1 He then gave the order to have her brought into where his silver service was kept, and he commanded them to prepare some of his own delicacies for her and his wine to drink.
2 “I will not eat any of this,” Judith said, “lest it cause offense. But I will be supplied by the provisions I brought with me.”
3 Then Holofernes told her, “If your provisions run out, where do we obtain more of the same? For no one from your people is with us.”
4 Then Judith answered him, “My lord, even as you live, your handmaid will not use up what I brought with me until the Lord completes by my hand what He has purposed.”
5 Then Holofernes’ servants led her into the tent, where she slept until midnight. She rose as the morning watch approached,
6 and sent a message to Holofernes, saying, “My lord, let the command be given to allow your handmaid to go out and pray.”
7 So Holofernes ordered his guards not to detain her. So she stayed in the camp for three days, but each night she went out into the valley of Bethulia and washed in the water from the spring of the camp.
8 When she came up out of the water, she prayed to the Lord God of Israel to guide her way for the victory of His people.
9 So, returning cleansed, she remained in the tent until her evening meal was offered to her.
10 It came to be on the fourth day that Holofernes hosted a banquet just for his personal staff. None of the officers were invited.
11 He spoke to Bagoas, a eunuch who was in charge of his private affairs, saying, “Now go and persuade the Hebrew woman you care for to join us to eat and drink.
12 It would be disgraceful to us if we allowed such a woman to be neglected, for if we do not seduce her she will laugh at us.”
13 Then Bagoas departed from Holofernes’ presence and came to her and said, “Let not this beautiful handmaiden hesitate to come to my lord in the honor of his presence, and to drink wine with us in merriment. On this day you will be like one of the daughters of the Assyrians who serve in the house of Nebuchadnezzar.”
14 Then Judith answered, “Why would I refuse my lord? For whatever is pleasing to him I will do immediately, and this will be a delight to me until the day I die.”
15 So she arose and dressed herself in all her womanly finery. Her maid went on ahead to spread out the lambskins on the ground for her in front of Holofernes, which she had received from Bagoas for her use to recline on each day when she ate.
16 Now when Judith came in and reclined, the very heart of Holofernes was ravished by her, and his deepest feelings were aroused. He was exceedingly desirous of her, and had been waiting for the moment to seduce her since the first time he saw her.
17 Then Holofernes said to her, “Drink and be merry with us.”
18 Judith replied, “Indeed, my lord, I will happily drink now, for this is the best day of my entire life.”
19 Then taking what her maid prepared, she ate and drank before him.
20 Holofernes was delighted because of her, and he drank more wine than in any one day since birth.