*H And when it was grown late, his servants made haste to their lodgings, and Vagao shut the chamber doors, and went his way.
Ver. 1. Doors. Gr. adds, "without," yet so that Judith could open them. C.
*H But Holofernes lay on his bed, fast asleep, being exceedingly drunk.
Ver. 4. Drunk. Gr. "drowned in wine."
*H And Judith spoke to her maid to stand without before the chamber, and to watch:
Ver. 5. The. Gr. "her chamber." — Watch. Gr. adds, "her coming out, as on other days; for she had said she would go out to pray, and she had told this to Bagoas. And all had departed," &c. All these precautions were necessary. H.
*H And Judith stood before the bed praying with tears, and the motion of her lips in silence,
Ver. 6. Judith. She seems not to have disclosed her secret even to her companion, taking the whole upon herself. — Lips. Gr. "in her heart." C. — Yet the Jews generally use some words, (H.) thinking that prayer too cold, which is barely mental. Grotius.
*H Saying: Strengthen me, O Lord God of Israel, and in this hour look on the works of my hands, that as thou hast promised, thou mayst raise up Jerusalem thy city: and that I may bring to pass that which I have purposed, having a belief that it might be done by thee.
Ver. 7. Raise up. If Bethulia had been taken, perhaps (H.) Jerusalem had also fallen. W.
*H And when she had said this, she went to the pillar that was at his bed's head, and loosed his sword that hung tied upon it.
Ver. 8. Pillar. Gr. κανονι, "the rule," (C.) or pole on which the arms were hung. Hesychius. — Sword, (acinace) used by the Persians, (M.) and shorter than the Greek or Roman sword. C. — If she had not been inspired by God to act thus, like Aod, (Judg. iii.) it would be difficult to excuse her, in thus hurrying a man, in the most wretched state, before the judgment-seat of God. H.
*H And she struck twice upon his neck, and cut off his head, and took off his canopy from the pillars, and rolled away his headless body.
Ver. 10. Canopy, to convince all that it was the head of Holofernes. M. — Body, on the ground; (C. xiv. 14.) perhaps to cut off the head more easily, (C.) and that it might appear more ghastly (H.) at the first entrance. T.
*H And after a while she went out, and delivered the head of Holofernes to her maid, and bade her put it into her wallet.
Ver. 11. While, having composed herself, (H.) and done every thing necessary to prevent detection. M.
*H And Judith from afar off cried to the watchmen upon the walls: Open the gates for God is with us, who hath shewn his power in Israel.
Ver. 13. Open. Gr. repeats, "open ye now the gate; God, our God is with us, still to shew power in Israel, and strength against the enemies, as he hath done to-day." H.
*H And it came to pass, when the men had heard her voice, that they called the ancients of the city.
Ver. 14. That. Gr. "they hastened to descend to the gate of their city, and called," &c.
*H And all ran to meet her from the least to the greatest: for they now had no hopes that she would come.
Ver. 15. Had now. Gr. "it was a paradox to them that she should come, and they opened the gate, and received them."
*H And lighting up lights they all gathered round about her: and she went up to a higher place, and commanded silence to be made. And when all had held their peace,
Ver. 16. And she. Gr. "said to them with a loud voice: Praise God, praise, yea praise God, because he hath not withdrawn his mercy from the house of Israel, but hath destroyed our enemies by my hand this night." H.
*H Then she brought forth the head of Holofernes out of the wallet, and shewed it them, saying: Behold the head of Holofernes the general of the army of the Assyrians, and behold his canopy, wherein he lay in his drunkenness, where the Lord our God slew him by the hand of a woman.
Ver. 19. Drunkenness. "The fasting of one woman overthrew an innumerable host of drunkards. S. Amb. de jej. ix. W.
*H But as the same Lord liveth, his angel hath been my keeper both going hence, and abiding there, and returning from thence hither: and the Lord hath not suffered me his handmaid to be defiled, but hath brought me back to you without pollution of sin, rejoicing for his victory, for my escape, and for your deliverance.
Ver. 20. And abiding. Gr. "for my face has deluded him to his ruin, and he has not committed sin with me, for defilement and shame. And all the people were much amazed; and bowing down, they adored the Lord, and said, with one accord: Our God, thou art blessed, because this day thou hast brought the enemies of thy people to nought." H. — Judith's guardian angel defended her; as Jacob's did him. Gen. xlviii. W.
* Footnote * Psalms 105 : 1
Alleluia. GIVE glory to the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.* Footnote * Psalms 106 : 1
Alleluia. GIVE glory to the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.*H And Ozias the prince of the people of Israel, said to her: Blessed art thou, O daughter, by the Lord the most high God, above all women upon the earth.
Ver. 23. Prince, in that town, though Manasses was king. M. — Gr. "Ozias said."
*H Because he hath so magnified thy name this day, that thy praise shall not depart out of the mouth of men who shall be mindful of the power of the Lord for ever, for that thou hast not spared thy life, by reason of the distress and tribulation of thy people, but hast prevented our ruin in the presence of our God.
Ver. 25. Praise. Gr. "hope." — For that. Gr. "and may God make these things turn to thy eternal exaltation, to regard thee for good; because thou hast not." — Ruin. Gr. adds, "walking aright in," &c. H.
*H And Achior being called for came, and Judith said to him: The God of Israel, to whom thou gavest testimony, that he revengeth himself of his enemies, he hath cut off the head of all the unbelievers this night by my hand.
Ver. 27. And. This is related after v. 5, in the following chapter, in Gr. Syr. and the old Vulg. (C.) and indeed it seems to be there in its proper place. — Head, or general. H.
*H Then Achior seeing the head of Holofernes, being seized with a great fear he fell on his face upon the earth, and his soul swooned away.
Ver. 29. Fear. Astonished (M.) at the instability of human things, and admiring how God had rescued him from the threatened danger.
*H But after he had recovered his spirits he fell down at her feet, and reverenced her, and said:
Ver. 30. Reverenced. Lit. "adored;" a word often used in this sense. H.