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But when the evening had come, his servants hurried to depart. Bagoas shut the tent outside, and dismissed those who waited from the presence of his lord. They went away to their beds; for they were all weary, because the feast had been long.
Verse 1. Doors. Greek adds, “without,” yet so that Judith could open them. Calmet.
But Judith was left alone in the tent, with Holofernes lying along upon his bed; for he was drunk with wine.
Judith had said to her servant that she should stand outside her bedchamber, and wait for her to come out, as she did daily; for she said she would go out to her prayer. She spoke to Bagoas according to the same words.
All went away from her presence, and none was left in the bedchamber, small or great. Judith, standing by his bed, said in her heart, O Lord God of all power, look in this hour upon the works of my hands for the exaltation of Jerusalem.
Verse 4. Drunk. Greek “drowned in wine.”
For now is the time to help your inheritance, and to do the thing that I have purposed to the destruction of the enemies which have risen up against us.
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.
She came to the bedpost which was at Holofernes’ head, and took down his sword from there.
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.
She drew near to the bed, took hold of the hair of his head, and said, “Strengthen me, O Lord God of Israel, this day.”
Verse 7. Raise up. If Bethulia had been taken, perhaps ( Bible.) Jerusalem had also fallen. Worthington.
She struck twice upon his neck with all her might and cut off his head,
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.
tumbled his body down from the bed, and took down the canopy from the posts. After a little while she went out, and gave Holofernes’ head to her maid;
and she put it in her bag of food. They both went out together to prayer, according to their custom. They passed through the camp, circled around that valley, and went up to the mountain of Bethulia, and came to its gates.
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 said afar off to the watchmen at the gates, “Open, open the gate, now. God is with us, even our God, to show his power yet in Israel, and his might against the enemy, as he has done even this day.”
Verse 11. While, having composed herself, ( Bible.) and done every thing necessary to prevent detection. Menochius.
It came to pass, when the men of her city heard her voice, they made haste to go down to the gate of their city, and they called together the elders of the city.
They all ran together, both small and great, for it seemed unbelievable to them that she had come. They opened the gate and received them, making a fire to give light, and surrounded them.
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.
She said to them with a loud voice, “Praise God! Praise him! Praise God, who has not taken away his mercy from the house of Israel, but has destroyed our enemies by my hand tonight!”
Verse 14. That. Greek “they hastened to descend to the gate of their city, and called,” and so forth
Then she took the head out of the bag and showed it, and said to them, “Behold, the head of Holofernes, the chief captain of the army of Asshur, and behold, the canopy under which he laid in his drunkenness. The Lord struck him by the hand of a woman.
Verse 15. Had now. Greek “it was a paradox to them that she should come, and they opened the gate, and received them.”
And as the Lord lives, who preserved me in my way that I went, my countenance deceived him to his destruction, and he didn’t commit sin with me, to defile and shame me.”
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.
All the people were exceedingly amazed, and bowed themselves, and worshiped God, and said with one accord, “Blessed are you, O our God, who have this day humiliated the enemies of your people.”
Ozias said to her, “Blessed are you, daughter, in the sight of the Most High God, above all the women upon the earth; and blessed is the Lord God, who created the heavens and the earth, who directed you to cut off the head of the prince of our enemies.
For your hope will not depart from the heart of men that remember the strength of God forever.
Verse 19. Drunkenness. “The fasting of one woman overthrew an innumerable host of drunkards. Saint Ambrose de jej. ix. Worthington.
May God turn these things to you for a perpetual praise, to visit you with good things, because you didn’t spare your life by reason of the affliction of our race, but prevented our ruin, walking a straight way before our God.” And all the people said, “Amen! Amen!”
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.