JDT

Judith 3 - Summary

Summary

Read Judith Chapter 3 Summary

The coastal peoples send ambassadors offering everything they have: 'use us as shall be good in thy sight.' Holofernes comes down to the sea coast and takes chosen men from their cities as auxiliaries. The people welcome him with garlands, dances and timbrels, yet he casts down their frontiers and cuts down their groves, for he has decreed to destroy all the gods of the land, so that every nation and tongue should call on Nabuchodonosor alone as god. He then advances toward Esdraelon, near the great strait of Judea, and camps between Geba and Scythopolis for a whole month.

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Characters in This Chapter

Judith
Judith

Devout widow of Bethulia who rebukes the elders and beheads Holofernes

Holofernes
Holofernes

Assyrian general who besieges Bethulia and is killed by Judith

Places in This Chapter

Nineveh
Nineveh

Capital from which Nabuchodonosor rules and sends Holofernes to conquer the west

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Jerusalem
Jerusalem

City whose temple Bethulia's resistance protects, where the people give thanks and Judith dedicates the spoil

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Dothan
Dothan

Dothaim, near Bethulia, where the Assyrian army spreads its camp to besiege the town

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Bethulia
Bethulia

Besieged hill town of Judith, saved when she kills Holofernes; its site is uncertain

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Judea
Judea

Judea was the southern region of Israel, centered on Jerusalem. It was the heart of the ancient kingdom of Judah. Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, was crucified in Jerusalem, and the early church spread from Judea to the ends of the earth.

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Position in Book

The Campaign of NabuchodonosorChapters 1-3

Nabuchodonosor defeats Arphaxad, then sends Holofernes west to punish the nations that refused him; they submit, and their gods are destroyed.

Bethulia Under SiegeChapters 4-7
Judith's Rebuke and PrayerChapters 8-9
In the Enemy CampChapters 10-12
The Night of DeliveranceChapters 13
The Assyrian RoutChapters 14-15
Judith's Song and Last YearsChapters 16