his presence, and to drink wine and be merry with us, and to be made this day as one of the daughters of the children of Asshur, which wait in the house of Nebuchadnezzar. 14 And Judith said unto him, And who am I, that I should gainsay my lord? for whatsoever shall be pleasing in his eyes I will do speedily, and this shall be my joy unto the day of my death. 15 And she arose, and decked herself with her apparel and all her woman's attire; and her servant went and laid fleeces on the ground for her over against Holofernes, which she had received of Bagoas for her daily use, that she might sit and eat upon them. 16 And Judith came in and sat down, and Holofernes' heart was ravished with her, and his soul was moved, and he desired exceedingly her company: and he was watching for a time to deceive her, from the day that he had seen her. 17 And Holofernes said unto her, Drink now, and be merry with us. 18 And Judith said, I will drink now, my lord, because my life is magnified in me this day more than all the days since I was born. 19 And she took and ate and drank before him what her servant Cp. Ecclus. had prepared. 20 And Holofernes took great delight in her, and drank exceeding much wine, more than he had drunk at any time in one day since he was born. Cp. 1 Esd. 4. 19, 27 & Ecclus. 9.8 & Matt. 5. 28. * Cp. ver. 2. 7 ch. 13. 2. 19. 2, m Cp. ch, 12. 10. " Cp. 1 Esd. 3. 3. ° ch. 12. 20. 31. 25. See 1 Esd. 3. 18. 13 But when the evening was come, mhis servants made haste to depart, and Bagoas shut the tent without, and dismissed them that waited from the presence of his lord; n and they went away to their beds: for they were all weary, because the feast had been long. But Judith was left alone in the tent, and Holofernes lying along upon his bed: for he was overCp. Ecclus. flown with wine. 3 And Judith had said to her servant that she should stand without her bedchamber, and wait for her coming forth, as she did daily for P Cp. ch. 12. she said she would go forth to her prayer; and she spake to Bagoas according to the same words. 4 And all went away from her presence, and none was left in the bedchamber, neither small nor great. And Judith, standing by his bed, said in her heart, O Lord God of all power, look in this hour upon the works of my hands for the exaltation of Jerusalem. 5 For now is the time to help thine inheritance, and to do the thing that I have purposed to the destruction of the enemies which are 6. ? ch. 9. 14. ch. 10. 8. Cp. ch. 12. 8. ® Cp. ch, 8. 32, t ch. 16. 9. risen up against us. 6 And she came to the rail of the bed, which was at Holofernes' head, and took down this scimitar from thence; 7 and she drew near unto the bed, and took hold of the hair of his Cp. 1 Sam. head, and said, Strengthen me, O Lord God of Israel, this day. 8 And she 17. 51 & 1 Macc. 7.47 & 2 Macc. 15.30. "ch. 10. 21 & 16. 19. him, 9 and tumbled his body down from the bed, and took down the canopy from the pillars; and after a little while she went forth, and gave Holofernes' head to her maid; 10 and she put it in wher bag of victuals: and they twain Cp. ch. 10. went forth together unto prayer, according to their custom: and they passed through the camp, and compassed that valley, and went up to the mountain of Bethulia, and came to the gates See ch. 4. thereof. 5. 6. y ch. 6. 16 & 8. 10. 7. 15. a See ch. 9. 10. II And Judith said afar off to the watchmen at the gates, Open, open now the gate: God is with us, even our God, to shew his power yet in Israel, and his might against the enemy, as he hath done even this day. 12 And it came to pass, when the men of her city heard her voice, they made haste to go down to the gate of their city, and they called together y the elders of the city. 13 And they ran all together, both small and great, for it was strange unto them that she was come: and they opened the gate, and received them, making a fire to give light, and compassed them round about. 14 And she said to them with a loud voice, Praise God, praise him: praise God, who hath not taken away his mercy Cp. 2 Sam. from the house of Israel, but hath destroyed our enemies by my hand this night. 15 And she took forth the head out of the bag, and shewed it, and said unto them, Behold, the head of Holofernes, the chief captain of the host of Asshur, and behold, the canopy, wherein he did lie in his drunkenness; and the Lord smote him aby the hand of a woman. 16 And as the Lord liveth, who preserved me in my way that I went, my countenance deceived him to his destruction, and he did not commit sin with me, to defile and shame me. 17 And all the people were exceedingly amazed, and bowed themselves, and worshipped See Ex. 4. God, and said with one accord, Blessed art thou, O our God, which hast this day brought to nought the enemies of thy people. 18 And Ozias said unto her, Blessed art thou, daughter, in the sight Cp. Judg. of the Most High God, above all the women upon the earth; and blessed is the Lord God, who created the heavens and the earth, who directed thee to the smiting of the head of the prince of our enemies. 19e For thy hope shall not depart from the heart of men that remember the strength of God for ever. 20 And God turn these things to thee for a perpetual praise, to visit thee with good things, because thou didst not spare thy life by reason of the affliction of our race, but didst avenge our fall, walking a straight way before our God. And all the people said, So be it, so be it. Hear me now, my brethren, and smote twice upon his neck with all her take this head, and hang it upon Cp. 2 Macc. might, and took away his head from the battlement of your wall. 2 And it 15. 35. ch. 10. 11. iCp. ch. 15. 2. See ch. 5. 5. * Cp. ch. 6. 10. {Cp. ch. 6. 21. m Cp. ch. 10. 23. shall be, so soon as the morning shall it, and went into the bedchamber, and that despised the house of Israel, and 15 kthat sent him to us, as it were to 6 And they called Achior out of the house of Ozias; but when he came, and saw the head of Holofernes in a man's hand in the assembly of the people, he fell upon his face, and his spirit failed. 7 But when they had recovered him, m he fell at Judith's feet, and did reverence unto her, and said, d Blessed art thou in every tent of Judah, and in every nation, which hearing thy name shall be troubled. 8 And now tell me all the things that thou hast done in these days. And Judith declared unto him in the midst of the people all the things that she had done, from the day that she went forth until the time that she spake unto them. 9 But when she left off speaking, the people shouted with a loud voice, and made a joyful noise in their city. 10 But when Achior saw all the things that the God of Israel had done, he believed in God exceedingly, Gen. 17.23. and circumcised the flesh of his foreskin, and was joined unto the house of Israel, unto this day. Ex. 12. 48. * See ch. 4. 7. P ch. 12. 11. 11 But as soon as the morning arose, they hanged the head of Holofernes upon the wall, and every man took up his weapons, and they went forth by bands unto the ascents of the mountain. 12 But when the children of Asshur saw them, they sent hither and thither to their leaders; but they went to their captains and tribunes, and to every one of their rulers. 13 And they came to Holofernes' tent, and said to him that was over all that he had, Waken now our lord: for the slaves have been bold to come down against us to battle, that they may be utterly destroyed. 14 And Bagoas went in, and knocked at the outer door of the tent; for he supposed that he was sleeping with Judith. 15 But when none hearkened to him, he opened 4 And See Gen. 37. 29. * Cp. ch. 10. t 20 & 12. 5. 3. Cp. ch. 7. 1. "See ch. 4. 6. And when they that were in the tents heard, they were amazed at the thing that was come to pass. 28 And trembling and fear fell upon them, Cp. ch. 14. and no man durst abide any more in the sight of his neighbour, but rushing out with one accord, they fled into every way of the plain and of the hill country. 3 And they that had encamped in the hill country round about "Bethulia fled away. And then the children of Israel, every one that was a warrior among them, rushed out upon them. Ozias sent to Betomasthaim, and Bebai, and w Chobai, and Chola, and to every coast of Israel, such as should tell concerning the things that had been accomplished, and that all should rush forth upon their enemies to destroy them. 5 But when the children of Israel heard, they all fell upon them with one accord, and smote them unto w Chobai: yea, and in like manner also they of Cp. 1 Macc. Jerusalem and of all the hill country came (for men had told them what things were come to pass in the camp of their enemies), and they that were in y Gilead ch. 1. 8. and in Galilee fell upon their flank with a great slaughter, until they were past Damascus and the borders thereof. 6a But the residue, that dwelt at u Bethulia, fell upon the camp of Asshur, and spoiled them, and were enriched exceedingly. 7 But the children of Israel returned from the slaughter, and gat possession of that which remained; and the villages and the cities, that were in the hill country and in the plain country, took many spoils: for there was an exceeding great store. She anointed her face with oint- And bound her hair in a tire, And took a linen garment to deceive 9 wHer sandal ravished his eye, exaltation of Jerusalem, thou art the great glory of Israel, thou art the great rejoicing of our race: 10 thou hast done all these things by thy hand: thou hast done with Israel the things that are good, and God is pleased therewith: blessed be thou with the Almighty Lord e See ch. 13. for evermore. e And all the people said, So be it. 11 a And the people spoiled the camp for the space of thirty days: and they gave unto Judith Holofernes' tent, and all his silver cups, and his beds, and his vessels, and all his furni-11 ture and she took them, and placed them on her mule, and made ready her wagons, and heaped them thereon. 20. f ch. 12. 1. See Judg. 11. 34. hCp.2 Macc. 10. 7. 10 12 12 And all the women of Israel ran together to see her; and they blessed her, and made a dance among them for her; and she took hbranches in her hand, and gave to the women that were Cp. ch. 3. 7. with her. 13 And they made themselves garlands of olive, she and they that were with her, and she went before all the 13 Cp. Ex. 15. people in the dance, leading all the women and all the men of Israel followed in their armour with garlands, and with songs in their mouths. 20. k Ps. 150. 4, 5. 7 ch. 9. 7. 2 Macc. 12. 28. m Cp. Ps. 34. 7. " See ch. 2. 21-27. “ Cp. ch. 2. 19, 20. F Cp. ch. 6. 4. ? See 2 Kin. 8. 12. * See ch. 9. 10. 32 Sam. 5. 18, 22 (Gk.). t Baruch 3. 26. u ch. 8. 1. ch. 10. 3. Cp. ch. 8. 5. 16 And Judith began to sing this Begin unto my God with timbrels, 3 For the Lord is the God that m For in his armies in the midst of He delivered me out of the hand of 4 " Asshur came out of the mountains • He came with ten thousands of his The multitude whereof stopped the And their horsemen covered the hills. cO Lord, thou art great and glorious, Cp. Ex. 15. 14 Let all thy creation serve thee: 15 eThou didst send forth thy spirit, and it builded them, And there is none that shall resist 11. d Cp. Ps. 33. 9. e Ps. 104. 30. For the mountains shall be moved Cp. 2 Sam. And the rocks shall melt as wax at thy presence: 22. 8, 16 9 But thou art yet merciful to them Cp. Ps. 103. 13. * Cp. Isai. 40. 16. i Cp. Eph. 5. 2 18. 24 & 25. 10. But he that feareth the Lord is great Ecclus. 10. Woe to the nations that rise up The Lord Almighty will take ven- "To put fire and worms in their flesh; * Cp. 2 Pet. 2.9 & 3. 7. 1 Job 14. 22. Isai. 66. 24. Ecclus. 7. 17. m Cp. Mark 9. 48. 18 Now when they came to Jerusalem, they worshipped God; and when the people were purified, they offered their whole burnt offerings, and their freewill offerings, and their gifts. 19 And Judith dedicated all the stuff of Holofernes, which the people had given her, and gave n the canopy, which she had taken" ch. 10. 21 for herself out of his bedchamber, for a gift unto the Lord. 20 And the people continued feasting in Jerusalem before See ch. 4. 8 For she put off the apparel of her the sanctuary for the space of three widowhood months, and Judith remained with them. For the exaltation of those that were 21 But after these days every one dedistressed in Israel, Nor did thigh giants set upon him: parted to his own inheritance, and Judith & 13. 9, 15. 13. 8 BOOK OF ESTHER, WHICH ARE FOUND NEITHER IN THE HEBREW, NOR IN THE CHALDEE. See ch. 11. 5-11. Cp. Deut. PART OF THE TENTH CHAPTER AFTER THE GREEK. 4 Then Mardocheus said, These IO things are of God. 5For I re member the dream which I saw concerning these matters, and nothing thereof hath failed. 6 As for the little fountain that became a river, and there was light, and the sun, and much water, the river is Esther, whom the king married, and made queen: 7 and the two dragons are I and Aman: 8 and the nations are those that were assembled Cp. Ps. 83. to destroy the name of the Jews: 9and my nation, this is Israel, which cried to God, and were saved: for the Lord hath saved his people, and the Lord hath delivered us from all these evils, and God hath wrought signs and great wonders, which have not been done among the nations. 10d Therefore hath he made two lots, one for the people of God, and another for all the nations. II And these two lots came at the hour, and time, and day of judgement, before God among all the nations. 12 So God remembered his people, and justified his Esth. 9. 15, inheritance. 13Therefore these days shall be unto them in the month Adar, the fourteenth and fifteenth day of the month, with an assembly, and joy, and with gladness before God, throughout the generations for ever among his people Israel. 4. 32, 34. See Ex. 7. 3. d Cp. Esth. 3.7 & 9. 24. 21, 28. 18 & 10. 51, 55, 57 In the fourth year of the reign 11 Mace. 1. II of Ptolemy and Cleopatra, Dositheus, who said he was a priest and Levite, and Ptolemy his son, brought g the epistle of Phrurai here set forth, which they said was the same, and that Lysimachus the son of Ptolemy, that was in Jerusalem, had interpreted it. & 11. 8, 13, 15, 17, 18. Cp. Esth. 9. 20, 26. 21 In the second year of the reign of Artaxerxes the great, in the first day of the month Nisan, i Mardocheus the son Cp. Esth. 3. 7. Esth. 2. 5. ch. 10. 5. See Neh. 1. 1. See Esth. 2. 6. m ch. 10. 7. of Jairus, the son of Semeias, the son of Kiseus, of the tribe of Benjamin, had a dream; 3 who was a Jew, and dwelt in the city of Susa, a great man, being a servitor in the king's court; 4'and he was of the captivity, which Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon carried from Jerusalem with Jechonias king of Judæa; and this was his dream: 5 Behold, 2noise and tumult, thunderings and earthquake, and uproar upon the earth: 6 and, behold, m two great dragons came forth, both of them ready to fight, and their cry was great. 7 And at their cry all nations were ready to battle, that they might fight against n the righteous nation. 8 And, lo, a day of darkness and gloominess, tribulation and anguish, affliction and great uproar upon the earth. 9 And the whole righteous nation was troubled, fearing the evils that should befall them, and were ready to perish. 10 Then they cried unto God, and upon their cry, as it were from a little fountain, there came a great Priver, ch. 10. 6. even much water. II The light and the sun rose up, and the lowly were exalted, and devoured the glorious. 12 Now when Mardocheus, who had seen this dream, and what God had determined to do, was awake, he bare it in mind, and until night by all means was desirous to know it. And Mardo I 12 cheus took his rest in the court n Cp. Wisdom 10. 15. See Ex. 19. 6. • Cp. Joel 2.2 & Zeph. 1. 15. ? See 1 Sam. 2. 8. 2. 21. with Gabatha and rTharra, the Cp. Esth. two eunuchs of the king, that were keepers of the court. And he heard their communings, and searched out their purposes, and learned that they 2 Another reading is, a noise of a tumult. 1 The beginning of the first chapter after the Greek. Cp. Esth. 2. 22. were about to lay hands upon Artaxerxes the king; and he certified the king of them. 3 Then the king examined Esth. 2. 23. the two eunuchs, and after that they had confessed it, they were led to execution. 4t And the king wrote these things for a memorial; Mardocheus also wrote concerning these things. 5 So the king commanded Mardocheus to serve in the court, and for this he gave him gifts. 6 Howbeit Aman the son of Amadathus, ua Bugean, who was in great honour with the king, "sought to molest Mardocheus and his people because of the two eunuchs of the king. " Cp. ch. 16. 10 & Esth. 3.1. "Cp. Esth. 3. 6. w ch. 16. 1. Cp. Esth. 1. 1 & 3. 12. 1. 1. y See Judith 2. 5. * Cp. ch. 16. 8. 11Now this is the copy of the 5. 16. 13, 14. unto the Lord, calling to remembrance 13 letter: The great king Artaxerxes for the salvation of Israel to kiss the writeth these things to the princes of a hundred and seven and twenty * See Esth. provinces from India unto Ethiopia, and to the governors that are set under them. 2 After that I became lord over many nations, and had dominion over the whole world, not lifted up with presumption of my authority, but carrying myself alway with equity and mildness, I purposed to settle my subjects continually in a quiet life, and making my kingdom peaceable, and open for passage to the utmost coasts, to renew peace, which is desired of all men. 3 Now when I asked my counsellors how this might be brought to pass, Aman, that excelled in wisdom among us, and was approved for his constant good will and stedfast fidelity, and a had the honour of the second place in the kingdom, 4 declared unto us, that in all Esth. 3. 8. nations throughout the world there a ch. 16. 11. Cp. ver. 6 & Esth. 10. 3. 5. 9. 3. Ps. 47. 9. k Joel 2. 17. 2 Esd. 8. 45. soles of his feet. 14 But I did this, that 18 And all Israel cried out mightily, was scattered a certain malignant peo-14 seized as it were with the agony Deut. 32. 9. " Cp. Jer. 31. 13. 9.38. ple, that had laws contrary to all nations, of death, resorted unto the Lord: and continually set aside the command- and laid away her glorious apparel, ments of kings, so as the uniting of our and put on the garments of anguish kingdoms, honourably intended by us, and mourning; and instead of the most cannot go forward. 5 Seeing then we excellent ointments, Pshe covered her Cp. 2 Esd. understand that this nation is alone head with ashes and dung, and she continually in opposition unto all men, humbled her body greatly, and all the following perversely a life which is places of the ornaments of her joy she strange to our laws, and evil affected covered with her tangled hair. 3 And to our state, working all the mischief she prayed unto the Lord, the God of they can, that our kingdom may not be Israel, saying, O my Lord, thou only firmly stablished: 6 therefore have we art our King: help me that am desolate commanded, that they that are signified and have no other helper but thee: in writing unto you by Aman, who is 49 for my danger is in mine hand. See Judg. ordained over the affairs, cand is a 5 From my youth up I have heard in the Cp. Gen. 45. second father unto us, shall all, with tribe of my family, that thou, O Lord, their wives and children, be utterly de- rtookest Israel from among all the nastroyed by the sword of their enemies, tions, and sour fathers from all their without all mercy and pity, the four-progenitors, for a perpetual inheritance, teenth day of the twelfth month Adar and didst perform for them whatsoever of this present year: 7 that they, who of thou didst promise. 6 And now we have old and now also are malicious, may in sinned before thee, and thou hast given one day with violence go down to 2 the us into the hands of our enemies, 7 begrave, and so ever hereafter cause our cause we glorified their gods: "O Lord, affairs to be well settled, and without thou art righteous. 8 Nevertheless it trouble. satisfieth them not, that we are in bitter captivity: but "they have stricken hands |