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Horsemen riding into the gates of a Middle Eastern city. This illustration appears in the twelfth chapter of First Maccabees, but it is not clear what city it intends to illustrate.

City Gates and Horsemen

Horsemen riding into the gates of a Middle Eastern city. This illustration appears in the twelfth chapter…

"And when they came to the gate of the city, they found Ozias, and the ancients of the city waiting. And when they saw her they were astonished, and admired her beauty exceedingly. But they asked her no question, only they let her pass, saying: The God of our fathers give thee grace, and may he strengthen all the counsel of thy heart with his power, that Jerusalem may glory in thee, and thy name may be in the number of the holy and just. And they that were there said, all with one voice: So be it, so be it. But Judith praying to the Lord, passed through the gates, she and her maid." Judith 10:6-10 DRA <p>Judith adorns herself and passes through the city gates on her way to meet Holofernes, whom she beheads.

Judith Passes Through the City Gates

"And when they came to the gate of the city, they found Ozias, and the ancients of the city waiting.…

"Now when Mordecai knew all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry; and he came even before the king's gate: for none might enter within the king's gate clothed with sackcloth." Esther 4:1-2 <p>Mordecai stands at the king's gate and cries out at the news that all the Jews of Persia were to be destroyed.

Mordecai Cries out at the City Gates

"Now when Mordecai knew all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes,…