Holofernes Hears of Israel's Preparations
Judith 5, verse 1. It was told to Holofernes, the commander of the Assyrian army, that the Israelites were prepared for war and had blocked the passes in the mountains, fortified all the hilltops, and placed barricades in the plains. Judith 5, verse 2. He was very angry, and he called all the princes of Moab and the captains of Ammon and all the governors of the seacoast together. Judith 5, verse 3. He said to them, “Tell me, sons of Canaan, who are these people who live in the hill country? What cities do they inhabit? How large is their army? In what does their power and strength consist? And who is the king who rules them and leads their army? Judith 5, verse 4. Why have they alone refused to come and meet with me along with all those dwelling in the west?”
An Ammonite's History of Israel
Judith 5, verse 5. Then Achior, the leader of the Ammonites, said to him, “Let my lord hear now the word that comes from the mouth of your servant, and I will tell you the truth concerning this people who dwell in this hill country near you; no falsehood will come out of the mouth of your servant. Judith 5, verse 6. These people are descended from the Chaldeans. Judith 5, verse 7. They previously sojourned in Mesopotamia because they did not wish to follow the gods of their fathers, who were in Chaldea. Judith 5, verse 8. For they had departed from the way of their ancestors and worshiped the God of heaven, the God they had come to know. As a result, they cast them out from the presence of their gods, and they fled to Mesopotamia and sojourned there for a long time. Judith 5, verse 9. Then their God commanded them to depart from the place of their sojourn and go to the land of Canaan. They settled there and became very wealthy in gold, silver, and abundant livestock. Judith 5, verse 10. But when a famine spread through all of Canaan, they went down into Egypt and sojourned there as long as there was food; and there they became a great multitude, so great they could not be numbered. Judith 5, verse 11. “Then the king of Egypt rose against them and, taking advantage of them, forced them to make bricks; he humbled them and made them slaves. Judith 5, verse 12. So they cried out to their God, and He struck the whole land of Egypt with deadly plagues. The Egyptians cast them out from their presence. Judith 5, verse 13. So God dried up the Red Sea before them. Judith 5, verse 14. He led them by way of Sinai and Kadesh-Barnea, and they drove out all those living in the desert. Judith 5, verse 15. They settled in the land of the Amorites, and by their strength they utterly destroyed all the residents of Heshbon. And crossing over the River Jordan, they occupied all of the hill country. Judith 5, verse 16. Then they drove out the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Shechemites, and the Gergesites, and they dwelled there for a long time. Judith 5, verse 17. “If they did not sin before their God they prospered, because their God, who hates sin, was with them. Judith 5, verse 18. But when they strayed from the path which He prescribed for them, they were destroyed in numerous battles, and they were exiled to a land not their own, and the temple of their God was brought down to the ground, and their cities were seized by their adversaries. Judith 5, verse 19. Yet now they have come back to their God and returned from their dispersion, and they have taken back Jerusalem, where their sanctuary is. They have settled in the hill country, for it was not inhabited. Judith 5, verse 20. “Now my lord and master, if there is any sin of ignorance in this people and they sin against their God, then we will identify their offense and will go up to defeat them. Judith 5, verse 21. But if there is no lawlessness in their nation, then let my lord leave them alone, lest their Lord shield them, and their God defend them, and we will become a reproach before the whole earth.” Judith 5, verse 22. Now when Achior finished speaking these things, all the people standing around the tent started to grumble. Then Holofernes’ officials and all those dwelling in the seacoast and Moab insisted Achior be put to death. Judith 5, verse 23. They said, “We will not be afraid of the Israelites. For behold! They are people in whom there is no might nor the power to wage war. Judith 5, verse 24. Now therefore, we will go up, Lord Holofernes, and they will be devoured by your whole army.”