The Israelites assault the Assyrians, who finding their general slain, are seized with a panic fear.
Holofernes head is hanged on the wall. 6. Achior is circumcised, 7. The Israeelites assault the Assyrians, 8. who going to awake their General, 14. finde him slaine, 17, and are al confounded with feare.
1And Judith said to all the people: Hear me, my brethren, hang ye up this head upon our walls.Allora Giuditta disse a tutto il popolo; Ascoltate me, o fratelli sospendete questa testa dalle nostre mura;AND Iudith said to al the people: Heare me brethren, hang ye this head vpon our walles:Dixit autem Judith ad omnem populum: Audite me, fratres: suspendite caput hoc super muros nostros: 2And as soon as the sun shall rise, let every man take his arms, and rush ye out, not as going down beneath, but as making an assault.È tosto che spunterà il sole prenda ognuno le sue armi, e uscite con gran fracasso non per iscendere a basso, ma come se fosse per venire alle mani.and it shal be, when the sunne shal rise, let euerie man take his armour, and yssue ye forth with violence, not that you goe downe beneath, but as it were inuading violently.et erit, cum exierit sol, accipiat unusquisque arma sua, et exite cum impetu, non ut descendatis deorsum, sed quasi impetum facientes. 3Then the watchmen must needs run to awake their prince for the battle.Allora necessariamente gli esploratori andranno a svegliare il lor comandante per la battaglia.Then the watchmen must of necessitie runne to rayse vp their prince to battel.Tunc exploratores necesse erit ut fugiant ad principem suum excitandum ad pugnam. 4And when the captains of them shall run to the tent of Holofernes, and shall find him without his head wallowing in his blood, fear shall fall upon them.E quando i capitani accorsi al padiglione di Oloferne troveranno il tronco busto involto nel proprio sangue, saran presi dallo spavento;And when the captaynces of them shal runne to the tabernacle of Holofernes, and shal finde him headles rowled in bloud, feare wil fal vpon them.Cumque duces eorum cucurrerint ad tabernaculum Holofernis, et invenerint eum truncum in suo sanguine volutatum, decidet super eos timor. 5And when you shall know that they are fleeing, go after them securely, for the Lord will destroy them under your feet.E quando vi accorgerete, che si danno alla fuga, andate francamente dietro ad essi, perchè il Signore farà, che li calpestiate coi vostri piedi.And when you shal know that they flee, goe after them securely, because our Lord wil destroy them vnder your feete.Cumque cognoveritis fugere eos, ite post illos securi, quoniam Dominus conteret eos sub pedibus vestris. 6Then Achior seeing the power that the God of Israel had wrought, leaving the religion of the Gentiles, he believed God, and circumcised the flesh of his foreskin, and was joined to the people of Israel, with all the succession of his kindred until this present day.Allora Achior veggendo il prodigio operato da Dio a favor d'Israello, abbandonati i riti gentileschi credette in Dio, e si circoncise, ed entrò nel popolo d'Israele, come vi è anche in oggi tutta la sua discendenza.Then Achior seeing the power, that God of Israel wrought, forsaking the rite of gentilitie, beleued God, and circuncided the flesh of his prepuce, and was ioyned to the people of Israel, and al the succession of his kinred vntil this present day.Tunc Achior, videns virtutem quam fecit Deus Israël, relicto gentilitatis ritu, credidit Deo, et circumcidit carnem præputii sui, et appositus est ad populum Israël, et omnis successio generis ejus usque in hodiernum diem.
7And immediately at break of day, they hung up the head of Holofernes upon the walls, and every man took his arms, and they went out with a great noise and shouting.Ma di lì a poco fattosi giorno sospesero dalle mura la testa di Oloferne, e ognuno prese le tue armi, e usciron fuori con fracasso, e strida grandi.And immediatly as day brake, they hong the head of Holofernes vpon the walles, and euerie man tooke his armour, and they went forth with great noyse and shouting.Mox autem ut ortus est dies, suspenderunt super muros caput Holofernis, accepitque unusquisque vir arma sua, et egressi sunt cum grandi strepitu et ululatu. 8And the watchmen seeing this, ran to the tent of Holofernes.Lo che avendo veduto gli esploratori corsero al padiglione di Oloferne.Which the watchmen seing, ranne to the tabernacle of Holofernes.Quod videntes exploratores, ad tabernaculum Holofernis cucurrerunt. 9And they that were in the tent came, and made a noise, before the door of the chamber to awake him, endeavouring by art to break his rest, that Holofernes might awake, not by their calling him, but by their noise.Or quelli, che erano nel padiglione accostatisi alla porta della camera facevano del rumore per isvegliarlo, procurando con arte di rompergli il sonno, affinchè senza esser chiamato si scuotesse al frastuono Oloferme.Moreouer they that were in the tabernacle, coming, and before the dore of the tabernacle making a noyse, to rayse him, they endeuored by art to disquiet him, that Holofernes might awake not by them raysing him, but by them making a noyse.Porro hi qui in tabernaculo erant, venientes, et ante ingressum cubiculi perstrepentes, excitandi gratia, inquietudinem arte moliebantur, ut non ab excitantibus, sed a sonantibus Holofernes evigilaret. 10For no man durst knock, or open and go into the chamber of the general of the Assyrians.Perocché nissuno aveva ardimento di aprire, o di battere alla porta del comandante degli Assiri.For no man durst by knocking, or entring, to open the chamber of the chiefe of the Assyrians.Nullus enim audebat cubiculum virtutis Assyriorum pulsando aut intrando aperire. 11But when his captains and tribunes were come, and all the chiefs of the army of the king of the Assyrians, they said to the chamberlains:Ma essendosi là raunati i capitani, e i tribuni, e tutti i grandi dell'esercito del re Assiro, dissero ai camerieri:But when his dukes and tribunes were come, and al the chiefe of the armie of the king of the Assyrians, they said to the chamberlayns:Sed cum venissent ejus duces ac tribuni, et universi majores exercitus regis Assyriorum, dixerunt cubiculariis:
12Go in, and awake him, for the mice, coming out of their holes, have presumed to challenge us to fight.Entrate dentro, e svegliatelo, imperciocché quei topi usciti dalle loro buche ardiscono di provocarci a battaglia.Goe in, and awake him, becaufe the mice yssuing out of their holes, haue presumed to prouoke vs to battel.Intrate, et excitate illum, quoniam egressi mures de cavernis suis, ausi sunt provocare nos ad prælium. 13Then Vagao going into his chamber, stood before the curtain, and made a clapping with his hands: for he thought that he was sleeping with Judith.Allora Vagao entrato nella camera si fermò dinanzi al cortinaggio, e battè insieme le mani, perocchè egli si immaginava, che fosse con Giuditta.Then Vagao entring into his chamber, stoode before the cortine, and made a clapping with his handes: for he thought that he slept with Iudith.Tunc ingressus Vagao cubiculum ejus, stetit ante cortinam, et plausum fecit manibus suis: suspicabatur enim illum cum Judith dormire. 14But when with hearkening, he perceived no motion of one lying, he came near to the curtain, and lifting it up, and seeing the body of Holofernes, lying upon the ground, without the head, weltering in his blood, he cried out with a loud voice, with weeping, and rent his garments.Ma benchè stesse con le orecchie tese, non sentendo movimento nissuno di un che dormisse, si accostò dappresso alla portiera, e alzatala vide il cadavere di Oloferne senza la testa steso per terra, bagnato del proprio sangue, esclamò ad alta voce piangendo, e straccio le sue vesti.But when with the sense of his eares he percieued no motion of person lying, he came neere to the cortine, and lifting it vp, and seing the bodie without the head of Holofernes weltred in his bloud lye vpon the ground, cried out in a lowd voyce with weeping, and rent his garmentes.Sed cum nullum motum jacentis sensu aurium caperet, accessit proximans ad cortinam, et elevans eam, vidensque cadaver absque capite Holofernis in suo sanguine tabefactum jacere super terram, exclamavit voce magna cum fletu, et scidit vestimenta sua. 15And he went into the tent of Judith, and not finding her, he ran out to the people,Ed essendo entrato nel padiglione di Giuditta non ve la trovò e corse fuori a dire a quelli:And going into the tabernacle of Iudith, he found her not, and he lept forth to the people,Et ingressus tabernaculum Judith, non invenit eam, et exiliit foras ad populum, 16And said: One Hebrew woman hath made confusion in the house of king Nabuchodonosor: for behold Holofernes lieth upon the ground, and his head is not upon him.Una donna Ebrea ha messa a soqquadro la casa del re Nabuchodonosor: imperocchè ecco la Oloferne steso per terra e senza testa.and sayd: One Hebrewe woman hath made confusion in the house of king Nabuchodonosor: for behold Holofernes lyeth vpon the ground, and his head is not vpon him.et dixit: Una mulier hebræa fecit confusionem in domo regis Nabuchodonosor: ecce enim Holofernes jacet in terra, et caput ejus non est in illo.
17Now when the chiefs of the army of the Assyrians had heard this, they all rent their garments, and an intolerable fear and dread fell upon them, and their minds were troubled exceedingly.All'udire tal cosa tutti i capi dell'esercito Assiro stracciarono le loro vesti, e timore, e tremore eccessivo gli invase, e grandissimo fu il turbamento degli animi loro,Which when the princes of the power of the Assyrians had heard, they al rent their garmentes, and intollerable feare and dread fel vpon them, and theit mindes were trubled excedingly.Quod cum audissent principes virtutis Assyriorum, sciderunt omnes vestimenta sua, et intolerabilis timor et tremor cecidit super eos, et turbati sunt animi eorum valde. 18And there was a very great cry in the midst of their camp.E incredibili furon le strida nel loro campo.And there was made an incomparable crie in the middes of their campe.Et factus est clamor incomparabilis in medio castrorum eorum.
14:1
Haydock
Walls. Greek adds, "upon the pinnacle." (Haydock)
14:2
Haydock
Beneath. Into the valley; but make your appearance just out of the walls, as if you were rushing upon the enemy. Greek adds after arms, "and you shall appoint a leader over them, as if descending into the plain to the advanced guard of the Assyrians; but ye shall not go down. Then these seizing all their armour, will go to the camp, and awaken the leaders of the Assyrians, and they will run to the tent of Holofernes, and shall not find him. Then fear shall seize upon them, and they will flee before us. Whereupon ye, and all who inhabit the confines of Israel, shall follow after, and strew them in their paths," slain and wounded, ver. 6. (Haydock)
14:6
Then. Greek, etc., "But before ye do this, call to me Achior, the Ammonite, that seeing, he may recognize the contemner of the house of Israel, and the man who sent him away to us unto certain death. And they called Achior from the house of Ozias. But as soon as he came, and saw the head of Holofernes in the hand of one of the assembly of the people, he fell," etc., as [in] Judith 13:29, 30. "Blessed art thou in every tent of Juda, and in every nation. All who shall hear thy name shall be amazed. But now tell me what thou hast done during these days. And Judith, in the midst of the people, informed him of all that she had performed, since the day of her departure till the time when she was speaking. She had no sooner ended her speech, than all the people set up a loud shout of joy in their city. Then," etc.
Haydock
Leaving. Greek, "He believed in God greatly," or with the utmost sincerity. (Haydock)
Grotius
Hitherto Achior had only considered the Deity as the peculiar God of Israel, (Calmet) or as the common gods "revered by all nations;" (Virgil xii.; Servius) but not as the only supreme Being. He now becomes a proselyte, not merely, like Naaman, to adore one God; but also to observe all the rites of the Jewish religion. The latter was a matter of choice, Judith 6:18. It is not still clear that he could enjoy the privileges of the nation as a magistrate, or even marry, (Calmet) which shews his greater fervour. (Grotius)
Menochius
It is certain that no nation could be forbidden to worship God, Deuteronomy 23:3. St. Thomas Aquinas (1. 2. q. 105. a. 3.) believes that a dispensation was granted to Achior, (Calmet) so that he might be treated like an Israelite in all respects. (Serarius q. 1.) (Menochius)
Worthington
This evinces that only the impenitent Ammonites, etc., were excluded from the Church. (Worthington)
With. Greek, "till this day."
14:7
With. Greek, "In companies, to the ascent of the mountain."
14:8
Haydock
Ran. Greek, "Sent to their officers. But they went to the leaders and captains of thousands, and to every chief among them, and they proceeded to the tent of Holofernes, and said to his chief steward: Awaken now our lord, for the slaves have been so bold as to come down to offer us battle for their utter ruin. The Bagoas," etc., ver. 13. (Haydock)
14:12
Menochius
Mice. They speak contemptuously of their foes, like the Philistines, 1 Kings 14:11. (Menochius)
14:13
Into. Greek, "In, knocked at the hall, (aule, or antichamber) of the tent, for he suspected that he was sleeping with Judith. But as no one answered, he opened and went into the bed-chamber, and found him thrown upon the floor, dead, and his head taken from him, and he cried," etc.
Calmet
Curtain, which separated this apartment from the rest, (Haydock) and hung before the door, as Heraclides describes the tent of the Persian kings. Holofernes assumed the like importance, and was treated almost as a deity. (Calmet)
Haydock
Hence he must not be awaked, in a rude manner. (Haydock)
Calmet
Civility requires that we should knock modestly at the doors of the great. (Calmet)
14:16
Haydock
Said. Greek, "cried aloud, the slaves have prevaricated. One," etc. (Haydock)
Calmet
Perhaps he thought that Judith had introduced some of the Jews. (Calmet)
14:18
Haydock
Cry. Greek adds, "and shouting of them (the captains) in," etc. (Haydock)
14:6
Achior an Ammonite. (ch. 5. v. 5.) being truly conuerted and beleeuing in God, was admitted into the Church, notwithstanding that Ammonites and Moabites were excluded by name, Deut. 23. v. 3. which is therfore ment only of those that persist impenitent and obstinate.
14:1
1. AND JUDITH SAID: HANG HIS HEAD UPON THE WALLS, — so that the Assyrians, seeing their leader slain, may be struck with terror and flee. 2. AND IT SHALL BE, WHEN THE SUN SHALL RISE, LET EVERY ONE OF YOU TAKE UP HIS ARMS, AND GO OUT WITH FORCE, NOT AS IF YOU WERE TO GO DOWN (to true and serious battle with the Assyrians, far more powerful), BUT AS IF YOU WERE MAKING AN ASSAULT, — that is, as if making an impression upon the nearest enemy encampment, as if to say, Do not engage in full battle array, since you are few against innumerable foes, but pretend that you wish to engage, so that the Assyrians may flee to Holofernes, that he may draw up his line of battle, and seeing him slain may be confounded and flee. For Judith did not wish the Assyrians to be attacked before the death of Holofernes had become widely known, and had rendered the Assyrians destitute of courage and counsel; but after this was done, she ordered them to fall upon the fearful and fleeing with all their strength and forces. For if they had given time to the Assyrians, they could have chosen another leader by common counsel, who would continue the siege of Bethulia; and thus they might have taken the city exhausted by famine and thirst. But Judith, prudently foreseeing this, ordered that with the death of Holofernes made public, they should suddenly swoop down upon the struck and routed foe with all their might and battalions. When this was done, the enemies, stupefied and fleeing, were defeated and slain by the Hebrews. Behold therefore here the prudence and military skill of Judith, who pursued the victory she had begun to its end; wherefore she was more prudent than Hannibal, who, when he had utterly defeated the Romans in the battle of Cannae, and Maharbal the prefect of cavalry urged him to march immediately to Rome; for without doubt he would take it struck as it was, and dine in the Capitol on the fifth day, when Hannibal delayed and said that this matter should be thought over more carefully, Maharbal replied: "You know how to win, Hannibal, but you do not know how to use victory." Thus Livy, book XXII. Hear St. Ambrose in the book On Widows: "Nor was this work of the right hand alone, but greater trophies of wisdom. For with her hand alone she conquered Holofernes, but by counsel she conquered the entire army of the enemy. For with the head of Holofernes hung up, which could not have been devised by the counsel of men, she raised the spirits of her own people, she broke those of the enemy: stirring up her own with shame, and striking the enemies with terror, and by this they were slain and put to flight. Thus the temperance and sobriety of one widow not only conquered her own nature, but what is more, made even stronger men. " In like manner David, having cut off the head of Goliath and shown it to the Philistines, struck them with terror and put them to flight, I Kings XVII. The same did Judas Maccabeus, having cut off and hung up from the citadel of Sion the head of Nicanor, II Maccabees XV, 35. Thus also M. Livy and Claudius Nero, Roman Consuls, having slain Asdrubal with 56,000 Carthaginians, and his head having been unexpectedly thrown before the camp of his brother Hannibal, struck him so with terror that he said the fortune of the Carthaginians was finished; and immediately fleeing to a corner of Italy he withdrew to the Bruttii, as Livy testifies at the end of book XXVI.
14:6
6. THEN ACHIOR, SEEING THE VIRTUE (the power and strength, namely so strong, prodigious and divine a victory from the slain Holofernes), WHICH GOD WROUGHT FOR ISRAEL (in Greek, of Israel, that is, of the people of Israel), LEAVING THE CUSTOM OF GENTILITY (idolatry and paganism), BELIEVED IN GOD, AND CIRCUMCISED (not by his own hand, but by the hand of some Levite) THE FLESH OF HIS FORESKIN, — becoming a proselyte and a Jew; for although the Ammonites, Arabs, Phoenicians, Egyptians, Ethiopians had already long ago received circumcision from Abraham and the Jews, yet they received it as free, not as binding and necessary, as the Hebrews received it from God commanding it. Whence many did not circumcise themselves on account of shame and the pain of circumcision: wherefore gradually circumcision among them as it were vanished. Achior therefore, although an Ammonite, was uncircumcised, but by this deed converted to Judaism, he circumcised himself. For circumcision was a profession of Judaism and of the Mosaic law, as baptism now is a profession of Christianity and of the Evangelical law. AND HE WAS JOINED TO THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL, — so that as it were a citizen of the Israelites he might have civil rights to all their privileges, rights, dignities and magistracies. For although God had forbidden in Deuteronomy XXIII, 3, that Ammonites and Moabites be admitted into the assembly of Israel, yet in this law he permitted a dispensation on account of signal merits toward Israel, such as were those of Achior, who before Holofernes had publicly professed God's providence and protection toward Israel, and had celebrated it with worthy praises. Thus Ruth the Moabitess was admitted into the assembly of Israel, and marrying Booz, became the grandmother of David and thence of Christ. For this to be God's will the lawyers, or Prophets, or Pontiffs answered, consulting God through the Urim and Thummim, concerning which I have spoken in Exodus chapter XXVIII, verse 28.
14:10
10. FOR NO ONE DARED TO OPEN THE CHAMBER OF THE VIRTUE OF THE ASSYRIANS BY KNOCKING OR ENTERING. — "Of the virtue," that is, of the power and majesty "of the Assyrians," thus they call their leader and prince Holofernes. As we call the king or prince the Royal Majesty, his Highness, his Excellency.
14:12
12. MICE CAME FORTH FROM THEIR HOLES. — Thus in contempt they also call the Jews, as if unarmed and unwarlike, but these mice they soon found to have become lions, who would prostrate their elephants.
14:13
13. THEN VAGAO ENTERED HIS CHAMBER AND STOOD BEFORE THE CURTAIN. BEFORE THE CURTAIN. — For the princes of the Assyrians and Persians so carefully maintained their gravity and majesty that they spoke only through a curtain and gave their answers, as the kings of China still do. Whence Athenaeus, book IV, chapter VI, relates from Heraclides that princes, invited by the king of Persia to a banquet, dined in the same chamber with him, but with a veil interposed, so that they could not be seen by him, although he could easily see them.
14:14
14. THE CORPSE, etc., LAY UPON THE GROUND, — The Greek [version says] upon the bed, or the bed here was the ground near the bed, as the Greek [versions] have, verse 16.
14:16
16. ONE HEBREW WOMAN WROUGHT CONFUSION IN THE KING'S HOUSE, — by killing the prince she threw the whole camp into confusion, struck it, and disturbed it. See here the prudence of Judith, who sought the head of the leader: for with him removed she removed the whole camp. For a camp without a leader is the same as a people without a king, sheep without a shepherd, disciples without a master, children without a father, citizens without a consul. Whence Tarquinius, king of the Romans, cutting off the heads of poppies in a garden, signified by this very act to his son, who had pretended to desert to the Gabii, by a messenger, that the heads of the leaders of the Gabii were to be removed: which done, the Gabii, as it were headless, surrendered themselves to Tarquinius, as Livy testifies. The doctors apply this sign mystically to the Blessed Virgin, who, crushing the head of the infernal Dragon, utterly destroyed all the host of his infernal spirits.
Machine translation from the Latin, not reviewed.
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · Vulgata Clementina · original Douay-Rheims (Douay 1609-10), transcription by EEBO-TCP (CC0) · La Sacra Bibbia, tradotta dalla Volgata da Antonio Martini (1769-1781) (LaParola (laparola.net), Martini OSIS text, Public domain (LaParola's electronic edition marks it 'Dominio pubblico')). Public domain.