Chapter XII · Location 12 of 16
Chapter 12 · Open to readFrom Judith · Douay–Rheims / Challoner (1749–1752)
What sequence and claims does Judith Chapter 12 record?
Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary
Judith declines the commander’s food lest she sin and asks to leave for prayer at night and before day. Holofernes permits her to go in and out; during three days she washes, prays and eats her own food in the evening. On the fourth day she attends a supper, and Holofernes drinks more wine than on any previous single occasion.
Chapter breakdown
Holofernes ordered Judith brought into the pavilion where his treasures were stored, bidding her stay there and directing that food and wine from his own table be served to her. Judith politely declined the commander’s provisions, explaining that she could not eat them lest she incur sin, and stating that she would eat only what she had brought with her in her maid's bag. When Holofernes inquired what would be done if her personal provisions ran out, Judith swore by his soul that her supplies would not be exhausted before God accomplished by her hand the purpose she had set out to achieve.
She then requested liberty to leave the camp at night and before dawn to offer prayers and beseech the Lord. Holofernes commanded his chamberlains to let her go in and out as she pleased to worship her God. She stayed three days. Each night, Judith went out into the valley of Bethulia and washed herself in the fountain on the ascent. As she came up from the fountain, she prayed to the God of Israel to direct her path toward the deliverance of his people. Returning to her tent, she remained pure until she ate her own food in the evening.
On the fourth day, Holofernes hosted a supper for his servants and instructed Vagao his eunuch to persuade the Hebrew woman to consent of her own accord to live with him, observing that Assyrians considered it shameful that a woman should mock a man by passing free from him. Vagao went to Judith, encouraging her not to fear but to come before his lord, receive honor, and drink wine merrily. Judith replied humbly, asking who she was to contradict her lord, and promising that whatever pleased him would be best in her eyes for all the days of her life.
Judith arose, adorned herself in her garments, and stood before Holofernes. Smitten with passion and burning with desire for her, the general urged her to sit down, drink, and be merry because she had found favor in his sight. Judith declared that she would drink, proclaiming that her life was magnified this day above all the days of her life. She ate and drank before him only what her maid had prepared. Delighted by her presence, Holofernes drank exceeding much wine, consuming more than he had ever drunk on any single day of his life.
The story inside
Opening conditions: Judith declines the commander’s food lest she sin and asks to leave for prayer at night and before day. Development: Holofernes permits her to go in and out; during three days she washes, prays and eats her own food in the evening. Chapter ending: On the fourth day she attends a supper, and Holofernes drinks more wine than on any previous single occasion.
Lessons worth keeping
- 1Judith declines the commander’s food lest she sin and asks to leave for prayer at night and before day.
- 2Holofernes permits her to go in and out; during three days she washes, prays and eats her own food in the evening.
- 3On the fourth day she attends a supper, and Holofernes drinks more wine than on any previous single occasion.
Test your recall
Which events are narrated, and which statements belong to the named speakers?
Source edition and notes
Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.
Lines 52597–52599
And Judith answered him and said: Now I cannot eat of these things which thou commandest to be given me, lest sin come upon me: but I will eat of the things which I have brought.
Lines 52604–52606
And Judith said: As thy soul liveth, my lord, thy handmaid shall not spend all these things till God do by my hand that which I have purposed.
Lines 52616–52617
And she went out in the nights into the valley of Bethulia, and washed herself in a fountain of water.
Lines 52658–52659
And Holofernes was made merry on her occasion, and drank exceeding much wine, so much as he had never drunk in his life.
