الإصحَاحُ
الرَّابعُ

Chapter 4

 

4:1
Now the children of Israel, that dwelt in Judea, heard all that Holofernes the
chief captain of Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians had done to the nations,
and after what manner he had spoiled all their temples, and brought them to
nought. 2 Therefore they were exceedingly afraid of him, and were troubled for Jerusalem,
and for the temple of the Lord their God: 3 For they were newly returned from
the captivity, and all the people of Judea were lately gathered together: and
the vessels, and the altar, and the house, were sanctified after the
profanation. 4 Therefore they sent into all the coasts of Samaria, and the
villages and to Bethoron, and Belmen, and Jericho, and to Choba, and Esora, and
to the valley of Salem: 5 And possessed themselves beforehand of all the tops
of the high mountains, and fortified the villages that were in them, and laid
up victuals for the provision of war: for their fields were of late reaped.

 

6
Also Joacim the high priest, which was in those days in Jerusalem, wrote to
them that dwelt in Bethulia, and Betomestham, which is over against Esdraelon
toward the open country, near to Dothaim, 7 Charging them to keep the passages
of the hill country: for by them there was an entrance into Judea, and it was
easy to stop them that would come up, because the passage was straight, for two
men at the most. 8 And the children of Israel did as Joacim the high priest had
commanded them, with the ancients of all the people of Israel, which dwelt at Jerusalem.

 

9
Then every man of Israel cried to God with great fervency, and with great
vehemency did they humble their souls: 10 Both they, and their wives and their
children, and their cattle, and every stranger and hireling, and their servants
bought with money, put sackcloth upon their loins.

 

11
Thus every man and women, and the little children, and the inhabitants of
Jerusalem, fell before the temple, and cast ashes upon their heads, and spread
out their sackcloth before the face of the Lord: also they put sackcloth about
the altar, 12 And cried to the God of Israel all with one consent earnestly,
that he would not give their children for a prey, and their wives for a spoil,
and the cities of their inheritance to destruction, and the sanctuary to
profanation and reproach, and for the nations to rejoice at.

 

13
So God heard their prayers, and looked upon their afflictions: for the people
fasted many days in all Judea and Jerusalem before the sanctuary of the Lord
Almighty.

 

14
And Joacim the high priest, and all the priests that stood before the Lord, and
they which ministered unto the Lord, had their loins girt with sackcloth, and
offered the daily burnt offerings, with the vows and free gifts of the people,
15 And had ashes on their mitres, and cried unto the Lord with all their power,
that he would look upon all the house of Israel graciously.