4. But the children of Israel, when they saw the multitude of them, were troubled exceedingly, and said every one to his neighbor, Now shall these men lick up the face of all the earth; and neither the high mountains, nor the valleys, nor the hills, shall be able to bear their weight.
5. And every man took up his weapons of war, and when they had kindled fires upon their towers, they remained and watched all that night.
6. But on the second day Holofernes led out all his horse in the sight of the children of Israel which were in Bethulia,
7. and viewed the ascents to their city, and searched out the fountains of the waters, and seized upon them, and set garrisons of men of war over them, and himself departed to his people.
8. And there came to him all the rulers of the children of Esau, and all the leaders of the people of Moab, and the captains of the sea coast, and said,
9. Let our lord now hear a word, that there be not an overthrow in your host.
10. For this people of the children of Israel do not trust in their spears, but in the height of the mountains wherein they dwell, for it is not easy to come up to the tops of their mountains.
11. And now, my lord, fight not against them as men fight who join battle, and there shall not so much as one man of your people perish.
12. Remain in your camp, and keep safe every man of your host, and let your servants get possession of the fountain of water, which issues forth of the foot of the mountain:
13. because all the inhabitants of Bethulia have their water thence; and thirst shall kill them, and they shall give up their city: and we and our people will go up to the tops of the mountains that are near, and will encamp upon them, to watch that not one man go out of the city.
14. And they shall be consumed with famine, they and their wives and their children, and before the sword come against them they shall be laid low in the streets where they dwell.
15. And you shall render them an evil reward; because they rebelled, and met not your face in peace.
16. And their words were pleasing in the sight of Holofernes and in the sight of all his servants; and he appointed to do as they had spoken.
17. And the army of the children of Ammon removed, and with them five thousand of the children of Asshur, and they encamped in the valley, and seized upon the waters and the fountains of the waters of the children of Israel.
18. And the children of Esau went up with the children of Ammon, and encamped in the hill country over against Dothaim: and they sent some of them toward the south, and toward the east, over against Ekrebel, which is near to Chusi, that is upon the brook Mochmur; and the rest of the army of the Assyrians encamped in the plain, and covered all the face of the land; and their tents and baggage were pitched upon it in a great crowd, and they were an exceeding great multitude.
19. And the children of Israel cried to the Lord their God, for their spirit fainted; for all their enemies had compassed them round about, and there was no way to escape out from among them.