The people are terrified. But Achior, the leader of the Ammonites, dares to speak truth to power. He warns Holofernes that the Israelites are protected by their God and cannot be defeated unless they sin. This, understandably, doesn't go down too well with Holofernes.
And that's where our passage picks up. The Assyrian army, enraged by Achior's words, decides to make an example of him. The Book of Judith tells us, "And when the men of the city saw them, they took up their weapons and went out of the city to the top of the hill, and every man who was armed with a sling kept them from coming up by casting stones against them." The men of Bethulia, ever vigilant, see the Assyrians approaching. They rush to the high ground, armed with slings, ready to defend their city and, unknowingly, Achior.
But the Assyrians have a nasty trick up their sleeve. "Nevertheless, having gotten secretly under the hill, they bound Achior and threw him down, and they left him at the foot of the hill and returned to their lord." They manage to sneak around, capture Achior, bind him, and unceremoniously dump him at the foot of the very city he tried to warn them about. Can you imagine the fear and despair he must have felt? Abandoned, betrayed, left for dead at the doorstep of the people he defended.
Talk about a low point.
But this is where the story takes a turn. The Israelites, seeing Achior helpless and bound, descend from their city. "But the Israelites descended from their city and came to him, and they freed him and brought him to Bethulia, and presented him to the governors of the city." They rescue him! They bring him inside the city walls, offering him sanctuary.
This act of kindness, of rescuing someone who had been an outsider, speaks volumes. It highlights the Israelite values of compassion and justice, even towards those who might be considered enemies.
What does this moment tell us? Perhaps it's a reminder that even in the darkest of times, even when surrounded by enemies, acts of courage and compassion can shine through. Achior's story is far from over, and his rescue by the Israelites sets the stage for a powerful transformation. He will, of course, eventually convert and become part of the Israelite people. But that's a story for another time. For now, let's just sit with the image of Achior, rescued and welcomed, a testament to the enduring power of human kindness in the face of adversity.