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He commanded that she should be brought in where his silver vessels were set, and asked that his servants should prepare some of his own delicacies for her, and that she should drink from his own wine.
Verse 1. And bade. Greek “and ordered a bed (or table) to be prepared for her, to eat of his own meat, and drink of his wine,” ( Bible.) that her beauty might be enhanced, (Daniel 1) and to honour her. Menochius.
And Judith said, “I can’t eat of it, lest there be an occasion of stumbling; but provision will be made for me from the things that have come with me.”
Verse 2. Upon me, as these meats had been offered to idols; ( Worthington.) or she might fear they had, and wished to avoid all scandal. 2 Maccabees 6:21. Tobit 1:12. Calmet.
And Holofernes said to her, “But if the things that are with you should run out, from where will we be able to give you more like it? For there is none of your race with us.”
Verse 3. Thee. Greek adds, “for there is none of thy race.”
And Judith said to him, “As your soul lives, my lord, your servant will not use up those things that are with me until the Lord works by my hand the things that he has determined.”
Verse 4. Which I. Greek “he.”—Which. Greek “and she slept till midnight and she arose at the morning watch.” Bible.—The mode of counting by hours prevailed after the captivity. Calmet.
Then Holofernes’ servants brought her into the tent, and she slept until midnight. Then she rose up toward the morning watch,
Verse 5. And. Greek “and she sent to Holofernes, saying: May my lord please to order that thy handmaid may go out to pray. And,” and so forth verse 6. Bible.—She had prepared him to grant this request before: but out of civility, and that he may have greater confidence in her, she asks again. The choice of a retired place for prayer is very commendable, but she made choice of the fields, that she might go out of the camp afterwards without being suspected. Calmet.
and sent to Holofernes, saying, “Let my lord now command that they allow your servant to go out to pray.”
Verse 6. Chamberlains. Greek “life-guards, not to hinder her; and she remained in the camp three days.” Bible.
Holofernes commanded his guards that they should not stop her. She stayed in the camp three days, and went out every night into the valley of Bethulia and washed herself at the fountain of water in the camp.
Verse 7. Water. Greek “in the camp;” perhaps she washed only her hands and face. Calmet.
And when she came up, she implored the Lord God of Israel to direct her way to the triumph of the children of his people.
She came in clean and remained in the tent until she ate her food toward evening.
Verse 9. Pure, from forbidden food. Worthington.—Evening. Thus she continued to fast, to draw down the blessing of God. Calmet.
It came to pass on the fourth day, that Holofernes made a feast for his own servants only, and called none of the officers to the banquet.
Verse 10. Servants. Greek adds, “only, and he did not call any of those whom he usually employed,” ( Bible.) that they might not witness his excesses. Vagao, or Bagoas, the Persian name for an “eunuch,” or chief officer; though such were generally to wait on the ladies.
Quem penes est Dominam servandi cura Bagoæ. Ovid, Amor. ii.
—Eunuch. Greek and Syr. add, “who was appointed over all his affairs. Persuade the Hebrew woman who is with thee to come to us, and to eat and drink with us. For we deem it shameful to dismiss such a woman, without having commerce with her; and if we do not attract her, she will deride us.”
And he said to Bagoas the eunuch, who had charge over all that he had, “Go now, and persuade this Hebrew woman who is with you that she come to us, and eat and drink with us.
For behold, it would be a disgrace if we shall let such a woman go, not having had her company; for if we don’t draw her to ourselves, she will laugh us to scorn.”
Verse 12. Merry. This would pave the way for greater liberties. Calmet.—Greek adds, “and to become this day as a daughter of the Assyrians, standing to wait in the house of Nabuchodonosor.” He probably alludes to those courtezans ( Calmet.) who sung at night, before the palace, and so forth Athen. Dip. xii. 2. The Persians admitted women to their feasts, though they were generally excluded in the East. Esther 1:12. Herod. verse 18.
Bagoas went from the presence of Holofernes, and came in to her, and said, “Let this fair lady not fear to come to my lord, and to be honored in his presence, and to drink wine and be merry with us, and to be made this day as one of the daughters of the children of Asshur who serve in Nebuchadnezzar’s palace.”
Judith said to him, “Who am I, that I should contradict my lord? For whatever would be pleasing in his eyes, I will do speedily, and this will be my joy to the day of my death.”
Verse 14. Best. Greek “a boast, or matter of exultation.” Bible.—This answer seems to shock our delicacy. Did she not understand the meaning of the eunuch, which was sufficiently plain? She only passed a compliment, which always implies a tacit condition, if the thing be practicable and honest: as the words might have two meanings, she was bound in charity to interpret them in the best sense. Calmet.—It was surely lawful to be merry. Menochius.
She arose, and decked herself with her apparel and all her woman’s attire; and her servant went and laid fleeces on the ground for her next to Holofernes, which she had received from Bagoas for her daily use, that she might sit and eat upon them.
Verse 15. Garments. Greek adds, “and all her female ornaments; and her servant came and spread on the ground, before Holofernes, the fleeces which she had received from Bagoas, for her daily use, to eat lying upon them. And coming in, Judith fell prostrate.” Bible.—The custom of sitting on the ground, upon skins, to eat, is very ancient, (Targum, Esther 1.) and is still observed by the Turks. The kings of Persia let none eat with them at the same table. Heraclides. Athen. verse 10.—The character of drunkenness, with which this nation has been branded, seems not unfounded. Calmet.
Judith came in and sat down, and Holofernes’ heart was ravished with her. His passion was aroused, and he exceedingly desired her company. He was watching for a time to deceive her from the day that he had seen her.
Verse 16. Her. Greek adds, “company; and he had sought an opportunity of deluding her, from the day when he first beheld her.” He justly, therefore, fell into the snare which he had laid.
Holofernes said to her, “Drink now, and be merry with us.”
Judith said, “I will drink now, my lord, because my life is magnified in me this day more than all the days since I was born.”
Then she took and ate and drank before him what her servant had prepared.
Holofernes took great delight in her, and drank exceedingly much wine, more than he had drunk at any time in one day since he was born.
Verse 20. Life. Greek adds, “in any one day,” ( Bible.) at supper. Menochius.