Context No. 3951 of 4322 · Judith

Judith 4:1-8: in context

1The children of Israel who lived in Judea heard all that Holofernes the chief captain of Nebuchadnezzar king of the Assyrians had done to the nations, and how he had plundered all their temples and destroyed them utterly. 2They were exceedingly afraid at his approach, and were troubled for Jerusalem and for the temple of the Lord their God; 3because they had newly come up from the captivity, and all the people of Judea were recently gathered together; and the vessels, the altar, and the house were sanctified after being profaned. 4And they sent into every coast of Samaria, to Konae, to Beth-horon, Belmaim, Jericho, to Choba, Aesora, and to the valley of Salem; 5and they occupied beforehand all the tops of the high mountains, fortified the villages that were in them, and stored supplies for the provision of war, for their fields were newly reaped. 6Joakim the high priest, who was in those days at Jerusalem, wrote to those who lived in Bethulia and Betomesthaim, which is opposite Esdraelon toward the plain that is near to Dothaim, 7charging them to seize upon the ascents of the hill country; because by them was the entrance into Judea, and it was easy to stop them from approaching, inasmuch as the approach was narrow, with space for two men at the most. 8And the children of Israel did as Joakim the high priest had commanded them, as did the senate of all the people of Israel, which was in session at Jerusalem.

Word reaches the people of Judea that the conqueror Holofernes is approaching, destroying nations and their sanctuaries as he comes, and they are seized with fear, above all for Jerusalem and the temple, which they had only recently restored and reconsecrated after returning from exile. So they act: the high priest commands them to hold the mountain passes, and the people fortify the heights and prepare.

What is striking is what they feared to lose and how they responded. Having just recovered and rededicated the house of God after years of exile, they were not about to let it be defiled again without a fight; they took the threat seriously and prepared with urgency and care. There is something instructive in this vigilance over what God had restored to them. When God gives us back something precious, a renewed faith, a mended relationship, a fresh start, it is not to be treated carelessly but guarded. The people of Judea, having tasted the loss of the temple once, would not be complacent about a new threat, and their preparation was joined with earnest prayer.

When God restores something precious to me, a renewed faith, a mended relationship, a fresh start, do I guard it vigilantly rather than treating it carelessly, joining watchful care with earnest prayer?

Sources

Judith 4:2: "They were exceedingly afraid at his approach, and were troubled for Jerusalem and for the temple of the Lord their God."
Judith 4:3: "They had newly come up from the captivity... and the vessels, the altar, and the house were sanctified after being profaned."
Judith 4:7: "Charging them to seize upon the ascents of the hill country; because by them was the entrance into Judea."