1. And in those days Judith heard thereof, the daughter of Merari, the son of Ox, the son of Joseph, the son of Oziel, the son of Elkiah, the son of Ananias, the son of Gideon, the son of Raphaim, the son of Ahitub, the son of Elihu, the son of Eliab, the son of Nathanael, the son of Salamiel, the son of Salasadai, the son of Israel.
2. And her husband was Manasses, of her tribe and of her family, and he died in the days of barley harvest.
3. For he stood over them that bound sheaves in the field, and the heat came upon his head, and he fell on his bed, and died in his city Bethulia: and they buried him with his fathers in the field which is between Dothaim and Balamon.
4. And Judith was a widow in her house three years and four months.
5. And she made her a tent upon the roof of her house, and put on sackcloth upon her loins; and the garments of her widowhood were upon her.
6. And she fasted all the days of her widowhood, save the eves of the Sabbaths, and the Sabbaths, and the eves of the new moons, and the new moons, and the feasts and joyful days of the house of Israel.
7. And she was of a goodly countenance, and exceeding beautiful to behold: and her husband Manasses had left her gold, and silver, and menservants, and maidservants, and cattle, and lands; and she remained upon them.
8. And there was none that gave her an evil word; for she feared God exceedingly.
9. And she heard the evil words of the people against the governor, because they fainted for lack of water; and Judith heard all the words that Ozias spoke to them, how he sware to them that he would deliver the city to the Assyrians after five days.
10. And she sent her maid, that was over all things that she had, to call Ozias and Chabris and Charmis, the elders of her city.
11. And they came to her, and she said to them, Hear me now, O you⌃ rulers of the inhabitants of Bethulia: for your word that you⌃ have spoken before the people this day is not right, and you⌃ have set the oath which you⌃ have pronounced between God and you, and have promised to deliver the city to our enemies, unless within these days the Lord turn to help you.