6. Judith
While Jael is most certainly unique in the Bible for her violent killing of Sisera, she is not entirely alone. Judith is another Biblical woman who worked to save the Israelites through cleverness and violence. The Assyrians were camped outside of Bethulia, a Jewish town, when Judith and her maid went out to visit the camps of their enemy. Using her wits and quick tongue, they were admitted to the tent of the Assyrian military leader, Holofernes.
After saying a quick prayer, Judith drew a sword and cut off Holofernes’ head. The sheer physical strength of decapitating a grown man aside, Judith showed incredible bravery taking on a military leader alone, with just an unarmed maid for company. To escape the military encampment, Judith hid Holophernes’ body and smuggled his head out under her clothing. When she returned to the gates of Bethulia, she produced his head and declared his death. The Assyrians were stunned at being left leaderless and did not attack the city. Israel was protected from a dangerous invasion by Judith’s fearlessness. Echoing Jael’s story, Judith uses her lack of perceived threat as a woman to lull the enemy into a false sense of security.