The book of Judith.

The events described in the book of Judith took place in Israel during the reign of the king Ma-

nasseh. The book is named after its main character. Judith was a beautiful and godly widow of a

certain Manasseh of the tribe of Simeon from the city of Bethulia. By her courageous deed she

saved her city and the whole country from the Assyrian armies that came to devastate the land

under the command of Holofernes (approx. 650 years B.C.).

  Having occupied all of the coastal land, Holofernes and his huge army made a stop on the

border of Judea near Bethulia in the tribe of Issachar. The inhabitants of Bethulia were suffering

from  starvation  and  thirst and were about to surrender, when Judith, being firm in her faith in

God.s coming help, showed up in the enemy.s camp. Having found favor with Holofernes, Judith

decapitated him at night, after a party. Then she took the commander.s head to her  fellow-

citizens.  Encouraged  by  this,  the  Jews  drove  the  Assyrian  army  away.  After  this  Judith  was

highly respected, lived a long godly life and died at the age of 105.