“Then said Holofernes unto her, Woman, be of good comfort, fear not in thine heart: for I never hurt any that was willing to serve Nabuchodonosor, the king of all the earth.”
King. Greek adds, “of all the earth.”
“But now tell me wherefore thou art fled from them, and art come unto us: for thou art come for safeguard; be of good comfort, thou shalt live this night, and hereafter:”
Why. Greek, “And art come to us? For thou art come for thy own safety. Take courage, for thou shalt live this night and henceforth, as no one shall hurt thee, but shall do thee good, as the servants of my lord, Nabuchodonosor, the king, are treated.”
“For none shall hurt thee, but entreat thee well, as they do the servants of king Nabuchodonosor my lord.”
Handmaid. Greek adds, “and I will tell no untruth to my lord this night, for,” &c. — Thing. Greek adds, “and none of the projects of my lord shall fail.” (Haydock) — All that Judith said was true in her sense, though the enemy did not understand her properly. So Josue lawfully entrapped the citizens of Hai. (St. Augustine, q. 10. in Josue viii.) (Worthington)
“Then Judith said unto him, Receive the words of thy servant, and suffer thine handmaid to speak in thy presence, and I will declare no lie to my lord this night.”
Liveth. She imitates Joseph, (Genesis xlii. 15.) and Eliseus; (4 Kings ii. 4.) and speaks the truth, as the general had subjected many to his master. (Menochius) — Her speech was not superstitious, but shewed a civil respect. (Calmet)
“As Nabuchodonosor king of all the earth liveth, and as his power liveth, who hath sent thee for the upholding of every living thing: for not only men shall serve him by thee, but also the beasts of the field, and the cattle, and the fowls of the air, shall live by thy power under Nabuchodonosor and all his house.”
To him. Greek intimates that she advised him to follow his counsel. “For our nation is not punished with the sword, unless they sin against their God. But now let not my lord be at a loss what to do. For death has fallen upon them, and sin has taken possession of them, so that they have irritated God by their folly,” &c., ver. 10. This might also be true, though they had not fallen into idolatry (chap. viii. 18.; Haydock) at Bethulia. (Menochius)
“For we have heard of thy wisdom and thy policies, and it is reported in all the earth, that thou only art excellent in all the kingdom, and mighty in knowledge, and wonderful in feats of war.”
Prophets. Though this had been threatened by the ancient prophets, (Haydock) we cannot pretend to specify which she means. (Calmet)
“Therefore, O lord and governor, respect not his word; but lay it up in thine heart, for it is true: for our nation shall not be punished, neither can sword prevail against them, except they sin against their God.”
Famine. They might have provisions, but they would be useless, on account of excessive thirst. (Menochius)
“And now, that my lord be not defeated and frustrate of his purpose, even death is now fallen upon them, and their sin hath overtaken them, wherewith they will provoke their God to anger whensoever they shall do that which is not fit to be done:”
Drink. Greek, “and all that God had forbidden them to eat by his laws, (Haydock) without making any distinction between the clean and unclean. (Grotius) — Blood was prohibited even before the law, Genesis ix. 4., and Leviticus xvii. 14. (Calmet)
“For their victuals fail them, and all their water is scant, and they have determined to lay hands upon their cattle, and purposed to consume all those things, that God hath forbidden them to eat by his laws:”
Oil. Greek may explain this. “And the first-fruits of corn, and the tithes of wine and of oil, which they had reserved as sacred for the priests, standing in Jerusalem, before our God, they had decreed to consume; though none of the people ought so much as to touch these things. Yet they have sent to obtain permission of the senate at Jerusalem, where the people have done the like. And when they shall have obtained an answer, they will fall to work, and then they will be abandoned to be destroyed by thee.” (Haydock) — She insinuates that her countrymen are in the utmost distress, and not much attached to religion; (Calmet) though in extreme want the distinction of meats is not to be enforced. (Haydock)
“And are resolved to spend the firstfruits of the tenths of wine and oil, which they had sanctified, and reserved for the priests that serve in Jerusalem before the face of our God; the which things it is not lawful for any of the people so much as to touch with their hands.”
Tell. Greek, “To perform with thee a feat which will astonish all who shall hear of these things. For thy handmaid is religious, and serveth the God of heaven day and night; and now my lord, I am,” &c.
“For they have sent some to Jerusalem, because they also that dwell there have done the like, to bring them a licence from the senate.”
God. Greek adds, “in the night, in the valley.”
“Now when they shall bring them word, they will forthwith do it, and they shall be given to thee to be destroyed the same day.”
He will. Greek, “They shall have completed their sins.” — Tell thee. Greek adds, “and thou shalt go out with all thy forces, and none of them shall resist thee; and I will bring thee through Judea, over-against Jerusalem, and will place thy throne in the midst of it, and thou shalt drive them like sheep,” &c. — Dog. This is proverbial, Exodus xi. 7. (Calmet) — All Israel was at rest after the death of Holofernes. Judith brought his head in triumph through the country. The promise of dominion (Haydock) was ironical, 3 Kings xxii. 15. (Menochius)
“Wherefore I thine handmaid, knowing all this, am fled from their presence; and God hath sent me to work things with thee, whereat all the earth shall be astonished, and whosoever shall hear it.”
God. Greek, “My foreknowledge; and I was sent to inform thee.” (Haydock) — She flatters Holofernes with the idea that he is under the special care of heaven. (Calmet)
“Then her words pleased Holofernes and all his servants; and they marvelled at her wisdom, and said,”
That. Greek, “To increase our strength, and to bring destruction on those who have despised my lord.”
“There is not such a woman from one end of the earth to the other, both for beauty of face, and wisdom of words.”
Because. Greek, “And now thou art comely in thy appearance, and good in thy discourse. If then thou perform what thou hast spoken, thy God shall,” &c. (Haydock) — It is hardly probable that he spoke in earnest. Perhaps he did not know that the true God allowed of no other. Being captivated with Judith’s beauty, and perceiving that she was attached to religion, he had a mind to remove all her objections to his person. (Calmet)