1 Then, upon hearing these things, the sons of Israel, who dwelt in the land of Judah, were very afraid before his face.
2 Trembling and horror invaded their senses, lest he should do the same thing to Jerusalem and to the temple of the Lord that he had done to other cities and their temples.
3 And they sent into all of Samaria, and by an indirect route even to Jericho, and they seized in advance all the tops of the mountains.
4 And they surrounded their villages with walls, and they gathered together grain in preparation for the fight.
5 And then Eliachim the priest wrote to all who were opposite Esdrelon, which is opposite the face of the great plain near Dothain, and to all whom he would be able to reach through a passable way:
6 that they should hold the ascents of the mountains, through which there might be any passage able to reach Jerusalem, and that they should keep watch where the passage was narrow, wherever possible, between the mountains.
7 And the sons of Israel did just as Eliachim, the priest of the Lord, had appointed them.
8 And all the people cried out to the Lord with great urgency, and they humbled their souls with fastings, and prayers, both they and their wives.
9 And the priests clothed themselves with haircloths, and they prostrated the little children opposite the face of the temple of the Lord, and they covered the altar of the Lord with haircloth.
10 And they cried out to the Lord God of Israel with one accord, lest their children should be given over as prey, and their wives into distribution, and their cities into extermination, and their holy things into defilement, and so that they might not become the disgrace of the Gentiles.
11 Then Eliachim, the high priest of the Lord, traveled all around Israel, and he was talking to them,
12 saying: “Know that the Lord will heed your prayers, if you continue to persevere in fastings and prayers in the sight of the Lord.
13 Recall that Moses, the servant of the Lord, overcame Amalek, who trusted in his own strength, and in his power, and in his army, and in his bronze shields, and in his swift chariots, and in his horsemen. He overcame him, not by fighting with iron, but by pleading with holy prayers.
14 So will it be with all the enemies of Israel, if you persevere in this work that you have begun.”
15 Therefore, by this exhortation and his prayer to the Lord, they continued in the sight of the Lord,
16 so that even those who offered holocausts to the Lord, offered the sacrifices to the Lord girded with haircloths, and there were ashes upon their heads.
17 And they all begged God with their whole heart, that he would visit his people Israel.
Versículos relacionados com Judith, 4:
Judite 4 describes the preparation of Israelites for the war against the Assyrians. The chapter begins with Israeli leaders calling the people to fast and pray, asking for God's help in the battle to come. Then the author describes the mobilization of Israeli armies and the preparation for battle.
Numbers 10:9: "And when in your earth, you come out to the battle against the enemy that oppress you, you will touch the trumpets of counteracting, and before the Lord your God will be a memory of you, and you will be saved from your enemies." This verse describes the use of trumpets to draw God's attention and ask for help in battle, just as the Israelites do in Judite 4.
Deuteronomy 20:1: "When you go out to the battle against your enemies, and you will see horses, and cars, and people more numerous than you, you will not fear them; for the Lord your God, who took you out of the earth of Egypt, is with you . " This verse encourages Israelite soldiers not to be afraid of enemy armies, but trusting God's help, such as Israeli leaders ask Judith 4.
Isaiah 41:10: "Do not fear, because I am with you, do not haunt yourself, because I am your God; I effort, and help you, and I support you with the right hand of my righteousness." This verse is another example of God encouraging their followers to trust him in times of difficulty and struggle, which is a central theme in Judite 4.
Psalm 144:1: "Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who teaches my hands to the battle and my fingers to war." This Psalm talks about God's ability to prepare his followers for battle and teach them how to fight. This is something that Israeli leaders in Judite 4 are also looking for, as they ask for God's help.
2 Chronicles 20:15: "And said, Hence all Judah, and you residents of Jerusalem, and you, O Jehoshaphat, thus saith the Lord, do not fear, nor are you scary because of this great crowd; for the battle It is not yours but God. " This verse is another statement that God is the one who fights along with his followers and that there is therefore no reason to be afraid of enemies. This is something that Israeli leaders in Judite 4 are trying to convey to the people.
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