Texts in Conversation
Judith 16 describes God breaking battles in the defeat of the Assyrians, emphasizing his role in fighting for Israel against its enemies, possibly alluding to texts like Psalm 46, which use similar language of breaking bows and ending wars.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Psalm 46:9
Hebrew Bible
7 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is on our side. The God of Jacob is our stronghold. (Selah) 8 Come, Witness the exploits of the Lord, who brings devastation to the earth. 9 He brings an end to wars throughout the earth. He shatters the bow and breaks the spear; he burns the shields with fire. 10 He says, “Stop your striving and recognize that I am God. I will be exalted over the nations! I will be exalted over the earth!” 11 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is on our side! The God of Jacob is our stronghold! (Selah)
Date: 600–201 BCE (based on scholarly estimates)
Judith 16:2
Deuterocanon
1 Judith said, “Begin a song to my God with timbrels. Sing to my Lord with cymbals. Make melody to him with psalm and praise. Exalt him, and call upon his name. 2 For the Lord is the God that crushes battles. For in his armies in the midst of the people, he delivered me out of the hand of those who persecuted me. 3 Asshur came out of the mountains from the north. He came with ten thousands of his army. Its multitude stopped the torrents. Their horsemen covered the hills. 4 He said that he would burn up my borders, kill my young men with the sword, throw my nursing children to the ground, give my infants up as prey, and make my virgins a plunder.
Date: 100 BCE (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... Both passages refer to God’s act of ‘breaking the battles’ or ‘ending wars’ (Judith 16:3; Psalm 46:9). However, there is a large difference in underlying ideologies. Judith 16 is adamant about the conviction that God is on the side of the Israelites. The words in Judith 16:3, ‘For God breaks the battles’, pertain to Judith being rescued from the Assyrian camp and Israel destroying their enemies. It does not cross the traditional boundaries between Israel and their enemies. God does not break battles to bring peace between nations and no reference to peace between Israel and Assyria can be found in Judith 16. Nations have to fear God when God appears, because God will destroy them. After using an expression which reminds one of Psalm 46:2−3, 6, Judith 16:15−17 states that there exists a clear boundary between YHWH’s people and other nations." ..."
S. Philip Nolte and Pierre J. Jordaan, “Ideology and Intertextuality: Intertextual Allusions in Judith 16,” HvTSt 67.3 (2011): 1–9.
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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