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==The Story==

==The Story==

In the opening chapters, God’s divine sovereignty over Israel comes into direct conflict with Nebuchadnezzar’s political sovereignty over all the nations of the western world.

The Book of Judith recounts the story of God providing a woman, Judith, to deliver the Jewish people in a time of great need and despair.  

The story of Judith has four episodes:   

The story of Judith has four episodes:   

1  Nebuchadnezzar's War: (1-7:32) There is a military struggle underway, with the Persian forces invading the states to the west of its borders.

1  Nebuchadnezzar's War: (1-7:32)

There is a war between two ancient kings, Nebuchadnezzar and Arphaxad.

In the opening chapters, God’s divine sovereignty over Israel comes into direct conflict with Nebuchadnezzar’s political sovereignty over all the nations of the western world.

 

Nebuchadnezzar At the start of this war Nebuchadnezzar orders all the city states in surrounding kingdoms to send him a levy of soldiers, but they flout his command. Eventually, without their support, he wins the war, and when it is over he decides to take his revenge, to teach them a lesson in respect.  

Nebuchadnezzar has grown angry with the people of the Levant who resist his rule, and vows to destroy them. He assigns his military commander Holofernes to this task, Holofernes, commander-in-chief of the Assyrian armies of Nebuchadnezzar (which, of course, is impossible historically since Nebuchadnezzar is a Babylonian!) and a great army sweeps down from Mesopotamia into Syria and Lebanon toward Israel. He summons the leader of his army, Holofernes, and orders him to lead a vast army against those states who have ignored his original command.  Holofernes sets out, burning, murdering and plundering as he goes.  leads a massive force in a punitive campaign against the western vassal nations—including Israel—who refused to send auxiliary forces against the Medes. All those who will not submit to Nebuchadnezzar are destroyed.

He assigns his military commander Holofernes to this task, Holofernes, commander-in-chief of the Assyrian armies of Nebuchadnezzar (a Babylonian) He summons the leader of his army, Holofernes, and orders him to lead a vast army against those states who have ignored his original command.  Holofernes sets out, burning, murdering and plundering as he goes.  leads a massive force in a punitive campaign against the western vassal nations—including Israel—who refused to send auxiliary forces against the Medes. All those who will not submit to Nebuchadnezzar are destroyed. and a great army sweeps down from Mesopotamia into Syria and Lebanon toward Israel. The nations in its path immediately surrender and beg for peace. Eventually he comes to the sea coast near Sidon and Tyre, and the people there send messengers, suing for peace. Holofernes spares them, but destroys all their sacred temples and shrines: they must henceforth worship Nebuchadnezzar alone.  

Eventually he comes to the sea coast near Sidon and Tyre, and the people there send messengers, suing for peace. Holofernes spares them, but destroys all their sacred temples and shrines: they must henceforth worship Nebuchadnezzar alone.  

The Israelites living in Judea know that their turn is coming. They are distraught, since they have only recently returned from exile in Assyria and rebuilt their Temple, which Nebuchadnezzar will of course destroy if he captures the city.  

The nations in its path immediately surrender and beg for peace.

They  The Israelites, however devise a plan: The High Priest Joakim writes to the Israelites, among them the people of Judith's home town Bethulia (a curious name, similar to the Hebrew word for 'young unmarried woman'). He orders them to pray for deliverance, and this they do most fervently, fasting, fast and pray to God for deliverance. and wearing sackcloth and even draping the altar with sackcloth. they will retreat to the hill-tops, fortify and provision them, and wait it out. Hilltop towns in Judea guarded the roads below and had to be taken by any invader who wanted to secure the transport routes. The people of Israel block his retaliatory advancement against all the nations of the west. The little the hilltop town of town of Bethulia (related to Hebrew for “virgin”), is particularly desperate, since Bethulia strategically guards his route of access and stands in the way of the mighty army's path to Jerusalem. (1-4) They know only too well that if their town is overrun Jerusalem and its Temple will be sacked and destroyed.

The Israelites living in Judea know that their turn is coming. They are distraught, since they have only recently returned from exile in Babylon and rebuilt their Temple, which Nebuchadnezzar will of course destroy if he captures the city.

Holofernes is told that the mountain passes have been closed and the hilltop villages fortified. He is outraged and calls a meeting of all the princes of the Moabite and Ammonite city states. Who are these hilltop ragamuffins to flout him? He is, after all, Nebuchadnezzar's top general. Holoferenes is amazed that the Israelites have the courage to resist him. One of the princes, Achior Achior, the leader of of all the Ammonites, the Ammonites, steps forward and tells him about the Israelites briefs him on Israel's sacred history - their origins and history, including the stories of their flight from Egypt and exile in Babylon. He praises them as a people, and begs Holofernes to pass them by without harming them. and declares that Israel will be invincible unless it sins against God. Holofernes does not respond well to this plea. "Who is God except Nebuchadnezzar?" Holefernes replies. He reasons that sheer strength of numbers will guarantee him success in any battle, and that the Israelites settlements will be easy prey: 'we the king's servants will destroy them as one man. We will overwhelm them; their mountains will be drunk with their blood, and their fields will be full of their dead. Not even their footprints will survive our attack; they will utterly perish.' He is not pleased with Achior either: if Achior likes these Israelites so much, he might as well join them, and die with them. He orders Achior bound and taken to Bethulia, where he can share the Israelites' fate. Achior is seized, taken to Bethulia and left, tied up, outside the walls of the town. The townspeople retrieve him and take him inside the walls of Bethulia where Uzziah, the chief magistrate of the town, pumps him for information. Achior tells him about Holofernes and his intentions, and the grateful townspeople reassure him and make him welcome. The Ammonite leader is treated with hospitality by the citizens of the city, who welcome him into their assembly. Holofernes arrays his troops for battle, but the Edomites in his coalition convince him to lay siege to the city instead, by taking control of its water supply, which lies outside the city walls. Holofernes decides that the best tactic is to lay siege to the town. Despite the warning of Achior the Ammonite that the Jews cannot be conquered unless they sin against their God, Holofernes lays siege to Bethulia, cutting off its water supply. Holofernes then musters his entire army. The figures given, 170,000 infantry and 12,000 cavalry indicate that the mountain town is vastly outnumbered. led by Holofernes, Nebuchadnezzar's army besieges Bethulia. On the other hand the walls of Bethulia are strong, and so there is, for the moment, stalemate.

 

They devise a plan: they will retreat to the hill-tops, fortify and provision them, and wait it out. Hilltop towns in Judea guarded the roads below and had to be taken by any invader who wanted to secure the transport routes.

 

The High Priest Joakim writes to the Israelites, among them the people of Judith's home town Bethulia (a curious name, similar to the Hebrew word for 'young unmarried woman'). He orders them to pray for deliverance, and this they do most fervently, fasting and wearing sackcloth and even draping the altar with sackcloth. The town of Bethulia is particularly desperate, since it stands in the way of the mighty army's path to Jerusalem. (1-4)

 

They know only too well that Bethulia guards the route to Jerusalem, and that if their town is overrun Jerusalem and its Temple will be sacked and destroyed. The people of Israel block his retaliatory advancement against all the nations of the west at their little town of Bethulia (related to Hebrew for “virgin”), which strategically guards his route of access to Jerusalem. The Israelites, however, fast and pray to God for deliverance.

 

 

Nebuchadnezzar's army, led by Holofernes, besieges the hilltop town of Bethulia. Holofernes then musters his entire army. The figures given, 170,000 infantry and 12,000 cavalry are surely an exaggeration, but they indicate that the mountain town is vastly outnumbered.  

 

On the other hand the walls of Bethulia are strong, and so there is, for the moment, stalemate. Holofernes decides that the best tactic is to lay siege to the town.

For thirty-four days the people of Bethulia hold out, until every water container in the town is dry and even the underground cisterns are almost empty. The children are listless and the people begin fainting, collapsing in the streets. They blame Uzziah for not submitting to Holofernes in the first place, and saving them from death. True, they would have had to abandon worship of Jahweh and pray to Nebuchadnezzar instead, but this now seems preferable to death by thirst.  

For thirty-four days the people of Bethulia hold out, until every water container in the town is dry and even the underground cisterns are almost empty. The children are listless and the people begin fainting, collapsing in the streets. They blame Uzziah for not submitting to Holofernes in the first place, and saving them from death. True, they would have had to abandon worship of Jahweh and pray to Nebuchadnezzar instead, but this now seems preferable to death by thirst.  

The townspeople think that God has abandoned them, and beg their leaders to surrender. They urge Uzziah to surrender the town to Holofernes. It will mean slavery for them, but at least they will be spared from seeing their children die of thirst. Playing for time, the leading citizen Uzziah suggests they pray, asking God for a further five days. Uzziah urges them to hold out for five more days. If God has not saved them by then, he promises the town will be surrendered.

After a little more than a month, the people of Bethulia are ready to surrender, After thirty-four days, the exhausted Bethulians are ready to surrender, even though it will mean worship of Nebuchadnezzar (3:8). The townspeople think that God has abandoned them, and beg their leaders to surrender. They urge Uzziah to surrender the town to Holofernes. It will mean slavery for them, but at least they will be spared from seeing their children die of thirst. but the leading citizen Uzziah their mayor, Uzziah urges them to hold out for five more days. Uzziah, Playing for time, suggests they pray, asking God for a further five days. Uzziah, their town magistrate, urges a compromise to give God five additional days to deliver them, temporarily postponing what seems inevitable apostasy, slavery, and destruction of the Jerusalem sanctuary. convinces them to hold out for five more days. If God has not saved them by then, If God does not deliver them by the fortieth day of the siege, he vows to accede to their wishes and he promises If God does not deliver them in this time, they will surrender. the town will be surrendered. surrender to Holofernes' forces. (5-7)

If God does not deliver them in this time, they will surrender.

 

2  Judith and the Elders: (8:1-9.14) The beautiful and respected Judith, a wealthy widow of Bethulia, confronts the town leaders. Their plan, she says, is not the right course of action. She herself has a secret plan, which she begins to put into action: she grooms herself so that she is alluringly beautiful, then leaves the city during the night.

 

Judith and the Elders  (Book of Judith 8:1-9.14)

The most important part of the story lies here, where she talks about the nature of God: what God is and is not.

In Part 2 (8:1–16:25),  

The story revolves around Judith, a daring and beautiful widow. The Book of Judith recounts the story of God providing a woman, Judith, to deliver the Jewish people in a time of great need and despair. In the story Judith lives in the town of Bethulia. She is a beautiful and wise widow who becomes incensed with her town elders when they “test” God rather than trust Him and they decide to capitulate to King Nebuchadnezzar’s top general, Holofernes, to surrender if God does not save them in five days.

2  Judith and the Elders: (Book of Judith 8:1-9.14)

At this stage in the story Judith of Bethulia makes her entrance. She is a woman of impeccable background and character, and a great beauty.  

It is only now that the lovely, pious widow Judith appears on the scene. At this stage in the story Judith of Bethulia makes her entrance. The story revolves around Judith, a daring and beautiful widow. In the story Judith lives in the town of Bethulia. During the final stages of an Assyrian siege which has convinced her city of Bethulia to surrender, Judith, a pious widow in Bethulia, comes forward to challenge the five-day compromise that has imposed conditions on God’s sovereignty.  

She is also a widow - this is important to the story, because she must be highly moral but also sexually experienced. Her husband has died three years previously of sunstroke, but has left her financially independent.  

The beautiful and respected Judith, She is a beautiful and wise a woman of impeccable background and character, and a great beauty. She is also a widow - this is important to the story, because she must be highly moral but also sexually experienced. Her husband has died three years previously of sunstroke, but has left her financially independent. a wealthy widow widow of Bethulia, Despite her wealth, she lives a simple, almost Spartan life in a shelter on the rooftop of her house, fasting and praying most of the time. Judith is of course aware of what is going on around her in the town of Bethulia. Her maid seems to have been a consummate gossip, and through her Judith learns of Uzziah's promise to surrender the town after five days if God has not saved it. who becomes incensed with her town elders. Once she takes the stage, she surrenders it to no other character, figuring in every scene until the book’s end. She sends her maid to summon the town magistrates, Uzziah, Chabris, and Charmis to her house. She sends for the elders, including Uzziah, and when they come to her in her rooftop room she remonstrates with them. confronts the town leaders. when they “test” God rather than trust Him and they decide to capitulate to King Nebuchadnezzar’s top general, Holofernes, to surrender if God does not save them in five days. Their plan, she says, is not the right course of action.

Despite her wealth, she lives a simple, almost Spartan life in a shelter on the rooftop of her house, fasting and praying most of the time.

The most important part of the story lies here, What follows is one of the great statements about what God is and is not (8:12-17). where she talks about the nature of God: what God is and is not. God is not a human being to be bargained with, or put to the test, nor can we ever hope to understand God's mind. We do not know what the person beside us is thinking, even if it is someone we love - just as they do not really know what we are thinking. How then can we expect to know what is in the mind of God?

Upbraiding them for putting themselves in the place of God (8:12), she argues that God is simply testing them, and has the power to help them at any time (8:15). She urges, “Do not try to bind the purposes of the Lord our God; for God is not like a human being, to be threatened, or like a mere mortal, to be won over by pleading” (8:16). Judith feels that giving God such a deadline is arrogant and inappropriate in the extreme. Judith proposes that they wait for deliverance and together call upon God who will listen, if so disposed (8:17). She insists that God will not disdain Israel because they know no other god and that capture by the Assyrians will mean the desolation of the temple as well as their way of life. Judith counsels, “Let us set an example for our kindred” (8:24).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Part 2 (8:1–16:25), It is only now that the lovely, pious widow Judith appears on the scene. During the final stages of an Assyrian siege which has convinced her city of Bethulia to surrender, Judith, a pious widow in Bethulia, comes forward to challenge the five-day compromise that has imposed conditions on God’s sovereignty. Once she takes the stage, she surrenders it to no other character, figuring in every scene until the book’s end. She sends her maid to summon the town magistrates, Uzziah, Chabris, and Charmis to her house. Upbraiding them for putting themselves in the place of God (8:12), she argues that God is simply testing them, and has the power to help them at any time (8:15). She urges, “Do not try to bind the purposes of the Lord our God; for God is not like a human being, to be threatened, or like a mere mortal, to be won over by pleading” (8:16). Judith feels that giving God such a deadline is arrogant and inappropriate in the extreme. Judith proposes that they wait for deliverance and together call upon God who will listen, if so disposed (8:17). She insists that God will not disdain Israel because they know no other god and that capture by the Assyrians will mean the desolation of the temple as well as their way of life. Judith counsels, “Let us set an example for our kindred” (8:24).

She prophetically proclaims that to surrender to Holofernes' would be sin. "If we are captured, all Judea will be captured and our sanctuary will be plundered; and he (God) will exact of us the penalty for its desecration," she argues. Uzziah brushes off her advice. She is after all only a woman, so he tells her that the best thing she can do is pray, leaving decision-making to the men. Judith, in turn, calmly brushes off his advice. Uzziah responds that all she has said is true and that this is not the first time her wisdom has been shown (8:28–29). But, the people were thirsty; the magistrates made an oath; and she can best help by praying for rain. On her account, the Lord will fill the cisterns and the people will no longer faint from thirst (8:31). Thus he saves himself from losing face by rescinding his foolish vow to hand over the town to the Assyrians in five days if God does not act (7:30–31), blaming the people who forced him to this oath, victimizing the victims as Jephthah did his daughter (Judg 11:35). Judith declares that she herself will become God's agent of deliverance.  

She prophetically proclaims that to surrender to Holofernes' would be sin. "If we are captured, all Judea will be captured and our sanctuary will be plundered; and he (God) will exact of us the penalty for its desecration," she argues. Uzziah brushes off her advice. She is after all only a woman, so he tells her that the best thing she can do is pray, leaving decision-making to the men. Judith, in turn, calmly brushes off his advice. Uzziah responds that all she has said is true and that this is not the first time her wisdom has been shown (8:28–29). But, the people were thirsty; the magistrates made an oath; and she can best help by praying for rain. On her account, the Lord will fill the cisterns and the people will no longer faint from thirst (8:31). Thus he saves himself from losing face by rescinding his foolish vow to hand over the town to the Assyrians in five days if God does not act (7:30–31), blaming the people who forced him to this oath, victimizing the victims as Jephthah did his daughter (Judg 11:35). Judith declares that she herself will become God's agent of deliverance.  

Giving up the idea that she and the town officials can set an example together, Judith decides to act independently. She tells the elders she has a plan, but must leave the city for it to be successful. She decides to act on her own initiative, telling Uzziah to meet her at the town gate so that she and her maid may leave the town that night. Explaining that she will do something all the generations will remember, she tells them to meet her at the town gate that evening when she and her maid will go out. Before the five days of their compromise are gone, she pledges “the Lord will deliver Israel by my hand” (Jdt 8:33). But she does not tell them what she plans to do. She refuses to tell them exactly what she is about to do (8:33–34). She refuses to divulge any details.

Giving up the idea that she and the town officials can set an example together, Judith decides to act independently. She herself has a secret plan, which she begins to put into action: She tells the elders she has a plan, but must leave the city for it to be successful. She decides to act on her own initiative, telling Uzziah to meet her at the town gate so that she and her maid may leave the town that night. Explaining that she will do something all the generations will remember, she tells them to meet her at the town gate that evening when she and her maid will go out. Before the five days of their compromise are gone, she pledges “the Lord will deliver Israel by my hand” (Judith 8:33). But she does not tell them what she plans to do. She refuses to tell them exactly what she is about to do (8:33–34). She refuses to divulge any details.

 

 

 

When she has finished her prayer she rises from the ground and calls her maid. Together they begin to prepare to carry out the plan. When her prayer is finished (Jdt 9:14), Judith dresses beautifully, “to entice the eyes of all the men who might see her” (10:4).  

When the men are gone, Once the magistrates leave, Judith she prostrates herself on the ground and makes a prayer and cries out to God, to God. begging the strength to be like Simeon, who took vengeance against the Shechemites who violated his virgin sister, Dinah. She urges God to break their power by putting strength instead into the hands of a widow, herself. Then she describes the present predicament of the townspeople, helpless prey to the Assyrians. She implores God to hear her widow’s prayer (9:4), crediting God with full knowledge of past, present, and future (9:5–6). Judith asks God to see the pride of the enemy, to send fury on their heads, to give her—a widow—a strong hand, to strike down the enemy “by the deceit” of her lips (9:10), and to “crush their arrogance by the hand of a woman” (9:10). In an androcentric setting, there is no greater dishonor for a male than to die at the hand of a female (see Judg 9:53–54; 2 Sam 11:21). She audaciously asks God to make her a good liar - the only such prayer in the Bible. She prays desperately to God to allow her to use "deceitful words" to defeat the Assyrians. It is important here to keep in mind that deceit was a recognized and admired strategy in ancient warfare. She describes the terrible things that have happened to women during war, and says she does not pretend to understand them, but accepts that they are somehow part of God's ultimate design and plan.

She bathes her whole body - a terrible waste of precious water - then perfumes herself, She then attires herself glamorously, dresses her hair with a tiara, and puts on one of the extravagant robes she wore when her husband was alive.

Seduction and murder (Book of Judith 10:1 - 13:20)

Then she decks herself with jewelry - anklets, bracelets, rings, earrings and other assorted pieces.  

When she has finished her prayer When her prayer is finished (Jdt 9:14), she rises from the ground and calls her maid. Together they begin to prepare to carry out the plan.  

After that, she and her maid gather an assortment of ritually pure food and put it all in a large bag. Taking ritually pure foods to eat (10:5),  

She bathes her whole body - a terrible waste of precious water - then perfumes herself, She then attires herself glamorously, Judith dresses beautifully, “to entice the eyes of all the men who might see her” (10:4). dresses her hair with a tiara, and puts on one of the extravagant robes she wore when her husband was alive. Then she decks herself with jewelry - anklets, bracelets, rings, earrings and other assorted pieces.  she grooms herself so that she is alluringly beautiful. After that, she and her maid gather an assortment of ritually pure food and put it all in a large bag. Taking ritually pure foods to eat (10:5),  

Thus prepared, she and her maid go out that night to the camp of the enemy. they made their way through the darkness to the town gate, where Uzziah and the elders are waiting. The town gates are opened, and she and her maid leave, receiving the praise of the people of Bethulia as she leaves through the city gate together with her maid, departs with her slave woman, . heading down the valley towards the Assyrian camp. she travels to the camp of the enemy general Holofernes  

Thus prepared, she and her maid go out that night to the camp of the enemy. they made their way through the darkness to the town gate, where Uzziah and the elders are waiting. The town gates are opened, and she and her maid leave, receiving the praise of the people of Bethulia as she leaves through the city gate together with her maid, departs with her slave woman, then leaves the city during the night., . heading down the valley towards the Assyrian camp. she travels to the camp of the enemy general Holofernes  

3  Judith and Holofernes: Judith meets and bowls over the enemy general, Holofernes. He plans to seduce her, but she turns the tables on him. She waits until he is drunk and sleeping, then she kills him by hacking off his head as he lies in a drunken stupor.

3  Judith and Holofernes:

Almost immediately she and her maid run into an Assyrian patrol, who challenge them. She meets the Assyrian patrol She is immediately arrested by an Assyrian patrol, but convinces them that she has useful information for Holofernes. She tells the soldiers she is fleeing from the townspeople in Bethulia, and will give Holofernes secret information that will help him capture the town without losing a single soldier. and tells her first lie when she says, “I am a daughter of the Hebrews, but I am fleeing from them, for they are about to be handed over to you to be devoured. I am on my way to see Holofernes the commander of your army, to give him a true report” (10:12–13). The soldiers are bowled over by her beauty, She is consequently taken to him, amidst great excitement on account of her unrivaled beauty. (8-10) Her words and beauty greatly excite the soldiers who choose one hundred men from their ranks to assist her to the tent of Holofernes (10:14–17). and enters Holofernes’s camp on the pretext of providing him help to defeat her fellow Jews. and escort her immediately to the tent of Holofernes. The general is resting on his luxurious bed, but he comes to the front of the tent and greets her.  

Almost immediately she and her maid run into an Assyrian patrol, who challenge them. She meets the Assyrian patrol She is immediately arrested by an Assyrian patrol, but convinces them that she has useful information for Holofernes. She tells the soldiers she is fleeing from the townspeople in Bethulia, and will give Holofernes secret information that will help him capture the town without losing a single soldier. and tells her first lie when she says, “I am a daughter of the Hebrews, but I am fleeing from them, for they are about to be handed over to you to be devoured. I am on my way to see Holofernes the commander of your army, to give him a true report” (10:12–13). The soldiers are bowled over by her beauty, She is consequently taken to him, amidst great excitement on account of her unrivaled beauty. (8-10) Her words and beauty greatly excite the soldiers who choose one hundred men from their ranks to assist her to the tent of Holofernes (10:14–17). and enters Holofernes’s camp on the pretext of providing him help to defeat her fellow Jews. and escort her immediately to the tent of Holofernes. The general is resting on his luxurious bed, but he comes to the front of the tent and greets her.  

Both of them then begin telling a sequence of lies - he starts off by saying that she has nothing to fear, since he has never hurt anyone who serves Nebuchadnezzar. and seductively ingratiates herself to him. She responds by saying how much she admires Nebuchadnezzar and Holofernes, and how much she has heard about his wisdom and clever military strategies.

Judith meets and bowls over the enemy general, Holofernes. Both of them then begin telling a sequence of lies - he starts off by saying that she has nothing to fear, since he has never hurt anyone who serves Nebuchadnezzar. and seductively ingratiates herself to him. She responds by saying how much she admires Nebuchadnezzar and Holofernes, and how much she has heard about his wisdom and clever military strategies.

Holofernes assures Judith that she will not be harmed if she is willing to serve his master, Nebuchadnezzar. She prostrates herself before Holofernes, who tells her his first lie, saying he has never hurt anyone who chose to serve Nebuchadnezzar (11:2; conveniently forgetting how he destroyed the shrines and sacred places of seacoast peoples after they had surrendered in 3:1–8). Equal to the encounter, and playful with her use of the address “lord,” which Holofernes hears as deference to him, but Judith means as reference to God, Judith promises to tell him nothing false (11:5). She confirms the report of Achior the Ammonite regarding the Israelites' invincibility. However, she reports that the people of both Bethulia and Jerusalem have been so hard pressed by the siege that they are about to sin egregiously by consuming sacred food items dedicated to God. She explains that this very situation is what prompted her own decision to come over to the Assyrian side, rather than to share in the Israelites' now certain doom. She promises to act as Holofernes' agent to tell him when these sins have been committed, and thus when it is safe for him to attack. She refers to her 'lord'; the reader knows she is speaking about God, while Nebuchadmezzar assumes she is referring to him. She tells him that she will pray each evening, and that God will let her know when it is the right moment to strike. She in turn will give this information to Holofernes. She explains she will go out into the valley and pray to God each night and God will tell her when the Bethulians have sinned by eating sacrifices, so that Holofernes can safely attack Bethulia (11:16–19). Well-pleased, Holofernes praises her beauty and wise speech, pledging, “If: you do as you have said, your God shall be my God, and you shall live in the palace of King Nebuchadnezzar” (11:23; compare Ruth 1:16). Holofernes is mesmerized by her beauty and takes her into his camp and company. Her voluptuousness and wiles attract him, and lust blinds him to her deceit. Beguiled, he tells her that he has never met a woman who is as beautiful in appearance and wise in speech as she is. Holofernes agrees to the plan and marvels at Judith's wisdom, promising her rich rewards. He offers her a sumptuous meal, but she piously declines to eat the non-kosher food. He then tells his servants to set out food for her and let her use his own silver dinnerware. She delicately declines, pointing to the food she has brought, and the reader is thus aware that she is a pious Jew who will not eat ritually unclean food. She has brought her own supplies in a bag, however, and survives on this while she stays in the camp for three days, leaving each night to pray, supposedly for God's revelation as to the propitious time for Assyria to attack.  

Holofernes assures Judith that she will not be harmed if she is willing to serve his master, Nebuchadnezzar. She prostrates herself before Holofernes, who tells her his first lie, saying he has never hurt anyone who chose to serve Nebuchadnezzar (11:2; conveniently forgetting how he destroyed the shrines and sacred places of seacoast peoples after they had surrendered in 3:1–8). Equal to the encounter, and playful with her use of the address “lord,” which Holofernes hears as deference to him, but Judith means as reference to God, Judith promises to tell him nothing false (11:5). She confirms the report of Achior the Ammonite regarding the Israelites' invincibility. However, she reports that the people of both Bethulia and Jerusalem have been so hard pressed by the siege that they are about to sin egregiously by consuming sacred food items dedicated to God. She explains that this very situation is what prompted her own decision to come over to the Assyrian side, rather than to share in the Israelites' now certain doom. She promises to act as Holofernes' agent to tell him when these sins have been committed, and thus when it is safe for him to attack. She refers to her 'lord'; the reader knows she is speaking about God, while Nebuchadmezzar assumes she is referring to him. She tells him that she will pray each evening, and that God will let her know when it is the right moment to strike. She in turn will give this information to Holofernes. She explains she will go out into the valley and pray to God each night and God will tell her when the Bethulians have sinned by eating sacrifices, so that Holofernes can safely attack Bethulia (11:16–19). Well-pleased, Holofernes praises her beauty and wise speech, pledging, “If: you do as you have said, your God shall be my God, and you shall live in the palace of King Nebuchadnezzar” (11:23; compare Ruth 1:16). Holofernes is mesmerized by her beauty and takes her into his camp and company. Her voluptuousness and wiles attract him, and lust blinds him to her deceit. Beguiled, He plans to seduce her, but she turns the tables on him. he tells her that he has never met a woman who is as beautiful in appearance and wise in speech as she is. Holofernes agrees to the plan and marvels at Judith's wisdom, promising her rich rewards. He offers her a sumptuous meal, but she piously declines to eat the non-kosher food. He then tells his servants to set out food for her and let her use his own silver dinnerware. She delicately declines, pointing to the food she has brought, and the reader is thus aware that she is a pious Jew who will not eat ritually unclean food. She has brought her own supplies in a bag, however, and survives on this while she stays in the camp for three days, leaving each night to pray, supposedly for God's revelation as to the propitious time for Assyria to attack.  

After eating, she sleeps until midnight, then, accompanied by a guard, she goes to the nearby spring to wash herself and pray. During each of the three days she is in the camp she stayed in the tent during daylight hours, and ate her own food each evening.  

After eating, she sleeps until midnight, then, accompanied by a guard, she goes to the nearby spring to wash herself and pray. During each of the three days she is in the camp she stayed in the tent during daylight hours, and ate her own food each evening.  

Four uneventful days pass in the enemy camp before On the fourth day, On the fourth day, Holofernes determines that he must have his way sexually with the alluring Judith. Holofernes sends his personal attendant Bagoas to invite Judith to a banquet in his tent (Jdt 12:10–12). Holofernes invites her to an informal banquet in his tent. As he observes to his servant, it would be a disgrace to let her go without seducing her. Judith accepts the invitation She now accepts his offer to eat with him and "become like one of the the daughters of the Assyrians," and dresses in her best finery (12:14–15). She dresses in all her finery and presents herself at his tent, When Judith comes into the tent. Seeing her, Holofernes is ravished, “for he had been waiting for an opportunity to seduce her from the day he first saw her” (12:16). reclining seductively before him at a lavish dinner where her maid has laid Judith's sheepskin bedding on the ground and lies on the sheepskins, in front of Holofernes. He offers her something to drink, but she drinks only the wine given to her by her maid - was it watered down so she could stay sober? Holofernes, on the other hand, gets down to some serious drinking. She drinks and eats what her maid prepares (12:18–19). The overjoyed and lustful Holofernes becomes so aroused that he consumes a huge quantity of wine at dinner in anticipation of possessing Judith. (11-12) Holofernes is besotted. He drinks “much more than he had ever drunk in any one day since he was born” (12:20).

Four uneventful days pass in the enemy camp before On the fourth day, On the fourth day, Holofernes determines that he must have his way sexually with the alluring Judith. Holofernes sends his personal attendant Bagoas to invite Judith to a banquet in his tent (Jdt 12:10–12). Holofernes invites her to an informal banquet in his tent. As he observes to his servant, it would be a disgrace to let her go without seducing her. Judith accepts the invitation She now accepts his offer to eat with him and "become like one of the the daughters of the Assyrians," and dresses in her best finery (12:14–15). She dresses in all her finery and presents herself at his tent, When Judith comes into the tent. Seeing her, Holofernes is ravished, “for he had been waiting for an opportunity to seduce her from the day he first saw her” (12:16). reclining seductively before him at a lavish dinner where her maid has laid Judith's sheepskin bedding on the ground and lies on the sheepskins, in front of Holofernes. He offers her something to drink, but she drinks only the wine given to her by her maid - was it watered down so she could stay sober? Holofernes, on the other hand, gets down to some serious drinking. She drinks and eats what her maid prepares (12:18–19). The overjoyed and lustful Holofernes becomes so aroused that he consumes a huge quantity of wine at dinner in anticipation of possessing Judith. (11-12) Holofernes is besotted. He drinks “much more than he had ever drunk in any one day since he was born” (12:20).

Evening comes and all withdraw from the tent, save Judith and Holofernes who is stretched out, on his bed, dead drunk (13:2). When Holofernes' servants leave Holofernes and Judith alone to have some privacy, he immediately falls asleep in a drunken stupor. Judith’s maid waits outside, as instructed. then taking Holofernes’ own sword, she strikes his neck twice and cuts off his head (13:8). She gives his head to her maid, who puts it in the food bag, and the two women go out of the camp, as was their nightly habit to pray, except this night they return to Bethulia (13:10).

Eventually the servants discreetly withdraw, Evening comes and all withdraw from the tent, save Judith and Holofernes and Judith is left alone in the tent with Holofernes, When Holofernes' servants leave Holofernes and Judith alone to have some privacy, he immediately falls asleep in a drunken stupor. now dead drunk, stretched out on his bed. who is stretched out, on his bed, dead drunk (13:2). Judith’s maid waits outside, as instructed..

Eventually the servants discreetly withdraw, and Judith is left alone in the tent with Holofernes, now dead drunk, stretched out on his bed. Soon, as he lies in a drunken stupor, she decapitates him, The moment has come for Judith to act. But first she prays, asking God to give her strength for what she must do. Judith prays twice for God’s help (13:4–5, 7), Seeing her opportunity, She braces herself, then lifts down Holofernes' gleaming sword, Judith takes Holofernes' sword from where it hangs above his bed. She then prays to God for strength hanging in its sheath from the bedpost, and raises it high above her head. and decapitates her enemy.

Soon, as he lies in a drunken stupor, The moment has come for Judith to act. She waits until he is drunk and sleeping, then taking Holofernes’ own sword, she strikes his neck twice and cuts off his head (13:8). She gives his head to her maid, who puts it in the food bag, and the two women go out of the camp, as was their nightly habit to pray, except this night they return to Bethulia (13:10) But first she prays, asking God to give her strength for what she must do. Judith prays twice for God’s help (13:4–5, 7), Seeing her opportunity, She braces herself, then lifts down Holofernes' gleaming sword, Judith takes Holofernes' sword from where it hangs above his bed. She then prays to God for strength hanging in its sheath from the bedpost, and raises it high above her head. and decapitates her enemy. she decapitates him, then she kills him by hacking off his head as he lies in a drunken stupor. She strikes once with all her strength, and then strikes again. With this, his head falls away from his body. She then rolls the headless body off the bed and pulls down the luxurious bed curtains, bundling them up so they can be carried. Pausing for a moment to gather her strength, she picks up the twitching head and takes it out to her maid, Summoning her maid, they place Holofernes' head in Judith's food bag who places it in the food bag. and make good their escape, a feat made easy by Judith's authorized nightly prayer vigils outside the camp. then takes his head back to her grateful countrymen. Without arousing suspicion, the two of them pass through the camp as they have done on the previous nights, but instead of heading towards the spring they circle up the mountain towards Bethulia.  

She strikes once with all her strength, and then strikes again. With this, his head falls away from his body. She then rolls the headless body off the bed and pulls down the luxurious bed curtains, bundling them up so they can be carried. Pausing for a moment to gather her strength, she picks up the twitching head and takes it out to her maid, who places it in the food bag. 

Once there, Returning to Bethulia, they call to the guards to open the gates and let them in. Inside the safety of the walls The people run to welcome Judith and her maid, Judith pulls out the grisly contents of the bag Judith produces Holofernes' head and shows it to the people, and Judith displays the head of Holofernes, for all to see, to the great joy of the Israelites who are astounded by what she has done. telling how God protected her so that no sin was committed to defile or shame her (13:15–16). The people bless God (13:17), and Uzziah hails her as “blessed by the Most High God above all other women on earth” (13:18). Judith then instructs the people to wait until daybreak and then attack the Assyrians (14:1–4). When Achior the Ammonite is brought to verify that the head belongs to Holofernes, he faints (see Add Esth 15:7), confirms the identity of the head blesses Judith, and is so impressed by God's miraculous work through Judith that he believes firmly in God, and is circumcised (14:6–10) Achior the Ammonite accepts circumcision and becomes a Jew.  

Summoning her maid, they place Holofernes' head in Judith's food bag and make good their escape, a feat made easy by Judith's authorized nightly prayer vigils outside the camp. then takes his head back to her grateful countrymen. Without arousing suspicion, the two of them pass through the camp as they have done on the previous nights, but instead of heading towards the spring they circle up the mountain towards Bethulia.  

Once there, Returning to Bethulia, they call to the guards to open the gates and let them in. Inside the safety of the walls The people run to welcome Judith and her maid, Judith pulls out the grisly contents of the bag Judith produces Holofernes' head and shows it to the people, and Judith displays the head of Holofernes, for all to see, to the great joy of the Israelites who are astounded by what she has done. telling how God protected her so that no sin was committed to defile or shame her (13:15–16). The people bless God (13:17), and Uzziah hails her as “blessed by the Most High God above all other women on earth” (13:18). Judith then instructs the people to wait until daybreak and then attack the Assyrians (14:1–4). When Achior the Ammonite is brought to verify that the head belongs to Holofernes, he faints (see Add Esth 15:7), confirms the identity of the head blesses Judith, and is so impressed by God's miraculous work through Judith that he believes firmly in God, and is circumcised (14:6–10) Achior the Ammonite accepts circumcision and becomes a Jew.

4  A national heroine (Book of Judith 14-16) Aftermath, and the Song of Judith:

4  Aftermath, and the Song of Judith: She and her faithful maid take the head back to Bethulia, and hangs it on the outer walls of the town. When the enemy troops realize they have lost their leader they panic, and are easy prey for the Israelite troops. Judith has saved her people, and is hailed as a national heroine.

She and her faithful maid take the head back to Bethulia,

You would think this was enough for one night, but Judith knows the battle is not won. She tells the people to hang Holofernes' head in full view on the battlements, then she gives them instructions for the next morning. At dawn they are to make a loud noise with their weapons as if they are about to attack. She knows the Assyrians in the valley below will run to alert Holofernes. Of course, they will find only his headless body and this, she hopes, will create a panic among the Assyrian soldiers, who will flee.  

You would think this was enough for one night, but Judith knows the battle is not won. She tells the people to hang Holofernes' head in full view on the battlements, then she gives them instructions for the next morning. At dawn they are to make a loud noise with their weapons as if they are about to attack. She knows the Assyrians in the valley below will run to alert Holofernes. Of course, they will find only his headless body and this, she hopes, will create a panic among the Assyrian soldiers, who will flee.  

This is exactly what happens. The Assyrians, meanwhile, have discovered Judith's treachery and are thrown into disarray. In the ensuring hours the disordered Assyrian army is easy prey for the Israelites, who are familiar with the terrain and wage guerilla warfare on the hapless, leaderless soldiers. Following Judith's advice, the men of Bethulia attack, mustering their fellow Israelites to drive the enemy back even beyond Damascus. The Assyrians are then routed, The Israelites successfully rout the Assyrians and plunder their camp. and Israel is saved.  

This is exactly what happens. and hangs it on the outer walls of the town. The Assyrians, meanwhile, have discovered Judith's treachery and are thrown into disarray. When the enemy troops realize they have lost their leader they panic, and are easy prey for the Israelite troops. In the ensuing hours the disordered Assyrian army is easy prey for the Israelites, who are familiar with the terrain and wage guerilla warfare on the hapless, leaderless soldiers. Following Judith's advice, The Assyrians are then routed, the men of Bethulia attack, mustering their fellow Israelites to drive the enemy back even beyond Damascus. The Israelites successfully rout the Assyrians and plunder their camp. and Israel is saved.  

Judith receives high honors and adulation. Judith becomes a national heroine, lauded by everyone; even Jerusalem's high priest Joakim comes to pay his respects. Joakim, the high priest of Jerusalem, Joakim, the high priest of Jerusalem, arrives to celebrate the victory. comes to Bethulia to pay homage to this extraordinary woman.

Judith receives high honors and adulation. Judith has saved her people, and is hailed as a national heroine. Judith becomes a national heroine, lauded by everyone; even Jerusalem's high priest Joakim comes to pay his respects. Joakim, the high priest of Jerusalem, Joakim, the high priest of Jerusalem, arrives to celebrate the victory. comes to Bethulia to pay homage to this extraordinary woman.

In the final scene of the story, Judith leads a dancing procession of women, singing a hymn of praise to God, towards Jerusalem.  The lavish bed curtains from Holofernes' tent are given as an offering in the Temple. A triumphant procession of the women and the men, with Judith in the lead singing a hymn of praise like that of Miriam and Moses in Exodus 15, makes its way to Jerusalem where all worship God for three months (16:1–20).

In the final scene of the story, Judith leads a dancing procession of women, singing a hymn of praise to God, towards Jerusalem.  The lavish bed curtains from Holofernes' tent are given as an offering in the Temple. A triumphant procession of the women and the men, with Judith in the lead singing a hymn of praise like that of Miriam and Moses in Exodus 15, makes its way to Jerusalem where all worship God for three months (16:1–20).