Now in the thirteenth year of the reign of Nabuchodonosor, the two and twentieth day of the first month, there was a word in the house of Nabuchodonosor, king of the Assyrians, that he would avenge himself.

Then he called all his elders, and all his mighty men, and his captains of war, and communed with them a secret counsel;

And told them that his intent was to subdue all the earth unto his kingdom.

And when this saying was pleasing unto all, then Nabuchodonosor the king called Holofernes the chief captain of his army,

And said unto him, Go forth against all the kingdoms of the west, and against them especially that have despised my commandment.

And let thine eye not spare any kingdom, and bring every strong city into subjection unto me.

Then Holofernes called the captains and mighty men of the army of Assur, and he mustered the number of the fighting men, as the king had commanded him, an hundred and twenty thousand footmen, and twelve thousand archers on horseback.

And he sent before his army an innumerable multitude of camels for their provision, and herds of oxen, and flocks of sheep without number.

And he commanded that corn should be gathered out of all Syria as he passed through.

And he took out of the king's house gold and silver exceeding much.

Then he went forth with all his army, and his chariots, and his horsemen, and his archers, which covered the face of the earth, like locusts.

And when he had passed the borders of Assur, he came to the great mountains of Anche, which were on the left hand of Cilicia, and he marched upon all their strong holds, and took all the fortresses.

And he opened the famous city of Melote, and spoiled all the children of Tarshish, and the children of Ismael, which were over against the wilderness, and on the south of the land of Cilon.

Then he passed over the Euphrates, and came into Mesopotamia, and overthrew all the high cities that were upon the valley of Memre, to the end of the sea.

And he took the borders thereof from Cilicia to the coasts of Japheth, which are toward the south.

And he carried away all the children of Madian, and spoiled all their wealth, and all that resisted them he slew with the edge of the sword.

And after this he went down into the plains of Damascus in the time of the wheat harvest, and burnt up all their fields, and cut down all their trees and their vineyards.

So the fear of him fell upon all the inhabitants of the land.