He followed the Euphrates and passed through Mesopotamia: Surprise! Now we find Holofernes east of the Euphrates River! Or do we? Does he “cross” the river (Good News Translation) or “follow” it (Revised Standard Version with a footnote for the other option)? The Greek verb can mean either, but “follow” is more probable. We have to allow that the author’s hold on geography is as loose as his hold on history, but surely he knew where the Euphrates was! If we assume Holofernes is following the Euphrates, we can at least imagine him coming down from Cilicia into Mesopotamia, doing his destructive work in the western part of the land. Mesopotamia is a name applied to the land between the Euphrates River and the Tigris River, running parallel to it on the east. It is roughly modern Iraq.

Destroyed all the hilltop cities along the brook Abron, as far as the sea: Abron is unknown, but the cities mentioned there are properly described as “walled” (Good News Translation) or “fortified,” not as hilltop cities. The sea probably refers to the Persian Gulf if Holofernes followed the Euphrates. Good News Translation is fond of identifying the precise body of water meant by the sea (and it usually means the Mediterranean), but here it wisely decides to leave the matter alone.

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.

Let my lord now hear a word from the mouth of your servant: Good News Translation has Achior address Holofernes as “Sir,” which is defensible. Literally, he says my lord. The translator should seek some term that is appropriate for a subordinate to address one whom he recognizes as not only superior, but also regal; for example, “your Excellency” or the third person “my sovereign Lord [or, Master].” See also the end of Achior’s speech at 5.20. Achior also shows respect by identifying himself twice as your servant. This is missing in Good News Translation, but included once in Contemporary English Version where it is placed at the beginning of the speech: “Sir, I am your loyal servant. Please listen as I tell you about the people….” In a number of languages Revised Standard Version‘s respectful language will be natural and should be used. From the mouth of your servant is a Hebrew idiom for “from your servant.” Many translators will not want to use the word mouth.

I will tell you the truth … No falsehood …: In beginning his speech, Achior shows respect, submission, and tact, especially since he is going to tell Holofernes at some length something that he knows Holofernes will not want to hear. Though his words will be unwelcome, they will be the truth and have no falsehood. Compare Judith’s words to Holofernes in 11.5. Good News Translation keeps the noun truth and uses a verbal expression for no falsehood: “I will tell you the truth … I will not lie to you.” Contemporary English Version combines the two with “I will be completely honest.”

This people that dwells in the nearby mountain district: “These people who live in the mountains near your camp” (Good News Translation) is a good approach to a rather complicated Greek structure, although Revised Standard Version‘s rendering is also good. The literal reading is “this people who inhabits this mountain area, living near you.” The last phrase, “living near you,” obviously has reference to Holofernes’ camp.

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.

There are textual variations regarding the spelling of the proper names in this verse, but staying with that used by Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, and Contemporary English Version is recommended. Two things should be pointed out. Most versions use Uzziah the Hebrew spelling, though New English Bible and Revised English Bible prefer to use the Greek spelling Ozias. Another point is that the lineage of Uzziah from the tribe of Simeon is important. Judith herself is from the tribe of Simeon (compare 9.2).

Of the tribe of Simeon: In some languages there will be no specific word for tribe or “clan.” In such cases, “family group” will be a possible translation, or in this instance “descendant of the great ancestor Simeon” is a possibility.

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.

The scene shifts to the whole assembly weeping, so Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, and Contemporary English Version begin a new paragraph.

Then great and general lamentation arose throughout the assembly, and they cried … with a loud voice: Just as in 7.22 it is desirable that the translation produce a vivid picture, a mental image of a scene, here one wants to create the mental image of sound. Great and general lamentation fails to do this. Good News Translation‘s “began to weep loudly and to pray” is weaker than necessary. These people are wailing, shouting; it is a noisy scene. “Wail” is probably better than “weep,” and “cry out” better than “pray.” So we may say “Everyone began wailing loudly and crying out to the Lord God.”

It is a fine point, but the Greek reads the Lord God rather than “the Lord their God” (Good News Translation).

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.

Although Uzziah recognizes truth in what Judith says, he is not prepared to break his oath (referred to by Judith at verse 11, but not called an oath by the narrator at 7.30-31) in compliance to the wisdom of her proposal. So far, of course, all she has proposed is that the city not surrender.

Very thirsty means “dying of thirst” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version) or “so thirsty that they were about to die.”

They compelled us to do for them what we have promised: See the discussion at verse 11.

And made us take an oath which we cannot break: This clause has practically the same meaning as the previous one. So Contemporary English Version combines them into “and they begged us until we finally made a solemn promise that we can’t break.”

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.

To the presence of Holofernes may be rendered “to meet [or, see] Holofernes.”

For commander see 6.1.

A true report is literally “words of truth.” Good News Translation has “reliable information.” Compare 9.13, where Judith speaks of her “deceitful words.” These are the first words she speaks as she carries out her plans, and they are indeed deceitful even though they claim to be true.

I will show him a way: The word way is ambiguous here. It may mean that Judith can show Holofernes a route that his army can use to make a successful attack, or that she can show him a tactic to use. New English Bible assumes the former with “I will show him a route,” but Good News Translation is ambiguous with “I can show him how…” (similarly Contemporary English Version). The ambiguity is part of Judith’s strategy. She is holding back information here—she will reveal it only to Holofernes. If the ambiguity cannot be smoothly preserved in translation, it may be expressed as “I will show him the right route [or, path] which he can use to go….”

Hill country here is the “region” that Bethulia guards (4.7; 5.1). For a comment on the translation of hill country, see 2.22-23.

Without losing one of his men, captured or slain: The author, or more likely the Greek translator, here uses a strange expression: “and he will not lose one flesh or one spirit of life of his men.” The Hebrew author probably used an idiom meaning that Holofernes would not lose a single man. The Greek translator apparently understood it to mean that none of his men would be either captured or slain. However, the text cannot be understood as a promise that no one would be wounded, as Good News Translation implies by “casualty,” which would include killed and wounded, but exclude those taken prisoner. It is better to be specific by translating “without having even one of your men captured or killed” or to use the general expression “without losing a single man” (New English Bible), which presumably reflects the author’s meaning, if not the Greek translator’s.

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.

He commanded them: Both the subject he and the object them need to be identified here because this clause opens a new chapter. He refers to Holofernes and them to Holofernes’ servants. Actually, in Greek no object is specified at all, but those to whom Holofernes gives orders here are surely those mentioned in 11.20. Good News Translation‘s “his men” or Contemporary English Version‘s “his servants” is perfectly adequate.

To bring her in where his silver dishes were kept: The Greek says that Judith was “to be taken into where his silver things were placed.” This could refer to an area where silverware (silver eating implements) was kept; some take it that way, but why would Judith be shown into a closet or storeroom? Far more likely it refers to an area of the tent where Holofernes and his guests ate meals. It was a kind of dining room. In this case “were placed” refers to the setting of places for a meal.

Ordered them to set a table for her with some of his own food and to serve her with his own wine: The Greek text reads literally “He ordered spread out for her from his own delicacies and of his own wine to drink.” Revised Standard Version uses set a table and serve to translate the one Greek verb “spread out.” The Greek does not mention a table anywhere in the verse, and most likely Assyrian armies did not carry tables around with them. However, mentioning a table here, as in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation, really does no harm and is helpful in cultures where people eat at tables. One could avoid a reference to table by translating the whole verse as follows:

• Holofernes ordered his men to show Judith into a room where silverware was laid out for a meal, and directed them to spread out before her some of his own special food and some of his own wine.

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.

A paragraph break could be used at this point.

Then she said to them with a loud voice: She must now be specified since “the two women” (Good News Translation) have been mentioned last. So Good News Translation has “Judith shouted….”

Praise God, O praise him! Praise God: Judith is asking everyone to praise God with her. In some languages this may be rendered “Let’s all tell God how great he is” or “Let’s say to God, ‘You are very great!’ ” In other languages it will be natural style to repeat the verb Praise three times, as in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation.

Who has not withdrawn his mercy may be rendered “who still shows his mercy” or “who still shows that he loves….”

The house of Israel refers of course to “the people of Israel” (Good News Translation).

Note the climactic use of by my hand; see the note on 8.33, and the uses of the phrase in 9.10; 12.4, 13.4; 16.6.

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.