To consume the first fruits of the grains: First fruits consisted of grain “set aside from the early harvest” (Good News Translation) for the use of the priesthood.

The tithes of the wine and oil were also for priestly use (Num 18.21-32). Oil of course refers to “olive oil.” For comments on oil and tithes, see Tob 1.6-7.

Which they had consecrated and set aside for the priests who minister in the presence of our God at Jerusalem may be expressed as “that they had dedicated to God and set aside for the priests who serve God in the temple in Jerusalem.” Consecrated means “dedicated to God” and thus “holy [belonging to him].”

It is not lawful for any of the people so much as to touch these things with their hands: When Judith goes on to say “The rest of us are forbidden even to touch this sacred food” (Good News Translation), she is going farther than the Law or Jewish tradition went. From Hag 2.12 we might even draw the conclusion that it was not true. But what Judith says does not have to be true—it does not even matter. Holofernes does not know the difference, and is forced to take Judith as his expert in Israelite law. She could have told him anything. The reader in fact knows that the situation she describes in the town is not true. True enough, they have lost access to their water supply, but nothing has been said up to now in the story about resorting to forbidden food. The sin that has the people in its grasp is not consuming forbidden food, but putting God to the test (Deut 6.16; see the sectional note on Jdt 7.19-32 and the note on 7.30).

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.