Complete Works of Saint Jerome, Vol. X

and you will prove that Nebuchadnezzar is the lord of the whole earth: and then the sword of my army will pass through your sides, and you shall fall pierced among the wounded of Israel, and you will not breathe anymore until you are exterminated with them. Moreover, if you think your prophecy is true, let not your countenance fall, and may the pallor that possesses your face depart from you, if you think these words of mine cannot be fulfilled. But that you may know that you will experience these things together with them, behold, from this hour you shall be joined to their people, so that, while they receive the punishments worthy of my sword, you yourself may likewise be subject to the vengeance.

Then Holofernes ordered his servants to seize Achior, and lead him to Bethulia, and deliver him into the hands of the children of Israel. And the servants of Holofernes, taking him, set out through the plains: but when they had approached the mountains, slingers came out against them. They, however, turning aside from the side of the mountain, bound Achior to a tree by his hands and feet, and thus bound with ropes they left him, and returned to their lord.

Furthermore, the children of Israel descending from Bethulia came to him: whom they unbinding, led to Bethulia, and placing him in the midst of the people, they asked what the matter was, why the Assyrians had left him bound. In those days there were leaders there, Ozias the son of Micah of the tribe of Simeon, and Charmi, who is also Gothoniel. In the midst, therefore, of the elders, and in the sight of all, Achior said all that he had spoken when questioned by Holofernes: how the people of Holofernes had wanted to kill him because of this word, and in what manner Holofernes himself, being angry, had ordered him to be delivered to the Israelites for this reason: so that, when he had conquered the children of Israel, he might order him, Achior, to die by diverse tortures, because he had said: The God of heaven is their defender. And when Achior had explained all these things, all the people fell on their faces, adoring the Lord, and with common lamentation and weeping they poured out their unanimous prayers to the Lord, saying: O Lord God of heaven and earth, behold their pride, and look upon our humility, and attend to the face of your holy ones, and show that you do not abandon those who presume upon you: and that you humble those who presume upon themselves and glory in their own strength. Therefore, the weeping having finished, and the prayer of the people completed throughout the whole day, they consoled Achior, saying: The God of our fathers, whose strength you preached, He himself will give you this reward, that you shall rather see their destruction. When, however, the Lord our God has given this liberty to His servants, may God be with you also in our midst: so that, as it pleases you, so you may dwell with us with all yours. Then Ozias,

having finished the council, took him into his house, and made a great supper for him. And having called all the elders, they ate together after the fast was completed. But afterwards, all the people were called together, and they prayed throughout the whole night within the church, seeking help from the God of Israel.

[Cap. VII.] But Holofernes, on the next day, ordered his armies to ascend against Bethulia. There were, moreover, one hundred and twenty thousand infantry of warriors, and twenty-two thousand horsemen, besides the preparations of those men whom captivity had occupied, and who had been led away from the provinces and cities of all the youth. All prepared themselves equally for the battle against the children of Israel, and came through the ridge of the mountain up to the summit, which looks over Dothain, from the place which is called Belma, up to Chelmon, which is against Esdrelon.

But the children of Israel, as they saw their multitude, prostrated themselves upon the earth, throwing ash upon their heads, unanimously praying that the God of Israel might show His mercy upon His people. And taking up their warlike arms, they sat through the places which lead to the narrow path of the journey between the mountains, and they were guards there all that day and night.

Furthermore, Holofernes, while he circled around, found that the fountain which flowed in, directed their water supply from the southern side outside the city: and he ordered their water supply to be cut. There were, however, not far from the walls, fountains from which they were seen to draw water secretly, rather for refreshing than for drinking.

But the children of Ammon and Moab approached Holofernes, saying: The children of Israel do not trust in the spear nor in the arrow, but the mountains defend them, and the hills, set in a precipice, protect them. Therefore, that you may be able to overcome them without the collision of battle, place guards of the fountains, so that they may not draw water from them, and you will kill them without a sword, or certainly, being fatigued, they will deliver their city, which they think, placed in the mountains, cannot be overcome. And these words pleased Holofernes and his satellites, and he set centurions around the individual fountains. And when this watch had been completed for twenty days, the cisterns and collections of waters failed all the inhabitants of Bethulia, so that there was not within the city where they might be satisfied even for one day, because water was given to the people by measure daily.

Then, all the men, and women, and youths, and children gathered to Ozias, and all together with one voice said: May God judge between us and you, because you have done evil to us, not wanting to speak peacefully with the Assy-