When the disturbance made by the men outside the council died down: A problem for translators is the nature of Holofernes’ council. In 5.1 he and his Assyrian officers meet with a large group of leaders (princes, commanders, and governors) from a number of surrounding nations. It seems evident that this council meeting, which is termed a “war council” by Good News Translation in 6.17, takes place outside of Holofernes’ tent, otherwise, the surrounding crowd could not have heard what Achior said. Presumably Holofernes and his officers were seated, and the others, along with Achior, were standing around this smaller group (the council). Achior would come forward from this larger group to address Holofernes. Therefore, if a language does not have a specific term for council, in this context it may be rendered “where Holofernes and his advisors were [seated].”

Holofernes, the commander of the Assyrian army: Once again (compare 5.1) Holofernes’ supreme authority is cited as he addresses those under him; he is the commander-in-chief of the Assyrian army. Revised Standard Version uses the word commander here as opposed to “general” in 5.1, but the same Greek word is used in both places. Good News Translation unfortunately ignores the title at this point, but translators are advised to include it.

Said to Achior and all the Moabites in the presence of all the foreign contingents: There is a textual problem concerning all the Moabites, but Revised Standard Version is following the standard Greek text here. One would expect “Ammonites” here since Achior is an Ammonite leader. There is some manuscript support for “Ammonites,” so New English Bible translates “said to Achior and all the Ammonites, in the presence of the assembled foreigners.” Good News Translation keeps the Moabites and also adds the “Ammonites,” but they are not addressed directly: “spoke to Achior in front of the entire group, those from the Mediterranean coast, the Moabites, and the Ammonite mercenaries” (same people as in 5.2). Good News Translation also adds a footnote to explain that “the Ammonite mercenaries” is not in some manuscripts. Moore (also Contemporary English Version and New Revised Standard Version) drops the reference to the Moabites, but adds a footnote on the textual problem by noting that some Greek manuscripts have “and to all the Moabites.” He translates “said to Achior in front of all the assembled foreigners.” Moore’s handling of this textual problem is recommended to translators. The foreign contingents refers to the soldiers who came to Holofernes from the nations of Moab, Ammon, and the Mediterranean coast. One may render this whole clause “said to Achior in front of the soldiers of all those different nations.”

An alternative translation model for this verse with a footnote is:

• The crowd of people standing around where Holofernes and his advisors were seated finally stopped protesting. Then Holofernes, the commander of the Assyrian soldiers, said to Achior* in front of the soldiers of all those different nations….
* Achior; some manuscripts add and to all the Moabites.

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.