JUDETH 13 & 14

Judeth 13

2 Judeth prays for strength. 8 She smites off Olosernes neck. 10 She returns to Bethulia and rejoices her people.

NOW when the evening was come, his servants made haste to depart, and Isagoas shut his tent without, and diminished those that were present, from the presence of his lord, and they went to their beds: for they were all weary, because the feast had been long.

And Judeth was left alone in the tent, and Olosernes was stretched along upon his bed: for he was filled with wine.

Now Judeth had commanded her maid to stand without her chamber, and to wait for her coming forth as she did daily: for she said, she would go forth to her prayers, and she spake to Bagoas according to the same purpose.

So all went forth of her presence, and none was left in the chamber, neither little nor great: then Judeth standing by his bed, said in her heart, O Lord God of all power, behold at this present the works of mine hands for the exaltation of Jerusalem.

For now is the time to help thine inheritance, and to execute mine enterprises, to the destruction of the enemies which are risen against us.

Then she came to the post of the bed which was at Olosernes head, and took down his sauchin from thence,

And approached to the bed, and took hold of the hair of his head, and said, Strengthen me, o Lord God of Israel this day.

And she smote twice upon his neck with all her might, and she took away his head from him,

And rolled his body down from the bed, and pulled down the canopy from the pillers, and anon [at once]* after she went forth, and gave Olosernes head to her maid,

And she put it in her scrippe of meat: so they twain went together according to their custom unto prayer, and pressing through the tents, went about by that valley, and went up the mountains of Bethulia, and came to the gates thereof.

Then said Judeth afar off to the watchmen at the gates, Open now the gate: God, even our God is with us to show his power yet in Jerusalem, and his force against his enemies, as he hath even done this day.

Now when the men of her city heard her voice, they made haste to go down to the gate of their city, and they called the Elders of the city.

And they ran all together both small and great: for it was above their expectation, that she should come. So they opened the gate and received her, and made a fire for a light, and stood round about them twain.

Then she said to them with a loud voice, Praise God, praise God: for he hath not taken away his mercy from the house of Israel, but hath destroyed our enemies by mine hands this night.

So she took the head out of the scrip and showed it, and said unto them, Behold the head of Olosernes, the chief captain of the army of Assur, and behold the canopy, wherein he did lie in his drunkenness, and the Lord hath smitten him by the hand of a woman.

As the Lord liveth, who hath kept me in my way that I went, my countenance hath deceived him to his destruction, and he hath not committed sin with me by any pollution or villany.

Then all the people were wonderfully astonished, and bowed themselves, and worshiped God, and said with one accord, Blessed be thou, o our God, which hast this day brought to nothing the enemies of thy people.

Then said Ozias to her, O daughter, blessed art thou of the most high God above all the women of the earth, and blessed be the Lord God, which hath created the heavens and the earth, which hath directed thee to the cutting off of the head of the chief of our enemies.

Surely this thine hope shall never depart out of the hearts of men: for they shall remember the power of God for ever.

And God turn these things to thee for a perpetual praise, and visit thee with good things, because thou hast not spared thy life, because of the affliction of our nation, but thou hast holpen our ruin, walking a straight way before our God. And all the people said, So be it, so be it.

Jude 14

2 Judeth causes to hang up the head of Olosernes. 10 Achior joins himself to the people of God. 11 The Israelites go out against the Assyrians.

THEN said Judeth unto them, Hear me also, my brethren, and take this head, and hang it upon the highest place of your walls.

And so soon as the morning shall appear and the son shall come forth upon the earth, take you every one of his weapons, and go forth every valiant man out of the city, and set you a captain over them, as though you would go down into the field, toward the watch of the Assyrians, but go not down.

Then they shall take their armor, and shall go into their camps, and raise up the captains of the army of Assur, and they shall run to the tent of Olosernes, but shall not find him: then fear shall fall upon them, and they shall flee before your face.

So you and all that inhabit the coasts of Israel, shall pursue them, and overthrow them as they go.

But before you do these things, call me Achior the Ammonite, that he may see, and know him that despised the house of Israel, and that sent him to us as to death.

Then they called Achior out of the house of Ozias, and when he was come and saw the head of Olosernes in a certain mans hand in the assembly of the people, he fell down on his face, and his spirit failed.

But when they had taken him up, he fell at Judeth’s feet, and reverenced her, and said, Blessed art thou in all the tabernacle of Juda, and in all nations, which, hearing thy name, shall be astonished.

Now therefore tell me all the things, that thou hast one in these days. Then Judeth declared unto him in the midst of the people all that she had done from the day that she went forth, until that hour she spake unto them.

And when she had left off speaking, the people rejoiced with a great voice, and made a noise of gladness through their city.

And Achior, seeing all things that God had done for Israel, believed in God unfeignedly, and circumcised the foreskin of his flesh, and was joined unto the house of Israel unto this day.

As soon as the morning arose, they hanged the head of Olosernes out at the wall, and every man took his weapons, and they went forth by bands unto the straights of the mountain.

But when the Assyrians saw them, they sent to their captains, which went to the governors and chief captains, and to all their rulers.

So they came to Olosernes tent and said to him that had the charge of all his things, Wake our lord: for the slaves have been bold to come down against us to battle, that they may be destroyed for ever.

Then went in Bagoas, and knocked at the door of the tent: for he thought that he had slept with Judeth.

But because none answered, he opened it, and went into the chamber, and found him cast upon the floor, and his head was taken from him.

Therefore he cried with a loud voice, with weeping and mourning, and a mighty cry, and rent his garments.

After, he went into the tent of Judeth where she used to remain, and found her not: then he leaped out to the people and cried,

These slaves have committed wickedness: one woman of the Hebrews hath brought shame upon the house of King Nabuchodonosor: for behold, Olosernes lieth upon the ground without an head.

When the captains of the Assyrians army heard these words, they rent their coats, and their heart was wonderfully troubled, and there was a cry and a very great noise throughout the camp.