 at all left for them to drink. Those sent to the wells at night to bring back water were killed by hidden soldiers.
Judith, a direct descendant of Ruben, a beautiful widow whose husband had died and left her riches and servants. She lived a life of abstention and prayer. When she found out what the elders proposed, she sent for them. And complained about them giving God five days to give them aid. They realized their mistake. Judith further asked them to pray and not ask what she was doing, but to wait for her the next night by the gate.
That night, Judith who had worn the clothes of a mourner came to them. She was dressed in her finest costume and jewelry and was exceptionally beautiful. The elders looked at her but said nothing except: The God of our fathers give thee grace. . . Judith and her maid carrying wine and provisions descended to the area of their enemies. When challenged by sentries, Judith said she had escaped from the Hebrews because she knew they would be captured, and she wanted to tell Holofernes how to take the fortified city with no loss to his army. She was taken to the General of the Assyrians.
Holofernes heard her story and was captivated by her beauty. He praised her for coming to help him attain a victory and made her his guest with honor. Judith asked permission to leave the camp at night to pray to her God and to receive the information necessary to assure victory for Holofernes. He granted her permission to leave the camp with hermaid at night to pray in solitude.
A banquet was held and Judith invited. She declined the food and wine of her host and drank and ate the provisions she had brought with her. Holofernes drank heavily and was delighted to have Judith as his dining companion. He drank heavily. Later he arose to leave the gathering and invited Judith to accompany him, which she did. When they reached the tent of Holofernes he fell on the bed in a drunken stupor.
Judith said a prayer and withdrew his sword and cut off his head and placed it in a bag. She and her maid left the camp as they had done each night her maid carrying a large purse containing the head of Holofernes. Instead of going to pray, Judith and her maid returned to her city of Bethulia.
When the guards sounded the alarm that someone was coming, the elders ran to the gate, Surrounded by her people Judith praised God and dumped the severed head on the ground and said: Behold the head of Holofernes General of the Assyrians. . . The people sent for Achior since they had never seen the General. When he came and they showed him the head lying on the ground he fainted.
Judith told the people to arm themselves and attack the Assyrian camp at dawn, which they did.When the leaders saw the Hebrews coming down from the mountains to attack the ran to awaken Holofernes whom they thought was sleeping with Judith. Instead they found him headless. When the word spread throughout the camp the soldiers fled, most through fear but many who had been pressed into service found a way to escape. They were followed and killed by the Hebrews in a great victory over the beast, Holofernes and his army.
Story adaptation by:
Milton Bowser dlvmagazine.com Sitare, Ltd.