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September 3, 2020
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They opened the gate and welcomed them. Botticelli, Judith with the Head of Holofernes, ca. Holofernes was not the kind of man that most people would be able to approach. Who was Judith? Religion. I ask your permission to leave town together with my maid. His face is already drained of color, a dramatic contrast to the rich material of her robe. The maid Abra stands ready to catch the severed head when it falls away. But Yehudit told him she had brought her own food and wine that she had prepared especially for that occasion. For a moment she sat down to compose herself. Image via Wikimedia Commons. In the background is a landscape, reminiscent of the country round Castelfranco, which the artist knew as a boy, and loved all his life. It’s common to see her assisted by a maid in European art. 5 Now is the time to help your inheritance and to accomplish my plans to destroy the enemies who have risen up against us. She maintained that God himself had sent her on this errand. Reply, in support of respectful meditation Her story is similar to the David and Goliath story, where a seemingly weak person overcomes a person of superior strength by calling on God’s help and using cunning and intelligence. ‘Judith in the Tent of Holofernes’, Johann Liss, 1622. How did she kill Holofernes? The purient, trivial focus of a few today, resonates & reveals the extreme personal diffucalties Judith undoubtably suffered from the cruel mouths of her countrymen. She took advantage of the situation and beheaded him, much in the same fashion that Jael killed Sisera with the tent peg or stake (See Judges 4:17-22). Judith knew her own beauty. Let there be light Deb. She grips one point between her teeth and makes an opening by holding two other points with her hands – just the way you would to make an opening for a large round object, be it a cabbage or a human head. Holofernes and his army were about to take the town. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. The fingers of her left hand are entwined in Holofernes’ hair, as she toys in an absent-minded way with the lifeless head. The colors, harmonious composition and shading of the painting are superb, as we would expect from Caravaggio. ‘Judith Beheading Holofernes’, Artemisia Gentileschi, circa1612. You risked your own life for our nation when it was being oppressed, and you prevented our destruction by walking a straight line before our God.”, Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible, Common English Bible (CEB), Judith and her servant escape to Bethulia. She always came to his tent in the company of her maid. About Grateful. These two women are not idealized beauties but real people, both with their own personalities and agendas. I have hear this story many times over the years. Her maid Abra leans anxiously towards her, protectively, urging the dazed Judith to move with more speed. Her story was understood as an example of the victory of virtue over vice. My men are getting impatient and demoralized doing nothing; they cannot wait to capture the city and have their fun . This surely calls for a celebration. Reply, How to deceive your enemies After lighting a fire to give some light, they stood around them. The story was retold in different versions. The light and shadow emphasise the imminent danger as Judith and Abra prepare to flee Holofernes’s tent with his severed head. Judith has cut off the head of the enemy general Holofernes, and now prepares to carry it back to the townspeople of Bethuliah. Praise, praise God, who hasn’t taken his mercy away from the house of Israel! Here in Baglione’s painting the body itself is almost hidden. The maid, in this painting, helps Judith by holding the basket. . “I am but a plain widow from Bethulia. “Come quickly,” she said to her maid, “but let’s not arouse suspicion.”. “Well, gracious Yehudit, what intelligence do you bring me today? Many people want to pretend that she could made love to Holofernes, but in fact she kept her virtue. Holofernes marches with 120,000 infantry and 12,000 cavalry. Judith is a Jewish widow who ingratiates herself with the invading general Holofernes, waits for him to fall asleep, and then hacks his head off and takes it home with her (thus thwarting the entire invasion, because the Assyrians evidently had no Plan B if Holofernes was killed… Danger is close as Judith and her maid Abra gather up the severed head of Holofernes, preparing to flee from the enemy camp, back to safety in Bethulia. For more on the unfortunate Nebuchadnezzar, see Bible Villains: Nebuchadnezzar. Toda for a wonderful story of prayer and conviction especially when some may not believe in you. I told him G-d saved the people at the hand of a woman. ‘Judith and her Maidservant With the Head of Holofernes’ Judith is a beautiful Jewish widow and Holofernes, who desire her, take her to his tent. Judith was a beautiful, clever, cool-witted widow in the ancient town of Bethuliah. The general was delighted to welcome her, and bade her partake of the feast. Enter your email address to get our weekly email with fresh, exciting and thoughtful content that will enrich your inbox and your life. Judith seems remarkably tranquil in the circumstances, while her maid registers shock and horror. Uzziah and the elders attempted to discourage Yehudit from such a dangerous mission, but she insisted that she be allowed to try. Orazio Gentileschi seems to have been more interested in the woman themselves than in the violent crime they had committed. 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