She went up to the bedpost near Holofernes’ head, and took down his sword that hung there. She came close to his bed, took hold of the hair of his head, and said, ‘Give me strength today, O Lord God of Israel!’ Then she struck his neck twice with all her might, and cut off his head. Next she rolled his body off the bed and pulled down the canopy from the posts. Soon afterwards she went out and gave Holofernes’ head to her maid, who placed it in her food bag.(Judith 13:6-10)
Except as the object of prayer, God does not appear in the book of Judith. There is no angel or other external encouragement.
Rather, Judith conceives, plans and executes the action of her own volition. If God is seen, it is in the courage and conviction of the human hero.
Would God have intervened to stop Judith? Would God have withdrawn her courage? Was her conviction of God, or despite God?
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