Judith
4:1 Now the children of Israel, that dwelt in Judea, heard all that
Holofernes the chief captain of Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians had
done to the nations, and after what manner he had spoiled all their
temples, and brought them to nought.
4:2 Therefore they were exceedingly afraid of him, and were troubled for
Jerusalem, and for the temple of the Lord their God:
4:3 For they were newly returned from the captivity, and all the people of
Judea were lately gathered together: and the vessels, and the altar, and
the house, were sanctified after the profanation.
4:4 Therefore they sent into all the coasts of Samaria, and the villages and
to Bethoron, and Belmen, and Jericho, and to Choba, and Esora, and to
the valley of Salem:
4:5 And possessed themselves beforehand of all the tops of the high
mountains, and fortified the villages that were in them, and laid up
victuals for the provision of war: for their fields were of late reaped.
4:6 Also Joacim the high priest, which was in those days in Jerusalem, wrote
to them that dwelt in Bethulia, and Betomestham, which is over against
Esdraelon toward the open country, near to Dothaim,
4:7 Charging them to keep the passages of the hill country: for by them
there was an entrance into Judea, and it was easy to stop them that
would come up, because the passage was straight, for two men at the
most.
4:8 And the children of Israel did as Joacim the high priest had commanded
them, with the ancients of all the people of Israel, which dwelt at
Jerusalem.
4:9 Then every man of Israel cried to God with great fervency, and with
great vehemency did they humble their souls:
4:10 Both they, and their wives and their children, and their cattle, and
every stranger and hireling, and their servants bought with money, put
sackcloth upon their loins.
4:11 Thus every man and women, and the little children, and the inhabitants
of Jerusalem, fell before the temple, and cast ashes upon their heads,
and spread out their sackcloth before the face of the Lord: also they
put sackcloth about the altar,
4:12 And cried to the God of Israel all with one consent earnestly, that he
would not give their children for a prey, and their wives for a spoil,
and the cities of their inheritance to destruction, and the sanctuary to
profanation and reproach, and for the nations to rejoice at.
4:13 So God heard their prayers, and looked upon their afflictions: for the
people fasted many days in all Judea and Jerusalem before the sanctuary
of the Lord Almighty.
4:14 And Joacim the high priest, and all the priests that stood before the
Lord, and they which ministered unto the Lord, had their loins girt with
sackcloth, and offered the daily burnt offerings, with the vows and free
gifts of the people,
4:15 And had ashes on their mitres, and cried unto the Lord with all their
power, that he would look upon all the house of Israel graciously.
