Holofernes

19Then the people of Israel cried out to the Lord their God. Their hearts had given way. All their enemies were around them on every side. There was no way to escape from them.

Then the children of Israel cried unto the Lord their God, because their heart failed, for all their enemies had compassed them round about, and there was no way to escape out from among them.

Note"Their hearts had given way" means they lost all their courage.

20The whole army of Assur stayed around them for thirty-four days. There were foot soldiers, chariots, and horsemen. Every water jar of the people of Bethulia ran dry.

Thus all the company of Assur remained about them, both their footmen, chariots, and horsemen, four and thirty days, so that all their vessels of water failed all the inhibitants of Bethulia.

NoteAssur is another name for Assyria, where the army came from. Chariots were carts pulled by horses that men rode into battle.

21The cisterns were empty. They did not have enough water to drink their fill for even one day. Water was handed out in small measured amounts.

And the cisterns were emptied, and they had not water to drink their fill for one day; for they gave them drink by measure.

NoteA cistern is a big tank dug into the ground to hold rain water. Towns saved water in them for days when no rain came.

22So the little children lost heart. The women and the young men grew weak from thirst. They fell down in the streets of the city and by the gates. There was no strength left in them.

Therefore their young children were out of heart, and their women and young men fainted for thirst, and fell down in the streets of the city, and by the passages of the gates, and there was no longer any strength in them.

23Then all the people came together to Ozias and the leaders of the city. Young men, women, and children cried out with a loud voice. They said in front of all the elders,

Then all the people assembled to Ozias, and to the chief of the city, both young men, and women, and children, and cried with a loud voice, and said before all the elders,

NoteOzias was the leader of the town of Bethulia. The elders were the older men who made decisions for the town.

24"Let God judge between us and you. You have done us a great wrong. You did not ask the children of Assur for peace.

God be judge between us and you: for ye have done us great injury, in that ye have not required peace of the children of Assur.

Note"Let God judge between us and you" means: let God say who is right.

25Now we have no one to help us. God has sold us into their hands. We are falling down in front of them from thirst and great ruin.

For now we have no helper: but God hath sold us into their hands, that we should be thrown down before them with thirst and great destruction.

Note"Sold us into their hands" is a way of saying God let their enemies win. They felt handed over like servants sold to a new master.

26So call them here now. Hand over the whole city to Holofernes's people and to all his army. Let them take everything.

Now therefore call them unto you, and deliver the whole city for a spoil to the people of Holofernes, and to all his army.

27It is better for them to take us than for us to die of thirst. We will be his servants, and we will stay alive. We will not watch our babies die in front of us. We will not watch our wives and our children die.

For it is better for us to be made a spoil unto them, than to die for thirst: for we will be his servants, that our souls may live, and not see the death of our infants before our eyes, nor our wives nor our children to die.

NoteBeing his servants meant belonging to the winners and working for them. The people thought that was better than dying of thirst.

28We call heaven and earth to be witnesses against you. We call our God, the Lord of our fathers, who punishes us for our sins and for the sins of our fathers. Do what we have said today!"

We take to witness against you the heaven and the earth, and our God and Lord of our fathers, which punisheth us according to our sins and the sins of our fathers, that he do not according as we have said this day.

NoteA witness is someone who sees what happens and can tell about it. Calling heaven and earth as witnesses made their words a very serious promise.

29Then everyone in the meeting wept together. They cried out to the Lord God with a loud voice.

Then there was great weeping with one consent in the midst of the assembly; and they cried unto the Lord God with a loud voice.

30Then Ozias said to them, "Brothers, be brave. Let us hold on five more days. In that time the Lord our God will turn his mercy toward us. He will not leave us for good.

Then said Ozias to them, Brethren, be of good courage, let us yet endure five days, in the which space the Lord our God may turn his mercy toward us; for he will not forsake us utterly.

NoteHere "brothers" means everyone in his town, not just his family. Mercy means being kind to someone who is in trouble.

31But if those days pass and no help comes to us, I will do what you say."

And if these days pass, and there come no help unto us, I will do according to your word.

32Then he sent the people away, each one to his own place to guard. They went to the walls and the towers of their city. He sent the women and children into their houses. The people in the city were brought very low.

And he dispersed the people, every one to their own charge; and they went unto the walls and towers of their city, and sent the women and children into their houses: and they were very low brought in the city.

Note"His own place to guard" was his own spot on the city wall. "Brought very low" means they were sad and had no hope left.

11The two of them went straight on through the valley. The first Assyrian guards met her.

Thus they went straight forth in the valley: and the first watch of the Assyrians met her,

NoteThe Assyrians were soldiers from a faraway country. Their huge army had come to attack Judith's people. Guards took turns watching at night. Each turn was called a watch.

12They took hold of her. They asked, "Who are your people? Where do you come from? Where are you going?" She said, "I am a woman of the Hebrews. I have run away from them. They are about to be handed over to you to be destroyed.

And took her, and asked her, Of what people art thou? and whence comest thou? and whither goest thou? And she said, I am a woman of the Hebrews, and am fled from them: for they shall be given you to be consumed:

NoteHebrews is another name for the people of Israel, Judith's people.

13I am going to Holofernes, the chief captain of your army. I will tell him words that are true. I will show him a way he can go. He will win all the hill country. He will not lose one single man."

And I am coming before Holofernes the chief captain of your army, to declare words of truth; and I will shew him a way, whereby he shall go, and win all the hill country, without losing the body or life of any one of his men.

NoteA chief captain is the leader of a whole army. The hill country is the high, bumpy land where Judith's people lived.

14The men heard her words and looked at her face. Her beauty amazed them very much. They said to her,

Now when the men heard her words, and beheld her countenance, they wondered greatly at her beauty, and said unto her,

15"You have saved your life by hurrying down to our master. Now come to his tent. Some of us will go with you. We will hand you over to him.

Thou hast saved thy life, in that thou hast hasted to come down to the presence of our lord: now therefore come to his tent, and some of us shall conduct thee, until they have delivered thee to his hands.

NoteBy "our master" they mean Holofernes, the leader of their army.

16When you stand in front of him, do not be afraid inside. Tell him just what you told us. He will treat you well."

And when thou standest before him, be not afraid in thine heart, but shew unto him according to thy word; and he will entreat thee well.

17They picked a hundred men from among themselves. Those men went along with her and her servant. They brought her to the tent of Holofernes.

Then they chose out of them an hundred men to accompany her and her maid; and they brought her to the tent of Holofernes.

18A big crowd stirred all through the camp. The news that she had come spread among the tents. They came and stood all around her, outside the tent of Holofernes. They waited until someone told him about her.

Then was there a concourse throughout all the camp: for her coming was noised among the tents, and they came about her, as she stood without the tent of Holofernes, till they told him of her.

NoteThe camp was where the whole army lived in rows of tents.

19They were amazed at how beautiful she was. Because of her, they were amazed at the people of Israel too. Each man said to the man beside him, "Who would look down on a people with women like this? It is not good to leave even one of their men alive. If they are let go, they could fool the whole world."

And they wondered at her beauty, and admired the children of Israel because of her, and every one said to his neighbour, Who would despise this people, that have among them such women? surely it is not good that one man of them be left who being let go might deceive the whole earth.

20The men who slept near Holofernes came out. All his servants came out too. They brought her into the tent.

And they that lay near Holofernes went out, and all his servants and they brought her into the tent.

NoteThese were the guards who slept close to Holofernes to keep him safe.

21Holofernes was resting on his bed. A cloth hung above it like a roof. It was woven with purple, gold, emeralds, and precious stones.

Now Holofernes rested upon his bed under a canopy, which was woven with purple, and gold, and emeralds, and precious stones.

NotePurple cloth cost a great deal of money. Only very rich and powerful people had it. Emeralds are green jewels.

22So they told him about her. He came out to the space in front of his tent. Silver lamps went before him.

So they shewed him of her; and he came out before his tent with silver lamps going before him.

NoteLamps were small bowls of oil with a burning wick. Silver ones showed that Holofernes was important.

23Judith came and stood in front of him and his servants. They were all amazed at her beautiful face. She fell down on her face and bowed low to him. His servants lifted her back up.

And when Judith was come before him and his servants they all marvelled at the beauty of her countenance; and she fell down upon her face, and did reverence unto him: and his servants took her up.

NoteLying face down on the ground was how people showed respect to a ruler. It was a polite greeting, like a very deep bow.

1Holofernes said to her, "Woman, cheer up. Do not be afraid inside your heart. I have never hurt anyone who was willing to serve Nabuchodonosor, the king of all the earth.

Then said Holofernes unto her, Woman, be of good comfort, fear not in thine heart: for I never hurt any that was willing to serve Nabuchodonosor, the king of all the earth.

NoteHolofernes was the general, the man leading the huge army outside the town. Nabuchodonosor was his king. That king wanted every country in the world to obey him.

2Your people live up in the mountains. If they had not treated me as nothing, I would not have raised my spear against them. They brought this on themselves.

Now therefore, if thy people that dwelleth in the mountains had not set light by me, I would not have lifted up my spear against them: but they have done these things to themselves.

NoteTo "raise my spear against them" means to go to war with them.

3Now tell me why you ran away from them and came to us. You have come here to be safe. Cheer up! You will live tonight, and after this too.

But now tell me wherefore thou art fled from them, and art come unto us: for thou art come for safeguard; be of good comfort, thou shalt live this night, and hereafter:

4No one will hurt you. Everyone will treat you well. That is how the servants of my lord King Nabuchodonosor are treated."

For none shall hurt thee, but entreat thee well, as they do the servants of king Nabuchodonosor my lord.

5Then Judith said to him, "Please listen to the words of your servant. Let me speak while I stand before you. I will not tell my lord one lie tonight.

Then Judith said unto him, Receive the words of thy servant, and suffer thine handmaid to speak in thy presence, and I will declare no lie to my lord this night.

NoteJudith calls herself "your servant." That was a polite way to speak to a powerful man. It does not mean she really worked for him.

6If you follow the words of your servant, God will finish this work perfectly through you. My lord will not fail to do what he plans.

And if thou wilt follow the words of thine handmaid, God will bring the thing perfectly to pass by thee; and my lord shall not fail of his purposes.

7As surely as Nabuchodonosor, king of all the earth, lives, and as his power lives! He sent you to keep every living thing safe. Not only do people serve him through you. The wild animals, the cattle, and the birds of the sky will live by your strength, under Nabuchodonosor and all his household.

As Nabuchodonosor king of all the earth liveth, and as his power liveth, who hath sent thee for the upholding of every living thing: for not only men shall serve him by thee, but also the beasts of the field, and the cattle, and the fowls of the air, shall live by thy power under Nabuchodonosor and all his house.

NoteSaying "as surely as the king lives" was a way of making a promise. It meant the words that came next were really true.

8We have heard about your wisdom and your clever plans. The whole earth says that you alone are brave in all the kingdom. You have great knowledge. You do wonderful things in war.

For we have heard of thy wisdom and thy policies, and it is reported in all the earth, that thou only art excellent in all the kingdom, and mighty in knowledge, and wonderful in feats of war.

9Now about the thing Achior said in your meeting. We heard his words. The men of Bethulia saved him, and he told them everything he had said to you.

Now as concerning the matter, which Achior did speak in thy council, we have heard his words; for the men of Bethulia saved him, and he declared unto them all that he had spoken unto thee.

NoteAchior was a leader who had spoken to Holofernes earlier. He said these people could not be beaten unless they sinned. Bethulia was the mountain town where Judith lived.

10So, my lord and master, do not push his words aside. Keep them in your heart, because they are true. Our people will not be punished. No sword can beat them, unless they sin against their God.

Therefore, O lord and governor, respect not his word; but lay it up in thine heart, for it is true: for our nation shall not be punished, neither can sword prevail against them, except they sin against their God.

NoteTo sin means to do what God has said not to do. "No sword can beat them" means no army can win against them.

11And now, so my lord will not be beaten or stopped from what he wants, death is falling on them. Their sin has caught up with them. They will make their God angry whenever they do what should not be done.

And now, that my lord be not defeated and frustrate of his purpose, even death is now fallen upon them, and their sin hath overtaken them, wherewith they will provoke their God to anger whensoever they shall do that which is not fit to be done:

12Their food has run out. All their water is almost gone. They have decided to kill their animals for food. They plan to eat the very things God's laws told them not to eat.

For their victuals fail them, and all their water is scant, and they have determined to lay hands upon their cattle, and purposed to consume all those things, that God hath forbidden them to eat by his laws:

NoteGod had given his people rules about food. Some animals were not allowed to be eaten at all.

13They have also made up their minds to use the first part of the harvest. They will use the tenth part of the wine and oil too. They had set those apart for the priests who serve before our God in Jerusalem. None of the people are even allowed to touch those things with their hands.

And are resolved to spend the firstfruits of the tenths of wine and oil, which they had sanctified, and reserved for the priests that serve in Jerusalem before the face of our God; the which things it is not lawful for any of the people so much as to touch with their hands.

NoteThe first part of a harvest was given to God as a thank you. People also gave one basket out of every ten. Priests were the men whose job was to serve God at the temple. Those gifts belonged to God, so no one else could touch them.

14They have sent some men to Jerusalem to bring back permission from the council of elders. The people who live there have been doing the same thing.

For they have sent some to Jerusalem, because they also that dwell there have done the like, to bring them a licence from the senate.

NoteThe council of elders was a group of older leaders in Jerusalem. People asked them whenever a hard question came up.

15When the word comes back to them, they will do it right away. On that same day they will be handed over to you to be destroyed.

Now when they shall bring them word, they will forthwith do it, and they shall be given to thee to be destroyed the same day.

16I am your servant, and I knew all this. That is why I ran away from them. God sent me to do things with you that will amaze the whole earth. Everyone who hears about it will be amazed.

Wherefore I thine handmaid, knowing all this, am fled from their presence; and God hath sent me to work things with thee, whereat all the earth shall be astonished, and whosoever shall hear it.

17Your servant loves God. I serve the God of heaven day and night. So now, my lord, I will stay with you. At night your servant will go out into the valley. I will pray to God, and he will tell me when they have sinned.

For thy servant is religious, and serveth the God of heaven day and night: now therefore, my lord, I will remain with thee, and thy servant will go out by night into the valley, and I will pray unto God, and he will tell me when they have committed their sins:

18Then I will come and tell you. Then you can march out with your whole army. Not one of them will be able to stop you.

And I will come and shew it unto thee: then thou shalt go forth with all thine army, and there shall be none of them that shall resist thee.

19I will lead you right through the middle of Judea, until you come to Jerusalem. I will set your throne in the middle of it. You will drive them like sheep with no shepherd. Not even a dog will open its mouth at you. These things were told to me before they happened. They were made known to me, and I was sent to tell you."

And I will lead thee through the midst of Judea, until thou come before Jerusalem; and I will set thy throne in the midst thereof; and thou shalt drive them as sheep that have no shepherd, and a dog shall not so much as open his mouth at thee: for these things were told me according to my foreknowledge, and they were declared unto me, and I am sent to tell thee.

NoteJudea was the land where Judith's people lived. Jerusalem was their most important city. A throne is a king's special chair. Putting your throne in a city means you now rule it. Sheep with no shepherd get lost and run every way. And a dog not opening its mouth means no one even makes a sound at you.

20Her words pleased Holofernes and all his servants. They were amazed at how wise she was, and they said,

Then her words pleased Holofernes and all his servants; and they marvelled at her wisdom, and said,

21"There is no woman like her from one end of the earth to the other. No one has such a beautiful face and such wise words."

There is not such a woman from one end of the earth to the other, both for beauty of face, and wisdom of words.

22Holofernes also said to her, "God did well to send you ahead of your people. Now strength will be in our hands. Those who treated my lord as nothing will be destroyed.

Likewise Holofernes said unto her. God hath done well to send thee before the people, that strength might be in our hands and destruction upon them that lightly regard my lord.

Note"Strength will be in our hands" is a way of saying, we will win.

23Your face is beautiful, and your words are wise. If you do just what you have said, your God will be my God. You will live in the palace of King Nabuchodonosor. You will be famous all over the earth."

And now thou art both beautiful in thy countenance, and witty in thy words: surely if thou do as thou hast spoken thy God shall be my God, and thou shalt dwell in the house of king Nabuchodonosor, and shalt be renowned through the whole earth.

NoteSaying "your God will be my God" meant he would worship her God too.

1Holofernes said to bring Judith in where his silver dishes were set out. He told his servants to fix her some of his own food. She was to drink his own wine too.

Then he commanded to bring her in where his plate was set; and bade that they should prepare for her of his own meats, and that she should drink of his own wine.

NoteHolofernes was the general leading the huge army camped outside Judith's town.

2Judith said, "I will not eat it. It might make me do wrong. Let my food be the food I brought with me."

And Judith said, I will not eat thereof, lest there be an offence: but provision shall be made for me of the things that I have brought.

NoteGod had given Judith's people rules about which foods they could eat. Eating the general's food would break those rules.

3Holofernes said to her, "But what if your food runs out? Where would we get more like it? No one here is from your people."

Then Holofernes said unto her, If thy provision should fail, how should we give thee the like? for there be none with us of thy nation.

4Judith said to him, "As surely as you live, my lord, my food will last. It will not run out before the Lord does through me what he has planned."

Then said Judith unto him As thy soul liveth, my lord, thine handmaid shall not spend those things that I have, before the Lord work by mine hand the things that he hath determined.

Note"As thy soul liveth" was a strong way of promising. It means "this is as true as the fact that you are alive."

5Then the servants of Holofernes brought her into the tent. She slept until the middle of the night. She got up near the morning watch.

Then the servants of Holofernes brought her into the tent, and she slept till midnight, and she arose when it was toward the morning watch,

NoteThe night was split into parts called watches. Guards took turns watching while everyone slept. The morning watch was the last part, just before the sun came up.

6She sent word to Holofernes. She said, "Please let my lord give an order. Let your servant go out to pray."

And sent to Holofernes, saving, Let my lord now command that thine handmaid may go forth unto prayer.

NoteJudith calls herself "thine handmaid," which means "your servant." It was a polite way to speak to someone powerful.

7So Holofernes told his guards not to stop her. She stayed in the camp for three days. Each night she went out into the valley of Bethulia. She washed herself at the spring of water in the camp.

Then Holofernes commanded his guard that they should not stay her: thus she abode in the camp three days, and went out in the night into the valley of Bethulia, and washed herself in a fountain of water by the camp.

NoteBethulia was Judith's own town. This army had come to take it. A camp is the field of tents where soldiers sleep.

8When she came up out of the water, she prayed to the Lord God of Israel. She asked him to guide her way, so her people's children would be raised up.

And when she came out, she besought the Lord God of Israel to direct her way to the raising up of the children of her people.

Note"Raised up" here means helped and made strong again. Judith was asking God to save her town.

9She came back in clean. She stayed in the tent until she ate her food toward evening.

So she came in clean, and remained in the tent, until she did eat her meat at evening.

NoteWashing was part of getting ready to pray. Coming in "clean" means she was ready to talk to God.

10On the fourth day Holofernes made a feast. He invited only his own servants. He did not call any of his officers to the meal.

And in the fourth day Holofernes made a feast to his own servants only, and called none of the officers to the banquet.

11He said to Bagoas the eunuch, who took care of everything he owned, "Go now to the Hebrew woman who is with you. Talk her into coming to us. Ask her to eat and drink with us."

Then said he to Bagoas the eunuch, who had charge over all that he had, Go now, and persuade this Hebrew woman which is with thee, that she come unto us, and eat and drink with us.

NoteA eunuch was a special servant in a great house. He was trusted to look after everything his master owned.

12"Look, it would shame us to let such a woman go without having her with us. If we do not win her over, she will laugh at us."

For, lo, it will be a shame for our person, if we shall let such a woman go, not having had her company; for if we draw her not unto us, she will laugh us to scorn.

Note"Laugh us to scorn" means laugh at us and make fun of us.

13So Bagoas left Holofernes and went to her. He said, "Do not be afraid, fair young woman. Come to my lord. You will be honored in front of him. Drink wine and be happy with us. Today you can be like one of the Assyrian daughters who serve in the house of Nabuchodonosor."

Then went Bagoas from the presence of Holofernes, and came to her, and he said, Let not this fair damsel fear to come to my lord, and to be honoured in his presence, and drink wine, and be merry with us and be made this day as one of the daughters of the Assyrians, which serve in the house of Nabuchodonosor.

NoteThe Assyrians were the people this army came from. Nabuchodonosor was their king. His name is also spelled Nebuchadnezzar.

14Judith said to him, "Who am I to say no to my lord? I will quickly do whatever pleases him. It will be my joy until the day I die."

Then said Judith unto him, Who am I now, that I should gainsay my lord? surely whatsoever pleaseth him I will do speedily, and it shall be my joy unto the day of my death.

Note"Gainsay" is an old word. It means to say no to someone, or to argue back.

15So she got up and dressed in her fine clothes and all her woman's things. Her maid went and spread soft fleeces on the ground for her, across from Holofernes. Bagoas had given them to her to use each day, so she could sit and eat on them.

So she arose, and decked herself with her apparel and all her woman’s attire, and her maid went and laid soft skins on the ground for her over against Holofernes, which she had received of Bagoas for her daily use, that she might sit and eat upon them.

NoteFleeces are soft woolly skins from sheep. People sat on the ground to eat, so soft skins made a comfortable seat.

16Judith came in and sat down. The heart of Holofernes was carried away by her. His feelings were stirred, and he wanted her with him very much. Since the day he first saw her, he had been waiting for a time to trick her.

Now when Judith came in and sat down, Holofernes his heart was ravished with her, and his mind was moved, and he desired greatly her company; for he waited a time to deceive her, from the day that he had seen her.

17Holofernes said to her, "Drink now, and be happy with us."

Then said Holofernes unto her, Drink now, and be merry with us.

18Judith said, "I will drink now, my lord. Today my life is greater to me than any day since I was born."

So 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.

NoteJudith's words could mean two things. Holofernes thought she was happy to be at his feast. She meant something else that only she knew.

19Then she took what her maid had made ready. She ate it and drank in front of him.

Then she took and ate and drank before him what her maid had prepared.

20Holofernes was very pleased with her. He drank far more wine than he had ever drunk in one day since he was born.

And Holofernes took great delight in her, and drank more wine than he had drunk at any time in one day since he was born.

1When evening came, his servants hurried away. Bagoas shut the tent from the outside. He sent away the ones who served his master. They all went to bed, tired, because the feast had been long.

Now when the evening was come, his servants made haste to depart, and Bagoas shut his tent without, and dismissed the waiters from the presence of his lord; and they went to their beds: for they were all weary, because the feast had been long.

NoteBagoas was the servant in charge of Holofernes' tent. He looked after his master's meals and guests.

2Judith was left alone in the tent. Holofernes lay alone on his bed. He was drunk with wine.

And Judith was left alone in the tent, and Holofernes lying alone upon his bed: for he was filled with wine.

NoteHolofernes was the general of the huge army camped outside Judith's town. Drunk means he had drunk so much wine that he could not think or move well.

3Judith had told her maid to stand outside the bedroom and wait for her to come out. The maid did this every day. Judith had said she was going out to pray. She told Bagoas the same thing.

Now Judith had commanded her maid to stand without her bedchamber, and to wait for her. coming forth, as she did daily: for she said she would go forth to her prayers, and she spake to Bagoas according to the same purpose.

NoteA maid is a servant. This maid went everywhere with Judith and helped her.

4So everyone went out. No one at all was left in the bedroom. Judith stood by his bed and said in her heart, "O Lord God of all power, look now at the work of my hands, to lift up Jerusalem."

So all went forth and none was left in the bedchamber, neither little nor great. Then Judith, standing by his bed, said in her heart, O Lord God of all power, look at this present upon the works of mine hands for the exaltation of Jerusalem.

Note"Said in her heart" means she prayed quietly, without speaking out loud. Jerusalem was the most important city of her people.

5"Now is the time to help your inheritance. Do the thing I have planned, to break the enemies who have risen up against us."

For now is the time to help thine inheritance, and to execute thine enterprizes to the destruction of the enemies which are risen against us.

Note"Your inheritance" means God's own people, Israel. An inheritance is something precious that belongs to a family.

6Then she came to the post of the bed by Holofernes' head. She took his sword down from there.

Then she came to the pillar of the bed, which was at Holofernes’ head, and took down his fauchion from thence,

NoteThe King James calls the sword a "fauchion." That was a heavy sword with a curved blade.

7She came close to the bed. She took hold of the hair of his head. She said, "Make me strong, O Lord God of Israel, today."

And approached to his bed, and took hold of the hair of his head, and said, Strengthen me, O Lord God of Israel, this day.

8She struck his neck twice with all her strength. She cut his head off.

And she smote twice upon his neck with all her might, and she took away his head from him.

9She pushed his body down off the bed. She pulled the canopy down from the posts. A little later she went out. She gave Holofernes' head to her maid.

And tumbled his body down from the bed, and pulled down the canopy from the pillars; and anon after she went forth, and gave Holofernes his head to her maid;

NoteA canopy is a cloth roof hung over a bed. Rich people slept under one.

10The maid put it in her bag of food. Then the two of them went out together to pray, the way they always did. They passed through the camp, went around the valley, and up the mountain of Bethulia. They came to its gates.

And she put it in her bag of meat: so they twain went together according to their custom unto prayer: and when they passed the camp, they compassed the valley, and went up the mountain of Bethulia, and came to the gates thereof.

NoteJudith carried her own food from home. She would not eat food from the enemy camp. She and her maid had walked out to pray every night, so the guards were used to seeing them go.

11From far off Judith called to the watchmen at the gate. "Open, open the gate now! God is with us, our own God. He is still showing his power in Jerusalem, and his strength against the enemy, as he has done today."

Then said Judith afar off, to the watchmen at the gate, Open, open now the gate: God, even our God, is with us, to shew his power yet in Jerusalem, and his forces against the enemy, as he hath even done this day.

NoteWatchmen were men who stood guard. They watched from the wall for enemies coming.

12When the men of her city heard her voice, they hurried down to the gate. They called for the elders of the city.

Now when the men of her city heard her voice, they made haste to go down to the gate of their city, and they called the elders of the city.

NoteThe elders were the older men who made decisions for the city.

13They all ran together, small and great. They could hardly believe she had come. So they opened the gate and let the two women in. They made a fire to give light and stood all around them.

And then they ran all together, both small and great, for it was strange unto them that she was come: so they opened the gate, and received them, and made a fire for a light, and stood round about them.

Note"Small and great" means everyone, children and grown-ups together. There were no lamps in the street, so they lit a fire to see.

14Then she said to them in a loud voice, "Praise God! Praise God! Praise God, I say! He has not taken his mercy away from the house of Israel. Tonight he destroyed our enemies by my hands."

Then she said to them with a loud voice, Praise, praise God, praise God, I say, for he hath not taken away his mercy from the house of Israel, but hath destroyed our enemies by mine hands this night.

Note"The house of Israel" means all the people of Israel, like one big family. Mercy means kindness, even when you do not have to give it.

15She took the head out of the bag and showed it. She said, "Look, the head of Holofernes, the chief captain of the army of Assur. And look at the canopy he lay under while he was drunk. The Lord struck him down by the hand of a woman."

So she took the head out of the bag, and shewed it, and said unto them, behold the head of Holofernes, the chief captain of the army of Assur, and behold the canopy, wherein he did lie in his drunkenness; and the Lord hath smitten him by the hand of a woman.

NoteAssur is another name for Assyria, a strong country far away. Its army had come to attack Judith's town. The chief captain was the leader over the whole army.

16"As surely as the Lord lives, he kept me safe on the way I went. My face fooled him, and it ruined him. But he did not sin with me. He did not shame me or make me unclean."

As the Lord liveth, who hath kept me in my way that I went, my countenance hath deceived him to his destruction, and yet hath he not committed sin with me, to defile and shame me.

Note"As surely as the Lord lives" was a strong promise. It was like saying, "I really mean this." Unclean here does not mean dirty. It means not ready to come and worship God.

17All the people were greatly amazed. They bowed down and worshiped God. They said together, "Blessed are you, our God. Today you have brought the enemies of your people to nothing."

Then all the people were wonderfully astonished, and bowed themselves and worshipped God, and said with one accord, Blessed be thou, O our God, which hast this day brought to nought the enemies of thy people.

Note"Blessed are you" was a way of praising God and thanking him.

18Then Ozias said to her, "Daughter, the Most High God has blessed you above all the women on earth. And blessed be the Lord God, who made the heavens and the earth. He led you to cut off the head of the chief of our enemies."

Then said Ozias unto her, O daughter, blessed art thou of the most high God above all the women upon the earth; and blessed be the Lord God, which hath created the heavens and the earth, which hath directed thee to the cutting off of the head of the chief of our enemies.

NoteOzias was one of the leaders of Judith's town. "Most High God" means the God who is above everything.

19"Your trust in God will not leave the hearts of people who remember God's power forever."

For this thy confidence shall not depart from the heart of men, which remember the power of God for ever.

NoteThis means people will keep remembering how much Judith trusted God.

20"May God turn all this into praise for you that never ends. May he come to you with good things. You did not hold back your own life when our nation was hurting. You stopped our downfall, and you walked a straight path before our God." And all the people said, "So be it! So be it!"

And God turn these things to thee for a perpetual praise, to visit thee in good things because thou hast not spared thy life for the affliction of our nation, but hast revenged our ruin, walking a straight way before our God. And all the people said; So be it, so be it.

Note"So be it" is what the word "amen" means. People said it to show they agreed with a prayer.

1Then Judith said to them, "Listen to me now, my brothers. Take this head. Hang it on the highest part of your wall."

Then said Judith unto them, Hear me now, my brethren, and take this head, and hang it upon the highest place of your walls.

NotePutting an enemy leader's head on the wall showed everyone that he was dead. "My brothers" here means the men of her town, not her own family.

2"As soon as morning comes and the sun rises, each man must take his weapons. Every brave man must go out of the city. Choose a captain, a leader, to go in front of them. March as if you will go down to the flat land, toward the Assyrian guards. But do not go down."

And so soon as the morning shall appear, and the sun shall come forth upon the earth, take ye every one his weapons, and go forth every valiant man out of the city, and set ye a captain over them, as though ye would go down into the field toward the watch of the Assyrians; but go not down.

NoteThe Assyrians were soldiers from a faraway land. They had come with a huge army to attack Judith's town.

3"Then the Assyrians will take up their armor. They will go into their camp. They will wake the leaders of the army of Assur. They will run to the tent of Holofernes. They will not find him. Then fear will fall on them. They will run away from you."

Then they shall take their armour, and shall go into their camp, and raise up the captains of the army of Assur, and shall run to the tent of Holofernes, but shall not find him: then fear shall fall upon them, and they shall flee before your face.

NoteArmor is hard clothing that soldiers wore so they would not get hurt. Assur is another name for Assyria, the land these soldiers came from.

4"Then you, and all who live along the borders of Israel, will chase them. You will strike them down as they go."

So ye, and all that inhabit the coast of Israel, shall pursue them, and overthrow them as they go.

5"But before you do these things, call Achior the Ammonite to me. Let him see and know the man who looked down on the people of Israel. That man sent Achior to us, as if sending him to his death."

But before ye do these things, call me Achior the Ammonite, that he may see and know him that despised the house of Israel, and that sent him to us as it were to his death.

NoteAn Ammonite was a person from Ammon, a land near Israel. Achior had told Holofernes that God would keep Israel safe. Holofernes was angry, so he sent Achior to this town to die with it.

6So they called Achior out of the house of Ozias. He came and saw the head of Holofernes in a man's hand. All the people were gathered there. He fell on his face, and he fainted.

Then they called Achior out of the house of Ozias; and when he was come, and saw the head of Holofernes in a man’s hand in the assembly of the people, he fell down on his face, and his spirit failed.

NoteOzias was the leader of the town.

7They helped him wake up again. Then he fell at Judith's feet and bowed low to her. He said, "You are blessed in every tent of Juda. In every nation, people who hear your name will be troubled."

But when they had recovered him, he fell at Judith’s feet, and reverenced her, and said, Blessed art thou in all the tabernacles of Juda, and in all nations, which hearing thy name shall be astonished.

NoteLong ago many families lived in tents, so "every tent" means every home. Juda is another way of writing Judah, part of the land of Israel.

8"Now tell me everything you have done these days." So Judith told him, while all the people listened. She told all she had done, from the day she went out until that very hour.

Now therefore tell me all the things that thou hast done in these days. Then Judith declared unto him in the midst of the people all that she had done, from the day that she went forth until that hour she spake unto them.

9When she stopped speaking, the people shouted with a loud voice. They made a happy noise in their city.

And when she had left off speaking, the people shouted with a loud voice, and made a joyful noise in their city.

10Achior saw all that the God of Israel had done. He believed in God very much. He was circumcised. He joined the house of Israel, and is part of it to this day.

And when Achior had seen all that the God of Israel had done, he believed in God greatly, and circumcised the flesh of his foreskin, and was joined unto the house of Israel unto this day.

NoteCircumcised means a little piece of skin was cut from his body. It was a sign that a man belonged to God's people.