Texts in Conversation
Nabal in 1 Samuel 25 and Holofernes in Judith 12 host extravagant drinking parties where they become dangerously intoxicated. In each story, the villain's drunkenness creates an opening that leads directly to his downfall.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
1 Samuel 25:36
Hebrew Bible
35 Then David took from her hand what she had brought to him. He said to her, “Go back to your home in peace. Be assured that I have listened to you and responded favorably.” 36 When Abigail went back to Nabal, he was holding a banquet in his house like that of the king. Nabal was having a good time and was very intoxicated. She told him absolutely nothing until morning’s light. 37 In the morning, when Nabal was sober, his wife told him about these matters. His heart died within him and he became a stone40. 38 After about 10 days the Lord struck Nabal down and he died.
Date: 600–501 BCE (based on scholarly estimates)
Judith 12:20
Deuterocanon
18 Judith said, “I will drink now, my lord, because my life is magnified in me this day more than all the days since I was born.” 19 Then she took and ate and drank before him what her servant had prepared. 20 Holofernes took great delight in her, and drank exceedingly much wine, more than he had drunk at any time in one day since he was born.
Date: 100 BCE (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... The alcoholic indulgence of Holofernes (Judith 12:20) is reminiscent of the inebriation of Nabal (1 Samuel 25:36), although Holofernes' drunkenness leads to his immediate demise at Judith's hand, whereas Nabal survives for ten days after the arrival of David. Nabal feasts with his friends while David is out campaigning, just as Holofernes enjoys banquets while his forces are on campaign. Indeed, in both 1 Samuel 25:36 and Judith 12:10 the villain has arranged a "drinking party" (potos) with his friends, and in both cases the excessive intake of alcohol is indicated by the term sphodra ("very," 1 Samuel 25:36; Judith 12:20). ..."
Jeremy Corley, “Imitation of Septuagintal Narrative and Greek Historiography in the Portrait of Holofernes,” in A Pious Seductress: Studies in the Book of Judith, ed. Géza G. Xeravits, DCLS 14 (Berlin: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. KG, 2012), 33–34.
* 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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