Joakim the high priest: See 4.6. For priest see Tob 1.7.

The senate of the people of Israel who lived at Jerusalem: For senate see 4.8. The literal Revised Standard Version is misleading. The clause who lived at Jerusalem refers to the High Priest and the senate, not to the people of Israel. Good News Translation clarifies this.

Came to witness the good things which the Lord had done for Israel may be rendered “came … to see for themselves what great things the Lord had done for his people” (Good News Translation).

To see Judith and to greet her: “To meet Judith” (Good News Translation) is much better than to see Judith. They also wish to greet her. This is literally “to say to her, ‘Peace.’ ” This can be taken as no more than a greeting, or one may follow New English Bible with “wish her well.” But in the context “congratulate” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version) is certainly more fitting.

Contemporary English Version has a helpful alternative model for this verse:

• Joakim the high priest and the other leaders of Israel came from Jerusalem to see what wonderful things the Lord had done for Israel. They also wanted to meet and congratulate Judith.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Judith. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.