The Book of Judith revolves around Judith, a beautiful and wise Jewish widow, living in the town of Bethulia.  The Book of Judith is part of the Apocrypha / Deuterocanonical scripture and appears in the Old Testament of Bible. The book of Judith has 16 chapters, but Judith is not mentioned in the story’s first half (1:1–7:32), its is mostly about the events taking place in Bethulia. Judith first appears in chapter 8:1. 

        The Book of Judith tells the story of God’s deliverance of the Jewish people, by the hands of a woman, in their time of great need and despair. Judith is upset with her town’s countrymen because they “test” God rather than trust him and they decide to surrender to King Nebuchadnezzar’s top general, Holofernes, if God does not save them in five days. She feels like it's wrong for the countrymen to give God a deadline. She tells the countrymen that she has a plan, but must leave the city for it to be successful. Judith prays to God to make her a good liar. Judith, along with her loyal maid traveled to the camp of the enemy general, Holofernes. She lies to Holofernes telling him that she is there to provide him with help to defeat the Israelites. Gaining his trust, she is allowed access to his tent. One night as he lies in a drunken state, she beheads him, and then takes his head back to her fearful countrymen, becoming the town’s heroine. Though many court her, Judith remains unmarried for the rest of her life.
            The interpretations of Judith change over time. Base on the period, Judith story was understood differently by different artists and writers.  The first few interpretations of Judith were based on virtue overcoming vice. Judith was interpreted as righteousness overcoming corruption and wickedness. Judith is interpreted as a strong, powerful , and courageous woman who has to overcome the wickedness that is Holofernes. During the Renaissance, a different interpretation of Judith emerged. Judith was seen as an example of man's misfortunes at the hands of a scheming woman. The decapitation of Holofernes had more of sexual overtones to it. Most of the painting showed a beautiful Judith beheading a vulnerable Holofernes. Lastly, Judith is interpreted as Jewish patriotic heroine and a symbol of the Jews' struggle against their oppressors.
 
            The story of Judith is significance as it tells the story of God delivery of the Jewish people in their time of great need and despair women. This is one of the few times that we see God use a female to deliver his message. The story of Judith is also significance as it questions the traditional roles of women. Judith was a strong woman who commanded, planned and led. She came up with an envisaged to save her people in their time of need. Judith commented her town man to have faith he God (Judith 8:11-12).  Judith was also wise as she strategized a way to take down the enemy general. Dressing in a way “to entice the eyes of all the men who might see her” (Judith 10:4), Judith and her maid set forth at night down the valley intending to be captured. Judith story was also significance as she changes gender roles. She was seen as the hero. Even though many courted her, she refuses to get remarry. She was a strong heroine.