Chapter 14

1

THEN said Yahudith unto them, Hear me now, my brethren, and take this head, and hang it upon the highest place of your walls.

2

And so soon as the morning shall appear, and the sun shall come forth upon the earth, take ye everyone his weapons, and go forth every valiant man out of the city, and set ye a captain over them, as though ye would go down into the field toward the watch of Ashshur; but go not down.

3

Then they shall take their armor, and shall go into their camp, and raise up the captains of the army of Ashshur, and shall run to the tent of Holofernes, but shall not find him: then fear shall fall upon them, and they shall flee before your face.

4

So ye, and all that inhabit the coast of Yashar'el, shall pursue them, and overthrow them as they go.

5

But before ye do these things, call me Akiyor the Ammoniy, that he may see and know him that despised the house of Yashar'el, and that sent him to us as it were to his death.

6

Then they called Akiyor out of the house of Uzziyahu; and when he was come, and saw the head of Holofernes in a man's hand in the assembly of the people, he fell down on his face, and his ruach failed.

7

But when they had recovered him, he fell at Yahudith's feet, and reverenced her, and said, Blessed are you in all the tabernacles of Yahudah, and in all nations, which hearing your name shall be astonished.

8

Now therefore tell me all the things that you have done in these days. Then Yahudith declared unto him in the midst of the people all that she had done, from the day that she went forth until that hour she spoke unto them.

9

And when she had left off speaking, the people shouted with a loud voice, and made a joyful noise in their city.

10

And when Akiyor had seen all that the Elohiym of Yashar'el had done, he believed in Elohiym greatly, and circumcised the flesh of his foreskin, and was joined unto the house of Yashar'el unto this day.

11

And as soon as the morning arose, they hanged the head of Holofernes upon the wall, and every man took his weapons, and they went forth by bands unto the straits of the mountain.

12

But when the Ashshuriym saw them, they sent to their leaders, which came to their captains and tribunes, and to everyone of their rulers.

13

So they came to Holofernes' tent, and said to him that had the charge of all his things, Waken now our adoniy: for the slaves have been bold to come down against us to battle, that they may be utterly destroyed.

14

Then went in Bagoas, and knocked at the door of the tent; for he thought that he had slept with Yahudith.

15

But because none answered, he opened it, and went into the bedchamber, and found him cast upon the floor dead, and his head was taken from him.

16

Therefore he cried with a loud voice, with weeping, and sighing, and a mighty cry, and rent his garments.

17

After he went into the tent where Yahudith lodged: and when he found her not, he leaped out to the people, and cried,

18

These slaves have dealt treacherously; one woman of the Ivriym has brought shame upon the house of King Nevukadne'tstsar: for, behold, Holofernes lies upon the ground without a head.

19

When the captains of Ashshur's army heard these words, they rent their coats and their minds were wonderfully troubled, and there was a cry and a very great noise throughout the camp.



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