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The Book of Judith

Judith belongs to the Deuterocanonical books recognized by the Catholic Church as part of the Old Testament, telling of a foreign army's siege against the Israelite town of Bethulia. The devout widow Judith ventures alone into the enemy camp, wins the trust of the general Holofernes, and beheads him while he sleeps, breaking the siege. Read it from Judith chapter 1.

Judith: A Deuterocanonical Tale of Courage

About Judith

Judith is one of the Deuterocanonical books accepted by the Catholic Church as part of the Old Testament canon. Set during a foreign siege of the Israelite town of Bethulia, it tells of the devout widow Judith, who ventures into the enemy camp, wins the trust of the general Holofernes, and beheads him while he sleeps, routing his army and saving her people. The narrative celebrates courage, piety, and trust in God's deliverance, told through one of the Bible's most striking female protagonists. Read Judith online here, verse by verse.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens in the Book of Judith?
Judith tells of a devout widow who, during a foreign siege of her town of Bethulia, ventures into the enemy camp, wins the trust of the invading general Holofernes, and beheads him while he sleeps, throwing his army into panic and saving her people. Her courage and cunning, rather than any military force, secure Israel's deliverance.
Is Judith a historical account or a literary narrative?
Judith is generally treated by scholars as a theological narrative rather than strict history; the book contains notable historical inconsistencies, such as its portrayal of "Nebuchadnezzar" as king of the Assyrians rather than Babylon. Its purpose is to celebrate faith and courage rather than to record a verified historical event.
Is the Book of Judith part of the Bible?
Judith is a Deuterocanonical book accepted by the Catholic Church as part of the Old Testament, though it is absent from the Hebrew Bible and most Protestant Bibles. It can be read in the Douay-Rheims translation as Judith in DRC.
Why is Judith notable as a biblical figure?
Judith stands out as one of the Bible's most striking female protagonists, defeating a powerful enemy general through wit, piety, and personal courage rather than through a male military leader or army. Her story has been a popular subject in Christian art and literature for centuries because of that reversal of expected roles.
How does Judith compare to other deliverance stories in the Old Testament?
Judith's rescue of her people echoes the pattern found in Judges, where unlikely figures repeatedly deliver Israel from oppression through faith-driven, sometimes unconventional action. In both cases, deliverance comes through individuals who trust God rather than through Israel's own military strength.

Today's Verse

And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after him.

Mark 1:20 | ASV

Verse Of The Day

Told through one of scripture's most striking female protagonists, the narrative celebrates courage, piety, and trust in divine deliverance over military strength. It sits well alongside other Old Testament stories of unlikely deliverers, such as Joshua and 1 Samuel.