It is interesting that the act of translating attracts metaphors of the female body. My male Greek teacher used to say of translations that they are like women: if they are beautiful they are unlikely to be faithful, and if they are faithful they are unlikely to be beautiful. I fear this translation is neither:
31 André Marie Dubarle, Judith: Formes et sens des diverses traditions, i: Études (Rome: Institut Biblique Pontifical, 1966), pp. 92–94. Biblical books are referenced with the short titles following the Chicago style (cf. index under “Bible”).
it is certainly not scientific. My excuse is that this is a preliminary transla-tion, aimed at giving readers who are not familiar with the original Hebrew some idea of Megillat Yehudit. As the writer Shai Agnon said, reading a Hebrew work in translation is like kissing a bride through her veil. Hebrew words carry with them a biblical load, all the more so when the work is written, as here, almost entirely as a string of biblical quotations and allu-sions. I have noted over three hundred scriptural citations, shown in italics, and I am sure there are more. It would be interesting to analyze them all and their intertextual effect. I have made a start on the group of references to women and food in my paper above.
I have used all three published texts of Megillat Yehudit as well as the microfiche for this translation. For the biblical quotations I have made use of three translations of the Hebrew Bible: the Revised Standard Version;
the New English Bible and the Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh. None of them is wholly satisfactory in the new context of Megillat Yehudit. Note that changes of person and number of the verb, and other grammatical infelicities are typical of this document. Many of these are due to the use of quotations, which the author does not always adapt to the new context. I am grateful to Deborah Gera for her critical reading of this translation and her helpful suggestions.
* * * *
You also, son of man, take32 a written scroll,33 feed your stomach and fill your belly with34 what I give you,35 and it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.36 And bless the Lord your God who has dealt wondrously with you.37He has laid the nations prostrate beneath us38 and those who spoiled us will be our spoil.39 He has rescued us from our foes and has raised us clear of our enemies.40 Is it not known in all the world,41 that God has put us to the test, to see whether we follow his law, or not?42 And we have not ceased our service, but we are weary and have been allowed to rest.43
32 Ez 4:1.
33 Ez 2:9.
34 Ez 3:3.
35 Ez 3:3.
36 Ez 3:3 (slightly changed).
37 Jl 2:26.
38 Ps 47:4 [3].
39 Jer 30:16.
40 Ps 18:49.
41 Is 12:4.
42 Ex 16:4 (and cf. Dt 13:4).
43 Lam 5:5.
It came to pass, at the beginning of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, that a cer-tain duke burned with desire for Jerusalem and its people, and he went up to Jerusalem, and all his court with him. Then he besieged it, and built a siege-ramp,44 and he did not allow any man to go out or come in. Thus they were besieged for many days.45 And the famine grew more severe for them and the city was broken up.46 Then the duke entered Jerusalem and he prevailed over it and captured it, together with all the fortified cities in Judah. Thus they put their hand under his hand and surrendered. Then he placed his throne above47 the throne of the kings who had been in Jerusalem and he was triumphant and smote48 Israel and possessed their land.49 He took the treasures of the House of God and the treasures of the king,50 and imposed a punishment on the land:51the people of Judah and Benjamin52 could no longer raise up their heads and they were subdued.53
Then he consulted his officers and his54 nobles and they behaved wickedly,55 saying: “This is the counsel we counsel:56the land has been made over to us as our property,57 now let us take their daughters for ourselves58and they shall take home their lives and nothing more.59 On this condition they will consent60 and we shall become one people.”61 Their words pleased62 him, and he deferred not,63 for he desired the daughter of Jacob.64
So he sent and called all the people of Judah and Jerusalem,65 and they all came to the king. [And the king said to them]: “Listen to me, you stubborn of heart, who are far from66 salvation.67 I am a god and I sit throned like a god.68 There is none
like me, and there is none able to save you except for me.69 I reveal the end from the beginning, what is to be. I say that my purpose shall take effect, I will accomplish all that I please.70 I will give counsel in Zion and my glory to Israel.71 All the king desires as bride-price is72 spoil of dyed cloths, spoil of embroidered cloths,73 a damsel or two for each man.74 Listen to this,75 O daughter of Israel, who loves luxury, and sits76 in her house perfect in beauty,77 and fair to look upon:78 if you are destined to marry a man, his friends must bring you [first] to me and I will know you
…..79 These two will not please me:80 a widow, or a divorced woman: these he shall not take, but a virgin of his people.81 Hear this, O House of Jacob,82 behold I have refined you but not with silver, I have tested you,83 and if your ear is not opened,84 know what I shall do to you:85 I shall slay your young men with the sword,86 and I will cause your officers and judges to be trodden down. I will turn my hand upon you,87 and I shall burn all your fortresses.88 Behold, I teach you for your own advantage, in the way you should go.89 Take counsel together and speak.”90
He gave them three days’ time, but they did not speak to him either good or evil,91 and went away from him heavy and displeased.92 Then the children of Israel saw they were in trouble:93 they had no power to flee this way or that way,94 and they found no answer.95 Thus they took longer than the time he set them.96 69 Cf. Is 45:21 and 46:9.
79 The editor notes that the text is unclear here, but this is the meaning he pro-poses, i.e., that the king should spend the first night with a virgin bride.
80 1 Kgs 9:12.
So he sent and called them, and he bound them and put them in the prison-house.97When he brought them out of prison,98he said to them: “I declared the former things from the beginning and they went forth from my mouth,99 because I knew that you are obstinate and your brow brass.100 But for the sake of my name I will control my wrath, I will not destroy you. Turn back to me,101and I will make you high in praise and in name and in honour.”102
They all answered at once with stammering lip and in a different tongue,103 saying: “As you say, O lord king, we are in your hands, to do as you please.”104 They stooped, they bowed down together, they could not deliver the burden.105 The
beautiful virgins fainted106 and said tearfully: “God has found out our sins and given us as spoil,”107 and they wept sore.108
But the king’s command remained firm,109 and he took them out to his house, and he defiled them by lying with the women.110 Then the women who had been at ease111 said: “How long will this one be a snare for us?112 Would it not be better for us to cease to marry so we should not have to lie with him?” And they did so.113 Then there ceased in the city114 the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride.115
This was so for many days: they did not come as in the earlier days, and he was very surprised and his wrath was kindled.116 So he sent and called to the men of the city: “Was this not what I said at first, that you were stubborn and you turned and did not face me?117 By my head! You are destined for death, for you did not observe118 my commandments. It would be better for you if some-one else were to rule you, rather than my men should rule you! You should know therefore, that [the women] will be their prey.”119
97 2 Chr 16:10.
They replied: “Far be it from your servants120 to cease to do your pleasure.
We ceased to give our daughters in marriage121 for we no longer have mon-ey to give away our daughters, and because of that thmon-ey are debarred from marrying.”122
Then the worthless man [son of Belial]123 answered: “I will try you this time and see if you are honest.124 So go back to your tents and I will command you saying: ‘A proclamation shall go forth in Judah and the land of Jerusalem:
Every man and woman who do not marry, each of them brings blood on his house, there is one law for him – he shall be put to death.’”125
Then there was a second time a veil of tears.126 Trembling, they turned to one another,127and the counsel of the women came to nought.128 Thus when the women were married, they would take them to the house of the king and he lay with crowds of women.129 And it came to pass in those days there was in the city a great upheaval,130 and the daughters of Israel were shut up unto the day of their death, living in widowhood.131
And it came to pass out of their affliction132 they were humbled and re-turned to God, with all their heart and with all their soul.133 Then God heard their voice134 from his abode, and he gave them a saviour,135 Judah. This man was greater than all men of old, a mighty hero and man of war.136 He had a beautiful sister,137of good understanding.138 Now her brother decided to give her to a man [in marriage], and he betrothed her, and all the city was amazed.139 When she heard, she wept and pleaded with him,140 not to be given to a man: “lest you should take me and I should fall into the hands of this uncircumcised one, and I, how shall I suffer my shame? And you will be like one of the scoundrels of 120 Gn 44:7.
129 Ex 38:8. The meaning of the scriptural word tzova’ot is uncertain: “crowds” is the interpretation of the Jewish medieval commentator Rashi.
130 1 Sm 5:9.
131 2 Sm 20:3.
132 Hos 5:15.
133 Dt 6:5.
134 ‘their voice’ is found in the manuscript, but was missed out by Habermann in his edition.
Israel.141 Of you the tale-tellers will say:142 ‘Judah has broken faith, and a shameful deed has been done,143 they took his sister and violated her.’”144
When he heard the words of his sister, they weighed on him,145 and his wrath was kindled.146 He put on his sword-belt147 and went to the king’s house. He was sitting on his throne and his officers were on his right and on his left. When he saw him belted with his sword close to him,148 he derided him,149 saying: “Is it well with you, Judah?150 Bring your sister so we can know her.”151 But he replied:
“What concern of yours is it whether it is well? Turn behind me.152 Should my sister be treated like a whore?”153 Then he drew his sword and he cut off his head154 with all the officers, and he put all the servants of the king to the sword.
Then he went out from there, and blew the shofar [ram’s horn],155 and the children of Israel assembled as one man. And he said: “Follow me, for God has given all our enemies into our hands.”156 So they went out, and they smote man against man, and they shouted.157 Then they [the enemy] fled158 and the camp was secure,159 and not a man of them remained.160 And there was joy in Israel, for the Lord had made them to rejoice over their enemies,161 and they dwelt in their tents as beforetimes.162
When the great king Aliphorni [Holophernes] heard that his brother was dead because the children of Israel had smitten him, and taken some of them prisoners,163 his wrath was kindled164 and he burst into wild and bitter sobbing.165 He
141 2 Sm 13:13.
150 Cf. 2 Sm 20:9: Is it well with you, my brother?
151 Cf. Gn 19:5.
assembled his camp, a multitude of people,166 as numerous as the sands of the sea.167 Then the children of Israel realized they had incurred the wrath of168 the king Aliforni, and they feared greatly for their lives. So they built fortresses in all Judah and Jerusalem, and they prepared missiles and many shields and they strengthened the lookouts of their walls and they made towers to put large stones in them. They put a garrison and men of war in each and every town and in Jerusalem, proclaimed a fast169 and prayed to God.
Then Aliforni went up to Jerusalem, he and all his army with him and Israel saw that his camp was very numerous and they feared greatly. Every day he went around the wall with his officers and his horsemen, his generals and his chariot.170 They sounded great trumpet blasts171 to frighten them into pan-ic.172 Thus they did for many days.
Then a man of Israel who was on the wall spoke out, and cried: “Help, my lord, O king!173 Make a treaty with us and we will make you our king. Silver and gold will not be accounted,174 but you should be our support and come to the city and reign over us. And we together will bow down to your footstool.”175
Then [Aliforni] called loudly to them in the language of Judah:176 “O house of Israel, have you not killed my people? 177 I seek the blood of my brother178 from you. If a man were to give all the substance of his house179it would not save him from me.180 I shall destroy the cities of your land and demolish all your fortresses181 and I shall do it with anger and rage182 and by no means clearing the guilty.183 I shall make you a desolation and the inhabitants an object of hissing and you shall bear the 166 1 Kgs 3:8.
176 2 Chr 32:18. The Hebrew for ‘in the language of Judah’ is yehudit. Cf. also 2 Kgs 18:28.
177 Page 62 of the MS ends here. Habermann thought there was clearly a lacu-na in the text, which begins again with Holophernes’s speech. However, he read he-atem ami “Are you not my people?,” perhaps thinking the previous verse referred to a speech by Judith because of the mention of yehudit. Dubarle reads ha-mitem ami
“Have you not killed my people?,” which is a slightly adapted quotation from Num-bers 17:6 [RV 16:41]. This has the advantage of making the whole speech belong to Holophernes, without any lacuna.
reproach of my people.184 I will not return to the house of my kingdom until I have executed my vile designs.185 I shall carry out what I have sworn. I will not stay my sword from blood and I will wreak vengeance on my foe.”186
The man replied saying: “Let not him who girds on his sword boast like him who puts it off it.187For I will look to the Lord, I will wait for the God of my salvation.”188
On that day Aliforni returned to his tent which he had pitched to sit in.
For many days he sat in his tent with his officers and the nobles of the coun-try. Then there came before him, wondrous in purpose and mighty in deed,189 an honourable man and a counsellor, a cunning artificer and an eloquent orator.190 He spoke to the king: “Let my supplication be accepted before you:191I would, my lord,192 that we should arise and go193 to our home and our land, so we shall not perish sitting in tents and fighting with the inhabitants of this coastland.194 Do you not know? Have you not heard195 what he did to Sihon and Og and the inhabit-ants of their countries,196 all the thirty-one kings? They defeated them and took possession of their territories:197 the Negeb, the Shephelah, the Arabah and all the seacoast.198 Every people who will make them tremble will fall by the sword.
For behold! God will take up their cause and rob him who robs them of their livelihood.199 My father, see, O see, the shame of your brother, his shameful acts. God has made them recoil on his own head.200 For the Lord their God is the God of gods and Lord of lords,201 and the earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it.202 Who can contend with what is mightier than he?203 God will fight for them. The 184 Mi 6:16.
199 Prv 22:23. A version of the expression yariv rivam [(God) will take up their cause ] is also found in the past tense ravta et rivam in the Babylonian Talmud Meg-illah 21b as part of the blessing to be said before the reading of Megillat Esther on Purim. At some stage it was transferred to Hanukkah, where it has been said as part of the blessing Al haNissim at least since the Mahzor Vitri (ed. A. Goldschmidt, Jerusalem, 2004) in the eleventh century.
200 Jl 4:7 (3:8).
201 Dt 10:17.
202 Ps 24:1.
203 Eccl 6:10.
prophets prophesied to them, saying: ‘Hill of Zion’s daughter, the promises to you shall be fulfilled; your former sovereignty shall come again to the daughter of Jerusalem.204 If you be mine and will hearken to my voice205 each man will go back to his own land.’”206
When Aliforni heard the words of this man he was very wrathful,207 and he said: “You man of blood208 you are telling me a lie.209 You have gone over to210 the Jews.” The officers were angry with him also, saying: “You have come to discourage the soldiers.211 Among all the gods of the nations is there one who saved his land from me? And how will he save Jerusalem?”212 So they seized him, and swore: “By the life of our lord the king, he deserves to die!”213 The king added:
“Because he spoke well of the Jews, according to this judgement I shall do to him,214 I have decided it.215 Go and hang him up beyond the gates of Jerusalem216 his hands bound and his feet thrust in fetters.217 You shall not put him to death, but leave him to hunger and thirst,218 to heat by day and to frost by night.219 And on that day the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem will see my revenge: my
“Because he spoke well of the Jews, according to this judgement I shall do to him,214 I have decided it.215 Go and hang him up beyond the gates of Jerusalem216 his hands bound and his feet thrust in fetters.217 You shall not put him to death, but leave him to hunger and thirst,218 to heat by day and to frost by night.219 And on that day the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem will see my revenge: my