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Judith

Judith

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. | 2008 | Copyright

Judith [Heb.,=Jewess], early Jewish book included in the Septuagint, but not included in the Hebrew Bible, and placed in the Apocrypha of Protestant Bibles. It recounts an attack on the Jews by an army led by Holofernes, Nebuchadnezzar's general. 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. She gains the favor of Holofernes, who seeks an opportunity to seduce her. Judith beheads him while he is drunk. Judith returns to the city with his head, and the Jews rout the enemy. The story depicts Judith as an example for godly Jews when God's commitment to saving his people is mocked. Texts of Judith exist in several ancient languages. The book might be based on a folk-tale and was probably composed in Palestine during the Hasmonean period (c.160-37 BC). The identification of Nebuchadnezzar as king of Assyria (he was king of Babylon) may indicate that the book is not intended as literal history. However, there are historical analogies for the invasion, especially that of Antiochus IV . Another Judith, a wife of Esau, is named in the Book of Genesis.

Bibliography: See C. A. Moore, Judith (1985). See also bibliography under Apocrypha.

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"Judith." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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Judith

A Dictionary of First Names | 2006 | | Copyright

Judith ♀ Biblical name, meaning ‘Jewess’ or ‘woman from Judea’, borne by a Jewish heroine whose story is recorded in the Book of Judith in the Apocrypha. Judith is portrayed as a beautiful widow who delivers her people from the invading Assyrians by gaining the confidence of their commander, Holofernes, and cutting off his head while he is asleep; without their commander, the Assyrians are duly routed. This has been a perennially popular Jewish name. In the English-speaking world it was taken up in the 16th century, having been in occasional use among Gentiles before this: for example, it was borne by a niece of William the Conqueror. It enjoyed great popularity between the 1940s and the 1960s. Today's notable bearers include the American novelist Judith Krantz (b. 1928) and the Scottish composer Judith Weir (b. 1954).

Pet forms: Judy, Judi, Judie.
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PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Judith." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Judith." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Judith.html

PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Judith." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Judith.html

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Judith

A Dictionary of the Bible | 1997 | | Copyright

Judith A Jewish heroine whose legendary feats are told in the apocryphal book (late 1st cent. BCE) bearing her name. She assassinates the Assyrian general Holofernes, but the book contains a mixture of allusions to assyrian, babylonian, and Persian eras with several historical errors ( Nebuchadnezzar's capital city was not Nineveh (1: 1)) and may be a 2nd-cent. BCE comment on Maccabean political ambitions. In the story, Judith returns home after her victory (Judith 16: 21), which could be a hint or warning to the Maccabeans: another Deborah (Judg. 5) has delivered Israel! There is a powerful painting of Judith holding aloft the head of Holofernes by Gustave Doré (1832–83) in Swansea, S. Wales, but many painters of the Renaissance were attracted to the gruesome scene, including Michelangelo, in the Sistine Chapel.
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W. R. F. BROWNING. "Judith." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

W. R. F. BROWNING. "Judith." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-Judith.html

W. R. F. BROWNING. "Judith." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-Judith.html

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Judith, Book of

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church | 2000 | | Copyright

Judith, Book of. This Book of the Apocrypha relates how, when Nebuchadnezzar sent his general Holofernes to punish the Jews, Judith made her way to the camp of Holofernes, captivated him by her charms, and then cut off his head. The Assyrians subsequently fled in panic. The Book is wildly unhistorical; the name ‘Judith’ means ‘Jewess’ and she appears to personify faithful and resistant Israel. It probably dates from the Maccabean period.
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E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "Judith, Book of." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "Judith, Book of." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O95-JudithBookof.html

E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "Judith, Book of." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O95-JudithBookof.html

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Judith

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music | 1996 | | Copyright

Judith.
1. Oratorio by Parry, f.p. Birmingham Fest. 1888
.
2. Opera in 3 acts by Honegger to lib. by R. Morax, comp. 1925, prod. Monte Carlo 1926
.
3. Opera in 1 act by E. Goossens to lib. by Arnold Bennett, prod. London and Philadelphia 1929
.
4. Oratorio by Thomas Arne, words by Bickerstaffe, f.p. London 1761.
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MICHAEL KENNEDY and JOYCE BOURNE. "Judith." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

MICHAEL KENNEDY and JOYCE BOURNE. "Judith." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O76-Judith.html

MICHAEL KENNEDY and JOYCE BOURNE. "Judith." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music. 1996. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O76-Judith.html

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Judith

The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature | 2003 | | Copyright

Judith, a 350-line poem in Old English, fragmentary at the beginning, found in the Beowulf manuscript (ASPR 4), probably dating from the late 9th cent. The poem tells the story of the Apocryphal Book of Judith, and the surviving sections correspond to about the last quarter of the biblical book.
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MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "Judith." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "Judith." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O54-Judith.html

MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "Judith." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O54-Judith.html

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Judith

The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable | 2006 | | Copyright

Judith in the Apocrypha, a rich Israelite widow who saved the town of Bethulia from Nebuchadnezzar's army by seducing the besieging general Holofernes and cutting off his head while he slept. Also, a book of the Apocrypha recounting the story of Judith.
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Judith." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Judith." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-Judith.html

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Judith." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-Judith.html

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Judith

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | Copyright

Judith Heroine of an Old Testament book that is considered apocryphal by Protestants and Jews. Judith is described as a beautiful young widow who heroically rescued the Israelite city of Bethulia from siege by the Assyrians.
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Judith, Book of

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions | 1997 | | Copyright

Judith, Book of. Apocryphal Jewish book dating from the second Temple period. The book was probably written to encourage the people during the Hasmonean campaigns.
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JOHN BOWKER. "Judith, Book of." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN BOWKER. "Judith, Book of." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-JudithBookof.html

JOHN BOWKER. "Judith, Book of." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-JudithBookof.html

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Judith

A Dictionary of First Names | 2006 | | Copyright

Judith ♀ (German) Biblical.
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PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Judith." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Judith." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Judith1.html

PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Judith." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Judith1.html

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Judith

Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes | 2007 | Copyright

Judith •myth, outwith, pith, smith •twentieth • seventieth • eightieth •fiftieth • sixtieth • ninetieth •fortieth • thirtieth • Edith • Judith •Meredith • Griffith • Hesketh •tallith • Delyth • Lilith • megalith •monolith • blacksmith • Nasmyth •tinsmith • Ladysmith • locksmith •songsmith • goldsmith • gunsmith •coppersmith • silversmith •wordsmith •Kenneth, zenith •Gwyneth • Lapith • Hollerith •Asquith • Sopwith

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