It wasn't pretty.
Imagine the stories filtering in – whispers of entire cities laid waste, populations decimated, all resistance crushed under the iron fist of the Assyrian war machine. The Book of Judith wastes no time in setting the scene. According to the narrative, they heard "all that Holofernes... had done to the nations." This wasn't just a rumor; it was a terrifying reality unfolding right at their doorstep.
And what was their response? Fear, naturally. But also, something more profound: a desperate, unwavering faith. We'll see how that plays out.