20 The entire Assyrian army — infantry, chariots, and cavalry — blockaded Bethulia for 34 days until the town ran out of water.
21 All the reservoirs and cisterns went dry, so that the drinking water had to be rationed, and not a day passed when there was enough water to go round.
22 Children were becoming weak; everywhere throughout the town women and young people were collapsing. No one had any strength left.
23 All the people of the town — men, women, and children alike — gathered round Uzziah and the town officials and shouted in protest,
24 “God will punish you for what you have done to us! You are to blame for what is happening, because you did not make peace with the Assyrians.
25 There is no one to help us now! God has put us in their power. We are exhausted and dying of thirst.
26 Call the Assyrians now and surrender to them, and let Holofernes and his army take the town and loot it.