JUDETH 3 & 4

Judeth 3

The people subject to Olosernes. 8 He destroyed their gods that Nabuchodonosor might only be worshiped.

SO they sent ambassadors to him with messages of peace, saying,

Behold, we are the servants of Nabuchodonosor the great King: we lie down before thee: use us as shall be good in thy sight.

Behold, our houses and all our places, and all our fields of wheat, and our stocks, and our herds, and all our Judges and tabernacles lie before thy face: use them as it pleases thee.

Behold, even our cities and the inhabitants thereof are thy servants: come, and take them, as seems good to thee.

So the men came to Olosernes, and declared unto them after this manner.

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 the war.

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

Yet he broke down: all their borders, and cut down their woods: for it was enjoined him 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.

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

And he pitched between Geba, and a city of the Scythians, and there he tarried a month, that he might assemble all the baggage of his armies.

Judeth 4

The Israelites were afraid and defended their country. 6 Ioacim the Priest writes to Berbulia, that they should fortify themselves. 9 They cried to the Lord, and humbled themselves before him.

NOW the children of Israel that dwelt in Judea, heard all that Olosernes the chief captain of Nabuchodonosor King of the Assyrians had done to the nations, and how he had spoiled all their temples, and brought them to nothing.

Therefore they feared greatly his presence, and were troubled for Jerusalem, and for the Temple of the Lord their God.

For they were newly returned from the captivity, and of late all the people were assembled in Judea, and the vessels and the altar of the House had been sanctified because of the pollution.

Therefore they sent into all the coasts of Samaria, and the villages, and to Bethoro, and Belmen, and Jericho, and to Choba, and Esora, and to the valley of Salem,

And took all the tops of the high mountains, and walled the villages that were in them, and put in vittles for the provision of war: for their fields were of late reaped.

Also Ioacim the high Priest which was in those days in Jerusalem, wrote to them that dwelt in Bethulia and Beromestham, which is over against Esdraelon toward the open country near to Dothaim,

Exhortig the to keep the passages of the mountains: for by them there was an entry into Judea, and it was easy to let them that would come up because the passage was straight for two men at the most.

And the children of Israel did as Ioacim the high Priest had commanded them with the Ancients of all the people of Israel, which dwelt at Jerusalem.

Then cried every man of Israel to God with great fervency, and their souls with great affection.

Both they, and their wives, and their children, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the Temple, and sprinkled ashes upon their heads, and spread out their sackcloth before the face of the lord: also they put sackcloth about the altar,

And cried to the God of Israel, all with one consent most 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 pollution and reproach, and unto derision to the heathen.

So God heard their prayers, and looked upon their affliction: for the people fasted many days in all Judea and Jerusalem before the Sanctuary of the Lord almighty.

And Ioacimm the high Priest, and all the Priests that stood before the Lord, and ministered unto the Lord, had their loins girt with sackcloth, and offered the continual burnt offering, with praises and the free gifts of the people,

And had ashes on their mitres, and cried unto the Lord with all their power for grace, and that he would look upon all the house of Israel.