Judith 14:11-19

Common English Bible

The Assyrians discover Holofernes’ body

¹¹ At dawn they hung Holofernes’ head on the wall, and all the men took up their weapons and went out in groups to the mountain passes. ¹² When the Assyrians saw them, they sent word to their leaders, who went to the captains, the commanders, and all the other officers. ¹³ They came to Holofernes’ tent and said to the one who looked after his property, “Wake up our master, for the slaves have become so bold as to come down to make war with us—only to be completely destroyed.”

¹⁴ Then Bagoas went in and knocked at the entrance to the tent, for he assumed that Holofernes was sleeping with Judith. ¹⁵ But when there was no answer, he entered the bedroom and found him sprawled on the floor, dead, with his head missing. ¹⁶ He cried out with a loud voice, weeping, groaning, and shouting, and he tore his clothes. ¹⁷ Next he went into the tent where Judith had been staying. Not finding her, he ran out to the people and shouted, ¹⁸ “The slaves have made fools of us! One Hebrew woman has brought shame upon the house of King Nebuchadnezzar. Look, Holofernes is lying on the ground and his head is gone!” ¹⁹ When the leaders of the Assyrian army heard this news, they tore their clothes. They were greatly disturbed, and their shouts and cries rang throughout the camp.