Welcome Judith from Columbus, Ohio. As far as I recall Judith was one of the, 'Judges' (the God appointed Jewish leaders before the times of the Kings) in the Old Testament. Protestants don't accept the Book of Judith. http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/...ple-in-the-bible/judith-a-remarkable-heroine/ Judith with the head of Holofernes whom she beheaded. Not a woman to mess about with!
Padraig, Scripture scholars give a name to expanded parables such as Judith and Tobit; they call them novellas. I love Judith because it portrays a David vs. Goliath rematch, but this time it's a young widow vs. General Holofernes, commander of the pagan empire's army! The book was a favorite of a number of Church Fathers, including St. Jerome. It definitely reads like a novel and God is glorified through Judith in the end. She is often seen as a foreshadowing of Mary! I have to admit, though, that my favorite heroine in the Old Testament is Susanna, from Chapter 13 of Daniel. Safe in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary!
I confess, Terry that I don't ever recall having read Judith. On my to do list. At the moment I am working through the Bible from the beginning reading a Chapter a day first thing after Mass. At the moment I am on Leviticus and am astounded and moved by how much the ancient Jewish Rituals are simliar to our Catholic Mass, even to the use of unleavened bread. Scott Hahn , I believe talks a lot about this. I love it when the story of Susanna rolls round in Church every year. It reminds me of a detective episode on TV where the bad, bad guy gets his comeuppance. I love the righteous rage of the young Daniel as he shouts in fury at the bad Judges as they get dragged away to their awful doom. I suppose there is something in all of us that wants to shout at folks and see them get dragged away for a beating. Come to think of it ..I don't recall the Book of Judith being read in Church?
