Judith
Judith
This is a fictional story of a woman's bravery, ingenuity, faith in God, and patriotism. It's a book of the Apocrypha or Deuterocanonicals, a collection of material that's found in the Septuagint or Greek Old Testament but not in the Hebrew Bible.
In a war with King Arphaxad of Medes, King Nebuchadnezzar of Assyria sends word to the lands under his subjection to muster troops to help with the war. Many, including those in Palestine, Galilee, Samaria and Judea ignore the summons. This infuriates Nebuchadnezzar, who swears that when the war is over he will massacre and decimate those who snubbed him. When the war is won, he does indeed follow through on his vow, sending Holofernes, his top general, to conduct the campaign of vengeance, destruction and death.
In a war with King Arphaxad of Medes, King Nebuchadnezzar of Assyria sends word to the lands under his subjection to muster troops to help with the war. Many, including those in Palestine, Galilee, Samaria and Judea ignore the summons. This infuriates Nebuchadnezzar, who swears that when the war is over he will massacre and decimate those who snubbed him. When the war is won, he does indeed follow through on his vow, sending Holofernes, his top general, to conduct the campaign of vengeance, destruction and death.
Holofernes prosecutes his assignment with terrifying success. But when he comes to the city of Bethulia (an apparently obvious reference to Shechem), the people resist him. He sets up a siege that includes cutting off the city’s water supply and all means of entry and exit so that no food can be brought in. When the population of Bethulia comes to dire straits, parched and starving, and are considering surrender, their religious leaders promise that if they hold out five more days God will surely deliver them.
But Judith, a beautiful and wealthy widow of Bethulia, is angry that the religious leaders are putting God to the test by making promises in God's name. She decides, with the consent of the city leaders, to take matters into her own hands by carrying out a deceitful scheme. She prays earnestly to God and feels that she has God's blessing.
Dressing in her most elegant and seductive finery, Judith leaves the city secretly, with only her maid accompanying her, and makes her way to the camp of General Holofernes. There in a few days of deceit, Judith gains Holofernes‘ trust and confidence, and the confidence of those in the Assyrian army encamped. She even establishes a routine of going out of the camp every night and returning, thus setting up a familiar pattern of movement.
On the final night, when Holofernes feels confident of seducing Judith, he throws a banquet for his staff. But he becomes so drunk that he falls asleep on his bed. Whereupon, Judith takes his sword and cuts off his head.
She puts the head in a sack and, with her maid, makes her way back home to Bethulia.
Cranach: Judith with the Head of Holofernes
She puts the head in a sack and, with her maid, makes her way back home to Bethulia.
Artemisia Gentileschi, Judith & Maid with Head of Holofernes in a Sack
Artemisia Gentileschi, Judith Decapitating Holofernes, c. 1618
Caravaggio: Judith Beheading Holofernes
The following morning, when the Assyrians discover the decapitated body of their great General Holofernes, they flee in panic. In fleeing, they are slaughtered by the Israelites.
Judith becomes a heroine of all Israel. We are told that she had many proposals of marriage, but remained a widow all her days.
Many artists have painted pictures about Judith's courageous victory. Bit gruesome perhaps, but, Hey! War is aitch, innit!
Enjoy the art gallery.
TW+
Enjoy the art gallery.
TW+