel shall be defended of their God, I will show thee, that there
is no God but Nabuchodonosor. Yee when we slay them all as one man,
thou also shalt perish with them through the sword of the Assyrians,
and all Israel shall be destroyed with thee, and then shalt thou
feel, that Nabuchodonosor is the lord of the whole earth. Then shall
the sword of my knighthood go through thy sides, and thou shall fall
down *stickte among the wounded of Israel, and shalt not come to
thyself again, but be utterly destroyed with them. But if thou
thinkest thy prophesy to be true, why doest thou then change thy
color ? why art thou afraid ? Thinkest thou that my words are not
able to be performed ? But that thou mayest know, that thou shalt
feel these things with them, behold, from this hour forth will I
send thee unto yonder people, that when the punishment of my sword (
which they have so worthily deserved ) falleth upon them, thou
mayest be punished with them.
So Holofernes command his servants to take Achior, and to
carry him to Bethulia, and to deliver him into the hands of the
children of Israel. Then Holofernes servants took him and went
through the plain field. But when they drew nye unto the mountains,
the sling casters came out against them: Nevertheless they got them
away by the side of the mountain, and bound Anchior hand and foot to
a tree, and so left him bound with *withyes,and turned again unto
their lord.
Notwithstanding the children of Israel went down to Bethulia,
came unto him, loosed him, brought him into Bethulia, set him in the
midst of the people, and asked him what the matter was, that the
Assyrians had left him bound.
Olias the son of Micha of the tribe of Simeon, a Charin (
which is also called Gothonel ) were the principal rulers at the
same time. Now when Achior stood in the midst of the Senators, and
before them all he told them, what answer he gave Holofernes, to the
thing that he asked him, and how Holofernes people would have slain
him for so saying, and how Holofernes himself was wroth, and
commanded him for the same cause to be delivered unto the
Israelites: that when he overcame the children of Israel he might
command Achior also to be put to death with diverse torments,
because he said: The God of heaven is their defender. And when
Achior had plainly told out all these things, all the people fell
down upon their faces, praising the Lord, and poured out their
prayers together unto the Lord, with a general complaint and
weeping, and said: O' Lord God of heaven and earth, behold their
pride, and look upon our lowliness, and consider how it standeth
with thy saints, and make it to be known, that thou forsakest not
those, which hold them fast by thee, and how that thou bringest them
low, that presume of themselves, and make their boast of their own
strength. So when the weeping and the prayer of the people ( which
they had made the whole day long ) was ended, they comforted Achior,
saying: The God of our fathers, whose power and strength thou hast
praised, shall so reward thee, that thou shalt rather see their
destruction. When the Lord our God then shall give his servants this
liberty, God be also with thee among us: So that if it please thee,
thou with thine mayest dwell with us.
Now when Osias had ended the counsel, he took him to his
house, and made a great supper, called the elders to it, and so they
refreshed themselves after fasting. And afterward was all the people
called together, which made their prayers all night long in the
congregation, and besought the God of Israel for help.
*stickte (struck, stricken ) *withyes (strong flexible branches
:willow)
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Chapter 7
The next day
Holofernes commanded his host, to go up against Bethulia. There were
an hundred and twenty thousand fighting men on foot, and two and
twenty thousand horsemen, beside the preparing of them that were
won: and came to them on every side out of the countries and cities
which he had taken. All these prepared themselves unto the battle
against the Israelites, and came on by the hillside, unto the top
that looketh over Dothaim, from the place which is called Belma,
unto Thelmon that layeth toward Esdrelon.
Now when the children of Israel saw so great a multitude of
Assyrians, they fell down flat upon the ground, strewed ashes upon
their heads, and prayed with one accord, that the God of Israel
would show mercy upon his people. And so they took their weapons,
and sat betwixt the mountains in the narrow place, and kept the way
day and night. But while Holofernes was going about, he found the
water spring, which from the South side was conveyed into the city
by a conduit: this commanded he to be directed another way, and to
cut their conduit in sunder. There were wells also not far from the
walls, which they used secretly, more for pleasure than necessity.
Then went the Ammorites and the Moabites unto Holofernes, and
said: the children of Israel trust neither in spear nor arrow, but
have taken in and keep the mountains and hills. That thou mayest
over come them without the striking of any battle, set men to keep
the wells, that they draw no water out of them: so shalt thou
destroy them without sword, or at the least they shall be so feeble,
that they must be faine to give over the city, which they think not
able to be won, for so much as it layeth in the mountains. These
words pleased Holofernes well and all his men of war, and he set an
hundred men at every well round about.
And when this watch had endured twenty days, the Cisterns and
all that had water, failed them that dwelt in the city of Bethulia,
so that in the whole city they had not drink enough for one day, for
the people had water given them daily in measure. The came the men
and the woman, young persons and children all unto Osias, and said
all with one voice: God be judge betwixt us and thee, for thou hast
dealt evil with us: thou wouldest not speak peaceably with the king
of the Assyrians, therefore God hath sold us in their hands, and
there is no man to help us where as we are brought down before their
eyes in thirst and great destruction. Therefore gather now together
all the people that be in the city, that we may all yield ourselves
willingly unto Holofernes: for better it is that we be captive and
praise the Lord with our lives, than to be slain and perish, and to
be laughed to scorn and ashamed of every man when we see our wives
and children die before our eyes. We take heaven and earth this day
to record, and the God of our fathers ( which punisheth us according
to the deserving of our sins ) and give you warning, that ye give up
the city now into power of Holofernes host, that our end may be
short with the sword, which else shall endure long for want of water
and for thirst.
When they had spoken out these words, there was a great
weeping and howling in the whole congregation, and that of every
man, and they cried an whole hour long unto God with one voice,
saying: we have sinned with our fathers, we have done amiss, we have
dealt wickedly. Thou that art gracious, have mercy upon us, punish
our unrighteousness with thine own scourge, and give not those over
that knowledge thee, unto a people that knoweth thee not, least they
say among the Heathen: where is their God?
And when they were so weary with this crying and weeping, that
they held their tongues, Osias stood up with watery eyes, and said:
O' take good hearts unto you, ( dear brethren ) and be of good
cheer, and let us wait these five days for mercy of the Lord:
peradventure he shall cut away his indignation, and give glory unto
his name. But if he help us not when these five days are passed, we
shall do as ye have said.
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Chapter 8
And it happened when these words
came to the ears of Judith a widow, which was the daughter of Merari,
the son of Idox, the son of Joseph, the son of Osiah, the son of
Elia, the son of Jedeon, the son of Raphoim, the son of Achitob, the
son of Melchia, the son of Euam, the son of Nathania, the son of
Salathiel, the son of Simeon, the son of Ruben. And her husband was
called Manasses, which died in the days of the barley harvest. For
while he was binding the sheaves together in the field, the heat
came upon his head, and he died at Bethulia his city, and there was
he buried beside his fathers. Now was Judith his desolate widow
three years and six months. And in the higher parts of her house she
made herself a *privy chamber, where she dwelt, being closed in with
her maidens. She wore a smock of hair, and fasted all the days of
her life, except the Sabbaths, and new moons and solemn days that
the people of Israel kept. She was a very fair and beautiful person.
Her husband had also left her great riches, and plenteous household,
great unmovable possessions and many cattle. This Judith was a woman
of very good report with everyone, for she feared the Lord greatly,
and there was no body that spake an evil word of her.
When this Judith heard, how Osias had promised the people,
that after the fifth day he would give up the city unto the
Assyrians, she sent for the elders Chambri and Charmin, and when
they came to her, she said: what thing is this, wherein Osias hath
consented, that if God help not within five days, he will give over
the city to the Assyrians ? What are ye, that ye tempt the Lord ?
This devise obtaineth no mercy of God, but provoketh him unto wrath
and displeasure. Will ye set the mercy of the Lord a time and
appoint him a day after your will ?
Nevertheless for so much as the Lord is patient, let us rather
amend ourselves, pouring out tears, and beseeching him of grace. For
God threateneth not as a man, neither will he be provoked into wrath
as the children of men. And therefore let us heartily fall down
before him, and serve him with a meek spirit, and with weeping eyes
say unto the Lord, that he deal with us according to his own will
and mercy: that like as our heart is now vexed, and brought low
through the pride of them, it may so be comforted through his grace:
in so much as we follow not the sins of our forefathers, which
forsook their God, and worshiped other Gods: for the which sin they
perished with the sword, were spoiled and brought to shame of all
their enemies. As for us, we know none other God but only him, for
whose comfort let us tarry with meekness. He shall require and make
inquisition for our blood, from the vexations of our enemies: he
shall bring down all the Heathen, that rise up against us, and put
them to dishonor, even the Lord our God.
Therefore dear brethren, seeing ye are the honorable and
elders in the people of God, unto whom all the people have respect,
and upon whom the life of the people standeth, lift up their hearts
with your exhortation, that they may call to remembrance, how our
fathers also in times past were tempted, that they may be proved, if
they worshiped their God aright. They ought to remember, how our
father Abraham being tempted, and tried through many tribulations,
was found a lover and friend of God. So was Isaac, so was Jacob, so
was Moses, and all they pleased God, being tried through many
troubles, were found steadfast in faith. Again, they that received
not their *tentations with the fear of God, but put themselves forth
with *unpatiency and murmuring against God, perished of the
destroyer, and were slain of serpents. And therefore should not we
undertake to be avenged, for the thing that is done to us: but
consider, that all these punishments are far less than our sins and
misdeeds. Believing also, that this correction cometh to unto us (
as to the servants of God ) for amendment, and not for our
destruction.
Then said Osias and the elders unto Judith: All that thou
speakest, is true, and no man can reprove thy words. Pray thou for
us now therefore unto God, for thou art an holy woman, and fearest
God. And Judith said unto them: seeing you know, that my words are
of God, then prove my counsel and devise, if it be of God: and
beseech God, that he will bring my counsel to good end.
Thus have I devised: Ye shall stand this night before the
port, and I will go forth with Abra my maiden: Pray ye therefore
unto God, that he will graciously remember his people of Israel
within five days, as ye have said. As for the thing that I go in
hand withal, ask ye no questions of it, till I open it unto you
myself: do ye nothing else but pray unto the Lord your God for me.
Then Osias the prince of the people of Juda said unto her: Go thy
way in peace the Lord be with thee, that we may be avenged of our
enemies. And so they went from her again.
*privy (private) *tentations (intents, temptations) *unpatiency
(impatience)
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