12. When the men of the city saw them, they grabbed their weapons and ran out of the city to the hilltop. They kept them off the mountain pass by throwing stones at them with their slings.
13. By finding shelter below the hill, the Assyrians tied up Achior and left him at the bottom of the hill, and then returned to their master.
14. When the Israelites came down from their city, they found Achior. They untied him and led him into Bethulia, and presented him to the rulers of their city.
15. In those days the rulers were Uzziah, Micah’s son, from the tribe of Simeon, and Chabris, Gothoniel’s son, and Charmis, Melchiel’s son.
16. They called together all the elders of the city, and all their young men and women ran to the assembly. They set Achior in the middle of all their people, and Uzziah questioned him about what had happened.
17. He answered and told them what was said in Holofernes’ council—both what he had said among the Assyrian commanders and what Holofernes had boasted he would do to the house of Israel.
18. Then the people fell down and worshipped God. They cried out:
19. "Lord God of heaven, look at their arrogance and have mercy on our nation in its humble state. Look favorably this day upon those who have been dedicated to you."
20. They comforted Achior and praised him greatly.
21. Uzziah took him from the assembly to his own house and made a feast for the elders, and all through the night they called on Israel’s God for help.