Details of vocabulary and phrasing point to a greek text written in a language modeled on the greek developed through translating the other books in the. Judith, book of international standard bible encyclopedia. The book of judith full text also available in arabic. He is also the author of numerous other books, including my people, the new diplomacy, and personal witness. The book of judith is similar to the biblical book of esther in that it also describes how a woman saved her people from impending massacre by her cunning and daring. Deuterocanonical books simple english wikipedia, the free. The holocaust encyclopedia baumel judith tydor laqueur. Book of judith public encyclopedia services home page. The holocaust encyclopedia is the only comprehensive singlevolume work of reference providing both a reflective overview of the subject and abundant detail concerning major events, policy decisions, cities, and individuals. The proud and aggressive ruler depicted in judith is the successor of the character of sennacherib in isaiah 3638. Full text of 1901 jewish encyclopedia complete az see other formats. The book of judith is a parable, or perhaps the first historical novel according to jewish authorities, who do not place it among the writings of the tanakh or hebrew bible. It recounts an attack on the jews by an army led by holofernes, nebuchadnezzars general.
Entry for judith, book of international standard bible encyclopedia one of 8 bible encyclopedias freely available, the isbe is hailed for its authoritative explanations of every significant word, person and place. The book contains numerous historical anachronisms, which is why some scholars now accept it as nonhistorical. Hugo willrich suggested in 1900 in his book judaica that bethulia is a corrupted form of bethalagan. Fiftyfive years after the fact the world still ponders the enormity of this disaster. Most protestant christian churches do not think that the deuterocanonical books were inspired by god. The book of judith is included in the septuagint, which was translated into greek for the use of. To turn its pages is to explore the wonder and excitement and awesome adventure of what it means to be a jew. The book is not extant among the hebrew scriptures, but rather in the septuagint, abbreviated lxx. The book of judith is a literary innovation, although not in its narrative motifs, which are traditional. Judith, the character from whom the book takes its name, is not mentioned in the storys first half 1. The persecution of antiochus epiphanes would provide a.
A tone of religious fervor and of intense patriotism runs through the narrative, and no opportunity of enforcing the claims of the jewish law is. Whatever the reasons, the rabbis did not count judith among their scriptures, and the reformation adopted that position. Judith, book of the catholic encyclopedia religionfacts. Though a tale of jewish patriotism written originally in hebrew, this book was never admitted into the hebrew canon, and the same applies to the book of tobit. Biblical literature judith encyclopedia britannica. A tone of religious fervor and of intense patriotism runs through the narrative, and no opportunity of enforcing the claims of the jewish law is lost. Bethulia, a besieged jewish city, is about to surrender when judith, a jewish widow of great beauty and piety, takes it upon herself to enter the enemy camp. It usually means the parts of the bible that are only used by some christian churches mostly roman catholic and orthodox.
Judith returns to the city with his head, and the jews rout the enemy. The early church, however, held this book in high honor. The book of judith is a deuterocanonical book, included in the septuagint and in the roman catholic and eastern orthodox christian old testament of the bible, but excluded by rabbinical jews and protestants. The book of judith tells the story of the ignominious defeat of the assyrians, an army bent on world domination, by the hand of a hebrew woman judith. Encyclopedia judaica project gutenberg selfpublishing. Judith is included with the apocrypha in the king james version.
Reading the holocaust encyclopedia is an act which helps shape the process of remembering and learning with its excellent organization. In the articles longstanding current form, this question overwhelms all other considerations, viz. The book of judith has a tragic setting that appealed to jewish patriots and it warned of the urgency of adhering to mosaic law, generally speaking, but what accounted for its enduring appeal was the drama of its narrative. Book of judith an apocryphal book telling how judith saved her people judith apocrypha 14 books of the old testament included in the vulgate but. The book of judith is a story of balance and counterbalance that makes the. The book of judith is a deuterocanonical book, included in the septuagint and the catholic and. The book of judith is a deuterocanonical book, included in the septuagint and the catholic and eastern orthodox christian old testament of the bible, but excluded from the hebrew canon and assigned by protestants to the apocrypha. Two hebrew versions are known at present, a long one practically identical with the greek text, and a short one which is entirely different. The name judith is hebrew praised or jewess, the feminine form of judah.
Cochair of the international research council of the center for strategic and international studies in washington, dc, laqueur has assembled a virtual whos who of holocaust scholars to provide both. The book of judithconsidered canonical by roman catholics, apocrypha literature by protestants, and noncanon by jewstells the story of the ignominious defeat of the assyrians, an army bent on world domination, by the hand of a hebrew woman judith. Judith is set after the return from the exile, long after nebuchadnezzar was dead, and while assyria had been conquered by the babylonians, the state nebuchadnezzar ruled over was the new babylonianchaldean empire, with its capital in babylon, not nineveh. Jews read and preserved this text at the time of saint jerome. The story depicts judith as an example for godly jews when gods commitment to saving his people is mocked. Uptodate and designed for easy access, the encyclopedia presents information on the major aspects of the holocaust in. Jan 31, 2020 the book of judithconsidered canonical by roman catholics, apocrypha literature by protestants, and noncanon by jewstells the story of the ignominious defeat of the assyrians, an army bent on world domination, by the hand of a hebrew woman judith. The book of judith is counted among the apocryphal books of the old testament. This suits the portrayal of judith as a chaste widow and the books emphasis on following religious rules, chastity among them. Catholics with very few exceptions accept the book of judith as a narrative of facts, not as an allegory. Judith is the fourth book of the old testament apocrypha in those versions of the bible following the greek septuagint generally roman catholic and orthodox versions.
The book of judith is regarded as apocryphal by less than onethird of christian believers. The book might be based on a folktale and was probably composed in palestine during the hasmonean period c. Deuterocanonical books simple english wikipedia, the. Deuterocanonical books means second canon in greek.
His latest television film, the brink of peace, is a survey of the middle eastern peace process. The encyclopaedia judaica is a 26volume englishlanguage encyclopedia of the jewish people and their faith, judaism. A tone of religious fervor and of intense patriotism runs through the narrative, and no opportunity of enforcing the claims of the. As of 2010 it had been published in two editions accompanied by a few revisions. Judith and the apocryphal books in the catholic encyclopedia. The books have originally been written in greek language and they date to era of some 250150 years before christ the books are not part of the jewish tanakh also called the hebrew bible since their original language. The book of judith is a deuterocanonical book of the christian bible. Finalist for the 200102 national jewish book award. The book of judith, believed to be written in the late second century or early first century b.
Book of judith definition of book of judith by the free. Judith plaskow is the first jewish feminist to identify herself as a theologian. The book of judith is included in the septuagint, which was translated into greek for the use of hellenized jews in alexandria. The book is included in the roman catholic and orthodox christian old testament, but relegated. The book of daniel and the book of esther are longer in catholic bibles than in protestant bibles because they have more stories. The holocaust has been the subject of countless books, works of art, and memorials. It is not clear whether the book of judith was originally written in hebrew or in greek. The book of judith is similar to the biblical book of esther in that it also describes how a woman saved her people from impending massacre the book relates that nebuchadrezzar, king of assyria, sent his general holofernes on an expedition against palestine. The holocaust encyclopedia is the only comprehensive singlevolume work of reference providing both a. The book of judith is a story written for household reading, while it may properly be classed as didactic, yet it is one of those popular tales in which the chief concern of the writer is with the telling of the story rather than with the pointing of a moral, and in which the wish to interest takes precedence even of the desire to instruct. It covers diverse areas of the jewish world and civilization, including jewish history of all eras, culture, holidays, language, scripture, and religious teachings. As of 2010 it had been published in two editions accompanied by. Book of judith article about book of judith by the free.
According to the book of judith, holofernes is said to have been despatched by nebuchadnezzar with an army of 120,000 foot and 12,000 horse for the purpose of taking vengeance on all the earth judith ii. At the siege of the jewish city of bethulia, a general named achior warned holofernes of the danger of attacking the jews. Judith article about judith by the free dictionary. Book of judith biblical literature britannica encyclopedia britannica. The book of judith is a story of balance and counterbalance that makes the point that gods people have all they need to survive if they rely wholeheartedly on the covenant. Mar 01, 2001 the holocaust encyclopedia judith tydor baumel, walter laqueur on. Deeply learned in classical and modern christian theology yet profoundly committed to her own judaism, plaskow created a distinctively jewish theology acutely conscious of its own structure and categories and in dialogue with the feminist theologies of other religions. The book of baruch, with the letter of jeremiah as its last chapter. Civilization and the jews, which he turned into a bestselling book. Judith, book of um library digital collections university of michigan. Judith tydor baumel teaches modern jewish history at barilan university, ramatgan, israel. The book of judith has a dramatic setting that appealed to jewish patriots and it warned of the urgency of adhering to mosaic law, generally speaking, but what accounted for its enduring appeal was the drama of its narrative. Book of judith project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks.
The oldest extant version is the septuagint and might either be a translation from hebrew or composed in greek. Even jahn considers that the genealogy of judith is inexplicable on the hypothesis that the story is a. Even though the book of judith is not part of the official jewish religious canon, it regained popularity among jews in the medieval period and remains widely read. Texts of judith exist in several ancient languages. After having devastated many countries, holofernes reached esdraelon, and encamped between geba and scythopolis to collect his forces. Entry for judith, book of the 1901 jewish encyclopedia one of 8 bible encyclopedias freely available, this encyclopedia is a descriptive record of the history, religion and customs of the jewish people. Book of judith encyclopedia of the bible bible gateway. The persecution of antiochus epiphanes would provide a favorable background for this type of lit. It tells the story of the jewish heroine judith, a widow from the city of bethulia who.
Book of judith synonyms, book of judith pronunciation, book of judith translation, english dictionary definition of book of judith. A mostly comprehensive guide to judaism from the makers of unorthodox, a large coffee table book crams in just about everything you need to know about. The authenticity and the canonicity of the book of judith are strongly contested. The holocaust encyclopedia judith tydor baumel, walter laqueur on. The story revolves on judith, a daring and beautiful widow, who is upset with her jewish countrymen for not trusting god to deliver them from their. The oldest extant text of judith is the preservation of 15. Even jahn considers that the genealogy of judith is inexplicable on the hypothesis that the story is a mere fiction introductio, vienna, 1814, p. Torrey, however, goes too far when he says see jewish encyclopedia, book of judith that the writer aimed at nothing more than to write a tale that would amuse. The consensus of scholars is that the book of judith was written in the 2nd cent. Bethulia, a besieged jewish city, is about to surrender when judith, a jewish widow of great beauty.
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