Sermon Notes 20231126 Judith 7:1-32

Judith 7:1–32 NABRE

The following day Holofernes ordered his whole army, and all the troops who had come to join him, to break camp and move against Bethulia, seize the passes into the hills, and make war on the Israelites. That same day all their fighting men went into action. Their forces numbered a hundred and seventy thousand infantry and twelve thousand cavalry, not counting the baggage train or the men who accompanied it on foot, a very great army. They encamped at the spring in the valley near Bethulia, and spread crosswise toward Dothan as far as Balbaim, and lengthwise from Bethulia to Cyamon, which faces Esdraelon. When the Israelites saw how many there were, they were greatly distressed and said to one another, “Soon they will strip the whole land bare. Neither the high mountains nor the valleys nor the hills will bear their weight.” Yet they all seized their weapons, lighted fires on their towers, and kept watch throughout the night. On the second day Holofernes led out all his cavalry in the sight of the Israelites who were in Bethulia. He reconnoitered the ascents to their city and located their springs of water; these he seized, stationing armed detachments around them, while he himself returned to his troops. All the rulers of the Edomites, all the leaders of the Moabites, together with the generals of the coastal region, came to Holofernes and said: “Master, please listen to what we have to say, that there may be no losses among your forces. These Israelite troops do not rely on their spears, but on the height of the mountains where they dwell, for it is not easy to reach the summit of their mountains. Therefore, master, do not attack them in regular formation, and not a single one of your troops will fall. Stay in your camp, and spare every man of your force. Have some of your servants keep control of the spring of water that flows out at the base of the mountain, for that is where the inhabitants of Bethulia get their water. Then thirst will destroy them, and they will surrender their city. Meanwhile, we and our troops will go up to the nearby hilltops and encamp there to guard against anyone’s leaving the city. They and their wives and children will languish with hunger, and even before the sword strikes them they will be laid low in the streets where they live. Thus you will render them dire punishment for their rebellion and their refusal to meet you peacefully.” Their words pleased Holofernes and all his attendants, and he ordered their proposal to be carried out. So the Ammonites moved camp, together with five thousand Assyrians. They encamped in the valley and held the water supply and the springs of the Israelites. The Edomites and the Ammonites went up and encamped in the hill country opposite Dothan; and they sent some of their men to the southeast opposite Egrebel, near Chusi, which is on Wadi Mochmur. The rest of the Assyrian army was encamped in the plain, covering all the land. Their tents and equipment were spread out in profusion everywhere, and they formed a vast multitude. The Israelites cried to the Lord, their God, for they were disheartened, since all their enemies had them surrounded, and there was no way of escaping from them. The whole Assyrian army, infantry, chariots, and cavalry, kept them thus surrounded for thirty-four days. All the reservoirs of water failed the inhabitants of Bethulia, and the cisterns ran dry, so that on no day did they have enough water to drink, for their drinking water was rationed. Their children were listless, and the women and youths were fainting from thirst and were collapsing in the streets and gateways of the city, with no strength left in them. So all the people, including youths, women, and children, went in a crowd to Uzziah and the rulers of the city. They cried out loudly and said before all the elders: “May God judge between you and us! You have done us grave injustice in not making peace with the Assyrians. There is no one to help us now! God has sold us into their hands by laying us prostrate before them in thirst and utter exhaustion. So now, summon them and deliver the whole city as plunder to the troops of Holofernes and to all his forces; we would be better off to become their prey. Although we would be made slaves, at least we would live, and not have to see our little ones dying before our eyes, and our wives and children breathing their last. We adjure you by heaven and earth and by our God, the Lord of our ancestors, who is punishing us for our sins and the sins of our ancestors, that this very day you do as we have proposed.” All in the assembly with one accord broke into shrill wailing and cried loudly to the Lord their God. But Uzziah said to them, “Courage, my brothers and sisters! Let us endure patiently five days more for the Lord our God to show mercy toward us; for God will not utterly forsake us. But if these days pass and help does not come to us, I will do as you say.” Then he dismissed the people. The men returned to their posts on the walls and towers of the city, the women and children went back to their homes. Throughout the city they were in great misery.

Do you have Faith?

  The Campaign against Bethulia

7 The next day Holofernes ordered his whole army, and all the allies who had joined him, to break camp and move against Bethulia, and to seize the passes up into the hill country and make war on the Israelites. 2 So all their warriors marched off that day; their fighting forces numbered one hundred seventy thousand infantry and twelve thousand cavalry, not counting the baggage and the foot soldiers handling it, a very great multitude. 3 They encamped in the valley near Bethulia, beside the spring, and they spread out in breadth over Dothan as far as Balbaim and in length from Bethulia to Cyamon, which faces Esdraelon.

4 When the Israelites saw their vast numbers, they were greatly terrified and said to one another, “They will now strip clean the whole land; neither the high mountains nor the valleys nor the hills will bear their weight.” 5 Yet they all seized their weapons, and when they had kindled fires on their towers, they remained on guard all that night.

6 On the second day Holofernes led out all his cavalry in full view of the Israelites in Bethulia. 7 He reconnoitered the approaches to their town, and visited the springs that supplied their water; he seized them and set guards of soldiers over them, and then returned to his army.

8 Then all the chieftains of the Edomites and all the leaders of the Moabites and the commanders of the coastland came to him and said, 9 “Listen to what we have to say, my lord, and your army will suffer no losses. 10 This people, the Israelites, do not rely on their spears but on the height of the mountains where they live, for it is not easy to reach the tops of their mountains. 11 Therefore, my lord, do not fight against them in regular formation, and not a man of your army will fall. 12 Remain in your camp, and keep all the men in your forces with you; let your servants take possession of the spring of water that flows from the foot of the mountain, 13 for this is where all the people of Bethulia get their water. So thirst will destroy them, and they will surrender their town. Meanwhile, we and our people will go up to the tops of the nearby mountains and camp there to keep watch to see that no one gets out of the town. 14 They and their wives and children will waste away with famine, and before the sword reaches them they will be strewn about in the streets where they live. 15 Thus you will pay them back with evil, because they rebelled and did not receive you peaceably.”

16 These words pleased Holofernes and all his attendants, and he gave orders to do as they had said. 17 So the army of the Ammonites moved forward, together with five thousand Assyrians, and they encamped in the valley and seized the water supply and the springs of the Israelites. 18 And the Edomites and Ammonites went up and encamped in the hill country opposite Dothan; and they sent some of their men toward the south and the east, toward Egrebeh, which is near Chusi beside the Wadi Mochmur. The rest of the Assyrian army encamped in the plain, and covered the whole face of the land. Their tents and supply trains spread out in great number, and they formed a vast multitude.

The Distress of the Israelites

19 The Israelites then cried out to the Lord their God, for their courage failed, because all their enemies had surrounded them, and there was no way of escape from them. 20 The whole Assyrian army, their infantry, chariots, and cavalry, surrounded them for thirty-four days, until all the water containers of every inhabitant of Bethulia were empty; 21 their cisterns were going dry, and on no day did they have enough water to drink, for their drinking water was rationed. 22 Their children were listless, and the women and young men fainted from thirst and were collapsing in the streets of the town and in the gateways; they no longer had any strength.

23 Then all the people, the young men, the women, and the children, gathered around Uzziah and the rulers of the town and cried out with a loud voice, and said before all the elders, 24 “Let God judge between you and us! You have done us a great injury in not making peace with the Assyrians. 25 For now we have no one to help us; God has sold us into their hands, to be strewn before them in thirst and exhaustion. 26 Now summon them and surrender the whole town as booty to the army of Holofernes and to all his forces. 27 For it would be better for us to be captured by them.a We shall indeed become slaves, but our lives will be spared, and we shall not witness our little ones dying before our eyes, and our wives and children drawing their last breath. 28 We call to witness against you heaven and earth and our God, the Lord of our ancestors, who punishes us for our sins and the sins of our ancestors; do today the things that we have described!”

29 Then great and general lamentation arose throughout the assembly, and they cried out to the Lord God with a loud voice. 30 But Uzziah said to them, “Courage, my brothers and sisters!b Let us hold out for five days more; by that time the Lord our God will turn his mercy to us again, for he will not forsake us utterly. 31 But if these days pass by, and no help comes for us, I will do as you say.”

32 Then he dismissed the people to their various posts, and they went up on the walls and towers of their town. The women and children he sent home. In the town they were in great misery.1

a a Other ancient authorities add than to die of thirst

b b Gk Courage, brothers

1 The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition (Washington, DC: National Council of Churches of Christ, 1993), Jdt 7:1–32.

Revelation From God

Author

The author of Judith is unknown.

Date

The exact date the book was written is unknown, however several scholars believe it was written around 100 BCE.

History

Its historical range is extraordinary. Within the reign of Nebuchadnezzar (1:1; 2:1), it telescopes five centuries of historical and geographical information with imaginary details. There are references to Nineveh, the Assyrian capital destroyed in 612 B.C., to Nebuchadnezzar, the ruler not of Assyria but of Babylon (605/604–562), and to the second Temple, built around 515. The postexilic period is presumed (e.g., governance by the High Priest). The Persian period is represented by two characters, Holofernes and Bagoas, who appear together in the military campaigns of Artaxerxes III Ochus (358–338); there seem to be allusions to the second-century Seleucid ruler Antiochus IV Epiphanes. Several mysteries remain: Judith herself, Arphaxad, and others are otherwise unknown. The geographical details, such as the narrow defile into Bethulia (an unidentified town which gives access to the heart of the land), are fanciful. The simple conclusion from these and other details is that the work is historical fiction, written to exalt God as Israel’s deliverer from foreign might, not by an army, but by means of a simple widow.11 New American Bible, Revised Edition. (Washington, DC: The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2011), Jdt.

Theology

This a an inclusive story of a women that saves Israel, much like the story of Deborah in Judges 4:1-24, Judges 5:1-31. This is a fictional story of the Judge Judith, as she could not have lived 500 years. It is designed to show that all people are important in YHWH’s Kingdom, and that YHWH values all, or that Theophilus reigns supreme, Deut 10:18-19, Deut 11:1-32, Deut 13:3, 1 Sa 18:1-5, 2 Sam 9:1-13, John 3:16, John 13:34-35, Rom 5:8, Rom 13:8-10, 1 Co 13:1-13, Eph 5:1-21, 1 Jn 3:11-14, 1 Jn 4:1-21, 1 Jn 5:3!!!!

Inner-biblical references are noteworthy: as God acted through Moses’ hand (Ex 10:21–22; 14:27–30), so God delivers “by the hand of a female,” Judith. Like Jael, who drove a tent peg through the head of Sisera (Jgs 4), Judith kills an enemy general. Like Deborah (Jgs 4–5), Judith “judges” Israel in the time of military crisis. Like Sarah, the mother of Israel’s future (Gn 17:6), Judith’s beauty deceives foreigners, with the result that blessings redound to Israel (Gn 12:11–20). Her Hebrew name means “Jewish woman.” Her exploits captured the imagination of liturgists, artists, and writers through the centuries. The book is filled with double entendres and ironic situations, e.g., Judith’s conversation with Holofernes in 11:5–8, 19, where “my lord” is ambiguous, and her declaration to Holofernes that she will lead him through Judea to Jerusalem (his head goes on such a journey). 11 New American Bible, Revised Edition. (Washington, DC: The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2011), Jdt.

Structure

This is a fictional historical writing.

Chapter (7) the perfect completion of creation, Gen 2:2-3, Rev 22:1-21, Christ Jesus in you,1 Cor 12:1-31, Eph 2:1-22!!!! It has (1) Pericope, YHWH the Father, YHWH Ab, 1 Sa 2:2, 1 Ki 18:39, 1 Ki 20:13, 1 Ki 20:28, Tobit 13:4, Tobit 13:15!!!! There are (32) verses whose sum is (5) The Broken, Rom 3:23, Rev 2:5, The Fallen, Gen 1:4-5, Rev 12:4-9, The Lost, Mat 18:10-14, Joh 10:27-30, The Sinner, Gen 6:16, 1 Ti 1:8-9, The Unbelieving, Luk 15:1-32, John 3:18 !!!! (32) is the product of (4) YHWH the Church, YHWH Qahal, Ecclesia, Enoch 105:1–2, Enoch 106:1–5, Enoch 108:1–15, Tobit 13:10-11, Tobit 13:16-17 times (8) A new beginning in Christ Jesus, 2 Cor 5:17-21, Eph 4:1-32, or {(2) YHWH the Son, Christ Jesus, Yeshua Joh 1:1-5, Rev 22:1-5, times (4) YHWH the Church, Qahal, Ecclesia, Joh 10:30-38, John 14:1-31, John 15:1-27, John 17:20-26}!!!!

Purpose 

The purpose of Judith is to shown all, that YHWH includes all in His design and plans and no one is excluded, John 3:16, Matt 19:12!!!!

The Purpose of Chapter (7) is to teach all to have Faith, Take Courage, Enoch 99:10, Tobit 7:1-16, Judith 6:1-20, Eph 2:8-9, Gal 2:15-21, Gal 3:1-29, Gal 5:1-26, Heb 11:1-40, Jas 2:14-26, not matter what trails and temptations you are facing, Mat 4:1-11, Mat 6:13, Luk 4:1-13, John 8:1-11, 1 Co 10:13, Jas 1:2-3, 1 Pet 4:12, for YHWH will prefect You, Enoch 106:1–5, 2 Co 13:5-6, Col 1:27-28, 1 Pe 5:10 to be (1) in the body of, YHWH Ab, YHWH Bane, YHWH Ruach, YHWH Qahal, Father, Son, Holy Spirit, Church, Gen 1:4-5, Gen 1:27-31, Gen 3:22, Exo 34:9, Exo 36:18, Lev 26:42-46, Lev 27:1-34, Deut 18:2, Deut 33:26-29, Enoch 35:1, Enoch 36:1–4, Enoch 38:2, Enoch 38:4,Enoch 39:1–14, Enoch 40:1–10, Enoch 48:1, Enoch 70:1–4, Enoch 71:1–17, Enoch 83:10–11, Enoch 92:1–5, Enoch 105:1–2, Enoch 106:1–5, Enoch 108:1–15, Tobit 13:10-11, Tobit 13:16-17, Jos 13:1-33, 1 Sa18:1-5, 1 Ch 28:1-2, 2 Ch 3:1-17, 1 Ch 4:1-22, 2 Ch 5:1-14, 2 Ch 6:1-11, 2 Ch 30:6-9, 2 Ch 36:22-23, Ezr 1:1-3, Neh 1:9-11, Eze 1:1-28, Eze 10:1-22, Eze 40:1-49, Joh 10:30-38, Joh 14:1-31. Joh 15:1-27, Joh 17:20-26, Rom 8:9-10, Rom 12:1-8, 1 Co 3:16, 1 Co 6:12-20, 1Co 12:1-31, 2 Co 5:17-21, 2 Co 6:14-18, Col 1:15-19, Eph 2:1-22, Eph 3:14-21, Eph 4:1-32, Gal 3:26-28, 1 Pe 1:13-25, 1 John 3:11-24, 1 Jn 4:7-21, Rev 22:1-21!!!!

Exegesis / Hermeneutical

Faith Judith 7:1-32 :

Pericope, (1) YHWH the Father, YHWH Ab, 1 Sa 2:2, 1 Ki 18:39, 1 Ki 20:13, 1 Ki 20:28, Tobit 13:4, Tobit 13:15!!!! There are (32) verses whose sum is (5) The Broken, Rom 3:23, Rev 2:5, The Fallen, Gen 1:4-5, Rev 12:4-9, The Lost, Mat 18:10-14, Joh 10:27-30, The Sinner, Gen 6:16, 1 Ti 1:8-9, The Unbelieving, Luk 15:1-32, John 3:18 !!!! (32) is the product of (4) YHWH the Church, YHWH Qahal, Ecclesia, Enoch 105:1–2, Enoch 106:1–5, Enoch 108:1–15, Tobit 13:10-11, Tobit 13:16-17 times (8) A new beginning in Christ Jesus, 2 Cor 5:17-21, Eph 4:1-32, or {(2) YHWH the Son, Christ Jesus, Yeshua Joh 1:1-5, Rev 22:1-5, times (4) YHWH the Church, Qahal, Ecclesia, Joh 10:30-38, John 14:1-31, John 15:1-27, John 17:20-26}!!!!

Judith 7:1-18 : No matter what trails and temptations you are facing, Mat 4:1-11, Mat 6:13, Luk 4:1-13, John 8:1-11, 1 Co 10:13, Jas 1:2-3, 1 Pet 4:12,

Judith 7:19-32 : you must have Faith, Take Courage, Enoch 99:10, Tobit 7:1-16, Judith 6:1-20, Eph 2:8-9, Gal 2:15-21, Gal 3:1-29, Gal 5:1-26, Heb 11:1-40, Jas 2:14-26, that YHWH will prefect You, Enoch 106:1–5, 2 Co 13:5-6, Col 1:27-28, 1 Pe 5:10 to be (1) in the body of, YHWH Ab, YHWH Bane, YHWH Ruach, YHWH Qahal, Father, Son, Holy Spirit, Church, Gen 1:4-5, Gen 1:27-31, Gen 3:22, Exo 34:9, Exo 36:18, Lev 26:42-46, Lev 27:1-34, Deut 18:2, Deut 33:26-29, Enoch 35:1, Enoch 36:1–4, Enoch 38:2, Enoch 38:4,Enoch 39:1–14, Enoch 40:1–10, Enoch 48:1, Enoch 70:1–4, Enoch 71:1–17, Enoch 83:10–11, Enoch 92:1–5, Enoch 105:1–2, Enoch 106:1–5, Enoch 108:1–15, Tobit 13:10-11, Tobit 13:16-17, Jos 13:1-33, 1 Sa18:1-5, 1 Ch 28:1-2, 2 Ch 3:1-17, 1 Ch 4:1-22, 2 Ch 5:1-14, 2 Ch 6:1-11, 2 Ch 30:6-9, 2 Ch 36:22-23, Ezr 1:1-3, Neh 1:9-11, Eze 1:1-28, Eze 10:1-22, Eze 40:1-49, Joh 10:30-38, Joh 14:1-31. Joh 15:1-27, Joh 17:20-26, Rom 8:9-10, Rom 12:1-8, 1 Co 3:16, 1 Co 6:12-20, 1Co 12:1-31, 2 Co 5:17-21, 2 Co 6:14-18, Col 1:15-19, Eph 2:1-22, Eph 3:14-21, Eph 4:1-32, Gal 3:26-28, 1 Pe 1:13-25, 1 John 3:11-24, 1 Jn 4:7-21, Rev 22:1-21!!!!

Conclusion

Chapter (7) teaches all to have Faith, Take Courage, Enoch 99:10, Tobit 7:1-16, Judith 6:1-20, Eph 2:8-9, Gal 2:15-21, Gal 3:1-29, Gal 5:1-26, Heb 11:1-40, Jas 2:14-26, not matter what trails and temptations you are facing, Mat 4:1-11, Mat 6:13, Luk 4:1-13, John 8:1-11, 1 Co 10:13, Jas 1:2-3, 1 Pet 4:12, for YHWH will prefect You, Enoch 106:1–5, 2 Co 13:5-6, Col 1:27-28, 1 Pe 5:10 to be (1) in the body of, YHWH Ab, YHWH Bane, YHWH Ruach, YHWH Qahal, Father, Son, Holy Spirit, Church, Gen 1:4-5, Gen 1:27-31, Gen 3:22, Exo 34:9, Exo 36:18, Lev 26:42-46, Lev 27:1-34, Deut 18:2, Deut 33:26-29, Enoch 35:1, Enoch 36:1–4, Enoch 38:2, Enoch 38:4,Enoch 39:1–14, Enoch 40:1–10, Enoch 48:1, Enoch 70:1–4, Enoch 71:1–17, Enoch 83:10–11, Enoch 92:1–5, Enoch 105:1–2, Enoch 106:1–5, Enoch 108:1–15, Tobit 13:10-11, Tobit 13:16-17, Jos 13:1-33, 1 Sa18:1-5, 1 Ch 28:1-2, 2 Ch 3:1-17, 1 Ch 4:1-22, 2 Ch 5:1-14, 2 Ch 6:1-11, 2 Ch 30:6-9, 2 Ch 36:22-23, Ezr 1:1-3, Neh 1:9-11, Eze 1:1-28, Eze 10:1-22, Eze 40:1-49, Joh 10:30-38, Joh 14:1-31. Joh 15:1-27, Joh 17:20-26, Rom 8:9-10, Rom 12:1-8, 1 Co 3:16, 1 Co 6:12-20, 1Co 12:1-31, 2 Co 5:17-21, 2 Co 6:14-18, Col 1:15-19, Eph 2:1-22, Eph 3:14-21, Eph 4:1-32, Gal 3:26-28, 1 Pe 1:13-25, 1 John 3:11-24, 1 Jn 4:7-21, Rev 22:1-21!!!!

Do you have Faith?

We all need to have have Faith, to Take Courage, Enoch 99:10, Tobit 7:1-16, Judith 6:1-20, Eph 2:8-9, Gal 2:15-21, Gal 3:1-29, Gal 5:1-26, Heb 11:1-40, Jas 2:14-26, not matter what trails and temptations you are facing, Mat 4:1-11, Mat 6:13, Luk 4:1-13, John 8:1-11, 1 Co 10:13, Jas 1:2-3, 1 Pet 4:12, for YHWH will prefect You, Enoch 106:1–5, 2 Co 13:5-6, Col 1:27-28, 1 Pe 5:10 to be (1) in the body of, YHWH Ab, YHWH Bane, YHWH Ruach, YHWH Qahal, Father, Son, Holy Spirit, Church, Gen 1:4-5, Gen 1:27-31, Gen 3:22, Exo 34:9, Exo 36:18, Lev 26:42-46, Lev 27:1-34, Deut 18:2, Deut 33:26-29, Enoch 35:1, Enoch 36:1–4, Enoch 38:2, Enoch 38:4,Enoch 39:1–14, Enoch 40:1–10, Enoch 48:1, Enoch 70:1–4, Enoch 71:1–17, Enoch 83:10–11, Enoch 92:1–5, Enoch 105:1–2, Enoch 106:1–5, Enoch 108:1–15, Tobit 13:10-11, Tobit 13:16-17, Jos 13:1-33, 1 Sa18:1-5, 1 Ch 28:1-2, 2 Ch 3:1-17, 1 Ch 4:1-22, 2 Ch 5:1-14, 2 Ch 6:1-11, 2 Ch 30:6-9, 2 Ch 36:22-23, Ezr 1:1-3, Neh 1:9-11, Eze 1:1-28, Eze 10:1-22, Eze 40:1-49, Joh 10:30-38, Joh 14:1-31. Joh 15:1-27, Joh 17:20-26, Rom 8:9-10, Rom 12:1-8, 1 Co 3:16, 1 Co 6:12-20, 1Co 12:1-31, 2 Co 5:17-21, 2 Co 6:14-18, Col 1:15-19, Eph 2:1-22, Eph 3:14-21, Eph 4:1-32, Gal 3:26-28, 1 Pe 1:13-25, 1 John 3:11-24, 1 Jn 4:7-21, Rev 22:1-21!!!!