Bethulia Runs Out of Water

Holofernes moved his huge army towards Bethulia and took control of the hill passes. The camp spread out across the valley near the town. When the Israelites saw how many soldiers there were, they were terrified. Still, they took up their weapons, lit fires on their towers, and kept watch through the night.

The next day Holofernes inspected the approaches to the city and searched out the water sources. His advisers urged him not to attack the mountain town directly. Instead, they said his army should seize the spring the people used. If Bethulia lost its water, thirst would force the city to surrender. Holofernes agreed.

Soon the enemy surrounded Bethulia from every side. The people cried out to the Lord because there was no escape. For thirty-four days the army remained there. The town's water vessels ran dry, the cisterns emptied, and drink had to be rationed. Children, women, and young men became weak with thirst and collapsed in the streets and gateways.

Then the people gathered against Ozias and the rulers of the city. They said the leaders had done them wrong by not making peace earlier. In their misery they asked for the city to be handed over to Holofernes, saying it was better to be captured alive than to watch their families die of thirst. The whole assembly wept and cried to God.

Ozias answered by asking them to endure five more days. He said they should wait to see whether the Lord would show mercy to them. But he also promised that if no help came after those days, he would do what the people had asked. Then everyone returned to their places. The women and children went into their houses, and the city was left very low.