Uzziah took him from the assembly to his own house: One may assume that the assembly is over, as Good News Translation indicates, but the Greek says only that Uzziah took Achior home with him from the assembly. However, in some languages the phrase from the assembly will need a verbal expression, so the first sentence may be expressed “When the people had finished meeting together, Uzziah took Achior….”

Gave a banquet for the elders: One may assume that the banquet for the elders is in Achior’s honor as an act of hospitality, although the text does not say so specifically. Evidently the fast spoken of in 4.13 (when the High Priest and his council in Jerusalem hear of Holofernes’ approach) is now over, but the prayers for help continue all night. Note that another “banquet” will be given in this book, in chapter 12, where Holofernes attempts to seduce Judith. For more on this, see the note at 12.10.

All that night they called on the God of Israel for help may be rendered “All that night they prayed to the God of Israel to help them” or “They prayed to the God of Israel all night long and asked him to help them” (Contemporary English Version). For the God of Israel, see 4.12.

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.