Jdt 2:1 

And in the eighteenth year, the two and twentieth day of the 

first month, there was talk in the house of Nabuchodonosor king 

of the Assyrians that he should, as he said, avenge himself on 

all the earth. 

Jdt 2:2 

So he called unto him all his officers, and all his nobles, 

and communicated with them his secret counsel, and concluded the 

afflicting of the whole earth out of his own mouth. 

Jdt 2:3 

Then they decreed to destroy all flesh, that did not obey the 

commandment of his mouth. 

Jdt 2:4 

And when he had ended his counsel, Nabuchodonosor king of the 

Assyrians called Holofernes the chief captain of his army, which 

was next unto him, and said unto him. 

Jdt 2:5 

Thus saith the great king, the lord of the whole earth, 

Behold, thou shalt go forth from my presence, and take with thee 

men that trust in their own strength, of footmen an hundred and 

twenty thousand; and the number of horses with their riders 

twelve thousand. 

Jdt 2:6 

And thou shalt go against all the west country, because they 

disobeyed my commandment. 

Jdt 2:7 

And thou shalt declare unto that they prepare for me earth 

and water: for I will go forth in my wrath against them and will 

cover the whole face of the earth with the feet of mine army, 

and I will give them for a spoil unto them: 

Jdt 2:8 

So that their slain shall fill their valleys and brooks and 

the river shall be filled with their dead, till it overflow: 

Jdt 2:9 

And I will lead them captives to the utmost parts of all the 

earth. 

Jdt 2:10 

Thou therefore shalt go forth. and take beforehand for me all 

their coasts: and if they will yield themselves unto thee, thou 

shalt reserve them for me till the day of their punishment. 

Jdt 2:11 

But concerning them that rebel, let not thine eye spare them; 

but put them to the slaughter, and spoil them wheresoever thou 

goest. 

Jdt 2:12 

For as I live, and by the power of my kingdom, whatsoever I 

have spoken, that will I do by mine hand. 

Jdt 2:13 

And take thou heed that thou transgress none of the 

commandments of thy lord, but accomplish them fully, as I have 

commanded thee, and defer not to do them. 

Jdt 2:14 

Then Holofernes went forth from the presence of his lord, and 

called ail the governors and captains, and the officers of the 

army of Assur; 

Jdt 2:15 

And he mustered the chosen men for the battle, as his lord 

had commanded him, unto an hundred and twenty thousand, and 

twelve thousand archers on horseback; 

Jdt 2:16 

And he ranged them, as a great army is ordered for the war. 

Jdt 2:17 

And he took camels and asses for their carriages, a very 

great number; and sheep and oxen and goats without number for 

their provision: 

Jdt 2:18 

And plenty of victual for every man of the army, and very 

much gold and silver out of the king's house. 

Jdt 2:19 

Then he went forth and all his power to go before king 

Nabuchodonosor in the voyage, and to cover all the face of the 

earth westward with their chariots, and horsemen, and their 

chosen footmen. 

Jdt 2:20 

A great number also sundry countries came with them like 

locusts, and like the sand of the earth: for the multitude was 

without number. 

Jdt 2:21 

And they went forth of Nineve three days' journey toward the 

plain of Bectileth, and pitched from Bectileth near the mountain 

which is at the left hand of the upper Cilicia. 

Jdt 2:22 

Then he took all his army, his footmen, and horsemen and 

chariots, and went from thence into the hill country; 

Jdt 2:23 

And destroyed Phud and Lud, and spoiled all the children of 

Rasses, and the children of Israel, which were toward the 

wilderness at the south of the land of the Chellians. 

Jdt 2:24 

Then he went over Euphrates, and went through Mesopotamia, 

and destroyed all the high cities that were upon the river 

Arbonai, till ye come to the sea. 

Jdt 2:25 

And he took the borders of Cilicia, and killed all that 

resisted him, and came to the borders of Japheth, which were 

toward the south, over against Arabia. 

Jdt 2:26 

He compassed also all the children of Madian, and burned up 

their tabernacles, and spoiled their sheepcotes. 

Jdt 2:27 

Then he went down into the plain of Damascus in the time of 

wheat harvest, and burnt up all their fields, and destroyed 

their flocks and herds, also he spoiled their cities, and 

utterly wasted their countries, and smote all their young men 

with the edge of the sword. 

Jdt 2:28 

Therefore the fear and dread of him fell upon all the 

inhabitants of the sea coasts, which were in Sidon and Tyrus, 

and them that dwelt in Sur and Ocina, and all that dwelt in 

Jemnaan; and they that dwelt in Azotus and Ascalon feared him 

greatly.