When the word reaches them and they proceed to do this: When the word reaches them means “When they receive permission” (so Good News Translation) or “When the messengers return with the news.” This means “eat the food” (Good News Translation).

Both Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version place on that very day at the beginning of the verse. Good News Translation has “On the day that they receive permission and actually eat the food,” while Contemporary English Version has “On the same day that these messengers return with the news, the people in Bethulia will begin eating these foods.”

They will be handed over to you to be destroyed: Good News Translation‘s “you will be able to destroy them” misses the nuance of the people being handed over (by God) for destruction. “God will hand them over to you and let you destroy them” would take care of that.

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.