5 Since their fields had already been harvested, they immediately began preparing for war by setting up defenses in the hill country, by fortifying the towns there, and by storing up food.
6 Joakim the high priest was in Jerusalem at the time. He wrote to the people living in Bethulia and Betomesthaim, two towns that face Jezreel Valley not far from Dothan.
7 Joakim wrote, “Set up defenses at once in the mountain passes that lead into Judea. They are wide enough for only two people to use at a time, so you'll easily stop enemy troops from invading.”
8 The Israelites obeyed Joakim and the other leaders of Israel who were meeting together in Jerusalem.
9 All the men of Israel prayed sincerely and went without eating to show their sorrow.
10 Then everyone in the country wrapped sackcloth around their waists—men, women, and children, as well as foreigners and slaves and hired workers. They even put sackcloth on their livestock!
11 Every man, woman, and child in Jerusalem went to the temple and bowed low to the ground. They put ashes on their heads and spread out sackcloth in front of the temple