1  And so Arphaxad, king of the Medes, subjugated many nations under his authority, and he built a very powerful city, which he called Ecbatana.

1  In the twelfth year of the reign of Nabuchodonosor, who reigned in Nineve, the great city; in the days of Arphaxad, which reigned over the Medes in Ecbatane,

2  From stones, cut and squared, he made its walls: seventy cubits in height and thirty cubits in breadth. And, in truth, he set its towers one hundred cubits in height.

2  And built in Ecbatane walls round about of stones hewn three cubits broad and six cubits long, and made the height of the wall seventy cubits, and the breadth thereof fifty cubits

3  In fact, at its corners, each side was extended for the space of twenty feet. And he set its gates according to the height of the towers.

3  And set the towers thereof upon the gates of it an hundred cubits high, and the breadth thereof in the foundation threescore cubits

4  And he glorified it, in its power, with the force of his army and with the glory of his chariots.

4  And he made the gates thereof, even gates that were raised to the height of seventy cubits, and the breadth of them was forty cubits, for the going forth of his mighty armies, and for the setting in array of his footmen

5  Thereafter, in the twelfth year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar, king of the Assyrians, who reigned in Nineveh the great city, fought against Arphaxad and prevailed over him

5  Even in those days king Nabuchodonosor made war with king Arphaxad in the great plain, which is the plain in the borders of Ragau.

6  in the great plain, which is called Ragae, near the Euphrates, and the Tigris, and the Hydaspes, at the encampment of Arioch, king of the Elymaeans.

6  And there came unto him all they that dwelt in the hill country, and all that dwelt by Euphrates, and Tigris and Hydaspes, and the plain of Arioch the king of the Elymeans, and very many nations of the sons of Chelod, assembled themselves to the battle.

7  Then the kingdom of Nebuchadnezzar was exalted, and his heart was elevated. And he sent to all who dwelt in Cilicia, and Damascus, and Lebanon,

7  Then Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians sent unto all that dwelt in Persia, and to all that dwelt westward, and to those that dwelt in Cilicia, and Damascus, and Libanus, and Antilibanus, and to all that dwelt upon the sea coast,

8  and to the nations that are in Carmel and Kedar, and to the inhabitants of Galilee, in the great plain of Esdrelon,

9  and to all who were in Samaria and across the river Jordan, even to Jerusalem and to all the land of Jesse, until one passes through to the borders of Ethiopia.

9  And to all that were in Samaria and the cities thereof, and beyond Jordan unto Jerusalem, and Betane, and Chelus, and Kades, and the river of Egypt, and Taphnes, and Ramesse, and all the land of Gesem,

10  To all these, Nebuchadnezzar, king of the Assyrians, sent messengers

10  Until ye come beyond Tanis and Memphis, and to all the inhabitants of Egypt, until ye come to the borders of Ethiopia.

11  whom they all with one mind contradicted, and they sent them back empty, and they rejected them without honor.

11  But all the inhabitants of the land made light of the commandment of Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians, neither went they with him to the battle; for they were not afraid of him: yea, he was before them as one man, and they sent away his ambassadors from them without effect, and with disgrace.

12  Then king Nebuchadnezzar, being indignant against all that land, swore by his throne and his kingdom that he would defend himself against all those regions.

12  Therefore Nabuchodonosor was very angry with all this country, and sware by his throne and kingdom, that he would surely be avenged upon all those coasts of Cilicia, and Damascus, and Syria, and that he would slay with the sword all the inhabitants of the land of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and all Judea, and all that were in Egypt, till ye come to the borders of the two seas.

13  Then he marched in battle array with his power against king Arphaxad in the seventeenth year, and he prevailed in his battle: for he overthrew all the power of Arphaxad, and all his horsemen, and all his chariots,

14  And became lord of his cities, and came unto Ecbatane, and took the towers, and spoiled the streets thereof, and turned the beauty thereof into shame.

15  He took also Arphaxad in the mountains of Ragau, and smote him through with his darts, and destroyed him utterly that day.

16  So he returned afterward to Nineve, both he and all his company of sundry nations being a very great multitude of men of war, and there he took his ease, and banqueted, both he and his army, an hundred and twenty days.

2:1  In the thirteenth year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, on the twenty-second day of the first month, the word went forth from the house of Nebuchadnezzar, king of the Assyrians, that he would defend himself.

1  And in the eighteenth year, the two and twentieth day of the first month, there was talk in the house of Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians that he should, as he said, avenge himself on all the earth.

2:2  And he called all the native leaders, and all the commanders, and his officers of war, and he met with them in his secret council.

2  So he called unto him all his officers, and all his nobles, and communicated with them his secret counsel, and concluded the afflicting of the whole earth out of his own mouth.

2:3  And he said to them that his thoughts were to subjugate all the earth to his authority.

3  Then they decreed to destroy all flesh, that did not obey the commandment of his mouth.

2:4  And when this saying pleased them all, king Nebuchadnezzar called Holofernes, the leader of his military.

4  And when he had ended his counsel, Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians called Holofernes the chief captain of his army, which was next unto him, and said unto him.

2:5  Thus saith the great king, the lord of the whole earth, Behold, thou shalt go forth from my presence, and take with thee men that trust in their own strength, of footmen an hundred and twenty thousand; and the number of horses with their riders twelve thousand.

2:6  And he said to him: “Go out against all the kingdoms of the west, and against those in particular who showed contempt for my authority.

6  And thou shalt go against all the west country, because they disobeyed my commandment.

2:7  And thou shalt declare unto that they prepare for me earth and water: for I will go forth in my wrath against them and will cover the whole face of the earth with the feet of mine army, and I will give them for a spoil unto them

2:8  So that their slain shall fill their valleys and brooks and the river shall be filled with their dead, till it overflow

2:9  And I will lead them captives to the utmost parts of all the earth.

2:10  Thou therefore shalt go forth. and take beforehand for me all their coasts: and if they will yield themselves unto thee, thou shalt reserve them for me till the day of their punishment.

2:11  Your eye must not spare any kingdom, and all the fortified cities you will subjugate to me.”

11  But concerning them that rebel, let not thine eye spare them; but put them to the slaughter, and spoil them wheresoever thou goest.

2:12  For as I live, and by the power of my kingdom, whatsoever I have spoken, that will I do by mine hand.

2:13  And take thou heed that thou transgress none of the commandments of thy lord, but accomplish them fully, as I have commanded thee, and defer not to do them.

2:14  Then Holofernes called the commanders and the magistrates of the army of the Assyrians. And he numbered men for the expedition, just as the king had instructed him: one hundred and twenty thousand foot-soldiers, and twelve thousand archers on horseback.

14  Then Holofernes went forth from the presence of his lord, and called all the governors and captains, and the officers of the army of Assur;

15  And he mustered the chosen men for the battle, as his lord had commanded him, unto an hundred and twenty thousand, and twelve thousand archers on horseback;

2:15  And he caused his entire expeditionary force to go ahead with an innumerable multitude of camels, with whatever was needed in abundance for the armies, and with herds of cattle, and flocks of sheep, which could not be numbered.

15  And he ranged them, as a great army is ordered for the war.

16  And he took camels and asses for their carriages, a very great number; and sheep and oxen and goats without number for their provision

2:16  He appointed grain to be prepared from all of Syria, as he passed through it.

16  And plenty of victual for every man of the army, and very much gold and silver out of the king’s house.

2:17  In fact, he took up gold and silver from the house of the king in great abundance.

2:18  And he set out, he and all the army, with the four-horse chariots, and horsemen, and archers. And they covered the face of the earth like locusts.

18  Then he went forth and all his power to go before king Nabuchodonosor in the voyage, and to cover all the face of the earth westward with their chariots, and horsemen, and their chosen footmen.

2:19  And when he had crossed over the borders of the Assyrians, he came to the great mountains of Ange, which are on the left of Cilicia. And he ascended to all their castles, and he prevailed over all the fortifications.

19  A great number also sundry countries came with them like locusts, and like the sand of the earth: for the multitude was without number.

2:20  Moreover, he broke open the renowned city of Melothus, and he pillaged all the sons of Tarshish, and the sons of Ishmael, who were opposite the face of the desert and to the south of the land of Cellon.

20  And they went forth of Nineve three days’ journey toward the plain of Bectileth, and pitched from Bectileth near the mountain which is at the left hand of the upper Cilicia.

2:21  Then he took all his army, his footmen, and horsemen and chariots, and went from thence into the hill country;

2:22  And destroyed Phud and Lud, and spoiled all the children of Rasses, and the children of Israel, which were toward the wilderness at the south of the land of the Chellians.

2:23  And he crossed over the Euphrates and came into Mesopotamia. And he crushed all the lofty cities that were there, from the torrent of Mambre, even until one passes through to the sea.

23  Then he went over Euphrates, and went through Mesopotamia, and destroyed all the high cities that were upon the river Arbonai, till ye come to the sea.

2:24  And he occupied its furthest regions, from Cilicia all the way to the coastlines of Japheth, which are towards the south.

24  And he took the borders of Cilicia, and killed all that resisted him, and came to the borders of Japheth, which were toward the south, over against Arabia.

2:25  And he carried away all the sons of Midian, and he plundered them in all their wealthy regions. And all who resisted him, he slew with the edge of the sword.

25  He compassed also all the children of Madian, and burned up their tabernacles, and spoiled their sheepcotes.

2:26  And after these things, he descended to the plains of Damascus, in the days of the harvest, and he set fire to all the crops, and he caused all the trees and the vineyards to be cut down.

26  Then he went down into the plain of Damascus in the time of wheat harvest, and burnt up all their fields, and destroyed their flocks and herds, also he spoiled their cities, and utterly wasted their countries, and smote all their young men with the edge of the sword.

2:27  And the fear of them fell upon all the inhabitants of the land.

27  Therefore the fear and dread of him fell upon all the inhabitants of the sea coasts, which were in Sidon and Tyrus, and them that dwelt in Sur and Ocina, and all that dwelt in Jemnaan; and they that dwelt in Azotus and Ascalon feared him greatly.

3:2  “Let your indignation concerning us cease. For it is better for us to live in service to Nebuchadnezzar, the great king, and to become subject to you, rather than to die, even though we may have to suffer our condemnation into the annihilation of slavery.

2  Behold, we the servants of Nabuchodonosor the great king lie before thee; use us as shall be good in thy sight.

3:3  All our cities and all our possessions, all mountains, and hills, and fields, and herds of cattle, and flocks of sheep, and goats, and horses, and camels, and all our resources and families are in your sight.

3  Behold, our houses, and all our places, and all our fields of wheat, and flocks, and herds, and all the lodges of our tents lie before thy face; use them as it pleaseth thee.

3:4  Let all that we have be subject to your law.

4  Behold, even our cities and the inhabitants thereof are thy servants; come and deal with them as seemeth good unto thee.

3:5  We, and our sons, are your servants.

5  So the men came to Holofernes, and declared unto him after this manner.

3:6  Come to us as a peaceful lord, and use our service, just as it pleases you.”

3:7  Then he descended from the mountains with horsemen, in great power, and he took charge of every city and of every inhabitant of the land.

7  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 aid.

3:8  And, from all the cities, he took for himself auxiliaries: strong men and well-chosen for war.

3:9  And such a dread lay upon those provinces, that the leading and honored inhabitants of all the cities, together with the people, went out to meet him at his arrival.

3:10  They received him with garlands and lamps; they were led by choirs with timbrels and flutes.

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

3:11  Yet, not even by doing these things were they able to mitigate the ferocity of his chest.

11  Yet he did cast down their frontiers, and cut down their groves: for he had decreed 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.

3:12  For he both destroyed their cities and cut down their sacred groves.

12  Also he came over against Esdraelon near unto Judea, over against the great strait of Judea.

3:13  For king Nebuchadnezzar had instructed him to exterminate all the gods of the earth, evidently so that he alone might be called ‘god’ by those nations which were able to be subjugated by the power of Holofernes.

13  And he pitched between Geba and Scythopolis, and there he tarried a whole month, that he might gather together all the carriages of his army.

3:14  But when he had passed through Syria Sobal, and all of Apamea, and all Mesopotamia, he came to the Idumeans in the land of Gibeah.

14  Now the children of Israel, that dwelt in Judea, heard all that Holofernes the chief captain of Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians had done to the nations, and after what manner he had spoiled all their temples, and brought them to nought.

3:15  And he took their cities, and he sat there for thirty days, during which days he instructed all the troops of his army to regroup.

15  Therefore they were exceedingly afraid of him, and were troubled for Jerusalem, and for the temple of the Lord their God

4:1  Then, upon hearing these things, the sons of Israel, who dwelt in the land of Judah, were very afraid before his face.

1  For they were newly returned from the captivity, and all the people of Judea were lately gathered together: and the vessels, and the altar, and the house, were sanctified after the profanation.

4:2  Trembling and horror invaded their senses, lest he should do the same thing to Jerusalem and to the temple of the Lord that he had done to other cities and their temples.

4:3  And they sent into all of Samaria, and by an indirect route even to Jericho, and they seized in advance all the tops of the mountains.

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

4:4  And they surrounded their villages with walls, and they gathered together grain in preparation for the fight.

4  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.

4:5  And then Eliachim the priest wrote to all who were opposite Esdrelon, which is opposite the face of the great plain near Dothain, and to all whom he would be able to reach through a passable way

5  Also Joacim the high priest, which was in those days in Jerusalem, wrote to them that dwelt in Bethulia, and Betomestham, which is over against Esdraelon toward the open country, near to Dothaim,

4:6  that they should hold the ascents of the mountains, through which there might be any passage able to reach Jerusalem, and that they should keep watch where the passage was narrow, wherever possible, between the mountains.

6  Charging them to keep the passages of the hill country: for by them there was an entrance into Judea, and it was easy to stop them that would come up, because the passage was straight, for two men at the most.

4:7  And the sons of Israel did just as Eliachim, the priest of the Lord, had appointed them.

7  And the children of Israel did as Joacim the high priest had commanded them, with the ancients of all the people of Israel, which dwelt at Jerusalem.

4:8  And all the people cried out to the Lord with great urgency, and they humbled their souls with fastings, and prayers, both they and their wives.

8  Then every man of Israel cried to God with great fervency, and with great vehemency did they humble their souls

4:9  And the priests clothed themselves with haircloths, and they prostrated the little children opposite the face of the temple of the Lord, and they covered the altar of the Lord with haircloth.

9  Both they, and their wives and their children, and their cattle, and every stranger and hireling, and their servants bought with money, put sackcloth upon their loins.

4:10  And they cried out to the Lord God of Israel with one accord, lest their children should be given over as prey, and their wives into distribution, and their cities into extermination, and their holy things into defilement, and so that they might not become the disgrace of the Gentiles.

10  Thus every man and women, and the little children, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, fell before the temple, and cast ashes upon their heads, and spread out their sackcloth before the face of the Lord: also they put sackcloth about the altar,

4:11  Then Eliachim, the high priest of the Lord, traveled all around Israel, and he was talking to them,

11  And cried to the God of Israel all with one consent 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 profanation and reproach, and for the nations to rejoice at.

4:12  saying: “Know that the Lord will heed your prayers, if you continue to persevere in fastings and prayers in the sight of the Lord.

12  So God heard their prayers, and looked upon their afflictions: for the people fasted many days in all Judea and Jerusalem before the sanctuary of the Lord Almighty.

4:13  Recall that Moses, the servant of the Lord, overcame Amalek, who trusted in his own strength, and in his power, and in his army, and in his bronze shields, and in his swift chariots, and in his horsemen. He overcame him, not by fighting with iron, but by pleading with holy prayers.

4:14  So will it be with all the enemies of Israel, if you persevere in this work that you have begun.”

4:15  Therefore, by this exhortation and his prayer to the Lord, they continued in the sight of the Lord,

4:16  so that even those who offered holocausts to the Lord, offered the sacrifices to the Lord girded with haircloths, and there were ashes upon their heads.

16  And Joacim the high priest, and all the priests that stood before the Lord, and they which ministered unto the Lord, had their loins girt with sackcloth, and offered the daily burnt offerings, with the vows and free gifts of the people,

4:17  And they all begged God with their whole heart, that he would visit his people Israel.

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