Judith 3

Judith 3, verse 1. ¹They sent messengers to him to sue for peace, saying, Judith 3, verse 2. ²“Behold! We the servants of Nebuchadnezzar the great king lie prostrate before you. Do to us as is pleasing in your sight. Judith 3, verse 3. ³Behold! All our dwellings, all our land, all our fields of wheat, our flocks and herds, and all our tents are before you; do with them as you desire. Judith 3, verse 4. ⁴Behold! Our cities also and their inhabitants are your slaves; come and deal with them as is fitting in your sight.” Judith 3, verse 5. ⁵These men came to Holofernes and reported all these things to him. Judith 3, verse 6. ⁶He went down to the seacoast with his army and stationed garrisons over the fortified cities, and selected chosen men from them as allies. Judith 3, verse 7. ⁷These people, and all their surrounding countryside, received him with garlands and dancing and timbrels. Judith 3, verse 8. ⁸But he destroyed all their borders and cut down their sacred groves, for he had been given orders to demolish all the gods of the land, so all nations would worship Nebuchadnezzar only, and so all their tongues and tribes would call upon him as god. Judith 3, verse 9. ⁹Then he came to Esdraelon, near Dothan, facing the great ridge of Judea. Judith 3, verse 10. ¹⁰He camped between Geba and Scythopolis, and remained there for a month to bring together all the supplies for his army.