17. They assigned a hundred men to escort Judith and her slave to the headquarters of Holofernes.
18. There was great commotion in the Assyrian camp as news of Judith's arrival spread from tent to tent. While she stood outside the tent of Holofernes waiting to be presented to him, many Assyrian soldiers came and stood round her.
19. They were greatly impressed by her beauty and wondered what kind of people the Israelites were. “Who can feel contempt for people whose women are so beautiful?” they asked one another. “We had better kill all the men, or else these Jews will be able to charm the whole world.”
20. Then Holofernes' bodyguard and his personal servants came out and led Judith into the tent.