Amazon Ads
 
 
◄◄◄
 
 
Holofernes
(fl c. 5th century BC)

Biographical

According to the Book of Judith, Holofernes was an Assyrian general, appointed by Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Assyria, and sent against Syria at the head of a powerful army. He crossed the Euphrates, entered Cilicia and Syria, and subdued almost all the provinces north of Judea, exercising cruelty everywhere and attempting to have his master worshipped as a god. With plans to conquer Egypt, he advanced towards Judea, but was informed that the Jews were preparing to resist him. Achior, the commander of the Ammonites, told him that the Jews were a people specially protected by God, as long as they remained obedient to Him, and therefore he should not expect to defeat them unless they had committed an offence against God. Holofernes, angered by this statement, ordered his servants to bring Achior before the walls of Bethulia, where they tied him to a tree and left him. Meanwhile, Holofernes began the siege of Bethulia, cutting off the water supply and setting guards at the only fountain near the walls. The city was soon pushed to the brink of surrender, declaring that unless God sent help within five days, they would give in. Judith, who lived in Bethulia, went to Holofernes’ camp with her maid, pretending to have fled the town. Captivated by her beauty, Holofernes allowed her to enter. Days later, he hosted a banquet and persuaded Judith to join him. After drinking heavily and falling asleep, with his staff removed, Holofernes was left alone with Judith and her maid. Judith seized his sword and, with two swift blows, decapitated him. She then fled back to Bethulia, and her town was saved.