Judith

okay... this woman is not in the bible we read daily.. she is in the so called Lost Books of the Bible...

she is hailed as a hero.. yet I wonder...

she lived in the time when the Assyrians were attacking Israel.. she is a widow and apparently a beautiful woman... it is first stated that she lived alone, well.. she had a maid that lived with her.. she was left well taken care of by her late husband who had been very wealthy... she was to have given up the rich clothing she wore when she was married and living a meager existance in prayer and supplication... that is the beginning of the story...

in comes this general of the Assyrians named Holophernes... and the Israelites were afraid of him... and they did not go and attack him because of their fear... she hears the Jewish leaders talking and they are not talking of coming against this general who leads under the king Nebuchadnezzar... so as they are not intending to do anything about this man... she takes it upon herself and she goes out of the city gate at night... goes to the Assyrian camp.. and says she has information for Holophernes...

she has put on all her rich clothing that she used to wear when her husband was alive... made herself attractive under the guise of seduction... and is led into this man... he gets drunk... she cuts his head off and carries it back to the Israelites....

okay... here are the questions/issues with this story... that are still in question with us today... does the end justify the means?

women throughout the bible are not given leadership roles... this is just a bible fact.. I am sorry if you do not like it.. a man is to be the head... all the time.. women really were not to be outspoken like we are... they were to be in submission to a man... as are we... so... she had remained humble and lowly all that time.. which was right... then she dresses herself up for seduction... of a 'pagan' man... and cuts his head off... taking the lead role... the role of a liar.. the role of a murderer... yes... she did cut the head off of someone trying to attack God's people... but does that make it right? should it not have been a man that stepped up and led the country to victory? and while we as women like to say that men are not stepping into leadership roles... well of course they aren't.. when do we ever give them an opportunity to? are we quiet enough long enough to allow it to happen? and trust me.. GOD controls the heart of a man... when GOD was ready to step a man up to be against that general... He would have...

Genesis 3:16 To the woman he said, "I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you."

Proverbs 7: 10 Then out came a woman to meet him, dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent. 11 (She is loud and defiant, her feet never stay at home; 12 now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks.) 13 She took hold of him and kissed him and with a brazen face she said: 14 "I have fellowship offerings [a] at home; today I fulfilled my vows. 15 So I came out to meet you; I looked for you and have found you! 16 I have covered my bed with colored linens from Egypt. 17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. 18 Come, let's drink deep of love till morning; let's enjoy ourselves with love! 19 My husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey. 20 He took his purse filled with money and will not be home till full moon."

we as women need to be cautious what type of woman we are portraying... are we loud and rebellious, always trying to gain control? or are we God fearing women that allow God to be the true Head of our lives?