Fear and trembling fell upon the people in the cities and in the villages. People offered peace treaties to Holofernes as well as full submission. Holofernes selected teams of men from the cities. He came to Jezreel and Dothan before the great mountain range of Judea between Geba and Scythopolis and he set up camp there for a month to collect supplies.

The Israelites in Judea heard of this, and considered offering resistance. They occupied all the highest hilltops and secured their cities. They all gathered food and supplies for the war.