The Booty Call

This article examines the motif of plunder in the book of Judith. In keeping with ancient Near Eastern and East Mediterranean practices around despoliation during war, the narrative contains indications that the taking and repurposing of certain items as well as general plunder convey ideas about the rights of victors in war and procedures which both boost the standing of the victors and undo the identity of the defeated. By using the concept of a sociological “assemblage,” we discuss the multiplicity of meanings which Holofernes’ tent and body possess and how this is changed through Judith’s plundering.