Judith 8:6 - And she fasted all the days of her widowhood, except the eves of the Sabbaths, the Sabbaths, the eves of the new moons, the new moons, and the feasts and joyful days of the house of Israel.
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What does "Judith 8:6" mean?
This verse from Judith 8:6 describes the rigorous piety of Judith. Let's break it down:
"And she fasted all the days of her widowhood..." This establishes the baseline: Judith engaged in frequent fasting as a sign of her mourning and devotion to God following the death of her husband, Manasseh. Fasting was a common practice in Judaism as a sign of penitence, mourning, or devotion.
"...except the eves of the Sabbaths, the Sabbaths, the eves of the new moons, the new moons, and the feasts and joyful days of the house of Israel." This is the crucial part. It outlines the specific days on which Judith did not fast. These exceptions reveal important aspects of Jewish religious practice:
Eves of the Sabbaths and Sabbaths: The Sabbath (Saturday) is a holy day of rest and celebration in Judaism. It begins at sundown on Friday evening (the eve of the Sabbath). These times are meant for joyful observance, not mourning or self-denial.
Eves of the new moons and the new moons: The new moon (Rosh Chodesh) marks the beginning of each month in the Jewish calendar. It's considered a minor festival and a time of renewed hope and joy. Similar to the Sabbath, the eve of the new moon and the new moon day itself were not appropriate times for fasting.
Feasts and joyful days of the house of Israel: This refers to the major Jewish holidays, such as Passover, Shavuot, Sukkot, Rosh Hashanah, and Yom Kippur (although Yom Kippur is a fast day, the context suggests that the verse is referencing joyful feasts). These were times of communal celebration and rejoicing. Even in her widowhood, Judith would not fast on these joyous occasions.
In summary: The verse shows that Judith was extremely devout and dedicated to fasting as a way of mourning and showing her devotion. However, her devotion was not fanatical. She understood and adhered to the religious laws and traditions that forbade fasting on specific days of celebration and joy. This highlights her balance of personal piety with proper observance of communal religious life.
The verse serves to underscore Judith's character: she is both intensely pious and deeply integrated into the religious fabric of her community. It's also significant that she, as a woman and a widow, is presented as a model of religious observance.
Judith 8:6 - And she fasted all the days of her widowhood, except the eves of the Sabbaths, the Sabbaths, the eves of the new moons, the new moons, and the feasts and joyful days of the house of Israel.
What does "Judith 8:6" mean?
This verse from Judith 8:6 describes the rigorous piety of Judith. Let's break it down:
"And she fasted all the days of her widowhood..." This establishes the baseline: Judith engaged in frequent fasting as a sign of her mourning and devotion to God following the death of her husband, Manasseh. Fasting was a common practice in Judaism as a sign of penitence, mourning, or devotion.
"...except the eves of the Sabbaths, the Sabbaths, the eves of the new moons, the new moons, and the feasts and joyful days of the house of Israel." This is the crucial part. It outlines the specific days on which Judith did not fast. These exceptions reveal important aspects of Jewish religious practice:
Eves of the Sabbaths and Sabbaths: The Sabbath (Saturday) is a holy day of rest and celebration in Judaism. It begins at sundown on Friday evening (the eve of the Sabbath). These times are meant for joyful observance, not mourning or self-denial.
Eves of the new moons and the new moons: The new moon (Rosh Chodesh) marks the beginning of each month in the Jewish calendar. It's considered a minor festival and a time of renewed hope and joy. Similar to the Sabbath, the eve of the new moon and the new moon day itself were not appropriate times for fasting.
Feasts and joyful days of the house of Israel: This refers to the major Jewish holidays, such as Passover, Shavuot, Sukkot, Rosh Hashanah, and Yom Kippur (although Yom Kippur is a fast day, the context suggests that the verse is referencing joyful feasts). These were times of communal celebration and rejoicing. Even in her widowhood, Judith would not fast on these joyous occasions.
In summary: The verse shows that Judith was extremely devout and dedicated to fasting as a way of mourning and showing her devotion. However, her devotion was not fanatical. She understood and adhered to the religious laws and traditions that forbade fasting on specific days of celebration and joy. This highlights her balance of personal piety with proper observance of communal religious life.
The verse serves to underscore Judith's character: she is both intensely pious and deeply integrated into the religious fabric of her community. It's also significant that she, as a woman and a widow, is presented as a model of religious observance.