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Judith |
 The
Book of Judith is a deuterocanonical book, included
in the Septuagint and in the Roman Catholic and
Eastern Orthodox Christian Old Testament of the
Bible, but excluded by Jews and Protestants. It has
been said that the book contains numerous historical
anachronisms, which is why many scholars now accept
it as ahistorical; it has been considered a parable
or perhaps the first historical novel.
The Book of Judith has a tragic setting that
appealed to Jewish patriots and it warned of the
urgency of adhering to Mosaic Law, generally
speaking, but what accounted for its enduring appeal
was the drama of its narrative. The story revolves
around Judith, a daring and beautiful widow, who is
upset with her Jewish countrymen for not trusting
God to deliver them from their foreign conquerors.
She goes with her loyal maid to the camp of the
enemy general, Holofernes, to whom she slowly
ingratiates herself, promising him information on
the Israelites. Gaining his trust, she is allowed
access to his tent one night as he lies in a drunken
stupor. She decapitates him, then takes his head
back to her fearful countrymen. The Assyrians,
having lost their leader, disperse, and Israel is
saved. Though she is courted by many, she remains
unmarried for the rest of her life. |
View the Chapters Of Judith:
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