In the reign of Nebuchadnezzar most of the countries were brought under his control. He wanted to capture the whole world. He sent his general, Holofernes to do it.
When Ozias, the Prince of Juda, learned of the conquests of Holofernes he began preparations to fight him in defense of Israel. When Holofernes heard of it he got angry and was determined to capture Israel.
He called Anchoir and asked him, "What kind of people are the Israelites?"
Anchoir told the story of the Jews, their flight to Egypt and from Egypt to Canaan; that the God of Israel protected them from all dangers, parting the Red Seas for them, feeding them with manna for forty years, etx. "Whenever they follow the commandments of their God they are powerful; when they forget their God they become weak. God punished them."
Upon hearing this Holofernes was very angry indeed. He said, "There is nobody more powerful than Nebuchadnezzar." He was about to kill Anchior, but changed his mind. He sent him to Israel so that he would die with the Israelites when they would be attacked.
When Anchior told the Israelites his story, many people besought Ozias, the prince of Juda. They said, "Pleasesend messengers to Holofernes so that he will not attack us. It is better to live under Nebuchadnezzar than to be dead." But Ozias said, "God will save us, His people. If in fiv days He does not, then we will sue for peace."
When Judith heard this, she was angry. She was the window of Manases, very rich and very beautiful, and followed the word of God. She was mourning her dead husband the last three years. She prayed that God would save Israel. Then she saw Ozias and said, "It is wrong to tempt the Lord by giving him five days to help us. Let us be humble and pray for his forgiveness and help." Then she requested Ozias that she be permitted to do what she planed to do, and that nobody should inquire what it was.
Ozias gave the permission. He and the people said, "God be with you." So she took off her mourning clothes, took a bath and wore her bright clothes. She rubbed herself with oil and wore her jewels. Because she did these for Israel and not for self pride, God made her very beautiful indeed. Then she prepared wine, oil, corn, figs, bread and cheese and gave them to her maid to bring.
Then Judith and her maid set forth to camp to Holofernes. Ozias and the soldiers let them pass the gate without question as was agreed upon, only saying in their minds, "Beautiful Judith, God bless you."
They stopped by the guards of Holofernes who were struck with her beauty. "Where are you going?" they said.
"I am going to see Holofernes. I will tell the plan of the people of Israel so that he may conquer them."
"In that case, go," the guards said. "The general will be glad to see you."
Judith prayed God for help, then she went to Holofernes who was struck with her beauty .She bowed to him and said, "Great Holofernes, Achior told us about you and your plans. That is why I came to escape the destruction of Israel. I also want to tell you of the weakness of Israel. They lack water, they even plan to kill their animals so that they can drink blood."
Holofernes said, "You did well, my daughter. When we get Israel you will be rewarded." Then he gave her and her maid a tenth to stay in.
"One thing more," Judith said, "please let my maid and me go out of our tent any time in order to pray to our God." Holofernes instructed hid people not to molest Judith and her maid in any way.
One night Holofernes gave a party and he invited Judith. She and her maid went but did not eat except the food she brought. Holofernes ate, drank, and made merry. Holofernes told his eunuch Vagao to invite Judith to his tent.
Vagao did. "My master is inviting you to his tent or else he will be despised by his people. Do not be afraid," he said.
Judith replied, "Who am I to gainsay my lord, Holofernes?" At midnight she went forth with her maid. she prayed the Lord to help her give her strength. She told her maid to stay at the door and she entered. She found him fast asleep. So she got his sword which was hanging on his bedpost, and holding his hair with one hand, struck at his neck twice with the other, cutting it off. She asked her maid to put it in her bag and they went back to Israel.
Late in the morning the next day Vagao knocked at his master's door but no one answered. So he went in and found that he was killed. He told his captains and they were terrified. They started to retreat.
When Judith returned and showed the head of Ozias, the Israelites went forth to attack the army of Holofernes. They placed the head on the wall. Because Holofernes died, Israel had a great victory.
When Ozias, the Prince of Juda, learned of the conquests of Holofernes he began preparations to fight him in defense of Israel. When Holofernes heard of it he got angry and was determined to capture Israel.
He called Anchoir and asked him, "What kind of people are the Israelites?"
Anchoir told the story of the Jews, their flight to Egypt and from Egypt to Canaan; that the God of Israel protected them from all dangers, parting the Red Seas for them, feeding them with manna for forty years, etx. "Whenever they follow the commandments of their God they are powerful; when they forget their God they become weak. God punished them."
Upon hearing this Holofernes was very angry indeed. He said, "There is nobody more powerful than Nebuchadnezzar." He was about to kill Anchior, but changed his mind. He sent him to Israel so that he would die with the Israelites when they would be attacked.
When Anchior told the Israelites his story, many people besought Ozias, the prince of Juda. They said, "Pleasesend messengers to Holofernes so that he will not attack us. It is better to live under Nebuchadnezzar than to be dead." But Ozias said, "God will save us, His people. If in fiv days He does not, then we will sue for peace."
When Judith heard this, she was angry. She was the window of Manases, very rich and very beautiful, and followed the word of God. She was mourning her dead husband the last three years. She prayed that God would save Israel. Then she saw Ozias and said, "It is wrong to tempt the Lord by giving him five days to help us. Let us be humble and pray for his forgiveness and help." Then she requested Ozias that she be permitted to do what she planed to do, and that nobody should inquire what it was.
Ozias gave the permission. He and the people said, "God be with you." So she took off her mourning clothes, took a bath and wore her bright clothes. She rubbed herself with oil and wore her jewels. Because she did these for Israel and not for self pride, God made her very beautiful indeed. Then she prepared wine, oil, corn, figs, bread and cheese and gave them to her maid to bring.
Then Judith and her maid set forth to camp to Holofernes. Ozias and the soldiers let them pass the gate without question as was agreed upon, only saying in their minds, "Beautiful Judith, God bless you."
They stopped by the guards of Holofernes who were struck with her beauty. "Where are you going?" they said.
"I am going to see Holofernes. I will tell the plan of the people of Israel so that he may conquer them."
"In that case, go," the guards said. "The general will be glad to see you."
Judith prayed God for help, then she went to Holofernes who was struck with her beauty .She bowed to him and said, "Great Holofernes, Achior told us about you and your plans. That is why I came to escape the destruction of Israel. I also want to tell you of the weakness of Israel. They lack water, they even plan to kill their animals so that they can drink blood."
Holofernes said, "You did well, my daughter. When we get Israel you will be rewarded." Then he gave her and her maid a tenth to stay in.
"One thing more," Judith said, "please let my maid and me go out of our tent any time in order to pray to our God." Holofernes instructed hid people not to molest Judith and her maid in any way.
One night Holofernes gave a party and he invited Judith. She and her maid went but did not eat except the food she brought. Holofernes ate, drank, and made merry. Holofernes told his eunuch Vagao to invite Judith to his tent.
Vagao did. "My master is inviting you to his tent or else he will be despised by his people. Do not be afraid," he said.
Judith replied, "Who am I to gainsay my lord, Holofernes?" At midnight she went forth with her maid. she prayed the Lord to help her give her strength. She told her maid to stay at the door and she entered. She found him fast asleep. So she got his sword which was hanging on his bedpost, and holding his hair with one hand, struck at his neck twice with the other, cutting it off. She asked her maid to put it in her bag and they went back to Israel.
Late in the morning the next day Vagao knocked at his master's door but no one answered. So he went in and found that he was killed. He told his captains and they were terrified. They started to retreat.
When Judith returned and showed the head of Ozias, the Israelites went forth to attack the army of Holofernes. They placed the head on the wall. Because Holofernes died, Israel had a great victory.
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