Bible Dictionary
Holofernes
Holofernes was the military commander described in the apocryphal Book of Judith. He led an assault against the Jews and was killed by Judith during the siege of Bethulia.
Definition
Holofernes, more correctly Olofernes, was the chief military commander described in the Book of Judith. He served Nebuchadnezzar, king of the Assyrians, and led an expedition against the peoples of the West.
Biblical Usage
According to Judith, Holofernes sought complete submission and compelled worship of Nebuchadnezzar. During the siege of Bethulia, Judith killed him, making him the book’s typical persecutor of the Jews.
Historical Background
The supplied material says Holofernes is mentioned only in the Book of Judith and suggests that the name’s ending may indicate Persian origin.
Scripture References
Jdt 2:4
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Smith's Bible Dictionary
or more correctly OLOFERNES, was, according to the book of Judith, a general of Nebuchadnezzar king of the Assyrians., Judith 2:4, who was slain by the Jewish heroine Judith during the siege of Bethulia. (B.C. 350.)
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>hol-o-fur'-nez (Olophernes): According to the Book of Judith, chief captain of Nebuchadnezzar, king of the Assyrians (Judith 2:4), who was commissioned to make war upon the West country and to receive from the inhabitants the usual tokens of complete submission, earth and water. The object of the expedition of Holofernes, who thus became the typical persecutor of the Jews, was to compel men everywhere to worship Nebuchadnezzar. He was slain by Judith, the heroine of the book of that name, during the siege of Bethulia. There is no notice of Holofernes except in the Book of Judith. The termination of the word would seem to indicate a Persian origin for the name. The Holofernes of Shakespeare and Rabelais is in no way connected with the deeds of the Holofernes of the Apocrypha.</p><p>J. Hutchison</p>