Introduction
A NOTE ON THIS RENDERING
THE WITNESS — A BOOK RESTORED, NOT CHOSEN
Yehudit is set from the SEPTUAGINT in the public-domain English of Sir Lancelot Brenton (1851), Hebraized in the House manner. But it belongs to a different case than Ezra, Nechemyah, and Ester, whose Hebrew survives and where the House CHOSE the Greek witness. YEHUDIT’S HEBREW IS LOST. The book was almost certainly composed in Hebrew — it is thick with Hebrew names, Hebrew idiom, and the very cadences of the Shofetim (Judges) — but no Hebrew original survives; the Greek is the only witness there is. So this is the Toviyah case (#63): a book originally Hebrew, restored from the Greek that alone carried it. We restore what was translated; we do not invent what was not.
A PARABLE, NOT A CHRONICLE
The book announces at once that it is not history: it makes NEVUCHADNETZAR — the Bavel-king who burned the first Temple — into a king “of the Ashurim, reigning in Nineveh,” and sets him against a Median king unknown to history, while the Yehudim are “newly returned from the captivity” (4:3). Bavel, Ashur, Paras, and the exile are folded into one deliberate impossibility. The House prints it as the theological NOVELLA it is — a parable of deliverance whose power is not in its dates but in its truth — and does not “correct” the history into place. It is read as one reads the parables of the Master: for what it means, not for when it happened. Rule X.4.
THE HAND OF A WOMAN
The refrain of the book is that Elohim “breaks down the stateliness BY THE HAND OF A WOMAN” (9:10; 13:15; 16:6). Yehudit stands in the line of the women through whom Elohim overthrew the enemies of His am: MIRIAM at the sea, DEVORAH who sang, and above all YAEL, who drove the tent-peg through the head of Sisera while he slept (Shofetim 4–5) — for Yehudit, too, takes the sleeping tyrant’s head. And behind them all stands the first word of the Besorah in Bereshit 3:15: the SEED OF THE WOMAN who crushes the head of the serpent. Yehudit cutting off the head of the enemy of Elohim’s am with his own sword (13:6–8) is a shadow of David over Golyat, and a shadow of the promised One who bruises the serpent’s head.
BLESSED ART THOU ABOVE ALL WOMEN
When Yehudit returns with the head, Uzziyah cries, “O daughter, BLESSED ART THOU OF THE MOST HIGH ELOHIM ABOVE ALL THE WOMEN UPON THE EARTH” (13:18). In the fullness of time the same greeting fell upon another daughter of Yehudah: “Blessed art thou among women” (Luke 1:42), said of MIRIAM the mother of the Messiah. The deliverer-woman of Bethulia is a type of the woman through whom the true Deliverer came — and Yehudit’s song, that Elohim casts down the mighty and lifts the oppressed (16:5–7), is the very key of Miriam’s own song, the Magnificat: “He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree” (Luke 1:52).
THE ELOHIM OF THE LOWLY
The theological heart is Yehudit’s prayer in chapter 9: “Thy power standeth not in multitude, nor Thy might in strong men; for THOU ART A ELOHIM OF THE AFFLICTED, AN HELPER OF THE OPPRESSED, an upholder of the weak, a protector of the forlorn, a saviour of them that are without hope” (9:11). It is the same Elohim who chose the younger, the barren, the shepherd-boy, the widow — who “hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty” (1 Korintim 1:27). The whole book is that verse told as a story.
YEHUDIT REBUKES THE ELDERS
Before she acts, Yehudit rebukes the elders of Bethulia for setting Elohim a five-day deadline (8:11–17): “Who are ye that have tempted Elohim this yom, and stand instead of Elohim among the children of men? … for ELOHIM IS NOT AS MAN, THAT HE MAY BE THREATENED.” It is one of the great speeches of faith in the Scriptures — that deliverance is not owed on our timetable, and that testing Elohim by ultimatum is itself the sin. She trusts before she is delivered.
YEHUDIT KEEPS KOSHER
Like the Ester of the Greek, Yehudit is a keeper of the covenant in the enemy’s house. She brings her own food into the camp and will not eat Holofernes’ meat “lest there be an offence” (12:2), goes out nightly to pray and to wash, and keeps her separation even at his table. The faithfulness that marks the exile — clean food, prayer, the fear of Elohim — is the quiet spine beneath the drama.
ACHIOR THE AMMONITE GRAFTED IN
A second conversion frames the deliverance: ACHIOR the Ammonite, who told Holofernes the true history of Yisra’el and warned that their Elohim would defend them if they had not sinned (chapter 5), is cast out to Bethulia — and when he sees the head of Holofernes and all that Elohim had done, he “believed in Elohim greatly, and circumcised the flesh of his foreskin, and was joined unto the house of Yisra’el unto this yom” (14:10). A ger grafted in, in the line of Rachav and Rut and the men of Nineveh — the nations drawn to the Elohim of Yisra’el.
THE SONG
The book closes, as the Torah’s deliverances close, in a SONG (chapter 16) — sister to the Song of the Sea (Shemot 15) and the Song of Devorah (Shofetim 5). It sings that Ashur came with ten thousands “but the Almighty Lord hath disappointed them by the hand of a woman” (16:6), that “HE THAT FEARETH YAHUAH IS GREAT AT ALL TIMES” (16:16), and it lifts its eyes to the YOM OF JUDGMENT when Yahuah will requite the nations that rise against His kindred (16:17). Then Yehudit frees her maid, never remarries, and dies at a hundred and five — and “there was none that made the children of Yisra’el any more afraid in her yamim” (16:25): the rest that every deliverer’s victory foreshadows.
THE HARD EDGE
This is a book of deliverance won by deception and by a blade. Yehudit flatters the tyrant with words of double meaning, lets him believe what is not true, gets him drunk, and takes his head. The House prints it as it stands and does not soften it; the text is careful to record that Holofernes “hath not committed sin with me, to defile and shame me” (13:16), and that the deliverance is Yahuah’s, wrought “by the hand of a woman.” It is a hard edge, of the same order as Yael’s peg and Ehud’s dagger; it is set down, not explained away. Rule X.4.
THE TONGUE
Brenton’s Greek forms are set in the House manner — YEHUDIT, HOLOFERNES, NEVUCHADNETZAR, UZZIYAH, YOYAKIM, ACHIOR, BETHULIA — and the load-bearing Hebrew terms (Kohen Gadol, Mikdash, Mizbeach, Heichal, Shabbat, ger, nefesh, brit) restored to their own dress. The Name YAHUAH stands for Brenton’s “Lord” (the Greek Kyrios) and ELOHIM for “God.” Counts that SIGNIFY are Hebraised (sheva, shalosh); the army-numbers, the cubits, the hundred and twenty yamim are left as they measure. “The Almighty” and “the mighty one” are left in plain English, pending the House’s ruling on that title.
RULE X.4
The text is rendered as it stands. Its glorious impossibilities of history are preserved, not mended; its hard edge of deception and the sword is set down, not softened; its Greek is restored to the Hebrew dress it once wore and lost. Interpretation — the hand of the woman, the type of Miriam, the Elohim of the lowly — belongs to this note and to the introductions; it is never smuggled into the verse.
Chapter 1
1
In the twelfth shanah of the reign of NEVUCHADNETZAR, WHO REIGNED IN NINEVEH (נִינְוֵה, Nineveh) the great city, in the days of Arpachshad, which reigned over the Madai in Ecbatana,
2
and built in Ecbatana walls round about, of stones hewn three cubits broad and six cubits long, and made the height of the wall seventy cubits, and the breadth thereof fifty cubits;
3
and set the towers thereof upon the gates of it, an hundred cubits high, and the breadth thereof in the foundation threescore cubits;
4
and he made the gates thereof, even gates that were raised to the height of seventy cubits, and the breadth of them was forty cubits, for the going forth of his mighty armies, and for the setting in array of his footmen —
5
even in those yamim king Nevuchadnetzar made war with king Arpachshad in the great plain, which is the plain in the borders of Ragau.
6
And there came unto him all they that dwelt in the hill country, and all that dwelt by Euphrates, and Tigris, and Hydaspes, and the plain of Arioch the king of the Elymeans; and very many nations of the sons of Chelod assembled themselves to the battle.
7
Then Nevuchadnetzar king of the ASHURIM (אַשּׁוּר, Assyria) sent unto all that dwelt in Paras, and to all that dwelt westward, and to those that dwelt in Cilicia, and Damascus, and Levanon, and Antilevanon, and to all that dwelt upon the sea coast,
8
and to those among the nations that were of Karmel, and Gil'ad, and the higher Galil, and the great plain of Yizre'el,
9
and to all that were in Shomron and the cities thereof, and beyond Yarden unto Yerushalayim, and Betane, and Chelus, and Kadesh, and the river of Mitzrayim, and Tachpanches, and Ramesse, and all the land of Goshen,
10
until thou come beyond Tanis and Memphis, and to all the inhabitants of Mitzrayim, until thou come to the borders of Kush.
11
BUT ALL THE INHABITANTS OF THE LAND MADE LIGHT OF THE COMMANDMENT of Nevuchadnetzar king of the Ashurim, neither went they with him to the battle; for they were not afraid of him; yea, he was before them as one man; and they sent away his ambassadors from them without effect, and with disgrace.
12
Therefore Nevuchadnetzar was very angry with all this country, and sware by his throne and kingdom that he would surely be avenged upon all those coasts of Cilicia, and Damascus, and Syria, and that he would slay with the sword all the inhabitants of the land of Mo'av, and the children of Ammon, and all Yehudah, and all that were in Mitzrayim, till thou come to the borders of the two seas.
13
Then he marched in battle array with his power against king Arpachshad in the seventeenth shanah, and he prevailed in his battle; for he overthrew all the power of Arpachshad, and all his horsemen, and all his chariots,
14
and became lord of his cities, and came unto Ecbatana, and took the towers, and spoiled the streets thereof, and turned the beauty thereof into shame.
15
He took also Arpachshad in the mountains of Ragau, and smote him through with his darts, and destroyed him utterly that yom.
16
So he returned afterward to Nineveh, both he and all his company of sundry nations, being a very great multitude of men of war; and there he took his ease, and banqueted, both he and his army, an hundred and twenty yamim.
Chapter 2
1
And in the eighteenth shanah, the two and twentieth yom of the first chodesh, there was talk in the house of Nevuchadnetzar king of the Ashurim that he should, as he said, avenge himself on all the earth.
2
So he called unto him all his officers, and all his nobles, and communicated with them his secret counsel, and concluded the afflicting of the whole earth out of his own mouth.
3
Then they decreed to destroy all flesh that did not obey the commandment of his mouth.
4
And when he had ended his counsel, Nevuchadnetzar king of the Ashurim called HOLOFERNES (הוֹלוֹפֶרְנֵס, Holophernes) the chief captain of his army, which was next unto him, and said unto him,
5
"Thus saith the great king, THE LORD OF THE WHOLE EARTH: Behold, thou shalt go forth from my presence, and take with thee men that trust in their own strength, of footmen an hundred and twenty thousand, and the number of horses with their riders twelve thousand.
6
And thou shalt go against all the west country, because they disobeyed my commandment.
7
And thou shalt declare unto them that they prepare for me earth and water; for I will go forth in my wrath against them, and will cover the whole face of the earth with the feet of my army, and I will give them for a spoil unto them.
8
So that their slain shall fill their valleys and brooks, and the river shall be filled with their dead, till it overflow.
9
And I will lead them captives to the utmost parts of all the earth.
10
Thou therefore shalt go forth, and take beforehand for me all their coasts; and if they will yield themselves unto thee, thou shalt reserve them for me till the yom of their punishment.
11
But concerning them that rebel, LET NOT THINE EYE SPARE THEM; but put them to the slaughter, and spoil them wheresoever thou goest.
12
For as I live, and by the power of my kingdom, whatsoever I have spoken, that will I do BY MINE HAND.
13
And take thou heed that thou transgress none of the commandments of thy lord, but accomplish them fully, as I have commanded thee, and defer not to do them."
14
Then Holofernes went forth from the presence of his lord, and called all the governors and captains, and the officers of the army of ASHUR;
15
and he mustered the chosen men for the battle, as his lord had commanded him, unto an hundred and twenty thousand, and twelve thousand archers on horseback;
16
and he ranged them as a great army is ordered for the war.
17
And he took camels and asses for their carriages, a very great number; and sheep and oxen and goats without number for their provision;
18
and plenty of victual for every man of the army, and very much gold and silver out of the king's house.
19
Then he went forth, and all his power, to go before king Nevuchadnetzar in the voyage, and to cover all the face of the earth westward with their chariots, and horsemen, and their chosen footmen.
20
A great number also of sundry countries came with them like locusts, and like the sand of the earth; for the multitude was without number.
21
And they went forth of Nineveh shalosh yamim' journey toward the plain of Bectileth, and pitched from Bectileth near the mountain which is at the left hand of the upper Cilicia.
22
Then he took all his army, his footmen, and horsemen, and chariots, and went from thence into the hill country,
23
and destroyed Phud and Lud, and spoiled all the children of Rasses, and the children of Yisra'el which were toward the wilderness at the south of the land of the Chellians.
24
Then he went over Euphrates, and went through Mesopotamia, and destroyed all the high cities that were upon the river Arbonai, till thou come to the sea.
25
And he took the borders of Cilicia, and killed all that resisted him, and came to the borders of Yefet, which were toward the south, over against Arabia.
26
He compassed also all the children of Midyan, and burned up their tabernacles, and spoiled their sheepcotes.
27
Then he went down into the plain of Damascus in the time of wheat harvest, and burnt up all their fields, and destroyed their flocks and herds; also he spoiled their cities, and utterly wasted their countries, and smote all their young men with the edge of the sword.
28
Therefore the fear and dread of him fell upon all the inhabitants of the sea coasts, which were in Tzidon and Tzor, and them that dwelt in Sur and Ocina, and all that dwelt in Yamnia; and they that dwelt in Ashdod and Ashkelon feared him greatly.
Chapter 3
1
So they sent ambassadors unto him to treat of peace, saying,
2
"Behold, we the servants of Nevuchadnetzar the great king lie before thee; use us as shall be good in thy sight.
3
Behold, our houses, and all our places, and all our fields of wheat, and flocks, and herds, and all the lodges of our tents lie before thy face; use them as it pleaseth thee.
4
Behold, even our cities and the inhabitants thereof are thy servants; come and deal with them as seemeth good unto thee."
5
So the men came to Holofernes, and declared unto him after this manner.
6
Then came he down toward the sea coast, both he and his army, and set garrisons in the high cities, and took out of them chosen men for aid.
7
So they and all the country round about received them with garlands, with dances, and with timbrels.
8
Yet he did cast down their frontiers, and cut down their grovest for he had decreed TO DESTROY ALL THE GODS OF THE LAND, THAT ALL NATIONS SHOULD WORSHIP NEVUCHADNETZAR ONLY, and that all tongues and tribes should call upon him as a god.
9
Also he came over against Yizre'el near unto Yehudah, over against the great strait of Yehudah.
10
And he pitched between Geba and Scythopolis, and there he tarried a whole chodesh, that he might gather together all the carriages of his army.
Chapter 4
1
Now the children of Yisra'el, that dwelt in Yehudah, heard all that Holofernes the chief captain of Nevuchadnetzar king of the Ashurim had done to the nations, and after what manner he had spoiled all their temples, and brought them to nought.
2
Therefore they were exceedingly afraid of him, and were troubled for Yerushalayim, and for the Heichal of Yahuah their Elohim.
3
For they were newly returned from the captivity, and all the am of Yehudah were lately gathered together; and the vessels, and the mizbeach, and the house, were sanctified after the profanation.
4
Therefore they sent into all the coasts of Shomron, and the villages, and to Beit-Choron, and Belmen, and Yericho, and to Choba, and Esora, and to the valley of Salem;
5
and possessed themselves beforehand of all the tops of the high mountains, and fortified the villages that were in them, and laid up food for the provision of war; for their fields were of late reaped.
6
Also YOYAKIM the KOHEN GADOL, which was in those yamim in Yerushalayim, wrote to them that dwelt in BETHULIA (בֵּית עֲלִיָּה, house of ascent), and Betomestham, which is over against Yizre'el toward the open country, near to Dotan,
7
charging them to keep the passages of the hill country; FOR BY THEM THERE WAS AN ENTRANCE INTO YEHUDAH, and it was easy to stop them that would come up, because the passage was strait, for two men at the most.
8
And the children of Yisra'el did as Yoyakim the Kohen Gadol had commanded them, with the elders of all the am of Yisra'el, which dwelt at Yerushalayim.
9
Then every man of Yisra'el CRIED TO ELOHIM with great fervency, and with great vehemency did they humble their nefashot;
10
both they, and their wives, and their children, and their cattle, and every ger and hireling, and their servants bought with money, put sackcloth upon their loins.
11
Thus every man and woman, and the little children, and the inhabitants of Yerushalayim, fell before the Heichal, and cast ashes upon their heads, and spread out their sackcloth before the face of Yahuah; also they put sackcloth about the mizbeach,
12
and CRIED TO THE ELOHIM OF YISRA'EL all with one consent earnestly, that He would not give their children for a prey, and their wives for a spoil, and the cities of their inheritance to destruction, and the Mikdash to profanation and reproach, and for the nations to rejoice at.
13
SO ELOHIM HEARD THEIR PRAYERS, AND LOOKED UPON THEIR AFFLICTIONS; for the am fasted many yamim in all Yehudah and Yerushalayim before the Mikdash of Yahuah Almighty.
14
And Yoyakim the Kohen Gadol, and all the Kohanim that stood before Yahuah, and they which ministered unto Yahuah, had their loins girded with sackcloth, and offered the daily burnt offerings, with the vows and free gifts of the am,
15
and had ashes on their mitres, and cried unto Yahuah with all their power, that He would look upon all the house of Yisra'el graciously.
Chapter 5
1
Then was it declared to Holofernes, the chief captain of the army of Ashur, that the children of Yisra'el had prepared for war, and had shut up the passages of the hill country, and had fortified all the tops of the high hills, and had laid impediments in the champaign countries.
2
Wherewith he was very angry, and called all the princes of Mo'av, and the captains of Ammon, and all the governors of the sea coast,
3
and he said unto them, "Tell me now, ye sons of Kena'an, who this am is that dwelleth in the hill country, and what are the cities that they inhabit, and what is the multitude of their army, and wherein is their power and strength, and what king is set over them, or captain of their army;
4
and why have they determined not to come and meet me, more than all the inhabitants of the west?"
5
Then said ACHIOR, the captain of all the sons of Ammon, "Let my lord now hear a word from the mouth of thy servant, and I will declare unto thee the truth concerning this am, which dwelleth near thee, and inhabiteth the hill countries; and there shall no lie come out of the mouth of thy servant.
6
This am are descended of the Kasdim,
7
and they sojourned heretofore in Mesopotamia, because they would not follow the gods of their fathers, which were in the land of the Kasdim.
8
For they left the way of their ancestors, AND WORSHIPPED THE ELOHIM OF SHAMAYIM, the Elohim whom they knew; so they cast them out from the face of their gods, and they fled into Mesopotamia, and sojourned there many yamim.
9
Then their Elohim commanded them to depart from the place where they sojourned, and to go into the land of Kena'an; where they dwelt, and were increased with gold and silver, and with very much cattle.
10
But when a famine covered all the land of Kena'an, they went down into Mitzrayim, and sojourned there while they were nourished, and became there a great multitude, so that one could not number their nation.
11
Therefore the king of Mitzrayim rose up against them, and dealt subtilly with them, and brought them low with labouring in brick, and made them slaves.
12
Then they cried unto their Elohim, and He smote all the land of Mitzrayim with incurable plagues; so the Mitzrim cast them out of their sight.
13
And ELOHIM DRIED THE RED SEA BEFORE THEM,
14
and brought them to mount Sinai, and Kadesh-Barnea, and cast forth all that dwelt in the wilderness.
15
So they dwelt in the land of the Emori, and they destroyed by their strength all them of Cheshbon, and passing over Yarden they possessed all the hill country.
16
And they cast forth before them the Kena'ani, the Perizzi, the Yevusi, and the Shechemite, and all the Girgashi, and they dwelt in that country many yamim.
17
And WHILE THEY SINNED NOT BEFORE THEIR ELOHIM THEY PROSPERED, because the Elohim that hateth iniquity was with them.
18
But when they departed from the way which He appointed them, they were destroyed in many battles very sore, and were led captives into a land that was not theirs, and the Heichal of their Elohim was cast to the ground, and their cities were taken by the enemies.
19
But now are they returned to their Elohim, and are come up from the places where they were scattered, and have possessed Yerushalayim, where their Mikdash is, and are seated in the hill country; for it was desolate.
20
Now therefore, my lord and governor, IF THERE BE ANY ERROR AGAINST THIS AM, and they sin against their Elohim, let us consider that this shall be their ruin, and let us go up, and we shall overcome them.
21
But IF THERE BE NO INIQUITY IN THEIR NATION, let my lord now pass by, lest their Lord defend them, and their Elohim be for them, and we become a reproach before all the world."
22
And when Achior had finished these sayings, all the am standing round about the tent murmured; and the chief men of Holofernes, and all that dwelt by the sea side, and in Mo'av, spake that he should kill him.
23
"For," say they, "we will not be afraid of the face of the children of Yisra'el; for, lo, it is an am that have no strength nor power for a strong battle.
24
Now therefore, lord Holofernes, we will go up, and they shall be a prey to be devoured of all thine army."
Chapter 6
1
And when the tumult of men that were about the council was ceased, Holofernes the chief captain of the army of Ashur said unto Achior and all the Mo'avites before all the company of other nations,
2
"And who art thou, Achior, and the hirelings of Efrayim, that thou hast prophesied against us as to day, and hast said that we should not make war with the am of Yisra'el, because their Elohim will defend them? AND WHO IS ELOHIM BUT NEVUCHADNETZAR?
3
He will send his power, and will destroy them from the face of the earth, and their Elohim shall not deliver them; but we his servants will destroy them as one man; for they are not able to sustain the power of our horses.
4
For with them we will tread them under foot, and their mountains shall be drunken with their blood, and their fields shall be filled with their dead bodies, and their footsteps shall not be able to stand before us, for they shall utterly perish, saith king Nevuchadnetzar, lord of all the earth; for he said, None of my words shall be in vain.
5
And thou, Achior, an hireling of Ammon, which hast spoken these words in the yom of thine iniquity, shalt see my face no more from this yom, until I take vengeance of this nation that came out of Mitzrayim.
6
And then shall the sword of mine army, and the multitude of them that serve me, pass through thy sides, and thou shalt fall among their slain, when I return.
7
Now therefore my servants shall bring thee back into the hill country, and shall set thee in one of the cities of the passages;
8
and thou shalt not perish, till thou be destroyed with them.
9
And if thou persuade thyself in thy mind that they shall not be taken, let not thy countenance fall; I have spoken it, and none of my words shall be in vain."
10
Then Holofernes commanded his servants that waited in his tent to take Achior, and bring him to Bethulia, and deliver him into the hands of the children of Yisra'el.
11
So his servants took him, and brought him out of the camp into the plain, and they went from the midst of the plain into the hill country, and came unto the fountains that were under Bethulia.
12
And when the men of the city saw them, they took up their weapons, and went out of the city to the top of the hill; and every man that used a sling kept them from coming up, by casting of stones against them.
13
Nevertheless, having gotten privily under the hill, they bound Achior, and cast him down, and left him at the foot of the hill, and returned to their lord.
14
But the Yisra'elites descended from their city, and came unto him, and loosed him, and brought him to Bethulia, and presented him to the governors of the city,
15
which were in those yamim UZZIYAH the son of Micha, of the tribe of Shim'on, and Chavris the son of Gothoniel, and Charmis the son of Melchiel.
16
And they called together all the elders of the city, and all their youth ran together, and their women, to the assembly; and they set Achior in the midst of all their am. Then Uzziyah asked him of that which was done.
17
And he answered and declared unto them the words of the council of Holofernes, and all the words that he had spoken in the midst of the princes of Ashur, and whatsoever Holofernes had spoken proudly against the house of Yisra'el.
18
Then the am fell down and worshipped Elohim, and cried unto Elohim, saying,
19
"O Yahuah Elohim of shamayim, behold their pride, and pity the low estate of our nation, and look upon the face of those that are sanctified unto Thee this yom."
20
Then they comforted Achior, and praised him greatly.
21
And Uzziyah took him out of the assembly unto his house, and made a feast to the elders; and they called on the Elohim of Yisra'el all that lailah for help.
Chapter 7
1
The next yom Holofernes commanded all his army, and all his am which were come to take his part, that they should remove their camp against Bethulia, to take beforehand the ascents of the hill country, and to make war against the children of Yisra'el.
2
Then their strong men removed their camps in that yom; and the army of the men of war was an hundred and seventy thousand footmen, and twelve thousand horsemen, beside the baggage, and other men that were afoot among them, a very great multitude.
3
And they camped in the valley near unto Bethulia, by the fountain, and they spread themselves in breadth over Dotan even to Belmaim, and in length from Bethulia unto Cynamon, which is over against Yizre'el.
4
Now the children of Yisra'el, when they saw the multitude of them, were greatly troubled, and said every one to his neighbour, "Now will these men lick up the face of the earth; for neither the high mountains, nor the valleys, nor the hills, are able to bear their weight."
5
Then every man took up his weapons of war, and when they had kindled fires upon their towers, they remained and watched all that lailah.
6
But in the second yom Holofernes brought forth all his horsemen in the sight of the children of Yisra'el which were in Bethulia,
7
and viewed the passages up to the city, and came to the fountains of their waters, and took them, and set garrisons of men of war over them, and he himself removed toward his am.
8
Then came unto him all the chief of the children of Esav, and all the governors of the am of Mo'av, and the captains of the sea coast, and said,
9
"Let our lord now hear a word, that there be not an overthrow in thine army.
10
For this am of the children of Yisra'el do not trust in their spears, but in the height of the mountains wherein they dwell, because it is not easy to come up to the tops of their mountains.
11
Now therefore, my lord, fight not against them in battle array, and there shall not so much as one man of thy am perish.
12
Remain in thy camp, and keep all the men of thine army, and let thy servants get into their hands THE FOUNTAIN OF WATER, which issueth forth of the foot of the mountain;
13
for all the inhabitants of Bethulia have their water thence; SO SHALL THIRST KILL THEM, and they shall give up their city; and we and our am shall go up to the tops of the mountains that are near, and will camp upon them, to watch that none go out of the city.
14
So they and their wives and their children shall be consumed with famine, and before the sword come against them, they shall be overthrown in the streets where they dwell."
15
And these words pleased Holofernes and all his servants; and he appointed to do as they had spoken.
16
So the camp of the children of Ammon departed, and with them five thousand of the Ashurim, and they pitched in the valley, and took the waters, and the fountains of the waters of the children of Yisra'el.
17
Then the children of Esav went up with the children of Ammon, and camped in the hill country over against Dotan; and they sent some of them toward the south, and toward the east, over against Ekrebel, which is near unto Chusi, that is upon the brook Mochmur; and the rest of the army of the Ashurim camped in the plain, and covered the face of the whole land; and their tents and carriages were pitched to a very great multitude.
18
Then the children of Yisra'el cried unto Yahuah their Elohim, because their heart failed, for all their enemies had compassed them round about, and there was no way to escape out from among them.
19
Thus all the company of Ashur remained about them, both their footmen, chariots, and horsemen, four and thirty yamim, so that all their vessels of water failed all the inhabitants of Bethulia.
20
And the cisterns were emptied, and they had not water to drink their fill for one yom; for they gave them drink by measure.
21
Therefore their young children were out of heart, and their women and young men fainted for thirst, and fell down in the streets of the city, and by the passages of the gates, and there was no longer any strength in them.
22
Then all the am assembled to Uzziyah, and to the chief of the city, both young men, and women, and children, and cried with a loud voice, and said before all the elders,
23
"ELOHIM BE JUDGE BETWEEN US AND YOU; for ye have done us great injury, in that ye have not required peace of the children of Ashur.
24
For now we have no helper; but Elohim hath sold us into their hands, that we should be thrown down before them with thirst and great destruction.
25
Now therefore call them unto you, and deliver the whole city for a spoil to the am of Holofernes, and to all his army.
26
For it is better for us to be made a spoil unto them, than to die for thirst; for we will be his servants, that our nefashot may live, and not see the death of our infants before our eyes, nor our wives nor our children to die.
27
We take to witness against you the shamayim and the earth, and our Elohim and Yahuah of our fathers, which punisheth us according to our sins and the sins of our fathers, that He do not according as we have said this yom."
28
Then there was great weeping with one consent in the midst of the assembly; and they cried unto Yahuah Elohim with a loud voice.
29
Then said Uzziyah to them, "Brethren, be of good courage, let us yet endure five yamim, in the which space Yahuah our Elohim may turn His mercy toward us; for He will not forsake us utterly.
30
And if these yamim pass, and there come no help unto us, I will do according to your word."
31
And he dispersed the am, every one to their own charge; and they went unto the walls and towers of their city, and sent the women and children into their houses; and they were very low brought in the city.
Chapter 8
1
Now at that time YEHUDIT (יְהוּדִית, Jewess) heard thereof, which was the daughter of Merari, the son of Ox, the son of Yosef, the son of Ozel, the son of Elkiah, the son of Ananias, the son of Gid'on, the son of Rafa'im, the son of Achitov, the son of Eliyu, the son of Eli'av, the son of Netan'el, the son of Shelumi'el, the son of Tzurishaddai, the son of Yisra'el.
2
And Menashe was her husband, of her tribe and kindred, who died in the barley harvest.
3
For as he stood overseeing them that bound sheaves in the field, the heat came upon his head, and he fell on his bed, and died in the city of Bethulia; and they buried him with his fathers in the field between Dotan and Balamo.
4
So Yehudit was a widow in her house shalosh shanim and four chodashim.
5
And she made her a tent upon the top of her house, and put on sackcloth upon her loins, and ware her widow's apparel.
6
And SHE FASTED all the yamim of her widowhood, save the eves of the Shabbatot, and the Shabbatot, and the eves of the new moons, and the new moons, and the feasts and solemn yamim of the house of Yisra'el.
7
She was also of a goodly countenance, and very beautiful to behold; and her husband Menashe had left her gold, and silver, and menservants, and maidservants, and cattle, and lands; and she remained upon them.
8
And there was none that gave her an ill word; FOR SHE FEARED ELOHIM GREATLY.
9
Now when she heard the evil words of the am against the governor, that they fainted for lack of water; for Yehudit had heard all the words that Uzziyah had spoken unto them, and that he had sworn to deliver the city unto the Ashurim after five yamim;
10
then she sent her waiting woman, that had the government of all things that she had, to call Uzziyah and Chavris and Charmis, the elders of the city.
11
And they came unto her, and she said unto them, "Hear me now, O ye governors of the inhabitants of Bethulia; for your words that ye have spoken before the am this yom are not right, touching this oath which ye made and pronounced between Elohim and you, and have promised to deliver the city to our enemies, unless within these yamim Yahuah turn to help you.
12
And now WHO ARE YE THAT HAVE TEMPTED ELOHIM this yom, and stand instead of Elohim among the children of men?
13
And now TRY YAHUAH ALMIGHTY, but ye shall never know any thing.
14
For ye cannot find the depth of the heart of man, neither can ye perceive the things that he thinketh; then HOW CAN YE SEARCH OUT ELOHIM, that hath made all these things, and know His mind, or comprehend His purpose? Nay, my brethren, provoke not Yahuah our Elohim to anger.
15
For if He will not help us within these five yamim, He hath power to defend us when He will, even every yom, or to destroy us before our enemies.
16
Do not bind the counsels of Yahuah our Elohim; FOR ELOHIM IS NOT AS MAN, THAT HE MAY BE THREATENED, neither as the son of man, that He should be wavering.
17
Therefore let us wait for salvation of Him, and call upon Him to help us, and He will hear our voice, if it please Him.
18
For there arose none in our age, neither is there any now in these yamim, neither tribe, nor family, nor am, nor city among us, which worship gods made with hands, as hath been aforetime;
19
for the which cause our fathers were given to the sword, and for a spoil, and had a great fall before our enemies.
20
But we know none other Elohim, therefore we trust that He will not despise us, nor any of our nation.
21
For if we be taken so, all Yehudah shall lie waste, and our Mikdash shall be spoiled; and He will require the profanation thereof at our mouth.
22
And the slaughter of our brethren, and the captivity of the country, and the desolation of our inheritance, will He turn upon our heads among the goyim, wheresoever we shall be in bondage; and we shall be an offence and a reproach to all them that possess us.
23
For our servitude shall not be directed to favour; but Yahuah our Elohim shall turn it to dishonour.
24
Now therefore, O brethren, let us shew an example to our brethren, because their hearts depend upon us, and the Mikdash, and the house, and the mizbeach, rest upon us.
25
Moreover let us give thanks to Yahuah our Elohim, WHICH TRIETH US, even as He did our fathers.
26
Remember what things He did to AVRAHAM, and how He tried YITZCHAK, and what happened to YA'AKOV in Mesopotamia of Syria, when he kept the sheep of Lavan his mother's brother.
27
For He hath not tried us in the fire, as He did them, for the examination of their hearts, neither hath He taken vengeance on us; but Yahuah doth scourge them that come near unto Him, TO ADMONISH THEM."
28
Then said Uzziyah to her, "All that thou hast spoken hast thou spoken with a good heart, and there is none that may gainsay thy words.
29
For this is not the first yom wherein thy wisdom is manifested; but from the beginning of thy yamim all the am have known thy understanding, because the disposition of thy heart is good.
30
But the am were very thirsty, and compelled us to do unto them as we have spoken, and to bring an oath upon ourselves, which we will not break.
31
Therefore now pray thou for us, because thou art a godly woman, and Yahuah will send us rain to fill our cisterns, and we shall faint no more."
32
Then said Yehudit unto them, "Hear me, and I will do a thing, which shall go throughout all generations to the children of our nation.
33
Ye shall stand this lailah in the gate, and I will go forth with my waiting woman; and within the yamim that ye have promised to deliver the city to our enemies THE LORD WILL VISIT YISRA'EL BY MY HAND.
34
But enquire not ye of mine act; for I will not declare it unto you, till the things be finished that I do."
35
Then said Uzziyah and the princes unto her, "Go in shalom, and Yahuah Elohim be before thee, to take vengeance on our enemies."
36
So they returned from the tent, and went to their wards.
Chapter 9
1
Yehudit fell upon her face, and put ashes upon her head, and uncovered the sackcloth wherewith she was clothed; and about the time that the incense of that evening was offered in Yerushalayim in the house of Yahuah, Yehudit cried with a loud voice, and said,
2
"O YAHUAH ELOHIM OF MY FATHER SHIM'ON, to whom Thou gavest a sword to take vengeance of the strangers, who loosened the girdle of a maid to defile her, and discovered the thigh to her shame, and polluted her virginity to her reproach; for Thou saidst, 'It shall not be so'; and yet they did so;
3
therefore Thou gavest their rulers to be slain, so that they dyed their bed in blood, being deceived, and smotest the servants with their lords, and the lords upon their thrones;
4
and hast given their wives for a prey, and their daughters to be captives, and all their spoils to be divided among Thy dear children; which were moved with Thy zeal, and abhorred the pollution of their blood, and called upon Thee for aid. O Elohim, O my Elohim, HEAR ME ALSO A WIDOW.
5
For Thou hast wrought not only those things, but also the things which fell out before, and which ensued after; Thou hast thought upon the things which are now, and which are to come.
6
Yea, what things Thou didst determine were ready at hand, and said, 'Lo, we are here'; for all Thy ways are prepared, and Thy judgments are in Thy foreknowledge.
7
For, behold, the Ashurim are multiplied in their power; they are exalted with horse and man; they glory in the strength of their footmen; they trust in shield, and spear, and bow, and sling; and know not that THOU ART YAHUAH THAT BREAKETH THE BATTLES; Yahuah is Thy name.
8
Throw down their strength in Thy power, and bring down their force in Thy wrath; for they have purposed to defile Thy Mikdash, and to pollute the Mishkan where Thy glorious name resteth, and to cast down with sword the horn of Thy mizbeach.
9
Behold their pride, and send Thy wrath upon their heads; give into mine hand, which am a widow, the power that I have conceived.
10
Smite by the deceit of my lips the servant with the prince, and the prince with the servant; BREAK DOWN THEIR STATELINESS BY THE HAND OF A WOMAN.
11
For Thy power standeth not in multitude, nor Thy might in strong men; FOR THOU ART A ELOHIM OF THE AFFLICTED, AN HELPER OF THE OPPRESSED, an upholder of the weak, a protector of the forlorn, a saviour of them that are without hope.
12
I pray Thee, I pray Thee, O Elohim of my father, and Elohim of the inheritance of Yisra'el, Lord of the shamayim and earth, Creator of the waters, King of every creature, hear Thou my prayer;
13
and make my speech and deceit to be their wound and stripe, who have purposed cruel things against Thy brit, and Thy hallowed house, and against the top of TZIYON, and against the house of the possession of Thy children.
14
And make every nation and tribe to acknowledge that THOU ART THE ELOHIM OF ALL POWER AND MIGHT, and that there is none other that protecteth the am of Yisra'el but Thou."
Chapter 10
1
Now after that she had ceased to cry unto the Elohim of Yisra'el, and had made an end of all these words,
2
she rose where she had fallen down, and called her maid, and went down into the house, in the which she abode in the Shabbat yamim and in her feast yamim;
3
and pulled off the sackcloth which she had on, and put off the garments of her widowhood, and washed her body all over with water, and anointed herself with precious ointment, and braided the hair of her head, and put on a tire upon it, and put on her garments of gladness, wherewith she was clad during the life of Menashe her husband.
4
And she took sandals upon her feet, and put about her her bracelets, and her chains, and her rings, and her earrings, and all her ornaments, and DECKED HERSELF BRAVELY, to allure the eyes of all men that should see her.
5
Then she gave her maid a bottle of wine, and a cruse of oil, and filled a bag with parched corn, and lumps of figs, and with fine bread; so she folded all these things together, and laid them upon her.
6
Thus they went forth to the gate of the city of Bethulia, and found standing there Uzziyah, and the elders of the city, Chavris and Charmis.
7
And when they saw her, that her countenance was altered, and her apparel was changed, they wondered at her beauty very greatly, and said unto her,
8
"THE ELOHIM, THE ELOHIM OF OUR FATHERS GIVE THEE FAVOUR, and accomplish thine enterprises to the glory of the children of Yisra'el, and to the exaltation of Yerushalayim." Then they worshipped Elohim.
9
And she said unto them, "Command the gates of the city to be opened unto me, that I may go forth to accomplish the things whereof ye have spoken with me." So they commanded the young men to open unto her, as she had spoken.
10
And when they had done so, Yehudit went out, she, and her maid with her; and the men of the city looked after her, until she was gone down the mountain, and till she had passed the valley, and could see her no more.
11
Thus they went straight forth in the valley; and the first watch of the Ashurim met her,
12
and took her, and asked her, "Of what am art thou? and whence comest thou? and whither goest thou?" And she said, "I AM A WOMAN OF THE IVRIM, and am fled from them; for they shall be given you to be consumed.
13
And I am coming before Holofernes the chief captain of your army, to declare words of truth; and I will shew him a way, whereby he shall go, and win all the hill country, without losing the body or life of any one of his men."
14
Now when the men heard her words, and beheld her countenance, they wondered greatly at her beauty, and said unto her,
15
"Thou hast saved thy life, in that thou hast hasted to come down to the presence of our lord; now therefore come to his tent, and some of us shall conduct thee, until they have delivered thee to his hands.
16
And when thou standest before him, be not afraid in thine heart, but shew unto him according to thy word; and he will entreat thee well."
17
Then they chose out of them an hundred men to accompany her and her maid; and they brought her to the tent of Holofernes.
18
Then was there a concourse throughout all the camp; for her coming was noised among the tents, and they came about her, as she stood without the tent of Holofernes, till they told him of her.
19
And they wondered at her beauty, and admired the children of Yisra'el because of her, and every one said to his neighbour, "Who would despise this am, that have among them such women? surely it is not good that one man of them be left, who being let go might deceive the whole earth."
20
And they that lay near Holofernes went out, and all his servants, and they brought her into the tent.
21
Now Holofernes rested upon his bed under a canopy, which was woven with purple, and gold, and emeralds, and precious stones.
22
So they shewed him of her; and he came out before his tent with silver lamps going before him.
23
And when Yehudit was come before him and his servants, they all marvelled at the beauty of her countenance; and she fell down upon her face, and did reverence unto him; and his servants took her up.
Chapter 11
1
Then said Holofernes unto her, "Woman, be of good comfort, fear not in thine heart; for I never hurt any that was willing to serve Nevuchadnetzar, the king of all the earth.
2
Now therefore, if thy am that dwelleth in the mountains had not set light by me, I would not have lifted up my spear against them; but they have done these things to themselves.
3
But now tell me wherefore thou art fled from them, and art come unto us; for thou art come for safeguard; be of good comfort, thou shalt live this lailah, and hereafter.
4
For none shall hurt thee, but entreat thee well, as they do the servants of king Nevuchadnetzar my lord."
5
Then Yehudit said unto him, "Receive the words of thy servant, and suffer thine handmaid to speak in thy presence, and I will declare no lie to my lord this lailah.
6
And if thou wilt follow the words of thine handmaid, ELOHIM WILL BRING THE THING PERFECTLY TO PASS BY THEE; and my lord shall not fail of his purposes.
7
As Nevuchadnetzar king of all the earth liveth, and as his power liveth, who hath sent thee for the upholding of every living thing; for not only men shall serve him by thee, but also the beasts of the field, and the cattle, and the fowls of the air, shall live by thy power under Nevuchadnetzar and all his house.
8
For we have heard of thy wisdom and thy policies, and it is reported in all the earth that thou only art excellent in all the kingdom, and mighty in knowledge, and wonderful in feats of war.
9
Now as concerning the matter which Achior did speak in thy council, we have heard his words; for the men of Bethulia saved him, and he declared unto them all that he had spoken unto thee.
10
Therefore, O lord and governor, reject not his word; but lay it up in thine heart, for it is true; FOR OUR NATION SHALL NOT BE PUNISHED, NEITHER CAN SWORD PREVAIL AGAINST THEM, EXCEPT THEY SIN AGAINST THEIR ELOHIM.
11
And now, that my lord be not defeated and frustrate of his purpose, even death is now fallen upon them, and their sin hath overtaken them, wherewith they will provoke their Elohim to anger, whensoever they shall do that which is not fit to be done.
12
For their victuals fail them, and all their water is scant, and they have determined to lay hands upon their cattle, and purposed to consume all those things that Elohim hath forbidden them to eat by His laws;
13
and are resolved to spend the firstfruits of the tenths of wine and oil, which they had sanctified, and reserved for the Kohanim that serve in Yerushalayim before the face of our Elohim; the which things it is not lawful for any of the am so much as to touch with their hands.
14
For they have sent some to Yerushalayim, because they also that dwell there have done the like, to bring them a licence from the elders.
15
Now when they shall bring them word, they will forthwith do it, and they shall be given thee to be destroyed the same yom.
16
Wherefore I thine handmaid, knowing all this, am fled from their presence; and ELOHIM HATH SENT ME to work things with thee, whereat all the earth shall be astonished, and whosoever shall hear it.
17
For thy servant is religious, and serveth the Elohim of shamayim yom and lailah; now therefore, my lord, I will remain with thee, and thy servant will go out by lailah into the valley, and I will pray unto Elohim, and He will tell me when they have committed their sins.
18
And I will come and shew it unto thee; then thou shalt go forth with all thine army, and there shall be none of them that shall resist thee.
19
And I will lead thee through the midst of Yehudah, until thou come before Yerushalayim; and I will set thy throne in the midst thereof; and thou shalt drive them as sheep that have no shepherd, and a dog shall not so much as open his mouth at thee; for these things were told me according to my foreknowledge, and they were declared unto me, and I am sent to tell thee."
20
Then her words pleased Holofernes and all his servants; and they marvelled at her wisdom, and said,
21
"There is not such a woman from one end of the earth to the other, both for beauty of face and wisdom of words."
22
Likewise Holofernes said unto her, "ELOHIM HATH DONE WELL TO SEND THEE before the am, that strength might be in our hands, and destruction upon them that lightly regard my lord.
23
And now thou art both beautiful in thy countenance, and witty in thy words; surely if thou do as thou hast spoken, thy Elohim shall be my Elohim, and thou shalt dwell in the house of king Nevuchadnetzar, and shalt be renowned through the whole earth."
Chapter 12
1
Then he commanded to bring her in where his plate was set; and bade that they should prepare for her of his own meats, and that she should drink of his own wine.
2
And Yehudit said, "I WILL NOT EAT THEREOF, lest there be an offence; but provision shall be made for me of the things that I have brought."
3
Then Holofernes said unto her, "If thy provision should fail, how should we give thee the like? for there be none with us of thy nation."
4
Then said Yehudit unto him, "As thy nefesh liveth, my lord, thine handmaid shall not spend those things that I have, before Yahuah work by mine hand the things that He hath determined."
5
Then the servants of Holofernes brought her into the tent, and she slept till midnight, and she arose when it was toward the morning watch,
6
and sent to Holofernes, saying, "Let my lord now command that thine handmaid may go forth unto prayer."
7
Then Holofernes commanded his guard that they should not stay her; thus she abode in the camp shalosh yamim, and went out in the lailah into the valley of Bethulia, and washed herself in a fountain of water by the camp.
8
And when she came out, she besought Yahuah Elohim of Yisra'el to direct her way to the raising up of the children of her am.
9
So she came in clean, and remained in the tent, until she did eat her meat at evening.
10
And in the fourth yom Holofernes made a feast to his own servants only, and called none of the officers to the banquet.
11
Then said he to Bagoas the eunuch, who had charge over all that he had, "Go now, and persuade this Ivri woman which is with thee, that she come unto us, and eat and drink with us.
12
For, lo, it will be a shame for our person, if we shall let such a woman go, not having had her company; for if we draw her not unto us, she will laugh us to scorn."
13
Then went Bagoas from the presence of Holofernes, and came to her, and he said, "Let not this fair damsel fear to come to my lord, and to be honoured in his presence, and drink wine, and be merry with us, and be made this yom as one of the daughters of the Ashurim, which serve in the house of Nevuchadnetzar."
14
Then said Yehudit unto him, "Who am I now, that I should gainsay my lord? surely whatsoever pleaseth him I will do speedily, and it shall be my joy unto the yom of my death."
15
So she arose, and decked herself with her apparel and all her woman's attire; and her maid went and laid soft skins on the ground for her over against Holofernes, which she had received of Bagoas for her daily use, that she might sit and eat upon them.
16
Now when Yehudit came in and sat down, Holofernes his heart was ravished with her, and his mind was moved, and he desired greatly her company; for he waited a time to deceive her, from the yom that he had seen her.
17
Then said Holofernes unto her, "Drink now, and be merry with us."
18
So Yehudit said, "I will drink now, my lord, because my life is magnified in me this yom more than all the yamim since I was born."
19
Then she took, and ate, and drank before him what her maid had prepared.
20
And Holofernes took great delight in her, and DRANK MUCH MORE WINE THAN HE HAD DRUNK AT ANY TIME IN ONE YOM since he was born.
Chapter 13
1
Now when the evening was come, his servants made haste to depart, and Bagoas shut his tent without, and dismissed the waiters from the presence of his lord; and they went to their beds; for they were all weary, because the feast had been long.
2
And Yehudit was left alone in the tent, and Holofernes lying along upon his bed; FOR HE WAS FILLED WITH WINE.
3
Now Yehudit had commanded her maid to stand without her bedchamber, and to wait for her coming forth, as she did daily; for she said she would go forth to her prayers; and she spake to Bagoas according to the same purpose.
4
So all went forth, and none was left in the bedchamber, neither little nor great. Then Yehudit, standing by his bed, said in her heart, "O YAHUAH ELOHIM OF ALL POWER, look at this present upon the works of mine hands for the exaltation of Yerushalayim.
5
For now is the time to help Thine inheritance, and to execute mine enterprises to the destruction of the enemies which are risen against us."
6
Then she came to the pillar of the bed, which was at Holofernes' head, and took down HIS OWN SWORD from thence,
7
and approached to his bed, and took hold of the hair of his head, and said, "STRENGTHEN ME, O YAHUAH ELOHIM OF YISRA'EL, THIS YOM."
8
And SHE SMOTE TWICE UPON HIS NECK WITH ALL HER MIGHT, AND SHE TOOK AWAY HIS HEAD FROM HIM,
9
and tumbled his body down from the bed, and pulled down the canopy from the pillars; and anon after she went forth, and gave Holofernes his head to her maid;
10
and she put it in her bag of meat; so they twain went together according to their custom unto prayer; and when they passed the camp, they compassed the valley, and went up the mountain of Bethulia, and came to the gates thereof.
11
Then said Yehudit afar off to the watchmen at the gate, "Open, open now the gate; ELOHIM, EVEN OUR ELOHIM, IS WITH US, to shew His power yet in Yisra'el, and His force against the enemy, as He hath even done this yom."
12
Now when the men of her city heard her voice, they made haste to go down to the gate of their city, and they called the elders of the city.
13
And then they ran all together, both small and great, for it was strange unto them that she was come; so they opened the gate, and received them, and made a fire for a light, and stood round about them.
14
Then she said to them with a loud voice, "PRAISE, PRAISE ELOHIM, PRAISE ELOHIM, I SAY; for He hath not taken away His mercy from the house of Yisra'el, but hath destroyed our enemies by mine hands this lailah."
15
So she took the head out of the bag, and shewed it, and said unto them, "Behold the head of Holofernes, the chief captain of the army of Ashur, and behold the canopy, wherein he did lie in his drunkenness; and YAHUAH HATH SMITTEN HIM BY THE HAND OF A WOMAN.
16
As Yahuah liveth, who hath kept me in my way that I went, my countenance hath deceived him to his destruction, and yet hath he not committed sin with me, to defile and shame me."
17
Then all the am were wonderfully astonished, and bowed themselves, and worshipped Elohim, and said with one accord, "Blessed be Thou, O our Elohim, which hast this yom brought to nought the enemies of Thy am."
18
Then said Uzziyah unto her, "O daughter, BLESSED ART THOU OF THE MOST HIGH ELOHIM ABOVE ALL THE WOMEN UPON THE EARTH; and blessed be Yahuah Elohim, which hath created the shamayim and the earth, which hath directed thee to the cutting off of the head of the chief of our enemies.
19
For this thy confidence shall not depart from the heart of men, which remember the power of Elohim for ever.
20
And Elohim turn these things to thee for a perpetual praise, to visit thee in good things, because thou hast not spared thy life for the affliction of our nation, but hast avenged our ruin, walking a straight way before our Elohim." And all the am said, "So be it, so be it."
Chapter 14
1
Then said Yehudit unto them, "Hear me now, my brethren, and take this head, and hang it upon the highest place of your walls.
2
And so soon as the morning shall appear, and the sun shall come forth upon the earth, take ye every one his weapons, and go forth every valiant man out of the city, and set ye a captain over them, as though ye would go down into the field toward the watch of the Ashurim; but go not down.
3
Then they shall take their armour, and shall go into their camp, and raise up the captains of the army of Ashur, and shall run to the tent of Holofernes, but shall not find him; then fear shall fall upon them, and they shall flee before your face.
4
So ye, and all that inhabit the coast of Yisra'el, shall pursue them, and overthrow them as they go.
5
But before ye do these things, call me Achior the Ammonite, that he may see and know him that despised the house of Yisra'el, and that sent him to us as it were to his death."
6
Then they called Achior out of the house of Uzziyah; and when he was come, and saw the head of Holofernes in a man's hand in the assembly of the am, he fell down on his face, and his spirit failed.
7
But when they had recovered him, he fell at Yehudit's feet, and reverenced her, and said, "Blessed art thou in all the tents of Yehudah, and in all nations, which hearing thy name shall be astonished.
8
Now therefore tell me all the things that thou hast done in these yamim." Then Yehudit declared to him in the midst of the am all that she had done, from the yom that she went forth until that hour she spake unto them.
9
And when she had left off speaking, the am shouted with a loud voice, and made a joyful noise in their city.
10
And when ACHIOR HAD SEEN ALL THAT THE ELOHIM OF YISRA'EL HAD DONE, HE BELIEVED IN ELOHIM GREATLY, and circumcised the flesh of his foreskin, and was joined unto the house of Yisra'el unto this yom.
11
And as soon as the morning arose, they hanged the head of Holofernes upon the wall, and every man took his weapons, and they went forth by bands unto the straits of the mountain.
12
But when the Ashurim saw them, they sent to their leaders, which came to their captains and tribunes, and to every one of their rulers.
13
So they came to Holofernes' tent, and said to him that had the charge of all his things, "Waken now our lord; for the slaves have been bold to come down against us to battle, that they may be utterly destroyed."
14
Then went in Bagoas, and knocked at the door of the tent; for he thought that he had slept with Yehudit.
15
But because none answered, he opened it, and went into the bedchamber, and FOUND HIM CAST UPON THE FLOOR DEAD, AND HIS HEAD WAS TAKEN FROM HIM.
16
Therefore he cried with a loud voice, with weeping, and sighing, and a mighty cry, and rent his garments.
17
After, he went into the tent where Yehudit lodged; and when he found her not, he leaped out to the am, and cried,
18
"THESE SLAVES HAVE DEALT TREACHEROUSLY; one woman of the Ivrim hath brought shame upon the house of king Nevuchadnetzar; for, behold, Holofernes lieth upon the ground without a head."
19
When the captains of the Ashurim's army heard these words, they rent their coats, and their minds were wonderfully troubled, and there was a cry and a very great noise throughout the camp.
Chapter 15
1
And when they that were in the tents heard, they were astonished at the thing that was done.
2
And fear and trembling fell upon them, so that there was no man that durst abide in the sight of his neighbour, but rushing out all together, they fled into every way of the plain, and of the hill country.
3
They also that had camped in the mountains round about Bethulia fled away. Then the children of Yisra'el, every one that was a warrior among them, rushed out upon them.
4
Then sent Uzziyah to Betomasthem, and to Bebai, and Chobai, and Cola, and to all the coasts of Yisra'el, such as should tell the things that were done, and that all should rush forth upon their enemies to destroy them.
5
Now when the children of Yisra'el heard it, they all fell upon them with one consent, and slew them unto Chobai; likewise also they that came from Yerushalayim, and from all the hill country (for men had told them what things were done in the camp of their enemies), and they that were in Gil'ad, and in Galil, chased them with a great slaughter, until they were past Damascus and the borders thereof.
6
And the residue that dwelt at Bethulia fell upon the camp of Ashur, and spoiled them, and were greatly enriched.
7
And the children of Yisra'el that returned from the slaughter had that which remained; and the villages and the cities that were in the mountains and in the plain gat many spoils; for the multitude was very great.
8
Then Yoyakim the Kohen Gadol, and the elders of the children of Yisra'el that dwelt in Yerushalayim, came to behold the good things that Elohim had shewed to Yisra'el, and to see Yehudit, and to salute her.
9
And when they came unto her, they blessed her with one accord, and said unto her, "THOU ART THE EXALTATION OF YERUSHALAYIM, THOU ART THE GREAT GLORY OF YISRA'EL, thou art the great rejoicing of our nation;
10
thou hast done all these things by thine hand; thou hast done much good to Yisra'el, and Elohim is pleased therewith; BLESSED BE THOU OF YAHUAH ALMIGHTY FOR EVERMORE." And all the am said, "So be it."
11
And the am spoiled the camp the space of thirty yamim; and they gave unto Yehudit Holofernes his tent, and all his plate, and beds, and vessels, and all his stuff; and she took it, and laid it on her mule, and made ready her carts, and laid them thereon.
12
Then all the women of Yisra'el ran together to see her, and blessed her, and made a dance among them for her; and she took branches in her hand, and gave also to the women that were with her.
13
And THEY PUT A GARLAND OF OLIVE UPON HER AND HER MAID that was with her, and she went before all the am in the dance, leading all the women; and all the men of Yisra'el followed in their armour with garlands, and with songs in their mouths.
Chapter 16
1
⟨ THE SONG OF YEHUDIT ⟩
Then Yehudit began to sing this thanksgiving in all Yisra'el, and all the am sang after her this song of praise.
2
And Yehudit said: "BEGIN UNTO MY ELOHIM WITH TIMBRELS, sing unto my Lord with cymbals; tune unto Him a new psalm; exalt Him, and call upon His name.
3
For YAHUAH BREAKETH THE BATTLES; for among the camps in the midst of the am He hath delivered me out of the hands of them that persecuted me.
4
Ashur came out of the mountains from the north, he came with ten thousands of his army, the multitude whereof stopped the torrents, and their horsemen have covered the hills.
5
He bragged that he would burn up my borders, and kill my young men with the sword, and dash the sucking children against the ground, and make mine infants as a prey, and my virgins as a spoil.
6
BUT THE ALMIGHTY LORD HATH DISAPPOINTED THEM BY THE HAND OF A WOMAN.
7
For THE MIGHTY ONE DID NOT FALL BY THE YOUNG MEN, neither did the sons of the Titans smite him, nor high giants set upon him; but Yehudit the daughter of Merari weakened him with the beauty of her countenance.
8
For she put off the garment of her widowhood for the exaltation of those that were oppressed in Yisra'el, and anointed her face with ointment, and bound her hair in a tire, and took a linen garment to deceive him.
9
Her sandals ravished his eyes, her beauty took his mind prisoner, and THE SWORD PASSED THROUGH HIS NECK.
10
The Paras quaked at her boldness, and the Madai were daunted at her hardiness.
11
Then my afflicted shouted for joy, and my weak ones cried aloud; but they were astonished; these lifted up their voices, but they were overthrown.
12
The sons of the damsels have pierced them through, and wounded them as fugitives' children; THEY PERISHED BY THE BATTLE OF MY YAHUAH.
13
I will sing unto Yahuah A NEW SONG: O Yahuah, Thou art great and glorious, wonderful in strength, and invincible.
14
Let all creatures serve Thee; FOR THOU SPAKEST, AND THEY WERE MADE; Thou didst send forth Thy Ruach, and it created them, and there is none that can resist Thy voice.
15
For the mountains shall be moved from their foundations with the waters, the rocks shall melt as wax at Thy presence; YET THOU ART MERCIFUL TO THEM THAT FEAR THEE.
16
For all sacrifice is too little for a sweet savour unto Thee, and all the fat is not sufficient for Thy burnt offering; but HE THAT FEARETH YAHUAH IS GREAT AT ALL TIMES.
17
Woe to the nations that rise up against my kindred! YAHUAH ALMIGHTY WILL TAKE VENGEANCE OF THEM IN THE YOM OF JUDGMENT, in putting fire and worms in their flesh; and they shall feel them, and weep for ever.
18
Now as soon as they entered into Yerushalayim, they worshipped Yahuah; and as soon as the am were purified, they offered their burnt offerings, and their free offerings, and their gifts.
19
Yehudit also dedicated all the stuff of Holofernes, which the am had given her, and gave the canopy, which she had taken out of his bedchamber, for a gift unto Yahuah.
20
So the am continued feasting in Yerushalayim before the Mikdash for the space of shalosh chodashim; and Yehudit remained with them.
21
After this time every one returned to his own inheritance; and Yehudit went to Bethulia, and remained in her own possession, and was in her time honourable in all the country.
22
And many desired her, BUT NONE KNEW HER all the yamim of her life, after that Menashe her husband was dead, and was gathered to his am.
23
But she increased more and more in honour, and waxed old in her husband's house, being AN HUNDRED AND FIVE SHANIM old; and she made her maid free; so she died in Bethulia, and they buried her in the cave of her husband Menashe.
24
And the house of Yisra'el lamented her SHEVA yamim; and before she died, she did distribute her goods to all them that were nearest of kindred to Menashe her husband, and to them that were the nearest of her kindred.
25
And THERE WAS NONE THAT MADE THE CHILDREN OF YISRA'EL ANY MORE AFRAID in the yamim of Yehudit, nor a long time after her death.