Part 298 (2/2)

14:5. And when you shall know that they are fleeing, go after them securely, for the Lord will destroy them under your feet.

14:6. Then Achior seeing the power that the G.o.d of Israel had wrought, leaving the religion of the Gentiles, he believed G.o.d, and circ.u.mcised the flesh of his foreskin, and was joined to the people of Israel, with all the succession of his kindred until this present day.

14:7. And immediately at break of day, they hung up the head of Holofernes upon the walls, and every man took his arms, and they went out with a great noise and shouting.

14:8. And the watchmen seeing this, ran to the tent of Holofernes.

14:9. And they that were in the tent came, and made a noise, before the door of the chamber to awake him, endeavouring by art to break his rest, that Holofernes might awake, not by their calling him, but by their noise.

14:10. For no man durst knock, or open and go into the chamber of the general of the a.s.syrians.

14:11. But when his captains and tribunes were come, and all the chiefs of the army of the king of the a.s.syrians, they said to the chamberlains:

14:12. Go in, and awake him, for the mice, coming out of their holes, have presumed to challenge us to fight.

14:13. Then Vagao going into his chamber, stood before the curtain, and made a clapping with his hands: for he thought that he was sleeping with Judith.

14:14. But when with hearkening, he perceived no motion of one lying, he came near to the curtain, and lifting it up, and seeing the body of Holofernes, lying upon the ground, without the head, weltering in his blood, he cried out with a loud voice, with weeping, and rent his garments.

14:15. And he went into the tent of Judith, and not finding her, he ran out to the people,

14:16. And said: One Hebrew woman hath made confusion in the house of king Nabuchodonosor: for behold Holofernes lieth upon the ground, and his head is not upon him.

14:17. Now when the chiefs of the army of the a.s.syrians had heard this, they all rent their garments, and an intolerable fear and dread fell upon them, and their minds were troubled exceedingly.

14:18. And there was a very great cry in the midst of their camp.

Judith Chapter 15

The a.s.syrians flee: the Hebrews pursue after them, and are enriched by their spoils.

15:1. And when all the army heard that Holofernes was beheaded, courage and counsel fled from them, and being seized with trembling and fear they thought only to save themselves by flight.

15:2. So that no one spoke to his neighbour, but hanging down the head, leaving all things behind, they made haste to escape from the Hebrews, who, as they heard, were coming armed upon them, and fled by the ways of the fields, and the paths of the hills.

15:3. So the children of Israel seeing them fleeing, followed after them. And they went down sounding with trumpets and shouting after them.

15:4. And because the a.s.syrians were not united together, they went without order in their flight; but the children of Israel pursuing in one body, defeated all that they could find.

15:5. And Ozias sent messengers through all the cities and countries of Israel.

15:6. And every country, and every city, sent their chosen young men armed after them, and they pursued them with the edge of the sword until they came to the extremities of their confines.

15:7. And the rest that were in Bethulia went into the camp of the a.s.syrians, and took away the spoils which the a.s.syrians in their flight had left behind them, and they were laden exceedingly,

15:8. But they that returned conquerors to Bethulia, brought with them all things that were theirs, so that there was no numbering of their cattle, and beasts, and all their moveables, insomuch that from the least to the greatest all were made rich by their spoils.

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