Then each man took up his weapons: Good News Translation‘s “But in spite of their fear” (Contemporary English Version “Although the Israelites were afraid”) corresponds to nothing more in the Greek text than an inconspicuous “and,” but it well describes the motivation of the defenders, and is a justifiable translation. New American Bible and New Revised Standard Version begin “Yet,” which is surely better than Revised Standard Version‘s Then. Revised Standard Version gives the impression of a sequence of events in which the Israelites first speak certain lines, then go and arm themselves. The words put in their mouths in verse 4 are only the author’s device for informing the readers of the Israelites’ emotional state, not a description of an action prior in time to the arming.

When they had kindled fires on their towers: Good News Translation has “lighted signal fires on the towers.” The purpose of the fires is not immediately clear. Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version interpret them as signals, as does the note in New American Bible. Yet the mention of the fires is surrounded by reference to men arming themselves and standing guard all night. This allows the inference that the fires are to light up the area around the city to guard against a surprise attack. They are watch fires rather than signal fires. We recommend this interpretation. For a comment on the translation of towers, see 1.3.

An alternative translation model for this verse is:

• Although they were afraid, the Israelite men took up their weapons and lit fires on the towers on the town walls to provide light as they guarded the town at night.

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.