5:1
And it was reported to Holofernes, the chief captain of the army of Ashshur, that the sons of Yisra’el had prepared for war, and had closed the passages of the hill country, and had fortified every summit of the high mountains, and had laid obstacles in the plains.
5:2
And he became exceedingly angry, and called all the rulers of Moav, and the commanders of Ammon, and all the governors of the coastland.
5:3
And he said to them: “Tell me now, you sons of Kena’an, who is this people that dwells in the hill country? And what are the cities they inhabit? And how great is their army? And in what is their power and their strength? And what king is set over them, or leader of their army?
5:4
And why have they alone refused to come out to meet me among all those who dwell toward the west?”
5:5
Then Achior, leader of all the sons of Ammon, said to him: “Let my master hear a word from the mouth of your servant, and I will declare to you the truth concerning this people who dwell in the hill country near you. And no falsehood shall go forth from the mouth of your servant.
5:6
This people descends from the Kasdim.
5:7
And they sojourned at first in Aram-Naharayim, because they would not follow the mighty ones of their fathers, who were in the land of the Kasdim.
5:8
For they departed from the way of their ancestors and worshiped the Elohim of the heavens, the Elohim whom they had known. And their people cast them out from the face of their mighty ones, and they fled to Aram-Naharayim and dwelt there many days.
5:9
And their Elohim commanded them to go out from their dwelling and go to the land of Kena’an. And they dwelt there and were increased with gold and silver and with exceedingly many cattle.
5:10
And they went down into Mitsrayim, for famine covered the face of the land of Kena’an. And they dwelt there while they were nourished. And there they became an exceedingly great multitude, and there was no number for their nation.
5:11
Then the king of Mitsrayim rose against them and dealt cunningly with them, and humbled them with brickmaking, and made them servants.
5:12
And they cried to their Elohim, and He struck all the land of Mitsrayim with plagues for which there was no healing. And the Mitsrim cast them out from before them.
5:13
And Elohim dried up the Sea of Reeds before them,
5:14
and led them by the way of Sinai and Qadesh-Barnea. And they drove out all who dwelt in the wilderness.
5:15
And they dwelt in the land of the Emorim, and by their strength they destroyed all the inhabitants of Cheshbon. And crossing the Yarden, they possessed all the hill country.
5:16
And they cast out before their face the Kena’ani, and the Perizzi, and the Yevusi, and the Shekhemi, and all the Girgashi, and they dwelt in it many days.
5:17
And as long as they did not sin before their Elohim, good was with them, because an Elohim who hates crookedness is with them.
5:18
But when they turned aside from the way which He appointed for them, they were destroyed in many battles exceedingly, and were led captive into a land not their own. And the House of their Elohim was brought down to the ground, and their cities were seized by their enemies.
5:19
But now they have returned to their Elohim and have come up from the scattering where they were scattered, and they possess Yerushalayim, where their Sanctuary is, and they dwell in the hill country, for it was desolate.
5:20
And now, my master and ruler, if there is error in this people, and they sin against their Elohim, then we shall know that this stumbling is in them, and we shall go up and overcome them.
5:21
But if there is no crookedness in their nation, let my master pass them by, lest their Master and their Elohim defend them, and we become a reproach before all the earth.”
5:22
And when Achior had finished speaking these words, all the people standing around the tent murmured. And the great ones of Holofernes, and all those who dwelt along the coastland and in Moav, said that he should be cut down.
5:23
For they said: “We will not fear the sons of Yisra’el. See, they are a people with neither strength nor power for a mighty battle.
5:24
Therefore let us go up, and they shall become food for all your army, my master Holofernes.”