Many desired to marry her indicates that these men actually approached her for marriage, rather than merely “wanting” her (Good News Translation). Contemporary English Version has a helpful model for the first two clauses: “Although a lot of men asked to marry her, she always refused and never remarried.”

After Manasseh her husband died and was gathered to his people: These two clauses are combined into one by Good News Translation‘s “after the death of her husband” and Contemporary English Version‘s “after her husband Manasseh died.” But the Hebrew idiom was gathered to his people means something more than simply death (compare Gen 25.8). The author probably uses such language to show respect to the ancestors at the end of the story. The mention of the cave in the next verse serves the same purpose. Compare the dying words of Jacob in Gen 49.29, where Good News Translation translates “I am going to join my people in death.” One could say here “after her husband Manasseh joined his people [or, ancestors] in death.”

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.