Scripture Daily

Context No. 4061 of 4322 · Judith

Context · Reflection

Judith 1:1-6: in context

1In the twelfth year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, who reigned over the Assyrians in Nineveh, the great city, in the days of Arphaxad, who reigned over the Medes in Ecbatana, 2and built around Ecbatana walls of hewn stones three cubits broad and six cubits long, and made the height of the wall seventy cubits, and its breadth fifty cubits, 3and set its towers at its gates one hundred cubits high, and its breadth in the foundation was sixty cubits, 4and made its gates, even gates that were raised to the height of seventy cubits, and their breadth forty cubits, for his mighty army to go out of, and the setting in array of his footmen— 5in those days King Nebuchadnezzar made war with King Arphaxad in the great plain. This plain is on the borders of Ragau. 6There came to meet him all that lived in the hill country, and all that lived by Euphrates, Tigris, and Hydaspes, and in the plain of Arioch the king of the Elymaeans. Many nations of the sons of Chelod assembled themselves to the battle.

The book of Judith opens by describing the power and grandeur of a great king, Nebuchadnezzar, ruling from Nineveh, and the immense fortifications of a rival kingdom, walls of hewn stone, towers a hundred cubits high, gates raised to a great height, an impression of overwhelming, unassailable power.

The scene is deliberately set to look formidable, a world of great kings, vast armies, and impregnable cities. But readers who know the story of Judith know how it ends: this seemingly invincible power will be brought down, not by a greater army, but through the courage and faith of an unlikely person, a widow, with God's help. The grand opening is set up precisely so that its collapse will display that human power, however impressive, is not the final word. The powers of this world can look overwhelming and unassailable, their walls high, their armies vast, their kings proud. But the story, like the whole witness of Scripture, testifies otherwise: the God who rules over all can bring down the proud and the seemingly invincible, often through the weak and the unlikely.

Am I intimidated by the grandeur of worldly power that looks unassailable, or do I remember that God can bring down the proud and the seemingly invincible, often through the weak and unlikely, so that such power is never the final word?

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