Yudit (Judith) — 8
The Character of Yudit
1 At that time Yudit heard about these things: she was the daughter of Marari the son of Ox, son of Ya'asaf, son of Uzial, son of Alkyahu, son of Ananyas, son of Gidaun, son of Raphaim, son of Ahitub, son of Aliyahu, son of Hilkyahu, son of Aliab, son of Nathanaal, son of Salamial, son of Sarasadai, son of Yashar'AL.
2 Her husband Manassah, who belonged to her tribe and family, had died during the barley harvest.
3 For as he stood overseeing the men who were binding sheaves in the field, he was overcome by the burning heat, and took to his bed and died in Bathulia his city. So they buried him with his fathers in the field between Duthan and Balamon.
4 Yudit had lived at home as a widow for three years and four months.
5 She set up a tent for herself on the roof of her house, and girded sackcloth about her loins and wore the garments of her widowhood.
6 She fasted all the days of her widowhood, except the day before the Shabbat and the Shabbat itself, the day before the new moon and the day of the new moon, and the feasts and days of rejoicing of the house of Yashar'AL.
7 She was beautiful in appearance, and had a very lovely face; and her husband Manassah had left her gold and silver, and men and women slaves, and cattle, and fields; and she maintained this estate.
8 No one spoke ill of her, for she feared 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH with great devotion.
Yudit and the Elders
9 When Yudit heard the wicked words spoken by the people against the ruler, because they were faint for lack of water, and when she heard all that Uzzyahu said to them, and how he promised them under oath to surrender the city to the Assyrians after five days,
10 she sent her maid, who was in charge of all she possessed, to summon Chabris and Charmis, the elders of her city.
11 They came to her, and she said to them, “Listen to me, rulers of the people of Bathulia! What you have said to the people today is not right; you have even sworn and pronounced this oath between 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH and you, promising to surrender the city to our enemies unless 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH turns and helps us within so many days.
12 Who are you, that have put 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH to the test this day, and are setting yourselves up in the place of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH among the sons of men?
13 You are putting 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH Tsaba'ut to the test, but you will never know anything!
14 You cannot plumb the depths of the heart of man, nor find out what a man is thinking; how do you expect to search out 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, who made all these things, and find out His mind or comprehend his thought? No, my brethren, do not provoke 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH our 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH to anger.
15 For if he does not choose to help us within these five days, 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH has power to protect us within any time He pleases, or even to destroy us in the presence of our enemies.
16 Do not try to bind the purposes of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH our 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH; for 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH is not like man, to be threatened, nor like a man, to be won over by pleading.
17 Therefore, while we wait for his deliverance, let us call upon 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH to help us, and He will hear our voice, if it pleases Him.
18 “For never in our generation, nor in these present days, has there been any tribe or family or people or city of ours which worshiped idols made with hands, as was done in days gone by
19 and that was why our fathers were handed over to the sword, and to be plundered, and so they suffered a great catastrophe before our enemies.
20 But we know no other Mighty One but 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, and therefore we hope that 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH will not disdain us or our nation.
21 For if we are captured all Yahudah will be captured and our sanctuary will be plundered; and 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH will exact of us the penalty for its desecration.
22 And the slaughter of our brethren and the captivity of the land and the desolation of our inheritance, all this 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH will bring upon our heads among the other nations, wherever we serve as slaves; and we shall be an offense and a reproach in the eyes of those who acquire us.
23 For our slavery will not bring us into favor, but 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH our 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH will turn it to dishonor.
24 “Now therefore, brethren, let us set an example to our brethren, for their lives depend upon us, and the sanctuary and the temple and the altar rest upon us.
25 In spite of everything let us give TUDAH (thanks) to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH our 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH, who is putting us to the test as 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH did our forefathers.
26 Remember what 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH did with Abraham, and how 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH tested Yachaq, and what happened to Ya'aqub in Masuputamia in Syria, while he was keeping the sheep of Laban, his mother’s brother.
27 For 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH has not tried us with fire, as 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH did them, to search their hearts, or has 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH taken revenge upon us; but 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH scourges those who draw near to him, in order to admonish them.”
28 Then Uzzyahu said to her, “All that you have said has been spoken out of a true heart, and there is no one who can deny your words.
29 Today is not the first time your wisdom has been shown, but from the beginning of your life all the people have recognized your understanding, for your heart’s disposition is right.
30 But the people were very thirsty, and they compelled us to do for them what we have promised, and made us take an oath which we cannot break.
31 So pray for us, since you are a devout woman, and 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH will send us rain to fill our cisterns and we will no longer be faint.”
32 Yudit said to them, “Listen to me. I am about to do a thing which will go down through all generations of our descendants.
33 Stand at the city gate tonight, and I will go out with my maid; and within the days after which you have promised to surrender the city to our enemies, 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH will deliver Yashar'AL by my hand.
34 Only, do not try to find out what I plan; for I will not tell you until I have finished what I am about to do.”
35 Uzzyahu and the rulers said to her, “Go in Shalum, and may 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH your 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH go before you, to take revenge upon our enemies.”
36 So they returned from the tent and went to their posts.