“Then he commanded to bring her in where his plate was set; and bade that they should prepare for her of his own meats, and that she should drink of his own wine.”
And bade. Greek, “and ordered a bed (or table) to be prepared for her, to eat of his own meat, and drink of his wine,” (Haydock) that her beauty might be enhanced, (Daniel i.) and to honour her. (Menochius)
“And Judith said, I will not eat thereof, lest there be an offence: but provision shall be made for me of the things that I have brought.”
Upon me, as these meats had been offered to idols; (Worthington) or she might fear they had, and wished to avoid all scandal, 2 Machabees vi. 21., and Tobias i. 12. (Calmet)
“Then Holofernes said unto her, If thy provision should fail, how should we give thee the like? for there be none with us of thy nation.”
Thee. Greek adds, “for there is none of thy race.”
“Then said Judith unto him As thy soul liveth, my lord, thine handmaid shall not spend those things that I have, before the Lord work by mine hand the things that he hath determined.”
Which I. Greek, “he.” — Which. Greek, “and she slept till midnight and she arose at the morning watch.” (Haydock) — The mode of counting by hours prevailed after the captivity. (Calmet)
“Then the servants of Holofernes brought her into the tent, and she slept till midnight, and she arose when it was toward the morning watch,”
And. Greek, “and she sent to Holofernes, saying: May my lord please to order that thy handmaid may go out to pray. And,” &c., ver. 6. (Haydock) — She had prepared him to grant this request before: but out of civility, and that he may have greater confidence in her, she asks again. The choice of a retired place for prayer is very commendable, but she made choice of the fields, that she might go out of the camp afterwards without being suspected. (Calmet)
“And sent to Holofernes, saving, Let my lord now command that thine handmaid may go forth unto prayer.”
Chamberlains. Greek, “life-guards, not to hinder her; and she remained in the camp three days.” (Haydock)
“Then Holofernes commanded his guard that they should not stay her: thus she abode in the camp three days, and went out in the night into the valley of Bethulia, and washed herself in a fountain of water by the camp.”
Water. Greek, “in the camp;” perhaps she washed only her hands and face. (Calmet)
“So she came in clean, and remained in the tent, until she did eat her meat at evening.”
Pure, from forbidden food. (Worthington) — Evening. Thus she continued to fast, to draw down the blessing of God. (Calmet)
“And in the fourth day Holofernes made a feast to his own servants only, and called none of the officers to the banquet.”
Servants. Greek adds, “only, and he did not call any of those whom he usually employed,” (Haydock) that they might not witness his excesses. Vagao, or Bagoas, the Persian name for an “eunuch,” or chief officer; though such were generally to wait on the ladies.
“For, lo, it will be a shame for our person, if we shall let such a woman go, not having had her company; for if we draw her not unto us, she will laugh us to scorn.”
Merry. This would pave the way for greater liberties. (Calmet) — Greek adds, “and to become this day as a daughter of the Assyrians, standing to wait in the house of Nabuchodonosor.” He probably alludes to those courtezans (Calmet) who sung at night, before the palace, &c. (Athen. Dip. xii. 2.) The Persians admitted women to their feasts, though they were generally excluded in the East, Esther i. 12. (Herodotus v. 18.)
“Then said Judith unto him, Who am I now, that I should gainsay my lord? surely whatsoever pleaseth him I will do speedily, and it shall be my joy unto the day of my death.”
Best. Greek, “a boast, or matter of exultation.” (Haydock) — This answer seems to shock our delicacy. Did she not understand the meaning of the eunuch, which was sufficiently plain? She only passed a compliment, which always implies a tacit condition, if the thing be practicable and honest: as the words might have two meanings, she was bound in charity to interpret them in the best sense. (Calmet) — It was surely lawful to be merry. (Menochius)
“So she arose, and decked herself with her apparel and all her woman's attire, and her maid went and laid soft skins on the ground for her over against Holofernes, which she had received of Bagoas for her daily use, that she might sit and eat upon them.”
Garments. Greek adds, “and all her female ornaments; and her servant came and spread on the ground, before Holofernes, the fleeces which she had received from Bagoas, for her daily use, to eat lying upon them. And coming in, Judith fell prostrate.” (Haydock) — The custom of sitting on the ground, upon skins, to eat, is very ancient, (Targum, Esther i.) and is still observed by the Turks. The kings of Persia let none eat with them at the same table. (Heraclides; Athen. v. 10.) — The character of drunkenness, with which this nation has been branded, seems not unfounded. (Calmet)
“Now when Judith came in and sat down, Holofernes his heart was ravished with her, and his mind was moved, and he desired greatly her company; for he waited a time to deceive her, from the day that he had seen her.”
Her. Greek adds, “company; and he had sought an opportunity of deluding her, from the day when he first beheld her.” He justly, therefore, fell into the snare which he had laid.
“And Holofernes took great delight in her, and drank more wine than he had drunk at any time in one day since he was born.”
Life. Greek adds, “in any one day,” (Haydock) at supper. (Menochius)