*This page was migrated in July 2022 from my older website, biblicalambiguities.net.
23 July 2022
Judith is a book found in Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Bibles, but not in the Hebrew Bible or Protestant Old Testament -- it is a deuterocanonical work.
It becomes obvious from the first verse that the book is not historical:
In the twelfth year [i.e. 593] of the reign of Nebuchodonosor [Nebuchadnezzar II, 605-562] who reigned in Nineve, [which had already been destroyed in 612], the great city; in the days of Arphaxad [unknown to history], which reigned over the Medes in Ecbatane ...
The narrator confuses Nebuchadnezzar, a Babylonian, and makes him the head of the Assyrian Empire, which was gone by four years before Nebuchadnezzar ascended to the throne. The historical confusions continue from there.
Most scholars place the book's writing around the time of the Maccabees, although some have it written as early as 300 BCE or as late as some short time after 63 BCE.[1]
Nebuchadnezzar, "king of Assyria", makes war against "Arphaxad, which reigned over the Medes in Ecbatane".[2] Nebuchadnezzar razes Ecbatana (Judith 1).
Nebuchadnezzar summons his head general Holofernes,[3] and and initiates a conquest of "the whole earth." Fear of him falls upon the Levant (Judith 2).
The peoples of the Levant surrender to Nebuchadnezzar, and he occupies the area, stationing garrisons and destroying the locals shrines in part of his bid to be the only god worshipped (Judith 3).[4] The Israelites, however, prepare for battle. They have only recently returned from the exile,[5] and are concerned for their temple (Judith 4).
Holofernes hears that the Israelites have taken up defensive postures, and meets with local Canaanites to learn what he can about that. Achior, the Ammonite leader, gives him a version of Israel's history that sounds like a pious Israelite speaking -- their fortunes depend on their god, and Assyria will only defeat them if they have committed some sin against their god. Otherwise, Assyria has no chance (Judith 5). Holofernes is displeased and has messengers drop Achior off at the edge of Israelite territory, telling Achior that the Assyrian armies will kill him when they invade Judea. Achior is received warmly by the Israelites at Bethulia, who are pleased to hear what he said to Holofernes (Judith 6). The next day Holofernes sets out against Bethulia, and soon begins a siege, cutting off its water supply and reducing the population to a desperate state. The people press for surrender, but the town's leader Uzziah urges a little patience -- five days more, and if God does not rescue his people, then they will surrender (Judith 7).
It is now that we are introduced to Judith, a wealthy and reputable widow. She finds any thought of surrender unacceptable, and announces that she has a secret plan to save her people (Judith 8). Judith gives a long prayer, asking God to help her be deceitful (Judith 9). Judith then dresses up as sexy as she can, and wanders off into the countryside, where she is quickly captured by Assyrians. She announces that she is defecting and wishes to tell Holofernes how to conquer Judea. She is escorted down to Holofernes by the admiring Assyrians, and reaches him as he rests on his splendid bed (Judith 10). Interestingly, Judith suggests to Holofernes that Achior's speech is true, but says she can help him know when the people of Bethulia transgress their laws, enabling an invasion. Holofernes is pleased (Judith 11).
Judith manages to maintain kashrut and ritual purity despite staying as a guest of Holofernes. Four days into her visit, Holofernes decides to make a move, and has her come to his tent and drink with him. He drinks more than he ever has (Judith 12). As night falls, the attendant leaves and Judith finds herself alone with a very drunk Holofernes. After a quick prayer, she chops off his head. She returns to Bethulia with it, and shows the people, who rejoice (Judith 13). The next day, the Israelites muster their troops as if to go down against the Assyrians. The Assyrians, naturally, rush to get their army together, and when the run to get Holofernes, find him dead (Judith 14). The Israelites defeat and plunder the fleeing Assyrians, and then dance in celebration (Judith 15).
The book ends as Judith sings a song about the recent events, and then lives honorably ever after (Judith 16).
Deborah Levine Gera (2014). Judith.
This page is released under the CC0 1.0 license.