1. Holofernes the general of the Assyrian army was told that the Israelites, in preparation for war, had closed off the mountain passes, fortified all the high hilltops, and set up roadblocks in the plains.
2. Filled with anger, he called together all the rulers of Moab, the commanders of Ammon, and all the governors of the coastlands.
3. He said to them, "Tell me, you Canaanites: Who are these people living in the highlands? In what cities do they dwell? How big is their army? Where does their strength and power lie? Who is set up as their king, leading their army?
4. And why—unlike all those living in the west—have they refused to come and meet me?"
5. Then Achior the leader of all the Ammonites said to Holofernes, “Please listen to the word of your servant, my master, and I will tell you the truth about this people who live in the highlands near you. I’m your servant and won’t lie to you.
6. These people are descended from the Chaldeans.
7. In the past they lived as strangers in Mesopotamia because they weren’t willing to follow the gods of their ancestors in the land of Chaldea.
8. They broke with the customs of their parents and worshipped the God of heaven, the God whom they knew. So their ancestors sent them away from the presence of their gods, and they fled to Mesopotamia, where they lived as strangers for a long time.
9. Then their God commanded them to leave there and go to the land of Canaan. They settled there and became very rich in gold, silver, and cattle.
10. But when a famine spread through the land of Canaan, they went down to live as strangers in Egypt, where there was food. While they were there, their numbers increased so that they couldn’t be counted.
11. Then the king of Egypt turned against them and took advantage of them, enslaving them and forcing them to make bricks.