The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Judith 12
1 He commanded that she should be
brought in where his silver vessels were
set, and asked that his servants should
prepare some of his own delicacies for her,
and that she should drink from his own
wine.
2 And Judith said, “I can’t eat of it, lest
there be an occasion of stumbling; but
provision will be made for me from the
things that have come with me.”
3 And Holofernes said to her, “But if the
things that are with you should run out,
from where will we be able to give you
more like it? For there is none of your race
with us.”
4 And Judith said to him, “As your soul
lives, my lord, your servant will not use up
those things that are withmeuntiltheLord
works by my hand the things that he has
determined.”
5 Then Holofernes’ servants brought her
into the tent, and she slept until midnight.
Then she rose up toward the morning
watch,
6 and sent to Holofernes, saying, “Let my
lord now command that they allow your
servant to go out to pray.”
7 Holofernes commanded his guards
that they should not stop her. She stayed
in the camp three days, and went out every
night into the valley of Bethulia and
washed herself at the fountain of water in
the camp.
8 And when she came up, she implored
the Lord God of Israel to direct her way to
the triumph of the children of his people.
9 She came in clean and remained in the
tent until she ate her food toward evening.
10 It came to pass on the fourth day, that
Holofernes made a feast for his own servants
only, and called none of the officers
to the banquet.
11 And he said toBagoas the eunuch, who
had charge over all that he had, “Go now,
and persuade this Hebrew woman who is
with you that she come to us, and eat and
drink with us.
12 For behold, it would be a disgrace if we
shall let such a woman go, not having had
her company; for if we don’t draw her to
ourselves, she will laugh us to scorn.”
13 Bagoas went from the presence of
Holofernes, and came in to her, and said,
“Let this fair lady not fear to come to my
lord, and to be honored in his presence,
and to drink wine and be merry with us,
and to be made this day as one of the
daughters of the children of Asshur who
serve in Nebuchadnezzar’s palace.”
14 Judith said to him, “Who am I, that I
should contradict my lord? For whatever
would be pleasing in his eyes, I will do
speedily, and this will be my joy to the day
of my death.”
15 She arose, and decked herself with her
apparel and all her woman’s attire; and
her servant went and laid fleeces on the
ground for her next to Holofernes, which
she had received from Bagoas for her daily
use, that she might sit and eat upon them.
16 Judith came in and sat down, and
Holofernes’ heart was ravished with her.
His passion was aroused, and he exceedingly
desired her company. He was watching for a
time to deceive her from the day
that he had seen her.
17 Holofernes said to her, “Drink now,
and be merry with us.”
18 Judith said, “I will drink now, my lord,
because my life is magnified in me this day
more than all the days since I was born.”
19 Then she took and ate and drank before
him what her servant had prepared.
20 Holofernes took great delight in her,
and drank exceedingly much wine, more
than he had drunk at any time in one day
since he was born.