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Bible Overview is a wonderful resource for anyone interested in Bible study. Each month we feature a book of the Bible (in order) by Bible scholar and lecturer, Mary Jane Chaignot.
This month we will begin our study of Judith, which is part of the Apocrypha and details the heroic deeds of Judith of Bethulia.
If you want to read some of the history previous to this selection, you can find the earlier books in our archives.
The Bible Time-Line is another quick reference for locating individuals or specific books. We encourage readers to share their Bible study success stories on this site. Email us at overview@biblewise.com to be included on next month's site.
The Book of Judith
- Authorship and Date
- Historical Questions
- Structure
- Summary of Contents
- Nebuchadnezzar’s Military Exploits
- Preparing to Attack Israel
- Judith Enters the Scene
- Judith’s Plan
- Tricking the Assyrians
- Israel is Saved
- Canonical Status
- Outline
Authorship and Date
Most scholars think this book was written around 100 BCE by a Palestinian Jew. This would have been during the Hasmonean period. Scholars argue whether it was intended to support or criticize that regime. It was probably written in Hebrew, though no Hebrew text has ever been discovered.
Historical Questions
The events described in the book of Judith supposedly took place in Assyria, some time during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon. Since both Assyria and Babylon were renowned enemies of Israel, it is highly doubtful this conflation was accidental.
There are, however, several historical inaccuracies in the setting as it is presented. For instance,Nebuchadnezzar wasKing of Babylon, but never ruled from Nineveh as the book says he did. (In fact, his father was among those who led the charge that defeated the Assyrians many years before the events in the book take place. Nineveh was destroyed in that campaign, never to be rebuilt again.)
So, like the Book of Tobit, this book is probably of the genre of a historical novel. Its function would have been to instruct, encourage, and entertain.
Structure
The book of Judith is basically divided into two parts. The first half of the book is all about military maneuverings. It seems tedious but reveals a lot about the characters of Nebuchadnezzar and his general, Holofernes. The whole point of these early chapters is to illustrate the might of the Assyrian nation – they were unstoppable and moved like a dark shadow across the land. These early chapters suggest that the Assyrians were intent on world domination. It also introduces Achior, an Ammonite, who has the real insight on God’s relationship with His people and what might be at stake. By the time Judith arrives on the scene and takes action, the tension has been heightened.
The second half of the book describes how Judith saved Israel from Holofernes and the Babylonian empire.
Summary of Contents
Nebuchadnezzar’s Military Exploits
The first half of the book sets up the story wherein King Nebuchadnezzar intends to do battle with the king of the Medes , who is named Arphaxad in the book although there was never a Median king by this name. Nebuchadnezzar hoped that many of the surrounding nations would join in his endeavors. In fact, he explicitly invited them to do so.
Unfortunately, most of them declined. But not to worry – Nebuchadnezzar easily defeated Arphaxad anyway. (There is, however, a bit of irony at work here. According to historical documents, the Medes and the Babylonians actually defeated the Assyrians in 612 BCE.) After he had been successful in defeating Arphaxad, Nebuchadnezzar turned his sights towards those nations to the west that had rebuffed his request. Among these nations were the areas of Judea and Samaria.
In order to accomplish his mission, Nebuchadnezzar commissioned Holofernes, the general of his army, to gather a huge force and methodically “visit” each nation that had refused to help him. He was also to eliminate their religious sites, so they would only worship Nebuchadnezzar. Holofernes easily destroyed many small towns at will. So, it did not take long for many of the coastal nations to capitulate to his demands. They offered to Holofernes all their dwellings, their fields, their cities and their citizens to do with as he pleased – as long as he “let there be peace.”
Holofernes accepted their offer, and destroyed all their high places, which were places of worship. He was loyal to his commission to destroy all other gods so the nations would only worship Nebuchadnezzar. (This, too, does not square with history. Nebuchadnezzar was not worshiped as a god, but this would be the one deal-killer with the Israelites, who only worshiped one God.)
News of Holofernes’ victories surely preceded him to the borders of Judea. Rather than push forward, however, Holofernes camped below the mountain village of Bethulia. There the army would rest for a month while they replenished their supplies and their spirits.
Preparing to Attack Israel
In order to move through the mountain pass and press onwards to Jerusalem, the Assyrians would have to take Bethulia (though this is another historical inaccuracy). The first order of battle, then, was to establish a siege and to cut off the water supply to the city. It also provided a psychological impact in that it gave the inhabitants of the city plenty of time to ponder their presumed fate. Their only recourse at this point was to pray and to prepare for war.
In chapter five, the action pauses in order to allow Holofernes to interview the local nations to garner more information about the Israelites, who had, by then, managed to fortify the passes through the mountain. Achior, the leader of the Ammonites, offered to tell Holofernes the whole truth, and nothing less. He gave a short history on the Israelites, highlighting the mighty acts of God on their behalf. He propounded a concise version of Deuteronomic history that stated: God will bless them if they have been faithful to his laws and judge them if they have not.
The character of Achior does several things for the story. First, he sets up Judith’s later claim that she abandoned her people precisely because they had been unfaithful. It also placed him in the presence of Holofernes, which enabled him to positively identify his severed head later.
Achior’s counsel, however, did not sit well with Holofernes. Achior said if the Israelites had been sinning, Holofernes would be successful; on the other hand, if they had been obedient to God’s laws, God would be on their side and no force would be strong enough to conquer them. Obviously, this enraged the man who intended to conquer the world for King Nebuchadnezzar. Holofernes then expelled Achior to the Israelites to suffer whatever fate awaited them. The Israelites welcomed Achior and showed him great hospitality.
Judith Enters the Scene
By the time Judith is introduced in the eighth chapter, the Israelites’ water had been cut off and their courage had failed them. They were crying out to God and complaining to the elders and Uzziah, of the tribe of Simeon. (There are echoes of the wilderness at this point – people cry out to God for lack of water and rail against their leaders!) Uzziah tried to encourage them, but finally offered a compromise that only made sense to him. They should wait for five more days. If God had not sent water within that time, they would surrender without condition. The people accepted this and went back to their homes.
Judith was a wealthy widow who spent most of her days in solitude, prayer, and fasting. Despite her seclusion, she heard about the events that had transpired in the town square and sent her maid to invite Uzziah and the elders to her home posthaste. When they arrive, she first upbraided them for their lack of faith. She thought they were trying to put God to the test and that was never a good idea. God was free to choose to help them or not. Then she tells them that they should all know that God would come to their aid because they had been obedient to his laws. They were not worshiping idols, which essentially confirmed the Deuteronomic theology as stated by Achior.
The citizens all knew that Bethulia was the last fortress standing between the Assyrian army and Jerusalem, the capital of Israel. It was inconceivable to Judith that God would allow such destruction at a time when they had been faithful. So even though she accepted that God was free to choose, she also believed that God would, indeed, answer those who had been faithful – and God would do this through them! So, in a deep sense this was not a test of God, but of them. Uzziah and the leaders were persuaded by her wisdom and wanted Judith to pray with them. She, however, had no intentions of praying for rain; she had a much bolder plan and told them to “stand by.”
Judith’s Plan
After purifying herself and praying diligently, Judith was ready to go forth. She put aside her garments of mourning (which she had worn for three and a half years since the death of her husband). She adorned herself with perfume, fine clothes, and jewelry. She took on the identity of a beautiful seductress. Along with her maid, she left through the gates of the city. Any men that saw her were immediately awestruck by her beauty.
It was not long before they approached the Assyrian outpost. The men took her into custody and asked what in the world she was doing there. She replied that she was fleeing her people because they were about to be conquered for violating the laws of God (see, how nicely this fits in with Achior’s prophecy!). She asked to see Holofernes and promised to give him a trustworthy report on how he could take the city without any cost to his army.
Upon seeing her, Holofernes marveled at the beauty of her face and was only too anxious to be gracious to her. Despite her promise to give a “trustworthy report,” Judith equivocated with the truth. She said, “I will say nothing false to my lord.”
Of course Holofernes, thought she was talking about him, but Judith had only one Lord – God. Everything she said to Holofernes was completely deceptive.She could swear by Nebuchadnezzar because he meant nothing to her. Swearing by the God of the Israelites was the only swearing that counted. So Judith cunningly wove words and expounded more Deuteronomic theology – all the while knowing that the Israelites had been a faithful people. She ended by saying, “God has sent me to accomplish with you things that will astonish the world.” Again, this is very ironic. Holofernes was thinking along one line, Judith another.
Tricking the Assyrians
For three days, Judith lived in the Assyrian camp, establishing a pattern and gaining their confidence. Early each morning, she and her maid went out of the camp to pray, which showed her to be in complete control of the situation. The men continued to be smitten with her beauty to the extent that no one questioned any of her movements.
On the fourth day, Holofernes planned a huge banquet for his servants that did not include any of his soldiers. He intended to seduce Judith, yet held her in such high esteem that he was very deferential towards her. She accepted the invitation to attend, and again dressed up in all her finery. She hinted that Holofernes would have his way with her, which only heightened his desire for her.
After drinking way too much wine, Holofernes passed out and his servant gently closed the tent leaving Judith alone with him. She took advantage of the situation and beheaded him, much in the same fashion that Jael killed Sisera with the tent peg or stake (See Judges 4:17-22). Early in the morning, she and the maid left as usual to pray, only this time they had his head in their bag. Again, no one stopped or questioned them.
Israel is Saved
Judith and her servant made their way to Bethulia and shouted for the guards to open the gates letting them in. When all saw the head of Holofernes, there was much rejoicing and praising of God. Achior attested to the identity of Holofernes and converted to Judaism right on the spot.
The next step in Judith’s plan required that the army prepare to go out later that morning. When the Assyrians went to awaken their commanders, they would find Holofernes dead. She said they would panic and only then should the Israelites attack them. Everything worked like clockwork, and just as Judith prophesied. When the eunuch went to awaken Holofernes, he exclaimed, “One Hebrew woman has brought disgrace on the house of King Nebuchadnezzar.”
That pretty much summed it up. The Israelites plundered the Assyrian camp for a month. The story ended with dancing and a song praising God, which echoes the song of Moses at the Red Sea. The elders blessed Judith, who resumed her solitary life on her estate.
But it is hard to imagine that her life was the same as before this incident. She continued to live on her husband’s estate and was buried in his tomb. Throughout her story there are echoes of Sarah, Moses (as an intermediary), and the many judges that God raised up to save his people. Because of Judith, the land had peace for many years. There is no doubt that she is the idealized person. Her piety is unquestionable, yet she doesn’t hesitate to lie or use her beauty in the interest of saving the Israelites. She remains a complex character and one of the esteemed heroines of Judah.
Canonical Status
Like many of the books of the Apocrypha, Judith was part of the early canon in the Christian Bible, but is not part of the Protestant canon. There are several possible reasons it was not included in the Protestant canon.
The first is perhaps the most disquieting aspect of this book – the role of deceit and the violation of hospitality. Another is how Judith used the episode of Simeon and Levi in Genesis 34 (the violation of Dinah and the subsequent killing of the Shechemites) as part of her prayer in 9:2-4. Judith saw them as models to be emulated for what she was about to do. All these examples, of course, are culturally bound and tied to the sense of honor and shame.
Also, Nebuchadnezzar’s revenge was occasioned by the refusal of the western nations to join his campaign against Arphaxad. Holofernes claimed divine status for Nebuchadnezzar, saying “What god is there except Nebuchadnezzar?” (6:2) Judith intended to decisively answer that question. She understood that it was God’s honor that was at stake and that the people had a responsibility to safeguard His honor. In that context, deceit and empty oaths were a necessary means to an end. She also transformed herself as one who was about to betray her people. Holofernes was so awed by her beauty that he never questioned any of her motives.
Last, of course, is the fact that Judith was a woman during the intertestamental period. She was not the stereotypical widow – poor and without a place in that society. Indeed, when she invited Uzziah and the elders to her home, they went. She upbraided them for their poor decisions and lectured them on theological points. She used her sexuality to deliver an entire town. This hardly fits with what scholars think they know about the role of women in the first century.
These may be the reasons why the book never became canonical. The book certainly shows a lot of piety and relies heavily on God (unlike Esther, which never mentions God). Other scholars, however, think it might have been ignored because of Achior’s conversion. Deuteronomy 23:3 specifically states that an Ammonite or Moabite should never enter the congregation of the Lord. It is possible that first century rabbis could not reconcile the two. The simplest suggestion, of course, is that it was written too late to be included.
Outline
There are roughly eight sections to this letter: 1:1-16 – War Between the Kings; 2:1-3:10 – Nebuchadnezzar’s Revenge; 4:1-7:32 – The Jews Refused to Surrender; 8:1-9:14 – Judith and Her Plan; 10:1-13:10 – Judith’s Encounter with Holofernes; 13:11-15:7 – The Impact of Holofernes’ Death; 15:8-16:20 – Victory and Praise; 16:21-25 – Death of Judith
Here’s a quick outline of the entire book. |
