Judith 4:5 describes the preparations made by the Israelites when they heard of the approaching Assyrian army led by Holofernes. Let's break down the meaning:
"and they occupied beforehand all the tops of the high mountains": This means the Israelites strategically positioned themselves on the high ground. Mountain tops offered a natural defensive advantage. They could see the enemy approaching from afar, making it easier to prepare for an attack. The high ground also made it harder for the Assyrians to attack and potentially allowed the Israelites to rain down projectiles on them.
"fortified the villages that were in them": In addition to securing the mountain tops, the Israelites reinforced the defenses of their existing villages located within those mountain areas. This would have involved strengthening walls, building barricades, and taking other measures to make it harder for the Assyrians to conquer these settlements.
"stored supplies for the provision of war": They gathered and stockpiled essential supplies necessary for a prolonged conflict. This would include food, water, weapons, and other materials needed to sustain themselves and fight against the Assyrians.
"for their fields were newly reaped": This detail is significant. The harvest had just been completed, meaning they had an abundance of food readily available. They could store the newly harvested crops to feed their people and soldiers during the anticipated siege. This also implies that they were acting quickly and decisively because they needed to get the harvest secured before the Assyrians arrived and potentially plundered the fields.
In summary, the verse paints a picture of the Israelites taking swift and decisive action in response to the threat posed by Holofernes. They strategically secured high ground, fortified their settlements, and gathered ample supplies, taking advantage of the recent harvest to ensure they were well-prepared for a potentially long and difficult war. The fact that they prepared beforehand suggests they were proactive and not caught off guard by the approaching enemy.
Judith 4:5 describes the preparations made by the Israelites when they heard of the approaching Assyrian army led by Holofernes. Let's break down the meaning:
"and they occupied beforehand all the tops of the high mountains": This means the Israelites strategically positioned themselves on the high ground. Mountain tops offered a natural defensive advantage. They could see the enemy approaching from afar, making it easier to prepare for an attack. The high ground also made it harder for the Assyrians to attack and potentially allowed the Israelites to rain down projectiles on them.
"fortified the villages that were in them": In addition to securing the mountain tops, the Israelites reinforced the defenses of their existing villages located within those mountain areas. This would have involved strengthening walls, building barricades, and taking other measures to make it harder for the Assyrians to conquer these settlements.
"stored supplies for the provision of war": They gathered and stockpiled essential supplies necessary for a prolonged conflict. This would include food, water, weapons, and other materials needed to sustain themselves and fight against the Assyrians.
"for their fields were newly reaped": This detail is significant. The harvest had just been completed, meaning they had an abundance of food readily available. They could store the newly harvested crops to feed their people and soldiers during the anticipated siege. This also implies that they were acting quickly and decisively because they needed to get the harvest secured before the Assyrians arrived and potentially plundered the fields.
In summary, the verse paints a picture of the Israelites taking swift and decisive action in response to the threat posed by Holofernes. They strategically secured high ground, fortified their settlements, and gathered ample supplies, taking advantage of the recent harvest to ensure they were well-prepared for a potentially long and difficult war. The fact that they prepared beforehand suggests they were proactive and not caught off guard by the approaching enemy.