Texts in Conversation
Judith 13:18 echoes Genesis 14:19 by reusing the distinctive blessing formula spoken by Melchizedek to Abram after his military victory. This parallel associates Judith with Abram as a divinely aided deliverer and frames Uzziah’s words with the same authority of Melchizedek’s priestly blessing.
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Genesis 14:19
Hebrew Bible
17 After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet Abram in the Valley of Shaveh (known as the King’s Valley). 18 Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (Now he was the priest of the Most High God.) 19 He blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by the Most High God, Creator of heaven and earth. 20 Worthy of praise is the Most High God, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything.
Date: 5th Century B.C.E. (Final composition) (based on scholarly estimates)
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Judith 13:18
Deuterocanon
17 All the people were greatly astonished. They bowed down and worshiped God, and said with one accord, "Blessed are you our God, who have this day humiliated the enemies of your people." 18 Then Uzziah said to her, "O daughter, you are blessed by the Most High God above all other women on earth; and blessed be the Lord God, who created the heavens and the earth, who has guided you to cut off the head of the leader of our enemies. 19 Your praise will never depart from the hearts of those who remember the power of God.
Date: 150-100 B.C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... Uzziah’s words here are virtually a citation of the words pronounced by Melchizedek to Abram, in a similar context, when Abram returns from vanquishing Chedorlaomer and his allies. Compare Gen 14:19 ...This deliberate echo of Genesis 14, with its unusual wording, assimilates Judith to the victorious Abram, while lending Uzziah the aura of the king and priest Melchizedek ..."
* 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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