and although he had collected all the allies that he could possibly claim assistance from, and done whatever the art of man, guided by prudence, could suggest, yet were they greatly inferior to the power which was to be brought against them. In the mean time the king of Assyria, had sent Ambassadors to all his tributary princes and states, to hold themselves in readiness to assist him in his wars. But conceiving themselves sufficiently powerful to withstand his arbitrary demand, they treated it contemptuously, and sent away his Ambassadors without giving assent to what the king had ordered. This disappointment and disrespect of his commands, irritated beyond all bounds his naturally violent disposition, and he swore by his throne and kingdom, that he would be amply revenged on these rebellious states the moment he had overcome Arphaxad, king of Media, and that every man amongst them should then be put to the sword.

He then marched in "battle array" against the devoted city of Ecbatane, with all his desolating power, and soon overpowered the force of Aaphaxad, destroying all his fine army, his horses, and his chariots; the city also was taken, and its grand fortification demolished, with every work of art and beauty, "Turning all the beauty thereof (as the scripture expresses it) into shame." Not content

with all this havock, the merciless tyrant pursued Arphaxad into the mountains, where he had fled for refuge, and finding him, put him cruelly to death.

After accomplishing these works of devastation, he and his victorious army, and all the multitude which followed his fortunes, banquetted and rested for a time from the fatigues and toils of war. When Nabuchodonosor recollecting his solemn vow of revenge against the refractory nations, determined to put it into immediate execution. To this end, he called together all his principal officers and nobles, with whom he held a secret counsel, in which the king of Assyria made a decree, that he would send and destroy all mankind then on the earth; except they consented to acknowledge and obey him as the supreme ruler of the universe. His councellors and nobles concurring in the propriety of this measure, he next ordered that Holofernes, the chief general of his army, and next in command to himself, should be called into his presence; and then gave him instructions to go forth, and fire and sword wherever he came, to carry let his eye have no pity, and to spare none, of whatever state or condition, except they complied with the proposed terms of owning no other lord but him; for that whatever he had threatened against any nation, he would most assuredly now perform.

Holofernes, who was a man, as implacable and unfeeling as the king himself was, whom he served, found no difficulty in engaging to obey these sanguinary commands; and he collected his army together without delay, which, when all mustered, amounted to one hundred and twenty thousand, and twelve thousand archers on horseback, which, together with their camels, asses, carriages, sheep, and goats, without number, must have contained as formidable a combination as can well be imagined. Wherever he went (as may well be conjectured), slaughter and death, and misery followed, (called victory), and unutterable terror and distress fell upon the wretched inhabitants of every city, or state, who heard the name of Holofernes, or that his deluge of destruction was approaching their country. In this dreadful emergency the principal people of each state consulting together of what was best to be done, were unanimously of opinion, that to preserve the lives of their wives and children, to save their country and themselves, it were best to submit to the terms proposed, and become the tributary dependants on the caprice of a despotic tyrant, rather than risk the chance of war, against a power so prodigious. This being arranged, each person sent in to Holofernes's camp their written decision, of future submission to the King of Assyria, and

their readiness to comply with his commands. But though this was accepted, and the effusion of blood spared, yet Holofernes gave orders for all their fortfications to be destroyed, pulled down all their groves, and after many other such injuries, set his own spies over all their actions.

This done, he came near to Judea, and pitched his tents near it, and here he continued inactive, for a month, until he had collected, for the use of his army, whatever further he had occasion for.

The children of Israel, who dwelt in Judea, had frequently heard of Holofernes, for the fame of his transactions, his cruelties, and his injustice, even to those nations who were spared, had spread far and wide amongst all people, but more particularly was the dread of the Jews excited by Holofernes's approach, from their apprehension for the temple of their God, and for the City of Jerusalem; for being but lately returned from the horrors of captivity, and all their ancient customs so short a time again restored to them, they became more fearful of being again deprived of them, and more solicitous to preserve those blessings than ever. They therefore sent to every ally they had for succour, in this their extremity, and in the mean time, they possessed themselves of the tops of the high mountains, this being of the utmost importance to them,and fortified all the villages that were in them, and there laying

up in store all the provisions they possibly could spare, and in all things preparing themselves, as well at might be, to repel the common enemy of mankind, the cruel General of the despotic King of Assyria.

The High Priest Joachim also wrote to every one to whom it was proper, in Bethulia, to charge them to keep the passages of the hill country, for by them, there was an entrance into Judea; but it was easy to stop any that attempted to come up, because the passage would scarcely allow two men abreast to advance; it was so narrow, therefore that the progress of enemies might be prevented with but little difficulty. After these indispensable arrangements, the whole of the people joined in supplication to God for assistance and protection in their hour of danger, and trusting in his great mercy; and having done all that human foresight could suggest for security and defence, they rested quietly, awaiting the result.

But no words can describe the astonishment of Holofernes, when he heard it reported, that the inhabitants of Judea intended to resist him; he could not at first give credit to it, and when he found the news to be true, he was utterly at a loss to account for their rashness and temerity, and his rage and anger were almost ungovernable, to find that there should be a people on the face.