5. But in spite of their fear, all the Israelites took up their weapons, lighted signal fires on the towers, and remained on guard duty all night.
6. The next day Holofernes led out his entire cavalry so that the Israelites in Bethulia could see them.
7. He inspected the approaches to the town and the springs that supplied its water. He seized the springs and stationed guards there, before returning to camp.
8. All the leaders of the Edomite and Moabite forces, along with the commanders of the troops from the Mediterranean coast, came to Holofernes and said,
9. “Sir, if you listen to our advice, your troops will not suffer heavy losses.
10. These Israelites do not rely on their weapons for defence but rather on the height of the mountains where they live, since the mountains are not easy to climb.
11. So then, General Holofernes, if you do not make a direct attack on them, your whole army will suffer no casualties.
12. Stay in your camp and keep your soldiers in their quarters. Just command your men to blockade the springs at the foot of the mountains,
13. because that's where the people of Bethulia come to draw their water. Then, when they are dying of thirst, they will surrender their town to you. Meanwhile, we and our men will go up to the tops of the surrounding mountains, where we will set up camp and keep anyone from leaving the town.
14. Everyone will starve to death — men, women, and children. Even before we attack, the streets will be littered with their corpses.
15. In this way you can make them pay for their rebellion and for refusing to surrender peacefully to you.”
16. Holofernes and his entire staff were pleased with this suggestion, so he gave orders to put the plan into action.
17. The Moabites and 5,000 Assyrians moved their camp into the valley to control the source of the town's water.
18. The Edomites and the Ammonites went up into the mountains and set up their camp opposite the town of Dothan. They sent some of their men to the south-east in the direction of Acraba, near Chusi, which is beside the River Mochmur. The rest of the Assyrian army set up camp in the valley. Their camp was spread out over the whole countryside, because the number of tents and the amount of equipment needed for such a large army were immense.
19. Then the Israelites cried out to the Lord their God for help. They had lost their courage, for with the enemy all round them there was no way to escape.
20. The entire Assyrian army — infantry, chariots, and cavalry — blockaded Bethulia for 34 days until the town ran out of water.
21. All the reservoirs and cisterns went dry, so that the drinking water had to be rationed, and not a day passed when there was enough water to go round.
22. Children were becoming weak; everywhere throughout the town women and young people were collapsing. No one had any strength left.
23. All the people of the town — men, women, and children alike — gathered round Uzziah and the town officials and shouted in protest,