The Bible Story Part 184

PERSONS OF THE STORY.

_Judith, a widow of Bethulia_.

_Holofernes, captain of the hosts of Nebuchadnezzar_.

_Ozias, elder in Bethulia_.

_Maid of Judith's_.

_People of Bethulia, soldiers of Holofernes_.

PLACE OF THE STORY.

_Bethulia_.

_Camp of Holofernes_.

_Tent of Holofernes_.

JUDITH.

(The story of Judith, and how she delivered Israel by cutting off the head of Holofernes, a great captain of the armies of King Nebuchadnezzar, is told in the Apocrypha.

According to the story, King Nebuchadnezzar made war upon Arphaxad, king of the Medes. He summoned all nations to aid him, and having been victorious, he sent an army of 132,000 men to take vengeance upon those nations which refused to come at his call. This great army swept down from the North, destroying everything in its path.)

_The March of Holofernes_.

And Holofernes went forth from the presence of his lord, and called all the governors and the captains and {81} officers of the host of a.s.shur; and he numbered chosen men for the battle, as his lord had commanded him, up to a hundred and twenty thousand, and twelve thousand archers on horseback; and he ranged them, as a great army is ordered for the war. And he took camels and a.s.ses and mules for their baggage, an exceeding great mult.i.tude; and sheep and oxen and goats without number for their provision; and great stores of food for every man, and exceeding much gold and silver out of the king's house. And he went forth, he and all his host, on their journey, to go before King Nebuchadnezzar, and to cover all the face of the earth westward with their chariots and hors.e.m.e.n and chosen footmen. And a great company of many nations went forth with them like locusts, and like the sand of the earth: for they could not be numbered by reason of their mult.i.tude.

And they went out of Nineveh three days' journey toward the plain of Bectileth, and encamped from Bectileth near the mountain which is at the left hand of the upper Cilicia. And he took all his host, his footmen and hors.e.m.e.n and chariots, and went away from thence into the hill country, and destroyed many peoples.

And the fear and the dread of him fell upon them that dwelt on the sea coast, from the north to the south. And they sent to him messengers with words of peace, saying, "Behold, we the servants of Nebuchadnezzar the great king lie before thee: use us as it is pleasing in thy sight. Behold, our dwellings, and all our country, and all our fields of wheat, and our flocks and herds, and all the sheepcotes {82} of our tents, lie before thy face: use them as it may please thee. Behold, even our cities and they that dwell in them are thy servants: come and deal with them as it is good in thine eyes."

And the men came to Holofernes, and spoke to him according to these words.

And he came down toward the sea coast, he and his host, and set garrisons in the great cities, and took out of them chosen men for allies. And they received him, they and all the country round about them, with garlands and dances and timbrels. And he cast down all their defenses, and cut down their sacred groves: and it had been given to him to destroy all the G.o.ds of the land, that all the nations should wors.h.i.+p Nebuchadnezzar only, and that all their tongues and their tribes should call upon him as G.o.d. And he came towards Esdraelon near to Dotaea, which is over against the great ridge of Judaea. And he encamped between Geba and Scythopolis, and he was there a whole month, that he might gather together all the baggage of his host.

_The Siege of Bethulia_.

(After ravaging the coast, Holofernes pushed up into the hill country to attack the cities of Israel.)

But the next day Holofernes gave command to all his army and to all his people which were come to be his allies, that they should remove their camp toward Bethulia, and take aforehand the ascents of the hill country, and make war against the children of Israel. And every mighty man of them removed that day, and the host of their men of {83} war was a hundred and seventy thousand footmen, and twelve thousand hors.e.m.e.n, beside the baggage, and the men that were afoot among them, an exceeding great mult.i.tude. And they encamped in the valley near unto Bethulia, by the fountain, and they spread out over all the land.

But the children of Israel, when they saw the mult.i.tude of them, were troubled exceedingly, and said every one to his neighbor, "Now shall these men lick up the face of all the earth; and neither the high mountains, nor the valleys, nor the hills, shall be able to bear their weight."

And every man took up his weapons of war, and when they had kindled fires upon their towers, they remained and watched all that night.

But on the second day Holofernes led out all his horse in the sight of the children of Israel which were in Bethulia, and viewed the ascents to their city, and searched out the fountains of the waters, and seized upon them, and set garrisons of men of war over them, and himself departed to his people.

And there came to him all the rulers of the children of Esau, and all the leaders of the people of Moab, and the captains of the sea coast, and said,--

"Let our lord now hear a word, that thy host be not overthrown. For this people of the children of Israel do not trust in their spears, but in the height of the mountains wherein they dwell, for it is not easy to come up to the tops of their mountains. And now, my lord, fight not against them in battle array, and there shall not so much as one man {84} of thy people perish. Remain in thy camp, and keep safe every man of thy host, and let thy servants get possession of the fountain of water, which issueth forth at the foot of the mountain: because all the inhabitants of Bethulia have their water hence; and thirst shall kill them, and they shall give up their city: and we and our people will go up to the tops of the mountains that are near, and will encamp upon them, to watch that not one man go out of the city.

And they shall be consumed with famine, they and their wives and their children, and before the sword come against them they shall be laid low in the streets where they dwell. And thou shalt render them an evil reward; because they rebelled, and met thee not in peace."

And their words were pleasing in the sight of Holofernes and in the sight of all his servants; and he commanded to do as they had spoken.

And the army of the children of Ammon removed, and with them five thousand of the children of a.s.shur, and they encamped in the valley, and seized upon the waters and the fountains of the waters of the children of Israel. And the children of Esau went up with the children of Ammon, and encamped in the hill country; and the rest of the army of the a.s.syrians encamped in the plain, and covered all the face of the land; and their tents and baggage were pitched upon it, and they were an exceeding great mult.i.tude.

And the children of Israel cried unto the Lord their G.o.d, because their heart failed, for all their enemies had compa.s.sed them round about, and there was no way to escape from among them. And all the army of a.s.shur {85} remained about them, their footmen and their chariots and their hors.e.m.e.n, four and thirty days; and all their vessels of water failed all the inhabitants of Bethulia. And the cisterns were emptied, and they had not water to drink their fill for one day: for they gave them drink by measure. And their young children were dying, and the women and the young men fainted for thirst, and they fell down in the streets of the city, and in the pa.s.sages of the gates, and there was no longer any strength in them. And all the people were gathered together against Ozias, and against the rulers of the city, the young men and the women and the children, and they cried with a loud voice, and said before all the elders,--

"G.o.d be judge between you and us: because ye have done us great wrong, in that ye have not spoken words of peace with the children of a.s.shur.

And now we have no helper: but G.o.d hath given us into their hands, that we should be laid low before them with thirst and great destruction. And now call them unto you, and deliver up the whole city for a prey to the people of Holofernes, and to all his host. For it is better for us to be made a spoil for them: for we shall be servants, and our souls shall live, and we shall not see the death of our babes before our eyes, and our wives and our children fainting in death. We take to witness against you the heaven and the earth, and our G.o.d and the Lord of our fathers, who punisheth us according to our sins and the sins of our fathers, that he do not according as we have said this day."

And there was great weeping of all with one consent {86} in the midst of the a.s.sembly; and they cried unto the Lord G.o.d with a loud voice.

And Ozias said to them, "Brethren, be of good courage, let us yet endure five days, in the which s.p.a.ce the Lord our G.o.d may turn his mercy toward us; for he will not forsake us utterly. But if these days pa.s.s, and there come no help unto us, I will do according to your words."

And he dispersed the people, every man to his own camp; and they went away unto the walls and towers of their city; and he sent the women and children into their houses: and they were brought very low in the city.

_Then there arose a saviour for Israel in the person of Judith_.

And in those days Judith heard thereof, whose husband was Mana.s.ses, of her tribe and of her family, and he died in the days of barley harvest. For he stood over them that bound sheaves in the field, and the heat came upon his head, and he fell on his bed, and died in his city Bethulia. And Judith was a widow in her house three years and four months. And she made her a tent upon the top of her house, and put on sackcloth; and the garments of her widowhood were upon her.

And she was of a goodly countenance, and exceeding beautiful to behold: and her husband Mana.s.ses had left her gold, and silver, and menservants, and maidservants, and cattle and lands. And there was none that gave her an evil word; for she feared G.o.d exceedingly.

And she heard the evil words of the people against the governor, because they fainted for lack of water; and {87} Judith heard all the words that Ozias spoke unto them, how he swore to them that he would deliver the city unto the a.s.syrians after five days. And she sent her maid, who was over all things that she had, to call Ozias and the elders of her city. And they came to her, and she said to them,--

"Hear me now, O ye rulers of the inhabitants of Bethulia: for your word that ye have spoken before the people this day is not right, and ye have set the oath which ye have p.r.o.nounced between G.o.d and you, and have promised to deliver the city to our enemies, unless within these days the Lord turn to help you. And now who are ye that have tempted G.o.d this day, and stand instead of G.o.d among the children of men? And now try the Lord Almighty and ye shall never know anything. For ye cannot find the depth of the heart of man, and ye cannot perceive the things that he thinketh: and how can ye search out G.o.d, which hath made all these things, and know his mind, and comprehend his purpose?

Nay, my brethren, provoke not the Lord our G.o.d to anger. For if he be not minded to help us within these five days, he hath power to defend us when he will, or to destroy us before the face of our enemies. But do not ye pledge the counsels of the Lord our G.o.d: for G.o.d is not as man, that he should be threatened; neither as the son of man, that he should be turned by intreaty. Wherefore let us wait for the salvation that cometh from him, and call upon him to help us, and he will hear our voice, if it please him. For there arose none in our age, neither is there any of us to-day, {88} tribe, or kindred, or family, or city, which wors.h.i.+p G.o.ds made with hands, as it was in the former days; for which cause our fathers were given to the sword, and for a spoil, and fell with a great fall before our enemies. But we know no other G.o.d beside him, wherefore we hope that he will not despise us, nor any of our race. For if we be taken so, all Judea shall lie waste, and our sanctuary shall be spoiled; and of our blood shall he require the profanation thereof. And the slaughter of our brethren, and the captivity of the land, and the desolation of our inheritance, shall he turn upon our heads among the Gentiles, wheresoever we shall be in bondage; and we shall be an offense and a reproach before them that take us for a possession. For our bondage shall bring favor: but the Lord our G.o.d shall turn it to dishonor.

"And now, brethren, let us show an example to our brethren, because their soul hangeth upon us, and the sanctuary and the house and the altar rest upon us. Besides all this let us give thanks to the Lord our G.o.d, which trieth us, even as he did our fathers also. Remember all the things which he did to Abraham, and all the things in which he tried Isaac, and all the things which happened to Jacob in Mesopotamia of Syria, when he kept the sheep of Laban his mother's brother. For he hath not tried us in the fire, as he did them, to search out their hearts, neither hath he taken vengeance on us; but the Lord doth scourge them that come near unto him, to admonish them."

And Ozias said to her, "All that thou hast spoken hast {89} thou spoken with a good heart, and there is none that shall deny thy words.

For this is not the first day wherein thy wisdom is manifested; but from the beginning of thy days all the people have known thine understanding, because the disposition of thy heart is good. But the people were exceeding thirsty, and compelled us to do as we spoke to them, and to bring an oath upon ourselves, which we will not break.

And now pray thou for us, because thou art a G.o.dly woman, and the Lord shall send us rain to fill our cisterns, and we shall faint no more."

And Judith said to them, "Hear me, and I will do a thing, which shall go down to all generations among the children of our race. Ye shall stand at the gate this night, and I will go forth with my maid: and, within the days after which ye said ye would deliver the city to our enemies, the Lord shall visit Israel by my hand. But ye shall not inquire of mine act: for I will not declare it unto you, till the things be finished that I do."

And Ozias and the rulers said unto her, "Go in peace, and the Lord G.o.d be before thee, to take vengeance on our enemies." And they returned from the tent and went to their stations.

But Judith fell upon her face, and put ashes upon her head, and uncovered the sackcloth wherewith she was clothed; and the incense of that evening was now being offered at Jerusalem in the house of G.o.d, and Judith cried unto the Lord with a loud voice, and said:--

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THE PRAYER OF JUDITH.

"O G.o.d, O my G.o.d, hear me! Behold, the a.s.syrians are multiplied in their power; they are exalted with horse and rider; they have gloried in the strength of their footmen; they have trusted in s.h.i.+eld and spear and bow and sling; and they know not that thou art the Lord that breaketh the battles: the Lord is thy name. Dash thou down their strength in thy power, and bring down their force in thy wrath: for they have purposed to profane thy sanctuary, and to defile the tabernacle where thy glorious name resteth, and to cast down with the sword the horn of thine altar. Look upon their pride, and send thy wrath upon their heads: give into my hand, who am a widow, the might that I have conceived. Smite by the deceit of my lips the servant with the prince, and the prince with his servant: break down their stateliness by the hand of a woman. For thy power standeth not in mult.i.tude, nor thy might in strong men: but thou art a G.o.d of the afflicted, thou art a helper of the oppressed, an upholder of the weak, a protector of the forlorn, a saviour of them that are without hope. I pray thee, I pray thee, G.o.d of my father, and G.o.d of the inheritance of Israel, Lord of the heavens and of the earth, Creator of the waters, King of every creature, hear thou my prayer: and make my speech and deceit to be their wound and stripe, who have purposed hard things against thy covenant, and thy hallowed house, and the top of Sion, and the house of the possession of thy children. And make every nation and tribe of thine to know that thou art G.o.d, the G.o.d of all power and might, and that there is none other that protecteth the race of Israel but thou."

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_Judith Goes to the Camp of the Enemy_.

And it came to pa.s.s, when she had ceased to cry to the G.o.d of Israel, and had made an end of all these words, that she rose up where she had fallen down, and called her maid, and went down into the house, in the which she was wont to abide on the Sabbath days and on her feast days, and pulled off her sackcloth which she had put on, and put off the garments of her widowhood, and washed with water, and anointed herself with rich ointment, and braided the hair of her head, and put on her garments of gladness, wherewith she was wont to be clad in the days of the life of Mana.s.ses her husband. And she took sandals for her feet, and put her chains about her, and her bracelets, and her rings, and her earrings, and all her ornaments, and decked herself bravely, to beguile the eyes of all men that should see her. And she gave her maid a leathern bottle of wine, and a cruse of oil, and filled a bag with parched corn and lumps of figs and fine bread; and she packed all her vessels together, and laid them upon her.

And they went forth to the gate of the city of Bethulia, and found standing thereby Ozias, and the elders of the city. But when they saw her, that her countenance was altered, and her apparel was changed, they wondered much at her beauty, and said to her, "The G.o.d of our fathers give thee favor, and accomplish thy purposes to the glory of the children of Israel, and to the exaltation of Jerusalem."