16 Holofernes and his officials liked what the commanders said, and so he gave orders to carry out their plan at once.
17 Part of the Ammonite army and 5,000 Assyrian soldiers marched into the valley and took control of the springs that supplied Bethulia with water.
18 The Edomite army and the rest of the Ammonite troops marched into the hills and set up camp opposite the town of Dothan. They also sent some men southeast toward Egrebeh, which is near Chusi, a town on the Mochmur Creek. The rest of the Assyrian army set up camp in the valley. Their army was so large that tents and supplies covered the entire countryside.
19 The Israelites lost all hope, when they realized they were surrounded and had no way to escape. So they cried out to the Lord their God for help.
20 The entire Assyrian army, including the foot soldiers, the cavalry, and the soldiers in chariots, had surrounded Bethulia. And after 34 days, the town's water supply was almost gone—
21 every well and cistern was drying up. So each day, drinking water was carefully measured out to make sure everyone had some water to drink. Finally, there was not enough left to go around.
22 The children were getting weak, and all over town young men and women were fainting from thirst. No one had enough strength to survive much longer.