Holofernes’ Response
Judith 6, verse 1. As the disruption of the men outside the council calmed down, Holofernes, the Assyrian army commander, spoke to Achior in the presence of all the crowd of foreigners and to all the sons of Moab: Judith 6, verse 2. “Who are you, Achior, and you mercenaries of Ephraim, to prophesy among us as you did today, to tell us we should not wage war against the Israelite people because their God will shield them? Who is god besides Nebuchadnezzar? He will send his power and will utterly destroy them from the face of the earth, and their God will not deliver them. Judith 6, verse 3. Rather we, the servants of the king, will strike them down as one man. They will not withstand the strength of our cavalry. Judith 6, verse 4. We will subdue them with it; their high hills will be drunk with their blood, and their plains will be filled with their bodies. Their footprints will no longer remain, but they will utterly perish, says King Nebuchadnezzar, lord of all the earth. It is he who has spoken; none of his words will be in vain. Judith 6, verse 5. “But you, O Achior, and your mercenaries of Ammon who spoke these words in the day of your wrongdoing, you will not see my face from this day forth until the time I will punish these people who came up out of Egypt. Judith 6, verse 6. When I return, the sword of my forces and of my servants will pass through your sides, and you will fall among their wounded men. Judith 6, verse 7. Now my servants will take you back to the hill country, and they will put you in one of the cities of the hill passes. Judith 6, verse 8. You will not die until you perish alongside them, Judith 6, verse 9. and if you really suppose in your heart that they will not be taken by us, then do not be downcast. I have spoken, and no word of mine shall fail.” Judith 6, verse 10. Now Holofernes commanded his servants, who were standing by in his tent, to capture Achior and remove him to Bethulia and turn him over to the sons of Israel. Judith 6, verse 11. Then the servants took hold of him and led him outside the camp toward the plain. They traveled from the plain into the hill country to the springs below Bethulia. Judith 6, verse 12. When the men of the city saw them, they took up their weapons and hurried out of the city to the crest of the mountain. The slingers kept the servants from ascending by hurling stones at them. Judith 6, verse 13. Taking shelter down at the base of the mountain, they tied up Achior and left him at the foot of the mountain, and went back to their master. Judith 6, verse 14. When the Israelites went down from their dwelling, they found and loosed him and brought him to Bethulia. They set him before the leaders of the city, Judith 6, verse 15. who in those days were Uzziah the son of Micah of the tribe of Simeon, and Chabris the son of Gothoniel, and Charmis the son of Melchiel. Judith 6, verse 16. They summoned all the city elders, and all their young men and the women rushed to the assembly, and they set Achior in the midst of all the people. Uzziah asked him what had happened. Judith 6, verse 17. He reported to them the events of the council of Holofernes, and all the many words he had spoken in the midst of the Assyrian officials, and all that Holofernes arrogantly boasted against the house of Israel. Judith 6, verse 18. Then the people fell down and worshipped God and cried out, saying, Judith 6, verse 19. “O Lord God of heaven, look down upon their arrogance, and have mercy on the humble state of our people. Look with favor upon those who are sanctified unto You this day.” Judith 6, verse 20. Then they encouraged Achior and praised him exceedingly. Judith 6, verse 21. Then Uzziah took him from the assembly to his house and gave a feast for the elders. And all that night they called upon the God of Israel for help.