Volume 2

The Region Around Bethulia
269
ing her neighbor fast by the loop with one hand, the
other being free. A trinket was concealed in the grass and
they turned round here and there in a circle until one of
the players spied it. When she stopped to pick it up, the
others in the circle gave a sudden jerk; those following
likewise stooped after the treasure, each one trying not to
fall. Sometimes they tumbled over one another amid
shouts of laughter.
Bethulia was situated on a plateau in a mountainous
region, solitary and wild. It was an hour and a half south
of the lake. Above it was a great, rough-looking tower
and many ruined walls and towers. Once upon a time, the
city must have extended much further and been very
strongly fortified. Trees were now growing on those
walls, upon which vehicles could be driven, and I saw
the visitors at the baths promenading on them. The city
lay high up around the mountain. Here it was that Judith
became illustrious. The camp of Holofernes stretched
from the lake through the ravine of Jetebatha around to
Dothan, a couple of hours to the south of Bethulia. From
Jetebatha also there were visitors at the baths. They did
not wait to hear Jesus' instructions but, returning to
Jetebatha, spread the news of His presence in Bethulia.
Jetebatha was situated about an hour and a half to the
southeast, built in the bosom of the mountains as in an
immense cave. Before it rose a mountain from which the
descent into the city was over deep, wild ditches. It appeared
to be built in a deep quarry, the mountain hanging
high over it. To the north of this mountain, not quite
two hours distant, was Magdalum, on the edge of a deep
dale, with its surroundings of avenues, gardens, and
towers of all kinds stretching off into the middle of it.
Between the mountain and Magdalum were still standing
the remains of the channel of an aqueduct through whose
arches one could look far off into the country. The channel
was now overgrown by vines and foliage. Southward