BOOK OF JUDITH

CHAPTER 1: NEBUCHADNEZZAR’S WAR

• The book takes place in the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, King of Assyria.
• A rival ruler named Arphaxad resists Nebuchadnezzar.
• Nebuchadnezzar decides to go to war on Arphaxad and calls for aid from surrounding regions. These regions including Judaea ignore his calls.
• Nebuchadnezzar goes to war regardless and is victorious.

CHAPTER 2: NEBUCHADNEZZAR’S REVENGE

• Some time later Nebuchadnezzar decides to take revenge on all the peoples who did not aid him during war.
• Nebuchadnezzar calls his general Holofernes, and orders him to war.
• Holofernes conquers many cities.
• Many people who lived on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, such as Tyre and Sidon are afraid of Holofernes so they send out messengers to negotiate a surrender.

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CHAPTER 3: SURRENDER AT THE COAST

• After hearing the messengers offer, Holofernes excepts their surrender.
• Holofernes then tears down any religious idols they have, so that those people may only worship Nebuchadnezzar.
• Holofernes then makes camp opposite of Judaea.

CHAPTER 4: JUDAEA PREPARES FOR WAR

• The Jews hear about what has happened to the surrounding Kingdoms and decide to prepare for war.
• Joakim the high priest leads the preparations, which including fortifying the mountains.

CHAPTER 5: JUDAEA’S HISTORY

• Holofernes is informed of the Jews defiance.
• Holofernes is informed of the Jews history by a Ammonites named Achior.
• Holofernes is also informed by Achior that their Lord will protect them.
• Holofernes’s advisers advise him not to listen to Achior, and to attack the Jews.

CHAPTER 6: JEWS RESCUE ACHIOR

• After hearing that the Jews will be protected by their Lord. Holofernes becomes angry with Achior and orders him to be tied up.
• The Jews see Achior being tied and rescue him, and then question him about all that happened.

CHAPTER 7: JUDAEA SURROUNDED

• Holofernes’s army surrounds Judaea and cuts off their water supply.
• The Jews go without water for some time.

CHAPTER 8: JUDITH’S HUSBAND DIES

• Judith a descendant of Israel finds out her Husband has died.
• She proceeds to mourn and fast for some time.
• After some time she hears the grievances of the people about the rulers of Bethulia who have said they are going to surrender to the Assyria.
• Judith rebukes the leaders and tells them they must set an example for the other Israelites and stand up against the Assyrians.

CHAPTER 9: JUDITH PRAYS TO GOD

• Judith prays to the Lord to help defeat the Assyrians.

CHAPTER 10: JUDITH GOES THE ASSYRIANS

• After Judith is done praying she sets out to meet with the Assyrians.
• Everyone admires how beautiful she is among the Hebrews, as well as among the Assyrians once she reaches their camp.
• Once she reaches the Assyrians she tells them she is going to show them a way to defeat the Hebrews. She is then escorted to King Holofernes.

CHAPTER 11: JUDITH’S ADVICE

• Judith tells Holofernes that the Jews can only be defeated if they sin, for then the Lord will not favor them.
• Judith tells Holofernes that they’re are going to sin by eating food that is holy, and she will pray to the Lord who will inform her when this happens.

CHAPTER 12: HOLOFERNES BANQUET

• Judith stays with the Assyrians in their camp.
• After three days Holofernes invites Judith to a banquet which she attends.

CHAPTER 13: JUDITH KILLS HOLOFERNES

• After the Banquet is over Judith finds herself alone with a sleeping Holofernes. She then cuts his head off.
• She then sneaks back to Bethulia and presents the head to her fellow Jews.

CHAPTER 14: ASSYRIANS FIND HOLOFERNES

• Judith instructs the Jews to hang Holofernes head from their battlement.
• The Assyrians find Holofernes dead in the tent.

CHAPTER 15: JEWS PLUNDER ASSYRIANS

• The Assyrians flee from the land after finding Holofernes dead.
• The Jews plunder the abandoned Assyrian camp.
• Judith is decorated and given much of the spoils.

CHAPTER 16: THE JEWS CELEBRATE

• The Jews celebrate their victory by singing songs.