The Peace Delegation to King Nebuchadnezzar
1 All these nations sent a peace delegation to King Nebuchadnezzar with this message: 2 “We remain loyal to you, great King Nebuchadnezzar; we are ready to serve you and obey any command that you may wish to give us. 3 Our buildings, all our land, our wheat fields, our livestock, and our tents are at your disposal; use them in any way you wish. 4 Our people will be your slaves, and you may use our towns as you please.”
5 After the peace delegation had brought this message, 6 Holofernes led Nebuchadnezzar's army down to the Mediterranean coast. He stationed guards in all the walled towns and selected certain local men in each of the towns as reserve troops. 7 The people in the towns and in the surrounding countryside welcomed Holofernes by wearing wreaths of flowers and dancing to the beat of drums. 8 But Holofernes destroyed all their places of worship and cut down their sacred trees. He had been ordered to destroy all the gods of the land so that all the nations and tribes would worship only Nebuchadnezzar and pray to him as a god.
9 Then Holofernes passed through Jezreel Valley near Dothan, which faces the main ridge of the mountains of Judah, 10 and set up camp between Geba and Scythopolis. He stayed there for a month in order to get supplies for his army.
1 So they sent ambassadors unto him to treat of peace, saying,
2 Behold, we the servants of Nabuchodonosor the great king lie before thee; use us as shall be good in thy sight.
3 Behold, our houses, and all our places, and all our fields of wheat, and flocks, and herds, and all the lodges of our tents lie before thy face; use them as it pleaseth thee.
4 Behold, even our cities and the inhabitants thereof are thy servants; come and deal with them as seemeth good unto thee.
5 So the men came to Holofernes, and declared unto him after this manner.
6 Then came he down toward the sea coast, both he and his army, and set garrisons in the high cities, and took out of them chosen men for aid.
7 So they and all the country round about received them with garlands, with dances, and with timbrels.
8 Yet he did cast down their frontiers, and cut down their groves: for he had decreed to destroy all the gods of the land, that all nations should worship Nabuchodonosor only, and that all tongues and tribes should call upon him as god.
9 Also he came over against Esdraelon near unto Judea, over against the great strait of Judea.
10 And he pitched between Geba and Scythopolis, and there he tarried a whole month, that he might gather together all the carriages of his army.