2 Her husband, Manasseh, of her own tribe and clan, had died at the time of the barley harvest.
3 While he was supervising those who bound the sheaves in the field, he was overcome by the heat; and he collapsed on his bed and died in Bethulia, his native city. He was buried with his ancestors in the field between Dothan and Balamon.
4 Judith was living as a widow in her home for three years and four months.
5 She set up a tent for herself on the roof of her house, put sackcloth about her waist, and wore widow’s clothing.
6 She fasted all the days of her widowhood, except sabbath eves and sabbaths, new moon eves and new moons, feastdays and holidays of the house of Israel.
7 She was beautiful in appearance and very lovely to behold. Her husband, Manasseh, had left her gold and silver, male and female servants, livestock and fields, which she was maintaining.
8 No one had a bad word to say about her, for she feared God greatly.