Then the children of Israel, who dwelt in the land of Juda, hearing these things, were exceedingly afraid of him.
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2 Dread and horror seized upon their minds, lest he should do the same to Jerusalem and to the temple of the Lord, that he had done to other cities and their temples.
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3 And they sent into all Samaria round about, as far as Jericho, and seized upon all the tops of the mountains:
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14 So they being moved by this exhortation of his, prayed to the Lord, and continued in the sight of the Lord.
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15 So that even they who offered the holocausts to the Lord, offered the sacrifices to the Lord girded with haircloths, and with ashes upon their head.
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16 And they all begged of God with all their heart, that he would visit his people Israel.
“Kings. Greek, “they sent to him ambassadors, with proposals for peace, saying: Behold we, the servants of Nabuchodonosor, the great king, lay before thee; use us as thou thinkest best,” &c. These proposals were made by those on the sea-coast, from Sidon and Tyre to Ascalon, from whom Holofernes took “the choicest men,” being received with honour, ver. 10. (Haydock) — Syria, &c. These are not specified in the Greek. — Sobal, or Soba, (1 Kings xiv. 47.) near Damascus, where Ptolemy (v.) places Samoulis. — Lybia seems too remote, and had not been attacked: some therefore would read Lycia, or Lygia, (Herodotus vii. 72.) or rather Lydia, (Calmet) which Holofernes had “cut in pieces,” according to the Greek, chap. ii. 13. (Haydock)”
“Great. This was his usual title, Daniel ii. 30., and 4 Kings xviii. 19. (Calmet) — Slavery. Yet they make an unconditional submission. (Haydock) — It is better for us to submit to servitude than to be slaughtered like our brethren. (Menochius)”
4 And they compassed their towns with walls, and gathered together corn for provision for war.
5 And Eliachim the priest wrote to all that were over against Esdrelon, which faceth the great plain near Dothain, and to all by whom there might be a passage of way, that they should take possession of the ascents of the mountains, by which there might be any way to Jerusalem, and should keep watch where the way was narrow between the mountains.
6 And the children of Israel did as the priest of the Lord Eliachim had appointed them,
7 And all the people cried to the Lord with great earnestness, and they humbled their souls in fastings, and prayers, both they and their wives.
8 And the priests put on haircloths, and they caused the little children to lie prostrate before the temple of the Lord, and the altar of the Lord they covered with haircloth.
9 And they cried to the Lord the God of Israel with one accord, that their children might not be made a prey, and their wives carried off, and their cities destroyed, and their holy things profaned, and that they might not be made a reproach to the Gentiles.
10 Then Eliachim the high priest of the Lord went about all Israel and spoke to them,
11 Saying: Know ye that the Lord will hear your prayers, if you continue with perseverance in fastings and prayers in the sight of the Lord.
12 Remember Moses the servant of the Lord, who overcame Amalec that trusted in his own strength, and in his power, and in his army, and in his shields, and in his chariots, and in his horsemen, not by fighting with the sword, but by holy prayers:
13 So shall all the enemies of Israel be, if you persevere in this work which you have begun.
“Called. Greek, “Worshipped by all nations, and that all their tongues and tribes might call him god.” (Haydock) — Behold to what lengths ambition may be carried. If he had only claimed a place among the other pagan deities, his title was as good as theirs. (Calmet) — He is a figure of Antichrist; for whom all heretics pave the way, 2 Thessalonians ii. (Worthington)”
“Apamea, on the river Orontes, between which and the river Eleutherus, lay the Mesopotamia here mentioned. — Idumeans, or to “Rama,” near Gabaa, which was on the north of Jerusalem; whereas Idumea lay far to the south. (Calmet) — Yet (Haydock) Gabaa may designate a mountainous country, as 1 Kings vii. 1., (Menochius) and there is no reason why Idumea might not have felt the power of Holofernes, as well as Madian, &c. (Haydock) — The order of conquests is not observed, (Menochius) for while the commander-in-chief was in one place, his generals were dispersed into different parts. He had now advanced as far as Gabaa of Saul, (Haydock) when meditating a serious attack upon Egypt, he thought proper to concentrate his forces; little expecting to meet with such a check at Bethulia. (Calmet) — Greek, “He came to Esdrelon, near Dotaia, (or Dothaim, north of Sichem) which is opposite the great saw of Judea,” or the range of mountains of Ephraim. (Calmet) — Old Vulgate, “of Juda,” dividing it from Idumea. The kings of Israel had fortified the defiles, 3 Kings xv. 17.”
“Took. Greek, “encamped between Gaba and Scythopolis, (Bethsan, Josue xvii. 11.) and he was there a month of days, to collect all the burden of his army.” Bible Text & Cross-references: Many submit themselves to Holofernes. He destroyeth their cities, and their gods, that Nabuchodonosor only might be called god. 1 Then the kings and the princes of all the cities and provinces, of Syria, Mesopotamia, and Syria Sobal, and Libya, and Cilicia, sent their ambassadors, who coming to Holofernes, said:2 Let thy indignation towards us cease: for it is better for us to live and serve Nabuchodonosor, the great king, and be subject to thee, than to die and to perish, or suffer the miseries of slavery.3 All our cities and our possessions, all mountains, and hills, and fields, and herds of oxen, and flocks of sheep, and goats, and horses, and camels, and all our goods, and families are in thy sight:4 Let all we have be subject to thy law.5 Both we and our children are thy servants.6 Come to us a peaceable lord, and use our service as it shall please thee.7 Then he came down from the mountains with horsemen, in great power, and made himself master of every city, and all the inhabitants of the land.8 And from all the cities he took auxiliaries, valiant men, and chosen for war.9 And so great a fear lay upon all those provinces, that the inhabitants of all the cities, both princes and nobles, as well as the people, went out to meet him at his coming,10 And received him with garlands, and lights, and dances, and tumbrels, and flutes.11 And though they did these things, they could not for all that mitigate the fierceness of his heart:12 For he both destroyed their cities and cut down their groves.13 For Nabuchodonosor, the king, had commanded him to destroy all the gods of the earth, that he only might be called god by those nations which could be brought under him by the power of Holofernes.14 And when he had passed through all Syria Sobal, and all Apamea, and all Mesopotamia, he came to the Idumeans, into the land of Gabaa,15 And he took possession of their cities, and stayed there for thirty days, in which days he commanded all the troops of his army to be united. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16”