12:1
Then he commanded that she be brought into the place where his silver vessels were stored, and ordered that they prepare for her from his own food and that she drink from his wine.
12:2
But Yehudit said: “I will not eat from them, lest there be offense. But provision shall be made for me from the things I have brought.”
12:3
And Holofernes said to her: “But if what you have with you is consumed, from where shall we obtain such things to give you? For there is none of your nation with us.”
12:4
And Yehudit said to him: “As your being lives, my master, your maidservant shall not consume the things I have with me before Yahuah works by my hand the things He has determined.”
12:5
Then the servants of Holofernes brought her into the tent, and she slept until midnight. And she arose toward the morning watch.
12:6
And she sent to Holofernes, saying: “Let my master now command that your maidservant be permitted to go out to pray.”
12:7
And Holofernes commanded his guards not to hinder her. And she remained in the camp three days. And each night she went out into the valley of Beit-Uluyah and washed herself at the spring in the camp.
12:8
And when she came up, she petitioned Yahuah Elohim of Yisra’el to direct her way for the raising up of the sons of her people.
12:9
Then she returned clean and remained in the tent until she ate her food toward evening.
12:10
And it came to pass on the fourth day that Holofernes made a feast for his servants alone and called none of those appointed to his service.
12:11
And he said to Bagoas, the eunuch who was over all that he possessed: “Go now and persuade the Ivrit ishah who is with you to come to us and eat and drink with us.
12:12
For see, it would be shameful for our face if we allowed such an ishah to pass from us without enjoying her company. For if we do not draw her to ourselves, she shall laugh at us.”
12:13
Then Bagoas went out from before Holofernes and entered to her and said: “Let this beautiful maidservant not hesitate to come to my master and be honored before his face, and drink wine with us in gladness, and become this day like one of the daughters of the sons of Ashshur who serve in the house of Nevukhadnetzar.”
12:14
And Yehudit said to him: “And who am I, that I should contradict my master? Whatever is pleasing in his eyes I shall hasten to do, and this shall be a joy to me until the day of my death.”
12:15
So she arose and adorned herself with her garments and all her womanly ornaments. And her maidservant went before her and spread for her upon the ground before Holofernes the skins which she had received from Bagoas for her daily use, that she might recline upon them while eating.
12:16
And Yehudit came in and reclined. And the heart of Holofernes was enraptured toward her, and his being was greatly moved, and he desired exceedingly to lie with her. For he had been watching for a time to deceive her from the day he first saw her.
12:17
And Holofernes said to her: “Drink now and be joyful with us.”
12:18
And Yehudit said: “I shall drink now, my master, because my life has been magnified in me this day more than all the days since I was born.”
12:19
Then she took and ate and drank before his face what her maidservant had prepared.
12:20
And Holofernes was exceedingly pleased with her and drank very much wine— more than he had ever drunk in one day from the day he was born.