George Leo Haydock, on Jdt 8:13

“You have set a time for the mercy of the Lord, and you have appointed him a day, according to your pleasure.”

“Pleasure. She blames the magistrates for taking a rash oath, pretending to fathom the designs of God, and to fix a time for him, and not attempting to make any resistance, though the welfare of the whole nation, and the sacred things, depended on their exertions. (Calmet) — They had been assured that God had heard their prayer, (chap. iv. 9.) and had often witnessed a miraculous interference of Providence. In other circumstances (Haydock) the magistrates would not have been to blame, though Judith might think them so; (Serarius. See ver. 26.; Menochius) and, in effect, they ought rather to have died than thus to have exposed all to certain ruin. (Worthington)”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.