Crying to God. Prayer and Plot in the Book of Judith 221 (Jdt 6,21), the people demand that Uzziah surrenders the town (Jdt 7,27-28). Uzziah still hopes that God will intervene, but sets a deadline of five days. Nevertheless, he believes that the prayer for rain of a devout woman as Judith may be the pivotal point in the events: “then they will no longer be faint” (Jdt 8,31), a conclusion that takes for granted that God will hear such a prayer. b) The prayer of Judith (Jdt 9; 10,1) Judith declares to her leaders that God will deliver Israel through her hand. The whole prayer of Jdt 9 is a plea for divine support for her plans. Moreover, the prayer already hints at her concrete plans, which she refused to reveal to her leaders (Jdt 8,32-34). Both aspects are, as I will show, of great importance as far as the plot is concerned. The prayer can be divided into two parts. Jdt 9,2-4, refers at the past (cf. Gen 34), the second part, Jdt 9,5-14, at the current events. For our purpose, the first part is especially relevant, since all the references to the past events are presented as the result of God’s answering the prayer of Judith’s ancestor Simeon. Judith clearly hopes that her prayer will have a similar effect (cf. Jdt 9,4). The answered prayer of Simeon (Jdt 9,2-4). According to Judith’s account, Simeon and his followers called upon God for help, because of their zeal for God and their abhorrence of what happened to Dinah. This prayer was answered, since God gave Simeon a sword in his hand to strike those villains who defiled Dinah. In contrast to Gen 34, God is the main actor in Jdt 9,2-4. Since God is its initiator, the violence is also legitimate: God gives the sword to Simeon, gives the enemy up to die, gives the people a large booty (contrary to Jacob’s condemnation of the violence in Gen 34,30; 49,5-7). In contrast to Gen 34,2, the rape scene is recounted abundantly. The attackers first loosen the girdle, uncover the thighs, and pollute the womb. To the victim this means defilement, shame and disgrace, and this defilement is presented as if it were a mass rape. Simeon’s point of view on the events is used in order to create a link between Simeon and Judith, both as regards the characterisation and concerning the plot. Judith wants to become God’s instrument to deliver his people. This is her own initiative, no divine mission is mentioned, nor an assignment given by her leaders. By praying, Judith asks for God’s agreement and support for her purpose and plans. If she succeeds, her prayer is heard. In this way, the whole prayer of Jdt 9 thus functions as implicit religious legitimation of Judith’s ensuing