*Sacred Scripture* Judith with her Maid – Ghirlandaio
April 16
Judith of the old Testament, having beheaded the Assyrian general Holofernes to save her people, leaves the general’s tent, accompanied by her maid, who carries the severed head of Holofernes in a basket. Judith looks at the head, in the basket atop her servant’s head, while carrying her sword. This artwork is by Ghirlandaio.
Story of Judith and Holofernes
This Jewish narrative begins with the attempted siege of Bethulia, an Israelite city, by the Assyrian army, conquering their way to Jerusalem. Judith, a widow living in Bethulia, offers herself up in order to combat the surrender of her people. Accompanied by her maidservant Abra, Judith accepts an invitation to a secluded feast from the Assyrian general Holofernes. His desire to lay with Judith, upon donning her finest garments, along with the large consumption of alcohol ultimately lead to his demise. Once asleep in his bed chamber, Judith arms herself and has Abra keep watch outside. The Hebrew heroine beheads Holofernes and brings the severed head to her people, where they rejoice over her victory. News travels through the ranks of Holofernes’ death, leading to the Assyrian army’s defeat at the hands of the Bethulians.
The artist: Artemisia Gentileschi
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemisia_Gentileschi
*Gentileschi composed a scene not of triumph, or even detachment, rather it is one of suspense. These two women, Judith and Her Maidservant, have finished the first part of their plan, and now they need to get away with it.
*It is the suspense, the emotion of the painting and the painter behind it, that sets the scene apart from other religious paintings.
*It has not just a real feeling of revenge, but the thrill of these two characters finding themselves in a position of only being halfway there. Sure, they have his head, but it won’t matter much if they don’t escape.
A Strong Woman: The blessed Judith
Few biblical characters have fascinated Jews and Christians as much a Judith of Bethulia. As early as the first century Christian, Clement considered the “blessed Judith” to be a model of God given virtue and piety (1 Clement 55).
The Book of Judith falls into two basic parts. The first part describes the war of the “Assyrians” against the Jews (chapters 1-7); the second relates the deliverance wrought by God through the widow Judith (chapters 8-16).
Hostilities had broken out between the Assyrians and the Medes. Nebuchadnezzar, who is pictured as ruling the Assyrians, calls on the western nations to help him against his enemies, however, they refused. Angry and vowing to take revenge on them – including the Jews. After defeating the Medes Nebuchadnezzar decides to destroy those who wished his downfall in the west. He sends out his General, Holofernes, with 120.000 men and a further 12,000 cavalry. Soon the nations were frightened into submission.
Judith prays. She emphasizes her weakness and vulnerability but also expresses amazing confidence in the God who is “God of the lowly, helper of the oppressed, upholder of the weak” (9.11). She concludes her prayer by bringing to expression the main issue, her the manifestation of who truly is God in this world (9.14).
Judith ends up using the weakness of Holofernes, his arrogance and his desire for her beauty, to bring him down. In one of the most painted scenes in western art, Judith decapitates a drunken Holofernes. Judith frankly acknowledges, “It was my face that tricked him to his destruction, and yet he committed no act of sin with me, to defile or shame me” (13.16). Thus God wrought a powerful victory through the most unlikely of place for his people. It is a delightful book with a powerful message. Author, Toni Craven’s conclusion is worth quoting,
“She is a widow in the midst of arrogant, cowardly, and uncompromising people. Her strength is striking precisely because it opposes the weakness of those around her. Her heroism in Part II is in counterpoint to the hubris of Assyrian pride and Israelite presumption and despair in Part I.”
Jdt 16:21-25
The Renown and Death of Judith.
21When those days were over, all of them returned to their inheritance. Judith went back to Bethulia and remained on her estate. For the rest of her life she was renowned throughout the land.
22Many wished to marry her, but she gave herself to no man all the days of her life from the time her husband, Manasseh, died and was gathered to his people.
23Her fame continued to increase, and she lived in the house of her husband, reaching the advanced age of one hundred and five.* n She set her maid free. And when she died in Bethulia, they buried her in the cave of her husband, Manasseh;o
24and the house of Israel mourned her for seven days.* p Before she died, she distributed her property to the relatives of her husband, Manasseh, and to her own relatives.q
25r During the lifetime of Judith and for a long time after her death, no one ever again spread terror* among the Israelites.
Footnote:
Catholics, who have the longer version Bible with the Book of Judith, are less likely to hear every part of their more comprehensive Scriptures.
If you go to Mass (or read the daily readings) every day for three years, you’ll cover 71 percent of the New Testament and 90 percent of the Gospels but just 13.5 percent of the lengthier Old Testament (not counting the Psalms).
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
Jn 14:6–7