mp 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.