Jdt 7:1 

The next day Holofernes commanded all his army, and all his 

people which were come to take his part, that they should remove 

their camp against Bethulia, to take aforehand the ascents of 

the hill country, and to make war against the children of 

Israel. 

Jdt 7:2 

Then their strong men removed their camps in that day, and 

the army of the men of war was an hundred and seventy thousand 

footmen, and twelve thousand horsemen, beside the baggage, and 

other men that were afoot among them, a very great multitude. 

Jdt 7:3 

And they camped in the valley near unto Bethulia, by the 

fountain, and they spread themselves in breadth over Dothaim 

even to Belmaim, and in length from Bethulia unto Cynamon, which 

is over against Esdraelon. 

Jdt 7:4 

Now the children of Israel, when they saw the multitude of 

them, were greatly troubled, and said every one to his 

neighbour, Now will these men lick up the face of the earth; for 

neither the high mountains, nor the valleys, nor the hills, are 

able to bear their weight. 

Jdt 7:5 

Then every man took up his weapons of war, and when they had 

kindled fires upon their towers, they remained and watched all 

that night. 

Jdt 7:6 

But in the second day Holofernes brought forth all his 

horsemen in the sight of the children of Israel which were in 

Bethulia, 

Jdt 7:7 

And viewed the passages up to the city, and came to the 

fountains of their waters, and took them, and set garrisons of 

men of war over them, and he himself removed toward his people. 

Jdt 7:8 

Then came unto him all the chief of the children of Esau, and 

all the governors of the people of Moab, and the captains of the 

sea coast, and said, 

Jdt 7:9 

Let our lord now hear a word, that there be not an overthrow 

in thine army. 

Jdt 7:10 

For this people of the children of Israel do not trust in 

their spears, but in the height of the mountains wherein they 

dwell, because it is not easy to come up to the tops of their 

mountains. 

Jdt 7:11 

Now therefore, my lord, fight not against them in battle 

array, and there shall not so much as one man of thy people 

perish. 

Jdt 7:12 

Remain in thy camp, and keep all the men of thine army, and 

let thy servants get into their hands the fountain of water, 

which issueth forth of the foot of the mountain: 

Jdt 7:13 

For all the inhabitants of Bethulia have their water thence; 

so shall thirst kill them, and they shall give up their city, 

and we and our people shall go up to the tops of the mountains 

that are near, and will camp upon them, to watch that none go 

out of the city. 

Jdt 7:14 

So they and their wives and their children shall be consumed 

with fire, and before the sword come against them, they shall be 

overthrown in the streets where they dwell. 

Jdt 7:15 

Thus shalt thou render them an evil reward; because they 

rebelled, and met not thy person peaceably. 

Jdt 7:16 

And these words pleased Holofernes and all his servants, and 

he appointed to do as they had spoken. 

Jdt 7:17 

So the camp of the children of Ammon departed, and with them 

five thousand of the Assyrians, and they pitched in the valley, 

and took the waters, and the fountains of the waters of the 

children of Israel. 

Jdt 7:18 

Then the children of Esau went up with the children of Ammon, 

and camped in the hill country over against Dothaim: and they 

sent some of them toward the south, and toward the east over 

against Ekrebel, which is near unto Chusi, that is upon the 

brook Mochmur; and the rest of the army of the Assyrians camped 

in the plain, and covered the face of the whole land; and their 

tents and carriages were pitched to a very great multitude. 

Jdt 7:19 

Then the children of Israel cried unto the Lord their God, 

because their heart failed, for all their enemies had compassed 

them round about, and there was no way to escape out from among 

them. 

Jdt 7:20 

Thus all the company of Assur remained about them, both their 

footmen, chariots, and horsemen, four and thirty days, so that 

all their vessels of water failed all the inhibitants of 

Bethulia. 

Jdt 7:21 

And the cisterns were emptied, and they had not water to 

drink their fill for one day; for they gave them drink by 

measure. 

Jdt 7:22 

Therefore their young children were out of heart, and their 

women and young men fainted for thirst, and fell down in the 

streets of the city, and by the passages of the gates, and there 

was no longer any strength in them. 

Jdt 7:23 

Then all the people assembled to Ozias, and to the chief of 

the city, both young men, and women, and children, and cried 

with a loud voice, and said before all the elders, 

Jdt 7:24 

God be judge between us and you: for ye have done us great 

injury, in that ye have not required peace of the children of 

Assur. 

Jdt 7:25 

For now we have no helper: but God hath sold us into their 

hands, that we should be thrown down before them with thirst and 

great destruction. 

Jdt 7:26 

Now therefore call them unto you, and deliver the whole city 

for a spoil to the people of Holofernes, and to all his army. 

Jdt 7:27 

For it is better for us to be made a spoil unto them, than to 

die for thirst: for we will be his servants, that our souls may 

live, and not see the death of our infants before our eyes, nor 

our wives nor our children to die. 

Jdt 7:28 

We take to witness against you the heaven and the earth, and 

our God and Lord of our fathers, which punisheth us according to 

our sins and the sins of our fathers, that he do not according 

as we have said this day. 

Jdt 7:29 

Then there was great weeping with one consent in the midst of 

the assembly; and they cried unto the Lord God with a loud 

voice. 

Jdt 7:30 

Then said Ozias to them, Brethren, be of good courage, let us 

yet endure five days, in the which space the Lord our God may 

turn his mercy toward us; for he will not forsake us utterly. 

Jdt 7:31 

And if these days pass, and there come no help unto us, I 

will do according to your word. 

Jdt 7:32 

And he dispersed the people, every one to their own charge; 

and they went unto the walls and towers of their city, and sent 

the women and children into their houses: and they were very low 

brought in the city.