Historical chapter commentary
Verse 1. All. Greek “Those who were in the tents heard, they were astonished at the fact; and fear and trembling fell upon them, and there was not a man remaining before his neighbour; but rushing out, with one accord, they fled through every path, in the plains and in the mountains; and those who were encamped in the high places around Bethulia, ( Bible. the Moabites, and so forth Calmet. 7:8. Calmet.) fled. Then every warrior of Israel rushed out upon them, and Ozias,” verse 5.
Verse 5. Israel. Greek adds, “informing them of what had been accomplished, and that all might pour upon the enemies, to cut them off. But when the Israelites heard this, they all, unanimously, fell upon them, as far as Chobai: ( Bible. Hoba. Calmet.) in like manner those from Jerusalem came up, and from all the mountainous country; for they also were informed of what had happened in the camp of their enemies; and the men of Galaad and of Galilee scattered them with great slaughter, till they had passed Damascus and its boundaries.” Bible.—As the enemy fled without a leader, we may easily imagine what carnage would ensue. Calmet.
Verse 7. The. Greek “their spoils, and were greatly enriched.” Bible.—Mariana suggests that we should read honestati, which is used in this sense, (Sirach 11:23) instead of onustati, loaded.
Verse 8. They. Greek “The Israelites, returning from the slaughter, took possession of the remainder, and the villages and cities, both in the mountains and champaign country, took many spoils; for these was great abundance. But Joachim,” and so forth
Verse 9. Came. Greek adds, “and the senate of Israel, residing at Jerusalem, came.” This alludes to the sanhedrim. Grotius.—But, it seems, its institution was posterior to the captivity, and we may understand the principal men of the city, or of the priests. Calmet.—To see. Greek adds, “the good things (Compl. to confirm or lay a foundation for, the good things) which God had done to Israel, and to see Judith, and speak peace with her.” Prot. “to salute her.” Bible.—Joachim is the same with Eliacim; El being only prefixed. Tirinus.—He is the Sadoc II. or Odeas of Josephus; (Reinec.) and succeeded Sobna both in spiritual and temporal power. Isaiah 22. Bellarmin.
Verse 10. She. Greek “They were gone into her apartment, they,” and so forth—Art the. Greek adds, “great joy, and the great boast of our race; because thou hast done all these things with thy hand, thou hast procured the good of Israel, and God hath been pleased with them. Be thou blessed by the omnipotent Lord for ever.” Bible.—Judith was a figure of the blessed Virgin, to whom these praises chiefly belong. Fulbert. Worthington.
Verse 11. Chastity, and so forth This is not in Syr. and so forth and though, generally speaking, celibacy was not esteemed honourable among the Jews, yet chastity was so much the more admired, as it was more uncommon. A widow was deserving of praise for not lightly entering upon a second marriage. Calmet.—Those who abstain from it, were respected, like virgins, by the Romans. Val. Maxim. ii. 1.
Verse 13. Thirty. Greek “And the people plundered the camp thirty (Syr. three) days.” The camp of the Assyrians was in various places, and the people waited a month before they began to divide the spoils among all, according to their laws. Numbers 31:27 and 1 Kennicott. 30:24. Calmet.
Verse 14. But. Greek “And they gave to Judith the tent of Holofernes, and all the silver plate, and beds and basins, and all his furniture, which she taking, place upon her mule, and put to her chariots, and heaped them thereon; and every woman of Israel ran to see her, and they blessed her, and danced in her honour. Then she took some thyrsus ( Bible. or branches entwined with ivy, and so forth Calmet.) in her hands, and gave to those women who accompanied her; and they crowned with olive both her and her attendant; (maid, or Alex. Septuagint “and she was crowned with olive, and her mule;” Grabe substitutes “female companions,”) and she went before all the people, leading the dance of all the women; and every man of Israel followed in arms, with crowns, and with hymns in their mouth. Then,” and so forth Calmet. 16. Bible.—The bearing of green branches, on such occasions, was very common. Leviticus 23:40. 2 Maccabees 10:7. Matthew 21:8. Hence Tacitus (Hist. v.) supposed that the Jews adored Bacchus. But there was nothing here of the immodesty, which generally attended the pagan festivals. We only find this instance of women being crowned with olive. But this tree was very proper, as it was used in rejoicings: Ramo felicis olivæ; (Virg. vi.) on which Servius remarks, olivæ, arboris festæ. At certain races in Greece, women who gained the victory, were thus crowned; (Alex. Genial verse 8.) and it was used by the Roman cavalry on the ides of July, and in ovations. Pliny xv. 4.—The processions of the Church often admit of similar ornaments in honour of God, ( Tirinus.) and to promote piety. Bible.
Compare 2 Maccabees 10:7.