Judith 12:5 - Then Holofernes’ servants brought her into the tent, and she slept until midnight. Then she rose up toward the morning watch,

Generated Verse: Judith 12:5

What does "Judith 12:5" mean?


This verse from Judith 12:5 is part of the story of Judith and Holofernes. Let's break it down:

"Then Holofernes’ servants brought her into the tent..." This indicates that Judith, a beautiful and pious Israelite widow, had gained Holofernes' favor. Holofernes was the Assyrian general laying siege to her city, Bethulia. She had convinced him she could help him conquer her people by revealing their weaknesses. This phrase shows she was granted access to Holofernes' private space.
"...and she slept until midnight." Judith likely used this time to appear cooperative and establish trust with Holofernes. It also allowed the guards to relax their vigilance around her, considering her to be a harmless guest.
"Then she rose up toward the morning watch..." "Morning watch" refers to the period just before dawn, typically the last watch of the night. The fact that she rose toward this time means she was up sometime between midnight and dawn. This is significant because it sets the stage for the pivotal event that follows: the assassination of Holofernes.

In essence, the verse describes a period of deceptive calm before Judith's act of bravery. It shows her gaining Holofernes' trust, using the night to her advantage, and preparing herself for the task of killing him, thus saving her people. The strategic element is that Judith is alone with Holofernes in his tent, having convinced him that she would betray her own people to help him win the battle. Now she has an opportunity to change the whole war around.

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