Their infantry, chariots, and cavalry may be rendered “their foot soldiers, soldiers in war carts drawn by horses, and horse soldiers.” See 2.22.

Surrounded them for thirty-four days is a problem because the verb “surround” implies the start of an action. “Kept them surrounded” would be better, or as Good News Translation has it, “blockaded,” which is more appropriate for continuous action.

The vessels of water is ambiguous; the Greek word can refer to anything capable of holding water, small or large. The word will be used of small vessels in 10.5. Some translations take it to refer to household vessels (New Jerusalem Bible “Every water-jar”). Others assume larger tanks of some kind (New American Bible “all the reservoirs”; Moore “all the water reserves”). Good News Translation also uses “reservoirs,” but shifts this noun into the next verse to be subject of the next verb along with “cisterns.” “Until the town ran out of water” (Good News Translation) or “until the town had no more water” expresses quite adequately the last clause in verse 20.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Judith. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.