Holofernes

1It was the eighteenth year, on the twenty-second day of the first month. In the house of Nebuchadnezzar, king of the Assyrians, there was talk. He had said he would pay back the whole land.

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.

NoteThe eighteenth year means the eighteenth year that he was king. Their year began in the spring, so the first month was near March. The Assyrians were a strong people who ruled many lands far from Israel. Nebuchadnezzar was their king.

2He called all his officers and all his important men together. He told them his secret plan. With his own mouth he told them the evil of the whole land.

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.

NoteHis officers were the men who helped him rule and led his soldiers.

3They decided to destroy every person who did not obey his word.

Then they decreed to destroy all flesh, that did not obey the commandment of his mouth.

4When he finished making his plan, the king called for Holofernes. Holofernes led his army and was second only to the king. Nebuchadnezzar said to him:

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.

NoteHolofernes was the general, the man who led the whole army for the king.

5The great king, the lord of the whole earth, says this: "You will go out from me. Take with you men who trust their own strength. Take 120,000 men on foot and 12,000 horses with riders.

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.

NoteThe king calls himself lord of the whole earth. That was a big boast. He did not really rule everything. An army of 120,000 men was enormous. Most armies then were much smaller.

6You will go out against all the land in the west. They did not obey my command.

And thou shalt go against all the west country, because they disobeyed my commandment.

NoteThe land in the west means the lands toward the sea, including Israel.

7Tell them to get earth and water ready for me. I am angry, and I will come out against them. The feet of my army will cover the whole face of the land. My soldiers will take everything the people have.

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:

NoteGiving a king earth and water was a sign. It meant giving him your ground and your wells. It was a way of saying, we give up, everything here is yours now.

8The people they kill will fill the valleys and the streams. The river will fill up with dead bodies until it spills over.

So that their slain shall fill their valleys and brooks and the river shall be filled with their dead, till it overflow:

9I will take the people away as prisoners, to the farthest parts of the earth.

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

NoteKings then often marched beaten people far from home. Whole families had to leave and live in another country.

10So you must go out. Take all their land for me first. If they give themselves up to you, keep them for me. Keep them until the day I punish them.

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.

11But do not feel sorry for the ones who fight back. Kill them and take their things everywhere you go.

But concerning them that rebel, let not thine eye spare them; but put them to the slaughter, and spoil them wheresoever thou goest.

NoteTaking their things means the soldiers carried off food, animals, and anything valuable.

12As surely as I live, and by the power of my kingdom: what I have said, I will do with my own hand.

For as I live, and by the power of my kingdom, whatsoever I have spoken, that will I do by mine hand.

NoteAs surely as I live was a way of making a strong promise. It meant, you can count on this.

13Be careful to obey every command your lord gives you. Do all of them, just as I told you. Do not put it off."

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.

14Then Holofernes left his lord and went out. He called all the governors and captains. He called the officers of the army of Asshur.

Then Holofernes went forth from the presence of his lord, and called all the governors and captains, and the officers of the army of Assur;

NoteA governor ruled one part of the land for the king. A captain led a group of soldiers. Asshur is another name for Assyria.

15He counted the men chosen to fight, as his lord had told him. There were 120,000 men, and 12,000 archers on horses.

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;

NoteAn archer is a soldier who fights with a bow and arrows. These archers shot while riding on horseback.

16He lined them up, the way a great army is lined up for war.

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

17He took camels and donkeys to carry the loads, a huge number of them. He took sheep and oxen and goats for food, too many to count.

And he took camels and asses for their carriages, a very great number; and sheep and oxen and goats without number for their provision:

NoteAn army had to carry its own food. The camels and donkeys carried the packs. The sheep, goats, and oxen walked along and were eaten later. Oxen are big, strong cattle.

18He took plenty of food for every man in the army. He took a great deal of gold and silver from the king's house.

And plenty of victual for every man of the army, and very much gold and silver out of the king’s house.

19Then he and his whole army set out. They went ahead of King Nebuchadnezzar on the journey. They would cover the whole face of the land in the west. They had chariots, horsemen, and chosen men on foot.

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.

NoteA chariot is a cart on wheels pulled by horses. Soldiers rode in chariots to fight.

20A great crowd from many other countries came with them. They were like locusts, like sand on the ground. There were far too many to count.

A great number also sundry countries came with them like locusts, and like the sand of the earth: for the multitude was without number.

NoteLocusts are bugs like big grasshoppers. They fly in huge clouds and eat every green plant. Saying the army was like locusts means there were too many to count.

21They left Nineveh and traveled three days toward the plain of Bectileth. They camped near Bectileth, by the mountain on the left of Upper Cilicia.

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.

NoteNineveh was the great city where the Assyrian king lived. Three days' journey means as far as people could walk in three days. Cilicia was a land near the sea, in what is now Turkey.

22Then he took his whole army, the men on foot, the horsemen, and the chariots. They went from there into the hill country.

Then he took all his army, his footmen, and horsemen and chariots, and went from thence into the hill country;

23He destroyed Put and Lud. He took everything from the children of Rasses and the children of Ishmael. They lived out toward the desert, south of the land of the Chellians.

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.

NoteThese are the old names of peoples who lived long ago. Today we do not know exactly where some of them lived.

24He crossed the Euphrates River and went through Mesopotamia. He knocked down all the high cities along the river Arbonai, all the way to the sea.

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.

NoteThe Euphrates is one of the biggest rivers in that part of the world. Mesopotamia means the land between two big rivers. High cities were towns built up on hills with strong walls. They were hard to attack.

25He took the borders of Cilicia. He killed everyone who fought against him. He came to the borders of Japheth, in the south, across from Arabia.

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.

NoteArabia is the dry land to the south, mostly desert.

26He surrounded all the children of Midian. He burned their tents. He took what was in their sheep pens.

He compassed also all the children of Madian, and burned up their tabernacles, and spoiled their sheepcotes.

NoteThe children of Midian were people who moved around with their sheep. That is why they lived in tents and not houses. A sheep pen is a wall of stones or branches. It kept the sheep safe at night.

27Then he went down to the plain of Damascus, at the time of the wheat harvest. He burned all their fields. He killed their sheep and their cattle. He robbed their cities and ruined their open land. He killed all their young men with the sword.

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.

NoteDamascus is a very old city. People still live there today. The wheat harvest is when the grain is cut and gathered. Burning the fields right then destroyed a whole year of food.

28So fear and dread of him fell on all the people living by the sea. That included the people in Sidon and Tyre, and the people in Sur and Ocina, and all the people in Jemnaan. The people in Azotus and Ascalon were very afraid of him.

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.

NoteThese were towns along the coast, on the way toward Israel. Dread is a heavy, scared feeling that will not go away.

1So they sent messengers to him to ask for peace. This is what the messengers said:

So they sent ambassadors unto him to treat of peace, saying,

NoteAsking for peace here meant giving up. These people chose to obey rather than fight.

2"Look, we are the servants of Nabuchodonosor the great king. We lie down in front of you. Use us in any way you think is good.

Behold, we the servants of Nabuchodonosor the great king lie before thee; use us as shall be good in thy sight.

NoteNabuchodonosor is an old way of spelling the name Nebuchadnezzar. He was a powerful king far away.

3Look, here are our houses and all our land. Here are all our wheat fields, our sheep, and our cattle. Here are all the sheep pens by our tents. They lie in front of your face. Use them however it pleases you.

Behold, our houses, and all our places, and all our fields of wheat, and flocks, and herds, and all the lodges of our tents lie before thy face; use them as it pleaseth thee.

NoteA sheep pen is a small yard with a wall. Shepherds kept their sheep safe inside it at night.

4Look, even our cities and the people in them are your servants. Come and treat them however you think is good."

Behold, even our cities and the inhabitants thereof are thy servants; come and deal with them as seemeth good unto thee.

NoteCalling yourself someone's servant meant this: I will do whatever you say.

5So the men came to Holofernes. They told him these very words.

So the men came to Holofernes, and declared unto him after this manner.

NoteHolofernes was the leader of the king's whole army.

6Then he went down toward the sea coast with his army. He put soldiers to guard the cities up on the hills. He chose men from those cities to help him.

Then came he down toward the sea coast, both he and his army, and set garrisons in the high cities, and took out of them chosen men for aid.

NoteSoldiers left behind to hold a city were called a garrison. They stayed there and guarded it.

7They welcomed him, and so did all the land around them. They came with garlands of flowers, with dancing, and with timbrels.

So they and all the country round about received them with garlands, with dances, and with timbrels.

NoteA garland is a ring of flowers and leaves. People wore them or carried them at happy times.

8But he tore down their borders. He cut down their sacred trees. He had been given the job of destroying every god of that land. Then all nations would worship only Nabuchodonosor. People of every language and family would call him a god.

Yet he did cast down their frontiers, and cut down their groves: for he had decreed to destroy all the gods of the land, that all nations should worship Nabuchodonosor only, and that all tongues and tribes should call upon him as god.

NoteA timbrel is a small drum. You hold it in one hand and tap it.

9Then he came to Esdraelon, near Judea. It sits across from the long ridge of Judea.

Also he came over against Esdraelon near unto Judea, over against the great strait of Judea.

NoteSacred trees were trees people planted where they prayed to their gods. Cutting them down meant the old worship had to stop.

10He set up camp between Geba and Scythopolis. He stayed there a whole month. He wanted to gather all the baggage of his army.

And he pitched between Geba and Scythopolis, and there he tarried a whole month, that he might gather together all the carriages of his army.

NoteEsdraelon is a wide flat valley. Judea is the part of the land where the Jewish people lived. A ridge is a long line of hills, like a wall of land. The old word "carriages" meant the things an army carries. Tents, food, and tools all traveled with the soldiers.

1The people of Israel lived in Judea. They heard news about Holofernes, the chief captain of Nabuchodonosor, king of the Assyrians. They heard all he had done to the nations. He had robbed every one of their temples and left them ruined.

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.

NoteJudea was the land around Jerusalem where God's people lived. A chief captain was the leader of a whole army. Assyria was a strong country far away to the north. Its king's name is also spelled Nebuchadnezzar. A temple is a building where people go to worship.

2So they were very afraid of him. They were worried about Jerusalem and about the temple of the Lord their God.

Therefore they were exceedingly afraid of him, and were troubled for Jerusalem, and for the temple of the Lord their God:

NoteThe temple in Jerusalem was the special house built for God. It was the most important place in the whole land.

3They had only just come home from being captives far away. All the people of Judea had gathered together not long before. The bowls and cups, the altar, and the house had been made unclean. Then they had all been made holy again.

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.

NoteLong before this, enemies had carried these people far from home. They had only just been allowed to come back. While they were gone, the temple had been used in wrong ways. To make something holy means to set it apart just for God. The altar was a stone table where gifts to God were burned.

4So they sent word all through the land of Samaria. They sent to the villages, and to Bethoron, Belmen, and Jericho. They sent to Choba and Esora, and to the valley of Salem.

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:

NoteThese are names of towns and lands near Judea. Samaria was the land just north of them. They sent messengers to warn people in every one of these places.

5They went ahead and took the tops of all the high mountains. They made the villages up there strong and safe. They stored up food to get ready for war. They had just cut the crops in their fields.

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.

NoteTo make a village strong meant building walls and gates around it. Then enemies could not get inside easily. Cutting the crops means gathering the grain from the fields. So they had lots of food to store away.

6Joacim was the high priest, the leader of all the priests, in Jerusalem then. He wrote a letter to the people of Bethulia and Betomestham. Those towns face Esdraelon, toward the open country near Dothaim.

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,

NoteA priest was a man whose job was serving God at the temple. The high priest was the chief priest over all the others.

7He told them to guard the paths through the hill country. Those paths were the way into Judea. Anyone coming up could be stopped there easily. The path was so narrow that only two men could pass.

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.

NoteThe hill country was full of steep hills. Only a few narrow paths went through them. A small group of guards could block a whole army there.

8The people of Israel did what Joacim the high priest had told them. So did the elders of all the people of Israel, who were in Jerusalem.

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.

NoteThe elders were the older leaders of the people. They met together to make important decisions.

9Then every man of Israel called out to God with all his heart. With all their strength they made themselves humble before him.

Then every man of Israel cried to God with great fervency, and with great vehemency did they humble their souls:

NoteTo humble yourself means to stop acting big and strong. These people bowed low and told God they needed his help.

10They put sackcloth around their waists. So did their wives and their children. So did their farm animals, and every visitor from another land. So did every hired worker and every servant they had bought.

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.

NoteSackcloth was rough, scratchy cloth, like an old feed sack. People wore it to show they were very sad or sorry. Here even the animals were covered with it. A servant bought with money was a person someone had paid for. That person had to work for the one who bought them.

11Every man and woman, the little children, and the people of Jerusalem went to the temple. They lay face down in front of it. They threw ashes on their heads. They spread out their sackcloth before the Lord. They wrapped sackcloth around the altar too.

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,

NoteAshes are the soft gray dust left behind after a fire. Throwing ashes on your head showed everyone you were sad. Lying face down showed that you were asking God for help.

12All together they cried out to the God of Israel. They begged him not to let their children be carried off. They begged him not to let their wives be taken away. They begged him not to let their family cities be destroyed. They begged him not to let his holy house be made unclean and shamed. They begged him not to let other nations be glad about it.

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.

NoteTheir family cities were the towns their families had lived in for a long time. Making the temple unclean meant using it for the wrong things. That would have felt shameful to them.

13The Lord heard their voices. He saw their trouble. The people went without food for many days. They did this all through Judea and in Jerusalem, in front of the holy house of the Lord Almighty.

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.

NoteGoing without food on purpose is called fasting. People did it while praying hard about something important.

14Joacim the high priest wore sackcloth around his waist. So did all the priests who stood before the Lord and served him. They gave the burnt offerings that were given every day. They also brought the gifts the people had promised and the gifts they gave freely.

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,

NoteA burnt offering was an animal given to God and burned on the altar. The priests did this every morning and every evening. A vow is a promise, so these were gifts people had promised to bring.

15They had ashes on their turbans. They cried out to the Lord as loudly as they could. They asked him to look kindly on all the people of Israel.

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.

NoteA turban is a long cloth wrapped around and around the head. The priests wore them. The King James calls them "mitres".

1Word came to Holofernes, the chief captain of the army of Assur. Israel had gotten ready to fight. They had blocked the paths through the hill country. They had built up the tops of the high hills. They had put things in the way out on the flat land.

Then was it declared to Holofernes, the chief captain of the army of Assur, that the children of Israel had prepared for war, and had shut up the passages of the hill country, and had fortified all the tops of the high hills and had laid impediments in the champaign countries:

NoteAssur is Assyria, a large and powerful country far to the east. A chief captain is the man in charge of the whole army. Hill country means land covered with hills, hard to march through. Blocking the paths kept the army from climbing up.

2This made him very angry. He called all the princes of Moab. He called the captains of Ammon. He called all the rulers of the sea coast.

Wherewith he was very angry, and called all the princes of Moab, and the captains of Ammon, and all the governors of the sea coast,

NoteMoab and Ammon were small countries close to Israel. Princes and captains were their leaders. The sea coast is the land right beside the sea.

3He said to them, "Tell me now, you sons of Chanaan. Who are these people who live in the hill country? What cities do they live in? How big is their army? Where does their power and strength come from? What king rules them, or what captain leads their army?

And he said unto them, Tell me now, ye sons of Chanaan, who this people is, that dwelleth in the hill country, and what are the cities that they inhabit, and what is the multitude of their army, and wherein is their power and strength, and what king is set over them, or captain of their army;

NoteChanaan is a land, also spelled Canaan. "Sons of Chanaan" means the people whose families came from there.

4Why have they made up their minds not to come out and meet me? They alone refused, out of all the people who live in the west."

And why have they determined not to come and meet me, more than all the inhabitants of the west.

5Then Achior spoke. He was the captain of all the sons of Ammon. He said, "My lord, please hear a word from your servant. I will tell you the truth about these people. They live in the hill country, near you. No lie will come out of my mouth.

Then said Achior, the captain of all the sons of Ammon, Let my lord now hear a word from the mouth of thy servant, and I will declare unto thee the truth concerning this people, which dwelleth near thee, and inhabiteth the hill countries: and there shall no lie come out of the mouth of thy servant.

NoteAchior calls himself "thy servant." That was a polite way to say "me" when talking to a powerful man.

6These people came from the Chaldeans.

This people are descended of the Chaldeans:

NoteThe Chaldeans lived far away to the east, near two big rivers. Abraham's family came from there long before this.

7Long ago they lived for a while in Mesopotamia. They would not follow the gods of their fathers, back in the land of Chaldea.

And they sojourned heretofore in Mesopotamia, because they would not follow the gods of their fathers, which were in the land of Chaldea.

NoteMesopotamia was the land between those two big rivers. "The gods of their fathers" were statues their family had prayed to.

8They left the way their fathers before them had gone. They worshiped the God of heaven, the God they knew. So they were thrown out, away from the face of those gods. They ran to Mesopotamia and stayed there many days.

For they left the way of their ancestors, and worshipped the God of heaven, the God whom they knew: so they cast them out from the face of their gods, and they fled into Mesopotamia, and sojourned there many days.

NoteTo worship means to love God, obey him, and pray to him.

9Then their God told them to leave the place where they were staying. He told them to go to the land of Chanaan. They lived there. They grew rich with gold and silver and very many cattle.

Then their God commanded them to depart from the place where they sojourned, and to go into the land of Chanaan: where they dwelt, and were increased with gold and silver, and with very much cattle.

NoteCattle means cows, sheep, and goats. Back then, lots of animals meant you were rich.

10Then the food ran out in all the land of Chanaan. So they went down to Egypt and stayed there. They were fed there until they had grown. They became a huge crowd, too many to count.

But when a famine covered all the land of Chanaan, they went down into Egypt, and sojourned there, while they were nourished, and became there a great multitude, so that one could not number their nation.

11Then the king of Egypt turned against them. He was sly with them. He wore them down with hard work making bricks. He made them slaves.

Therefore the king of Egypt rose up against them, and dealt subtilly with them, and brought them low with labouring in brick, and made them slaves.

NoteSlaves were people forced to work with no pay. They were not allowed to leave. The bricks were blocks of mud, dried hard in the sun, used to build.

12Then they cried out to their God. He struck all the land of Egypt with sicknesses no one could cure. So the Egyptians threw them out of their sight.

Then they cried unto their God, and he smote all the land of Egypt with incurable plagues: so the Egyptians cast them out of their sight.

13And God dried up the Red Sea in front of them.

And God dried the Red sea before them,

NoteThe Red Sea is a big sea between Egypt and the dry, empty land.

14He brought them to Sina and Cades-Barne. They drove out everyone who lived in the wild, empty land.

And brought them to mount Sina, and Cades-Barne, and cast forth all that dwelt in the wilderness.

NoteSina is Mount Sinai, the mountain where God spoke to Moses. Cades-Barne was a place in the desert where the people camped a long time.

15So they lived in the land of the Amorites. By their own strength they destroyed all the people of Esebon. They crossed the Jordan River and took all the hill country.

So they dwelt in the land of the Amorites, and they destroyed by their strength all them of Esebon, and passing over Jordan they possessed all the hill country.

NoteThe Amorites were a people living in that land. Esebon was one of their cities. The Jordan is a river you must cross to get into the land.

16They drove out the Chanaanite, the Pherezite, the Jebusite, and the Sychemite. They drove out all the Gergesites too. They lived in that country many days.

And they cast forth before them the Chanaanite, the Pherezite, the Jebusite, and the Sychemite, and all the Gergesites, and they dwelt in that country many days.

NoteThese long names are groups of people who lived in the land. Each group was named after the grandfather their families came from.

17While they did not sin before their God, things went well for them. This was because the God who hates wrongdoing was with them.

And whilst they sinned not before their God, they prospered, because the God that hateth iniquity was with them.

NoteTo sin means to do what God has told you not to do.

18But they turned off the path he set for them. Then they were beaten badly in many battles. They were taken away to a land that was not theirs. The temple of their God was knocked to the ground. Their cities were taken by their enemies.

But when they departed from the way which he appointed them, they were destroyed in many battles very sore, and were led captives into a land that was not their’s, and the temple of their God was cast to the ground, and their cities were taken by the enemies.

NoteThe temple was the special building in Jerusalem where the people worshiped God. Being "taken away to a land that was not theirs" means enemies marched them far from home and kept them there.

19But now they have come back to their God. They have come up from the places where they were scattered. They have taken Jerusalem, where their holy place is. They are settled in the hill country, for it was empty.

But now are they returned to their God, and are come up from the places where they were scattered, and have possessed Jerusalem, where their sanctuary is, and are seated in the hill country; for it was desolate.

NoteScattered means pushed apart and spread out in many far places. Their "holy place" is the temple, set apart just for God.

20So now, my lord and ruler, hear me. If these people have done wrong and sinned against their God, then let us see that this will ruin them. Let us go up, and we will beat them.

Now therefore, my lord and governor, if there be any error against this people, and they sin against their God, let us consider that this shall be their ruin, and let us go up, and we shall overcome them.

21But if there is no wrong in their nation, let my lord pass them by. If not, their Lord may defend them and their God may be for them. Then we would be shamed in front of the whole world."

But if there be no iniquity in their nation, let my lord now pass by, lest their Lord defend them, and their God be for them, and we become a reproach before all the world.

22When Achior finished saying this, all the people standing around the tent grumbled. The chief men of Holofernes, and all who lived by the sea and in Moab, said he should be killed.

And when Achior had finished these sayings, all the people standing round about the tent murmured, and the chief men of Holofernes, and all that dwelt by the sea side, and in Moab, spake that he should kill him.

NoteThe tent was the big cloth house where the leader of the army stayed.

23They said, "We will not be afraid of the children of Israel. Look, they are a people with no strength or power for a hard fight.

For, say they, we will not be afraid of the face of the children of Israel: for, lo, it is a people that have no strength nor power for a strong battle

24So now, lord Holofernes, we will go up. Your whole army will eat them up like prey."

Now therefore, lord Holofernes, we will go up, and they shall be a prey to be devoured of all thine army.

NotePrey means an animal that a bigger animal hunts and eats. They are saying Israel will be that easy to beat.

1The men around the council grew quiet. Then Holofernes spoke. He was the chief captain of the army of Assur. He spoke to Achior and to all the Moabites, in front of all the other nations there.

And when the tumult of men that were about the council was ceased, Holofernes the chief captain of the army of Assur said unto Achior and all the Moabites before all the company of other nations,

NoteAchior was a leader of the Ammonites, a people near Israel. His army was helping Assur. Earlier he told Holofernes not to attack Israel. Assur was a large, strong country far from Israel. The Moabites were another people who lived near Israel.

2"Who do you think you are, Achior? Who are you and the hired soldiers of Ephraim? You have spoken against us today. You said we should not fight the people of Israel, because their God will keep them safe. But who is God except Nabuchodonosor?

And who art thou, Achior, and the hirelings of Ephraim, that thou hast prophesied against us as to day, and hast said, that we should not make war with the people of Israel, because their God will defend them? and who is God but Nabuchodonosor?

NoteEphraim was another name for part of Israel. Hired soldiers are men paid money to fight for someone else. Nabuchodonosor was the king Holofernes served. Holofernes is saying his king should be treated like a god.

3He will send out his power. He will wipe them off the earth. Their God will not save them. We are his servants, and we will strike them down like one man. They cannot stand up to the power of our horses.

He will send his power, and will destroy them from the face of the earth, and their God shall not deliver them: but we his servants will destroy them as one man; for they are not able to sustain the power of our horses.

Note"Strike them down like one man" means the whole army will act together at once. Holofernes is saying it will be quick and easy.

4With our horses we will burn them up. Their mountains will be soaked with their blood. Their fields will be full of their dead bodies. They will not be able to stand in front of us. They will all die. So says King Nabuchodonosor, lord of all the earth. He said, 'Not one of my words will fail.'

For with them we will tread them under foot, and their mountains shall be drunken with their blood, and their fields shall be filled with their dead bodies, and their footsteps shall not be able to stand before us, for they shall utterly perish, saith king Nabuchodonosor, lord of all the earth: for he said, None of my words shall be in vain.

NoteMountains soaked with blood is a huge, boasting picture. It is a strong way of saying many people will die.

5"And you, Achior, you hired man of Ammon. You said these words on the day of your wrongdoing. You will not see my face again from this day on. I will first pay back this nation that came out of Egypt.

And thou, Achior, an hireling of Ammon, which hast spoken these words in the day of thine iniquity, shalt see my face no more from this day, until I take vengeance of this nation that came out of Egypt.

NoteAmmon was the land Achior came from. The nation that came out of Egypt is Israel. Long ago the people of Israel were slaves in Egypt, and God brought them out.

6When I come back, the sword of my army will go through your sides. My many servants will do it. You will fall among the dead of Israel.

And then shall the sword of mine army, and the multitude of them that serve me, pass through thy sides, and thou shalt fall among their slain, when I return.

7So now my servants will take you back into the hill country. They will leave you in one of the towns by the mountain passes.

Now therefore my servants shall bring thee back into the hill country, and shall set thee in one of the cities of the passages:

NoteHill country means land full of hills. Israel's towns were up in those hills. A mountain pass is a low gap where a road goes between hills.

8You will not die yet. You will die when they are destroyed.

And thou shalt not perish, till thou be destroyed with them.

9You may still hope in your heart that they will not be taken. Then do not look so sad. I have said it, and none of my words will fail."

And if thou persuade thyself in thy mind that they shall be taken, let not thy countenance fall: I have spoken it, and none of my words shall be in vain.

10Then Holofernes gave an order to the servants who waited in his tent. They were to take Achior to Bethulia and hand him over to the people of Israel.

Then Holofernes commanded his servants, that waited in his tent, to take Achior, and bring him to Bethulia, and deliver him into the hands of the children of Israel.

NoteBethulia was a town of Israel high up in the hills. The road into Israel went right past it.

11So his servants took him out of the camp and into the flat land. From the middle of the flat land they went up into the hill country. They came to the springs below Bethulia.

So his servants took him, and brought him out of the camp into the plain, and they went from the midst of the plain into the hill country, and came unto the fountains that were under Bethulia.

12The men of the city saw them. They picked up their weapons and went out to the top of the hill. Every man with a sling kept them from climbing up. They threw stones at them.

And when the men of the city saw them, they took up their weapons, and went out of the city to the top of the hill: and every man that used a sling kept them from coming up by casting of stones against them.

NoteA sling is a leather strap. You put a stone in it, swing it, and let go. The stone flies very far and very fast.

13Even so, the servants slipped down low under the hill. They tied Achior up. They threw him down and left him at the bottom of the hill. Then they went back to their lord.

Nevertheless having gotten privily under the hill, they bound Achior, and cast him down, and left him at the foot of the hill, and returned to their lord.

14But the Israelites came down from their city to him. They untied him and brought him into Bethulia. They took him to the leaders of the city.

But the Israelites descended from their city, and came unto him, and loosed him, and brought him to Bethulia, and presented him to the governors of the city:

15In those days the leaders were Ozias son of Micha, from the tribe of Simeon, and Chabris son of Gothoniel, and Charmis son of Melchiel.

Which were in those days Ozias the son of Micha, of the tribe of Simeon, and Chabris the son of Gothoniel, and Charmis the son of Melchiel.

NoteThe people of Israel were made up of twelve big family groups. Each group was called a tribe. Simeon was one of them.

16They called all the older leaders of the city together. All their young men and their women ran to the meeting too. They stood Achior in the middle of all the people. Then Ozias asked him what had happened.

And they called together all the ancients of the city, and all their youth ran together, and their women, to the assembly, and they set Achior in the midst of all their people. Then Ozias asked him of that which was done.

NoteThe older leaders were called elders. They were grown men who made the choices for the town.

17Achior told them everything. He told them what was said at the council of Holofernes. He told them all that Holofernes said in front of the princes of Assur. He told them the proud things Holofernes said against the house of Israel.

And he answered and declared unto them the words of the council of Holofernes, and all the words that he had spoken in the midst of the princes of Assur, and whatsoever Holofernes had spoken proudly against the house of Israel.

18Then the people bowed down low and worshiped God. They called out to God and said,

Then the people fell down and worshipped God, and cried unto God. saying,

NoteBowing down low meant lying with your face near the ground. People did this to show great honor. Worshiping God means showing God love and honor.

19"O Lord God of heaven, look at how proud they are. Feel sorry for our nation, which is brought so low. Look kindly on the people who are set apart for you this day."

O Lord God of heaven, behold their pride, and pity the low estate of our nation, and look upon the face of those that are sanctified unto thee this day.

Note"Set apart for you" means belonging to God alone. The people are talking about themselves.

20Then they comforted Achior and praised him very much.

Then they comforted Achior, and praised him greatly.

21Ozias took him from the meeting to his own house. He made a feast for the older leaders. All that night they called on the God of Israel for help.

And Ozias took him out of the assembly unto his house, and made a feast to the elders; and they called on the God of Israel all that night for help.

NoteA feast is a big special meal with lots of food. "Called on God" means they prayed and asked God for help.

1The next day Holofernes gave an order to his whole army. He also spoke to all the people who had come to help him. They were to move camp toward the town of Bethulia. They were to take the roads that climb up into the hills. Then they were to make war on the people of Israel.

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.

NoteHolofernes was the leader of a huge army from Assyria, a strong faraway country. Bethulia was a small town of Israel, high up in the hills. The roads up the hills were narrow and easy for a few men to block.

2Their strong men moved camp that day. The army had 170,000 soldiers who fought on foot. It also had 12,000 soldiers on horses. Besides these there were the baggage carts and more men walking along. They were a huge crowd.

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.

NoteThat is a huge number of soldiers, more people than live in a big town. Baggage carts carried the food and tents the army needed.

3They camped in the valley near Bethulia, beside the spring. They spread out wide, from Dothaim all the way to Belmaim. They spread out long, from Bethulia to Cynamon, which faces Esdraelon.

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.

NoteA spring is a place where water comes up out of the ground. Dothaim, Belmaim, Cynamon, and Esdraelon were towns and valleys nearby. Their names show how far the army spread across the land.

4The people of Israel saw how many there were, and they were very frightened. Each one said to his neighbor, "These men will lick up the whole face of the earth. The high mountains, the valleys, and the hills cannot hold their weight."

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.

Note"Lick up the face of the earth" was an old way to say something eats up everything. They meant the army was so big it would swallow the whole land.

5Then every man picked up his weapons. They lit fires on top of their towers. They stayed there and kept watch all that night.

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.

NoteTowns had tall towers built on their walls. Guards stood up there to watch for enemies. The fires helped them see in the dark all night long.

6On the second day Holofernes brought out all his horsemen. The people of Israel in Bethulia could see them.

But in the second day Holofernes brought forth all his horsemen in the sight of the children of Israel which were in Bethulia,

7He looked at the paths that go up to the city. He came to the springs that gave them water, and he took them. He put groups of fighting men there to guard them. Then he went back to his own people.

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.

NoteTowns high in the hills got their water from springs down below. Soldiers standing at a spring cut the town off from its water.

8Then some leaders came to him. They were the chief men of the children of Esau, the rulers of the people of Moab, and the captains of the sea coast. They said,

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,

NoteThe children of Esau were the people of Edom, a land near Israel. The people of Moab lived near Israel too. The captains of the sea coast led men from towns beside the sea. All of them were helping Holofernes fight.

9"Let our lord listen to a word from us. Then your army will not be beaten.

Let our lord now hear a word, that there be not an overthrow in thine army.

Note"Our lord" was a polite way to say "our master." They were speaking to Holofernes.

10These people of Israel do not trust their spears. They trust the high mountains where they live. It is not easy to climb to the tops of their mountains.

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.

11So, my lord, do not fight them in lines of battle. Then not even one of your men will die.

Now therefore, my lord, fight not against them in battle array, and there shall not so much as one man of thy people perish.

NoteIn those days armies lined up in long rows facing each other. Then they ran together and fought.

12Stay in your camp, and keep every man of your army there. Let your servants take hold of the spring of water. It comes out at the bottom of the mountain.

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:

13Everyone who lives in Bethulia gets water from there. Then thirst will kill them, and they will give up their city. We and our people will climb the mountain tops nearby. We will camp there and watch, so no one gets out of the city.

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.

14Hunger will use them up, along with their wives and their children. Before any sword comes near them, they will fall in the streets where they live.

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.

15So you will pay them back with harm. They turned against you. They did not come out to meet you in peace."

Thus shalt thou render them an evil reward; because they rebelled, and met not thy person peaceably.

16Holofernes liked what they said, and so did all his servants. He gave the order to do just as they had spoken.

And these words pleased Holofernes and all his servants, and he appointed to do as they had spoken.

17So the camp of the children of Ammon moved out. Five thousand of the Assyrians went with them. They camped in the valley. They took the waters and the springs that belonged to the people of Israel.

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.

NoteThe children of Ammon were another people who lived near Israel. The Assyrians came from Assur, the faraway country Holofernes served.

18The children of Esau went up with the children of Ammon. They camped in the hills across from Dothaim. They sent some of their men south and east, near Ekrebel, which is close to Chusi by the brook Mochmur. The rest of the Assyrian army camped on the plain and covered the whole land. Their tents and carts were spread out in a huge crowd.

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.

NoteA brook is a small stream of water. Ekrebel, Chusi, and Mochmur were places near Bethulia.