Judith
Verse 1. Doors. Greek adds, “without,” yet so that Judith could open them. Calmet.
EXPLANATIONS
Judith 13
Historical chapter commentary
Judith
Verse 4. Drunk. Greek “drowned in wine.”
Judith
Verse 5. The. Greek “her chamber.”—Watch. Greek adds, “her coming out, as on other days; for she had said she would go out to pray, and she had told this to Bagoas. And all had departed,” and so forth All these precautions were necessary. Bible.
Judith
Verse 6. Judith. She seems not to have disclosed her secret even to her companion, taking the whole upon herself.—Lips. Greek “in her heart.” Calmet.—Yet the Jews generally use some words, ( Bible.) thinking that prayer too cold, which is barely mental. Grotius.
Judith
Verse 7. Raise up. If Bethulia had been taken, perhaps ( Bible.) Jerusalem had also fallen. Worthington.
Judith
Verse 8. Pillar. Greek κανονι, “the rule,” ( Calmet.) or pole on which the arms were hung. Hesychius.—Sword, (acinace) used by the Persians, ( Menochius.) and shorter than the Greek or Roman sword. Calmet.—If she had not been inspired by God to act thus, like Aod, (Judges 3) it would be difficult to excuse her, in thus hurrying a many, in the most wretched state, before the judgment-seat of God. Bible.
Judith
Verse 10. Canopy, to convince all that it was the head of Holofernes. Menochius.—Body, on the ground; (Calmet. 14:14) perhaps to cut off the head more easily, ( Calmet.) and that it might appear more ghastly Bible. at the first entrance. Tirinus.
Judith
Verse 11. While, having composed herself, ( Bible.) and done every thing necessary to prevent detection. Menochius.
Judith
Verse 13. Open. Greek repeats, “open ye now the gate; God, our God is with us, still to shew power in Israel, and strength against the enemies, as he hath done to-day.” Bible.
Judith
Verse 14. That. Greek “they hastened to descend to the gate of their city, and called,” and so forth
Judith
Verse 15. Had now. Greek “it was a paradox to them that she should come, and they opened the gate, and received them.”
Judith
Verse 16. And she. Greek “said to them with a loud voice: Praise God, praise, yea praise God, because he hath not withdrawn his mercy from the house of Israel, but hath destroyed our enemies by my hand this night.” Bible.
Judith
Verse 19. Drunkenness. “The fasting of one woman overthrew an innumerable host of drunkards. Saint Ambrose de jej. ix. Worthington.
Judith
Verse 20. And abiding. Greek “for my face has deluded him to his ruin, and he has not committed sin with me, for defilement and shame. And all the people were much amazed; and bowing down, they adored the Lord, and said, with one accord: Our God, thou art blessed, because this day thou hast brought the enemies of thy people to nought.” Bible.—Judith’s guardian angel defended her; as Jacob’s did him. Genesis 48. Worthington.
Judith
Verse 23. Prince, in that town, though Manasses was king. Menochius.—Greek “Ozias said.”
Judith
Verse 25. Praise. Greek “hope.”—For that. Greek “and may God make these things turn to thy eternal exaltation, to regard thee for good; because thou hast not.”—Ruin. Greek adds, “walking aright in,” and so forth Bible.
Judith
Verse 27. And. This is related after verse 5, in the following chapter, in Greek Syr. and the old Vulg. ( Calmet.) and indeed it seems to be there in its proper place.—Head, or general. Bible.
Judith
Verse 29. Fear. Astonished ( Menochius.) at the instability of human things, and admiring how God had rescued him from the threatened danger.
Judith
Verse 30. Reverenced. Lit. “adored;” a word often used in this sense. Bible.