Summary: Judith, a beautiful and devout widow, faithfully observed fasting and prayer. She managed her late husband’s wealth and was respected by all for her reverence and integrity.
Judith’s husband, Manasseh, of her own tribe and clan, had died at the time of the barley harvest. While he was supervising those who bound the sheaves in the field, he suffered sunstroke; and he collapsed on his bed and died in Bethulia, his native city. He was buried with his ancestors in the field between Dothan and Balamon.
Judith was living as a widow in her home for three years and four months.
She set up a tent for herself on the roof of her house, put sackcloth about her waist, and wore widow’s clothing. She fasted all the days of her widowhood, except sabbath eves and sabbaths, new moon eves and new moons, feastdays and holidays of the house of Israel.
She was beautiful in appearance and very lovely to behold. Her husband, Manasseh, had left her gold and silver, male and female servants, livestock and fields, which she was maintaining.
No one had a bad word to say about her, for she was a God-fearing woman.