Crying to God. Prayer and Plot in the Book of Judith 225 people. The people fear the effects of the enemy’s victory on their children, women, cities and the sanctuary (Jdt 4,12). Yet, they hope that God will not let this happen (Jdt 4,12) if God’s favour is with them (Jdt 4,15). In this way, those prayers also elucidate in which God the people trust. Their God is a God who cares for the children, the women who risk becoming prey, for the fate of Israel’s cities, for his sanctuary. This God is not neutral as regards what happens to people: he is a partial God, who is supposed to act in favour of his people in danger. Given that the praying towards a deity is a confession of which deity people serve, the actions of the Judeans make clear that their God is the Lord, the God of Israel. Apart from being a confession of faith, the mere fact of praying to another deity implies in the narrative context a firm rejection of the divine aspirations of Nebuchadnezzar. For in the opinion of Holofernes, only Nebuchadnezzar is to be worshipped and called upon (Jdt 3,8; 6,2). Holofernes does not realise what Israel’s resistance is based upon. Achior, though, is better informed. He even indicates that Israel’s prayers in Egypt were answered (Jdt 5,12), which portrays the God of Israel not only as a partial but also as a trustworthy God. When the people of Bethulia learn what has happened in the hostile camp, they turn to God. In Jdt 6,19, the people are characterised in relation with both their enemy and their God, as humiliated by their enemy and consecrated to their God. God, on the other hand, is characterised as “the God of heaven”, a title which was used previously by Achior. By taking over this title, the people acknowledge the truth of what Achior said. Again, this God is a partial God, who should look angrily upon the arrogance of the enemy, and favourably upon his people. Moreover, this God is described as potentially merciful towards the humiliated. All night long, the leaders of the people as well pray to God for help (Jdt 6,21). In Jdt 7,19, the people of Bethulia see clearly God as their last resort, since they cannot escape their enemy. So over and over again the people react upon their situation of crisis with addressing their God. Against the claim that only Nebuchadnezzar is god, they believe that it is God who has the power to come to their rescue. Nevertheless, not knowing that God heard the prayers of his people (Jdt 4,13), the people loose heart. The attack of the enemy could be wanted by God to punish them for their sins and the sins of their fathers (Jdt 7,28). Still, it is their God in whom they trust (Jdt 7,29). Uzziah expresses his hope that their God will not forsake them