JUDITH, THE APOCRYPHAL BOOK OF

JUDITH, THE APOCRYPHAL BOOK OF, one of the earliest specimens of historical fiction, relates the brave action of Judith, a Jewish widow distinguished for her beauty, her virtue, and her patriotism. When Holofernes, a general of Nebuchadnezzar, was besieging Bethulia, a city of Judaea, and had already reduced the inhabitants to great straits, she determined to deliver her people. To this end she managed to get admission into the enemy's camp, to win the confidence of Holofernes, and at last to kill him with her own hand while he lay drunk. She then escaped to the city, and showing the head aroused their courage; and thus the discomfited enemy were put to flight. The book of Judith is pure fiction. It was written in Hebrew during the days of the Maccabees, for the purpose of encouraging the people in their struggle. But its morality is sadly defective. The author is unknown.