![the Open Siddur Project [logo]](https://opensiddur.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Open-Siddur-Project-Logo-2016.svg){kind=logo}
The text of Ma’aseh Yehudit, the story of Judith, as found in Sefer Ḥemdat Yamim,[1] The story is found in volume 2, pages 63a–65a of the 1731 edition, and 56a-58a of the 1763 Venice edition. In the 1731 edition, on some page headings the story is called “Maaseh ha-Ishah haYehudit.” a compilation of mystical customs and tiqqunim first published in İzmir in around 1731. (This text is also found as “Maaseh Yehudit, Version 2” in Judah David Eisenstein’s monumental Otsar Midrashim compilation.) Sefer Ḥemdat Yamim is a unique work, likely compiled by a Sabbatean but largely based on earlier pre-Sabbatean mystical sources, and because of this any specific text in it is quite difficult to date. This specific version of the story of Judith shows substantial influence from the Septuagintal text not found in earlier Jewish variants, giving a likely terminus post quem of several generations after the Inquisition when Spanish bnei anusim brought their knowledge of the Vulgate’s apocrypha with them to Judaism. Even so, it is very clearly a fundamentally Jewish work. It is appropriate to recite on Yom haBanot (1 Tevet) or any time throughout Ḥanukkah, perhaps with Esther cantillation.
For a different Jewish reading of the story of Judith, find Megillat Yehudit.
Note: “The CAUSE” is used to translate the Divine Name YHVH, based on the philosophical idea of God as the Prime Mover and on the interpretation of the Name as a causative form of the copula – “causes to be.” This translation also uses the plural pronouns They/Their/Them to refer to God as a pluralis majestatis, and to avoid the implications of God being assigned a gender. (Find Ibn Ezra’s commentary on Genesis 1:1 for a discussion of the pluralis majestatis when referring to God.) All divine referents (pronouns, epithets, names) are rendered in unicase.
| Source (Hebrew) | Translation (English) |
|---|---|
וַיְהִ֗י בִּימֵ֤י אֱלִיפ֙וֹרְנִי֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יָוָ֔ן מֶ֖לֶךְ גָּד֣וֹל וְחָזָ֑ק וְהוּא֩ כָּבַ֨שׁ מְדִינ֤וֹת רַבּוֹת֙ וּמְלָכִ֣ים חֲזָקִ֔ים וְהֶחֱרִ֧יב טִירוֹתָ֛ם וְהֵיכְלֵיהֶ֖ם שָׂרַ֥ף בָּאֵֽשׁ׃ בִּשְׁנַ֨ת עֶ֤שֶׂר שָׁנִים֙ לְמַ֣לְכוּת֔וֹ שָׂ֚ם פָּנָ֔יו לַעֲל֛וֹת וְלִכְבֹּ֥שׁ יְרוּשָׁלַ֖יִם עִ֣יר הַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ וְקִבֵּ֞ץ מֵאָ֨ה וְעֶשְׂרִ֤ים אֲלָפִים֙ שׁ֣וֹלְפֵי חֶ֔רֶב וְתִשְׁעִ֧ים וּשְׁנַ֛יִם אֶ֖לֶף בַּעֲלֵ֥י חִצִּֽים׃ וַיֹּ֩אמֶר֩ הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ אֲלֵיהֶ֜ם הִנֵּ֗ה עַ֚ם בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁר֙ בִּיר֣וּשָׁלַ֔יִם מְשֻׁנִּ֖ים בְּדָתֵיהֶ֑ם וְאֶת־דָּתֵ֥י הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֵינָ֥ם עוֹשִֽׂים׃ הַוּ֖וֹת בְּקִרְבָּ֑הּ וְלֹא־יָמִ֥ישׁ מֵרְחֹבָ֖הּ תֹּ֥ךְ וּמִרְמָֽה׃ עַתָּ֗ה ק֛וּמוּ וְנַעֲלֶ֥ה עָלֶ֖יהָ לְמִלְחָמָ֑ה וְלֹא־יִזָּכֵ֥ר שֵׁם־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עֽוֹד׃ |
And it was in the days of Eliforni king of Greece, a great and mighty king, who conquered many lands and powerful kings, and laid waste their castles and burned their palaces in fire. In the tenth year of the years of his reign, he set his face to go up to conquer Jerusalem the holy city, and gathered a hundred and twenty thousand swordsmen and ninety-two thousand archers. And the king said to them: Behold, this people the children of Israel[2] Exodus 1:9 who are in Jerusalem are different in their laws, and the laws of the king they do not keep.[3] Esther 3:8 Malice is among it, fraud and deceit never leaving its square.[4] Psalms 55:12 Now, rise, let’s ascend against it to battle,[5] Jeremiah 6:4 that the name Israel no more be remembered.[6] Psalms 83:5 |
וַיַּ֙עַן֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ אֶחָ֔ד אֲשֶׁ֧ר הָיָ֛ה כָּב֥וּשׁ תַּחַת־יָד֖וֹ בַּמִּלְחָמָֽה׃ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֔וֹ חֲדַ֥ל לְךָ֖ הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ מֵאֱלֹהֵ֨י עוֹלָ֜ם אֱלֹהֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים יְהֹוָ֖ה גִּבּ֥וֹר מִלְחָמָֽה׃ מֹשֵׁ֤ל בִּגְבוּרָתוֹ֙ עוֹלָ֔ם עֵינָ֖יו בַּגּוֹיִ֣ם תִּצְפֶּ֑ינָה הַסּוֹרְרִ֕ים לְהִלָּחֵ֛ם עִם־עַמּ֥וֹ וְנַחֲלָת֖וֹ לֹא־יִמָּלֵֽט׃ וְלֹא־ע֣וֹד אֶ֠לָּ֠א שֶׁכׇּל־אֶמּ֨וֹת הָעוֹלָ֜ם נִקְרְא֣וּ נׇכְרִ֗ים וְיִ֨שְׂרָאֵ֔ל הֵ֖ם עַ֣ם קְרוֹב֑וֹ וּמִ֨י יִגַּ֜שׁ וְיֶעֶרַ֧ב אֶל־לִבּ֛וֹ לְהִלָּחֵ֖ם עִמָּֽם׃ לֵ֣ךְ הִתְבּוֹנֵן֩ בַּמְלָכִ֨ים הָרִאשׁוֹנִ֜ים שֶׁעָבְר֗וּ עַ֨ל שֶׁפָּשְׁט֤וּ יְדֵיהֶם֙ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מֶ֥ה עָלְתָ֖ה בָּהֶ֑ם כְּמ֧וֹ פַּרְעֹ֛ה וְסַנְחֵרִ֖יב וְיֶ֥תֶר הַמְּלָכִֽים׃ נָבֹ֨ל תִּבֹּ֤ל אַתָּה֙ וְכׇל־הָעָ֣ם אֲשֶׁר־בְּרַגְלֶ֔יךָ וְלֹא־תוּכַ֥ל לְהִלָּחֵ֖ם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אֲשֶׁר֙ מִנְּשָׁרִ֣ים קַ֔לּוּ מֵאֲרָי֖וֹת גָּבֵֽרוּ׃ הֲלֹ֗א הֵ֧מָּה הַגִּבֹּרִ֛ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר מֵעוֹלָ֖ם אַנְשֵׁ֥י הַשֵּֽׁם׃ |
And one king[7] Not named in this text. In Septuagintal Judith this righteous gentile king is known as Achior, chief of the Ammonites. who had been conquered under his hand in war responded. And he said to him, “Far be it from you, o king, from the God of eternity, the God of Israel, the God of gods, the Cause, great in war.[8] Psalms 24:8 Ruling eternity in Their might, Their eyes scanning the nations; those who rebel[9] Psalms 66:7 to make war on Their people, Their inheritance, will not succeed. And what’s more, all the nations of the earth are called “foreigners,” but Israel, they are the people close to Them, and who would even let it cross his mind to make war on them? Go, consider the prior kings of the past, who stretched their hands against Israel, what happened to them — like Pharaoh and Sennacherib and the other kings. You will be outlived, yes, outlived,[10] Exodus 18:18 you and all the people at your feet,[11] Exodus 11:8 and you will not be able to make war on Israel, who is swifter than eagles, mightier than lions.[12] II Samuel 1:23 Are these not the mighty ones who are of old, men of renown?”[13] Genesis 6:4 |
וַיְהִ֗י כִּשְׁמֹ֙עַ֙ אֱלִיפ֣וֹרְנִי הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֖י הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ הַה֑וּא וַיִּקְצֹ֤ף הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ מְאֹ֔ד וַחֲמָת֖וֹ בָּעֲרָה־ב֥וֹ לֵאמֹֽר׃ מִ֥י זֶה֙ וְאֵֽיזֶ֣ה ה֔וּא אֲשֶׁר־מְלָא֥וֹ לִבּ֖וֹ לֵאמֹ֑ר כִּי עַ֚ם בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל רַ֥ב וְעָצ֖וּם מִמֶּֽנִּי׃ וַאֲשֶׁר֙ כֹּ֣חַ בָּהֶ֔ם לַעֲמֹ֖ד בִּפְנֵ֣י חַיָּלַ֑י הָרַבִּ֖ים כְּח֥וֹל הַיָּֽם׃ מִ֚י בְּכׇל־אֱלֹהֵ֣י הָֽאֲרָצ֔וֹת אֲשֶׁר־הִצִּ֥ילוּ אֶת־אַרְצָ֖ם מִיָּדִ֑י כִּי־יַצִּ֧יל יְהוָ֛ה אֶת־יְרוּשָׁלַ֖יִם מִיָּדִֽי׃ |
And so it was, when Eliforni the king heard the words of that king, the king was greatly infuriated, and his anger burned in him,[14] Esther 1:12 quote: “Who is this, which is he who fills his heart thus,[15] Esther 7:5 that this people the children of Israel are greater and more powerful[16] Exodus 1:9 than me? Should they have power to stand[17] Daniel 1:4 before my armies, as numerous as the sand of the sea? Who among all the gods of the lands has saved their land from my hand? Let the Cause save Jerusalem from my hand!”[18] II Kings 18:35, Isaiah 36:20 |
וַיִּחַ֨ר אַפּ֜וֹ מְאֹ֗ד וַיְצַ֧ו לְיַסֵּ֛ר אֶת־הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ הַה֖וּא בִּשְׁפָטִ֣ים גְדוֹלִ֑ים כִּ֣י דִבֵּר־סָרָ֞ה עַל־עֹ֤צֶם חֵילוֹתָיו֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר כִּי־יַ֣עַצְרוּ כֹּ֔חַ בִּפְנֵ֖י עַ֥ם בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ וַיְצַ֣ו הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ ׀ לְאַנְשֵׁ֣י הַצָּבָ֡א לְאׇסְר֣וֹ בַּ֠נְחֻשְׁתַּ֠יִם וּלְהוֹלִיכ֨וֹ אֶל־מַחֲנֵ֤ה הָעִבְרִים֙ לִיר֣וּשָׁלַ֔יִם בְּאַ֥ף וּבְחֵמָ֖ה וּבְקֶ֣צֶף גָּד֑וֹל לֵאמֹ֗ר כָּ֚כָה יֵעָשֶׂ֣ה לָאִ֔ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבֵּר־ט֖וֹב עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ ק֥וּם לֵ֖ךְ אִתָּ֑ם וְהָיָ֗ה בְּאַבְּדִ֤י אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ תִּפֹּ֤ל גַּם־אַתָּה֙ כְּמוֹהֶ֔ם כִּנְפ֖וֹל בְּנֵ֥י עַוְלָֽה׃ וַיִּקְח֨וּ אוֹת֜וֹ עֲבָדָ֗יו וַיָּבִ֤יאוּ אוֹתוֹ֙ מַחֲנֶ֣ה יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל פֶּ֖תַח שַׁעֲרֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלַ֑יִם וַיָּשׁ֖וּבוּ אֶל־אֲדוֹנֵיהֶֽם׃ |
And he was greatly enraged, and he commanded that that king suffer great consequences,[19] Exodus 6:4 for he spoke deceivingly of[20] Deuteronomy 13:6 the strength of his armies, saying, “Should force be withheld from before this people the children of Israel?” And the king commanded the men of the army to bind him in chains and bring him to the camp of the Hebrews to Jerusalem, in anger and rage and great fury,[21] Deuteronomy 29:27 saying “Thus shall be done to the man who[22] Deuteronomy 25:9 spoke good of Israel! Up, go with them, and when I destroy Israel you too will fall like them, as the corrupt fall!”[23] II Samuel 3:34 And his servants took him and brought him to the camp of Israel, by the opening of Jerusalem’s gates,[24] Jeremiah 1:15 and returned to their master. |
וְהַמֶּ֤לֶךְ בָּא֙ בִּרְחוֹב֣וֹת יְרוּשָׁלַ֔יִם אָס֖וּר בְּכַבְלֵ֣י בַרְזֶ֑ל וַיִּֽמְצָא־שָׁ֕ם שָׂרֵ֨י צִבְא֧וֹת יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל עֻזִּיָּ֥הוּ בֶּן־מִיכָ֖ה וְכַרְמִ֣י׃ וַיִּתְמְה֖וּ אִ֣ישׁ אֶל־אָחִ֑יו וַיִּשְׁאֲל֖וּ אֶת־פִּֽיו׃ וַיְסַפֵּ֣ר לָהֶ֔ם אֵ֖ת כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר קָרָ֑הוּ עַ֞ל כִּי־דִּבֶּ֨ר ט֤וֹב עַל־יְהֹוָה֙ וְעַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל עַמּ֔וֹ וַאֲשֶׁר֩ צִוָּ֨ה הַמֶּלֶ֜ךְ לִמְסֹ֤ר אוֹתוֹ֙ בְּיַ֣ד יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לַהֲמִית֧וֹ בַּחֶ֛רֶב בְּהָרִ֥יק חַרְבּ֖וֹ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ וַאֲשֶׁ֣ר אָמַ֔ר אֶרְדֹּ֖ף אַשִּׂ֑יג אָרִ֣יק חַרְבִּ֔י תּוֹרִישֵׁ֖מוֹ יָדִֽי׃ וְ֠חֵ֠רֵף מַעַרְכ֨וֹת אֱלֹהִ֤ים חַיִּים֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר מִ֚י בְּכׇל־אֱלֹהֵ֣י הָֽאֲרָצ֔וֹת אֲשֶׁר־הִצִּ֥ילוּ אֶת־אַרְצָ֖ם מִיָּדִ֑י כִּי־יַצִּ֥יל יְהוָ֖ה אֶת־יְרוּשָׁלָֽיִם׃ |
And the king came in the gates of Jerusalem bound in chains of iron, and found there officers of Israel’s army — Uzziah son of Micah and Carmi.[25] Mentioned in Septuagintal Judith 6:15 as the rulers of the city of Bethulia And each was astonished at the other and asked for his word. And he told them all that had happened,[26] Esther 4:7 that he had spoken well of the Cause and of Israel Their people, and that the king had commanded to turn him over to the hand of the Israelites to kill him with the sword when he lifted his sword against Israel. And that he had fumed, “I will follow, I will fight, my sword I will draw, my hand wil disposess them!”[27] Exodus 15:9 And he mocked the ranks of the Living God,[28] II Samuel 17:36 saying: “Who among all the gods of the lands has saved their land from my hand? Let the Cause save Jerusalem!”[29] II Kings 18:35, Isaiah 36:20 |
וַיְהִ֗י כְּשׇׁמְעָם֙ שָׂרֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֵ֖ת דִּבְרֵ֣י הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ רְעָדָה֙ אֲחָזָ֣תַם שָׁ֔ם חִ֖יל כַּיּוֹלֵדָֽה׃ וַיָּב֖וֹאוּ אֶל־מִקְדָּ֣שׁ יְהֹוָ֑ה וַיִּשְׁתַּחֲו֣וּ לַיהֹוָ֗ה בִּבְכִ֛י וּבִצְעָקָ֛ה גְדוֹלָ֥ה וּמָרָ֖ה לֵאמֹֽר׃ יְהוָ֞ה אֱלֹהֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ יֹשֵׁ֣ב הַכְּרֻבִ֔ים אַתָּה־ה֤וּא הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ לְבַדְּךָ֔ לְכֹ֖ל מַמְלְכ֣וֹת הָאָ֑רֶץ אַתָּ֣ה עָשִׂ֔יתָ אֶת־הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וְאֶת־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ הַטֵּ֨ה יְהוָ֤ה ׀ אׇזְנְךָ֙ וּֽשֲׁמָ֔ע פְּקַ֥ח עֵינֶ֖יךָ וּרְאֵ֑ה וּשְׁמַ֗ע דִּבְרֵי֙ אֱלִיפ֔וֹרְנִי אֲשֶׁ֨ר חֵרֵ֧ף מַעַרְכ֛וֹת אֱלֹהִ֥ים חַיִּ֖ים וּמֶ֥לֶךְ עוֹלָֽם׃ אׇמְנָ֖ם יְהוָ֑ה הֶחֱרִ֜יבוּ מַלְכֵ֥י אַשּׁ֛וּר אֶת־הַגּוֹיִ֖ם וְאֶת־אַרְצָֽם׃ וְנָתְנ֥וּ אֶת־אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֖ם בָּאֵ֑שׁ כִּי֩ לֹ֨א אֱלֹהִ֜ים הֵ֗מָּה כִּ֣י אִם־מַעֲשֵׂ֧ה יְדֵי־אָדָ֛ם עֵ֥ץ וָאֶ֖בֶן וַֽיְאַבְּדֽוּם׃ וְעַתָּה֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ הוֹשִׁיעֵ֥נוּ נָ֖א מִיָּדֽוֹ׃ שְׁפֹ֣ךְ חֲמָתְךָ֗ עַל־הַגּוֹיִם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־יְדָע֔וּךָ וְעַל֙ הַמַּ֣מְלָכ֔וֹת אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּשִׁמְךָ֖ לֹ֣א קָרָ֑או כִּי־לֹ֨א תַעֲזֹ֜ב הַבּוֹטְחִ֣ים בְּשִׁמְךָ֗ וְכִ֨י תַשְׁפִּ֤יל הַגֶּ֨בֶר֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֻבְטַ֣ח בָּאָדָ֔ם וּבִגְבוּרַ֥ת הַסּ֖וּס יִבְטַֽח׃ |
And so it was, when the officers of Israel heard the words of the king, trembling seized them, pangs like labor throes.[30] Psalms 48:7 And they went to the temple of the Cause and bowed to the Cause in weeping and in great and bitter crying, quote: “Cause, God of Israel, seated on the mount-angels! You are God, You alone over all the kingdoms of the earth; You made the heavens and the earth. Turn, Cause, Your ear and hear, open Your eye and see, and hear the words[31] II Kings 19:15–16, Isaiah 37:16–17 of Eliforni, who mocked the ranks of the Living God[32] II Samuel 17:36 and Eternal Sovereign.[33] Jeremiah 10:10 Though it is true, Cause, that the Assyrian kings have destroyed the nations and their lands, and gave their deities to the fire, they are not gods, but the works of mortal hand, wood and stone, and they destroyed them. And now, Cause our God, save us, please, from his hand![34] II Kings 19:17–19, Isaiah 37:18–20 Pour out Your wrath on the nations that do not know you, and on the kingdoms that do not call by Your name,[35] Psalms 79:6, Jeremiah 10:25 for You will not abandon those trusting in Your name, and for the man who has trusted in mortals, or trusts the power of horses, will fall.” |
וַיְהִ֗י בְּכַלּ֣וֹת אֶת־תְּפִלָּתָם֮ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָה֒ נִחֲמ֗וּ אֶת־הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ הַה֜וּא וַיְדַבְּר֤וּ עַל־לִבּוֹ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר יְהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֵ֙ינוּ֙ וֵאלֹהֵ֣י אֲבוֹתֵ֔ינוּ אֲשֶׁ֧ר הוֹדַ֛עְתָּ אֶת־שְׁמ֖וֹ וְאֶת־גְּבוּרָת֖וֹ יִהְיֶ֖ה מָגֵ֥ן עֶזְרֶֽךָ׃ וְה֣וּא יַרְאֶ֔ךָּ אֶת־מַפֶּ֛לֶת הָאוֹיֵ֥ב הָרָ֖ע הַזֶּ֑ה בִּנְקֹם֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ נְקַ֥ם נִקְמַ֖ת בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ וִיהִ֤י יְהֹוָה֙ עִמָּ֔ךְ וְאִתָּ֣נוּ תֵּשֵׁ֔ב בַּטּ֖וֹב בְּעֵינֶֽיךְ׃ וּבָ֥א עֻזִּיָּ֖הוּ וְקִבְּל֣וֹ בְּבֵית֑וֹ וַיַּ֥עַשׂ ל֖וֹ מִשְׁתֶּ֥ה גָדֽוֹל׃ וְאַחַר־כָּ֞ךְ נִתְקַבְּצ֤וּ כׇּל־הָעָם֙ וַיִּתְפַּלְל֣וּ כׇּל־הַלַּ֔יְלָה שׁוֹאֲלִ֛ים עֵ֖זֶר מֵאֵ֥ת יְהֹוָֽה׃ |
And when they finished their prayer before the Cause, they comforted that king, speaking to his heart, quote: “The Cause, our God and our ancestors’ God, whose name and might you made known,[36] Psalms 106:8 will be your helping shield.[37] Deuteronomy 33:29 And They will show you the fall of this evil enemy, when the Cause our God avenges vengeance, avenging the children of Israel. And may the Cause be with you![38] I Samuel 20:13 And you will dwell with us wherever is good in your eyes.[39] Genesis 20:15 ” And Uzziah came and received him in his home, and made him a great feast. And after that all the people gathered and prayed all night, asking for help from the Cause. |
וַיְהִ֕י מִמׇּחֳרַ֖ת הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה צִוָּ֣ה אֱלִיפ֔וֹרְנִי לַעֲל֥וֹת לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ וְהָעָ֨ם הָרַגְלַ֜יִים אַֽנְשֵׁי־חַ֣יִל הָי֗וּ מֵאָ֨ה וְעֶשְׂרִ֤ים אֲלָפִים֙ אִ֔ישׁ וְהַפָּרָשִׁ֕ים שְׁנֵ֥ים עָשָׂ֖ר אֲלָפִ֑ים נִתְקַבְּצ֣וּ יַחְדָּ֗ו בְּכֹ֤חַ גָּדוֹל֙ וּבְיָ֣ד חֲזָקָ֔ה נֶ֖גֶד בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ וְכַאֲשֶׁר֩ רָא֨וּ בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל אֶת־רִבּוּיָ֗ם יָשְׁבוּ֙ עַל־הָאָ֔רֶץ וַיַּעֲל֥וּ עָפָ֖ר עַל־רֹאשָׁ֑ם וַיִּצְעֲק֤וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֶל־יְהֹוָ֔ה לְהוֹשִׁיעָ֖ם מִיַּ֥ד אוֹיְבֵיהֶֽם׃ וַיִּקְח֣וּ ׀ אֶת־כְּלֵ֣י זֵינֵיהֶ֗ם וַֽיֵּשְׁבוּ֙ בַּדְּרָכִ֣ים הַצָּרִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר בָּהֶ֖ם נְתִ֣יב הָהָ֑ר וַיִּשְׁמְר֥וּ אוֹתָ֖ם יוֹמָ֥ם וָלָֽיְלָה׃ וֶאֱלִיפ֞וֹרְנִי בְּלֶכְתּ֣וֹ ׀ סְבִ֣יב הָהָ֗ר מָצָא֙ סִילוֹנֵ֣י הַמַּיִ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֖ר ח֣וּץ לָעִ֑יר וַיְצַ֗ו לִנְת֥וֹשׁ וְלִנְת֛וֹץ וּלְהַאֲבִ֥יד וְלַהֲר֖וֹס אוֹתָֽם׃ וַיָּב֗וֹאוּ חַיָּ֣לֵי הַצְּבָא֮ אֶל־הַמֶּ֒לֶךְ֒ לֵאמֹ֣ר ל֡וֹ כִּי֩ בְּנֵ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל אֵינָ֣ם בּוֹטְחִ֗ים לֹ֧א בַחֲנִ֛ית וְלֹ֥א בַחִצִּ֖ים וְלֹ֣א בַקָּ֑שֶׁת אֶ֚פֶס הֶהָרִ֣ים הָרָמִ֔ים וְכׇל־הַגְּבָע֖וֹת מַחֲזִיקִ֥ים אוֹתָֽם׃ וְאַתָּ֗ה לְמַ֙עַן֙ תּוּכַ֣ל לָהֶ֔ם בְּלִ֖י מַעֲרֶ֣כֶת מִלְחָמָ֑ה שׂ֨וֹם תָּשִׂ֜ים שׁוֹמְרִ֗ים עַ֚ל מְק֣וֹרֵי הַמַּ֔יִם לְבִלְתִּ֧י יוּכְל֛וּ לַעֲל֥וֹת מַ֖יִם מֵהֵֽמָּה׃ וְתָמִ֣ית אוֹתָ֔ם בַּצָּמָ֖א מִבְּלִ֣י חָ֑רֶב א֚וֹ יִמְסְר֣וּ לְךָ֔ אֶת־הָעִ֖יר מִפְּנֵ֥י הַצָּמָאֽ׃ וַיִּיטַ֧ב הַדָּבָ֛ר בְּעֵינֵ֥י הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ וְלִפְנֵ֣י כׇּל־שָׁלִישָׁ֑יו וַיָּ֤שֶׂם מִסָּבִיב֙ שָׂרֵ֣י מֵא֔וֹת עַ֖ל מְקוֹרֵ֥י הַמַּֽיִם׃ |
And the very next day, Eliforni commanded to go to war on them. And the infantry soldiers of a hundred and twenty thousand men, and the cavalry twelve thousand, gathered together with great force and a strong hand[40] Exodus 32:11 against the children of Israel. And when the children of Israel saw their myriads, they sat on the earth and brought ash on their heads,[41] Joshua 7:6 and the children of Israel cried out to the Cause[42] Judges 4:3 to save them from their enemies.[43] Judges 2:18 And they took their weapons and sat in the narrow paths in which were the way to the mountain, and guarded them day and night. And Eliforni in his going around the mountain found the channels of water which were outside the city, and commanded to uproot and to pull down and to destroy and to overthrow[44] Jeremiah 1:10 them. And the soldiers of the army came to the king, saying to him that the children of Israel do not trust in spear nor bow nor arrow – rather the high mountains and all the hills strengthen them. As for you, so that you may overcome them without a war-camp, set, yes, set guardians on the water-springs so they cannot bring up water from them. And you kill them through thirst without a sword, or they will hand the city to you out of thirst. And the matter was good in the eyes of the king[45] Esther 2:4 and before all his generals, and he set centurions around the water-springs. |
וַיְהִ֣י ׀ לְעֶשְׂרִ֣ים י֗וֹם אַחֲרֵ֤י שׁוּמוֹ֙ מִמִּשְׁמָרָ֣ה זֹ֔את נִתְמַעֲט֥וּ הַמַּ֛יִם מֵהַבּוֹר֥וֹת וּמֵהַפְּלָגִ֖ים לְכׇל־יוֹשְׁבֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלָ֑יִם וַיִּצְמָ֥א הָעָ֖ם לְמַֽיִם׃ וַיֵּאָסְפ֣וּ בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֮ אֶל־עֻזִּיָּהוּ֒ כׇּל־הָאֲנָשִׁ֤ים וְהַנָּשִׁים֙ בַּחוּרִ֣ים וּנְעָרִ֔ים יַ֧חַד כֻּלָ֛ם פֶּ֥ה אֶחָ֖ד לֵאמֹ֑ר יִשְׁפּ֤ט אֱלֹהִים֙ בֵּינֵ֣ינוּ וּבֵינְךָ֔ כִּ֚י הֲרֵעֹ֣תָה לָ֔נוּ וּמֵאַ֕נְתָּ לַעֲנ֖וֹת מִפְּנֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ וְעַל־כֵּ֨ן יִמְסֹ֤ר אֱלֹהִים֙ אוֹתָ֔נוּ בִּידֵיהֶ֖ם וְאֵ֣ין עוֹזֵ֑ר וְנָפַ֙לְנוּ֙ לְעֵינֵיהֶ֔ם בְּרֹ֖ב הַצְמָּאֽוֹן׃ וְעַתָּ֗ה נִמְסֹ֥ר עַצְמֵ֛נוּ בְּלֵ֥ב שָׁלֵ֖ם לַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ הֲלֹ֞א טוֹב־לָ֣נוּ ׀ לַעֲבֹ֣ד לַיהֹוָ֗ה וְהָיִ֤ינוּ עֲבָדִים֙ לֶ֣אֱלִיפ֔וֹרְנִי מִמּוּתֵ֖נוּ בַּצָּמָ֑א וּמִהְיוֹתֵ֤נוּ דְּרָאוֹן֙ לְכׇל־בָּשָׂ֔ר בִּרְאוֹתֵ֕נוּ בָּנֵ֥ינוּ וּבְנוֹתֵ֖ינוּ מֵתִ֥ים לְפָנֵֽינוּ׃ מְעִידִ֨ים אֲנַ֣חְנוּ הַיּוֹם֮ אֶת־הַשָּׁמַ֣יִם וְאֶת־הָאָ֒רֶץ֒ וְאֶת־אֱלֹהֵ֣י אֲבוֹתֵ֗ינוּ הַפּוֹקֵ֤ד עָלֵינוּ֙ כְּפִ֣י עֲוֺנוֹתֵ֔ינוּ כִּי֩ תִּמְסְר֨וּ תֵּ֤כֶף וּמִיָּד֙ אֶת־הָעִ֔יר בְּיַ֖ד חֵ֣יל הָאוֹיֵ֑ב וְנָמ֥וּת מְהֵרָ֖ה לְפִֽי־חָֽרֶב׃ |
And thirty days after he set this watch, the water was lacking from the cisterns and from the canals for all the residents of Jerusalem, and the people thirsted for water. And the children of Israel gathered against Uzziah, all the men and women, boys and lads together, all speaking as one, quote: “God judge between us and you, for you have done us wrong, and withheld us from answering before the king! Thus God will hand us over to their hands, and none will help, and we will fall before their eyes from great dehydration. And now, let us hand ourselves wholeheartedly over to the king. Is it not better for us to serve the Cause and be slaves to Eliforni than die of thirst, and be a reproach to all flesh[46] Isaiah 66:24 upon seeing us, our sons and daughters dead before us? We call the heavens and earth to witness today,[47] Deuteronomy 4:26 and the God of our ancestors who accounts for our sins, that you will immediately and quickly hand the city over to the hand of the enemy’s army, and we will quickly die by the sword!” |
וַיְהִ֨י כְּשׇׁמְעָ֜ם אֶת־צַעֲקַ֣ת ׀ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל כׇּל־שָׂרֵ֤י צְבָאוֹת֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל צָעֲק֥וּ צְעָקָ֖ה גְּדוֹלָ֥ה וּמָרָ֑ה וַיִּבְכּוּ֙ בְּכִ֣י גָד֔וֹל תּ֖וֹךְ הַהֵיכָֽל׃ וַיִּצְעֲקוּ֙ אֶל־יְהֹוָ֔ה ק֥וֹל אֶחָ֖ד לֵאמֹ֑ר חָטָ֥אנוּ עִם־אֲבוֹתֵ֖ינוּ הֶעֱוִ֥ינוּ הִרְשָֽׁעְנוּ׃ אֱלֹהִ֖ים אַל־דֳּמִי־לָ֑ךְ אַל־תֶּחֱרַ֖שׁ וְאַל־תִּשְׁקֹ֥ט אֵֽל׃ כִּֽי־הִנֵּ֥ה אוֹיְבֶ֖יךָ יֶהֱמָי֑וּן וּמְשַׂנְאֶ֖יךָ נָ֥שְׂאוּ רֹֽאשׁ׃ עַֽל־עַמְּךָ֖ יַעֲרִ֣ימוּ ס֑וֹד וְיִתְיָעֲצ֖וּ עַל־צְפוּנֶֽיךָ׃ אָמְר֗וּ לְכ֖וּ וְנַכְחִידֵ֣ם מִגּ֑וֹי וְלֹא־יִזָּכֵ֖ר שֵֽׁם־יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל עֽוֹד׃ כִּי־נוֹעֲצ֥וּ לֵ֖ב יַחְדָּ֑ו עָלֶ֖יךָ בְּרִ֥ית יִכְרֹֽתוּ׃ |
And as they heard the cry of the children of Israel, all the officers of Israel’s armies cried a great and bitter cry[48] Genesis 27:34 and wept great weeping[49] Judges 21:2 in the Palace. And they cried to the Cause with one voice, saying: “We have sinned with our ancestors, we have done iniquity, we have done evil![50] Psalms 106:6 God, do not silence yourself, do not hush, do not be quiet, Deity! For behold, Your enemies growl, and Your foes raise theiur heads! Against Your people they craft conspiracy, counsel against Your treasured ones. They said, ‘Let’s annihilate them as a nation, that the name of Israel no longer be remembered.’ For they counseled together, cutting a deal against You![51] Psalms 83:2–6 |
אָנָ֤א הָאֵל֙ אָ֣ב הָרַחֲמָ֔ן חֲמֹ֛ל עַ֥ל עַמְּךָ֖ וְעַ֣ל נַחֲלָתֶ֑ךָ וְאַל־תִּמְסֹ֣ר ׀ בְּנֵ֣י בְרִיתְךָ֗ בְּיַד֙ הָ֣עַמִּ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֖ר לֹ֥א יְדָעֽוּךָ׃ לָ֚מָּה יֹאמְר֣וּ הַגּוֹיִ֔ם אַיֵּ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣יהֶ֑ם וּבְרֹ֥ב גְאוֹנְךָ֖ תַּהֲרֹ֥ס קָמֶֽיךָ׃ עֲשֵׁ֥ה לָהֶ֖ם כְּמִדְיָ֑ן כְּסִיסְרָ֥א כְיָבִ֖ין בְּנַ֥חַל קִישֽׁוֹן׃ נִשְׁמְד֖וּ בְעֵין־דֹּ֑אר הָ֥יוּ דֹ֖מֶן לָאֲדָמָֽה׃ שִׁיתֵ֥מוֹ נְדִיבֵימ֖וֹ כְּעֹרֵ֣ב וְכִזְאֵ֑ב וּֽכְזֶ֥בַח וּכְצַלְמֻנָּ֖ע כׇּל־נְסִיכֵֽימוֹ׃ |
Please, Deity, Motherly Father, have mercy on Your people and on Your inheritance, and do not turn Your covenant children over to the hand of the people that do not know You. Why should the nations say ‘where is their God?’[52] Psalms 79:10 In Your great glory, destroy those rising against You![53] Exodus 15:7 Make them like Midian, like Sisera and Jabin in the Kishon river. They were exterminated at En-dor, like dung for the field. Set their great men like Oreb and Zeeb, like Zebah and Zalmunna all their princes.”[54] Psalms 83:10–12, citing multiple earlier Biblical passages. For Sisera and Jabin at Kishon see Judges 4 and 5. For the four princes of Midian see Judges 7 and 8. |
וְכַאֲשֶׁ֗ר כָּ֮לוּ֮ כׇּל־הַצְעָק֣וֹת וְהַבֶּ֒כִי֒ קָ֣ם עֻזִּיָּ֗הוּ וְעֵינָיו֙ זוֹלְג֣וֹת דְמָע֔וֹת וְאָמַ֖ר אֲלֵיהֶ֑ם חִזְק֛וּ וְיַאֲמֵ֥ץ לְבַבְכֶ֖ם אַחַֽי׃ וּנְקַנֶ֨ה חֶ֧סֶד מֵיְהֹוָ֛ה ע֖וֹד חֲמִשָּׁ֣ה יָמִ֑ים אוּלַ֣י יָשׁ֗וּב חֲרוֹן֙ אַף־יְהוָ֔ה וְיִתֵּ֥ן כָּב֖וֹד לִשְׁמֽוֹ׃ וְאִ֗ם אַחֲרֵי֙ חֲמִשָּׁ֣ה יָמִ֔ים לֹא־יוֹשִׁ֥יעַ יְהֹוָ֖ה לָ֑נוּ נַעֲשֶׂ֖ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבַּרְתֶּֽם׃ |
And when they finished all the crying and weeping, Uzziah stood, his eyes flowing with tears, and said to them, “Be strong and courageous in your heart,[55] Psalms 31:25 my brothers! We will yet acquire mercy from the Cause, in five more days; perhaps the Cause will turn back Their raging anger[56] Jeremiah 30:24 and grant honor to Their name. And if after five days the Cause does not save us, we will do as you have spoken.” |
וַיְהִ֛י כִּשְׁמֹ֖עַ אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה יְהוּדִ֤ית הָאַלְמָנָה֙ בַּת־בְּאֵרִ֔י וְהִ֛יא הָיְתָ֥ה יִרְאַת־יְהֹוָֹ֖ה מְאֹֽד׃ וַתַּ֨עַשׂ לָ֤הּ יְהוּדִית֙ בַּעֲלִיּ֣וֹת בֵּיתָ֔הּ חֶ֥דֶר מְיֻחָ֖ד לְהִֽתְפַּלֵּל־בּ֑וֹ וַתֵּ֥שֶׁב שָׁ֖ם עִם־נַעֲרוֹתֶֽיהָ׃ וְהִיא֩ הָיְתָ֨ה מְעַנָּ֤ה בַּצוֹם֙ נַפְשָׁ֔הּ כֹּ֖ל יְמֵ֣י חַיֶ֑יהָ וְהִ֥יא הָיְתָ֛ה אֵ֥שֶׁת יְפַת־תֹּ֖אַר מְאֹֽד׃ וַתְּהִ֤י יְהוּדִית֙ נֹשֵׂ֣את חֵ֔ן בְּעֵינֵ֖י כׇּל־רוֹאֶ֑יהָ כִּ֛י הָיְתָ֥ה יָרֵ֖את אֶת־יְהֹוָֹֽה׃ |
And upon hearing these matters, Judith the widow, daughter of Beeri,[57] In Septuagintal Judith 8:1 her father’s name is Merari. Beeri is the name given to the father of Esau’s wife, also named Judith, in Genesis 26:34. was very reverent of the Cause. Judith made herself in the attic of her house a small room to pray in, and stayed there with her girls. And she afflicted her soul with fasting[58] Psalms 35:13 all the days of her life; and she was a very beautiful woman. And Judith had found grace in the eyes of all who saw her,[59] Esther 2:15 for she was reverent of the Cause. |
וְהִ֣יא ׀ כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר שָׁמְעָ֗ה כִּ֨י דִבֵּ֤ר עֻזִּיָּ֙הוּ֙ לִמְסֹ֣ר אֶת־הָעִ֔יר אַחַ֖ר חֲמִשָּׁ֣ה יָמִ֑ים שָׁלְחָ֨ה לִקְרֹ֤א אֶת־הַכֹּהֲנִים֙ חַבְרִ֣י וְכַרְמִ֔י וַיָּב֖וֹאוּ אֵלֶֽיהָ׃ וַתֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם֮ יְהוּדִית֒ מַה־זֶ֣ה הַדָּ֣בָר הֶחָשׁ֡וּב אֲשֶׁר֩ חָשַׁ֨ב עֻזִּיָּ֜הוּ לַעֲשׂ֗וֹת לִמְסֹ֤ר אֶת־הָעִיר֙ בְּיַ֣ד הָאוֹיֵ֔ב אִם־לֹ֧א יָבֹ֛א יְשׁוּעָתֵ֖נוּ תּוֹךְ־חֲמִשָּׁ֣ה יָמִ֑ים וּמִ֣י אַתֶּ֔ם כִּ֥י נִסִּיתֶ֖ם אֶת־יְהֹוָֽה׃ הֶאָפֵ֣ס לָנֶ֮צַח֮ חַסְדּוֹ֒ כִּ֣י ׀ שַׂמְתֶּ֣ם גְּב֗וּל לַחֲסָדָיו֙ וּלְרַ֣חֲמָ֔יו לָשׂ֥וּם לָכֶ֛ם י֖וֹם כְּפִ֣י בְּחִירַתְכֶ֑ם חָלִ֕ילָה לָס֖וּר מֵאַחֲרֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃ חַֽסְדֵ֤י יְהֹוָה֙ כִּ֣י לֹא־תָ֔מְנוּ כִּ֥י לֹא־כָל֖וּ רַחֲמָֽיו׃ ט֤וֹב וְיָחִיל֙ וְדוּמָ֔ם לִתְשׁוּעַ֖ת יְהֹוָֽה׃ כִּ֣י לֹ֥א יִזְנַ֛ח לְעוֹלָ֖ם אֲדֹנָֽי׃ כִּ֣י אִם־הוֹגָ֔ה וְרִחַ֖ם כְּרֹ֥ב חֲסָדָֽיו׃ רֶ֣גַע יְדַבֵּ֔ר עַל־גּ֖וֹי וְעַל־מַמְלָכָ֑ה וְנִחָ֖ם עַל־הָרָעָֽה׃ |
And when she heard that Uzziah had spoken to hand the city over after five days, she sent to call for the priests Ḥabri and Carmi,[60] Mentioned in Septuagintal Judith 6:15 as Chabris and Charmis, the rulers of the city of Bethulia along with Uzziah. Not referred to as priests therein. and they came to her. And Judith said to them, “What is this thought-up matter that Uzziah thought to do, to hand the city over into the hand of the enemy if our salvation does not come within five days? And who are you, that you have tried the Cause? Has Their faithfulness disappeared forever[61] Psalms 77:9 that you have set a border to Their mercy and compassion, to set yourself a day per your choice? Far be it from you to turn away from after the Cause! For the mercies of the Cause have not ended, for Their compassions have not finished.[62] Lamentations 3:22 Better to wait silently for the Cause’s salvation![63] Lamentations 3:26 For the Master does not abandon forever, but aggrieves then pardons per Their great mercies.[64] Lamentations 3:31–32 In but a moment They may speak of a nation or kingdom[65] Jeremiah 18:7 and comfort from evil.[66] Jonah 4:2 |
וְעַתָּ֗ה לְכוּ֙ וְנָשׁ֣וּבָה אֶל־יְהוָ֔ה כִּ֛י אֶ֥רֶךְ אַפַּ֖יִם[67] Some printings read אֶת־ and אֶרֶץ, both of which are obvious printers’ errors. The verse in Hosea reads אֶל־, and אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם is a common phrase whereas אֶרֶץ אַפַּיִם is meaningless. ה֑וּא וְנִשְׁאֲלָ֨ה מִמֶּ֜נּוּ סְלִיחָ֣ה וְכַפָּרַָ֗ה עַל־זֶ֤ה הֶעָוֺן֙ בִּבְכִ֣י וּבְצ֔וֹם וְאֶל־אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ כִּֽי־יַרְבֶּ֥ה לִסְלֽוֹחַ׃ וְעֵֽת־צָרָ֥ה הִיא֙ לְיַֽעֲקֹ֔ב וּמִמֶּ֖נָּה יִוָּשֵֽׁעַ׃ וְכַאֲשֶׁ֛ר נִבְהֲלָ֥ה נַפְשֵׁ֖נוּ מִפְּנֵ֣י זְדוֹנָ֑ם כֵּ֛ן נָגִ֥ילָה וְנִשְׂמְחָ֖ה בִישׁוּעָתֵֽנוּ׃ כִּי־לֹ֣א הִרְשַׁ֗עְנוּ כַּאֲבוֹתֵ֙ינוּ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עֲזָב֔וּהוּ[68] Some printings read עֲזָבוּנוּ “they have abandoned us” while others read עֲזָבוּהָ “they have abandoned her,” but this verse is a third-person adaptation of עֲזָבוּנִי “they have abandoned Me” and thus should be the third-person non-feminine singular עֲזָבוּהוּ “they have abandoned Them.” וַֽיְקַטְּר֖וּ לֵאלֹהִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֑ים וְעַל־כֵּ֞ן נִמְסְר֨וּ לַחֶ֤רֶב וְלִשְׁבִי֙ וּלְחֶרְפָּ֣ה וְלִכְלִמָּ֔ה בְּיַ֖ד שׂוֹנְאֵיהֶֽם׃ וַאֲנַ֗חְנוּ לֹ֤א נֵדַע֙ אֵ֣ל אַחֵ֔ר זוּלָתִ֖י אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ אֵ֥ין ע֖וֹד מִלְבַדּֽוֹ׃ וְהוּא֙ יִדְרֹ֣שׁ דָּמֵ֔ינוּ מִיַּ֖ד קָמֵ֑ינוּ לְמַ֖עַן כְּב֥וֹד שְׁמֽוֹ׃ |
And now, come, let us return to the Cause,[69] Hosea 6:1 who is long-suffering, and let us ask of Them forgiveness and atonement for this sin, in weeping and fasting, and to our God, who will increase forgiving.[70] Isaiah 55:7 And a difficult time it is to Jacob, but from it he will be saved.[71] Jeremiah 30:7 And just as our souls are panicked from their arrogance, so too we will cheer and rejoice[72] Isaiah 25:9 in our salvation. For we have not done evil like our ancestors, who abandoned Them and burned incense to other gods,[73] II Kings 22:17, Jeremiah 1:16 which is why they were handed over to the sword and captivity and shame and disgrace at their enemies’ hands. And we know no other deity but our God — there is none but Them![74] Deuteronomy 4:35 And They will reckon for our blood from the hand of those rising against us, for the sake of Their name’s glory. |
וְעַתָּ֣ה אַחַ֔י אַתֶּ֥ם הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים לַיהֹוָ֑ה וְנֶ֛פֶשׁ כׇּל־עַמּ֥וֹ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל תְּלוּי֥וֹת בָּכֶֽם׃ וְאַתֶּ֗ם חִזְקוּ֙ וְיַאֲמֵ֣ץ לְבַבְכֶ֔ם וְלֵ֖ב כׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל לֵאמֹ֣ר אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם כִּ֨י אֲבוֹתֵ֤ינוּ הוּבְאוּ֙ בְּנִסָּי֔וֹן לְנַסּ֣וֹת אוֹתָ֔ם אִ֥ם בֶּאֱמֶ֛ת אָהֲב֖וּ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיהֶֽם׃ וְאַתֶּ֣ם ׀ תֹּאמְר֣וּ אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם כִּ֚י אַבְרָהָ֣ם אָבִ֔ינוּ עָמַ֕ד בְּנִסְי֖וֹנוֹ שֶׁ֣ל מָק֑וֹם וַיהֹוָ֖ה אֲהֵבֽוֹ׃ וְכֵ֨ן יִצְחָ֤ק וְיַעֲקֹב֙ וּמֹשֶׁ֔ה וּשְׁאָ֖ר הָאָב֑וֹת נִמְצְא֧וּ נֶאֱמָנִ֛ים לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה בַּיִּסּוּרִֽין׃ וְכׇל־מִי֩ שֶׁלֹּ֨א עָמַ֤ד בְּנִסָּיוֹן֙ בְּיִרְאַ֣ת יְהֹוָ֔ה וְהִתְלוֹנְנ֖וּ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה נִגְּפוּ֙ לִפְנֵ֣י הַמַּשְׁחִ֔ית וַיָּמוּת֖וּ בְּמַכַּ֥ת הַנְּחָשִֽׁים׃ וְעַתָּה֮ הִתְבּוֹנְנ֣וּ וּרְאוּ֒ כִּ֗י כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר יְיַסֵּ֥ר אִישׁ֙ אֶת־בְּנ֔וֹ יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ מְיַסְּרֵ֑נוּ וְלַמָּוֶת֙ לֹ֣א נְתָנָנ֔וּ בַּעֲב֥וּר שְׁמ֖וֹ הַגָּד֥וֹל וְהַנּוֹרָֽא׃ |
And now, my brothers, you are the priests of the Cause, and the soul of all Their people Israel relies on you. And you, be strong and courageous in your heart,[75] Psalms 31:25 and the heart of all Israel, saying to them that our ancestors were brought in trial to try them if they truly love the Cause their God. And you, say to them that that Abraham our father stood in his trial of the Place, and the Cause loved him. And so too Isaac and Jacob and Moses and the rest of the ancestors were found faithful before the Cause via suffering. And all those who did not stand in trial revering the Cause, but complained before the Cause, were afflicted by the destroyer and died in the plague of snakes. And now, understand and see that just as a man rebukes his son, the Cause our God rebukes us,[76] Deuteronomy 8:5 but does not give us to death,[77] Psalms 118:18 for the sake of Their great and awesome name.” |
וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ אֵלֶ֔יהָ עֻזִּיָּה֖וּ וְהַכֹּהֲנִ֑ים צֶ֚דֶק כׇּל־אִ֣מְרֵי פִ֔יךְ אֵ֥ין בָּהֶ֖ם נַפְתָּ֥ל וְעִקֵּֽשׁ׃ נוֹאַ֖לְנוּ וַאֲשֶׁ֣ר חָטָ֑אנוּ לָשׂ֥וּם גְּב֖וּל לִישׁוּעַ֥ת יְהֹוָֹֽה׃ וְלָכֵ֕ן הַעְתִּ֖ירִי בַּעֲדֵ֑נוּ כִּי־יְשָׁרָ֛ה וְיָרֵ֥את אֶת־יְהֹוָֹ֖ה אַֽתְּ׃ וַתֹּ֨אמֶר לָהֶ֜ם יְהוּדִ֗ית אָנֹכִ֣י אֶתְפַּלֵּ֣ל לַיהֹוָֹה֮ בַּעַדְכֶם֒ וְגַ֣ם אַתֶּ֗ם הַעְתִּ֤ירוּ אֶל־יְהֹוָֹה֙ בַּעֲדִ֔י לְהָקִ֣ים אֶת־עֲצָתִ֔י אֲשֶׁ֥ר חָשַׁ֖בְתִּי לַעֲשׂ֑וֹת לִנְקֹ֗ם נִקְמַת֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מֵאֵ֖ת הַיְּוָנִֽים׃ |
And Uzziah and the priests said to her, “All your words are just, none of them perverse or crooked.[78] Proverbs 8:8 We have foolishly done sin,[79] Numbers 12:11 in setting a border for the Cause’s salvation. And so, plead on our behalf, for upright and reverent of the Cause are you.” And Judith said to them, “I will plead to the Cause for your sake, so you too should plead to the Cause for mine, to fulfill my plot that I have thought to do,[80] Jeremiah 18:8 to avenge the vengeance of the children of Israel upon[81] Numbers 31:2 the Greeks. |
וְלָכֵן֙ לְעֵ֣ת עֶ֔רֶב תַּעַמְד֖וּ בְּשַׁעֲרֵ֣י הָעִ֑יר וְאֵצֵ֗א אֲנִ֛י וְשִׁפְחָ֥תִי עִמִּ֖י בַּלָּֽיְלָה׃ וְאַתֶּם֙ אַל־תַּחְקְר֣וּ מִמֶּ֔נִּי אָנָ֖ה אֲנִ֣י בָ֑א אֶפֶ֗ס כִּ֨י תָּמִ֤יד תִּהְיֶה֙ תְחִנַתְכֶ֣ם בְּפִיכֶ֔ם[82] Some printings read בְּפִיהֶם, a printers’ error. לַיהֹוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לִפְקֹ֧ד אֶת־עַמּ֛וֹ בַּעֲב֖וּר כְּב֥וֹד שְׁמֽוֹ׃ וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֵלֶ֑יהָ עֻזִּיָּ֖הוּ לְכִ֣י לְשָׁל֑וֹם וֵאלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל יִתֵּן֙ אֶת־שְׁאֵ֣לָתֵ֔ךְ אֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׁאַ֖לְתְּ מֵעִמּֽוֹ׃ וִיהִ֤י יְהֹוָֹה֙ עִמָּ֔ךְ לִנְקֹ֣ם אוֹתָ֔נוּ מֵאוֹיְבֵ֖ינוּ ׀ אָמֵֽן׃ |
Now, at evening-time, stand at the gates of the city, and I will go out — me and my maid with me — at night. And you, do not interrogate of me where I am going, rather, always let your prayers be in your mouths to the Cause, God of Israel, to account for Their people for Their name’s honor’s sake.” And Uzziah said to her, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant your request that you have asked of Them. And may the Cause be with you, to avenge us from our enemies, amen!”[83] I Samuel 1:17 |
וִיהוּדִ֣ית נִכְנְסָה֮ בְּחַדְרָהּ֒ וַתִּלְבַּ֞שׁ שַׂ֣ק וָאֵ֗פֶר וַתַּ֤עַל עָפָר֙ עַל־רֹאשָׁ֔הּ וַתִּשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֖ה לַיהֹוָ֑ה וַתִּשְׁפֹּ֨ךְ אֶת־נַפְשָׁ֜הּ בְּצ֤וֹם בִּבְכִי֙ וּתְפִלָּ֔ה לִפְנֵ֖י יְהֹוָֽה׃ וְכֹ֣ה אָמְרָה֮ בִּתְפִלָּתָהּ֒ יְהֹוָ֞ה אֱלֹהֵ֤י שִׁמְעוֹן֙ אָבִ֔י אֲשֶֽׁר־שַׂ֣מְתָּ בְּיָד֣וֹ חֶ֡רֶב לְהִתְנַקֵּ֣ם מֵ֠הַנׇּכְרִ֠ים אֲשֶׁ֨ר טִמְּא֧וּ וְגִלּ֛וּ אֶת־עֶרְוַ֥ת דִּינָ֖ה אֲחוֹתָ֑ם וְנָתַ֤תָּ אֶת־נְשֵׁיהֶם֙ בַּשְּׁבִ֔י וְאֶת־בְּנוֹתֵיהֶ֤ם וְכׇל־שְׁלָלָם֙ לָבֹ֔ז בְּיַ֧ד עֲבָדֶ֛יךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר קִנְא֖וּ אֶת־קִנְאָתֶֽךָ׃ פׇּקְדֵ֣נִי־נָ֔א יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהַ֖י כְּרֹ֣ב חַסְדּ֑ךָ כִּ֚י כׇל־דְּרָכֶ֣יךָ צֶ֔דֶק וּמִשְׁפָּטֶ֖יךָ תְּה֥וֹם רַבָּֽה׃ וְהַֽבֶּט־נָ֗א אֶת־מַחֲנֵ֣ה הָאוֹיֵ֣ב הָרָע֮ הַזֶּה֒ אֲשֶׁ֡ר חֵרֵ֣ף מַעַרְכ֣וֹת אֱ֠לֹהִ֠ים כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר רָאִ֜יתָה אֶת־מַחֲנֵ֣ה מִצְרַ֣יִם ׀ בְּרׇדְפָ֣ם חֲמוּשִׁ֗ים אַחֲרֵ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל עַמְּךָ֙ וְנַחֲלָ֣תְךָ֔ אֲשֶׁ֥ר בָּטְח֛וּ בְּמַרְכְּבוֹתֵיהֶ֥ם וּבְסוּסֵיהֶ֖ם וּבְרֹ֣ב חֵילָ֑ם וְהִשְׁקַ֙פְתָּ֙ עַ֣ל מַחֲנֵיהֶ֔ם וְהִבְהַ֥לְתָּ אוֹתָ֖ם בְּמַחֲשַׁכִּֽים׃ תְּהֹמֹ֖ת יְכַסְיֻ֑מוּ יָרְד֤וּ בִמְצוֹלֹת֙ כְּמוֹ־אֶ֔בֶן בְּמַ֖יִם אַדִּירִֽים׃ כְּמ֙וֹהֶם֙ יִהְי֣וּ גַּם־אֵ֔לֶּה יְהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהַ֑י הַבּוֹטְחִ֣ים עַל־חֵילָ֗ם וּבָרֶ֤כֶב וּבַפָּרָשִׁים֙ וּבַחִצִּ֣ים וּבַקֶּ֔שֶׁת הַמִּתְהַלְלִ֖ים בַּחֲנִיתוֹתֵיהֶֽם׃ לֹ֣א יָדְעוּ֮ וְלֹ֣א יָבִ֒ינוּ֒ כִּ֗י אַתָּה֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ יְהֹוָ֛ה אִ֥ישׁ מִלְחָמ֖וֹת יָעִ֣יר קִנְאָ֑ה יָרִ֨יעַ֙ אַף־יַצְרִ֔יחַ עַל־אֹיְבָ֖יו יִתְגַּבָּֽר׃ חֲשׂ֛ף זְר֥וֹעַ גְּבוּרָתְךָ֖ כְּבָרִאשׁוֹנָ֑ה וּשְׁבֹ֣ר ׀ בָּאֵ֣שׁ גְּבוּרָ֗תְךָ אֶל־הַגּוֹיִם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹא־יְדָע֔וּךָ וְעַ֥ל מַמְלָכ֛וֹת אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּשִׁמְךָ֖ לֹ֥א קָרָֽאוּ׃ אֲשֶׁ֤ר אָמְרוּ֙ נִ֣ירֲשָׁה־לָּ֔נוּ א֕ת נְא֖וֹת אֱלֹהִ֑ים לָבֹ֣א בַמִּקְדָּ֗שׁ וּלְטַמֵּא֙ הֵיכַ֣ל קׇדְשְׁךָ֔ וּלְנַתֵּ֖ק קֶ֥רֶן מִזְבְּחֶֽךָ׃ |
And Judith went into her room and donned sack and ashes and put dust on her head and bowed down to the Cause and spilled out her soul in fast and weeping and prayer before the Cause. And thus she said in her prayer: “O Cause, God of Shimon my ancestor, who set in his hand a sword to avenge the foreigners who defiled and revealed the nakedness of Dinah their sister, and You set their wives to captivity and their daughters and all their possessions to plunder by the hand of Your servants who were zealous in zeal for You! Account, please, for me, Cause my God, per Your great mercy, for all Your paths are righteousness, and Your judgments are greatly deep.[84] Exodus 15:5 And gaze, please, upon the camp of this evil enemy, that mocks the camps of God, as You saw the camp of Egypt as they, armed, pursued after Israel Your people and Your inheritance, those that trusted in their chariots and their horses and their great strength, and You looked down at their camps and You panicked them with dark places. The abysses covered them, they went into the depths like a stone[85] Exodus 15:5 in the mighty waters.[86] Exodus 15:10 Like them, o Cause my God, should be all those who trust in their strength,[87] Psalms 49:7 and in riders and in cavalry[88] Ezekiel 26:7 and in arrows and in bow, and boast of their spears. They do not know nor understand that[89] Isaiah 44:18 You are the Cause our God, the Cause, a warrior, arousing zeal, shouting, even roaring, upon Their enemies, victorious.[90] Isaiah 42:13 Bare Your mighty right arm and shatter, in Your mighty fire, the nations that do not know, and the kingdoms that do not call by, Your name,[91] Psalms 79:6 those who said “Let us inherit God’s pleasant places,[92] Psalms 83:13 to come to the Temple and defile Your holy Palace and snap the horn of Your altar!” |
אָנָ֣א יְהֹוָ֔ה עֲשֵׂ֥ה לְמַעַנְךָ֖ אִם־לֹ֥א לְמַעֲנֵֽנוּ׃ חַרְבָּ֖ם תָּב֣וֹא בְלִבָּ֑ם וְקַשְּׁתוֹתָ֖ם תִּשָּׁבַֽרְנָה׃ וְלַצַּ֨ר הַצּוֹרֵ֤ר הָרָע֙ הַזֶּ֔ה אֱלִיפ֣וֹרְנִי הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ קַדְּמָ֥ה פָנָ֖יו הַכְרִיעֵ֑הוּ וְיִלָּכֵ֤ד בְּפַֽח־עֵינָיו֙ לֶאֱהֹ֣ב אוֹתִ֔י וְתַחֲלֵ֛הוּ בָּחֳלִ֖י הַחֵ֥שֶׁק בִּֽי׃ וְתֵ֥ן בְּנַפְשִׁ֖י חֹ֣זֶק לְמִאוּס֑וֹ וּבְיָדִ֛י כֹּ֥חַ וְאֵ֖ל לְהַשְׁמִידֽוֹ׃ יִפְּל֥וּ בְמַכְמֹרָ֖יו רְשָׁעִ֑ים יַ֥חַד אָנֹכִ֖י עַֽד־אֶעֱבֽוֹר׃ וְיִֽהְיֶה־זֶ֥ה זֵ֖כֶר לְשִׁמְךָ֣ הַגָּד֑וֹל כִּ֚י תִמְכֹּ֣ר אוֹת֔וֹ יְהֹוָ֧ה אֱלֹהַ֛י בְּיַ֖ד אִשָּֽׁה׃ וְאַתָּ֣ה יְהֹוָ֔ה לֹ֛א בִגְבוּרַ֥ת הַסּ֖וּס תֶּחְפַּ֑ץ וּמַלְכ֥וּת זָד֖וֹן לְעוֹלָ֥ם שָׂנֵֽאתָ׃ שַׁוְעַ֥ת עֲנִיִּ֖ים אַתָּ֣ה תִשְׁמָ֑ע צַעֲקַ֥ת הַדַּ֖ל תַּקְשִׁ֥יב וְתוֹשִֽׁיעַ׃ חׇנֵּ֨נִי וּשְׁמַ֤ע תְּפִלָּתִי֙ וְשַׁוְעָתִ֣י הַאֲזִינָ֔ה אֶל־דִּמְעָתִ֖י אַֽל־תֶּחֱרַֽשׁ׃ וְתֵ֨ן דָּבָ֤ר בְּפִי֙ וְעֵצָ֣ה בְּלִבִּ֔י לְקִיּ֖וּם בֵּ֣ית מִקְדָּשֶׁ֑ךָ לְמַ֨עַן יֵדְע֜וּ כׇּל־הַגּוֹיִ֗ם כִּֽי־אַתָּה֙ אֱלֹהִ֣ים חַיִּ֔ים וְאֵ֥ין זוּלָתְךָ֖ אֱלֹהִֽים׃ |
Please, Cause! Do it for Your sake if not for ours.[93] From the Avinu Malkenu litany Let their sword hit their own heart, their bows be shattered![94] Psalms 37:15 And to this evil stressing foe, Eliforni the king, go forth to him, bend him down;[95] Psalms 17:13 and let him be caught in the trap of his eyes to love me, and make him fall ill with the sickness of desire for me. And grant my soul strength to reject him, and in my hand the might and power to destroy him. Let the wicked fall into their nets, until I alone pass through.[96] Psalms 141:10 And let this me a remembrance of Your great name, that You will sell him, Cause my God, into the hand of a woman.[97] Judges 4:9 And You, Cause, do not value horsepower,[98] Psalms 147:10 and forever hate the arrogant kingdom. The plea of the poor You hear, the cry of the needy You listen and save.[99] From the Sephardic rite of the Nishmat Kol Ḥai liturgy Grace me and hear my prayer, and give ear to my plea, do not disregard my tears![100] Psalms 39:13 And grant a word in my mouth and counsel in my heart for establishing Your holy Temple, so that all the nations will know that You are the living God and there is no god but You. |
וַיְהִ֣י ׀ כְּכַלּ֣וֹת יְהוּדִ֗ית לְהִתְפַּלֵּל֙ אֶל־יְהֹוָ֔ה אֵ֛ת כׇּל־הַתְּפִלָּ֥ה וְהַתְּחִנָּ֖ה הַזֹּ֑את וַתָּ֣קׇם מִן־הַמָּקוֹם֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר הִשְׁתַּחְוְתָ֜ה שָׁ֤מָּה לַיְהֹוָה֙ מִכְּרֹ֣עַ עַל־בִּרְכֶּ֔יהָ וְכַפֶּ֖יהָ פְּרוּשׂ֥וֹת הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃ וַתִּקְרָא֙ אֶת־שִׁפְחָתָ֔הּ וַתָּבֹ֖א אֶל־הֵיכַ֣ל בֵּיתָ֑הּ וַתָּסַ֕ר בִּגְדֵ֥י אַלְמְנוּתָ֛הּ וְהַשַּׂ֖ק מֵעָלֶֽיהָ׃ וַתִּרְחַץ֙ אֶת־גּוּפָ֔הּ וּמָשְׁחָ֥ה עַצְמָ֖הּ בְּשֶׁ֣מֶן הַמּ֑וֹר וַתִּקְלַע֙ אֶת־קַלְע֣וֹת שַׁעֲרוֹתֶ֔יהָ וַתָּ֥שֶׂם כֶּ֖תֶר עַל־רֹאשָֽׁהּ׃ וַתִּלְבַּ֛שׁ בְּגָדִ֥ים יְקָרִ֖ים מֻזְהָבִ֑ים וְתַכְשִׁיטִ֧ים חֲרִיטִ֛ים וְשַׂהֲרוֹנִי֥ם וַעֲגִילִ֖ים וְטַבָּעֽוֹת׃ וַתְּיַפֶּ֤ה אֶת־עַצְמָהּ֙ בְּכׇל־תַּמְרוּקֵ֣י הַנָּשִׁ֔ים וְעֶשְׂרִ֥ים וְאַרְבָּעָ֖ה קִשּׁוּטֶ֑יהָ וַיהֹוָ֞ה נָתַ֨ן לָ֤הּ זִיו֙ וְיֹפִ֣י הַרְבֵּ֔ה לִמְצֹא־חֵ֖ן בְּעֵי֥נֵי כׇל־רוֹאֶֽיהָ׃ וַתִּתֵּ֣ן יְהוּדִ֗ית בְּיַד֙ אֲמָתָ֣הּ שִׁפְחָתָ֔הּ נֹ֥אד חָלָ֖ב וְחֵ֣מַת יַ֑יִן וּצְלוֹחִ֨ית שֶׁ֧מֶן וָקֶ֛מַח וְלֶ֥חֶם וּגְבִינָ֖ה וַתֵּ֥לֶךְ לָֽהּ׃ וְכַאֲשֶׁ֥ר בָּאָ֖ה אֶל־שַׁעֲרֵ֣י הָעִ֑יר מָצְאָ֣ה אֶת־עֻזִּיָּ֗הוּ וְאֶת־הַכֹּהֲנִ֛ים הַמְקַוִּ֥ין אוֹתָ֖הּ שָֽׁמָּה׃ וַתַּעֲבֹ֣ר לִפְנֵיהֶ֗ם וַיֹּאמְרוּ֮ לְכִ֣י לְשָׁלוֹם֒ וֵאלֹהֵ֗ינוּ יִתֵּן֙ חֵ֣ן וָחֶ֔סֶד בְּעֵינֵ֖י כׇּל־רוֹאַ֑יִךְ וְיִתֵּן־לָ֣ךְ בִּלְבָבֵ֔ךְ וְכׇל־עֲצָתֵ֖ךְ יְמַלֵּ֥א לְטוֹבָֽה׃ וְתִתְהַלֵּ֣ל עָלַ֔יִךְ יְרוּשָׁלַ֖יִם עִ֣יר הַקּ֑דֶשׁ וּתְהִ֣י שְׁמֵ֔ךְ בִּכְלַ֥ל הַחֲסִידִ֖ים וּבְמִסְפַּ֥ר הַצַּדִּיקִֽים׃ וַיַּעֲנ֛וּ כׇּל־הָעָ֥ם אֲשֶׁר־שָׁ֖ם ׀ אָמֵֽן׃ |
And when Judith finished praying to the Cause this prayer and petition, she stood from the place where she had bowed down to the Cause, from bending on her knees and her palms spread to heaven.[101] I Kings 8:54 And she called her maid and came to her palatial house, and removed her widow’s clothes[102] Genesis 38:14 and sackcloth from upon her. And she washed her body and rubbed herself with oil of myrrh and braided the braids of her hair and set a crown on her head. And she wore expensive gilt clothes and engraved jewelry and crescents and earrings and rings. And she beautified herself with all women’s cosmetics and her twenty-four ornaments,[103] A reference to a midrash of the twenty-four ornaments of a bride, also found in Midrash Tanḥuma Ki Tisa 16:2 and the Cause gave her radiance and much beauty to find grace in the eyes of all who saw her. And Judith gave in the hand of her servant, her maid, a bottle of milk and a wineskin and a bowl of oil and flour and bread and cheese and she got herself going. And when she came to the gate of the city, she found Uzziah and the priests who were hoping for her there. And she passed before them and they said, “Go in peace, and may our God grant you grace and kindness in the eyes of all who see you, and grant you your heart’s desire, that all your counsel be fulfilled[104] Psalms 20:5 for good! And may Jerusalem the holy city be praised by you, and may your name be in the category of the pious and the number of the righteous!” And all the people who were there said, “Amen.” |
וַתֵּצֵ֥א יְהוּדִ֖ית מִן־הָעִ֑יר הִ֥יא וַאֲמָתָֽהּ׃ וַיְהִ֗י כַּאֲשֶׁר֙ יָרְד֣וּ מִן־הָהָ֔ר בְּעֵ֖ת עֲל֣וֹת הַשַׁ֑חַר פָּגְעוּ־בָּ֞הּ מִשּׁוֹמְרֵ֨י הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ אֱלִיפ֙וֹרְנִי֙ וַיִּתְפְּשׂ֔וּהָ לֵאמֹ֛ר מֵאַ֥יִן בָּ֖את וְאָנָ֥ה תֵלֵֽכִי׃ וַתֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם֙ יְהוּדִ֔ית מִבְּנ֥וֹת הָעִבְרִ֖ים אָנֹ֑כִי וָאֶבְרַ֤ח בְּהֵחָבֵא֙ מַאִתָּ֔ם כִּ֣י יָדַ֔עְתִּי כִּ֥י יִמָּסְר֖וּ בְיֶֽדְכֶם׃ וְלָכֵ֣ן חָשַׁ֣בְתִּי אֶצְלִ֡י לֵ֠אמֹ֠ר אֵלְכָה־נָּ֨א לִ֜י לִפְנֵ֣י ׀ שַׁ֣עַר אֶלִיפ֗וֹרְנִי לְגַלּ֣וֹת ל֣וֹ סוֹדוֹת֮ עִ֣ם הַיְּהוּדִים֒ וּלְהוֹר֣וֹת ׀ לְאַנְשֵׁ֣י הַצָּבָ֗א אֶת־הַדֶּ֨רֶךְ֙ יֵ֣לְכוּ בָ֔הּ וְאֶת־הַֽמַּעֲשֶׂ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר יַעֲשׂ֑וּן לִלְכֹּ֤ד אֶת־הָעִיר֙ וּלְתׇפְשָׂ֔הּ וְלֹא־יִפֹּ֥ל מִמַּחֲנֵ֖הוּ עַד־אֶחָֽד׃ |
And Judith went out from the city, her and her servant. And when they went down from the mountain, at daybreak, some of the king Eliforni’s guards struck her and grabbed her, saying, “Where are you coming from, and where are you going?”[105] Genesis 16:8 And Judith said to them, “From the daughters of the Hebrews am I, and I fled secretly from them for I knew that they would be turned over to your hand. Thus I thought to myself, saying: let me go before the gate of Eliforni, to reveal to him secrets with the Jews, and to teach the men of the army the way that they go and the deeds that they do,[106] Exodus 18:20 to conquer the city and hold it, that not one of their camp will fall.” |
וְכַאֲשֶׁ֣ר ׀ שָׁמְע֣וּ אֶת־דְּבָרֶ֗יהָ הָאֲנָשִׁים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תְּפָשׁ֔וּהָ הִבִּ֥יטוּ אֶת־תָּאֲרָ֖הּ וְיָפְיָ֑הּ וְהֵ֤מָּה רָ֙אוּ֙ כֵּ֣ן תָּמָ֔הוּ מִנֹּ֙עַם֙ אִ֣מְרוֹתֶ֔יהָ בְּמֹ֥עֵצ֖וֹת וָדָֽעַת׃ וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ אֵלֶ֑יהָ בָּר֣וּךְ טַעֲמֵ֗ךְ כִּי־חִלַּ֤צְתְּ נַפְשֵׁךְ֙ מִמָּ֔וֶת וְחָכַ֣מְתְּ בַּעֲצָתֵ֔ךְ לָבֹ֖א אֶל־אֲדוֹנֵֽנוּ׃ וְתֵדְעִ֣י בֶּאֱמֶת֩ כִּ֨י בְּעׇמְדֵ֤ךְ לְפָנָיו֙ יִיטַ֣ב לָ֔ךְ וְתִֽמְצְאִי־חֵ֥ן וָחֶ֖סֶד בְּעֵינָ֑יו וַיָּבִ֥יאוּ אֹתָ֖הּ לַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ |
And when the men who had grabbed her heard her words, they gazed at her appearance and beauty, and they saw and were thus amazed[107] Psalms 48:6 from her sweet sayings in counsel and thought.[108] Proverbs 22:20 And they said to her, “Blessed is your sense, for you saved your soul from death,[109] Psalms 116:8 and were wise in your counsel to come before our master. And know in truth that in your standing before him he will be good for you, and you will find grace and kindness in his eyes.” And they brought her to the king.[110] I Kings 1:3 |
וּמִיָּ֞ד כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר ׀ בָּאתָ֣ה לְפָנָ֗יו וַיִּשָּׂ֨א הַמֶּ֧לֶךְ אֶת־עֵינָ֛יו וַיַּ֥רְא אֶת־יׇפְיָ֖הּ וְזִ֣יו הֲדָרָ֑הּ בָּ֣עֲרָה בּ֗וֹ אֵ֥שׁ הַחֵ֙שֶׁק֙ וְהַ֣תַּאֲוָ֔ה וַיִּחֶלֶ֥ה הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ מֵחֳלִ֥י הַחֵֽשֶׁק׃ וְכׇל־שָׂרָיו֙ וַעֲבָדָ֔יו הַֽפַּרְתְּמִ֛ים הַיּוֹשְׁבִ֖ים לִפְנֵ֣י הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ אָמְר֞וּ מִ֣י ׀ אֲשֶֽׁר־יִמְאַ֣ס ׀ בְּעַ֣ם הָעִבְרִיִּ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֨ר יֵשׁ־לָהֶ֜ם נָשִׁ֤ים יָפוֹת֙ כָּאֵ֔לֶּה וּמִ֛י לֹא־יִלָּחֵ֥ם עִמָּהֶ֖ם בַּעֲבוּרָֽן׃ וְכַאֲשֶׁר֩ רָאֲתָ֨ה יְהוּדִ֜ית אֶת־הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ יוֹשֵׁב֙ עַל־כִּסֵּ֣א מַלְכוּת֔וֹ הִשְׁתַּ֥חְוְתָה ל֖וֹ אַפַּ֣יִם אַ֑רְצָה וַיְקִימ֙וּהָ֙ עַבְדֵ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ כִּי־כֵ֥ן מִצְוַ֖ת אֲדוֹנֵיהֶֽם׃ אָ֣ז אָֽמַר־לָהּ֮ הַמֶּ֒לֶךְ֒ תָּגִ֣ילִי ׀ וְתִשְׂמְחִ֣י בִּלְבָבֵ֗ךְ וְאַל־תִּ֠ירְאִ֠י כִּי־לֹ֨א אֶחְפֹּ֧ץ בְּמ֛וֹת כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר יַחְפֹּ֖ץ לְעׇבְדֵ֑נִי וְלֹא־הָיִ֨יתִי מֵרִ֤ים חַרְבִּי֙ וַ֣חֲנִיתוֹתִ֔י עַל־עַמָּ֖ךְ אִם־לֹ֥א מְאָסֽוּנִי׃ וְעַתָּ֖ה תֹּאמְרִֽי־נָ֣א לִ֑י עַל־מַ֨ה נַ֤סְתְּ וּבָרַחְתְּ֙ מֵעִמָּהֶ֔ם וַתִּבְחֲרִ֖י לָבֹ֥א אֵלֵֽינוּ׃ |
And immediately, when she came before him and the king raised his eyes and saw her beauty and her radiant splendor, the fire of lust and passion burned within him, and the king was sick with the sickness of lust. And all his officers and servants, the nobility[111] Esther 1:3 sitting before the king, said: “Who could be disgusted by the people of the Hebrews, who have themselves women as beautiful as[112] Job 42:15 these, and who would not make war on them for their sake?” And when Judith saw the king sitting on his royal throne[113] Esther 5:1 she bowed down face to the ground, and the king’s servants raised her up, as was the command of their master. Then the king said to her, “Cheer and rejoice in your heart, and do not fear, for I do not desire the death of[114] Ezekiel 18:32 all who desire to serve me, nor would I raise my sword or spear against your people if they would not rebel against me. And now, tell me, please, why did you flee and escape from with them, and choose to come to us?” |
וַתֹּֽאמֶר־ל֤וֹ יְהוּדִית֙ אֲנַ֣חְנוּ חָטָ֔אנוּ לִפְנֵ֖י יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ וְלָכֵ֞ן דִּבֶּ֨ר בְּיַ֤ד הַנְבִיאִים֙ אֶל־הָעָ֔ם לְיַסֵּ֥ר אוֹתָ֖ם עַל־עֲוֺנָֽם׃ וְעַל־כֵּ֛ן בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל פָּחֲד֣וּ מִמּ֑ךָּ כִּ֣י חָטְא֗וּ לִפְנֵי֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֔ם וְכָבֵ֥ד הָרָעָ֖ב בָּהֶֽם׃ וְהִנֵּ֛ה נֶחְשַׁ֥בְנוּ כְּמֵתִ֖ים מִפְּנֵ֣י הַצְמָּא֑וֹן עַ֚ד אֲשֶׁ֣ר הִסְכִּ֔ימוּ לִשְׁחֹ֥ט אֶת־צֹאנֵיהֶ֖ם וְלִשְׁתּ֥וֹת אֶת־דָּמָֽם׃ וְחָשְׁב֣וּ ׀ לְהָמִ֣יר אֶת־הַקֳּדָשִׁ֗ים אֲשֶׁר֩ צִוָּ֨ה יְהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֵיהֶם֙ בִּשְׁמִירָתָ֔ם וְשֶׁלֹ֥א יֵהָנ֖וּ מֵהֵ֑מָּה בְּחִטִּ֖ים בְּיַ֥יִן וּבְשָֽׁמֶן׃ וְאִם֙ יַ֣עֲשֶׂה זֶ֔ה הֵ֥מָּה יֹאבֵ֖דוּ וְאַתָּ֥ה תַעֲמֹֽד׃ וְכַאֲשֶׁ֨ר יָדַ֤עְתִּי זֶה֙ אֲנִ֣י אֲמָתֶ֔ךָ נַ֖סְתִּי מֵאִתָּ֑ם וּשְׁלָחַ֥נִי אֱלֹהִ֖ים לְהַגִּ֥יד לָֽךְ׃ וְאוּלָ֣ם אָנֹכִי֩ יְהוּדִ֨ית אֲמָתְךָ֤ עוֹבֶ֙דֶת֙ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהַ֔י גַּם־עַתָּ֖ה בִּהְיוֹתִ֥י אֶצְלֶֽךָ׃ אֲשֶׁ֞ר עַל־כֵּ֣ן ׀ אָנֹכִ֣י אֵ֗צֵא שָׁלֹ֨שׁ פְּעָמִ֧ים בְּי֛וֹם וְאֶתְפַּלֵּ֥ל לִפְנֵ֖י יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהַ֑י וְאֶֽתְנַפֵּ֖ל לִפְנֵ֥י אֱלֹהַֽי׃ וְה֣וּא יַגִּיד־לִ֗י מָתַי֙ יְשַׁלֵּ֣ם לָהֶ֔ם כְּפׇעֳלָ֖ם וּכְרֹ֣עַ מַעֲלָלוֹתָ֑ם וְאָבֹא֙ וְאַגִּ֣יד לְךָ֔ כִּ֥י תַּעֲבֹ֖ר[115] Some manuscripts read, וְאֶעֱבֹרְךָ֖ “and I would pass you,” which is gramatically more inconsistent since the verb לעבור is intransitive. בְּכׇל־חוּצ֥וֹת יְרוּשָׁלָֽיִם׃ וְיִהְי֤וּ כׇּל־עֲדַת֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל כַּצֹּ֕אן אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֵין־לָהֶ֖ם רוֹעֶ֑ה וְלֹ֛א יֶֽחֱרַץ־כֶּ֥לֶב לְשׁוֹנ֖וֹ נֶגְדֶֽךָ׃ כִּ֣י כׇּל־זֶ֔ה נֶֽאֱמַר־לִ֖י בְּמַרְא֣וֹת הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וּלְמַ֗עַן חֲר֨וֹן אַ֤ף יְהֹוָה֙ שֻׁלַּ֔חְתִּי לְהַגִּ֥יד לְךָ֖ כׇּל־זֶֽה׃ |
And Judith told him, “We have sinned before the Cause our God, and thus They spoke by the hand of the prophets to the people to chastise them for their iniquity. And thus the children of Israel were afraid of you, for they sinned before the Cause their God, and the famine is heavy among them. And we are considered as dead of thirst, unto agreeing to slaughter their flock and drink their blood, and agreeing to alter the holy things that the Cause their God commanded them to keep and not to benefit from, the wheat, wine, and oil. And if this is done, they will perish, and you will stand.[116] Psalms 102:27 And when I, your servant, knew this, I fled from them, and God send me to tell you. But regardless, I, Judith your servant, serve the Cause my God; even now as I am by you. For therefore, I would go out three times a day and pray before the Cause my God, and throw myself down before[117] Deuteronomy 9:18 my God. They would tell me when They would repay them per their acts and per their evil deeds. And I would go out and tell you that you would pass through all the courtyards of Jerusalem. And all the community of the children of Israel would be like a flock without a shepherd,[118] Numbers 27:17 and no dog would sharpen its tongue[119] Exodus 11:7 at you. For all this was said to me in a divine vision, and for the sake of the raging anger of the Cause I was sent to tell you all this.” |
וַיִּיטַ֥ב הַדָּבָ֖ר בְּעֵינֵ֣י הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וּבְעֵינֵ֖י כׇּל־עֲבָדָֽיו׃ וַיִּרְא֤וּ הָאֲנָשִׁים֙ וַיִּתְמָ֔הוּ בִּרְא֥וֹת חׇכְמָתָ֖הּ כִּ֣י רַבָּ֑ה וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ ׀ אִ֣ישׁ אֶל־רֵעֵ֗הוּ אֵ֨ין אִשָּׁ֜ה מַשְׂכֶּ֤לֶת כָּזֹאת֙ בְּכׇל־הָאָ֔רֶץ בַּיֹּ֖פִי בַּחֵ֥ן וּבַשֵֽׂכֶל׃ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר לָ֜הּ הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ הֵטִ֤יב אֱלֹהִים֙ עִמָּ֔ךְ אֲשֶׁ֥ר שְׁלָחֵ֖ךְ לְפָנַ֑י לְמַ֨עַן תִּמְסֹ֤ר אֶת־עַמָּךְ֙ בְּיָדֵ֔ינוּ וּבַעֲב֥וּר דְּבָרַ֖יִךְ הַטוֹבִֽים׃ אִם֩ כֹּ֨ה יַֽעֲשֶׂ֤ה לִי֙ אֱלֹהַ֔יִךְ אֱלֹהַ֖יִךְ אֱלֹהָ֑י וְאַ֨תְּ תִּהְיִ֤י רִאשׁוֹנָה֙ בַּמַּלְכ֔וּת וִיהִ֥י שׇׁמְעֵךְ בְּכׇל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ |
And the matter was good in the eyes of the king and in the eyes of all his servants.[120] Genesis 41:37 And the men saw and wondered at seeing her wisdom, for it was great, and said one to another “No woman is as intelligent as this in all the land, in beauty, grace, and intelligence!” And the king said to her, “The God who sent you[121] I Samuel 25:32 to me has done good by you, so as to turn over your people to my hand, and for your good words. If thus your God will do for me, your God is my God,[122] Ruth 1:16 and you will be first in the kingdom[123] Esther 1:14 and all the land will hear of you.[124] Joshua 6:27 ” |
וַיְצַ֣ו הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ לְהָבִ֥יא אוֹתָ֖הּ בְּבֵ֣ית נְכֹת֑וֹ וַיְצַ֥ו לְהַאֲכִילָ֖הּ מֵעַ֥ל שֻׁלְחָנֽוֹ׃ וַתֹּ֣אמֶר לוֹ֮ יְהוּדִית֒ לֹֽא־תוּכ֨ל אֲמָתְךָ֜ לֶאֱכֹ֗ל מֵאֲשֶׁ֤ר צִיִּ֙יתָ֙ לָֽתֵת־לִ֔י פֶּן־יִקְרָאֵ֖נִי אָס֑וֹן אֲבָ֗ל אֹכַ֛ל מֵאֲשֶׁ֥ר הֵבֵ֖אתִי עִמִּֽי׃ וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלֶ֙יהָ֙ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וְאִ֥ם יֶֽחְסַר־לָ֛ךְ אֶת־אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֵבֵֽאת־לָ֖ךְ עִמָּ֑ךְ מַ֥ה נַעֲשֶׂ֖ה עִמָּֽךְ׃ וַתֹּ֣אמֶר יְ֠הוּדִ֠ית חֵ֨י נַפְשְׁךָ֜ אֲדוֹנִ֗י שֶׁלֹּא֙ יֶחְסַר־לִ֣י זֶ֔ה עַ֥ד אֲשֶׁ֛ר יָקִ֥ים יהֹוָ֖ה אֶת־דְּבָרַ֑י אֲשֶׁ֥ר חָשַׁ֖בְתִּי לַעֲשֽׂוֹת׃ |
And the king commanded to bring her into his treasure-house,[125] II Kings 20:13, Isaiah 39:2 and commanded to feed her from his table. And Judith said to him, “Your servant cannot eat[126] Deuteronomy 12:17 what you have commanded to give me, lest misfortune happen upon[127] Genesis 42:4 me; rather, I will eat what I brought with me.” And the king said to her, “And if you lack what you brought with you, what should we do with you?” And Judith said, “By your life, sir,[128] II Samuel 14:19 I should not lack this until the Cause fulfills my words that I have thought to do.” |
וַתִּשְׁאַ֣ל ע֗וֹד בְּעֵת֮ בּ֣וֹאָהּ אֶל־הָאֹ֒הֶל֒ רְשׁ֣וּת ׀ לָצֵ֣את בַּלַּ֗יְלָה וּבְעֵ֤ת עֲלוֹת֙ עַמ֣וּד הַשַּׁ֔חַר ח֖וּץ מִן־הַמַּחֲנֶ֑ה לְהִתְפַּלֵּ֛ל לַיהֹוָֹ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יהָ שְׁלֹשָׁ֥ה יָמִֽים׃ וַיְצַ֤ו אֶת־אֲנָשָׁיו֙ לְהַנִּיחָ֔הּ וְלַעֲשׂ֖וֹת כׇּל־חֶפְצָ֑הּ וְלָצֵ֤את וְלָבֹא֙ וּלְהִתְפַּלֵּ֔ל לִפְנֵ֖י יְהֹוָֹ֥ה אֱלֹהֶֽיהָ׃ וַתֵּצֵ֕א בְּכׇל־לַ֥יְלָה וָלַ֖יְלָה מִח֣וּץ לַמַּחֲנֶ֑ה לִטְבֹּ֣ל אֶת־גּוּפָ֔הּ תּ֥וֹךְ בְּרֵכַ֖ת הַמָּֽיִם׃ וּבַעֲלוֹתָהּ֮ מִלִּטְבֹּל֒ שָֽׁפְכָ֨ה אֶת־נַפְשָׁ֜הּ בִּבְכִ֧י וַאֲנָקָ֛ה לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל לְיַשֵּׁ֥ר אֶת־דַּרְכָּ֖הּ בִּישׁוּעַ֥ת עַמָּֽהּ׃ וּבָאָ֥ה אֶל־הָאֹ֖הֶל בְּטׇהֳרָתָ֑הּ וַתֹּאכַ֖ל בִּסְעוּדַ֥ת הָעָֽרֶב׃ |
And she also asked upon her coming to the tent permission to go out at night and early dawn-time, away from the camp, to pray to the Cause her God three days. And he commanded his men to let her be and do as she desired, and to go out and come, and to pray before the Cause her God. And she went out each end every night from the camp to dip her body in the pool of water. And upon arising from the pool she would spill out her soul in weeping and moaning before the Cause, the God of Israel, to straighten her path in saving her people. And she would come to the tent in purity and eat at the evening feast. |
וַיְהִ֣י ׀ בַּיֹּ֣ום הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֗י וַיַּ֨עַשׂ הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ מִשְׁתֶּ֣ה גָד֗וֹל לְכׇל־שָׂרָיו֙ וַעֲבָדָ֔יו וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֶל־סָרִיס֖וֹ שֹׁמֵ֣ר הַפִּֽלַגְשִׁ֑ים לֵאמֹר֩ לֶךְ־נָ֨א רְאֵ֜ה אִם־תּוּכַ֗ל לְפַתּ֤וֹת וּלְרַצּוֹת֙ אֶת־יְהוּדִ֣ית הַזֹּ֔את שֶׁאָבֹ֖א אֵלֶֽיהָ׃ וְאָ֗ז בָּ֣א הַסָּרִיס֮ אֶל־יְהוּדִית֒ וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלֶ֙יהָ֙ אַל־תֵב֔וֹשִׁי וְאַל־תִּכָּלְמִ֖י לָבֹ֣א אֶל־אֲדֹנִ֑י וְאוּלַי֙ יִיטַ֣ב לָ֔ךְ לֶאֱכֹ֖ל וְלִשְׁתּ֥וֹת עִמּֽוֹ׃ |
And on the third day,[129] Esther 5:1 the king made a great feast for all his officers and servants,[130] Esther 2:18 and he said to his eunuch, guardian of the concubines,[131] Esther 2:14 saying, “Go, please, see[132] Genesis 37:14 if you can seduce and appease that Judith, so I can come to bed with[133] Alter’s translation of the Hebrew idiom, literally “come into.” As Alter puts it: “the term clearly refers not merely to sexual penetration but to the whole act of sexual consummation. It is used with great precision-not registered by biblical scholarship-to indicate a man’s having intercourse with a woman he has not yet had as a sexual partner, whether she is his wife, his concubine, or a whore.” her.” Then the eunuch went to Judith, and said to her, “Be not ashamed or embarrassed[134] Isaiah 54:4 to come to bed with my master; and maybe it will be good for you to eat and to drink with him!” |
וַתֹּאמֶ֣ר ל֡וֹ יְהוּדִית֩ מִ֨י אָנֹכִ֜י אֲשֶׁ֣ר ׀ אֶמְנַ֣ע מֵאֲדוֹנִ֗י כׇּל־אֲשֶׁר֙ יִ֣יטַב ל֔וֹ וְכׇל־הַיָּשָׁ֥ר בְּעֵינָ֖יו אֶעֶשֶׂ֑ה כִ֥י כׇל־אֲשֶׁ֞ר יַחְפֹּ֣ץ הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ ה֚וּא ט֣וֹב לִ֔י כׇּל־יְמֵ֖י חַיַּֽי׃ וַתִּקַּ֛ח וַתִּלְבַּ֖שׁ בִּגְדֵ֣י תִפְאַרְתָּ֑הּ וַתָּבֹ֖א וַתַּעֲמֹ֥ד לְפָנָֽיו׃ וַיְהִי֩ כִרְא֨וֹת הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ אֶת־־יׇפְיָ֗הּ תֵּ֚כֶף הֻכָּ֣ה וְנֶחֱלָ֔ה מֵאַהֲבָת֖וֹ אוֹתָ֑הּ וַיֹּאמֶ֨ר לָ֜הּ הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ אִכְלִ֤י לַחְמֵךְ֙ בְּשִׂמְחָ֔ה וּשְׁתֵ֤י בְּלֵב־טוֹב֙ יֵינֵ֔ךְ כִּ֛י מָצָ֥את חֵ֖ן בְּעֵינַֽי׃ וַתֹּ֨אמֶר ל֤וֹ יְהוּדִית֙ אֶשְׁתֶּ֣ה אֲדוֹנִ֔י כִּ֛י שָׂמַ֥ח לִבִּ֖י וַיָּ֣גֶל כְּבוֹדִ֑י הַיּ֗וֹם שִׂמְחָ֥ה רַבָּ֛ה מִכׇּל־יְמֵ֖י חַיַּֽי׃ וַתֵּ֖שֵׁב וַתֹּאכַ֑ל וַתִּפְתַּ֞ח אֶת־נֹ֧אד הֶחָלָ֛ב וַתֵּ֥שְׁתְּ וְגַם־אֶת־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ הִשְׁקָֽתָה׃ וַיִּשְׂמַ֨ח וַיָּ֧גֶל הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ עִמָּ֖הּ מְאֹ֑ד וַיִּ֥שְׁתֶּה יַ֙יִן֙ הַרְבֵּ֣ה מְאֹ֔ד מִמָּ֕ה שֶׁשָׁתָ֖ה כׇּל־יְמֵ֥י חַיָּֽיו׃ |
And Judith said to him, “Who am I to refuse from my lord all that is good for him? And all that is right in his eyes[135] Judges 21:25 I will do, for all that the king desires[136] Ecclesiastes 8:3 is good to me all the days of my life. And she took up and wore the clothes of her[137] Genesis 38:19 glory, and came and stood before him. And when the king saw[138] Esther 5:2 her beauty, he was immediately stricken lovesick for her, and the king said to her, “Eat your bread in joy, and drink your wine goodheartedly, for[139] Ecclesiastes 9:7 you have found favor in my eyes.” And Judith said to him, “I will drink, my lord, for my heart is glad and my honor rejoices,[140] Psalms 16:9 today is a greater joy than all the days of my life.” And she sat and ate and opened the bottle of milk[141] Judges 4:19 and drank, and also gave drink to the king. And the king rejoiced and was cheery with her greatly, and drank so much wine, more than he had drank all the days of his life. |
וַיְהִ֨י אַחֲרֵי־כֵ֜ן הָלְכ֗וּ כׇּל־עַבְדֵ֣י הַמֶּלֶךְ֮ אִ֣ישׁ אִ֣ישׁ עַל־מְקוֹמוֹ֒ וַיִּסְגֹּר֩ סְרִ֨יס הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ אֶת־דַּלְתֵ֣י הָאֹ֗הֶל אֲשֶׁ֨ר שָׁ֧ם יְהוּדִ֛ית עִם־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ ל֑וֹ וִיהוּדִית֙ לְבַדָּ֣הּ בָּאֹ֔הֶל וֶאֱלִיפ֣וֹרְנִי הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ בְּמִטָּת֖וֹ יָשֵׁ֥ן כְּמֵֽת׃ וַתֹּ֥אמֶר יְהוּדִ֖ית אֶל־אֲמָתָ֑הּ לַעֲמֹ֣ד בַּח֔וּץ לִשְׁמֹ֖ר לִפְנֵ֥י הָאֹֽהֶל׃ וַתַּעֲמֹ֤ד יְהוּדִית֙ לִפְנֵ֣י הַמִּטָּ֔ה וַתִּתְפַּלֵּ֖ל בִּדְמָע֑וֹת רַ֚ק שְׂפָתֶ֣יהָ נָּע֔וֹת וְקוֹלָ֖הּ לֹ֥א יִשָּׁמֵֽעַ׃ וְכֹ֥ה אָמְרָ֖ה בְּתִפְלָּתָ֑הּ חַזְּקֵ֣נִי יְהֹוָ֡ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵל֩ וְאִ֨נָּקְמָ֜ה אֶת־נִקְמַ֤ת עֲבָדֶ֙יךָ֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לְחַזֵּ֧ק בְּרִיחֵ֛י שַׁעֲרֵ֥י יְרוּשָׁלַ֖יִם עִ֥יר מִקְדָּשֶֽׁךָ׃ סׇמְכֵ֖נִי כְאִמְרָ֑תְךָ וְאַל־תְּבִישֵׁ֙נִי֙ מִשִּׂבְרִ֔י בְּחֹ֖זֶק עֻזֶּֽךָ׃ |
And after that, all the king’s servants went, each one to his place, and the king’s eunuch closed the doors of the tent where Judith was with the king and took his leave, and Judith was alone in the tent, and Eliforni the king in his bed was sleeping like one dead. And Judith said to her servant to stand outside to guard before the tent. And Judith stood before the bed and prayed in tears; only her lips were moving but her voice could not be heard.[142] I Samuel 1:13 And thus she said in her prayer: “Strengthen me, Cause, God of Israel, so I may avenge the vengeance of Your servants, Israel, to strengthen the bars of the gates[143] Psalms 147:13 of Jerusalem Your holy city. Support me by Your word and do not shame me of my hope,[144] Psalms 119:116 in Your mighty strength.” |
וּבְכַלּוֹתָ֣הּ לְהִתְפַּלֵּ֗ל קָרְבָה֙ אֶל־הָ֣עַמּ֔וּד אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּרֹ֣אשׁ מִטָּת֑וֹ וְשָֽׁלְפָ֤ה חַרְבּוֹ֙ שֶׁל־אֱלִיפ֣וֹרְנִי עַצְמ֔וֹ אֲשֶֽׁר־הָיָ֥ה תָּל֖וּי בָּעַמּֽוּד׃ וּבְשָֽׁלְפָ֣הּ אֶת־הַחֶ֔רֶב תָּפְשָׂ֥ה אוֹת֖וֹ מִשַּׂעֲרֵ֣י רֹאשׁ֑וֹ וַתֹּ֕אמֶר חַזְּקֵ֥נִי נָ֖א יְהֹוָ֥ה הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃ וְהִכְּתָ֥ה פַּעֲמַ֖יִם עַל־צַוָּאר֑וֹ וְחָֽתְכָ֖ה אֶת־רֹאשֽׁוֹ׃ וַתִּשְׁלַ֖ח אֶת־אֲמָתָ֑הּ וַתִּקַּח֙ אֶת־כְּלֵ֣י מִלְחַמְתּ֔וֹ אֲשֶֽׁר־הָי֥וּ תְּלוּיִ֖ים בָּעַמּוּדִֽים׃ וְהִכְּתָ֖ה אֶת־כׇּל־גּוּפ֑וֹ מִכַּף־רֶ֤גֶל וְעַד־רֹאשׁ֙ אֵֽין־בּ֣וֹ מְתֹ֔ם פֶּ֥צַע וְחַבּוּרָ֖ה וּמַכָּ֥ה טְרִיָּֽה׃ וַתִּתֵּ֨ן אֶת־רֹ֤אשׁ אֱלִיפ֙וֹרְנִי֙ בְּיַ֣ד שִׁפְחָתָ֔הּ לָשׂ֥וּם אוֹתָ֖הּ בְּאַמְתַּחְתָּֽהּ׃ וַתֵּצֶ֩אנָה֩ שְׁתֵּיהֶ֨ן יַחְדָּ֜ו כְּמִנְהָגָ֣ן לְהִתְפַּלֵּ֗ל וַתַּעֲבֹ֙רְנָה֙ אֵ֣ת כׇּל־הַמַּחֲנ֔וֹת וְאֵין־פֹּ֥צֶה פֶ֖ה וּמְצַפְצֵ֣ף עֲלֵיהֶ֑ן כִּי־כֵ֛ן צִוָּ֥ה עֲלֵיהֶ֖ן הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ וּבְסוֹבְבָ֣ן אֶת־הָעֵ֡מֶק בָּ֣אוּ בְּשַׁעֲרֵ֣י הָעִיר֩ וַתֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוּדִ֜ית אֶל־שׁוֹמְרֵ֤י הַחוֹמוֹת֙ מֵרָח֔וֹק בְּק֥וֹל שָׂשׂ֖וֹן וּבְק֣וֹל שִׂמְחָ֑ה פִּתְח֣וּ שְׁעָרִ֗ים כִּ֚י עִמָּ֣נוּ אֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָשָׂ֧ה הַיְשׁוּעָ֛ה הַגְּדוֹלָ֥ה הַזֹּ֖את בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ |
And upon finishing praying, she drew close to the pillar that was at the head of the bed, and pulled out Eliforni’s own sword that was leaning on the pillar. And on drawing the sword she grabbed him by the hairs of his head and said, “Strengthen me, please, Cause God!” And she struck twice on his neck, and cut off his head. And she called her servant, and she took the weapons of war which were leaning on the pillars. And she struck all his body; from sole of the foot to head nothing was intact, wounds and injuries and grevious strikes.[145] Isaiah 1:6 And she put Eliforni’s head into her maid’s hand to set it in her knapsack. And the two went out together as per their custom to pray, and crossed all the camps, and none opened their mouth or made noise[146] Isaiah 10:14 about them, for thus the king had commanded regarding them. And as they rounded the valley, they came to the city gates,[147] Jeremiah 17:25 and Judith said to the guardians of the walls from afar, in a voice of gladness and in a voice of joy,[148] Jeremiah 33:11 “Open the gates,[149] Isaiah 26:2 for the Deity is with us,[150] Isaiah 8:10 who has done this great salvation in Israel!”[151] I Samuel 14:45 |
וַתַּ֤עַל יְהוּדִית֙ בְּמָק֣וֹם גָּב֔וֹהַ וַתַּ֖הַס אֶת־כׇּל־הָעָ֑ם וַיַּ֣הַס הָעָ֔ם עָמְד֖וּ לֹא־עָ֥נוּ עֽוֹד׃ וְאָ֨ז עָנְתָ֤ה יְהוּדִית֙ בְּקוֹלָ֔הּ ק֥וֹל עֹ֖ז לֵאמֹ֑ר הַֽלְלִ֤י יְרוּשָׁלַ֙יִם֙ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֔ה הַֽלְלִ֖י אֱלֹהַ֥יִךְ צִֽיּוֹן׃ כִּי־חִזַּ֖ק בְּרִיחֵ֣י שְׁעָרָ֑יִךְ בֵּרַ֖ךְ בָּנַ֥יִךְ בְּקִרְבֵּֽךְ׃ הַֽלְל֣וּ ׀ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֗ינוּ הַֽלְל֙וּהוּ֙ בִ֣גְבוּרֹתָ֔יו הַֽלְל֖וּהוּ כְּרֹ֣ב גֻּדְל֑וֹ אֲשֶׁר֩ לֹֽא־עָזַ֨ב חַסְדּ֤וֹ וַאֲמִתּוֹ֙ לַמְיַחֲלִ֣ים לְחַסְדּ֔וֹ וְעָֽשָׂה־חֶ֖סֶד בְּיַ֥ד שִׁפְחָתֽוֹ׃ וַיִּמְכֹּ֤ר יְהֹוָה֙ בְּיַד־אִשָּׁ֣ה שִׁפְחָת֔וֹ לְשׂוֹנֵ֥א וְעוֹכֵ֖ר יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל בַּלַּ֖יְלָה הַזֶּֽה׃ וַתּוֹצִ֖יא מֵאַמְתַּחְתָּ֑הּ אֶת־רֹ֤אשׁ הָאוֹיֵב֙ צוֹרֵ֣ר הַיְּהוּדִ֔ים אֶלִיפ֖וֹרְנִי הָרָשָֽׁע׃ וְעַתָּ֣ה אַחַ֣י חַ֣י יְהֹוָ֡ה כִּ֣י שְׁמָרַ֩נִי֩ מַלְאַ֨ךְ יְהֹוָ֜ה בְּצֵאתִ֣י מִכָּ֗אן וּבְיׇשְׁבִ֥י שָׁ֛מָּה וּבְשׁוּבִ֥י הֵ֖נָּה וְלֹ֣א נִטְמֵ֑אתִי וְהֵבִיאַ֩נִי֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֤ם אֲלֵיכֶם֙ בְּשִׂמְחָ֣ה וּבִישׁוּעָ֔ה וְהִמְלִ֥יט נַפְשִׁ֖י בִּישׁוּעָתָֽם׃ הוֹד֤וּ לַיהֹוָה֙ כִּ֣י ט֔וֹב כִּ֥י לְעוֹלָ֖ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃ וְכׇל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל הִשְׁתַּחֲו֥וּ לַיהֹוָ֖ה אַפַּ֣יִם אָ֑רְצָה וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ אֵלֶ֗יהָ בָּר֨וּךְ יְהֹוָ֜ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר בְּיָדֵ֤ךְ הִשְׁפִּיל֙ אוֹיְבֵ֔ינוּ הַמְחָרֵ֥ף וְהַמְגַדֵּ֖ף מַעַרְכ֥וֹת אֱלֹהִֽים׃ כׇּל־גּוֹיִ֖ם סְבָב֑וּנוּ בְּשֵׁ֥ם יְהֹוָ֖ה כִּ֥י אֲמִילַֽם׃ דָּחֹ֥ה דְחִית֖וּנוּ לִנְפֹּ֑ל וַיהֹוָ֖ה עֲזָרָֽנוּ׃ כִּ֨י לֹא־בָזָ֜ה וְל֤א שִׁקַּץ֙ עֱנ֣וּת עָנִ֔י וְלֹא־הִסְתִּ֥יר פָּנָ֖יו מִמֶּ֑נּוּ וּֽבְשַׁוְּע֖וֹ אֵלָ֥יו שָׁמֵֽעַ׃ |
And Judith went up to a high place and hushed all the people, and all the people hushed, standing, no longer answering.[152] Job 32:16 Then Judith answered aloud, in a strong voice,[153] Psalms 68:34 saying, “Praise the Cause, Jerusalem; praise your God, Ẓíōn! For They strengthened your gates’ bars, blessed your children within you![154] Psalms 147:12-13 Praise the Cause our God; praise Them in Their mighty acts; praise Them per Their vast greatness; for Their kindness and truth did not leave[155] Genesis 24:27 those who trust in Their kindness, and They did kindness by the hand of Their maid! And the Cause gave the foe and troubler of Israel over into the hand of a woman,[156] Judges 4:9 Their maid, on this night.” And she took out from her knapsack the head of the foe, the stressor of the Jews,[157] Esther 8:1 Eliforni the evil. “And now, my brothers, the Cause lives! For the Cause’s messenger guarded me upon going out from here and dwelling there and returning hence, I was not defiled; and the Cause your God brought me to you in joy and salvation, and made my soul escape in their salvation. Thank the Cause, who is good; for eternal is Their kindness!”[158] Psalms 106:1, Psalms 107:1, Psalms 118:1 and Psalms 29, and Psalms 136:1, and I Chronicles 16:34 And all Israel bowed to the Cause, face to the ground, and said to her, “Blessed is the Cause who made our foe, taunting and reviling[159] Psalms 44:17 the camps of God,[160] I Samuel 17:26 fall by your hand! All the nations surrounded us; in the name of the Cause I cut them down.[161] Psalms 118:10 They pressed us hard but the Cause helped us.[162] Psalms 118:13 For They did not despise nor detest the suffering of the poor, nor hide Their face from him; and when he cried out to Them, They listened.”[163] Psalms 22:25 |
וְעֻזִּיָּ֙הוּ֙ נְשִׂ֣יא יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אָמַ֖ר אֵלֶ֑יהָ בְּרוּכָ֨ה אַ֤תְּ לַֽיהֹוָה֙ עֶלְיוֹן֙ מִכׇּל־הַנָּשִׁ֔ים מִנָּשִׁ֥ים בָּאֹ֖הֶל תְּבֹרָֽךְ׃ בָּר֤וּךְ יְהֹוָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בָּרָ֔א אֶת־הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וְאֶת־הָאָ֑רֶץ אֲשֶׁר֩ הִצְלִ֨יחַ אֶת־דְּרָכַ֜יִךְ לְהָבִ֧יא רֹ֛אשׁ מֶ֥לֶךְ אוֹיְבֵ֖ינוּ צוֹרֵ֥ר הַיְּהוּדִֽים׃ וְהִגְדִּ֥יל הַיּ֖וֹם אֶת־שְׁמֵ֑ךְ וְלֹֽא־יָמ֨וּשׁ זֵ֤כֶר תְּהִלָּתֵךְ֙ מִפִּ֣י כׇּל־הָאֲנָשִׁ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִזְכְּר֛וּ אֶת־חַסְדֵ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה לְעוֹלָֽם׃ כִּ֨י לֹ֤א חָמַ֙לְתְּ֙ עַל־נַפְשֵׁ֔ךְ בְּעֵ֛ת צָרָ֥ה וִיג֖וֹן עַמֵּ֑ךְ וַיַּעֲנ֥וּ כׇּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵ֥ן ׀ אָמֵֽן׃ |
And Uzziah prince of Israel said to her, “Blessed are you to the Cause,[164] Ruth 3:10 the Highest, over all women; over all women in tents be blessed.[165] Judges 5:24 Blessed be the Cause who created the heavens and the earth, who[166] II Chronicles 2:11 made your paths successful to bring the head of the king of our foes, the stressor of the Jews.[167] Esther 8:1 And today They made your name great, and the recollection of your praise will not depart from the mouthts of all the people who remember the eternal kindnesses of the Cause.[168] Psalms 89:2 For you did not have pity upon your soul at the time of stress and sorrow for your people!” And all the people answered, “Amen, amen!”[169] Nehemiah 8:6 |
וַיִּקְרְא֣וּ אֶל־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֲשֶׁ֛ר הָיָ֥ה עוֹמֵ֖ד בְּבֵ֣ית עֻזִּיָּ֑הוּ אֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבֶּר־ט֖וֹב עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ וַתֹּאמֶ֣ר לוֹ֮ יְהוּדִית֒ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵל֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר הוֹדַ֤עְתָּ אֶת־שְׁמוֹ֙ וְאֶת־גְּב֣וּרָת֔וֹ וְאָמַרְתָּ֗ כִּי־ה֛וּא יִקֹּ֥ם נִקְמָתֵ֖נוּ מֵאוֹיְבֵ֑ינוּ הִֽנֵּה־ה֨וּא יִתְבָּרַ֜ךְ שָׁבַ֤ר רֹאשׁ֙ כׇּל־הָ֣רְשָׁעִ֔ים בַּלַּ֥יְלָה הַזֶּ֖ה בְּיָדִֽי׃ וּלְמַ֣עַן תֵּדַע֮ כִּי־כֵ֣ן הוּא֒ הִנֵּ֣ה רֹ֪אשׁ אֱ֠לִיפ֟וֹרְנִי֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר בִּזְדוֹנ֜וֹ וּבְעַזּ֣וּת לִבּ֗וֹ מָאַס֙ אֶת־אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיִּשְׂטֹ֥ם אוֹתְךָ֖ לְהׇרְגֶ֑ךָ לֵאמֹ֨ר כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר נַכֶּה֙ עַ֣ם יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מֻכֶּה֙ תִּפֹּ֣ל בֵּינֵיהֶ֔ם וְחַרְבִּ֖י יַ֥עֲבׇר־בָּֽךְ׃ וְכַאֲשֶׁ֣ר רָאָה֩ הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ הֶחָסִ֤יד הַהוּא֙ אֶת־רֹ֣אשׁ אֱלִיפ֔וֹרְנִי וַיִּפֹּ֥ל עַל־פָּנָ֖יו אַ֑רְצָה וַיֹּאמַ֕ר כֵּ֛ן יֹאבְד֥וּ כׇל־אוֹיְבֶ֖יךָ יְהֹוָֽה׃ וַיִּפֹּל֙ עַל־רֶ֣גֶל יְהוּדִ֔ית וַיִּשְׁתַּ֥חֲוֶה לָ֖הּ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלֶ֑יהָ בְּרוּכָ֤ה אַתְּ֙ מֵ֣אֱלֹהַ֔יִךְ בְּכׇל־אָהֳלֵ֖י יַעֲקֹֽב׃ כִּ֤י כׇּל־גּוֹי֙ וְעַ֣ם וָעָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִשְׁמַ֖ע אֶת־שִׁמְעֵ֑ךְ יְהַלְל֣וּ עָלַ֔יִךְ אֶת־שֵׁ֥ם יְהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ |
And they called to the king who had been standing in Uzziah’s house, who had spoken well[170] Esther 7:9 of Israel. And Judith said to him, “The Cause, God of Israel, whose name and greatness you made known, and you said that They would avenge our vengeance on our enemies; behold They — blessed be — shattered the head of all the evil ones this night by my hand! And so that you will know it is true, here is the head of Eliforni, who in his arrogance and stubbornness reviled the God of Israel, and resented you enough to kill you, saying, ‘When we strike the people Israel, you will be struck down among them, and my sword will pass through you!’” And when that pious king saw the head of Eliforni, he fell face to the ground and said, “Thus may all Your enemies fall, Cause!”[171] Judges 5:31 And he fell at the foot of Judith and bowed to her and said to her, “Blessed are you from your God in all the tents of Jacob! For every nation and people that hears word of you will praise, concerning you, the name of the Cause, God of Israel!” |
וַתֹּאמֶ֤ר יְהוּדִית֙ אֶת־כׇּל־הָעָ֔ם שִֽׁמְעוּ־נָ֥א לִ֖י אַחַ֣י וְעַמִּ֑י וּתְל֛וּ אֶת־הָרֹ֥אשׁ הַזֶּ֖ה עַל־רֹ֥אשׁ חוֹמוֹתֵֽינוּ׃ וְהָיָ֞ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר ׀ יִזְרַ֣ח הַשֶׁ֗מֶשׁ וּלְקַחְתֶּ֨ם כׇּל־אֶחָ֤ד מִכֶּם֙ אֶת־כְּלֵ֣י זֵינְכֶ֔ם וְתֵצְא֖וּ בִּתְרוּעַ֣ת מִלְחָמָ֑ה וְאַל־תֵּרְד֣וּ לְמַ֔טָּה אֶ֛פֶס כִּ֥י תְקַעְתֶּ֖ם וְתָרִֽיעוּ׃ וּבְכֵן֙ שׁוֹמְרֵ֣י הַחוֹמ֔וֹת יֵלְכ֖וּ אֶל־שַׂ֣ר חֵילָ֑ם לְעוֹרְר֖וֹ לְמִלְחָמָֽה׃ וְכַאֲשֶׁ֗ר יָב֣וֹאוּ הַשָּׂרִים֮ בְּאֹ֣הֶל אֱלִיפ֒וֹרְנִי֒ וְיִמְצְא֣וּ אוֹת֡וֹ מְגוֹלָ֣ל בְּדָמוֹ֩ תִּפֹּ֨ל עֲלֵיהֶ֤ם אֵימָ֙תָה֙ וָפַ֔חַד וּבִרְאוֹתְכֶ֤ם אוֹתָם֙ בּוֹרְחִ֔ים רִדְפ֥וּ מַהֵ֛ר אַחֲרֵיהֶ֖ם בְּחֹ֑זֶק כִּ֚י יְהֹוָ֔ה יִתֵּ֥ן אוֹתָ֖ם תַּ֥חַת רַגְלֵיכֶֽם׃ |
And Judith said to all the people, “Hear me, my brothers and people![172] I Chronicles 28:2 Hang this head on the top of our walls! And when the sun rises, each one of you will take your weapons and go out at the war-alarm; but do not go down unless you blast and alarm! And then the perimeter guard will go to their army’s officer to awaken him to war. And when the officers go to the tent of Eliforni and find him covered in his blood, fear and terror will fall upon them,[173] Exodus 15:16 and when you see them fleeing, pursue quickly after them[174] Joshua 2:5 in strength, for the Cause will give them under your feet!” |
וְכֵ֥ן עָשׂ֖וּ בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר ׀ הֵאִ֣יר הַיּ֗וֹם תָּלוּ֙ עַל־רֹ֣אשׁ הַחוֹמ֔וֹת אֶת־רֹ֥אשׁ הָאוֹיֵ֖ב הַצּוֹרֵ֑ר וַיִּקַּח֩ כׇּל־אִ֨ישׁ וָאִ֜ישׁ כְּלֵ֤י מִלְחַמְתּוֹ֙ בְּיָד֔וֹ וַיֵּצְא֛וּ וְתָקְע֥וּ וְהֵרִ֖יעוּ תְּרוּעָ֥ה גְדוֹלָֽה׃ וְכַאֲשֶׁ֨ר רָא֤וּ כֵּן֙ שׁוֹמְרֵ֣י הַחוֹמ֔וֹת בָּ֛אוּ בְּאֹ֥הֶל מַלְכָּ֖ם אֶלִיפ֑וֹרְנִי וְהִשְׁמִ֙יעוּ֙ ק֣וֹל גָּד֔וֹל בְּפֶ֥תַח הָאֹ֖הֶל לַהֲעִירֽוֹ׃ וְכַאֲשֶׁ֞ר בָּ֣אוּ ׀ הַשָּׂרִ֣ים וְהַשָּׁלִישִׁ֗ים אָמְרוּ֙ לַ֣סָּרִיסִ֔ים לֹ֥א עֵ֖ת הִתְמַהְמֵ֑הַּ לְכוּ֙ וְעוֹרְר֣וּ אֶת־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ כִּ֨י יָצְא֤וּ הָעַכְבָּרִים֙ מֵחוֹרֵיהֶ֔ם וּפִתּ֥וּ אוֹתָ֖נוּ לְמִלְחָמָֽה׃ וְאָ֨ז דָּחַ֧ק וְנִכְנַ֛ס סְרִ֥יס הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ שֹׁמֵ֣ר הַפִּֽילַגְשִׁ֑ים בְּאֹ֥הֶל אֱלִיפֽוֹרְנִי׃ וַיַּעֲמֹ֗ד לִפְנֵי֙ קַלְעֵ֣י מִטָּת֔וֹ וַיִּסְפֹּ֖ק אֶת־כַּפָּ֑יו אוּלַ֛י יָשֵׁ֥ן ה֖וּא וְיִקָֽץ׃ כִּ֖י חָשַׁ֑ב כִּ֛י עוֹדֶ֥נּוּ יָשֵׁ֖ן עִם־יְהוּדִֽית׃ וְכַאֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹא־הִרְגִ֤ישׁ דָּבָר֙ קָרַ֣ב אֶל־הַמִּטָּ֔ה וַיָּ֖סַר אֶת־הַקְּלָעִ֑ים וַיַּ֣רְא ׀ גּ֣וּף אֱלִיפ֗וֹרְנִי מֻשְׁלָ֤ךְ אַ֙רְצָה֙ וּמְגוֹלָ֣ל בְּדָמ֔וֹ וְרֹאשׁ֖וֹ אֵינֶֽנּוּ׃ וַיִּצְעַ֨ק צְעָקָ֤ה גְדוֹלָה֙ בִּבְכִ֔י וַיִּקְרַ֖ע אֶת־בְּגָדָ֑יו וַיָּבֹ֛א בְּאֹ֥הֶל יְהוּדִ֖ית וְלֹ֥א מְצָאָֽהּ׃ וַיֵּ֣צֵא הַח֮וּצָה֮ אֶל־הָעָם֒ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם אִשָּׁ֤ה אַחַת֙ עִבְרִ֔ית עָ֥שְׂתָ֛ה הָרָעָ֥ה הַגְּדוֹלָ֖ה הַזֹּ֑את וְהִנֵּה֩ אֲדוֹנֵ֨נוּ הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ מֵ֗ת וּמֻשְׁלָ֤ךְ עַל־הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ וּמְגוֹלָ֣ל בְּדָמ֔וֹ וְרֹאשׁ֖וֹ אֵינֶֽנּוּ׃ וְכַאֲשֶׁ֨ר שָֽׁמְעוּ־כֵ֜ן שָׂרֵ֣י הַחַ֗יִל קָרְע֤וּ כֻלָּם֙ אֶת־בִּגְדֵיהֶ֔ם וַיִּפֹּ֧ל עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם אֵימָ֖ה וַחֲשֵׁכָ֣ה גְדוֹלָ֑ה וַתְּהִ֕י צְעָקָ֛ה גְדוֹלָ֥ה וּמָרָ֖ה בְּמַחֲנוֹתָֽם׃ |
And thus the children of Israel did. Come daylight, they hanged the head of the stressing foe on the top of the walls, and each and every man took his weapons of war in his hand and went out and blasted and alarmed a great alarm. And when the perimeter guard saw this, they went to the tent of their king Eliforni, and made heard a great sound at the entrance of the gate to awaken him. And when the officers and generals came they said to the eunuchs, “Now is no time to tarry! Go and wake up the king, for the rats have come out from their burrows and enticed us to war!” And then the king’s eunuch, guardian of the concubines,[175] Esther 2:14 pushed and entered into Eliforni’s tent. And he stood before the bedcurtains and smacked his hands[176] Numbers 24:10 — “Maybe he’s sleeping and will wake up!”[177] I Kings 18:27 For he thought that he was still sleeping with Judith. And when he didn’t sense anything, he drew close to the bed, and parted the curtains, and saw the body of Eliforni thrown to the ground, covered in his blood, and his head was not there! And he cried a great cry in weeping, and tore his clothes, and entered Judith’s tent and did not find her! And he went out to the people and told them, “A certain Hebrew woman did this great evil, and look, our master the king is dead and thrown to the ground, covered in his blood, and his head is not there!” And when the army’s officers heard this, they all tore their clothes, and fear and great darkness[178] Genesis 15:12 fell upon them, and there was a great and bitter cry[179] Exodus 12:30 in their camps. |
וְכַאֲשֶׁ֤ר שָׁמְעוּ֙ כׇּל־הַחַ֔יִל כִּ֥י נֶהֶרַ֖ג וּמֵ֣ת גִּבּוֹרָ֑ם יָצָ֤א מֵהֶם֙ כׇּל־עֵצָ֔ה וַיִּבְרְח֧וּ כֻלָּ֛ם מִפְּנֵ֥י הַפַּ֖חַד וְהַיִּרְאָֽה׃ וּבְבׇרְחָ֣ם ׀ מִלִּפְנֵ֣י הָעִבְרִ֗ים הָרוֹדְפִ֤ים אַחֲרֵיהֶם֙ חֲמוּשִׁ֔ים עָזְב֖וּ כׇּל־רְכוּשָׁ֑ם וַיָּנ֛וּסוּ בְּמִשְׁע֥וֹל הַכְּרָמִ֖ים וּבִנְתִיב֥וֹת הֶהָרִֽים׃ וְכַאֲשֶׁ֨ר רָֽאוּ־כֵ֜ן בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל יָרְדוּ֙ מִן־הֶ֣הָרִ֔ים וַיִּרְדְּפ֖וּ אַחֲרֵיהֶ֑ם וַיִּרְדְּפוּ֙ בִּתְרוּעַ֣ת חֲצוֹצְר֔וֹת וּבְק֥וֹל שׁוֹפָ֖ר חָזָ֥ק מְאֹֽד׃ וְהָי֤וּ מַכִּים֙ אֶת־כׇּל־הַ֣נִּמְצָאִ֔ים מַכָּ֥ה גְדוֹלָ֖ה מַ֣כַּת חָ֑רֶב וַֽיִּרְדְּפ֖וּם עַד־הַֽחׇרְמָֽה׃ וְיֶ֣תֶר הָעָ֔ם יָרְד֖וּ אֶל־מַחֲנֵ֣ה הָאוֹיֵ֑ב וַיִּשְׁלְל֣וּ אֶת־שְׁלָלָ֗ם שָׁלָ֨ל הַרְבֵּ֤ה מְאֹד֙ אֵ֣ין מִסְפָּ֔ר בְּצֹ֤אן וּבְבָקָר֙ בְּרֶ֣כֶב וּבְס֔וּס וּבְכׇל־מְטַּלְטְלֵ֖י אָהֳלֵיהֶֽם׃ וְכֻלָּ֣ם נִתְעַשְּׁר֔וּ מִגָּד֥וֹל וְעַד־קָטָ֖ן מִשְׁלָלֵיהֶ֑ם וּבִזְמַ֨ן שְׁלֹשִׁ֤ים יוֹם֙ לֹא־נִשְׁלַ֣ם שְׁלָלָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׁלְל֖וּ בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ רַק֩ כׇּל־עֹ֨שֶׁר אֶלִיפ֜וֹרְנִי וְכׇל־רְכוּשׁ֗וֹ נִתָּן֙ לִיהוּדִ֔ית זָהָ֨ב וָכֶ֧סֶף וּמַרְגָּלִיּ֛וֹת וְאַבְנֵ֥י יְקָ֖ר אֲשֶׁ֣ר ל֑וֹ הַכֹּ֥ל נִתָּֽן־לָ֖הּ מֵאֵ֥ת הָעָֽם׃ |
And when all the army heard that their hero was dead[180] I Samuel 17:51 and killed, all strategy left them, and they all fled due to the fear and awe. And as they fled from before the Hebrews pursuing them armed, they left all their property, and fled in the vineyard-furrows and in the mountain-paths. And when the children of Israel saw them, they went down from the mountains and pursued after them, and pursued at the trumpet-alarm and the very strong sound of the shofar.[181] Exodus 19:16 And they would strike all those they found with a great strike, a sword-strike, and pursued them unto destruction.[182] Numbers 14:45 And the rest of the people went down to the camp of the enemy and plundered their plunder, exceedingly great plunder[183] II Chronicles 15:14 uncountable, sheep and cattle, chariot and horse, and all the goods of their tents. And all were enriched, from greatest to least, from their plunder, and within thirty days nothing remained of their plunder that the children of Israel had plundered. But all the wealth of Eliforni and all his property was given to Judith — gold and silver and pearls and precious stones that were his; all was given to her from the people. |
וְאָ֨ז הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ אֲשֶׁ֣ר ׀ בְּבֵ֣ית עֻזִּיָּ֗הוּ אֲשֶׁ֣ר דִּ֣בֵּר־טוֹב֮ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ בִּרְא֣וֹת הַנֵּ֗ס אֲשֶׁ֧ר עָשָׂ֛ה יְהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל עָזַב֙ מֵעֲבֹ֣ד הָאֱלִילִ֔ים וְהֶאֱמִ֖ין בַּיהֹוָֽה׃ וַיָּ֙מׇל֙ אֶת־בְּשַׂ֣ר עׇרְלָת֔וֹ וּבָ֥א לַחֲס֖וֹת תַּֽחַת־כַּנְפֵ֣י הַשְׁכִינָ֑ה ה֚וּא וְכׇל־יְלִידֵ֣י בֵית֔וֹ עַ֖ד הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃ |
And then, when the king who was in Uzziah’s house, who had spoken well[184] Esther 7:9 of Israel, saw the miracle that the Cause, God of Israel did, he turned away from worshipping un-gods and believed in the Cause. And he circumcised the flesh of his foreskin[185] Genesis 17:12 and came to shelter under the wings of[186] Ruth 2:12 the Presence, him and all his household’s children, until this very day. |
וְכׇל־עֲדַ֣ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל שָׂשִׂ֥ים וּשְׂמֵחִ֖ים עִם־יְהוּדִ֑ית וַתֵּצֶ֤אןָ כׇֽל־הַנָּשִׁים֙ אַחֲרֶ֔יהָ בְּתֻפִּ֖ים וּבִמְחֹלֹֽת׃ וְהָי֣וּ אוֹמְר֗וֹת הוֹד֤וּ לַיהֹוָה֙ כִּ֣י ט֔וֹב כִּ֥י לְעוֹלָ֖ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃ אַ֚תְּ יְהוּדִ֔ית אֵ֖ם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אַ֨תְּ תְּהִלַּ֤ת יְרוּשָׁלַ֙יִם֙ אַ֚תְּ שִׂמְחַ֣ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אַ֖תְּ כְּב֥וֹד עַמֵּֽנוּ׃ כִּ֣י עָשִׂ֗ית בְּכֹ֤חַ חָזָק֙ וְאֹ֣מֶץ לִבֵּ֔ךְ וְיַ֥ד יְהֹוָ֛ה הָיְתָ֥ה עִמָּ֖ךְ לְחַזֵּ֣ק אוֹתָ֑ךְ וּמְבֹרֶ֥כֶת תִּהְיִ֖י לְעוֹלָֽם׃ וַיַּ֥עַן כׇּל־הָעָ֖ם אָמֵ֥ן ׀ וְאָמֵֽן׃ וּזְקֵנִ֖ים עִם־נְעָרִ֑ים יִשְׂמְח֧וּ יַעַלְצ֛וּ בִּמְצַלְתַּ֖יִם וּבִנְבָלִֽים׃ |
And all the congregation of Israel was glad and rejoiced with Judith, and all the women came out after her with drums and dance.[187] Exodus 15:20 And they were saying, “Thank the Cause, who is good; for eternal is Their kindness![188] Psalms 106:1, Psalms 107:1, Psalms 118:1 and Psalms 118:29, and Psalms 136:1, and I Chronicles 16:34 You, Judith, are a mother in Israel![189] Judges 5:7 You are the praise of Jerusalem! You are the joy of Israel! You are our people’s glory! For you acted in mighty strength and courage of heart, and the Cause’s hand was with you to strengthen you, and you will be blessed forever!” And all the people responded, “Amen and amen!” And old and young alike[190] Psalms 148:12 will rejoice, will celebrate[191] Psalms 68:4 with cymbals and with lyres. |
וַתָּ֤שַׁר יְהוּדִית֙ אֶת־הַשִּׁירָ֣ה הַזֹּ֔את לַיהֹוָ֖ה וַתֹּאמַ֑ר הַלְל֤וּ אֶת־יְהֹוָה֙ בְּתֹ֔ף שִׁ֥ירוּ לַיהֹוָ֖ה בְּמָחֽוֹל׃ שִׁ֥ירוּ ל֖וֹ שִׁ֣יר חָדָ֑שׁ הוֹד֖וּ וְקִרְא֥וּ בִשְׁמֽוֹ׃ יְהֹוָ֖ה אִ֣ישׁ מִלְחָמָ֑ה יְהֹוָ֖ה שְׁמֽוֹ׃ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהִ֔ים גָּד֥וֹל אַתָּ֖ה וְנוֹרָ֣א בְכֹ֑חַ וְאֵ֖ין דּ֥וֹמֶה לָֽךְ׃ כׇּל־הַבְּרִיּ֖וֹת יַעַבְד֑וּךָ וְיוֹד֥וּךָ יְהֹוָ֖ה כׇּל־מַעֲשֶֽׂיךָ׃ כִּ֥י אָמַ֖רְתָּ וַתֶּ֑הִי וְשָׁלַ֥חְתָּ אֶת־רוּחֲךָ֖ וְנִבְרָֽאוּ׃ הֶהָרִ֤ים וְהַיְסוֹדוֹת֙ יִרְעָ֔שׁוּ וְכַדּוֹנַ֖ג נָמַ֑סּוּ מִלִּפְנֵ֖י גְבוּרָתֶֽךָ׃ יְמִֽינְךָ֣ יְהֹוָ֔ה נֶאְדָּרִ֖י בַּכֹּ֑חַ יְמִֽינְךָ֥ יְהֹוָ֖ה תִּרְעַ֥ץ אוֹיֵֽב׃ מִֽי־כָמֹ֤כָה בָּֽאֵלִם֙ יְהֹוָ֔ה מִ֥י כָּמֹ֖כָה נֶאְדָּ֣ר בַּקֹּ֑דֶשׁ נוֹרָ֥א תְהִלֹּ֖ת עֹ֥שֵׂה פֶֽלֶא׃ |
And Judith sang[192] Judges 5:1 this song to the Cause[193] Exodus 15:1 and said: “Praise the Cause with drum, sing to the Cause with dance! Sing to Them a new song,[194] Psalms 33:3 thank and call Their name! The Cause is a warrior, the Cause Their name![195] Exodus 15:3 O Cause, God, great are You and awesome in power, and none compare to You! All creatures serve You; all Your works, o Cause, thank You![196] Psalms 145:10 For You spoke and there was being,[197] Psalms 33:9 You sent Your spirit and it was created. The mountains and the foundations quake, and like wax they melt[198] Psalms 97:5 before Your might. Your right hand, Cause, majestic in might; Your right hand, Cause, smashes the foe![199] Exodus 15:6 Who is like You among deities, Cause, who is like You, majestic in holiness, awesome in praise, wonder-working?”[200] Exodus 15:11 |
וַיְהִ֥י אַחַ֛ר הַתְּשׁוּעָ֥ה הַגְּדֹלָ֖ה הַזֹּ֑את כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר נִטְהֲרוּ֙ כׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הֶעֱל֧וּ כֻלָּ֛ם עוֹל֥וֹת וּזְבָחִ֖ים וּנְדָרִֽים׃ וִיהוּדִ֤ית הִקְדִישָׁה֙ אֶת־כׇּל־שְׁלָלָ֔הּ לְבֵ֖ית הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וַיַּעֲשׂ֣וּ עִם־יְהוּדִ֗ית שִׂמְחַ֨ת זֹ֧את הַיְשׁוּעָ֛ה שְׁלֹשָׁ֖ה חָדָשִֽׁים׃ וּבְכׇל־יְמֵי֩ חַיֵּ֨י יְהוּדִ֜ית לֹא־קָ֤ם מַזִיק֙ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַתִּשְׁקֹ֧ט הָאָ֛רֶץ אַחֲרֵ֥י מוֹתָ֖הּ שָׁנִ֣ים רַבּ֑וֹת וּֽלְכׇל־בְּנֵ֧י יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל הָ֥יָה א֖וֹר בְּמוֹשְׁבֹתָֽם׃ |
And after this great rescue,[201] Judges 15:18 when all Israel was purified, they all offered up offerings and sacrifices[202] I Samuel 6:15 and vows. And Judith dedicated all her plunder to the house of God, and they made with Judith a celebration of this salvation for three months. And all the days of Judith’s life, no harm came upon Israel, and the land was quiet[203] Judges 5:31 after her death for many years, and for all the children of Israel there was light in their dwellings.[204] Exodus 10:23 |
Source(s)
Notes
| 1 | The story is found in volume 2, pages 63a–65a of the 1731 edition, and 56a-58a of the 1763 Venice edition. In the 1731 edition, on some page headings the story is called “Maaseh ha-Ishah haYehudit.” |
|---|---|
| 2 | Exodus 1:9 |
| 3 | Esther 3:8 |
| 4 | Psalms 55:12 |
| 5 | Jeremiah 6:4 |
| 6 | Psalms 83:5 |
| 7 | Not named in this text. In Septuagintal Judith this righteous gentile king is known as Achior, chief of the Ammonites. |
| 8 | Psalms 24:8 |
| 9 | Psalms 66:7 |
| 10 | Exodus 18:18 |
| 11 | Exodus 11:8 |
| 12 | II Samuel 1:23 |
| 13 | Genesis 6:4 |
| 14 | Esther 1:12 |
| 15 | Esther 7:5 |
| 16 | Exodus 1:9 |
| 17 | Daniel 1:4 |
| 18 | II Kings 18:35, Isaiah 36:20 |
| 19 | Exodus 6:4 |
| 20 | Deuteronomy 13:6 |
| 21 | Deuteronomy 29:27 |
| 22 | Deuteronomy 25:9 |
| 23 | II Samuel 3:34 |
| 24 | Jeremiah 1:15 |
| 25 | Mentioned in Septuagintal Judith 6:15 as the rulers of the city of Bethulia |
| 26 | Esther 4:7 |
| 27 | Exodus 15:9 |
| 28 | II Samuel 17:36 |
| 29 | II Kings 18:35, Isaiah 36:20 |
| 30 | Psalms 48:7 |
| 31 | II Kings 19:15–16, Isaiah 37:16–17 |
| 32 | II Samuel 17:36 |
| 33 | Jeremiah 10:10 |
| 34 | II Kings 19:17–19, Isaiah 37:18–20 |
| 35 | Psalms 79:6, Jeremiah 10:25 |
| 36 | Psalms 106:8 |
| 37 | Deuteronomy 33:29 |
| 38 | I Samuel 20:13 |
| 39 | Genesis 20:15 |
| 40 | Exodus 32:11 |
| 41 | Joshua 7:6 |
| 42 | Judges 4:3 |
| 43 | Judges 2:18 |
| 44 | Jeremiah 1:10 |
| 45 | Esther 2:4 |
| 46 | Isaiah 66:24 |
| 47 | Deuteronomy 4:26 |
| 48 | Genesis 27:34 |
| 49 | Judges 21:2 |
| 50 | Psalms 106:6 |
| 51 | Psalms 83:2–6 |
| 52 | Psalms 79:10 |
| 53 | Exodus 15:7 |
| 54 | Psalms 83:10–12, citing multiple earlier Biblical passages. For Sisera and Jabin at Kishon see Judges 4 and 5. For the four princes of Midian see Judges 7 and 8. |
| 55 | Psalms 31:25 |
| 56 | Jeremiah 30:24 |
| 57 | In Septuagintal Judith 8:1 her father’s name is Merari. Beeri is the name given to the father of Esau’s wife, also named Judith, in Genesis 26:34. |
| 58 | Psalms 35:13 |
| 59 | Esther 2:15 |
| 60 | Mentioned in Septuagintal Judith 6:15 as Chabris and Charmis, the rulers of the city of Bethulia along with Uzziah. Not referred to as priests therein. |
| 61 | Psalms 77:9 |
| 62 | Lamentations 3:22 |
| 63 | Lamentations 3:26 |
| 64 | Lamentations 3:31–32 |
| 65 | Jeremiah 18:7 |
| 66 | Jonah 4:2 |
| 67 | Some printings read אֶת־ and אֶרֶץ, both of which are obvious printers’ errors. The verse in Hosea reads אֶל־, and אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם is a common phrase whereas אֶרֶץ אַפַּיִם is meaningless. |
| 68 | Some printings read עֲזָבוּנוּ “they have abandoned us” while others read עֲזָבוּהָ “they have abandoned her,” but this verse is a third-person adaptation of עֲזָבוּנִי “they have abandoned Me” and thus should be the third-person non-feminine singular עֲזָבוּהוּ “they have abandoned Them.” |
| 69 | Hosea 6:1 |
| 70 | Isaiah 55:7 |
| 71 | Jeremiah 30:7 |
| 72 | Isaiah 25:9 |
| 73 | II Kings 22:17, Jeremiah 1:16 |
| 74 | Deuteronomy 4:35 |
| 75 | Psalms 31:25 |
| 76 | Deuteronomy 8:5 |
| 77 | Psalms 118:18 |
| 78 | Proverbs 8:8 |
| 79 | Numbers 12:11 |
| 80 | Jeremiah 18:8 |
| 81 | Numbers 31:2 |
| 82 | Some printings read בְּפִיהֶם, a printers’ error. |
| 83 | I Samuel 1:17 |
| 84 | Exodus 15:5 |
| 85 | Exodus 15:5 |
| 86 | Exodus 15:10 |
| 87 | Psalms 49:7 |
| 88 | Ezekiel 26:7 |
| 89 | Isaiah 44:18 |
| 90 | Isaiah 42:13 |
| 91 | Psalms 79:6 |
| 92 | Psalms 83:13 |
| 93 | From the Avinu Malkenu litany |
| 94 | Psalms 37:15 |
| 95 | Psalms 17:13 |
| 96 | Psalms 141:10 |
| 97 | Judges 4:9 |
| 98 | Psalms 147:10 |
| 99 | From the Sephardic rite of the Nishmat Kol Ḥai liturgy |
| 100 | Psalms 39:13 |
| 101 | I Kings 8:54 |
| 102 | Genesis 38:14 |
| 103 | A reference to a midrash of the twenty-four ornaments of a bride, also found in Midrash Tanḥuma Ki Tisa 16:2 |
| 104 | Psalms 20:5 |
| 105 | Genesis 16:8 |
| 106 | Exodus 18:20 |
| 107 | Psalms 48:6 |
| 108 | Proverbs 22:20 |
| 109 | Psalms 116:8 |
| 110 | I Kings 1:3 |
| 111 | Esther 1:3 |
| 112 | Job 42:15 |
| 113 | Esther 5:1 |
| 114 | Ezekiel 18:32 |
| 115 | Some manuscripts read, וְאֶעֱבֹרְךָ֖ “and I would pass you,” which is gramatically more inconsistent since the verb לעבור is intransitive. |
| 116 | Psalms 102:27 |
| 117 | Deuteronomy 9:18 |
| 118 | Numbers 27:17 |
| 119 | Exodus 11:7 |
| 120 | Genesis 41:37 |
| 121 | I Samuel 25:32 |
| 122 | Ruth 1:16 |
| 123 | Esther 1:14 |
| 124 | Joshua 6:27 |
| 125 | II Kings 20:13, Isaiah 39:2 |
| 126 | Deuteronomy 12:17 |
| 127 | Genesis 42:4 |
| 128 | II Samuel 14:19 |
| 129 | Esther 5:1 |
| 130 | Esther 2:18 |
| 131 | Esther 2:14 |
| 132 | Genesis 37:14 |
| 133 | Alter’s translation of the Hebrew idiom, literally “come into.” As Alter puts it: “the term clearly refers not merely to sexual penetration but to the whole act of sexual consummation. It is used with great precision-not registered by biblical scholarship-to indicate a man’s having intercourse with a woman he has not yet had as a sexual partner, whether she is his wife, his concubine, or a whore.” |
| 134 | Isaiah 54:4 |
| 135 | Judges 21:25 |
| 136 | Ecclesiastes 8:3 |
| 137 | Genesis 38:19 |
| 138 | Esther 5:2 |
| 139 | Ecclesiastes 9:7 |
| 140 | Psalms 16:9 |
| 141 | Judges 4:19 |
| 142 | I Samuel 1:13 |
| 143 | Psalms 147:13 |
| 144 | Psalms 119:116 |
| 145 | Isaiah 1:6 |
| 146 | Isaiah 10:14 |
| 147 | Jeremiah 17:25 |
| 148 | Jeremiah 33:11 |
| 149 | Isaiah 26:2 |
| 150 | Isaiah 8:10 |
| 151 | I Samuel 14:45 |
| 152 | Job 32:16 |
| 153 | Psalms 68:34 |
| 154 | Psalms 147:12-13 |
| 155 | Genesis 24:27 |
| 156 | Judges 4:9 |
| 157 | Esther 8:1 |
| 158 | Psalms 106:1, Psalms 107:1, Psalms 118:1 and Psalms 29, and Psalms 136:1, and I Chronicles 16:34 |
| 159 | Psalms 44:17 |
| 160 | I Samuel 17:26 |
| 161 | Psalms 118:10 |
| 162 | Psalms 118:13 |
| 163 | Psalms 22:25 |
| 164 | Ruth 3:10 |
| 165 | Judges 5:24 |
| 166 | II Chronicles 2:11 |
| 167 | Esther 8:1 |
| 168 | Psalms 89:2 |
| 169 | Nehemiah 8:6 |
| 170 | Esther 7:9 |
| 171 | Judges 5:31 |
| 172 | I Chronicles 28:2 |
| 173 | Exodus 15:16 |
| 174 | Joshua 2:5 |
| 175 | Esther 2:14 |
| 176 | Numbers 24:10 |
| 177 | I Kings 18:27 |
| 178 | Genesis 15:12 |
| 179 | Exodus 12:30 |
| 180 | I Samuel 17:51 |
| 181 | Exodus 19:16 |
| 182 | Numbers 14:45 |
| 183 | II Chronicles 15:14 |
| 184 | Esther 7:9 |
| 185 | Genesis 17:12 |
| 186 | Ruth 2:12 |
| 187 | Exodus 15:20 |
| 188 | Psalms 106:1, Psalms 107:1, Psalms 118:1 and Psalms 118:29, and Psalms 136:1, and I Chronicles 16:34 |
| 189 | Judges 5:7 |
| 190 | Psalms 148:12 |
| 191 | Psalms 68:4 |
| 192 | Judges 5:1 |
| 193 | Exodus 15:1 |
| 194 | Psalms 33:3 |
| 195 | Exodus 15:3 |
| 196 | Psalms 145:10 |
| 197 | Psalms 33:9 |
| 198 | Psalms 97:5 |
| 199 | Exodus 15:6 |
| 200 | Exodus 15:11 |
| 201 | Judges 15:18 |
| 202 | I Samuel 6:15 |
| 203 | Judges 5:31 |
| 204 | Exodus 10:23 |
“💬 מַעֲשֵׂה היְהוּדִית | Ma’aseh haYehudit — the story of Judith as found in the Sefer Ḥemdat Yamim” is shared through the Open Siddur Project under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) 4.0 International copyleft license.
Leave a Reply