Judith 11:13. "They have decided to consume the first fruits of the grain and the tithes of the wine and oil, which they had consecrated and set aside for the priests who minister in the presence of our God at Jerusalem - although it is not lawful for any of the people so much as to touch these things with their hands."

Judith is speaking here to Holofernes, Nebuchadnezzar's general who has Israel under siege. He has cut off the food and water supply, and the people have petitioned their leaders to surrender. Judith was indignant at the idea of surrender and convinced the elders to let her attempt her undisclosed plan before any other action is taken. This conversation between Judith and Holofeenes takes place while Judith is in the midst of her plan to leave the city, ingratiate herself in the enemy camp, and beguile and kill Holofernes. Judith's plan involves persuading Holofernes that she has left her people because they are about to abandon their devotion to God.

There are so many interesting things about the story of Judith, one of which is how she outright lies, and even asks God to make her a good liar (see Judith 9:10-13). Another is how she also subtly uses the truth to convince the enemy of a falsehood. If the people had indeed proposed to eat and drink the consecrated food and wine (and they very well may have, although only their petition for surrender is mentioned), I am sure Judith would have been against it, just as she was against the idea of surrender. Judith trusted so completely in God, she was certain He would save the people if it was His will and as long as they trusted, stayed faithful to all God's commands, and waited (see her speech to the elders in Judith 8:11-17). It may even be likely that the people had proposed to eat and drink the consecrated food and wine. But if they did, and even if Judith objected to that proposal, which I think she would have, it would never have turned her against her people, and that is what she is implying to Holofernes. 

Judith is successful in her mission, she ends up killing Holofernes and saving her people, so I can't argue with her results. But I have to say, as much as I greatly admire Judith, I sometimes wonder at the tactics she used. I struggle with leaving false impressions, and not fully explaining the truth. I explored this more deeply in Is Deception Ever God's Will? Perhaps sometimes it is, I don't know, but I remain uncomfortable with it. This is one book of the Bible that I come back to again and again to try to understand what lessons I am to take from it.