Upper and lower Beth-horon are in the northernmost of the three gorges which break through the steep wall of the western front of the central ranges of Palestine. A path leads up the ravine to lower Beth-horon, which stands on a ridge about 1,240 feet above the sea.
Mounting a long and steep ascent, rocky and rough, but with the rock in places cut into steps, the traveler after an hour's climb reaches upper Beth-horon, which stands 1,730 feet above the sea, on a mountain spur with a deep valley both to north and south. The village is small, but exhibits traces of ancient walls and foundations, and to the east of it is a reservoir, apparently of great antiquity.
So situated, the Beth-horons could not fail to be connected with the march and retreat of armies and often hosts swarmed up this avenue or swept down it in flight. More than one memorable battle takes its name from Beth-horon. Thrice the two towns were fortified, by Solomon, by the Syrian general Bacchides, and by the Jews against Holofernes. It was by Beth-horon that Certius Gallus advanced in the first onset of the Roman armies against Jerusalem, and down its gorge he was driven in rout by the insurgent Jews. And Beth-horon saw the first Crusaders march to Jerusalem; and saw Richard, the third Crusader, in vain try to force a passage by the same route.
And Judith said to them, "Hear me now, my brethren, and take this head, and hang it upon the battlement of your wall. And it shall be, so soon as the morning shall appear, and the sun shall come forth upon the earth, ye shall take up everyone his weapons of war, and go forth every valiant man of you out of the city, and ye shall set a captain over them, as though ye would go down to the plain toward the outposts of the children of Asshur; and ye shall not go down. And these shall take up their armor, and shall go into their camp, and rouse up the captains of the host of Asshur, and they shall run together to the tent of Holofernes, and they shall not find him: and fear shall fall upon them, and they shall flee before your face. And ye, and all that inhabit every region of Israel, shall pursue them and overthrow them as they go."
Israel's Victory.
And as soon as the morning arose, they hung the head of Holofernes upon the wall, and every man took up his weapons, and they went forth by companies unto the passes of the mountain. But when the children of Asshur saw them, they sent hither and thither to their leaders. And they came to Holofernes' tent, and said to him that was over all that he had, "Waken now our lord: for the slaves have been bold to come down against us to battle, that they may be utterly destroyed."
And the officer went in, and knocked at the outer door of the tent. But when none answered, he opened it, and went into the bedchamber, and found him thrown upon the threshold dead, and his head had been taken from him. And he cried with a loud voice, with weeping and [{104}] groaning and a mighty cry, and rent his garments. And he entered into the tent where Judith lodged: and he found her not, and he leaped out to the people, and cried aloud, "The slaves have dealt treacherously: one woman of the Hebrews hath brought shame upon the house of King Nebuchadnezzar; for, behold, Holofernes lieth upon the ground, and his head is not on him."
But when the rulers of the host of Asshur heard the words, they rent their robes, and their souls were troubled exceedingly, and there was a cry and an exceeding great noise in the midst of the camp.