At this point Achior’s speech goes off in another direction (compare 5.17). He has completed the historical survey and is about to draw practical conclusions, but he does not actually answer Holofernes’ questions (5.3-4). The connector Now therefore shows that he has completed his summary and is now giving Holofernes advice on a plan of action. His words in verses 21-22 are preparing the ground for Holofernes to be deceived by Judith’s plan in 11.11-19.
My master and lord: For lord compare 5.5. Here Achior uses two terms of submission in speaking to his superior, so Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version‘s single use of “Sir” is weak. Achior needs to show submission; he has just spoken some words that may not be welcome to Holofernes, and now he is going to be so presumptuous as to offer some advice. He is even going to hint that the Israelite God is more powerful than Nebuchadnezzar. He must be very careful. The two nouns could be forcefully represented by a noun and adjective; for example, “my imperial lord” or “my sovereign master.” Revised English Bible has “my sovereign lord.”
If there is any unwitting error in this people and they sin against their God and we find out their offense: Achior seems to believe that the Israelites are not going to be so stupid as to sin intentionally. They will have to be caught in an unwitting error, that is, “unintentional sin.” Unwitting error is one word in Greek. It is used in Tob 3.3 along with the word for intentional sins. If there is any unwitting error in this people may also be rendered “even if they have sinned against him without realizing it.” The word offense is the Greek word skandalon used in 5.1. In 5.1 it was translated “barricade,” but here it is used figuratively as a reference to sin that causes stumbling. Error, sin, and offense have no significant difference in meaning; they all refer to a single evil action, which, according to Achior, may or may not happen.
We will go up and defeat them: Go up refers to going into the hill country from the coastal plain. Defeat them is literally “attack them.” The idea of a successful attack is only implied, but it is clearly meant. The author has not prepared the reader for Achior to use the pronoun we in speaking of a prospective attack on Israel. Achior is an Ammonite, and supposedly fell under Nebuchadnezzar’s condemnation in 1.12. Presumably Achior and the other leaders mentioned in 5.2 were among those who sued for peace in 2.28-3.5, although this is never specifically said.
An alternative translation model for this verse is:
• Therefore, my Master, if these people are unintentionally sinning against their god and we can find out that they have actually committed an offense against him, then we can attack and defeat them.
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.