6 Also Joi´akim the high priest, which was in those days in Jerusalem, wrote to them that dwelt in Bethu´lia, and Betomes´tham, which is over against Esdra-e´lon toward the open country, near to Dothan,
7 charging them to keep the passages of the hill country: for by them there was an entrance into Judah, and it was easy to stop them that would come up, because the passage was strait, for two men at the most.
8 And the children of Israel did as Joi´akim the high priest had commanded them, with the ancients of all the people of Israel, which dwelt at Jerusalem.
9 Then every man of Israel cried to God with great fervency, and with great vehemency did they humble their souls:
10 both they, and their wives, and their children, and their cattle, and every stranger and hireling, and their servants bought with money, put sackcloth upon their loins.
11 Thus every man and women, and the little children, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, fell before the temple, and cast ashes upon their heads, and spread out their sackcloth before the face of the Lord: also they put sackcloth about the altar,
12 and cried to the God of Israel all with one consent earnestly, that he would not give their children for a prey, and their wives for a spoil, and the cities of their inheritance to destruction, and the sanctuary to profanation and reproach, and for the nations to rejoice at.