All the women of Israel gathered to see her, and blessed her, and some of them performed a dance for her: “All the Israelite women came to see her” (Good News Translation) and “sang songs praising her” (blessed her), but only some of them danced in her honor. However, it could be understood to mean that some of the women organized a dance for all the women, and probably does.

She took branches in her hands and gave them to the women who were with her: Judith hands out the branches; the Greek says nothing about Judith and the other women waving the branches, as in Good News Translation. The reference to the branches is puzzling. The writer could intend a reference to the celebrations at the Festival of Shelters (Feast of Tabernacles/Booths; see Lev 23.40), but the Greek word chosen is a technical term for a particular kind of wand. The branches are “ivy-covered” (Good News Translation) or “garlanded wands” (New English Bible), which were associated with the worship of the god Dionysus. The only other occurrence of the word in the Greek Bible is at 2 Macc 10.7, where the Jews celebrate the rededication of the temple “in the manner of the feast of booths,” with “ivy-covered wands.” In all probability the use of the word here proves nothing more than the late date of the writing, when certain Greek customs had become customary among the Jews. This is no reason for not following Good News Translation‘s example of describing the branches as “ivy-covered branches”; it adds color to the narrative. The branches were of a length that could be held in one hand and waved, perhaps about a meter (3 feet) long. They were decorated with twirling ivy (vines) around them. Whatever they were, they were used in celebrations.

They crowned themselves with olive wreaths: The women also put olive wreaths (garlands made from the leaves of olive trees) on their heads. These were also primarily associated with Greek customs. For ivy wreaths in association with Dionysus, see 2 Macc 6.7. In Neh 8.15 olive branches are mentioned among the preparations for the Festival of Shelters, but not the wearing of wreaths.

Those who were with her refers to all the women of Israel earlier in verse 12.

All the men of Israel followed, bearing their arms and wearing garlands and with songs on their lips: In the description of the parade the men are specifically mentioned as singing hymns, but it is not clear whether they join in the dancing or not. Bearing their arms means, as Good News Translation translates, “carrying their weapons.” Garlands were “wreaths of flowers on their heads” (Good News Translation) or “vines on their heads.”

At 16.18 it will suddenly dawn on the reader that this procession has not been a local matter; the people have been on their way from Bethulia to Jerusalem. It is hard to see that the author intends it any other way, but it is awfully abrupt at 16.18. It is therefore possible to introduce this information at the end of this chapter by saying in the middle of verse 13, “Judith took her place at the head of the procession to lead the women to Jerusalem as they danced.”

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Judith. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.