1
Holofernes commanded his men to take Judith to the table which was set with his silverware and to serve her some of his own special food and wine.
2
But Judith refused. "I cannot eat your food," she said, "for I would be breaking the laws of my God. I will eat only what I have brought with me."
3
"But what will you do when your food and wine are gone?" Holofernes asked. "Where will we get more food for you? There are no Israelites here in our camp."
4
"Sir," Judith answered, "as surely as you live, I have more than enough food to last until the Lord has used me to carry out his plan."
5
Then Holofernes' personal servants led Judith to a tent. She slept there until the time of the morning watch just before dawn, when she got up
6
and sent a message to Holofernes requesting permission to go out into the valley to pray.
7
Holofernes ordered his guards to let Judith leave the camp. So for three days Judith lived in the camp, and each night she would go out to the valley near Bethulia and bathe at the spring.
8
After she had bathed, she would pray to the Lord God to guide her in her plan to bring victory to Israel.