“Then their strong men removed their camps in that day, and the army of the men of war was an hundred and seventy thousand footmen, and twelve thousand horsemen, beside the baggage, and other men that were afoot among them, a very great multitude.”
Twenty. Greek, seventy; Syriac, sixty-two. (Calmet) — Two, &c. Greek, twelve, as above, chap. ii. 7. (Menochius) — Syriac, twenty-two. Some of these texts must be inaccurate. (Calmet) — Yet the cavalry of Holofernes (Haydock) might be increased, since he began the war. — Taken. Syriac, “servants, and those who had joined them in great numbers.”
“And they camped in the valley near unto Bethulia, by the fountain, and they spread themselves in breadth over Dothaim even to Belmaim, and in length from Bethulia unto Cynamon, which is over against Esdraelon.”
Hill side, on the coast of the Mediterranean, leaving the mountains of Ephraim, (Calmet) which were so strait, (Haydock) on the left, as well as Jerusalem, as he intended to go into Egypt. Bethulia alone opposed his progress, chap. vi. 7.
“Now the children of Israel, when they saw the multitude of them, were greatly troubled, and said every one to his neighbour, Now will these men lick up the face of the earth; for neither the high mountains, nor the valleys, nor the hills, are able to bear their weight.”
Of them. Greek adds, “were greatly afraid, and each one said to his neighbour: Now these will consume (Complutensian, shut up) the face of the earth, and neither the high mountains, nor the vales, nor the hills, will bear their weight. Then taking their arms, and lighting fires upon their towers, they kept guard all that night: but the second day, Holofernes brought out all his cavalry against the Israelites, in Bethulia, and he reconnoitred the ascent of their city, and came to the fountains of their waters, and took them; and leaving a guard of soldiers, he returned to his men,” &c., ver. 8. (Haydock) — The Syriac is also silent about the aqueduct and the small springs. (Calmet) — The servants of God first humble themselves, and then take arms, confiding in God. (Worthington)
“But in the second day Holofernes brought forth all his horsemen in the sight of the children of Israel which were in Bethulia,”
An aqueduct: the fountain must therefore have been on a higher ground than the city, though the latter was on an eminence. (Calmet) — Yet water may be forced to ascend by pipes. (Haydock)
“Then came unto him all the chief of the children of Esau, and all the governors of the people of Moab, and the captains of the sea coast, and said,”
Children of. Greek and Syriac, “the chiefs of the sons of Esau,” as Idumea had been conquered, chap. iii. 14. They omit Ammon, and after Moab subjoin “the generals of the maritime countries;” Tyrians and Philistines. (Haydock)
“For this people of the children of Israel do not trust in their spears, but in the height of the mountains wherein they dwell, because it is not easy to come up to the tops of their mountains.”
Spring. Greek and Syriac intimate that the Ammonites and Moabites, with 5,000 Assyrian infantry, guarded the springs: the rest of the army, according to the old Vulgate, was stationed in the plain. Greek and Syriac specify over-against Dothaim, which seems too remote; (Calmet) though such an immense army might cover a great part of the country, as all would not be necessary to besiege Bethulia; and it was agreed only to blockade the place, in order that no men might be lost, and the army might be ready to march against the more distant and powerful nations of Egypt. Another detachment was (Haydock) “southward, at Ecrebel, (Syriac Ekarbat, probably Akrabim, the ascent of the scorpions) near Cush, (or Arabia) which is above the torrent Mochmur, (Syriac Peor, or Bezor; Calmet) and the rest of the army of the Assyrians encamped in the plain, and covered the face of the earth.” (Haydock)
“Now therefore, my lord, fight not against them in battle array, and there shall not so much as one man of thy people perish.”
Days. Greek, “and all the collection of the Assyrians continued round them….thirty-four days.” (Haydock) — Old Vulgate, “twenty-four days.” Syriac, “two months and four days.” — Measure. Greek adds, “the infants, women, and young men fainted, and fell down dead.” (Haydock)
“For all the inhabitants of Bethulia have their water thence; so shall thirst kill them, and they shall give up their city, and we and our people shall go up to the tops of the mountains that are near, and will camp upon them, to watch that none go out of the city.”
Hands. We shall be treated as miserable slaves. (Calmet)
“Thus shalt thou render them an evil reward; because they rebelled, and met not thy person peaceably.”
Assemble. Greek, “call them, and give up all the city to plunder to the,” &c.
“So the camp of the children of Ammon departed, and with them five thousand of the Assyrians, and they pitched in the valley, and took the waters, and the fountains of the waters of the children of Israel.”
Conjuring. Greek, “and the sins of our parents, that he may not treat us thus to-day,” and deliver us up to death. (Haydock)
“Then the children of Esau went up with the children of Ammon, and camped 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 unto Chusi, that is upon the brook Mochmur; and the rest of the army of the Assyrians camped in the plain, and covered the face of the whole land; and their tents and carriages were pitched to a very great multitude.”
Saying. Greek, “And Ozias said to them: Take courage, brethren.,” ver. 23. (Haydock)
“Then all the people assembled to Ozias, and to the chief of the city, both young men, and women, and children, and cried with a loud voice, and said before all the elders,”
Five. Sulpitius reads, fifteen. (Calmet) — But instead of decim, we should read demum. (Haydock)
“For now we have no helper: but God hath sold us into their hands, that we should be thrown down before them with thirst and great destruction.”
Spoken. Greek and Syriac add, “and he dispersed the people to their tents, and they went upon the walls and towers of the city, and sent their wives and children home. And they were under great humiliation in the city.”