Judith chapter 11

[This chapter is in Orthodox and Catholic Bibles] Judith converses with General Holofernes.

 


 

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

 


 

JUDITH CONVERSES WITH GENERAL HOLOFERNES

 

VERSE 1. Holofernes said to her, “Woman, take courage. Don’t be afraid in your heart; for I never hurt anyone who has chosen to serve Nebuchadnezzar, the king of all the earth.

 

VERSE 2. And now, if your people who dwell in the hill country had not slighted me, I would not have lifted up my spear against them; but they have done these things to themselves.

 

VERSE 3. And now tell me why you fled from them and came to us; for you have come to save yourself. Take courage! You will live tonight, and hereafter;

 

VERSE 4. for there is no one that will wrong you, but all will treat you well, as is done to the servants of king Nebuchadnezzar my lord.”

 

VERSE 5. And Judith said to him, “Receive the words of your servant, and let your handmaid speak in your presence, and I will declare no lie to my lord this night.

I will declare no lie to my lord. Judith will speak the truth.

 

VERSE 6. If you will follow the words of your handmaid, God will bring the thing to pass perfectly with you; and my lord will not fail to accomplish his purposes.

 

VERSE 7. As Nebuchadnezzar king of all the earth lives, and as his power lives, who has sent you for the preservation of every living thing, not only do men serve him by you, but also the beasts of the field, the cattle, and the birds of the sky will live through your strength, in the time of Nebuchadnezzar and of all his house.

 

VERSE 8. For we have heard of your wisdom and the subtle plans of your soul. It has been reported in all the earth that you only are brave in all the kingdom, mighty in knowledge, and wonderful in feats of war.

 

VERSE 9. And now as concerning the matter which Achior spoke in your council, we have heard his words; for the men of Bethulia saved him, and he declared to them all that he had spoken before you.

 

VERSE 10. Therefore, O lord and master, don’t neglect his word; but lay it up in your heart, for it is true; for our race will not be punished, neither will the sword prevail against them, unless they sin against their God.

 

VERSE 11. And now, that my lord be not defeated and frustrate of his purpose, and that death may fall upon them, their sin has overtaken them, wherewith they will provoke their God to anger, whenever they do wickedness.

 

VERSE 12. Since their food failed them, and all their water was scant, they took counsel to lay hands upon their cattle, and determined to consume all those things which God charged them by his laws that they should not eat.

 

VERSE 13. They are resolved to spend the first fruits of the corn, and the tenths of the wine and the oil, which they had sanctified and reserved for the priests who stand before the face of our God in Jerusalem; which things it is not fitting for any of the people so much as to touch with their hands.

any of the people. The NAB translation says “layman.”

 

VERSE 14. They have sent some to Jerusalem, because they also that dwell there have done this thing, to bring them permission from the council of elders.

 

VERSE 15. It will be, when word comes to them and they do it, they will be given to you to be destroyed the same day.

 

VERSE 16. Therefore I your servant, knowing all this, fled away from their presence. God sent me to work things with you, at which all the earth will be astonished, even as many as hear it.

all the earth will be astonished. The world will indeed be astonished, when Judith assassinates General Holofernes!

 

VERSE 17. For your servant is religious, and serves the God of heaven day and night. Now, my lord, I will stay with you, and your servant will go out by night into the valley. I will pray to God, and he will tell me when they have committed their sins.

 

VERSE 18. Then I will come and show it also to you. Then you shall go out with all your army, and there will be none of them that will resist you.

 

VERSE 19. And I will lead you through the midst of Judea, until you come to Jerusalem. I will set your seat in the midst of it. You will drive them as sheep that have no shepherd, and a dog will not so much as open his mouth before you; for these things were told me according to my foreknowledge, and were declared to me, and I was sent to tell you.”

as sheep that have no shepherd. The Lord Jesus Christ used that phrase. Did he get it from Judith?

The people of the LORD God are prone to going astray. In those times, they need a godly shepherd to bring them back. Read more »

 

VERSE 20. Her words were pleasing in the sight of Holofernes and of all his servants. They marveled at her wisdom, and said,

 

VERSE 21. “There is not such a woman from one end of the earth to the other, for beauty of face and wisdom of words.”

for beauty of face. Judith uses her God-given beauty to defend her nation against the enemy.

wisdom of words. Judith was very intelligent.

 

VERSE 22. Holofernes said to her, “God did well to send you before the people, that might would be in our hands, and destruction among those who slighted my lord.

 

VERSE 23. And now you are beautiful in your countenance, and wise in your words. If you will do as you have spoken, your God will be my God, and you will dwell in the house of king Nebuchadnezzar, and will be renowned through the whole earth.”

your God will be my God. This is a remarkable pledge from General Holofernes.

He will put his faith in the God of Judith?

 


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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.