Twenty. Greek, seventy; Syriac, sixty-two. (Calmet) --- Two, &c. Greek, twelve, as above, chap. ii. 7. (Menochius) --- Syriac, twenty-two. Some of these texts must be inaccurate. (Calmet) --- Yet the cavalry of Holofernes (Haydock) might be increased, since he began the war. --- Taken. Syriac, "servants, and those who had joined them in great numbers."

Verse 3

Hill side, on the coast of the Mediterranean, leaving the mountains of Ephraim, (Calmet) which were so strait, (Haydock) on the left, as well as Jerusalem, as he intended to go into Egypt. Bethulia alone opposed his progress, chap. vi. 7.

Verse 4

Of them. Greek adds, "were greatly afraid, and each one said to his neighbour: Now these will consume (Complutensian, shut up) the face of the earth, and neither the high mountains, nor the vales, nor the hills, will bear their weight. Then taking their arms, and lighting fires upon their towers, they kept guard all that night: but the second day, Holofernes brought out all his cavalry against the Israelites, in Bethulia, and he reconnoitred the ascent of thier city, and came to the fountains of their waters, and took them; and leaving a guard of soldiers, he returned to his men," &c., ver. 8. (Haydock) --- The Syriac is also silent about the aqueduct and the small springs. (Calmet) --- The servants of God first humble themselves, and then take arms, confiding in God. (Worthington)

Verse 6

An aqueduct: the fountain must therefore have been on a higher ground than the city, though the latter was on an eminence. (Calmet) --- Yet water may be forced to ascend by pipes. (Haydock)

Verse 8

Children of. Greek and Syriac, "the chiefs of the sons of Esau," as Idumea had been conquered, chap. iii. 14. They omit Ammon, and after Moab subjoin "the generals of the maritime countries;" Tyrians and Philistines. (Haydock)

Verse 10

Spring. Greek and Syriac intimate that the Ammonites and Moabites, with 5,000 Assyrian infantry, guarded the springs: the rest of the army, according to the old Vulgate, was stationed in the plain. Greek and Syriac specify over-against Dothaim, which seems too remote; (Calmet) though such an immense army might cover a great part of the country, as all would not be necessary to besiege Bethulia; and it was agreed only to blockade the place, in order that no men might be lost, and the army might be ready to march against the more distant and powerful nations of Egypt. Another detachment was (Haydock) "southward, at Ecrebel, (Syriac Ekarbat, probably Akrabim, the ascent of the scorpions) near Cush, (or Arabia) which is above the torrent Mochmur, (Syriac Peor, or Bezor; Calmet) and the rest of the army of the Assyrians encamped in the plain, and covered the face of the earth." (Haydock)

Verse 11

Days. Greek, "and all the collection of the Assyrians continued round them....thirty-four days." (Haydock) --- Old Vulgate, "twenty-four days." Syriac, "two months and four days." --- Measure. Greek adds, "the infants, women, and young men fainted, and fell down dead." (Haydock)

Verse 13

Hands. We shall be treated as miserable slaves. (Calmet)

Verse 15

Assemble. Greek, "call them, and give up all the city to plunder to the," &c.

Verse 17

Conjuring. Greek, "and the sins of our parents, that he may not treat us thus to-day," and deliver us up to death. (Haydock)

Verse 18

Saying. Greek, "And Ozias said to them: Take courage, brethren.," ver. 23. (Haydock)

Verse 21

CHAPTER VII.

Verse 23

Five. Sulpitius reads, fifteen. (Calmet) --- But instead of decim, we should read demum. (Haydock)

Verse 25