The Book of Judith


This website is full of information based on the story and understanding of the Book of Judith. There are many external links here, and they will open in external windows, like this one.




Picture courtesy of Google Images.




The story of Judith is that of a young Israelite widow who bravely saved her city from an invading Assyrian force. Her story takes place around the 6th century BC, although the Book of Judith was written at approximately 100 BC.

Nebachudnezzar, the Assyrian king, sent one of his top generals, a man named Holofernes, to attack Israel at the town of Bethulia. The defenders refuse to surrender entrance to the country to Holofernes, and instead of a full on attack, Holofernes decided to beseige the city of Bethulia, which would slowly diminish the food and water supplies of Bethulia.

The Israelites held out for 34 days before their supplies and their morale were running dangerously low. Because no major plan had been carried out, a woman living there, Judith, whose name is equivalent to "Jewess", decided to take matters into her own hands. So, with God's help, she formulated a plot.

After praying for God's assisstance, she dressed up in her finest clothes and stole into the Assyrian camp under the cover of night. Holofernes was enchanted by her beauty, and after tiring of admiring Judith, he fell into a drunken stupor.

Seeing an opportunity, Judith decapitated Holofernes and returned back to Bethulia to present to head to the leaders. Upon finding their mutilated leader, the Assyrian army fell into disarray and the Israelites drove them out with a determined offensive movement. And thus, the threat of invasion was once again quelled.

The story climaxes with Judith praying a long song of worship to God. The prayer, which occupies Chapter 16 of the Book of Judith, can be read here or here.



Quote from Judith

"A new hymn I will sing to my God. O Lord, great are you and glorious, wonderful in power and unsurpassable. Let your every creature serve you; for you spoke, and they were made, You sent forth your spirit, and they were created; no one can resist your word." (Judith 16:13-16:14)



Judith is a great example of an unlikely hero for a few reasons:

  1. She is a woman.

    2. Woman of her time period were held in a very low regard. They were expected to bide their time in the household and do the bulk of the chores.

  2. Her town was badly outnumbered and in dire staits.

    3. The invading Assyrian army had almost 10 times the numbers an average village would have.



REVIEW

1. What does Judith's name translate to?
2. What is the name of Judith's town?
3. Who is the Assyrian general that is killed by Judith?
4. How does Judith kill the Assyrian general?
5. Who is the Assyrian king who sends his general to attack the Israelites?

Answers




I. Peril of the Jews (Judith 1:1-7:32)
II. Deliverance of the Jews (Judith 8:1-14:10)
III. 3. Victory (Judith 14:11-16:25)



1