JudithChapter 2

Judith Chapter 2: Meaning

Nebuchadnezzar sends his general Holofernes with a massive army to punish the western nations.

Summary

After his victory, Nebuchadnezzar made a plan to punish every nation that had refused to help him. He called his best general, Holofernes, and gave him a very specific order. He told Holofernes to take 120,000 soldiers and 12,000 horsemen and march west. His job was to destroy every nation that had disobeyed the king's command.

Nebuchadnezzar told Holofernes that those who surrendered should be kept alive for punishment later. Those who fought back should be killed without mercy. The king made it clear that not one of his orders should be ignored.

Holofernes quickly got the army ready and set out. He marched through many lands, burning cities, killing people, destroying farms, and taking plunder. Everywhere he went, he left fear and destruction behind. By the time he reached the coast, all the people there were terrified of him.

Historical Context

This chapter describes the military campaigns of ancient empires. Armies in those days used large numbers of soldiers, horses, and camels to travel and fight. Asking nations to offer "earth and water" was a real ancient way of showing total surrender to a conqueror.

The lands mentioned, Cilicia, Damascus, Mesopotamia, and others, were all real places in the ancient Middle East. Holofernes was moving from the east toward the land of Israel, building fear and power as he went.