Catholic Dictionary
Find accurate definitions of over 5,000 Catholic terms and phrases (including abbreviations). Based on Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.
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JUDITH
The name means "Jewess." She is the heroine of the Book of Judith, which is a historical romance (Judith 7). The details of a great battle are impressive, but the purpose of the book is mainly didactic. When the terrified Israelites were awaiting invasion and annihilation by Nebuchadnezzar's great army under its general, Holofernes, the beautiful, ingenious Judith, inspired by Yahweh, visited the Assyrian camp, dazzled the general with her beauty and eloquence, and during the night killed and beheaded him. In the ensuing battle, the demoralized Assyrians were vanquished and Judith became a national heroine (Judith 10-13). It is an inspiring story to teach the Israelites the importance of depending on Yahweh when catastrophe threatens.
