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 Beyt Ulyah, to take aforehand the ascents of the hill country, and to make war against the children of Yashar'el.
Then their strong men removed their camps in that day, and the army of the men of war was a hundred and seventy thousand footmen, and twelve thousand horsemen, beside the baggage, and other men that were afoot among them, a very great multitude.
And they camped in the valley near unto Beyt Ulyah, by the fountain, and they spread themselves in breadth over Dothaiym even to Belmaiym, and in length from Beyt Ulyah unto Cynamon, which is over against Yizre'el.
Now the children of Yashar'el, when they saw the multitude of them, were greatly troubled, and said everyone to his neighbor, 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.
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.
But in the second day Holofernes brought forth all his horsemen in the sight of the children of Yashar'el which were in Beyt Ulyah,
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.
Then came unto him all the chief of the children of Esau, and all the governors of the people of Mo'av, and the captains of the sea coast, and said,
Let our adoniy now hear a word, that there be not an overthrow in your army.
For this people of the children of Yashar'el 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.
Now therefore, my adoniy, fight not against them in battle array, and there shall not so much as one man of your people perish.
Remain in your camp, and keep all the men of your army, and let your servants get into their hands the fountain of water, which issues forth of the foot of the mountain:
For all the inhabitants of Beyt Ulyah 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.
So they and their women 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.
Thus shall you render them an evil reward; because they rebelled, and met not your person peaceably.
And these words pleased Holofernes and all his servants, and he appointed to do as they had spoken.
So the camp of the children of Ammon departed, and with them five thousand of Ashshur, and they pitched in the valley, and took the waters, and the fountains of the waters of the children of Yashar'el.
Then the children of Esau went up with the children of Ammon, and camped in the hill country over against Dothaiym: and they sent some of them toward the south, and toward the east over against Ekrebel, which is near unto Kusiy, that is upon the brook Mochmur; and the rest of the army of Ashshur camped in the plain, and covered the face of the whole land; and their tents and carriages were pitched to a very great multitude.
Then the children of Yashar'el cried unto Yahuah Elohayhem, because their heart failed, for all their enemies had compassed them round about, and there was no way to escape out from among them.
Thus all the company of Ashshur remained about them, both their footmen, chariots, and horsemen, four and thirty days, so that all their vessels of water failed all the inhabitants of Beyt Ulyah.
And the cisterns were emptied, and they had not water to drink their fill for one day; for they gave them drink by measure.
Therefore their young children were out of heart, and their women and young men fainted for thirst, and fell down in the streets of the city, and by the passages of the gates, and there was no longer any strength in them.
Then all the people assembled to Uzziyahu, and to the chief of the city, both young men, and women, and children, and cried with a loud voice, and said before all the elders,
Elohiym be judge between us and you: for ye have done us great injury, in that ye have not required peace of the children of Ashshur.
For now we have no helper: but Elohiym has sold us into their hands, that we should be thrown down before them with thirst and great destruction.
Now therefore call them unto you, and deliver the whole city for a spoil to the people of Holofernes, and to all his army.
For it is better for us to be made a spoil unto them, than to die for thirst: for we will be his servants, that our souls may live, and not see the death of our infants before our eyes, nor our women nor our children to die.
We take to witness against you the heavens and the earth, and our Elohiym and Adonai of our fathers, which punishes us according to our sins and the sins of our fathers, that he do not according as we have said this day.
Then there was great weeping with one consent in the midst of the assembly; and they cried unto Yahuah Elohiym with a loud voice.
Then said Uzziyahu to them, Brethren, be of good courage, let us yet endure five days, in the which space Adonai ELOHAYNU may turn his mercy toward us; for he will not forsake us utterly.
And if these days pass, and there come no help unto us, I will do according to your word.
And he dispersed the people, everyone to their own charge; and they went unto the walls and towers of their city, and sent the women and children into their houses: and they were very low brought in the city.