7 When the Israelite soldiers returned from battle, they took everything else. The amount of things taken from the Assyrians was so large that the people shared the wealth with their neighbors in the surrounding towns and villages.
8 Joakim the high priest and the other leaders of Israel came from Jerusalem to see what wonderful things the Lord had done for Israel. They also wanted to meet and congratulate Judith.
9 When they arrived in Bethulia, they said, “Judith, you are the pride of Jerusalem and the hero of our nation Israel.
10 You alone won this victory for Israel. The Lord God All-Powerful is certainly pleased with you, and we pray that he will bless you forever.”All the people agreed and said, “Amen.”
11 For 30 days, the Israelites carried off the wealth of the Assyrian camp. They gave Judith the tent of Holofernes and everything in it, including his silver dinnerware, his bowls, his couches, and the rest of his furniture. She loaded down her mule and filled her carts with these things.
12 All the women of Israel came to meet and sing praises to Judith; many of them also danced in her honor. Judith took leaf-covered branches and gave one to every woman who was there with her,
13 and they all wore wreaths of olive leaves on their heads. Judith led the women in joyful dancing, with the men following behind, waving their weapons in the air and wearing strings of flowers and singing songs of praise.