Judith

Lore & Background

The story revolves around Judith, a daring and beautiful widow, who is upset with her Judean countrymen for not trusting God to deliver them from their foreign conquerors. She goes with her loyal maid to the camp of the Assyrian general, Holofernes, with whom she slowly ingratiates herself, promising him information on the people of Israel. Gaining his trust, she is allowed access to his tent one night as he lies in a drunken stupor. She decapitates him, then takes his head back to her fearful countrymen. The Assyrians, having lost their leader, disperse, and Israel is saved. Though she is courted by many, Judith remains unmarried for the rest of her life.

In Their Own Story

The Book of Judith can be split into two parts or "acts" of approximately equal length. Chapters 1–7 describe the rise of the threat to Israel, led by king Nebuchadnezzar and his general Holofernes, and is concluded as Holofernes' worldwide campaign has converged at the mountain pass where Judith's village, Bethulia, is located. Chapters 8–16 then introduce Judith and depict her heroic actions to save her people. The first part, although at times tedious in its description of the military developments, develops important themes by alternating battles with reflections and rousing action with rest. In contrast, the second half is devoted mainly to Judith's strength of character and the beheading scene.

Reader's Guide

Real Name: Judith Title/Rank: Jewish widow Family Affiliation: Unrecorded in source Key Traits: Daring, beautiful, uses charm and beauty to gain trust Arc Summary: Judith, a widow, is upset with her countrymen for not trusting God. She goes with her maid to the camp of Assyrian general Holofernes, ingratiates herself, and promises information. One night, when Holofernes is in a drunken stupor, she decapitates him and takes his head back to Bethulia. The Assyrians disperse, and Israel is saved. Judith remains unmarried for the rest of her life.

Did You Know?

• The name Judith means "praised" or "Jewess" and is the feminine form of Judah.
• The Book of Judith is excluded from the Hebrew canon and assigned by Protestants to the apocrypha.
• Jerome's Latin Vulgate translation of Judith was based on an Aramaic manuscript that has long since been lost.
• The Jewish Encyclopedia identifies Shechem (modern day Nablus) as "Bethulia".
• It became customary for a Hebrew midrashic variant of the Judith story to be read on the Shabbat of Hanukkah.