Глава 15

1–7. The Jews pursue and defeat their enemies. 8–10. The High Priest and the elders of Jerusalem come to “see Judith and greet her” with blessings. 11–14. People's celebrations on the occasion of the victory. Judith 15:1 When those in the tents heard what had happened, they were troubled, Judith.15:2 And fear and trembling fell upon them, and not one of them remained in the sight of his neighbor, but they all rushed and fled along all the roads of the plain and the hill country. 1–2. “Not one of them remained in the eyes of his neighbor.” Each saw in the other the aggravation of his fear, and in a solitary flight he thought to find the surest salvation, making it easier for the Jews to complete the defeat in separate small parts. The given words may represent such a meaning. They can also be understood in such a way that the flight was universal, without any exceptions and equally hasty and disorderly for everyone. Judith.15:3 And those who were camped in the hill country near Bethulia also fled. Then the children of Israel, every one of them a man of war, pursued them. 3. “Encamped in the mountainous country near Bethulia” – i.e. Edomites and Ammonites, cf. Judith. 7:18. Judith.15:4 Uzziah sent to Betomasthem, Bibaai, Hobai and Hola and to all the borders of Israel, to inform about what had happened and so that everyone would pursue the enemies to destroy them. 4. “Uzziah sent to Vetomasthem, Bibaja, Hobaiah and Hola” - see above, to Judith. 4:4. Judith.15:5 As soon as the children of Israel heard about this, they all attacked them together and smote them as far as Hobah; Likewise, those who came from Jerusalem and from the entire mountainous country, since they were told about what had happened in the camp of their enemies, and from Gilead and Galilee, inflicted a great defeat on them on all sides, until they passed beyond Damascus and beyond its borders. Judith.15:6 The rest of the inhabitants of Bethulia attacked the Assyrian camp, plundered it and became very rich. Judith 15:7 And the children of Israel, returning from defeat, took possession of the rest; and the villages and villages in the mountainous country and on the plain received great spoil, because there was a very large quantity of it. Judith.15:8 The great priest Jehoiakim and the elders of the children of Israel who lived in Jerusalem came to see what good the Lord had done for Israel, and to see Judith and greet her. 8. The high priest and the elders of Jerusalem “came to see what good the Lord had done for Israel,” i.e. came to find out the matter on the spot, especially “to see Judith and greet her” - Greek: λαλήσαι μετ ᾿αυτής είρήνην - lit.: “to talk peace with her” (peaceful, friendly) - to talk to her in a friendly, affectionate manner, and also: “to say blessing upon her." Judith 15:9 As soon as they came in to her, they all blessed her with one accord and said to her, “You are the greatness of Israel, you are the great joy of Israel, you are the great glory of our family.” Judith 15:10 You have done all this with your own hand; You have done good to Israel, and may God favor them; Be blessed by the Lord Almighty for eternity. And all the people said: let it be! 10. The name "Lord Almighty" in later Jewish books usually replaces the proper name Jehovah, which, out of reverence, was not uttered or used by post-exilic Jews. Judith.15:11 The people plundered the camp for thirty days, and Judith was given the tent of Holofernes and all the silver vessels and beds and bowls and all his utensils. She took it, put it on her mule, harnessed her chariots and laid it on them. 11. “The people plundered the camp for thirty days.” Some critics considered this message incredibly exaggerated. However, nothing is impossible here. We must not forget how many countries and cities Holofernes passed through on the way to Vetilua, taking all the best of them with him as booty of war. It was this booty that could have been enough for the not so numerous Vetiluians to plunder for a whole month, especially since it was undoubtedly scattered over a very vast area and could only be found by a kind of search, not immediately. “Beds” - τάς κλίνας - boxes, sofas, on which they reclined at dinner and which were the decoration of the dining room and the tent of Holofernes in general. Judith 15:12 And all the women of Israel ran together to see her, and blessed her, and formed a choir for her; and she took in her hands the wands entwined with vine leaves and gave them to the women who were with her, 12. “Wands entwined with vine leaves” (θύρσους) - these could simply be twigs of vines, for holding in hands during round dances. Such “rods” (firs) were also used during pagan celebrations, such as, for example, at the festivals of Bacchus, and the “rods” here were used from ivy or a vine entwined with ivy on top. Judith 15:13 And she and those who were with her put on themselves wreaths of olive oil. She walked ahead of all the people in the choir and led all the wives behind her; all the men of Israel followed her, armed, with wreaths and with solemn songs in their mouths. 13. “Olive wreaths” are like signs of peace and joy. "Men of Israel" participate in the celebrations "armed" as a sign that a victory holiday is being celebrated. Judith 15:14 Judith began a song of thanksgiving before all Israel, and all the people sang along with the song.