Judith also dedicated to God all the vessels of Holofernes: Vessels refers to Holofernes’ “property” (Good News Translation) or “possessions” (Contemporary English Version), which the people gave to Judith in 15.11.

The canopy which she took for herself from his bedchamber: For the richly made canopy, see the note on 10.21. Which she took for herself is in contrast to what the people gave her in 15.11. Good News Translation‘s translation could be adjusted to reflect this: “which she herself had taken….”

She gave as a votive offering to the Lord: A votive offering is precisely as Good News Translation words it: “a special offering in fulfilment of a vow” (Contemporary English Version “… to keep a promise”). See again Lev 22.18. However, the Greek word used here is anathema. This word is used to translate what Good News Translation calls at Lev 27.28 something “unconditionally dedicated to the Lord.” If so, it would mean that the canopy was destroyed. Compare Josh 6.17, where the city of Jericho is made anathema. It is “totally destroyed as an offering to the Lord” (Good News Translation). It would be more accurate to describe Judith’s offering here by whatever term is used in those passages, rather than as a votive offering. So it is possible to translate the last half of this verse with “She presented the mosquito net, which she herself had taken from Holofernes’ bed, to be destroyed, as an unconditional offering to the Lord.” There remains the question as to whether the other “property” of Holofernes mentioned earlier in the verse was part of this unconditional offering. Translations vary on the handling of this. It may be legitimately inferred from the context that everything of Holofernes’ was so treated. If so, it is possible to reorder the clauses of the verse a bit and translate as follows:

• Judith took all of Holofernes’ property, which the people had given her, as well as the mosquito net which she herself had taken from Holofernes’ bed, and presented them to be destroyed as an unconditional offering to the Lord.

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.