What does Judith Chapter 7 record?

On the following day, Holofernes commanded his grand army—comprising 120,000 infantry and 22,000 cavalry, along with vast provincial conscripts—to advance against Bethulia. The troops positioned themselves along the hillsides facing Dothain, extending from Belma unto Chelmon opposite Esdrelon. Confronted by this staggering host, the children of Israel prostrated themselves upon the ground, sprinkled ashes upon their heads, and pleaded for God's mercy. Armed defenders manned the narrow mountain defiles, maintaining day-and-night vigilance.

Scouting the terrain, Holofernes discovered the main aqueduct supplying Bethulia from the south and ordered it severed. Although the besieged secretly drew small amounts of water from nearby exterior springs, leaders of Moab and Ammon approached Holofernes with an alternate strategy: recognizing that the Israelites relied on steep precipices rather than arrows, they urged him to station guards at the springs. By depriving the city of water, the Assyrians could wear them down through lack of water without risking open assault. Holofernes approved the plan, stationing guards at all springs. After twenty days of strict blockade, the city's cisterns dried up, and the daily measured water was insufficient to satisfy the inhabitants even for a day.

Overcome by tormenting thirst, men, women, youths, and children gathered before Ozias with one desperate cry. They accused their leaders of bringing disaster by refusing peaceful terms with the Assyrians, declaring that God had abandoned them to die before their enemies' eyes. They urged an immediate voluntary surrender of the city, arguing that life in captivity was far better than watching their wives and infants perish from dehydration. They also ask for a shorter end by the sword rather than prolonged death by thirst. Weeping for many hours, the assembly cried out to God, confessing that they had sinned with their fathers and begging Him to chastise them directly rather than deliver them into the hands of heathen Gentiles who would blaspheme His name.

When the weeping finally subsided, magistrate Ozias rose up in tears to address his exhausted brethren. He pleaded with them to maintain courage and wait five more days for divine mercy, expressing hope that the Lord would relent from His anger and bring glory to His name. However, Ozias made a conditional promise: if no divine deliverance arrived within five days, he promised to carry out their demand and surrender the city to Holofernes.