Achior the Ammonite Tells Holofernes about the Israelites

¹General Holofernes of the Assyrian army heard that the Israelites had prepared for war by setting up defenses in the mountain passes, by fortifying the hills, and by blocking paths through the valleys.

²He was furious! So he called together the leaders of the Moabites, the army commanders of the Ammonites, and the rulers of the nations along the Mediterranean coast.

³He said to them:

⁵Achior the Ammonite leader answered:

²²When Achior finished speaking, the people standing around the tent started complaining. The commanders of Holofernes' army, together with the Moabites and the people from the Mediterranean coast, demanded that Achior be beaten to death.

²³They said, “We aren't afraid of those weak Israelites! They don't have the strength to fight.

²⁴Let's attack them, General Holofernes! Your powerful army will easily defeat them.”