10
"But you, Holofernes, are ordered to go ahead of me and occupy all their territories in advance. If they surrender to you, hold them for me until I come to punish them.
11
But if they resist, do not spare them. Kill them and loot the entire region under your control.
12
I have taken a solemn vow, and at the risk of my life and my royal power I am determined to do what I have vowed to do.
13
Do not disobey me in any way. I am your king; remember that, and carry out without delay every order that I have given you."
14
So Holofernes left the king and called together all the commanders, generals, and officers of the Assyrian army.
15
Just as the king had ordered, he chose 120,000 of the best infantrymen and 12,000 of the best mounted archers
16
and arranged them in battle formation.
17
He also took along a very large number of camels, donkeys, and mules to carry the equipment, as well as many sheep, cattle, and goats for food.
18
Every soldier received plenty of rations and a large payment of gold and silver from the royal treasury.
19
Then Holofernes and his entire army set out, advancing ahead of King Nebuchadnezzar. The chariots, the cavalry, and the infantry marched out to overrun the entire western region.
20
Other troops went with them. There were so many that it was impossible to count them - they were like a swarm of locusts or like grains of sand in the desert.