Open an explanation beneath verses with notes. Your notes and highlights stay on this device.
Holofernes said to her, “Woman, take courage. Don’t be afraid in your heart; for I never hurt anyone who has chosen to serve Nebuchadnezzar, the king of all the earth.
Verse 1. King. Greek adds, “of all the earth.”
And now, if your people who dwell in the hill country had not slighted me, I would not have lifted up my spear against them; but they have done these things to themselves.
And now tell me why you fled from them and came to us; for you have come to save yourself. Take courage! You will live tonight, and hereafter;
Verse 3. Why. Greek “And art come to us? For thou art come for thy own safety. Take courage, for thou shalt live this night and henceforth, as no one shall hurt thee, but shall do thee good, as the servants of my lord, Nabuchodonosor, the king, are treated.”
for there is no one that will wrong you, but all will treat you well, as is done to the servants of King Nebuchadnezzar my lord.”
Verse 4. Handmaid. Greek adds, “and I will tell no untruth to my lord this night, for,” and so forth—Thing. Greek adds, “and none of the projects of my lord shall fail.” Bible.—All that Judith said was true in her sense, though the enemy did not understand her properly. So Josue lawfully entrapped the citizens of Hai. Saint Augustine q. 10. in Joshua 8. Worthington.
And Judith said to him, “Receive the words of your servant, and let your handmaid speak in your presence, and I won’t lie to my lord tonight.
Verse 5. Liveth. She imitates Joseph, (Genesis 42:15) and Eliseus; (4 Kennicott. 2:4) and speaks the truth, as the general had subjected many to his master. Menochius.—Her speech was not superstitious, but shewed a civil respect. Calmet.
If you will follow the words of your handmaid, God will bring the thing to pass perfectly with you; and my lord will not fail to accomplish his purposes.
As Nebuchadnezzar king of all the earth lives, and as his power lives, who has sent you for the preservation of every living thing, not only do men serve him by you, but also the beasts of the field, the cattle, and the birds of the sky will live through your strength, in the time of Nebuchadnezzar and of all his house.
Verse 7. To him. Greek intimates that she advised him to follow his counsel. “For our nation is not punished with the sword, unless they sin against their God. But now let not my lord be at a loss what to do. For death has fallen upon them, and sin has taken possession of them, so that they have irritated God by their folly,” and so forth verse 10. This might also be true, though they had not fallen into idolatry (Calmet. 8:18. Bible.) at Bethulia. Menochius.
For we have heard of your wisdom and the subtle plans of your soul. It has been reported in all the earth that you only are brave in all the kingdom, mighty in knowledge, and wonderful in feats of war.
Verse 8. Prophets. Though this had been threatened by the ancient prophets, ( Bible.) we cannot pretend to specify which she means. Calmet.
And now as concerning the matter which Achior spoke in your council, we have heard his words; for the men of Bethulia saved him, and he declared to them all that he had spoken before you.
Therefore, O lord and master, don’t neglect his word, but lay it up in your heart, for it is true; for our race will not be punished, neither will the sword prevail against them, unless they sin against their God.
Verse 10. Famine. They might have provisions, but they would be useless, on account of excessive thirst. Menochius.
And now, that my lord may not be defeated and frustrated in his purpose, and that death may fall upon them, their sin has overtaken them, wherewith they will provoke their God to anger, whenever they do wickedness.
Verse 11. Drink. Greek “and all that God had forbidden them to eat by his laws, ( Bible.) without making any distinction between the clean and unclean. Grot.—Blood was prohibited even before the law. Genesis 9:4. Leviticus 17:14. Calmet.
Since their food failed them, and all their water was scant, they took counsel to kill their livestock, and determined to consume all those things which God charged them by his laws that they should not eat.
Verse 12. Oil. Greek may explain this. “And the first-fruits of corn, and the tithes of wine and of oil, which they had reserved as sacred for the priests, standing in Jerusalem, before our God, they had decreed to consume; though none of the people ought so much as to touch these things. Yet they have sent to obtain permission of the senate at Jerusalem, where the people have done the like. And when they shall have obtained an answer, they will fall to work, and then they will be abandoned to be destroyed by thee.” Bible.—She insinuates that her countrymen are in the utmost distress, and not much attached to religion; ( Calmet.) though in extreme want the distinction of meats is not to be enforces. Bible.
They are resolved to spend the first fruits of the grain and the tithes of the wine and the oil, which they had sanctified and reserved for the priests who stand before the face of our God in Jerusalem, which it is not fitting for any of the people so much as to touch with their hands.
Verse 13. Tell. Greek “To perform with thee a feat which will astonish all who shall hear of these things. For thy handmaid is religious, and serveth the God of heaven day and night; and now my lord, I am,” and so forth
They have sent some to Jerusalem, because they also that dwell there have done this thing, to bring them permission from the council of elders.
Verse 14. God. Greek adds, “in the night, in the valley.”
When these instructions come to them and they do it, they will be given to you to be destroyed the same day.
Verse 15. He will. Greek “They shall have completed their sins.”—Tell thee. Greek adds, “and thou shalt go out with all thy forces, and none of them shall resist thee; and I will bring thee through Judea, over-against Jerusalem, and will place thy throne in the midst of it, and thou shalt drive them like sheep,” and so forth—Dog. This is proverbial. Exodus 11:7. Calmet.—All Israel was at rest after the death of Holofernes. Judith brought his head in triumph through the country. The promise of dominion ( Bible.) was ironical. 3 Kennicott. 22:15. Menochius.
Therefore I your servant, knowing all this, fled away from their presence. God sent me to work things with you, at which all the earth will be astonished, even as many as hear it.
Verse 16. God. Greek “My foreknowledge; and I was sent to inform thee.” Bible.—She flatters Holofernes with the idea that he is under the special care of heaven. Calmet.
For your servant is religious, and serves the God of heaven day and night. Now, my lord, I will stay with you; and your servant will go out by night into the valley. I will pray to God, and he will tell me when they have committed their sins.
Then I will come and tell you. Then you can go out with all your army, and there will be none of them that will resist you.
And I will lead you through the midst of Judea, until you come to Jerusalem. I will set your throne in the midst of it. You will drive them as sheep that have no shepherd, and a dog will not so much as open his mouth before you; for these things were told me according to my foreknowledge, and were declared to me, and I was sent to tell you.”
Her words were pleasing in the sight of Holofernes and of all his servants. They marveled at her wisdom, and said,
Verse 20. That. Greek “To increase our strength, and to bring destruction on those who have despised my lord.”
“There is not such a woman from one end of the earth to the other, for beauty of face and wisdom of words.”
Verse 21. Because. Greek “And now thou art comely in thy appearance, and good in thy discourse. If then thou perform what thou hast spoken, thy God shall,” and so forth Bible.—It is hardly probable that he spoke in earnest. Perhaps he did not know that the true God allowed of no other. Being captivated with Judith’s beauty, and perceiving that she was attached to religion, he had a mind to remove all her objections to his person. Calmet.
Holofernes said to her, “God did well to send you before the people, that might would be in our hands, and destruction among those who slighted my lord.
And now you are beautiful in your countenance, and wise in your words. If you will do as you have spoken, your God will be my God, and you will dwell in the palace of King Nebuchadnezzar, and will be renowned through the whole earth.”