Nebuchadnezzar plans his revenge
1 In the eighteenth year of his rule, on the twenty-second day of the first month, a discussion took place in the palace of King Nebuchadnezzar of the Assyrians, about how to take revenge upon the whole region as he had promised.
2
After calling together all his attendants and all his officials, he laid out before them his secret plan and established, with his own mouth, all the wickedness of the region.
3
They determined to destroy everyone who hadn't obeyed his command.
4
When he finished laying out his plan, King Nebuchadnezzar of the Assyrians called for Holofernes, the general of his army and next in charge after the king himself. The king said to him,
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“The great king, the master of all the earth, says that you will leave my presence and take with you men who are sure of their own strength, one hundred twenty thousand infantry and twelve thousand cavalry.
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You will lead them out against all the lands in the west because they disobeyed my command.
7
"You will tell the people to prepare earth and water, for I'm coming out against them in my rage, and I will cover the entire earth with the feet of my army. I will hand them over as spoil.
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Their wounded will fill up their valleys and every brook and river will be filled, overflowing with their dead.
9
Then I will lead them as prisoners to the ends of the earth.
10
You will go ahead of me to seize all of their territory. If they surrender to you, keep them for me until the day of their punishment. and set up camp between Geba and Scythopolis. He stayed there one whole month, waiting for all of his army's baggage to arrive.
11
But show no mercy to any who continue to resist. Hand them over to be killed and plundered. Do this wherever you go.
12
As I live, and by the power of my kingdom, I have spoken, and I will do this with my own hand.
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Now don't neglect even one of your master's commands, but carry them out exactly as I have ordered you and without delay."