Judith chapter 8
[This chapter is in Orthodox and Catholic Bibles] Introduction to Judith. Judith speaks to the Elders. Uzziah responds to Judith. Judith will act in faith.
The Book of Judith is recognized as Deuterocanonical Scripture by the Orthodox and Catholic Churches
INTRODUCTION TO JUDITH
VERSE 1. In those days Judith heard about this. She was the daughter of Merari, the son of Ox, the son of Joseph, the son of Oziel, the son of Elkiah, the son of Ananias, the son of Gideon, the son of Raphaim, the son of Ahitub, the son of Elihu, the son of Eliab, the son of Nathanael, the son of Salamiel, the son of Salasadai, the son of Israel.
VERSE 2. Her husband was Manasses, of her tribe and of her family. He died in the days of barley harvest.
VERSE 3. For he stood over those who bound sheaves in the field, and the heat came upon his head, and he fell on his bed, and died in his city Bethulia. So they buried him with his fathers in the field which is between Dothaim and Balamon.
VERSE 4. Judith was a widow in her house three years and four months.
VERSE 5. She made herself a tent upon the roof of her house, and put on sackcloth upon her loins. The garments of her widowhood were upon her.
She made herself a tent upon the roof of her house. Judith many have been living a perpetual Sukkoth.
Sukkoth is also known as the Feast of Booths, as well as the Feast of Tabernacles.
It is a seven- or eight-day holiday when observant Jewish people live in tents.
It is a reminder of the fragile tents they lived in during their 40 years in the desert.
The Bible sometimes uses the word ‘tent’ to mean our ‘body.’ So this could also mean that Judith lives a transcendent life with God.
For centuries, the Ark of the Covenant was housed in a tent.
VERSE 6. And she fasted all the days of her widowhood, except the eves of the Sabbaths, the Sabbaths, the eves of the new moons, the new moons, and the feasts and joyful days of the house of Israel.
she fasted all the days of her widowhood. Judith is an authentic Woman of God. She is the real thing. And Judith fasts continually.
To fast is to abstain from eating. And possibly drinking. Or to follow a restricted diet. It is a wonderful companion during special times in our lives. Read more »
VERSE 7. She was of a goodly countenance, and exceeding beautiful to behold. Her husband Manasses had left her gold, silver, menservants, maidservants, cattle, and lands. She remained on those lands.
She remained on those lands. That is, she manages them.
She manages her vast wealth and employees and household.
VERSE 8. No one said anything evil about her; for she feared God exceedingly.
NAB translation. No one had a bad word to say about her, for she was a very God-fearing woman.
This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the Book of Judith and from the entire Bible.
No one said anything evil about her. Judith lived an excellent life.
she feared God exceedingly. That is, she was very God-fearing.
JUDITH SPEAKS TO THE ELDERS
VERSE 9. She heard the evil words of the people against the governor, because they fainted for lack of water; and Judith heard all the words that Ozias spoke to them, how he swore to them that he would deliver the city to the Assyrians after five days.
VERSE 10. So she sent her maid, who was over all things that she had, to summon Ozias, Chabris, and Charmis, the elders of her city.
VERSE 11. They came to her, and she said to them, “Hear me now, O you rulers of the inhabitants of Bethulia: for your word that you have spoken before the people this day is not right. You have set the oath which you have pronounced between God and you, and have promised to deliver the city to our enemies, unless within these days the Lord turns to help you.
your word that you have spoken … is not right. Judith speaks the truth to the elders.
Doubtless they did not want to be told they were wrong. But Judith does not let that stop her.
VERSE 12. Now who are you that you have tempted God this day, and stand in the place of God among the children of men?
VERSE 13. Now try the Lord Almighty, and you will never know anything.
try the Lord Almighty. That is, they were putting conditions on God.
VERSE 14. For you will not find the depth of the heart of man, and you will not perceive the things that he thinks. How will you search out God, who has made all these things, and know his mind, and comprehend his purpose? No, my kindred, don’t provoke the Lord our God to anger!
VERSE 15. For if he has not decided to help us within these five days, he has power to defend us in such time as he will, or to destroy us before the face of our enemies.
VERSE 16. But don’t you pledge the counsels of the Lord our God! For God is not as man, that he should be threatened; neither as the son of man, that he should be turned by entreaty.
VERSE 17. Therefore let’s wait for the salvation that comes from him, and call upon him to help us. He will hear our voice, if it pleases him.
VERSE 18. For there arose none in our age, neither is there any of us today, tribe, or kindred, or family, or city, which worship gods made with hands, as it was in the former days;
VERSE 19. for which cause our fathers were given to the sword, and for plunder, and fell with a great fall before our enemies.
VERSE 20. But we know no other god beside him. Therefore we hope that he will not despise us, nor any of our race.
VERSE 21. For if we are taken so, all Judea will sit upon the ground, and our sanctuary will be plundered; and he will require our blood for profaning it.
VERSE 22. And the slaughter of our kindred, and the captivity of the land, and the desolation of our inheritance, he will turn upon our heads among the Gentiles, wherever we will be in bondage. We will be an offense and a reproach before those who take us for a possession.
VERSE 23. For our bondage will not be ordered to favor; but the Lord our God will turn it to dishonor.
VERSE 24. And now, kindred, let’s show an example to our kindred, because their soul hangs upon us, and the sanctuary, the house, and the altar rest upon us.
let’s show an example to our kindred. Hero of the faith Judith takes the three Elders of the nation to task.
They exhibit a lack of faith and a lack of courage.
Judith has the perspective of faith and courage.
VERSE 25. Besides all this let’s give thanks to the Lord our God, who tries us, even as he did our fathers also.
This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the Book of Judith and from the entire Bible.
VERSE 26. Remember all the things which he did to Abraham, and all the things in which he tried Isaac, and all the things which happened to Jacob in Mesopotamia of Syria, when he kept the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother.
VERSE 27. For he has not tried us in the fire, as he did them, to search out their hearts, neither has he taken vengeance on us; but the Lord does scourge them that come near to him, to admonish them.”
UZZIAH RESPONDS TO JUDITH
VERSE 28. And Ozias said to her, “All that you have spoken, you have spoken with a good heart. There is no one who will deny your words.
VERSE 29. For this is not the first day wherein your wisdom is manifested; but from the beginning of your days all the people have known your understanding, because the disposition of your heart is good.
from the beginning of your days all the people have known your understanding. Judith has a lifetime of wisdom and excellence.
VERSE 30. But the people were exceedingly thirsty, and compelled us to do as we spoke to them, and to bring an oath upon ourselves, which we will not break.
VERSE 31. And now pray you for us, because you are a godly woman, and the Lord will send us rain to fill our cisterns, and we will faint no more.”
JUDITH WILL ACT IN FAITH
VERSE 32. Then Judith said to them, “Hear me, and I will do a thing, which will go down to all generations among the children of our race.”
This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the Book of Judith and from the entire Bible.
I will do a thing, which will go down to all generations. These words remind us of the words of Mary:
Luke 1:48b. For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed.
Judith speaks in faith of the future:
- Do her words cause the future to happen the way she describes?
- Or does she foresee the future and describe it?
VERSE 33. You shall all stand at the gate tonight. I will go out with my maid. Within the days after which you said that you would deliver the city to our enemies, the Lord will visit Israel by my hand.
VERSE 34. But you shall not inquire of my act; for I will not declare it to you, until the things are finished that I will do.”
VERSE 35. Then Ozias and the rulers said to her, “Go in peace. May the Lord God be before you, to take vengeance on our enemies.”
VERSE 36. So they returned from the tent, and went to their stations.
JUDITH
CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16
RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize, Judith fasts continually, Chronology
Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.