Joakim, the high priest, who was in Jerusalem at that time: The scene shifts to Jerusalem, so a new paragraph is in order. A priest by the name of Joakim was known in exilic times, but after Nebuchadnezzar’s time (Neh 12.10, 26). The surprising thing is that the high priest here takes a military initiative. The high priest was not known to exercise military authority until the time of Jonathan in Maccabean times (1 Macc 10.18-21). Once high priests had a military function after Jonathan, they were not bound to Jerusalem. Our author’s mention of the high priest as in Jerusalem at that time seems to reflect a time when that would not have been a self-evident statement. For a lengthy comment on the translation of priest, see Tob 1.7. High priest may be also expressed as “the leader of the priests.”

Bethulia and Betomesthaim are both unknown. Bethulia will be the location of the main action in this book. Good News Translation properly refers to both as “towns,” although the Greek simply names the two. A continuing problem in the book is whether Bethulia should be called a town or a city. One must simply decide and be consistent. See also the note on 6.10. The author is exact in giving information about Bethulia’s location. From the description of the terrain given in verses 6 and 7, we might not be able to point to Bethulia on a map, but we can understand its strategic importance. This description also helps to explain the tactics Holofernes will use in attempting to take it in chapter 7. From Jezreel Valley south into the Judean hill country, the author imagines mountain passes that are narrow enough that the Judeans could easily prevent a hostile army from coming through. This is an exaggeration.

Which faces Esdraelon opposite the plain near Dothan: For a comment on Esdraelon and Dothan, see 3.9. This clause may be rendered “that face [or, are opposite to] Jezreel Valley not far from Dothan.”

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.