Judith

Introduction JUDITH - Introduction THE BOOK OF JUDITH. INTRODUCTION. The sacred writer of this Book is generally believed to be the high priest Eliachim, (called also Joachim.) The transactions herein related, most probably happened in his days, and in the reign of Manasses, after his repentance and return from captivity. It takes its name from that illustrious woman, by whose virtue and fortitude, armed with prayer, the children of Israel were preserved from the destruction threatened them by Holofernes and his great army. It finishes with her canticle of thanksgiving to God. (Challoner) --- He was a chief officer at court, under Ezechias, (4 Kings xviii. 18.; Haydock) before he was high priest, assuming his father Helchias's name. Many suppose that he was the author of this Book, as Josephus informs us that the priests recorded the most remarkable transactions. But this would prove that they wrote all the histories of the Bible. St. Jerome (in Aggeus i. 6.) seems to believe that Judith left these memoirs. Yet we have no certain proof of the author.…

• Jdt 8:25 — Fortitude.
• Jdt 13:18 — Blessed among women.

• Brant Pitre & John Bergsma, A Catholic Introduction to the Bible: The Old Testament
• Scott Hahn & Curtis Mitch, Ignatius Catholic Study Bible
• Second Vatican Council, Dei Verbum
• Pontifical Biblical Commission, The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church (1993)
• University of Navarre, The Navarre Bible
• St. Jerome, Vulgate and biblical prefaces