1The next day Holofernes commanded all his army and all the people who had come to be his allies, that they should move their camp toward Bethulia, seize the passes of the hill country, and make war against the children of Israel.2Every mighty man of them moved that day. The army of their men of war was one hundred seventy thousand footmen, plus twelve thousand horsemen, besides the baggage and the men who were on foot among them—an exceedingly great multitude.3They encamped in the valley near Bethulia, by the fountain. They spread themselves in breadth over Dothaim even to Belmaim, and in length from Bethulia to Cyamon, which is near Esdraelon.4But the children of Israel, when they saw the multitude of them, were terrified, and everyone said to his neighbor, “Now these men will lick up the face of all the earth. Neither the high mountains, nor the valleys, nor the hills will be able to bear their weight.5Every man took up his weapons of war, and when they had kindled fires upon their towers, they remained and watched all that night.6But on the second day Holofernes led out all his cavalry in the sight of the children of Israel which were in Bethulia,7viewed the ascents to their city, and searched out the springs of the waters, seized upon them, and set garrisons of men of war over them. Then he departed back to his people.8All the rulers of the children of Esau, all the leaders of the people of Moab, and the captains of the sea coast came to him and said,9“Let our lord now hear a word, that there not be losses in your army.10For 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.11And now, my lord, don’t fight against them as men fight who join battle, and there will not so much as one man of your people perish.12Remain in your camp, and keep every man of your army safe. Let your servants get possession of the water spring, which flows from the foot of the mountain,13because all the inhabitants of Bethulia get their water from there. Then thirst will kill them, and they will give up their city. Then we and our people will go up to the tops of the mountains that are near, and will camp upon them, to watch that not one man gets out of the city.14They will be consumed with famine—they, their wives, and their children. Before the sword comes against them they will be laid low in the streets where they dwell.15And you will pay them back with evil, because they rebelled, and didn’t meet your face in peace.”16Their words were pleasing in the sight of Holofernes and in the sight of all his servants; and he ordered them to do as they had spoken.17And the army of the children of Ammon moved, and with them five thousand of the children of Asshur, and they encamped in the valley. They seized the waters and the springs of the waters of the children of Israel.18The children of Esau went up with the children of Ammon, and encamped in the hill country near Dothaim. They sent some of them toward the south, and toward the east, near Ekrebel, which is near Chusi, that is upon the brook Mochmur. The rest of the army of the Assyrians encamped in the plain, and covered all the face of the land. Their tents and baggage were pitched upon it in a great crowd. They were an exceedingly great multitude.19The children of Israel cried to the Lord their God, for their spirit fainted; for all their enemies had surrounded them. There was no way to escape out from among them.20All the army of Asshur remained around them, their footmen and their chariots and their horsemen, for thirty-four days. All their vessels of water ran dry for all the inhabitants of Bethulia.21The cisterns were emptied, and they had no water to drink their fill for one day; for they rationed drink by measure.22Their young children were discouraged. The women and the young men fainted for thirst. They fell down in the streets of the city, and in the passages of the gates. There was no longer any strength in them.23All the people, including the young men, the women, and the children, were gathered together against Ozias, and against the rulers of the city. They cried with a loud voice, and said before all the elders,24“God be judge between all of you and us, because you have done us great wrong, in that you have not spoken words of peace with the children of Asshur.25Now we have no helper; but God has sold us into their hands, that we should be laid low before them with thirst and great destruction.26And now summon them, and deliver up the whole city as prey to the people of Holofernes, and to all his army.27For it is better for us to be captured by them. For we will be servants, and our souls will live, and we will not see the death of our babies before our eyes, and our wives and our children fainting in death.28We take to witness against you the sky and the earth, and our God and the Lord of our fathers, who punishes us according to our sins and the sins of our fathers. Do what we have said today!”29And there was great weeping of all with one consent in the midst of the assembly; and they cried to the Lord God with a loud voice.30And Ozias said to them, “Brethren, be of good courage! Let us endure five more days, during which the Lord our God will turn his mercy toward us; for he will not forsake us utterly.31But if these days pass, and no help comes to us, I will do what you say.”32Then he dispersed the people, every man to his own camp; and they went away to the walls and towers of their city. He sent the women and children into their houses. They were brought very low in the city.
Bible Crampon 1923
1Le lendemain, Holoferne donna l’ordre à ses troupes de monter contre Béthulie.2Son armée était forte de cent vingt mille hommes de pied et de vingt-deux mille cavaliers, sans compter les hommes propres à la guerre qu’il avait faits prisonniers et les jeunes gens qu’il avait amenés des provinces et des villes.3Tous ensemble se préparèrent au combat contre les enfants d’Israël et, marchant le long de la montagne jusqu’au sommet qui regarde Dothaïn, ils campèrent depuis le lieu appelé Belma, jusqu’à Chelmon, qui est vis-à-vis d’Esdrelon.4Quand les enfants d’Israël aperçurent cette multitude, ils se prosternèrent contre terre et, se couvrant la tête de cendres, ils prièrent tous ensemble le Dieu d’Israël de faire éclater sa miséricorde sur son peuple.5Puis, ayant pris leurs armes de guerre, ils occupèrent les lieux où de petits sentiers permettaient de passer entre les montagnes, et ils y faisaient la garde jour et nuit.6En parcourant les environs, Holoferne découvrit une fontaine en dehors de la ville, du côté du midi, laquelle y conduisait ses eaux par un aqueduc, et il fit couper cet aqueduc.7Cependant il y avait, non loin des murs, d’autres sources où les assiégés venaient puiser à la dérobée un peu d’eau, plutôt, ce semble, pour soulager leur soif que pour l’apaiser.8Mais les fils d’Ammon et de Moab vinrent trouver Holoferne, en disant : « Les enfants d’Israël n’ont confiance ni dans leurs lances ni dans leurs flèches ; mais ces montagnes les défendent et ces collines suspendues sur des précipices font leur force.9Afin donc que vous puissiez triompher d’eux sans livrer bataille, placez près des sources des gardes qui les empêchent d’y puiser de l’eau ; vous les ferez périr ainsi sans coup férir, ou bien, épuisés par la soif, ils rendront leur ville, qu’ils regardent comme imprenable parce qu’elle est placée sur les montagnes. »10Le conseil plut à Holoferne et à ses officiers, et il fit mettre un poste de cent hommes autour de chaque fontaine.11Cette garde ayant été faite pendant vingt jours, toutes les citernes et les toutes les citernes et les réservoirs d’eau furent à sec pour tous les habitants de Béthulie, de sorte qu’il ne restait pas dans la ville de quoi rassasier leur soif même un seul jour, car on distribuait chaque jour au peuple l’eau par mesure.12Alors tous les hommes et les femmes, les jeunes gens et les enfants se rassemblèrent auprès d’Ozias, et d’une commune voix13tous lui dirent : « Que Dieu soit juge entre toi et nous, car tu as agi pour notre malheur en refusant de faire des propositions de paix aux Assyriens ; et c’est pour cela que Dieu nous a livrés entre leurs mains.14C’est pourquoi il n’y a personne qui vienne à notre secours, alors que la soif et une grande misère nous font tomber en défaillance sous leurs regards.15Maintenant donc, assemble tous ceux qui sont dans la ville, afin que nous nous rendions tous volontairement aux gens d’Holoferne.16Car il vaut mieux pour nous avoir la vie sauve et bénir Dieu dans la captivité, que de mourir et d’être en opprobre à tous les hommes, après avoir vu nos femmes et nos enfants périr sous nos yeux.17Prenant aujourd’hui à témoin le ciel et la terre, et le Dieu de nos pères, qui nous châtie selon nos péchés, nous te conjurons de livrer incessamment la ville entre les mains des soldats d’Holoferne, afin que nous trouvions une prompte mort par le tranchant du glaive, au lieu d’une mort lente dans les ardeurs de la soif. »18Lorsqu’ils eurent ainsi parlé, il se fit des lamentations et de grands cris dans toute l’assemblée, et tous d’une voix, pendant de nombreuses heures, ils crièrent vers Dieu, en disant :19« Nous avons péché avec nos pères, nous avons été infidèles, nous avons commis l’iniquité.20Vous, qui êtes miséricordieux, ayez pitié de nous ; ou bien tirez vengeance de nos crimes en nous châtiant vous-même, et ne livrez pas ceux qui vous glorifient à un peuple qui ne vous connaît point,21afin qu’on ne dise pas parmi les nations : Où est leur Dieu ? »22Après s’être fatigués à force de crier et de pleurer, ils se turent.23Alors Ozias se leva, baigné de larmes, et dit : « Ayez bon courage, mes frères, et attendons pendant cinq jours la miséricorde du Seigneur.24Car peut-être mettra-t-il fin à sa colère et donnera-t-il gloire à son nom.25Ces cinq jours passés, si le secours n’est pas venu, nous ferons ce que vous nous avez proposé. »