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The book of Judith, found in the Catholic Old Testament, tells the story of a courageous widow named Judith who saves her people from the powerful Assyrian army. Set during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, the book begins with the city of Bethulia under siege by the Assyrians. Faced with starvation and impending destruction, the people turn to Judith for guidance.
Judith, known for her beauty and piety, devises a plan to infiltrate the enemy camp. She dresses in her best garments and goes to the Assyrian general, Holofernes, presenting herself as a defector. Holofernes falls for her charm and invites her into his tent, unaware of her true intentions.
During a feast, Judith seizes the opportunity to strike. She finds Holofernes in a drunken stupor and beheads him with his own sword. Judith then wraps the severed head in a cloth and returns to Bethulia, displaying it to the desperate and frightened Assyrian forces. Witnessing the decapitated head of their general, the Assyrians retreat in fear, leading to victory for the Israelites.
The book of Judith is a profound story of faith, courage, and the triumph of good over evil. Judith’s bravery and unwavering trust in God serve as an inspiration for Catholics to stand up against injustice and rely on divine intervention.
In addition to the theme of divine assistance, Judith’s story also highlights the power of prayer. Before executing her plan, Judith prays fervently for God’s guidance and protection. Her faith is rewarded as God grants her the strength and courage to overcome the seemingly insurmountable obstacle before her.
Overall, the book of Judith presents an important message about the strength of God’s people in the face of adversity and the ultimately victorious outcome that awaits those who place their trust in Him. It serves as a reminder to Catholics to remain steadfast in their faith and to rely on God’s providence in times of trouble.
Hashtags: #BookOfJudith #CatholicBible #Faith #Courage #DivineIntervention #PowerOfPrayer #TriumphOfGoodOverEvil #Inspiration #TrustGod.
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Judith chapter 1 it was the 12th year of Nebuchadnezzar who reigned over the
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Assyrians in the great city of Nineveh ARF faad was then reigning over the Mes
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in ebat he surrounded the city with walls of dress Stones 3 cubits thick and
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6 cubits long making the rampart 70 cubits high and 50 cubits wide at the
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gates he placed Towers 100 cubits high and at the foundations 60 cubits wide
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the gates themselves being 70 cubits high and 40 wide to allow his forces to March out in a body and his infantry to
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parade freely about this time King Nebuchadnezzar gave battle to King arfad
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in the Great Plain lying in the territory of regi supporting him were all the peoples from the highlands all
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from the Euphrates and tigers and hi High asps and those from the plains who were subject to arok King of the alamans
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thus many nations had mustered to take part in the battle of the kites Nebuchadnezzar King of the
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Assyrian sent a message to all the inhabitants of Persia to all the inhabitants of the Western countries
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cicia Damascus Lebanon anti-lebanon to all those along the coast to the peoples
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of Carmel Gilead upper Galilee the Great Plain of estelon to the people of
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Samaria and its outlying towns to those Beyond Jordan as far away as Jerusalem
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Bethany Chalo cadesh the river of Egypt topan ramises and the whole territory of
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Goan Beyond Tannis to in Memphis and to all the inhabitants of Egypt as far as
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the frontiers of Ethiopia but the inhabitants of these countries ignored the Summons of Nebuchadnezzar King of
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the Assyrians and did not Rally to him to make war they were not not afraid of him since in their view he appeared
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isolated hence they sent his ambassadors back with nothing achieved and in disgrace Nebuchadnezzar was furious with
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all these countries he swore by his throne and Kingdom to take revenge on all the territories of cicia Damascus
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and Syria of the moabites and of the ammonites of Duda and Egypt as far as
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the limits of the two seas and to ravage them with the sword in the 17th year he
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gave battle with his whole Army to King arfad and in this battle defeated him he routed arad's entire Army and all his
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Cavalry and chariots he occupied his towns and advanced on E batna he seized
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its towers and plundered its marketplaces reducing its former magnificence to a mockery he later
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captured our faad in the mountains of regi and thrusting him through with his Spears destroyed him once and for all he
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then retired with his troops and all who had join forces with him a vast horde of
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armed men then he and his army gave themselves up to Carefree feasting for
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120
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days Judith chapter 2 in the 18th year on the 22nd day of the first month a
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rumor ran through the palace that Nebuchadnezzar King of the Assyrians was to have his revenge on all the countries
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as he had threatened summoning his General staff and Senior officers he held a secret conference with them and
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with his own lips pronounced utter destruction on the entire area it was then decreed that everyone should be put
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to death who had not answered the king's appeal when the council was over Nebuchadnezzar King of the Assyrians
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sent for holofernes general-in-chief of his armies and subordinate only to
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himself he said to him thus speaks the great king lord of the whole world go
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take man of proven Valor about 120,000 ft soldiers and a strong company of
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horse with 12,000 cavalrymen then Advance against all the Western lands
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since these people have disregarded my call bid them have earth and water ready
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because in my rage I am about to march on them the feet of my soldiers will cover the whole face of the Earth and I
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shall plunder it their wounded will fill the valleys and the Torrance and rivers
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blocked with their dead will overflow I shall lead them captive to the ends of
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the Earth now go Begin by conquering this whole region for me if they
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surrender to you hold them for me until the time comes to punish them but if
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they resist look on no one with clemency hand them over to slaughter and plunder
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throughout the territory entrusted to you for by my life and by the living power of my kingdom I have spoken all
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this I shall do by my power and you neglect none of your Master's commands
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act strictly according to my orders without further delay leaving the presence of his Sovereign holofernes
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immediately summoned all the marshals generals and officers of the Assyrian army and detailed the pick troops as his
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master had ordered about 120,000 men and a further 12,000 mounted archers he
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organized these in the normal battle formation he then secured vast numbers of camels donkeys and mules to carry the
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baggage and innumerable sheep oxen and goats for Food Supplies every man
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received full rations and a generous sum of gold and silver from the king's purse
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he then set out for the campaign with his whole Army in advance of King Nebuchadnezzar to overwhelm the whole
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western region with his chariots his Horsemen and his picked body of foot a mly gathering followed in his rear as
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numerous as locusts or the grains of sand on the ground there was no Counting their multitude thus they set out from
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Nineveh and marched for 3 Days towards the plain of balith from bealth they
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went on to pitch camp near the mountains that lie to the north of Upper cicia from there holofernes Advanced into the
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highlands with his whole Army infantry Horsemen chariots he cut his way through
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put and lud carried away captive all the sons of rassis and Sons of Ishmael living on the verge of the desert south
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of chaon marched along the fres crossed Mesopotamia raised all the Fortified
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towns controlling the W abon and reached the sea next he attacked the territories of cicia butchering all who offered him
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resistance Advanced on the southern frontiers of jafeth facing Arabia
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completely encircled the midianites burned their tents and plundered their sheep folds made his way down to the
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Damascus plain at the time of the wheat Harvest Set Fire to the fields destroyed
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the flocks and herds sacked the to sounds laid the countryside waste and put all the young men to the sword fear
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and trembling seized all the coastal peoples those of sidon and Ty those of
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Sir OS and jamnia the populations of aotos and ascalon were Panic
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stricken Judith chapter 3 they therefore sent envoys to him to sue for peace to
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say we are are Servants of the great King Nebuchadnezzar we lie prostrate before
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you treat us as you think fit our cattle Farms all our land all our wheat Fields
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our flocks and herds all the Sheep folds in our encampments are at your disposal
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do with them as you please our towns and their inhabitants too are at your service go and treat them as you think
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fit these men came to holofernes and delivered the messages above he then
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made his way down to the coast with his army and stationed garrisons in all the Fortified towns levying outstanding men
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there as auxiliaries the people of these cities and of all the other towns in the neighborhood welcomed him wearing
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garlands and dancing to the sound of tambourines but he demolished their shrines and cut down their sacred trees
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carrying out his commission to destroy all local Gods so that the nation should worship Nebuchadnezzar alone and people
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of every language and nationality should hail him as a god thus he reached the edge of estron in
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the neighborhood of Dothan a village facing the great Ridge of Duda he pitched Camp between Gabba and
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scythopolis and stayed there a full month to reprovision his [Music]
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forces Judith chapter 4 when the Israelites living in Judea heard how
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holofernes general-in-chief of Nebuchadnezzar King of the Assyrians had treated the very various Nations
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plundering their temples and destroying them they were thoroughly alarmed at his approach and trembled for Jerusalem and
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the Temple of the Lord their God they had returned from captivity only a short time before and the resettlement of the
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people in Judea and the reconsecration of the Sacred Furnishings of the Altar
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and of the temple which had been profaned were of recent date they therefore alerted the whole of Samaria
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Kona Beth horon belain Jericho choba
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isora and the Salem Valley they occupied the Summits of the highest mountains and fortified the villages on them they laid
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in supplies for the coming War as the fields had just been harvested Joakim
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the high priest resident in Jerusalem at the time wrote to the inhabitants of bethulia and of bames Two Towns facing
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estron towards the plain of Dothan he ordered them to occupy the mountain passes the only means of access to Duda
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for there it would be easy for them to Halt an attacking Force the narrowness of the approach not allowing men to
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advance more than two ab breast the Israelites carried out the orders of Joakim the high priest and of the
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people's Council of Elders in session at Jerusalem all the men of Israel cried most fervently to God and humbled
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themselves before him they their wives their children their cattle all their
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resident aliens hired or slave wrapped sackcloth around their Lo coins all the
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Israelites in Jerusalem including women and children lay prostrate in front of
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the temple and with ashes on their heads stretched out their hands before the Lord they draped the altar itself in
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sackcloth and fervently joined together in begging the god of Israel not to let their children be carried off their
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wives distributed as booty the towns of their Heritage destroyed the temple profaned and desecrated for the Heathen
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to gloat over the Lord heard them and looked kindly on their distress the
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people fasted for many days throughout dudea as well as in Jerusalem before the sanctuary of the Lord Almighty Joakim
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the high priest and all who stood before the Lord the Lord's priests and ministers wore sackcloth round their
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loins as they offered the Perpetual burnt offering and the votive and voluntary offerings of the people with
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ashes on their turbin they earnestly called on the Lord to look kindly on the house of Israel
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Judith chapter 5 holofernes general-in-chief of the Assyrian army
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received the intelligence that the Israelites were preparing for war that they had closed the mountain passes
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fortified all the high peaks and laid obstructions in the plains holofernes was Furious he summoned all the princes
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of Moab all the generals of Ammon and all the satraps of the coastal regions
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men of Canaan he said tell me what people is this that occupies the Hill
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Country What towns does it inhabit how large is its Army what are the sources
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of its power and strength who is the king who rules it and commands its Army
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why have they disdained to wait on me as all the Western peoples have aier leader
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of all the ammonites replied may my Lord be pleased to listen to what your servant is going to say I shall give you
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the facts about these Mountain folk whose home lies close to you you will hear no lie from the mouth of your
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servant these people are descended from the calans they once came to live in
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Mesopotamia because they did not want to follow the gods of their ancestors who lived in Cala they abandoned the way of
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their ancestors to worship the god of Heaven the god they learned to acknowledge banished from the presence
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of their own Gods they fled to Mesopotamia where they lived for a long time when God told them to leave their
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home and set out for Canaan they settled there and accumulated gold and silver and great herds of cattle next famine
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having overwhelmed the land of Canaan they went down to Egypt where they stayed till they were well-nourished
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there they became a great multitude a race Beyond counting but the king of
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Egypt turned against them and exploited them by forcing them to make bricks he degraded them reducing them to slavery
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they cried to their God who struck the entire land of Egypt with incurable plagues and the Egyptians expelled them
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God dried up the Red Sea before them and led them forward by way of siai and cadesh Baria having driven off all the
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inhabitants of the desert they settled in the land of the amorites and in their strength exterminated the entire
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population of heshbon then having cross the Jordan they took possession of all the Hill Country driving out the
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Canaanites before them and the par ites jebusites shechemites and all the jurit
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and lived there for many years all the while they did not sin before their God
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Prosperity was theirs for they have a God who hates wickedness but when they
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turn from the path he had marked out for them some were exterminated in a series of battles others were taken captive to
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a foreign land the Temple of their God was raised to the ground and their towns were seized by their enemies then having
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turned once again again to their God they came back from the places to which they had been dispersed and Scattered
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regained possession of Jerusalem where they have their Temple and reoccupied the Hill Country which had been left
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deserted so now master and Lord if this people has committed any fault if they
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have sinned against their God let us first be sure that they really have this reason to fail then advance and attack
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them but if their nation is Guiltless my Lord would do better to abstain for fear
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that their Lord and God should protect them we should then become the Laughing stalk of the whole world when aier had
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ended this speech all the people crowding around the tent began protesting hofer's own senior officers
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as well as all the coastal peoples and the moabites threatened to tear him limb from limb why should we be afraid of the
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Israelites they are a Weak and Powerless people quite unable to stand a stiff
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attack forward Advance your army holofernes our Master will swallow them
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in one
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mouthful Judith chapter 6 when the Uproar of those crowding around the
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council had subsided holofernes general-in-chief of the Assyrian army
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reprimanded aier in front of the whole crowd of foreigners and ammonites AER
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who do you think you are you and the forite mercenaries playing the prophet like this with us today and trying to
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dissuade us from making war on the people of Israel you claim their God will protect them and who is God if not
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Nebuchadnezzar he himself will display his power and wipe them off the face of the Earth and their God will certainly
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not save them but we his servants shall destroy them as easily as a single
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individual they can never resist the strength of our Cavalry we shall burn
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them all their Mountains will be drunk with their blood and their Plains filled with their corpses far from being able
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to resist us every one of them will die thus says King Nebuchadnezzar lord of
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the whole world for he has spoken and his words will not prove empty as for
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you aier you ammonite mercenary who in a rash moment said these words you will
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not see my face again until the day when I have taken my revenge on this brood from Egypt and then the swords of my
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soldiers and the spears of my officers will pierce your sides you will fall among their wounded the moment I turn on
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Israel my servants will now take you Into the Hill Country and leave you near one of the towns in the passes you will
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not die until you share their ruin no need to look so sad if you cherish the
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secret hope that they will not be captured I have spoken none of my words
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will prove Idol Hala feres having commanded his tent orderly to seize aier
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to take him to bethulia and to hand him over to the Israelites the orderlies took him escorted him out of the camp
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and across the plain and then making for the Hill Country reached the Springs
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below bethulia as soon as the men of the Town sighted them they snatched up their
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weapons left the town and made for the mountain tops while all the Slingers pelted them with stones to prevent them
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from coming up however they managed to take cover at the foot of the slope where they bound aier and left him lying
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at the bottom of the mountain and returned to their Master the Israelites then came down from their Town stopped
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by him Unbound him and took him to bethulia where they brought him before the chief men of the Town who at that
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time were Isiah son of Micah of the tribe of Simeon shabri son of Gothel and charmi Son of melel these summoned all
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the Elders of the town the young men and the women also hurried to the assembly
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aier was made to stand with all the people surrounding him and Isaiah questioned him about what had happened
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he answered by telling them what had been said at Hofer Council and what he himself had said in the presence of the
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Assyrian leaders and how holofernes had bragged of what he would do to the house of Israel at this the people fell to the
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ground and worshiped God lord god of Heaven they cried take notice of their
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arrogance and have pity on the humiliation of our race look kindly today on those who are consecrated to
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you they then spoke reassuringly to aier and praised him warmly after the
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assembly Isaiah took him home and gave a banquet for the elders all that night they called on the god of Israel for
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help Judith chapter 7 the following day holofernes issued orders to his whole
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Army and to the whole host of auxiliaries who had joined him him to break camp and March on bethulia to
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occupy the mountain passes and so open the campaign against the Israelites the troops broke camp that same day the
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actual fighting force numbered 120,000 infantry and 12,000 Cavalry not to
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mention the baggage train with a vast number of men on foot concerned with that they penetrated The Valley in the
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neighborhood of bethulia near the spring and deployed on a wide front from Dothan to Bal Bame and in depth from bethulia
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to Simon which faces estron when the Israelites saw this horde they were all
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appalled and said to each other now they will lick the whole country clean not even the loftiest Peaks the Gorges or
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the hills will be able to stand the weight of them each man snatched up his arms they lit beacons on their towers
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and spent the whole night on watch on the second day holofernes deployed his entire Cavalry in sight of the
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Israelites in bethulia he reconnoitered the slopes leading up to the town located the water points
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seized them and posted pickets over them and returned to the main body The Chieftains of the sons of Esau all the
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leaders of the moabites and the generals of the coastal District then came to him and said if our Master will be pleased
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to listen to us his forces will not sustain a single wound these Israelites
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do not rely so much on their Spears as on the height of the mountains where they live and admittedly it is is not at
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all easy to scale these Heights of theirs this being the case Master avoid
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engaging them in a pitched battle and then you will not lose a single man stay in Camp keep all your troops there too
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while your servant sees the spring which Rises at the foot of the mountain since that is what provides the population of
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bethulia with their water supply thirst will then force them to surrender their Town meanwhile we and our men will climb
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the nearest mountain tops and form advance posts there to prevent anyone from leaving the town hunger will waste
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them with their wives and children and before the sword can reach them they will already be lying in the streets
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outside their houses and you will make them pay dearly for their Defiance and their refusal to meet you peaceably
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their words pleased holofernes as well as all his officers and he decided to do
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as they suggested accordingly a troop of moabites moved forward with a further
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5,000 ass Syria they penetrated the valley and seized the Israelites water points and springs
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meanwhile the and ammonites went and took up positions in the highlands opposite Dothan sending some
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of their men to the southeast opposite AG grebel near Cho on the W mmer the rest of the Assyrian army took up
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positions in the plane covering every inch of the ground their tents and Equipment made an immense encampment so
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vast were their numbers the Israelites called on the Lord their God dispirited because the enemy had
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surrounded them and cut all line of retreat for 34 days the Assyrian Army
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infantry chariots cavalrymen had them surrounded every water jar the
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inhabitants of bethulia had was empty their storage Wells were drying up on no
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day could a man drink his fill since their water was rationed their little children pined away the women and young
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men grew weak with thirst they collapsed in the streets and gateways of the town
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they had no strength left young men women children the whole people thronged
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clammering round Isaiah and the chief men of the Town shouting in the presence of the assembled Elders may God be
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judged between you and us for you have done us great harm by not suing for
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peace with the Assyrians and now there is no one to help us God has delivered
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us into their hands to be prostrated before them in thirst and utter helplessness
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call them in at once hand the whole town over to be sacked by hofer's men and all
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his army after all we should be much better off as their booty than we are now no doubt we shall be enslaved but at
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least we shall be alive and not see our little ones dying before our eyes or our wives and children perishing by Heaven
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and Earth and by our God the Lord of our fathers who is punishing us for our sins
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and the sins of our ancestors we implore you to take this course of course now today bitter Lamentations Rose from the
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whole assembly and they all cried loudly to the Lord God then Isaiah spoke to
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them take heart Brothers let us hold out 5 days more by then the Lord Our God
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will take pity on us for he will not desert us altogether at the end of this
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time if no help is forthcoming I shall do as you have said with that he
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dismissed the people to their various quarters the men went to man the walls and towers of the Town sending the women
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and children home the town was full of [Music]
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despondency Judith chapter 8 Judith was informed at the time of what had
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happened she was the daughter of marari son of ox son of Joseph son of oel son
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of Elia son of ananas son of Gideon son of rapy son of aatb son of Elijah son of
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hilia son of elab son of Nathaniel son of Salam son of sasad son of Israel her
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husband Manasseh of her own tribe and family had died at the time of The Barley Harvest he was supervising the
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men as they bound up the sheaves in the field when he caught sunstroke and had to take to his bed he died in bethulia
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his hometown and was buried with his ancestors in the field that lies between Dothan and bamon as a widow Judith
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stayed inside her home for 3 years and 4 months she had had an upper room built
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for herself on the roof she wore sackcloth next to the skin and dressed in widows weeds she fasted every day of
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her widowhood except for the Sabbath Eve the Sabbath itself the eve of New Moon
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the Feast of new moon and the joyful festivals of the House of Israel now she was very beautiful Charming to see her
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husband Manasseh had left her gold and silver men servants and Maid servants
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herds and land and she lived among all her possessions without anyone finding a word to say against her so devoutly did
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she fear God hearing how the water shortage had demoralized the people and how they had complained bitterly to the
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headmen of the town and being also told what Isaiah had said to them and how he had given them his oath to surrender the
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town to the Assyrians in 5 days time Judith immediately sent the serving woman who ran her household to summon
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shabri and charmies two Elders of the town when these came and she said listen
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to me leaders of the people of bethulia you were wrong to speak to the people as
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you did today and to bind Yourself by oath in defiance of God to surrender the
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town to our enemies if the Lord did not come to your help within a set number of days who are you to put God to the test
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today you of all people to set eles above him you put the Lord Almighty to
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the test you do not understand anything and never will if you cannot sound the
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depths of the human heart or Unravel the arguments of the human mind how can you fathom The God Who made all things or
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sound his mind or Unravel his purposes no brothers do not provoke the anger of
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the Lord Our God although it may not be his will to help us within the next 5 days he has the power to protect us for
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as many many days as he pleases just as he has the power to destroy us before our enemies but you have no right to
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demand guarantees where the designs of the Lord Our God are concerned for God
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is not to be threatened as a human being is nor is he like a mere human to be
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cajoled rather as we wait patiently for him to save let us plead with him to
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help us he will hear our voice if such is his good pleasure and indeed of
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recent times and still today there is not one tribe of ours or family or Village or town that has worshiped gods
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made by human hand as once was done which was the reason why our ancestors were delivered over to sword and Sack
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and perished in misery at the hands of our enemies we for our part acknowledge no other God but him and so we may hope
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he will not look on us disdainfully or desert our nation if indeed they capture us as you expect then all Duda will be
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captured too and and our holy place is plundered and we shall answer with our blood for their profanation the
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slaughter of our brothers the Captivity of our country the unpeeling of our heritage will recoil on our own heads
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among the Nations whose slaves we shall become and our new Masters will look down on us as an outrage and a disgrace
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for our surrender will not reinstate us in their favor no the Lord Our God will make it a thing to be ashamed of so now
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Brothers let us set an example to our brothers since their lives depend on us
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and the sanctuary Temple and altar rests on us all this being so let us rather
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give thanks to the Lord Our God who as he tested our ancestors is now testing
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us remember how he treated Abraham all the ordeals of Isaac all that happened
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to Jacob in Syrian Mesopotamia while he kept the Sheep of laan his mother's brother for as these ordeals were
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intended by him to search their hearts so now this is not V that God is exacting on us but a warning inflicted
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by the Lord on those who are near his heart Isaiah replied everything you have just said comes from an honest heart and
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no one will contradict a word of it not that today is the first time your wisdom has been displayed from your earliest
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years all the people have known how shrewd you are and of how sound a heart but parched with thirst the people
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forced us to act as we had promised them and to bind ourselves by an inviolable oath you are a devout woman pray to the
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Lord then to send us a downpour to fill our storage Wells so that our faintness
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may pass Judith replied listen to me I intend to do something the memory of
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which will be handed down to the children of our race from age to age tonight you must be at the Gate of the
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town I shall make my way out with my attendant before the time fixed by you
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for surrendering the town to our enemies the Lord will make use of me to rescue Israel you must not ask what I intend to
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do I shall not tell you until I have done it Isaiah and the chief men said go
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in peace may the Lord show you a way to take revenge on our enemies and leaving
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the upper room they went back to their
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posts Judith chapter 9 Judith threw herself face to the ground scattered
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ashes on her head undressed as far as the sackcloth she was wearing and cried loudly to the Lord at the same time in
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Jerusalem the evening incense was being offered in the temple of God Judith said
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Lord God of my ancestor Simon you armed him with a sword to take Vengeance on the foreigners who had undone a virgin's
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belt to her shame laid bare her thigh to her confusion violated her womb to her
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dishonor since though you said this must not be they did it for this you handed
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their leaders over to slaughter and their bed defiled by their treachery was
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itself betrayed in blood you struck the slaves with the chieftain and the chieftain with their retainers you left
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their wives to be carried off their daughters to be taken captive and their spoils to be shared out among the sons
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you loved who had been so zealous for you had loathed the stain put on their blood and called on you for help oh God
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my God now Heat this Widow too for you have made the past and what is happening
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now and what will follow what is what will be you have planned what has been
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you designed your purposes stood forward see here we are they said for all your
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ways are prepared and your judgments delivered with for knowledge see the Assyrians with their army abounding
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glorying in their horses and their riders exalting in the strength of their Infantry trust as they may in shield and
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spear in Bow and sling in you they have not recognized the Lord the breaker of
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battle lines yours alone is the title of Lord break their violence with your
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might in your anger bring down their strength for they plan to profane your holy places to defile the Tabernacle the
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resting place of your glorious name and to hack down the Horn of your altar observe their arrogance send your fury
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on their heads give the strength I have in mind to this widow's Hand by guile of my lips strike
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down slave with master and master with retainer break their pride by a woman's
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hand your strength does not lie in numbers nor your might in strong men
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since you are the god of the humble the help of the oppressed the support of the weak The Refuge of The Forsaken the
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savior of the despairing please please God of my father God of the her her
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itage of Israel Master Of Heaven and Earth creator of the waters king of your
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whole creation hear my prayer give me a beguiling tongue to wound and kill those
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who have formed such cruel designs against your Covenant against your holy Dwelling Place against Mount Zion
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against the house belonging to your sons and demonstrate to Every Nation every tribe that you are the Lord God of all
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power all might and that the race of Israel has no proor but
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you Judith chapter 10 thus Judith called on the god of Israel when she had
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finished praying she got up from the floor summoned her maid and went down into the rooms which she used on Sabbath
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days and festivals there she removed the sackcloth she was wearing and taking off her widow's dress she washed all over
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anointed herself plentifully with perfumes dressed her hair wrapped a turban round it and put on the
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robe of Joy she used to wear when her husband manasse was alive she put sandals on her feet put on her necklaces
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bracelets Rings earrings and all her jewelry and made herself beautiful
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enough to beguile the eye of any man who saw her then she handed her made a skin of wine and a flask of oil filled a bag
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with barley girdle cakes cakes of dried fruit and pure Loaves and wrapping all
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these Provisions up gave them to her as well they then went out making for the
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Town Gate of bethulia there they found aiah waiting with the two Elders of the town shabri and charmies when they saw
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Judith her face so changed and her clothes so different they were lost in admiration of her beauty they said to
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her May the god of our ancestors keep you in his favor may he Crown your
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designs with success to the glory of the children of Israel to the greater glory of Jerusalem
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Judith worshiped God and then she said have the town gate open for me so that I
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can go out and fulfill all the wishes you expressed to me they did as she asked and gave orders to the young men
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to open the gate for her this done Judith went out accompanied by her maid
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while the men of the Town watched her all the way down the mountain and across the valley until they lost sight of her
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as the women were making straight through the valley an advanced unit of Assyrians intercepted them
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and seizing Judith began to question her which side are you on where do you come
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from where are you going I am a daughter of the Hebrews she replied and I am
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fleeing from them since they will soon be your prey I am on my way to see
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holofernes the general of your army to give him trustworthy information I shall
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show him the road to take if he wants to capture all the Hill Country without losing one man or one life as the men
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listened to what she was saying they stared in astonishment at the sight of such a beautiful woman it will prove the
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saving of you they said to her coming down to see our master of your own accord you had better go to his tent
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some of our men will escort you and hand you over to him once you are in his presence do not be afraid tell him what
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you have just told us and you will be well treated they then detailed a hundred of their men as escort for
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herself and her attendant and these led them to the tent of holofernes news of
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her coming had already spread through the tents and there was a general stir in the camp she was still outside the
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tent of holofernes waiting to be announced when a crowd began forming around her they were immediately
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impressed by her beauty and impressed with the Israelites because of her who could despise a people who have women
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like this they kept saying better not leave one of them alive let any go and
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they could twist the whole world round their fingers The Bodyguard and agitant of holofernes then came out and led
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Judith into the tent holofernes was resting on his bed under a canopy of purple and gold studded with emeralds
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and precious stones the men announced her and he came out to the entrance to the tent with silver torches carried
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before him when Judith confronted the general and his agitant the beauty of her face astonished them all she fell on
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her face and did homage to him but his servants raised her from the
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[Music] ground Judith chap 11 courage woman
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holer said do not be afraid I have never hurt anyone who chose to serve
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Nebuchadnezzar King of the whole world even now if your nation of mountain
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dwellers had not insulted me I would not have raised a spear against them
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this was their fault not mine but tell me why have you fled from them and come
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to us anyhow this will prove the saving of you courage you will live through
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this night and many after no one will hurt you on the contrary you will be
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treated as well as any who serve my Lord King Nebuchadnezzar Judith said please listen
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favorably to what your slave has to say put permit your servant to speak in your presence I shall speak no word of a lie
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to my Lord tonight you have only to follow your servant's advice and God will bring your work to a successful
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conclusion in what my Lord undertakes he will not fail long life to
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Nebuchadnezzar King of the whole world who has sent you to set every living Soul To Rights may his power endure
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since thanks to you he is served not only by human beings but because of your might the wild animal themselves the
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cattle and the birds of the air are to live in the service of Nebuchadnezzar and his whole house we have indeed heard
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of your Genius and adroitness of mind it is known everywhere in the world that throughout the Empire you have no rival
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for Ability wealth of experience and Brilliance in Waging War we have also
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heard what aier said in his speech to your counsel the men of bethulia having
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spared him he has told them everything that he said to you now master and Lord
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do not disregard what he said keep it in your mind since it is true our nation
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will not be punished the sword will indeed have no power over them unless they sin against their God but as it is
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my Lord need expect no repulse or setback since death is about to fall on their heads for sin has gained a hold
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over them provoking the anger of their God each time that they commit it as they are short of food and their water
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is giving out they have resolved to fall back on their cattle and decided to make use of all the things that God has by
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his laws forbidden them to eat not only have they made up their minds to eat the first fruits of corn and the tithes of
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wine and oil though these have been consecrated by them and set apart for the priests who serve in Jerusalem in
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the presence of our God and may not lawfully even be handled by ordinary people but they have sent men to
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Jerusalem where the inhabitants are doing much the same to bring them back authorization from the Council of Elders
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now this will be the outcome when the permission arrives and they act on it that very day they will be delivered
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over to you for Destruction when I your servant came to know all this I fled
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from them God has sent me to do things with you at which the world will be astonished when it hears your servant is
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a devout woman she honors the god of Heaven day and night I therefore propose
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my Lord to stay with you I your servant shall go out every night in to the
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valley and pray to God to let me know when they have committed their sin I shall then come and tell you so that you
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can March out with your whole Army and none of them will be able to resist you
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I shall be your guide right across Judea until you reach Jerusalem there I shall
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enthrone you in the very middle of the city and then you can round them up like Shepherd L sheep with never a dog daring
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to bark at you for knowledge tells me this this had been foretold to me and I
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have been been sent to reveal it to you her words pleased holofernes and all his
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agitant full of admiration at her wisdom they exclaimed there is no woman like
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her from one end of the Earth to the other so lovely of face and so wise of speech Haler said God has done well to
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send you ahead of the others strength will be ours and ruin theirs who have
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insulted my Lord as for you you are as beautiful as you are eloquent if you do
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as you have promised your God shall be my God and you yourself shall make your home in the Palace of King
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Nebuchadnezzar and be famous throughout the
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world Judith chapter 12 with that he had her brought in to where his silver
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dinner service was already laid and had his own food served to her and his own wine poured out for her but Judith said
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I would rather not eat this in case Cas I incur some fault what I have brought
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will be enough for me suppose your Provisions run out holofernes asked how
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could we get more of the same sort we have no one belonging to your race here
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may your soul live my Lord Judith answered the Lord will have used me to accomplish his plan before your servant
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has finished these Provisions holer agitant then took her to a tent where she slept until midnight a little before
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the morning w much she got up she had already sent this request to holofernes
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let my Lord kindly give orders for your servant to be allowed to go out and pray and holofernes had ordered his guards
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not to prevent her she stayed in the camp for 3 days she went out each night
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to the valley of bethulia and washed at the spring where the picket had been posted as she went she prayed to the
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Lord God of Israel to guide her in her plan to relieve the children of her people having purified herself she would
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return turn and stay in her tent until her meal was brought her in the evening on the fourth day holofernes gave a
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banquet inviting only his own staff and none of the other officers he said to
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Booz the officer in charge of his personal affairs go and persuade that Hebrew woman you are looking after to
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come and join us and eat and drink in our company we shall be disgraced if we let a woman like this go without
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seducing her if we do not seduce her everyone will laugh at us
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bagoas then left holofernes and went to see Judith would this young and lovely
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woman condescend to come to my Lord he asked she will occupy the seat of Honor
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opposite him drink the joyful wine with us and be treated today like one of the Assyrian ladies who stand in the Palace
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of Nebuchadnezzar who am I Judith replied to resist my Lord I shall not
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hesitate to do whatever he wishes and doing this will be my joy to my dying
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day so she got up and put on her dress and all her feminine adornments her maid
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preceded her and on the floor in front of holofernes spread the fleece which bagoas had given Judith for her daily
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use to lie on as she ate Judith came in and took her place the heart of
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holofernes was ravished at the sight his very Soul was stirred he was seized with
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a violent desire to sleep with her and indeed since the first day he saw her he
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had been waiting for an opportunity to seduce her drink then holofernes said
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enjoy yourself with us I am delighted to do so my lord for since my birth I have
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never felt my life more worthwhile than today she took what her maid had prepared and ate and drank facing him
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holofernes was so enchanted with her that he drank far more wine than he had drunk on any other day in his life
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Judith chapter 13 it grew late and his staff hurried away beoa closed the tent
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from the outside having shown out those who still lingered in his Lord's presence they went to their beds wearied
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with too much drinking and Judith was left alone in the tent with holofernes who had collapsed wine Soden on his bed
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Judith then told her May to stay just outside the bedroom and wait for her to come out as she did every morning she
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had had let it be understood she would be going out to her prayers and had also spoken of her intention to beas by now
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everyone had left holofernes and no one either important or unimportant was left
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in the bedroom standing beside the bed Judith murmured to herself Lord God to
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whom all strength belongs Prosper what my hands are now to do for the greater glory of Jerusalem now is the time to
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recover your heritage and to further my plans to crush the enemy's AR raid against us with it she went up to the
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bed post by hofer's head and took down his cimeter coming closer to the bed she caught him by the hair and said make me
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strong today Lord God of Israel twice she struck at his neck with all her
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might and cut off his head she then rolled his body off the bed and pulled
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down the canopy from the bed posts after which she went out and gave the head of
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holofernes to her maid who put it in her food bag the two then left the camp together as they always did when they
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went to pray once they were out of the camp they skirted the Ravine climbed the
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slope to bethulia and made for the gates from a distance Judith shouted to the
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guards on the gates open the gate open for the Lord our God is with us still
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displaying his strength in Israel and his might against our enemies as he has done today hearing her voice the
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townsmen hurried down to the Town Gate and summoned the elders everyone Great
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and Small came running down since her arrival was unexpected they threw the
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gate open welcomed the women lit a fire to see by and crowded round them then
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Judith raised her voice and said praise God praise him praise the God who has
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not withdrawn his Mercy from the house of Israel but has shattered our enemies by my hand tonight she pulled the head
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out of the bag and held for them to see this is the head of holofernes
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general-in-chief of the Assyrian army here is the canopy under which he lay drunk the Lord has struck him down by
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the hand of a woman glory to the Lord who has protected me in the course I took my face seduced him only to his own
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undoing he committed no sin with me to shame me or disgrace me overcome with
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emotion the people all prostrated themselves and worshiped God exclaiming with one voice blessings on you our God
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for confounding your people's enemies today Isaiah then said to Judith may you
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be blessed my daughter by God most high beyond all women on earth and blessed be
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the Lord God creator of Heaven and Earth who guided you to cut off the head of the leader of our enemies the trust
49:18
which you have shown will not pass from human hearts as they commemorate the power of God forever more God grant you
49:26
may be always always held in honor and rewarded with blessings since you did not consider your own life when our
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nation was brought to its knees but warded off our ruin walking in the right
49:36
path before our God and the people all said amen
49:46
amen Judith chapter 14 Judith said
49:51
listen to me Brothers take this head and hang it on your battlements when morning
49:57
comes and the Sun is up let every man take his arms and every able-bodied man leave the town appoint a leader for them
50:05
as if you meant to March down to the plane against the Assyrian Advanced post but you must not do this the Assyrians
50:13
will gather up their equipment make for their camp and wake up their commanders they in turn will rush to the tent of
50:19
holofernes and not be able to find him they will then be seized with panic and flee at your Advance all you and the
50:27
others who live in the territory of Israel will have to do is to give Chase and slaughter them as they retreat but
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before you do this call me aier the ammonite for him to see and identify the
50:38
man who held the house of Israel in contempt the man who sent him to us as someone already doomed to die so they
50:45
had aier brought from Mah's house no sooner had he arrived and seen the head
50:50
of holofernes held by a member of the people's assembly then he fell on his face in a faint they lifted Ed him up he
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then threw himself at Judith's feet and prostrate before her exclaimed may you be blessed in all the tents of Judah and
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in every nation those who hear your name will be seized with Dread now tell me
51:10
everything that you have done in these past few days and surrounded by the people Judith told him everything she
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had done from the day she left bethulia to the moment when she was speaking when she came to the end the people cheered
51:24
at the top of their voices until the town C aier recognizing all that the god
51:29
of Israel had done believed ardently in him and accepting circumcision was
51:35
permanently incorporated into the house of Israel at Daybreak they hung the head of holofernes on the ramparts every man
51:43
took his arms and they all went out in groups to the slopes of the mountain seeing this the Assyrians sent word to
51:50
their leaders who in turn reported to the generals the captains of thousands and all the other officers and these in
51:57
their turn reported to the tent of holofernes Rouse our Master they said to his major Domo these slaves have dared
52:04
to March down on us to attack and to be wiped out to a man B goas went inside
52:10
and struck the curtain dividing the tent thinking that holofernes was sleeping with Judith but as no one seemed to hear
52:18
he drew the curtain and went into the bedroom to find him thrown down dead on the threshold with his head cut off he
52:25
gave a great Shout wept sobbed shrieked and rent his clothes he then went into the tent which
52:33
Judith had occupied and could not find her either then rushing out to the men
52:38
he shouted the slaves have rebelled a single Hebrew woman has brought shame on
52:44
the house of Nebuchadnezzar holofernes is lying dead on the ground without his
52:50
head when they heard this the leaders of the Assyrian army tore their tunics in
52:55
consternation and the Camp rang with their wild cries and their
53:03
shouting Judith chapter 15 when the men who were still in their tents heard the
53:10
news they were appalled Panic stricken and trembling no two of them could keep
53:15
together the route was complete with one Accord they fled along every track across the plane or through the
53:21
mountains the men who had been bivouacking in the mountains round bethulia were fleeing two then all the
53:28
Israelite Warriors charged down on them Isaiah sent Messengers to Bame beay
53:35
choba Cola throughout the whole territory of Israel to inform them of what had happened and to urge them all
53:41
to hurl themselves on the enemy and annihilate them as soon as the Israelites heard the news they fell on
53:47
them as one man and massacred them all the way to choba the men of Jerusalem and the entire Mountain Country also
53:54
rallied to them once they had had been informed of the events in the enemy camp then the men of Gilead and Galilee
54:01
attacked them on the flank and struck at them fiercely till they neared Damascus and its territory all the other
54:07
inhabitants of bethulia fell on the Assyrian camp and looted it to their great profit the Israelites returning
54:14
from the slaughter seized what was left the hamlets and Villages of the Mountain Country and the plane also captured a
54:21
great deal of booty since there were vast stores of it Joakim the high priest
54:26
and the entire Council of Elders of Israel who were in Jerusalem came to Gaze on the benefits that the Lord had
54:32
lavished on Israel and to see Judith and congratulate her on coming to her house
54:38
they blessed her with one Accord saying you are the glory of Jerusalem you are
54:43
the great pride of Israel you are the highest honor of our Race by doing all
54:50
this with your own hand you have deserved well of Israel and God has approved what you have done may you be
54:56
blessed by the Lord Almighty in all the days to come and the people all said
55:01
amen the people looted the camp for 30 days they gave Judith the tent of
55:07
holofernes all his silver plate his divans his drinking bowls and all his
55:13
furniture she took this loaded her mule harnessed her carts and heaped the
55:18
things into them all the women of Israel hurrying to see her formed choirs of
55:24
dancers in her honor Judah Judith took wands of Vine leaves in her hand and distributed them to the women who
55:30
accompanied her she and her companions put on wreaths of olive then she took her place at the head of the procession
55:37
and led the women as they danced all the men of Israel armed and garlanded
55:42
followed them singing hymns with all Israel around her Judith broke into this
55:48
song of Thanksgiving and the whole people sang this hymn
55:57
Judith chapter 16 break into song for my God to the tambourine sing in honor of
56:04
the Lord to the symbol let Psalm and Canticle Mingle for him exall his name
56:10
invoke it for the Lord is a God who breaks battle lines he has pitched his
56:15
camp in the middle of his people to deliver me from the hands of my oppressors Assyria came down from the
56:21
mountains of the north came with tens of thousands of his army their multitude
56:26
blocked The Ravines their horses covered the hills he threatened to burn up my
56:32
country destroy my young men with a sword Dash My sucklings to the ground
56:38
make prey of my little ones carry off my maidens but the Lord Almighty has thwarted them by a woman's hand for
56:45
their hero did not fall at the Young Men's hands it was not the sons of Titan struck him down no proud giants made
56:52
that attack but Judith the daughter of marari who disarmed him with the beauty
56:57
of her face she laid aside her widow's dress to raise up those who were oppressed in Israel she anointed her
57:04
face with perfume bound her hair under a turban put on a linen gown to seduce him
57:10
her sandal ravished his eye her beauty took his soul prisoner and the Simer cut through his neck the Persians trembled
57:17
at her boldness the mes were daunted by her daring these were struck with fear
57:22
when my lowly ones raised the war cry these were SE with Terror when my weak ones shouted and when they raised their
57:29
voices these gave ground the children of mere girls ran them through Pierce them
57:35
like The Offspring of deserters they perished in the Battle of my Lord I
57:40
shall sing a new song to my God Lord you are great you are glorious wonderfully
57:46
strong unconquerable may your whole creation serve you for you spoke and
57:52
things came into being you sent your breath and they were put together and no one can resist your voice should
57:59
mountains be tossed from their foundations to mingle with the waves should rocks melt like Wax before your
58:05
face to those who fear you you would still be merciful a little thing indeed
58:10
is a sweetly smelling sacrifice still less the fat burn for you in burnt offering but whoever fears the Lord is
58:18
great forever woe to the Nations who Rise Against My Race the Lord Almighty
58:24
will punish them on Judgment Day he will send fire and worms in their flesh and
58:29
they will weep with pain forever more when they reached Jerusalem they fell on their faces before God and once the
58:36
people had been purified they presented their burnt offerings voluntary offerings and Gifts all hofer's property
58:44
given her by the people and the canopy she herself had stripped from his bed Judith vowed to God as a dedicated
58:51
offering for 3 months the people gave themselves up to rejoicings in front of the temple in Jerusalem where Judith
58:59
stayed with them when this was over everyone returned home Judith went back
59:04
to bethulia and lived on her property as long as she lived she enjoyed a great
59:09
reputation throughout the country she had many suitors but all her days from
59:15
the time her husband Manasseh died and was gathered to his people she never gave herself to another man her Fame
59:22
spread more and more the older she grew in her husband's house house she lived to the age of
59:28
105 she emancipated her maid then died in bethulia and was buried in the cave
59:34
where Manasseh her husband lay the house of Israel mourned her for 7 days before
59:40
her death she had distributed her property among her own relations and those of her husband Manasseh never
59:47
again during the lifetime of Judith nor indeed for a long time after her death
59:52
did anyone trouble the Israelites [Music]
1:00:07
[Music]