Books Jesus Read

86

Books Jesus Read

he wrote to Bethulia 5 which overlooks the plain near Dothan, commanding them to secure their mountain passes, since Judea was open to invasion through them. Yet, the passes were narrow such that invaders could be easily stopped. They did as they were commanded. Now, every man of Israel cried out to God with great fervor, and they humbled themselves with much fasting. They and their wives and their children and their cattle and every resident alien and hired laborer and slave—all of them put on sackcloth. And all the men and women, and their children, living at Jerusalem, prostrated themselves before the temple and put ashes on their heads and spread out their sackcloth before the Lord. They even covered the altar in sackcloth and cried out in unison, praying earnestly to the God of Israel not to give up their infants as prey and their wives as booty, and the cities they had inherited to be destroyed, and the sanctuary to be profaned and desecrated by the Gentiles. The Lord heard their prayers and looked upon their affliction, because the people had fasted many days throughout Judea and in Jerusalem before the sanctuary of the Lord Almighty. Moreover, the high priest together with all the priests wrapped themselves in sackcloth as they ministered before the Lord the daily burnt offerings, votive offerings, and freewill offerings of the people. With ashes sprinkled on their turbans, they cried out to the Lord mightily, that he might look with favor on the house of Israel. Now it was reported to Holofernes that Israel was preparing for war by fortifying her high places and

5 He wrote also to Betomesthaim.