Then the children of Israel who dwelt in the land of Juda, hearing these things, were exceedingly afraid of him.

Tunc audientes hæc filii Israël qui habitabant in terra Juda, timuerunt valde a facie ejus.

Consternation fell on all the Israelites that dwelt in Juda, at the news of his coming;

Dread and horror seized upon their minds, lest he should do the same to Jerusalem and to the temple of the Lord, that he had done to other cities and their temples.

Tremor et horror invasit sensus eorum, ne hoc faceret Jerusalem et templo Domini, quod fecerat ceteris civitatibus et templis earum.

fear struck deep at their anxious hearts, that Jerusalem and its temple might fare as other cities and temples had fared.

And they sent into all Samaria round about, as far as Jericho, and seized upon all the tops of the mountains:

Et miserunt in omnem Samariam per circuitum usque Jericho, et præoccupaverunt omnes vertices montium:

So they sent the word round all the Samaritan country, and back again to Jericho, that all the mountain-heights were to be occupied;

And they compassed their towns with walls, and gathered together corn for provision for war.

et muris circumdederunt vicos suos, et congregaverunt frumenta in præparationem pugnæ.

the villages on them were put in a state of defence, and corn stored up in readiness for the campaign.

And Eliachim the priest wrote to all that were over against Esdrelon, which faceth the great plain near Dothain, and to all by whom there might be a passage of way, that they should take possession of the ascents of the mountains, by which there might be any way to Jerusalem, and should keep watch where the way was narrow between the mountains.

Sacerdos etiam Eliachim scripsit ad universos qui erant contra Esdrelon, quæ est contra faciem campi magni juxta Dothain, et universos per quos viæ transitus esse poterat,

Nay, the high priest Eliachim sent letters even further afield; the hill-folk that lived facing Esdrelon across the wide plain around Dothain, controlling the passes to the south,

ut obtinerent ascensus montium, per quos via esse poterat ad Jerusalem, et illic custodirent ubi angustum iter esse poterat inter montes.

must occupy all the hill-paths leading to Jerusalem, standing ever on guard where the defile was narrowest.

And the children of Israel did as the priests of the Lord Eliachim had appointed them.

Et fecerunt filii Israël secundum quod constituerat eis sacerdos Domini Eliachim.

Such orders from Eliachim, the Lord’s high priest, the Israelites faithfully carried out.

And all the people cried to the Lord with great earnestness, and they humbled their souls in fastings, and prayers, both they and their wives.

Et clamavit omnis populus ad Dominum instantia magna, et humiliaverunt animas suas in jejuniis et orationibus, ipsi et mulieres eorum.

Meanwhile, in good earnest, the whole nation made appeal to the Lord, doing penance, men and women alike, with fast and prayer.

And the priests put on haircloths, and they caused the little children to lie prostrate before the temple of the Lord, and the altar of the Lord they covered with haircloth.

Et induerunt se sacerdotes ciliciis, et infantes prostraverunt contra faciem templi Domini, et altare Domini operuerunt cilicio:

Garb of sackcloth the priests wore, and bade the very infants lie prostrate before the temple gates; in sackcloth they veiled the Lord’s own altar;

And they cried to the Lord the God of Israel with one accord, that their children might not be made a prey, and their wives carried off, and their cities destroyed, and their holy things profaned, and that they might not be made a reproach to the Gentiles.

et clamaverunt ad Dominum Deum Israël unanimiter ne darentur in prædam infantes eorum, et uxores eorum in divisionem, et civitates eorum in exterminium, et sancta eorum in pollutionem, et fierent opprobrium gentibus.

and so with one voice they made appeal to the Lord, the God of Israel. Were they to see their children slaves, their women-folk allotted as spoil, their cities razed, their sanctuary profaned? Were they to become the scorn of the Gentiles?

Then Eliachim the high priest of the Lord went about all Israel and spoke to them,

Tunc Eliachim sacerdos Domini magnus circuivit omnem Israël, allocutusque est eos,

And Eliachim, the Lord’s high priest, went about everywhere among the Israelite folk with words of comfort.

Saying: Know ye that the Lord will hear your prayers, if you continue with perseverance in fastings and prayers in the sight of the Lord.

dicens: Scitote quoniam exaudiet Dominus preces vestras, si manentes permanseritis in jejuniis et orationibus in conspectu Domini.

Be sure, said he, that the Lord will listen to your plea, if you pray on, fast on, in his presence.

Remember Moses the servant of the Lord, who overcame Amalec that trusted in his own strength, and in his power, and in his army, and in his shields, and in his chariots, and in his horsemen, not by fighting with the sword, but by holy prayers:

Memores estote Moysi servi Domini, qui Amalec confidentem in virtute sua, et in potentia sua, et in exercitu suo, et in clypeis suis, et in curribus suis, et in equitibus suis, non ferro pugnando, sed precibus sanctis orando dejecit:

Remember how Amelec, long ago, boasted of their overwhelming strength, of their great army, shields and chariots and horsemen; and it was by the holy prayers he offered, not by the sword, that the Lord’s servant Moses defeated them.

So shall all the enemies of Israel be, if you persevere in this work which you have begun.

sic erunt universi hostes Israël, si perseveraveritis in hoc opere quod cœpistis.

So shall it be with all Israel’s enemies, will you but persevere in your undertaking.

So they being moved by this exhortation of his, prayed to the Lord, and continued in the sight of the Lord.

Ad hanc igitur exhortationem ejus deprecantes Dominum, permanebant in conspectu Domini,

Thus encouraged, they kept their posture of entreaty, there in the Lord’s presence;

So that even they who offered the holocausts to the Lord, offered the sacrifices to the Lord girded with haircloths, and with ashes upon their head.

ita ut etiam hi qui offerebant Domino holocausta, præcincti ciliciis offerrent sacrificia Domino, et erat cinis super capita eorum.

the very priests who offered him sacrifice, did so in sackcloth, with ashes on their heads;

And they all begged of God with all their heart, that he would visit his people Israel.

Et ex toto corde suo omnes orabant Deum, ut visitaret populum suum Israël.

and with all their hearts they prayed, every one of them, that God would bring deliverance to his people of Israel.