Judith 4
4
1And the children of Israel #Cp. 2 Chr. 11.3.that dwelt in Judæa heard all that Holofernes the chief captain of Nebuchadnezzar king of the Assyrians had done to the nations, and after what manner he had spoiled all their temples, and destroyed them utterly. 2And they were exceedingly afraid before him, and were troubled for Jerusalem, and for the temple of the Lord their God: 3#ch. 5.19.Because they were newly come up from the captivity, and all the people of Judæa were lately gathered together; and the vessels, and the altar, and the house, were sanctified after the profanation.
4And they sent into every coast of #ch. 1.9.Samaria, and to Konæ, and to #1 Mac. 9.50. See Josh. 10.11.Bethhoron, and Belmaim, and Jericho, and to #Cp. ch. 15.4,5 (?).Choba, and Æsora, and to the valley of Salem; 5#ch. 5.1.And they possessed themselves beforehand of all the tops of the high mountains, and fortified the villages that were in them, and laid up victual for the provision of war: #Cp. ch. 2.27 & 3.3.for their fields were newly reaped. 6And #ch. 15.8 1Esd. 5.5.Joakim the high priest, which was in those days at Jerusalem, wrote to them that dwelt in #ch. 6.10,11,14 & 7.20 & 8.3 & 10.6 & 11.9, alBethulia, and #ch. 15.4.Betomesthaim, which is over against #See ch. 1.8.Esdraelon toward the plain that is nigh unto #ch. 7.3 & 8.3.Dothaim, 7Charging them to seize upon #ch. 6.7 & 7.1. Cp. ch. 5.1 & 14.11.the ascents of the hill country; because by them was the entrance into Judæa, and it was easy to stop them from approaching, inasmuch as the approach was narrow, with space for two men at the most. 8And the children of Israel did as #See ver. 6.Joakim the high priest had commanded them, and #ch. 11.14 & 15.8 2Mac. 1.10 & 4.44. Cp. Acts 5.21.the senate of all the people of Israel, which dwelt at Jerusalem.
9And every man of Israel cried to God with great earnestness, and with great earnestness did they humble their souls. 10They, and their wives, and #2 Chr. 20.13. Joel 2.16.their babes, and #Jonah 3.8.their cattle, and every sojourner and hireling and servant bought with their money, #ch. 8.5. See 2 Sam. 3.31.put sackcloth upon their loins. 11And every man and woman of Israel, and the little children, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, #Ezra 10.1.fell before the temple, and #ch. 9.1 2Esd. 9.38. See Josh. 7.6.cast ashes upon their heads, and #Cp. 2 Sam. 21.10.spread out their sackcloth before the Lord; and they put sackcloth about the altar: 12And they cried to the God of Israel earnestly with one consent, that he would not give their babes for a prey, and their wives for a spoil, and the cities of their inheritance to destruction, and the sanctuary to profanation and reproach, for the nations to rejoice at. 13And the Lord heard their voice, and #See Ex. 3.7.looked upon their affliction: and the people continued fasting many days in all Judæa and Jerusalem #Cp. ver. 11 & ch. 16.20 & 2 Chr. 20.9.before the sanctuary of the Lord Almighty. 14And #ch. 15.8 1Esd. 5.5.Joakim the high priest, and all the priests that stood before the Lord, and they that ministered unto the Lord, #ch. 8.5. See 2 Sam. 3.31.had their loins girt about with sackcloth, and offered #See Ex. 29.38.the continual burnt offering, and the vows and the free gifts of the people; 15And #ch. 9.1 2Esd. 9.38. See Josh. 7.6.they had ashes on their #Ex. 28.4. Ecclus. 45.12.mitres: and they cried unto the Lord with all their power, that he would look upon all the house of Israel for good.
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