Judith chapter 6

[This chapter is in Orthodox and Catholic Bibles] Holofernes’ contempt for the God of Israel. Holofernes hands over Achior to Israel.

 


 

The Book of Judith is recognized as Deuterocanonical Scripture by the Orthodox and Catholic Churches

 


 

HOLOFERNES’ CONTEMPT FOR THE GOD OF ISRAEL

 

VERSE 1. And when the disturbance of the men that were around the council had ceased, Holofernes the chief captain of the army of Asshur said to Achior and to all the children of Moab before all the people of the foreigners,

 

VERSE 2. “And who are you, Achior, and the hirelings of Ephraim, that you have prophesied among us as today, and have said that we should not make war with the race of Israel, because their God will defend them? And who is God but Nebuchadnezzar?

who is God but Nebuchadnezzar. Doubtless General Holofernes was convinced of this.

Yet it is a preposterous thing to say.

 

VERSE 3. He will send forth his might, and will destroy them from the face of the earth, and their God will not deliver them; but we his servants will strike them as one man. They will not sustain the might of our horses.

He will … destroy them from the face of the earth. That is a bold claim.

In a few chapters, we will see if it is correct.

Or not correct.

 

VERSE 4. For with them we will burn them up. Their mountains will be drunken with their blood. Their plains will be filled with their dead bodies. Their footsteps will not stand before us, but they will surely perish, says king Nebuchadnezzar, lord of all the earth; for he said, ‘The words that I have spoken will not be in vain.’

 

VERSE 5. But you, Achior, hireling of Ammon, who have spoken these words in the day of your iniquity, will see my face no more from this day, until I am avenged of the race of those that came out of Egypt.

hireling of Ammon. That is, “Ammonite mercenary” (NAB translation).

 

VERSE 6. And then the sword of my army, and the multitude of those who serve me, will pass through your sides, and you will fall among their slain when I return.

 

VERSE 7. Then my servants will bring you back into the hill country, and will set you in one of the cities of the ascents.

 

VERSE 8. You will not perish until you are destroyed with them.

 

VERSE 9. And if you hope in your heart that they will not be taken, don’t let your countenance fall. I have spoken it, and none of my words will fall to the ground.”

 

HOLOFERNES HANDS OVER ACHIOR TO ISRAEL

 

VERSE 10. Then Holofernes commanded his servants who waited in his tent to take Achior, and bring him back to Bethulia, and deliver him into the hands of the children of Israel.

 

VERSE 11. So his servants took him, and brought him out of the camp into the plain, and they moved from the midst of the plains into the hill country, and came to the springs that were under Bethulia.

 

VERSE 12. When the men of the city saw them on the top of the hill, they took up their weapons, and went out of the city against them to the top of the hill. Every man that used a sling kept them from coming up, and cast stones against them.

went out of the city against them. They have great courage.

They are running toward combat with the most powerful army in the world.

cast stones against them. They are throwing rocks.

 

VERSE 13. They took cover under the hill, bound Achior, cast him down, left him at the foot of the hill, and went away to their lord.

and went away. Throwing rocks was surprisingly effective.

The enemy goes away.

 

VERSE 14. But the children of Israel descended from their city, and came to him, untied him, led him away into Bethulia, and presented him to the rulers of their city;

untied him. The Israelites treat this (presumed) enemy with human dignity.

 

VERSE 15. which were in those days Ozias the son of Micah, of the tribe of Simeon, and Chabris the son of Gothoniel, and Charmis the son of Melchiel.

 

VERSE 16. Then they called together all the elders of the city; and all their young men ran together, with their women, to the assembly. They set Achior in the midst of all their people. Then Ozias asked him what had happened.

Ozias. That is, Uzziah.

 

VERSE 17. He answered and declared to them the words of the council of Holofernes, and all the words that he had spoken in the midst of the princes of the children of Asshur, and all the great words that Holofernes had spoken against the house of Israel.

 

VERSE 18. Then the people fell down and worshiped God, and cried, saying,

the people fell down and worshiped God. The people of Israel have their priorities right.

First, they worship the LORD God.

Seeking the kingdom of God is to be our number one priority. Yet for many of us, our use of time and money show that it is a low priority. Read more »

 

VERSE 19. “O Lord God of heaven, behold their arrogance, and pity the low estate of our race. Look upon the face of those who are sanctified to you this day.”

those who are sanctified to you. The Israelites are consecrated to the LORD.

 

VERSE 20. They comforted Achior, and praised him exceedingly.

 

VERSE 21. Then Ozias took him out of the assembly into his house, and made a feast for the elders. They called on the God of Israel for help all that night.

They called on the God of Israel for help all that night. For believers in the One God, praying through the whole night is a venerable part of our lives. Read more »

 


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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.