Judith
[This book is in Orthodox and Catholic Bibles] The enemy Assyrian army attacks. A godly widow named Judith assassinates their leader and routes the entire army.
CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16
RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize, Judith fasts continually, Chronology
The Book of Judith is recognized as Deuterocanonical Scripture by the Orthodox and Catholic Churches
SUMMARY
Title
The Book of Judith is named for its principle character.
The word “Judith” means “Jewess” (Jewish woman).
Author
The identity of the author of the Book of Judith is unknown.
The Book of Judith is written in Greek that imitates Hebrew idiom and syntax. That suggests it was written by a Jewish person living a region where Greek was spoken.
The Book of Judith shows familiarity with Palestinian, Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, and Greek history and geography. That suggests the author was educated.
The Book of Judith is very familiar with the Jewish religious customs of the second and first centuries BC. That suggests it was written by a practicing Jewish person.
We wonder if it was written by Judith herself.
Date
The historical timeframe of the Book of Judith is prior to the siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar II, king of Babylon in 597 BC. Say 600 BC.
It was most likely written at the end of the second century BC or the beginning of the first century BC
See our study of The Chronology of the Deuterocanonical Books.
Purpose
The LORD God can still deliver his people when they cry to him.
The LORD God can bring low an arrogant king.
OUTLINE
THE RAGE OF KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR
Judith 1:1-6. Nebuchadnezzar wages war with Arphaxad
Judith 1:7-11. Nebuchadnezzar threatens the whole region
Judith 1:12-16. Nebuchadnezzar rages out
Judith 2:1-13. Nebuchadnezzar will destroy all other nations
Judith 2:14-28. General Holofernes leads the vast army
Judith 3:1-7. The nations surrender
Judith 3:8-10. General Holofernes devastates them anyway
ISRAEL PREPARES FOR AN ATTACK
Judith 4:1-8. Israel fears General Holofernes
Judith 4:9-15. They fast and pray
Judith 5:1-4. Tiny Israel is ready for war
Judith 5:5-24. A history lesson for General Holofernes
Judith 6:1-9. Holofernes’ contempt for the God of Israel
Judith 6:10-21. Holofernes hands over Achior to Israel
Judith 7:1-32. General Holofernes begins his siege
JUDITH ASSASSINATES GENERAL HOLOFERNES
Judith 8:1-8. Introduction to Judith
Judith 8:9-27. Judith speaks to the Elders
Judith 8:28-31. Uzziah responds to Judith
Judith 8:32-36. Judith will act in faith
Judith 9:1-14. Judith is a prayer warrior
Judith 10:1-10. Judith springs into action
Judith 10:11-19. Judith allows herself to be captured
Judith 10:20-23. Judith is brought to Holofernes
Judith 11:1-23. Judith converses with General Holofernes
Judith 12:1-9. Judith waits for the right moment
Judith 12:10-20. Holofernes invites Judith to a private banquet
Judith 13:1-3. Judith is left alone with Holofernes
Judith 13:4-10a. Judith assassinates Holofernes
THE ASSYRIAN ARMY IS ANNIHILATED
Judith 13:10b-20. Judith returns to Bethulia
Judith 14:1-4. Judith counsels the elders
Judith 14:5-10. Judith summons Achior
Judith 14:11-19. The Assyrian army panics
Judith 15:1-3. The Assyrian soldiers flee for their lives
Judith 15:4-7. Tiny Israel annihilates the mighty Assyrian army
JUDITH IS A GREAT HERO OF THE FAITH
Judith 15:8-13. Judith receives full credit for the victory
Judith 16:1-17. Judith leads the nation in song
Judith 16:18-20. A three-month celebration in Jerusalem
Judith 16:21-24. Judith is esteemed as a hero of the faith
Judith 16:25. Israel remains safe for a long time
MEMORIZE
Here are some great verses to memorize:
Judith 4:9. And every man of Israel cried to God with great earnestness, and with great earnestness they humbled their souls.
Judith 4:10. They, their wives, their children, their cattle, and every sojourner, hireling, and servant bought with their money put sackcloth on their loins.
Judith 8:8. No one had a bad word to say about her, for she was a very God-fearing woman. (NAB)
Judith 8:25. Besides all this let’s give thanks to the Lord our God, who tries us, even as he did our fathers also.
Judith 8:32. Then Judith said to them, “Hear me, and I will do a thing, which will go down to all generations among the children of our race.”
Judith 9:11. Your strength is not in numbers, nor does your power depend upon stalwart men; but you are the God of the lowly, the helper of the oppressed, the supporter of the weak, the protector of the forsaken, the savior of those without hope.
Judith 14:18b. A single Hebrew woman has brought disgrace on the house of King Nebuchadnezzar. Here is Holofernes headless on the ground!
SEE ALSO:
Great verses to memorize from the entire Bible
JUDITH
CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16
RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize, Judith fasts continually, Chronology
Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.