Yehudith

Yehudith is a figure mentioned in the Book of Judith, an apocryphal book of the Old Testament. The narrative recounts her story as a devout and beautiful Jewish widow who saves her people from the Assyrian army. According to the text, Holofernes, the general of the Assyrian forces, laid siege to the Jewish city of Bethulia. Yehudith, a woman of considerable wealth and social standing, devises a plan to infiltrate the enemy camp and assassinate Holofernes.

She adorns herself in fine clothes and jewels and, with her maidservant, ventures out of the besieged city, claiming to have deserted her people. Her beauty and supposed defection capture Holofernes' attention, and he invites her to a banquet. During the feast, as Holofernes drinks heavily, Yehudith seizes an opportunity. She decapitates him with his own sword and escapes with his head, which she presents to the people of Bethulia.

The sight of their dead leader demoralizes the Assyrian army, which then retreats in disarray, allowing the Jews to defeat them. Yehudith is celebrated as a heroine and a savior. The Book of Judith is not considered canonical by most Jewish traditions and Protestant denominations, but it is accepted as part of the canon by the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church. The story emphasizes themes of faith, courage, and divine intervention.