1And it happened that, when she had ceased to cry out to the Lord, she arose from the place where she lay prostrate before the Lord.
2And she called her handmaid, and descending into her house, she took away from herself the haircloth, and she put away from herself the garments of her widowhood,
3and she washed her body, and she anointed herself with the best ointment, and she plaited the hair of her head, and she put a headdress on her head, and she clothed herself with the garments of her elegance, and she put sandals on her feet, and she put on her little bracelets, and lilies, and earrings, and rings, and she adorned herself with all her ornaments.
4And also, the Lord conferred upon her a splendor. For all this dressing up did not proceed from sensuality, but from virtue. And therefore, the Lord increased this, her beauty, so that she appeared with incomparable honor before the eyes of all.
5And so, she appointed to her handmaid a wineskin, and a vessel of oil, and parched grain, and dried figs, and bread, and cheese, and they departed.
6And when they came to the gate of the city, they found Uzziah and the elders of the city waiting.
7And when they saw her, being astounded, they wondered at her surpassing beauty.
8So, not questioning her at all, they dismissed her to go forth, saying: “May the God of our fathers give you grace, and may he strengthen all the advice of your heart with his virtue, so that Jerusalem may glory over you, and your name may be counted among the holy and the just.”
9And those who were there, all with one voice, said: “Amen. Amen.”
10In truth, Judith was praying to the Lord as she crossed through the gates, she and her handmaid.
11But it happened that, when she descended the mountain at about the break of day, the scouts of the Assyrians met her, and they stopped her, saying, “Where are you coming from? And where are you going?”
12And she answered: “I am a daughter of the Hebrews. This is why I have fled from their face: because I realized that in the future they would be given over to you with pillaging, for they hold you in contempt, and they would never be willing to surrender themselves, so that they might find mercy in your sight.
13For this reason, I thought to myself, saying: I will go to the face of the leader Holofernes, so that I may reveal to him their secrets, and show him by what means he may be able to prevail over them, without one man of his army being slain.”
14And when the men had heard her words, they beheld her face, and their eyes were astounded, because they wondered exceedingly at her beauty.
15And they said to her: “You have preserved your life by following such an excellent plan, to descend to our lord.
16But know this, that when you will stand in his sight, he will treat you well, and you will be very pleasing to his heart.” And they led her to the tabernacle of Holofernes, announcing her.
17And when she had entered before his face, immediately Holofernes was captivated by his eyes.
18And his attendants said to him, “Who can hold the people of the Hebrews in contempt, who have such beautiful women? So, we ought to think it not worthwhile, for their sakes, to fight against them.”
19And so, Judith looked upon Holofernes, sitting under a canopy, which was woven from purple and gold, with emeralds and precious stones.
20And, after she had gazed into his face, she showed reverence for him, prostrating herself to the ground. And the servants of Holofernes lifted her up, at the command of their lord.
Verse 3
The holy widow Judith, strengthened by her prolonged mourning and daily fasting, sought no worldly pleasures and feared no danger, becoming strong in her disdain for death. To carry out her plan, she put on the festive robe she had worn during her husband’s lifetime, as though to honor him by delivering her country. But she had another Man in mind to please—He of whom it is said, "After me comes a Man who is greater than I." And it was fitting that she wore her bridal garments to battle, for the symbols of marriage became her weapons of chastity, and in no other way could a widow win favor or victory.
Verse 4
Judith adorned herself to appeal to an adulterer, but because she did this for her faith and not for love, no one considered her an adulteress.
Verse 10
But courage is also often not lacking in a good widow. For true bravery is found in surpassing the usual nature and weakness of her sex through the strength of her mind, like that of Judith. She, on her own, was able to rise up from complete despair and protect her people from the enemy, even when the men were broken by the siege, paralyzed with fear, and weakened by hunger. As we read, when Holofernes, feared after his many victorious battles, had forced countless thousands of men behind the city walls, and when the armed men were terrified and already discussing surrender, Judith went beyond the walls. She was greater than the army she saved and braver than the one she drove away.
Verse 13
She specifically chose the commander to protect herself from the disrespect of lower-ranking men and to create an opportunity for victory.
Verse 18
She, surrounded by thousands of enemies, remained pure.