The book of judith is relatively often discussed nowadays, mainly because of its interest for feminist studies. One of the ancient hebrew books with significant religious content that was not included in the biblical canon by jews is the book of judith. The story of judith and holofernes is, like the story of david and goliath, an old testament tale of the oppressed vanquishing the oppressor, or virtue conquering vice. Bible story book, bible stories for kids, bible study for kids, childrens bible, story books, bible pictures, free pictures, oldest bible, childrens book illustration nursery rhymes hey diddle diddle classic nursery rhymes naming ceremony humpty dumpty christening first birthdays presents illustration first anniversary. Judith is the only biblical woman who asks god to make her a good liar. Around 165 bce, in the land of judea, a great miracle happened. Throughout her story are echoes of sarah, moses as an intermediary, and the many judges that god raised up to save his people. Entry for book of judith the catholic encyclopedia one of 8 bible encyclopedias freely available, this encyclopedia is one of the most comprehensive resource on catholic teaching, history, and information.
When her town was besieged and death stared them all in the face, judith hatched a plan to save herself and the townspeople. Holofernes, the general of king nebuchadnezzar, has laid siege to the israelite town of bethulia, where judith lives, in a campaign of terror against the western nations of the fertile crescent. The book of judith is a story of balance and counterbalance that makes the point that gods people have all they need to survive if they rely wholeheartedly on the covenant. Judith, the character from whom the book takes its name, is not mentioned in the storys first half 1. She continued to live on her husbands estate and was buried in his tomb. Wolf 1861 and yon gumpach, protestant scholars in recent times are practically agreed that the book of judith is a historical novel with a purpose similar to daniel, esther and tobit. Now arphaxad king of the medes had brought many nations under his dominions, and he built a very strong city, which he called ecbatana, 2. In this study, we will learn why the book of judith is included in catholic scripture but not protestant versions of the bible. Tobit, also called the book of tobias, apocryphal work noncanonical for jews and protestants that found its way into the roman catholic canon via the septuagint. Jan 31, 2020 the book of judithconsidered canonical by roman catholics, apocrypha literature by protestants, and noncanon by jewstells the story of the ignominious defeat of the assyrians, an army bent on world domination, by the hand of a hebrew woman judith. The book of judith belongs to the history books and it tells the story of a beautiful widow who decides to seduce the general of the enemy army and save her people. The story of judith the bible text women in the bible. Nebuchadnezzar for information about babylon and its king. The book of judith is one of the historical books and the historians consider it to be the first moral story or parable.
Judith chapter 9 kjv king james version 1 judith fell upon her face, and put ashes upon her head, and uncovered the sackcloth wherewith she was clothed. She resembles several other biblical women, most obviously jael, the wife of heber the kenite. Judith is volume 40 in the acclaimed anchor bible series of new book by book translations of the old and new testaments and apocrypha. One of only four women to lend her name to a biblical book esther and ruth in the hebrew bible and susanna in the apocrypha are the others, judith challenges stereotypes about women in both the ancient and the modern worlds. This video is the second in a series meant to explain the deuterocanonical texts of the old testament. Bible story book, bible stories for kids, bible study for kids, childrens bible, story books, bible pictures, free pictures, oldest bible, childrens book illustration. Complete text, index, search, bible verse, bible story, scripture, book, prophesy, christian. Judith chapter 1 kjv king james version this is a comment on what your wife saw concerning jude 1 the bible was completed at the close of the book of revelation this means that god is not giving any new messages to us that is if we do not believe what is written in the bible god s last will and testiment to us before his return there is no need for him to reveal anything new but satan can. The book of judith tells a tale similar to that of esther in the hebrew bible. Few biblical characters have generated as much controversy. The book of judith has an extraordinary teaching about what god is and is not judith 8.
The book, then, has far less currency than the book of samuel, a canonical book of the bible in all christian sects, and the source of david and goliaths story. A catholic introduction to the bible the old testament hardback. This fourth volume of the unusual bible interpretations series explores the biblical books ruth and esther and the apocryphal book judith. A religious folktale and a judaicized version of the story of the grateful dead, it relates how tobit, a pious jew exiled to nineveh in assyria, observed the precepts of hebrew law. Wheelers literature students, and it offers introductory survey information concerning the literature of classical china, classical rome, classical greece, the bible as literature, medieval literature, renaissance literature, and genre studies. Taken from the old testament, the story revolves around judith, a daring and beautiful widow, who is upset with her jewish countrymen for not trusting god to deliver them from their foreign conquerors. Judith was a beautiful, clever, coolwitted widow in the ancient town of bethuliah. She offered herself to holofernes, the assyrian general sent by nebuchadnezzar to destroy the israelites. Lord god, to whom all strength belongs, prosper what my hands are now to do for the greater glory of jerusalem. The early church, however, held this book in high honor. The book of judithconsidered canonical by roman catholics, apocrypha literature by protestants, and noncanon by jewstells the story of the ignominious defeat of the assyrians, an army bent on world domination, by the hand of a hebrew woman judith. For a trilingual english, greek, and latin presentation of the book of judith click here. The bible tells us that the king of nineveh, nebuchadnezzar, sent his general, holofernes, to subdue his enemies, the jews.
This article continues robin gallaher branchs discussion of the character judith, the remarkable heroine of the book bearing her name. The book of judith, believed to be written in the late second century or early first century b. Feb 05, 2016 this video is the second in a series meant to explain the deuterocanonical texts of the old testament. It seems tedious but reveals a lot about the characters of nebuchadnezzar and his general, holofernes. She called her maid and went down into the house where she lived on. The book of judith is a story of balance and counterbalance that makes the point that.
Use highlighting, underlining, and take notes while you study the bible. The old testament contains 46 books and it is divided into 5 larger groups. The book of judithconsidered canonical by roman catholics, apocrypha literature by protestants, and noncanon by jewstells the story of. One of only four women to lend her name to a biblical book esther and ruth in the hebrew bible and susanna in the apocrypha are the others, judith challenges. The book of judith has a tragic setting that appealed to jewish patriots and it warned of the urgency of adhering to mosaic law, generally speaking, but what accounted for its enduring appeal was the drama of its narrative. The masoretic text of the hebrew bible does not contain it, nor was it found among the dead sea scrolls or referred to in. The account of the beheading of holofernes by judith is given in the deuterocanonical book of judith, and is the subject of many paintings and sculptures from the renaissance and baroque periods. It says that god is not a human being to be bargained with or put to the test. At the end of the book, judith returned to her life in bethulia, and yet it is hard to imagine that life was just the same. Even though it describes the time when king nabuchodonosor ruled, it is historically imprecise, so it is valued for its allegorical and moral content.
Except the book of judith, other deuterocanonical books are the first and second maccabees, seven books tobit, wisdom, sirach, baruch and some parts of esther and daniel that make the part of the catholic old testament but not the hebrew. However, the subject of its ethical attitudes in this book is rarely mentioned. For this reason, both david and judith were considered antecedents of christ in the kind of biblical analysis called typology, where old testament events bear some relation to the new testaments narrative of salvation. Judith 10 good news translation gnt judith goes to the camp of holofernes. At that time arphaxad was ruling over the medes in ecbatana. Around ecbatana he built a wall of hewn stones, three cubits thick and six cubits long.
The book of judith considered canonical by roman catholics, apocrypha literature by protestants, and noncanon by jewstells the story of the ignominious defeat of the assyrians, an army bent on world domination, by the hand of a hebrew woman judith. The first half of the book is all about military maneuverings. Jan 02, 2020 the book of judith, believed to be written in the late second century or early first century b. The first part of the book chapters 17 tells how holofernes, the violent chief captain of the armies of king nebuchadnezzar of assyria, has been ordered by the king to punish the nations in the. The book of judith is a deuterocanonical book, included in the septuagint and the catholic and. The book of judith uncovering the deuterocanonical books. Beyond traditional biblical studies, commentaries, and translations, judith. It takes its name from that illustrious woman, by whose virtue and fortitude, and armed with prayer, the children of israel.
In the apocrypha, judith is the saint who murdered for her people. Judith 10 new revised standard version nrsv judith prepares to go to holofernes. Standing beside the bed, judith murmured to herself. Taking the form of a jewish novel, judiths story unfolds in the context of war. The story of judith has inspired countless artists, from the italian. The book of judith is regarded as apocryphal by less than onethird of christian believers. Please check the reference to make sure it is correct. Then the story reappeared in midrash jewish tales and piyyut prayers.
Even jahn considers that the genealogy of judith is inexplicable on the hypothesis that the story is a mere fiction introductio, vienna, 1814, p. The second half of robin gallaher branchs twopart bible history daily presentation of judith. After being conquered by several different powerful rulers, the land of judea and all of its inhabitants was taken and controlled by a king called antiochus iv or antiochus epiphanes. She coolly seduced, then murdered the enemy general holofernes and hung his severed. The book of judith second or early first century b. Considered apocrypha literature by protestants, the book of judith is regarded as canon by roman catholics and. Judith, book of international standard bible encyclopedia.
At the start of this war nebuchadnezzar orders all the city states in surrounding kingdoms to send him a levy of soldiers, but they flout his command. The book contains numerous historical anachronisms, which is why some scholars now accept it as nonhistorical. In his comparison between the book of judith and assyrian history, catholic priest and scholar fulcran. The book of judith tells the story of the ignominious defeat of the assyrians, an army bent on world domination, by the hand of a hebrew woman judith. She goes with her loyal maid to the camp of the enem. The book of judith is a deuterocanonical book, included in the septuagint and the catholic and eastern orthodox christian old testament of the bible, but excluded from the hebrew canon and assigned by protestants to the apocrypha.
Judith, the biblical widow, infiltrated an army and beheaded. The book of judith relates the story of gods deliverance of the jewish people. The book relates that nebuchadrezzar, king of assyria, sent his general holofernes on an expedition against. The oldest extant text of judith is the preservation of 15. Book of judith, apocryphal work excluded from the hebrew and protestant.
The book of judith the sacred writer of this book is generally believed to be the high priest eliachim called also joachim. Book of judith, apocryphal work excluded from the hebrew and protestant biblical canons but included in the septuagint greek version of the hebrew bible and accepted in the roman canon. For a different translation, with useful interpretative notes, check the new american bible text of this work on the web site of the united states conference of catholic bishops. Nov 09, 2011 among the hebrews the book of judith is found among the hagiographa, the authority of which toward confirming those which have come into contention is judged less appropriate. She is a beautiful and wise widow who becomes incensed with her town elders. Captivating bible stories a beautiful a4 glossy art print taken from a vintage childrens book illustration.
In the story, judith, a beautiful widow, is able to enter the tent of holofernes because of his desire for her. It is also about a woman of great courage and beauty who, at considerable risk to her life, carries out a bold scheme to deliver her people from possible catastrophe. The book of judith is basically divided into two parts. The book of judith is the story of a jewish heroine living during the period of the. Catholics with very few exceptions accept the book of judith as a narrative of facts, not as an allegory. The majority of theologians down to the 19th century regarded the story of judith as pure history. Whatever the reasons, the rabbis did not count judith among their scriptures, and the reformation adopted that position. Led by holofernes, the persians besiege the hilltop town of bethulia where judith lives. The story of judith would make a blockbuster movie, with its seduction, suspense, war, violence, and feisty, beautiful widow. The author of judith clues us in that he is not telling a typical story.
The judith story most of us are familiar with the story of hanukkah. The transactions herein related, most probably happened in his days, and in the reign of manasses, after his repentance and return from captivity. After being conquered by several different powerful rulers, the land of judea and all of its inhabitants was taken and controlled by a. Judith introduction united states conference of catholic bishops. Unfortunately, at this late date it is difficult for us to do so with the book of judith. The jews are besieged in bethulia and rapidly lose all hope of victory. Among the hebrews the book of judith is found among the hagiographa, the authority of which toward confirming those which have come into contention is. The book was incorporated into the bible in the greek translation of the bible and by the original king james version of 1611, but many protestants wanted it removed because, among other things, it was not part of the hebrew bible. It could be that judith is written as a novella told to illustrate truths about the way god works rather than recording straight history it might be a story teaching theological truths.
1401 783 757 229 1187 790 1263 1479 1148 644 1172 914 572 1425 611 895 1347 1489 1420 625 100 375 691 649 916 1058 389 1180 1623 744 140 1380 1460 500 481 850 981 1424 1038 161 943 975 1420 129 512 1018 867