JUDETH 15 & 16

Judeth 15

2 The Assyrians are afraid and flee. 3 The Israelites pursue them. 8 Ioacim the high Priest comes to Bethulia to see Judeth and to praise God for her.

AND when they that were in the tents, heard, they were astonished at the thing that was done.

And fear and trembling fell upon them, so that there was no man that durst abide in the sight of his neighbor: but altogether amazed, they fled by every way of the plain of the mountains.

They also that had camped in the mountains round about Bethulia, were put to flight: then the children of Israel, everyone that was a warrior among them, rushed out upon them.

Then sent Ozias to Bethomasthem, and to Bebai, and Chobai, and Chola and to all the coasts of Israel, such as should declare unto them the things that were done, and that all should rush forth upon their enemies to destroy them.

Now when the children of Israel heard it, they all fell upon them together unto Choba: likewise also they that came from Jerusalem and from all the mountains: for men had told them what things were done in the camp of their enemies, and they that were in Galaad and in Galilee chased them with a great slaughter until they came to Damascus and to the coasts thereof.

And the residue that dwelt at Bethulia, fell upon the camp of Assur and spotted them, and were greatly enriched.

And the children of Israel that returned from the slaughter, had the rest: and the village and the cities that were in the mountains and in the plain, had a great booty: for the abundance was very great.

Then Ioacim the high Priest, and the Ancients of the children of Israel that dwelt in Jerusalem, came to confirm the benefits that God had showed to Israel, and to see Judeth, and to salute her.

And when they came unto her, they blessed her with one accord, and said unto her, Thou art the exaltation of Jerusalem: thou art the great glory of Israel: thou art the great rejoicing of our nation.

Thou hast done all these things by thine hand: thou hast done much good to Israel, and God is pleased therewith: blessed be thou of the almighty Lord for evermore: and all the people said, So be it.

And the people spoiled th ecamp the space of thirty days, and they gave unto Judeth Olosernes tent, and all his silver and beds, and basins, and all his stuff, and she took it and laid it on her mules, and made ready her chariots, and laid them thereon.

Then all the women of Israel came together to see her, and blessed her, and made a dance among them for her, and she took branches in her hand, and gave also to the women that were with her.

They also crowned her with olives, and her that was with her, and she went before the people in the dance, leading all the women: and all the men of Israel followed in their armor, with crowns and with songs in their mouths.

Judeth 16

Judeth praises God with a song. 19 She offers to the Lord Olosernes’ stuff. 23 Her continuance, life and death. 25 All Israel laments her.

THEN Judeth began this confession in all Israel, and all the people sang this song with a loud voice.

And Judeth said, Begin unto my God with tymbrels: sing to my Lord with cymbals: tune unto him a psalm: exalt his praise, and call upon his Name.

For God breaks the battles, and pitched his camp in the midst of the people, and delivered me out of the hand of persecutors.

Assure came from the mountains forth of the North: he came with thousands in his army, whose multitude hath shut up the rivers and their horsemen have covered the valleys.

He said that he would burn up my borders and kill my young men with the sword, and dash the sucking children against the ground, and make mine infants a prey, and my virgins a spoil.

But the almighty Lord hath brought them to naught by the hand of a woman.

For the mighty did not fall by the young men, neither did the sons of Titan smite him, but Judeth the daughter of Merari did comfort him, nor the high giants invade him, but Judeth the daughter of Merari did discomfit him by the beauty of her countenance.

For she put off the garment of her widowhood, for the exaltation of those that were oppressed in Israel, and anointed her face with ointment, and bound up her hair in a coif, and took a linen garment to deceive him.

Her slippers ravished his eyes: her beauty took his mind prisoner, and the sauchin passed through his neck.

The Persians were astonished at her boldness, and the Medes were troubled with her hardiness.

But mine afflicted rejoiced, and my feeble ones shouted: then they feared, they lifted up their voice and turned back.

The children of maids pierced them, and wounded them as they fled away like children: they perished by the battle of the Lord.

I will sing unto the Lord a song and praise, O Lord, thou art great and glorious, marvelous and invincible in power.

Let all thy creatures serve thee: for thou hast spoken and they were made: thou hast sent thy Spirit, and he made them up: and there is none that can resist thy voice.

For the mountains leap up from their foundations with the waters: the rocks melt at thy presence like wax: yet thou art merciful to them that fear thee.

For all sacrifice is too little for a sweet savour, and all the fat is too little for thy burnt offering: but he that feareth the Lord, is great at all times.

Woe to the nations that rise up against my kindred: the Lord almighty will take vengeance of them in the day of judgement, in sending fire and worms upon their flesh, and they shall feel them and weep for ever.

After, when they went into Jerusalem, they worshiped the Lord, and as soon as the people were purified, they offered their burnt offerings, and their free offerings, and their gifts.

Judeth also offered all the stuff of Olosernes, which the people had given her, and gave the canopy which she had taken of his bed, for an oblation to the Lord.

So the people rejoiced in Jerusalem by the Sanctuary, for the space of three months, and Judeth remained with them.

After this time, every one returned to his own inheritance, and Judeth went to Bethulia, and remained in her own possession, and was for her time honorable in all the country.

And many desired her, but none had her company all the days of her life after that Manasses her husband was dead, and was gathered to his people.

But she increased more and more in honor, and waxed old in her husband’s house, being an hundred and five years old, and made her maid free: so she died in Bethulia, and they buried her in the grave of her husband Manasses.

And the house of Israel lamented her seven days, and before she died, she did distribute her goods to all them that were nearest of kindred to Manasses her husband, and to them that were the nearest of her kindred.

And there was none that made the children of Israel any more afraid in the days of Judeth, nor a long time after her death.