NOW the children of Yashar'el, that dwelt in Yahudah, heard all that Holofernes the chief captain of Nevukadne'tstsar king of Ashshur had done to the nations, and after what manner he had spoiled all their temples, and brought them to nought.
Therefore they were exceedingly afraid of him, and were troubled for Yerushalayim, and for the Temple of Yahuah Elohayhem:
For they were newly returned from the captivity, and all the people of Yahudah were lately gathered together: and the vessels, and the altar, and the house, were sanctified after the profanation.
Therefore they sent into all the coasts of Shomeron, and the villages and to Beyt Choron, and Belmen, and Yeriycho, and to Choba, and Esora, and to the valley of Shalem:
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.
Also Yahuyaqiym the high priest, which was in those days in Yerushalayim, wrote to them that dwelt in Beyt Ulyah, and Betomesthayim, which is over against Yizre'el toward the open country, near to Dothaiym,
Charging them to keep the passages of the hill country: for by them there was an entrance into Yahudah, and it was easy to stop them that would come up, because the passage was straight, for two men at the most.
And the children of Yashar'el did as Yahuyaqiym the high priest had commanded them, with the ancients of all the people of Yashar'el, which dwelt at Yerushalayim.
Then every man of Yashar'el cried to Elohiym with great fervency, and with great vehemency did they humble their souls:
Both they, and their women and their children, and their cattle, and every stranger and hireling, and their servants bought with money, put sackcloth upon their loins.
Thus every man and women, and the little children, and the inhabitants of Yerushalayim, fell before the Temple, and cast ashes upon their heads, and spread out their sackcloth before the face of Yahuah: also they put sackcloth about the altar,
And cried to the Elohiym of Yashar'el all with one consent earnestly, that he would not give their children for a prey, and their women 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.
So Elohiym heard their prayers, and looked upon their afflictions: for the people fasted many days in all Yahudah and Yerushalayim before the sanctuary of Yahuah Tseva'oth.
And Yahuyaqiym the high priest, and all the priests that stood before Yahuah, and they which ministered unto Yahuah, had their loins girt with sackcloth, and offered the daily ascending smoke offerings, with the vows and free gifts of the people,
And had ashes on their turbans, and cried unto Yahuah with all their power, that he would look upon all the house of Yashar'el graciously.