Name variations: Judith of Bethulia; Judith of Bethulin. In the Biblical account, Judith was born in Bethulia (near Jerusalem) after the Jews returned from exile in Babylonia (537 bce); died in Bethulia at 105 years of age; married Manasses (died); no children.
How old is the Book of Judith?
The Book of Judith is part of the Bible. It was written in or near 100 b.c.e. It is in Bibles that follow the Catholic and Orthodox Canon. Protestants and Jews treat the Book of Judith as part of the apocrypha and not part of the official canon.
When did the story of Judith occur?
The “Book of Judith” was written down about 100 BC, and variants of it are preserved in Greek and Latin, although it was probably composed in Hebrew. The story is set much earlier, in the reign of the imperialist Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar c. 634 – 562 BC.
Who Wrote the Book of Judith in the Bible?
Judith, book of. One of the canonical books of the Old Testament, so named because it contains the story of the Israelite heroine Judith. Judith liberated her homeland of Bethulia from Nebuchadnezzar by assassinating his general Holofernes.
…
Title: | Judith, Book of |
---|---|
Original Version (ARTFL): | Link |
What does the story of Judith teach us?
Judith is a remarkable character for several reasons. She is known for her wisdom and for having her heart in the right place. … Their lives depend on us” (The Book of Judith 8:24). When the elders respond by telling Judith that they must stay their course, she decides to take matters into her own hands.
Why was the book of Judith removed from the Bible?
Reasons for its exclusion include the lateness of its composition, possible Greek origin, open support of the Hasmonean dynasty (to which the early rabbinate was opposed), and perhaps the brash and seductive character of Judith herself.
Did Judith sleep with Holofernes?
After three days had passed, Holofernes planned to seduce her after a lavish banquet, for he felt that “it would be a disgrace if we let such a woman go” (Judith 12:12). Late that night, as Judith was finally alone with Holofernes and the commander lay drunk on his bed, she seized his sword and cut off his head.
What is Judith about in the Bible?
A beautiful Jewish widow named Judith left the besieged city in pretended flight and foretold to Holofernes that he would be victorious. Invited into his tent, she cut off his head as he lay in drunken sleep and brought it in a bag to Bethulia. A Jewish victory over the leaderless Assyrian forces followed.
What is the main message of the Book of Judith?
The Book of Judith relates the story of God’s deliverance of the Jewish people. This was accomplished “by the hand of a female”—a constant motif (cf. 8:33; 9:9, 10; 12:4; 13:4, 14, 15; 15:10; 16:5) meant to recall the “hand” of God in the Exodus narrative (cf. Ex 15:6).
Who was Judith married to in the Bible?
The book of Judith is similar to the biblical Book of Esther in that it also describes how a woman saved her people from impending massacre by her cunning and daring. The name of the heroine occurs already in Gen. 26:34 as a Gentile wife of Esau, but in the book of Judith it evidently has symbolic value.
What’s the meaning of Judith?
Judith is a feminine given name derived from the Hebrew name יְהוּדִית or Yehudit, meaning “woman of Judea”. … It is in common usage in English, French, German, many Scandinavian languages, Dutch, and Hebrew.
What is the Hebrew name for Judith?
From the Hebrew name Yehudit meaning “woman from Judea”.
How many years did Judith live?
Name variations: Judith of Bethulia; Judith of Bethulin. In the Biblical account, Judith was born in Bethulia (near Jerusalem) after the Jews returned from exile in Babylonia (537 bce); died in Bethulia at 105 years of age; married Manasses (died); no children.
Who was Deborah in the Bible?
Deborah, also spelled Debbora, prophet and heroine in the Old Testament (Judg. 4 and 5), who inspired the Israelites to a mighty victory over their Canaanite oppressors (the people who lived in the Promised Land, later Palestine, that Moses spoke of before its conquest by the Israelites); the “Song of Deborah” (Judg.