Then Juda said unto Simeon his brother: come with me into my lot, and let us fight against the Cananites: And I likewise will go with thee into thy lot. And so Simeon went with him.
Then Adonibezek said: three score and ten kings having their thumbs and great toes cut off, gathered their meat under my table wherefore as I have done so God hath done to me again. And they brought him to Jerusalem, and there he died.
She said unto him: give me a blessing: for thou hast given me a Southward and a dry land, give me also springs of water. And Caleb gave her springs both above and beneath.
And the children of the Kenite, Moses father-in-law, went up out of the city of palm trees, with the children of Juda, into the wilderness of Juda that lieth in the South of Arad, and dwelt among the people.
And Juda went and Simeon with him, and they slew the Cananites that inhabited Zephath, and utterly destroyed it, and called the name of the city Hormah.
And the LORD was with Juda that he conquered the mountains, but they could not drive out the inhabiters of the valleys, because they had chariots of iron.
And the children of BenJamin did not cast out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem, but the Jebusites dwell with the children of BenJamin in Jerusalem unto this day.
Neither did Manasses expel Bethsean with her towns, neither Thaanach with her towns, neither the inhabiters of Dor with her towns, neither the inhabiters of Jeblaam with her towns, neither the inhabiters of Magedo with her towns, and so the Cananites went to and dwelt in the said land.
Neither did Nephthalim drive out the enhabiters of Bethsames, nor the inhabiters of Bethanath, but dwelt amongst the Cananites the inhabiters of the land. Nevertheless the inhabiters of Bethsames, and of Bethanath became tributaries unto them.
And so the Amorites went and dwelled in mount Heres in Hailon and in Salabim. Neverthelater the hand of Joseph waxed heavy upon them, so that they became tributaries.
And the angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bocim, and said, I brought you out of Egypt and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers. And I said that I would never break my appointment with you,
but ye should have made no covenant with the inhabiters of this land, ye should have broken down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye this done?
Wherefore I have likewise determined that I will not cast them out before you: abut they shall be in the sides of you, and their gods shall be snares unto you.
And the people served the LORD all the days of Josua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Josua, and had seen all the great works of the LORD that he did to Israel.
And even so all that generation were put unto their fathers, and there arose another generation after them which neither knew the LORD, nor yet the works which he did unto Israel.
and forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed strange gods, even of the gods of the nations that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and angered the LORD.
Wherefore the LORD waxed angry with Israel, and delivered them unto the hands of raveners to spoil them and sold them into the hands of their enemies round about them, so that they had no power any longer to stand before their enemies.
But unto whatsoever thing they went, the hand of the LORD was upon them with evil luck, even as the LORD promised them, and as he sware unto them. And they were sore vexed.
and yet for all that they would not hearken unto their judges: But went a whoring after strange gods and bowed themselves unto them, and turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in obeying the commandments of the LORD, and did not so.
And when the LORD raised them up judges, he was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hands of their enemies all the days of the judge: for the LORD had compassion over their sorrowings which they had by the reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them:
yet for all that as soon as the judge was dead they turned and did worse than their fathers in following strange gods, and in serving them, and ceased not from their inventions nor from their malicious ways.
Wherefore the LORD was angry with Israel and said: because this people hath transgressed mine appointment which I commanded their fathers and have not obeyed my voice,
he left the five lords of the Philistines, and all the Cananites, the Sidonites, the Hevites that dwelt in mount Libanon: even from mount Baal Hermon unto Hemath.
Those remained to prove Israel by, to wete whether they would hearken unto the commandments of the LORD, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.
Therefore the LORD was angry with Israel and delivered them into the hands of Chusan Rasathaim king of Mesopotamia. So that the children of Israel served Chusan Rasathaim eight years.
And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD. And the LORD stirred them up a saver and saved them: one Othoniel the son of Kenes, Caleb's younger brother.
And the spirit of the LORD came upon him. And he judged Israel, and went out to war. And the LORD sold Chusan Rasathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand. So that his hand was mighty over Chusan Rasathaim.
And then the children of Israel went to again, and committed wickedness in the sight of the LORD. And then the LORD hardened Eglon the king of the Moabites, against the children of Israel, because they had committed wickedness before the LORD.
And this Eglon gathered unto him the children of Ammon, and the Amalekites, and went and smote the children of Israel, and conquered the city of Palm trees.
And then they cried unto the LORD. And the LORD stirred them up a saver, Ahud the son of Gera, the son of Jemini, a man that could do nothing handsomely with his right hand. By whom the children of Israel sent a present unto Eglon the king of the Moabites
but he himself turned again from the Idols by Gilgal, and said: I have a secret unto thee O king: and the king commanded him to hold his peace until all that stood about him, were gone out from him.
And Ahud came in unto him in a summer parlor, which he had several unto himself alone, and said: I have a message unto thee from God. And he arose out of his seat.
When he was gone out, his servants came and looked. And behold, the doors of the parlor were locked. And they said, Ah, he is doing of his easement in his summer chamber.
And when they had tarried till they were ashamed, for no man did the doors of the parlor open: then they took a key and opened them. And behold their lord was fallen down dead, unto the earth.
And he said unto them, follow me: for the LORD hath delivered your enemies, the Moabites into your hands. And they descended after him and took the passages of Jordan from the Moabites, and suffered not a man to pass over.
And the LORD sold them into the hands of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor, whose captain of war was Sisara, which dwelt in Haroseth of the gentiles.
And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundredth chariots of iron, he oppressed the children of Israel with power twenty year.
And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam, out of Kedes Nephthalim, and said unto him. The LORD God of Israel commandeth thee, that thou go and draw to mount Thabor and take with thee ten thousand men, of the children of Nephthalim and of the children of Zabulon.
And I will bring unto the river Kison Sisara, the Captain of war unto Jabin, with his chariots, and his people, and will deliver them into thine hands.
And she answered, I will surely go with thee, but then the praise shall not be thine in the way which thou goest, for the LORD shall deliver Sisara into the hands of a woman. And she arose and went with Barak to Kedes.
But Heber the kenite was removed out of Kin, which was of the children of Hobab the father-in-law of Moses, and pitched his tent until he was come unto the Oak of Zaanaim, by Kedes.
And Sisara called for all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and for all the people that he had, from Haroseth of the gentiles unto the river of Kison.
Then said Debora unto Barak: up, for this is the day in which the LORD hath delivered Sisara into thine hands: for the LORD is gone out before thee. And so Barak went down from mount Thabor, and ten thousand men after him.
But the LORD trounced|discomfited| Sisara and all his chariots and all his host with the edge of the sword, before Barak. And Sisara lighted down off his chariot and fled afoot.
But Barak followed after the chariots and after the host, even unto Haroseth of the gentiles. And all the host of Sisara fell upon the edge of the sword, that there was not a man left.
Howbeit, Sisara fled afoot to the tent of Jael the wife of Haber the kenite: for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor, and the household of Haber the Kenite.
And Jael went out against Sisara and said unto him: turn in my lord, turn into me and fear not. And he turned into her tent: and she covered him with a mantle.
Then Jael Haber's wife took a nail of the tent, and an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail thorow the temples of his head into the ground, as he slumbered being weary: And so he died.
And behold as Barak followed after Sisara, Jael came out against him, and said unto him: come and I will shew thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her tent: Behold, Sisara lay dead, and the nail thorow his temples.
In the days of Samgar the son of Anath and in the days of Jael, the high ways were unoccupied. And they that walked by paths, went by ways that set compasses about.
Now the archers did cry, where men draw water, there shall they tell of the justice|righteousness| of the LORD, and of the justice of his uplandish folk in Israel. And then the people of the LORD went down unto the gates.
Ephraim was the first against Amalek, and after them BenJamin, among the people. Of Machir came learned men in the law, and of Zabulon that well could draw with the pen of a scribe.
The lords of Isacar were with Debora. And as Barak, even so was Isacar sent into the valley afoot. But in the divisions of Ruben, were great imaginations of heart.
Curse Meroz bade the angel of the LORD; Curse; Curse the inhabiters thereof because they came not forth to help the LORD, to help the LORD among the mighty.
Between her feet he bowed himself, fell down and lay still: Between her feet he bowed himself and fell. And whither he bowed himself, thither he fell brought to nought.
Thorow a window looked Sisara's mother and howled thorow a lattice, why abideth his chariot so long, that it cometh not, why tarry the wheels of his wagons?
haply, they have found, and divide the spoil. A maid, yea two maids for a piece: a spoil of divers colours for Sisara, a spoil of divers colours with broidered works, divers coloured broidered works for the neck for a prey.
for they came with their cattle and households even as grasshoppers in multitude: so that both they and also their camels were without number. And they entered the land to destroy it.
the LORD sent a prophet unto them, and said unto them: Thus sayeth the LORD God of Israel: I fetched you from Egypt and brought you out of the house of bondage
And I said unto you, I am the LORD your God, and therefore fear not the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But you have not obeyed my voice.
And the Angel of the LORD came and sat under an Oak in Ephrah, that pertained unto Joas the father of the Eserites. And his son Gedeon pressed out wheat out of the ears in a press, for to flee from the Madianites.
And Gedeon answered him: Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why is all this come upon us: yea and where be his miracles which our fathers told us of and said, the LORD brought us out of Egypt. But now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Madianites.
And he answered him: Oh Lord{Lorde} wherewith should I save Israel? Behold my kindred is the poorest in Manasses, and I am the least in my father's house.
And Gedeon went and made ready a kid, and sweet cakes of an Epha of flour, and put the flesh in a basket and the broth in a pot, and brought it out unto him under the Oak and presented it.
Then the angel of the LORD put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand and touched the flesh and the cakes. And there arose up fire out of the rock and consumed the flesh and the cakes. And the angel of the LORD vanished out of his sight.
Then Gedeon made an altar there unto the LORD and called it Jehovah Salom,{(Iehouah Shalom, The LORD is the Peace.)} which unto this day is yet in Ephrah that pertaineth unto the father of the Eserites.
And the same night the LORD said unto him, take an ox of thy father's and another of seven years old, and destroy the altar of Baal that belongeth unto thy father, and cut down the grove that is about it,
and make an altar unto the LORD thy God upon the top of this rock and furnish it. And take the second ox and offer burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt have cut down.
Then Gedeon took ten men of his servants and did as the LORD bade him. But because he durst not do it by day for fear of his father's household and of the men of the city, he did it by night.
When the men of the city were up early in the morning: Behold the altar of Baal was broken, and the grove that stood about it cut down. And the second ox offered upon the altar that was made.
Then the men of the city said unto Joas, bring out thy son that he may die, because he hath broken the altar of Baal, and cut down the grove that was about it.
And Joas said unto all that stood by him, will ye fight for Baal, or will ye be his defenders: he that striveth for him shall die this morning. If he be a God let him strive with him that cast down his altar.
and sent messengers thorowout all Manasses and called them up to follow him also. And he sent messengers unto Aser, Zabulon and Nephthalim, which came also to meet him.
Behold I will put a fleece of wool in the threshing place. And if the dew be on the fleece onely, and dry upon all the earth beside: then I shall be sure that thou wilt save Israel by my hand as thou saidest.
And Gedeon said unto God, be not angry with me, that I speak once more, let me prove only once again with the fleece. Let it be dry onely upon the fleece, and dew upon all the ground about.
Then Jerobaal otherwise called Gedeon rose early and all the people that were with him, and pitched beside the well of Harad, so that the host of the Madianites were in a valley on the north side of the hill Hamoreh.
And the LORD said unto Gedeon, the people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Madianites into their hands, lest Israel make her vaunt to my dishonour and say, our own hand hath saved us.
Now therefore make a proclamation in the Ears of the people and say: if any man dread or be afraid, let him return and get him soon from mount Gilead. And there departed and returned of the people twenty two thousand, and there abode ten thousand.
And the LORD said unto Gedeon: the people are yet too many, bring them down unto the water, and I will try them unto thee there. And of whom I say unto thee, this shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee. And whosoever I say unto thee, this shall not go with thee, the same shall not go.
And when he had brought down the people unto the water, the LORD said unto Gedeon: As many as lap the water with their tongues, as dogs do, them put by themselves, and so do them that kneel down upon their knees to drink.
And the number of them that put their hands to their mouths and lapped, were three hundredth men. And all the remnant of the people knelt down upon their knees to drink water.
And the LORD said unto Gedeon, with the three hundredth men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Madianites into thine hand. And all the other people shall go every man unto his own home.
And they took vitailles with them for the folk, and their trumpets. And he sent all the rest of Israel, every man unto his tent, and kept the three hundredth with him. And the host of Madian was beneath him in a valley.
and hearken what they say, and so shall thine hands be strong, and then thou shalt go down unto the host. Then he went down with Pharah his lad, even hard unto the men of arms that were in the host.
And the Madianites, the Amalekites, and all they of the East, lay along in the valley, like unto grasshoppers in multitude, and their camels were without number, even as the sand by the sea side in multitude.
And when Gedeon was come: behold, there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow and said: Behold I dreamed a dream and me thought that a broiled loaf of barley bread tumbled into the host of Madian, and came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay along.
And his fellow answered and said, this is nothing else save the sword of Gedeon the son of Joas a man of Israel, into whose hand the Lord|God| hath delivered Madian and all the host.
When Gedeon heard the telling of the dream and the interpretation of the same, he bowed himself to the earth and returned unto the host of Israel, and said: up for the LORD hath delivered into your hands the host of the Madianites.
And so Gedeon and the three hundredth men that were with him, came unto the side of the host in the beginning of the middle watch, and raised up the watch men. And they blew with their trumpets and brake the pitchers that were in their hands.
And all three companies blew with trumpets and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right, to blow with all. And they cried the sword of the LORD and of Gedeon.
And as the three hundredth blew with trumpets, the LORD set every man's sword upon his neighbour, thorowout all the host. And the host fled until they came to Bethsitah, to Zererath, and to the edge of Abelmeholah beside Tabath.
For Gedeon had sent messengers thorowout all mount Ephraim saying: come down against the Madianites and take from them the waters both of Bethbarath and also of Jordan. Then all the men of Ephraim gathered together and came down and took the waters, both of Bethbarath and also of Jordan.
And they took two captains of the Madianites, Oreb and Zeb, and slew Oreb upon the rock Oreb, and Zeb at the press Zeb and followed after Madian. And brought the heads of Oreb and Zeb to Gedeon on the other side Jordan.
And the men of Ephraim said unto him. Why hast thou served us thus, that thou calledest us not, when thou wentest to fight with the Madianites. And they chode with him a good.
God hath delivered into your hands the lords of Madian, Oreb and Zeb. And what was I able to do like as you have done. And then their spirits abated from off him, when he had said that.
And he said unto the men of Socoth: give I pray you cakes of bread unto the people that follow me: for they be fainty, that I may follow after Zebah and Zalmona kings of Madian.
And Gedeon said, therefore when the LORD hath delivered Zebah and Zalmona into mine hand, I will tear the flesh of you with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.
Zebah and Zalmona were in Arkar and their hosts with them, upon a fifteen thousand, which were all that were left of all the hosts of them of the East. And they that were slain were an hundredth and twenty thousand men that drew swords.
Then he came unto the men of Socoth and said: Behold Zebah and Zalmona, with which ye cast me in the teeth saying: are the hands of Zebah and Zalmona already in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thy fainty men.
And then said unto Zebah and Zalmona, what manner men were they which ye slew at Thabor? and they answered, the likeness of thee and them is all one, even after the fashion of the children of a king.
Then Zebah and Zalmona said: Rise thou and fall upon us, for as the man is so is his strength. And Gedeon arose and slew them: and he took away the chains that were on their camels' necks.
Then the men of Israel said unto Gedeon; Reign over us, both thou, thy son and thy son's son, for thou hast delivered us out of the hands of the Madianites.
Neverthelater Gedeon said unto them: I would desire a certain request of you, even that you would give me every man the earrings of his prey. For they had golden earrings, because they were Ismaelites.
And the weight of the golden earrings was a thousand and seven hundredth sicles of gold, beside brooches, ouches and garments of scarlet that were of the kings of Madian, and beside the chains, that were about their camels' necks.
And Gedeon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city Ephrah. And all Israel went a whoring after him there, which thing was the ruin of Gedeon's house.
Thus were the Madianites brought low before the children of Israel, so that they lift up their heads no more. And the country was in quietness forty year in the days of Gedeon.
And Gedeon the son of Joas died, when he was of a good age, and was buried in the burial of Joas his father, even in Ephrah that pertained unto the father of the Ezrites.
For Abimelech the son of Jerobaal went to Sichem, unto his mother's brethren, and communed with them and with all his mother's father's kindred saying:
say I pray you, in the ears of all the inhabiters of Sichem: whether is better for you that all the sons of Jerobaal which are seventy persons reign over you, either that one reign over you. And remember thereto, that I am your bones and your flesh.
And his mother's brethren rehearsed of him in the audience of all the Citizens of Sichem, all these words, and moved their hearts to follow Abimelech, in that they said how he was their brother.
And they went unto his father's house at Ephrah, and slew all his brethren, the sons of Jerobaal, even seventy persons with one stone. Notwithstanding yet Joatham the youngest son of Jerobaal escaped, for he hid himself.
And when it was told Joatham, he went and stood in the top of mount Garizim, and lift up his voice and called, and said unto them: Hearken unto me you citizens of Sichem, that God may hearken unto you.
And the furze bush said unto the trees: if it will be true that ye will anoint me king over you, then come and rest under my shadow, and ye shall see that a fire shall come out of the furze bush and waste the cypress trees of Libanon.
And even so now, if ye have done truly and uncorruptly to make Abimelech king. And if ye have dealt well with Jerobaal and his house, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands,
And ye are risen up against my father's house this day. And have slain his children, even seventy persons with one stone and have made Abimelech the son of his maidservant king over the citizens of Sichem, because he is your brother,
But if ye have not dealt truly, then I pray God a fire may come out of Abimelech and consume the citizens of Sichem and the house of Mello. And that there come a fire out of the citizens of Sichem, and out of the house Mello and consume Abimelech.
and wished that the wickedness done to the seventy sons of Jerobaal might come on him, and laid the blood of them unto Abimelech their brother which slew them, and unto the other citizens of Sichem which aided him in the killing of his brethren.
And the citizens of Sichem set men to lay await for him in the top of the mountains, which men robbed all that came along the way by them. And it was told Abimelech.
And they went out into the fields and gathered in their grapes and trod them and made merry: and went into the house of their God, and did eat and drink and cursed Abimelech.
And Gaal the son of Abed said: what is Abimelech? and what is Sichem? that we should serve him, is he not the son of Jerobaal? and Zebul is his officer? serve such as come of Hemor the father of Sichem, for what reason is it that we should serve him?
and sent messengers unto Abimelech privily saying: Behold Gaal the son of Abed and his brethren be come to Sichem: and behold they set the city against thee.
And rise early in the morning as soon as the son is up and come upon the city. And when he and the people that is with him come out against thee, do to him what thine hands shall be able.
And Gaal the son of Abed went out and stood in the entering of the gate of the city. And Abimelech rose up and the folk that were with him, from lying await.
And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul: Behold there come people down from the top of the mountains. And Zebul said unto him: the shadow of the hills seem men unto thee.
Then said Zebul unto him: where is now thy mouth that said, what fellow is Abimelech, that we should serve him. These are the people that thou so despisest. Go out now a fellowship and fight with them.
And he took his people and divided them into three companies and lay await in the fields. And when he saw that the people were come out of the city, he ran upon them and laid upon them.
And Abimelech and the companies that were with him, ran and stood in the entering of the gate of the city. And the two other companies ran upon all the people that were in the fields and slew them.
And then Abimelech fought against the city all that day, and took it, and slew the people that were therein, and destroyed the city and sowed salt in the place.
he gat him to mount Zelmon, both he and all that were with him, and took axes with him and cut down an arm of a tree, and took it up, and put it on his shoulder, and said unto the folk that were with him, whatsoever ye see me do: speed yourselves and do likewise.
And all the people cut down also every man a bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them into the hold, and set the hold a fire upon them: so that all the men of the tower of Sichem were slain, upon a thousand persons what of men and women together.
But there was a strong tower in the midst of the city, and thither ran all the men and women and all the citizens of the city and shut it to them, and got them up upon the top of the tower.
Then Abimelech called hastily unto the young man that bare his harness, and said unto him: draw thy sword and slay me, that men say not of me, a woman slew him. And his lad thrust him thorow and he died.
And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty Ass colts, and had thirty cities for them, which are called the towns of Jair unto this day, and are in the land of Gilead.
And the children of Israel wrought wickedness yet again, in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim and Astharoth, and the gods of Siria, and the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the LORD and served him not.
which pilled and oppressed the children of Israel in those days eighteen year, all that were on the other side Jordan in the land of the Amorites in Gilead.
And the company of the lords of Gilead said each to other, whosoever will begin the battle against the children of Ammon, the same shall be head over all the inhabiters of Gilead.
But Gilead's wife bare him sons, which when they were come to age, thrust out of Jephthah, and said unto him: thou shalt not inherit in our father's house, for thou art the son of a strange woman.
And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead: Did not ye hate me and expel me out of my father's house? how happeneth it then that you come unto me now in time of your tribulation?
And the elders of Gilead answered Jephthah: Therefore we turn again to thee now, that thou go with us, and fight against the children of Ammon, and be our head over all the inhabiters of Gilead.
And Jepthah said unto the elders of Gilead: If ye bring me home again, to fight with the children of Ammon, then if the LORD deliver them before me, I shall be your head.
Then Jephthah sent messengers unto the king of the children of Ammon, saying: what aileth thee with me that thou comest upon me to fight against my land?
And the king of the children of Ammon answered unto the messengers of Jephthah, because Israel took away my land, when they came out of Egypt: even from Arnon unto Jabok, and from thence unto Jordan. Now therefore restore those lands again with fair means.
and sent messengers unto the king of Edom saying: let us we pray thee go thorow thy land. But the king of Edom would not agree thereto. And in like manner they sent unto the king of Moab, but he would not consent. And so Israel abode still in Cades.
And then they went along thorow the wilderness, and compassed the land of Edom, and the land of Moab, and came along by the east side of the land of Moab, and pitched on the other side of the river of Arnon, and came not within the coasts of the Moabites: for Arnon was their utmost border.
And then Israel sent messengers unto Sehon, king of the Amorites, and king of Hesbon, and said unto him: Let us pass thorow thy land unto our own country.
But the LORD God of Israel delivered Sehon and all his folk into the hands of Israel. And so Israel smote them and conquered all the land of the Amorites, the inhabiters of the said country.
Nay, but what people Camos thy god driveth out, that land possess thou. But whatsoever nations the LORD our God expelleth, that land ought we to enjoy.
all the while Israel dwelt in Hesbon and her towns, and in Aroer and her towns, and in all the cities that be along by the coasts of Arnon, three hundredth year? why didst thou not recover them in all that space,
wherefore I have not sinned against thee. But thou doest me wrong, to war against me. The LORD therefore be Judge this day, between the children of Israel, and the children of Ammon.
Then the spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah. And he passed over Gilead and Manasses, and came to Mazphah that lieth in Gilead, and from thence unto the children of Ammon.
then that thing that cometh out of the doors of my house against me, when I come home in peace, from the children of Ammon, shall be the LORD's, and I will offer it up a burntoffering.
And he smote them from Aroer unto Menith, twenty cities. And so forth to the plain of the vineyards, and made an exceeding great slaughter. And thus the children of Ammon were brought under, before the children of Israel.
Then Jephthah came to Mazphah unto his house. And see, his daughter came out against him, with timbrels and dances, which was his onely child: so that beside her he had neither son nor daughter.
And when he saw her, he rent his clothes and said: Alas my daughter, thou hast made me stoop, and art one of them that trouble me. For I have opened my mouth unto the LORD, and can not go back.
And she said unto him: my father, if thou have opened thy mouth unto the LORD, then do with me according to that proceeded out of thy mouth, forasmuch as the LORD hath avenged thee of thine enemies the children of Ammon.
And she said unto her father, do this much for me: let me alone two months that I may go down to the mountains and bewail my virginity with my fellows.
And it became an ordinance in Israel year by year, that the daughters of Israel should go and lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite, four days in a year.
And the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and went northward, and said unto Jephthah: Wherefore wentest thou to fight with the children of Ammon, and didst not call us to go with thee? we will therefore burn thine house upon thee, with fire.
And Jephthah said unto them: I and my people were at great strife with the children of Ammon. And I called you. But ye delivered me not out of their hands.
And when I saw that ye delivered me not, I put my life in my hands and went upon the children of Ammon. And the LORD delivered them into my hands. Wherefore then are ye come upon me to fight with me.
And Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead, and fought with the Ephraites. And the men of Gilead smote the Ephraites, because they said: Ye Gileadites are but runagates of Ephraim among the Ephraites and the Manassites.
Moreover the men of Gilead took the passages of Jordan from the Ephraites. And when those Ephraites that were escaped, said let us go over. Then the men of Gilead said unto them: Ye are Ephraites, and they said nay.
Then the other answered: then say: Sciboleth. And they said Siboleth, and could not so pronounce, whereupon the other took them and slew them at the passages of Jordan. And there were overthrown at that time of the Ephraites forty two thousand.
And when Abdon the son of Hellel the Pharathonite had judged Israel eight years, he died, and was buried in Pharthon, the land of Ephraim in the mount of the Amalekites.
And the children of Israel began again to commit wickedness in the sight of the LORD. And the LORD delivered them into the hands of the Philistines forty year.
for see, thou shalt conceive and bear a son. And there may no razor or shearers come on his head: for the lad shall be an abstainer unto God, even from the time of his birth. And he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hands of the Philistines.
Then the wife went and told her husband saying: a man of God came unto me, and the fashion of him was like the fashion of an Angel of God exceeding fearful. But I asked him not whence he was, neither told he me his name.
And he said unto me: behold thou shalt be with child and bear a son, and now drink no wine nor strong drink, neither eat any unclean thing: for the lad shall be an abstainer to God even from his birth to the day of his death.
Then Manoah made intercession to the LORD, and said: I pray thee my Lord{Lorde}|LORDE| let the man of God which thou sendest come once more unto us and teach us what we shall do unto the lad when he is born.
And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah: though thou make me abide, I will not eat of thy meat. And moreover, if thou wilt prepare a burntoffering, that thou must offer unto the LORD. For Manoah wist not that it was an angel of the LORD.
For when the flame came up out of the altar, the angel of the LORD ascended up in the flame of the altar. And Manoah and his wife looked upon and fell flat on their faces unto the ground:
But his wife said unto him: If the LORD would kill us, he would not have received a burntoffering and a meatoffering of our hands, neither would he have shewed us all these things, nor would have told us as he hath of things to come.
and came up and told his father and his mother, and said: I have seen a woman in Thamnath of the daughters of the Philistines. And now give her me to wife.
Then his father and mother said unto him, is there never a woman of the daughters of thy brethren, among all my people: but that thou must go and fetch a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, give me this woman for she pleaseth me well.
But his father and mother wist|knew| not that it was the LORD's doing, and that he sought an occasion of the Philistines, which at that time reigned over Israel.
And the spirit of the LORD came upon him. And he tare him, as a man would rent a Kid, and yet had nothing in his hand. Nevertheless he told not his father and mother what he had done.
And within a short space after, as he went thither again to take her to wife, he turned out of the way, to see the carcase of the Lion. And behold there was a swarm of bees in the carcase of the Lion and honey.
And he took of the honey in his hands and went eating, and came to his father and mother, and gave them also. And they did eat. But he told not them, that he had taken the honey out of the carcase of the Lion.
And Samson said unto them: I will put forth a riddle unto you. And if you can declare it within seven days of the feast and find it out, I will give you thirty shirts and thirty changes of garments:
But and if you can not declare it me, then shall ye give me thirty shirts and thirty changes of garments. And they answered him, put forth thy riddle and let us hear it.
And when the seventh day was come, they said unto Samson's wife; Flatter with thine husband, that he may declare us thy riddle, or else we will burn thee and thy father's house with fire: have ye called us to make us beggars or not?
Then Samson's wife wept unto him and said, it can not be but that thou hatest me and lovest me not: for thou hast put forth a riddle unto the children of my folk and wilt not tell me what it meaneth. And he said: Behold, I have not told it my father, nor my mother, and should I tell it thee?
And she wept unto him seven days, while the feast lasted. And the seventh day he told her, because she lay so sore upon him. And she told it the children of her folk.
And the men of the city said unto him the seventh day before the son went down; What is sweeter than honey, and what is stronger than a Lion. Then said he unto them: If ye had not ploughed with my calf, ye had not found out my riddle.
Then the spirit of the LORD came upon him. And he went down to Askalon, and slew thirty men of them and spoiled them, and gave their garments unto them which expounded the riddle. And he was wroth and went up to his father's house.
But it chanced within a while after, even in the time of wheat harvest, that Samson visited his wife with a Kid. And when he supposed to have gone in unto his wife into the chamber, her father would not suffer him to go in:
But said: I thought that thou hadst hated her, and therefore gave I her unto one of thy companions. Howbeit her younger sister is fairer than she. Take her instead of the other.
And Samson went out and caught three hundredth foxes, and took firebrands, and fastened tail to tail, and put a firebrand in the midst between two tails.
And he set the firebrands on fire, and put them into the corn of the Philistines, and burnt up both the reaped corn and also the standing, with vine and olives.
Then the Philistines asked, who had done that? And it was told them that Samson the son-in-law of the Thamnite, because he had taken his wife and given her to one of his companions. And the Philistines came and burnt her and her father with fire.
Then three thousand men of Juda went down to the cave of the rock Etam, and said to Samson: wotest thou not that the Philistines are rulers over us? Wherefore then hast thou served us thus? And he answered them, as they served me, so have I served them.
And they said unto him, we are come to bind thee and to deliver thee into the hands of the Philistines. And Samson said unto them: sware unto me, that ye shall not hurt me yourselves.
And they said, we will not hurt thee, save only bind thee and deliver thee unto their hands: But we will not kill thee. And so they bound him with two new cords and brought him up from the rock.
And when he come to Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him. And the spirit of the LORD came upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire and the bands lowsed from his hands.
And he was sore a thirst, and called on the LORD and said: Thou LORD hath given this great victory, thorow the hand of thy servant. And now I must die for thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised.
But God brake a great tooth that was in the Jaw, and there came water thereout. And when he had drunk his spirit came again, and he was refreshed, wherefore the name thereof was called the well of the caller on, which is in Lehi unto this day.
And it was told the Gazites, that Samson was come thither. And they went about and laid await for him all night in the gate of the city, but were still all the night saying: Tarry till the morning that it be day, and then let us kill him.
And Samson took his rest till midnight, and arose at midnight took the doors of the gate of the city, and the two side posts, and rent them off, bars and all, and put them upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of an hill that lieth before Hebron.
unto whom came the lords of the Philistines, and said unto her: Flatter with him and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by what means we may have power over him, that we may bind him, to bring him under, and we will give every man eleven hundred silverlings.
Notwithstanding she had men lying in wait with her in the chamber. And she said unto him, the Philistines be upon thee Samson. And he brake the cords as a string of tow breaketh, when it feeleth fire. And so his strength was not known.
And Dalilah took new ropes and bound him therewith, and said unto him, the Philistines be upon thee Samson. And there were lyers of wait in the chamber, and he brake them from off his arms, as they had been but a thread.
And Dalilah said unto Samson, hitherto thou hast beguiled me and told me lies: I pray thee yet tell me wherewith men may bind thee. And he said unto her: If thou plaitedest the seven locks of my head with an hair lace and fastenedest them with a nail.
And she said unto him, the Philistines be upon thee Samson. And awaked out of his sleep, and plucked and went away with the nail that was in the plaiting and with the hair lace.
Then she said unto him: How canst thou say that thou lovest me, when thine heart is not with me: for thou hast mocked me this three times, and hast not told wherein thy great strength lieth.
And he told her all his heart, and said unto her: there never came razor nor shears upon mine head, for I have been an abstainer to God even from my mother's womb. If mine hair were cut off, my strength would go from me, and I should wax and be like all other men.
And when Dalilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent for the Philistines saying, come up yet this once, for he hath shewed me all his heart. Then the lords of the Philistines came and brought the money in their hands.
And she made him sleep upon her lap, and sent for a man, and cut off the seven locks of his head and began to vex him. But his strength was gone from him.
And she said the Philistines be upon thee Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep and thought to go out as at other times before and shake himself, and wist|knew| not that the LORD was departed from him.
But the Philistines took him and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters. And he was made to grind in the prison house,
Then the lords of the Philistines gathered them together, for to offer a solempne offering unto Dagon their God, and to rejoice: for they said, our God hath delivered Samson our enemy into our hands.
And when the people saw him, they praised their God: for they said our God hath delivered into our hands our enemy, that destroyed our country and slew many of us.
And when their hearts were merry, they said: send for Samson and let him play before us. And they fetched Samson out of the prison house, and he played before them, and they set him between the pillars.
And the house was full of men and women. And there was all the lords of the Philistines. And there were upon the roof a three thousand men and women, that beheld how Samson played.
And Samson called unto the LORD, and said: my Lord Jehovah{Lorde Iehouah} think upon me, and strengthen me, at this time only o God, that I may be avenged of the Philstines for my two eyes.
and said: my soul die with the Philistines, and bowed them with might. And the house fell upon the lords and upon all the people that were therein. And so the dead which he slew at his death, were more than they which he slew in his life.
And then his brethren and all the house of his father; came down and took him up, and brought him and buried him between Zaraah and Esthaol, in the burying place of Manoah his father. And he judged Israel twenty year.
which said unto his mother: the eleven hundredth silverlings that were taken from thee, about which thou cursedst and saidst in mine ears: Behold the silver is with me for I took it away. Then said his mother, blessed be thou my son, in the LORD.
And so he restored the eleven hundredth silverlings to his mother again. And his mother said: I vowed the silver unto the LORD of mine hand for my son: to make a graven image and an image of metal. Now therefore I give it thee again.
And he restored the money again unto his mother. Then his mother took two hundredth silverlings and put them to a goldsmith, to make thereof a graven image and a image of metal, which remained in the house of Micah.
And the man departed out of the city of Bethlehem Juda, to go dwell where he could find a place. And he came to mount Ephraim, and to the house of Micah as he journeyed.
And Micah said unto him: dwell with me, and be unto me a father and a priest. And I will give thee ten silverlings by year and raiment of all sorts, and thy meat and drink.
In those days there was no king in Israel. And in those days the tribe of Dan sought them an inheritance to dwell in, for unto that time there fell none inheritance unto them among the tribe of Israel.
And the children of Dan sent of their kindreds five men of activity, out of their coasts, even out of Zaraah and Esthaol, to view the land and search it out, and said unto them: go and search out the land. And they came to mount Ephraim, even to the house of Micah and lodged there.
And when they were come unto the house of Micah, they knew the voice of the young man the Levite, and turned in thither, and said unto him: who brought thee hither? and what makest thou in this place? And what hast thou here.
Then the five men departed and came to Lais, and saw the people that were therein, how they dwelt careless, and after the manner of the Sidons: still, and without casting of perils, and that no man made any trouble in the land or usurped any dominion, and how they were far from the Sidons and had no business with any nation.
And they said up and let us go unto them, for we have seen the land, that it is very good. Haste therefore and be not slothful to depart and go and conquer the land.
When ye be come, ye shall come unto a people that casteth no perils, and unto a large country: for God hath given into your hands a place wherein is no lack of anything that is in the world.
And they went and pitched in Kariath Jarim in Juda. Wherefore the place is called Mahanah Dan unto this day, which is on the back side of Kariath Jarim.
Then answered the five men that went to spy out the country of Lais, and said unto their brethren: wot ye not that there is in these houses and Ephod and Images, and a graven Image and an Image of metal? Now therefore consider what ye have to do.
And the five men that went to spy out the land, went in thither and took the carved Image, and the Ephod, the carved Image, and the Image of metal. And the priest stood in the entering of the gate with the six hundredth men that were armed unto battle,
while the other went to Micah's house, and fetched the carved Image, the Ephod, the carved Image and the Image of metal. Then said the priest unto them: what do ye?
and they answered him, hold thy peace and put thine hand upon thy mouth, and come with us, and be unto us a father and a priest, whether is it better for thee to be a priest unto the house of one man, or to be priest unto a tribe or a kindred in Israel?
When they were a good way from the house of Micah, the men that were in the houses that were by Micah's house, made an outcry, and followed after the children of Dan and called unto them.
And he said, ye have taken away my gods which I made and also the priest, and go your ways with them: And what have I more, how then say ye unto me, what aileth thee?
And the children of Dan said unto him, let not thy voice be heard among us, lest angry fellows run upon thee, and thou lose thy life, with the lives of all thine household too.
And they took the things which Micah had made, and the priest which he had, and went unto Lais, even unto a people that were at rest and without mistrust, and smote them with the edge of the sword and burnt the city with fire.
And there was no man to help, because it was far from Sidon, and they had no meddling with any other nation. And the city stood in the valley that lieth by Bethrehob. And they built the city and dwelt therein.
And the children of Dan set them up the graven Image. And Jonathan the son of Gerson, the son of Manasses,(Other: son of Moses) and his sons were the priests unto the tribe of the Danites, until they were carried away out of the land captive.
It chanced in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that a certain Levite dwelling on the side of mount Ephraim, took to wife a concubine out of Bethlehem Juda:
And her husband arose and went after her, to speak friendly, unto her, and to bring her home again, and his lad with him and a couple of Asses. And she brought him unto her father's house, and when the father of the damsel saw him, he rejoiced of his coming.
The fourth day they arose early in the morning, and the man stood up to depart. But the damsel's father said unto his son-in-law, comfort thine heart with a morsel of bread and then go your way.
And they sat down and did eat and drink both of them together. Then said the damsel's father unto the man, go to I pray thee and tarry all night and let thine heart be merry.
And he rose up early the fifth day to depart. Then said the damsel's father comfort thine heart: and so made him tarry until after midday. And they did eat both of them together.
And then the man arose to depart with his concubine and his lad. But his father-in-law the damsel's father said unto him behold the day goeth fast away and draweth toward even, tarry all night: at the least way tarry this day here and let thine heart be merry. And tomorrow get you early upon your way and get thee to thy tent.
Neverthelater the man would not tarry, but arose and departed and came as far as Jebus, which is Jerusalem, and his two asses laden, and his concubine, and his lad with him.
And when they were fast by Jebus, the day was sore spent and the young man said unto his master, come I pray thee and let us turn in, into this city of the Jebusites and lodge all night there.
And they turned thitherward to go and lodge all night in Gabaah. And when they came in, they sat them down in a street of the city, for there was no man took them in to lodge.
But behold there came an old man from his work, out of the fields at even which was also of mount Ephraim, and but a stranger in Gabaah, for the men of the place were of the children of Jemini.
And the other answered him, we come from Bethlehem Juda toward the side of mount Ephraim: from thence am I, and went to Bethlehem Juda and go now to the house of the LORD. But there is no man that receiveth me to house:
And as they were making their hearts merry, the men of the city which were wicked, set the house round about, and thrust at the door, and spake to the man of the house, the old man saying: bring forth the man that came into thine house, that we may know him.
But the man of the house went out to them and said unto them, Oh, nay my brethren, do not so wickedly seeing that this man is come into mine house: do not this folly.
Behold my daughter a maiden and this man's concubine, them I will bring out unto you, and humble them, and do with them what seemeth you good: but unto this man, do not this folly.
But the men would not hearken to him. Nevertheless the man took his concubine and brought her out unto them, and they had to do with her, and entreated her shamefully, all the night even unto the morning. And when the day began to spring, they let her go.
And her lord arose up in the morning and opened the doors of the house and went out to go his way. And behold, his concubine lay along before the door of the house, and her hand upon the threshold.
And when he was come unto his house, he took a dressing knife, and caught his concubine and divided her thorow the bones into twelve pieces, and sent her into all quarters of Israel.
And all that saw it said: there was no such deed done or seen since the children of Israel came out of Egypt unto this day, consider the matter, give counsel and say your minds.
Then all the children of Israel went out: and there gathered a congregation together as it had been but one man, even from Dan to Berseba and out of the land of Gilead, unto the land to Mazphah
and there stood folk out of all quarters of all the tribes of Israel, in the congregation of the people of God, four hundredth thousand footmen that drew swords.
And the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mazphah. Then said the children of Israel, tell us how this wickedness happened.
And the citizens of Gabaah rose against me, and set the house round about upon me by night, and thought to have slain me: and caught my concubine and forced her, that she died.
And I took my concubine and cut her in pieces and sent her thorowout all the lands of the inheritance of Israel. For they have committed abomination and folly in Israel.
And we will take ten men of the hundredth thorowout all the tribes of Israel, and an hundredth of the thousand, and a thousand out of the ten thousand, to fetch vitailles for the people to make that they may go against Gabaah Benjamin, according to all the folly, that they have wrought in Israel.
Now therefore deliver us the men, those wicked wretches of Gabaah that we may slay them, and put away evil from Israel. Neverthelater the children of Benjamin would not hearken unto the voice of their brethren the children of Israel:
And the children of Benjamin were numbered at that time, out of the cities twenty six thousand men that drew swords beside the inhabiters of Gabaah which were numbered seven hundredth chosen men.
And the children of Israel arose and went up to Bethel, and asked of God, who should begin the battle against the children of Benjamin, and the LORD said Juda shall begin.
but they went first up and wept before the LORD unto evening, and asked of the LORD saying: shall we go again to battle against the children of Benjamin our brethren?
the children of Ben Jamin went against them out of Gabaah, the second day, and destroyed to the earth of the children of Israel once again eighteen thousand men that drew swords every man of them.
Then the children of Israel and all the people went up and came unto Bethel, and wept and sat there before the LORD, and fasted the same day unto evening, and offered burntofferings and peaceofferings before the LORD.
And Phinehes the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron waiting upon it at that time: and they said shall we go out any more to battle against the children of Benjamin our brethren, or shall we cease? And the LORD said go: for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hands.
Then came the children of Benjamin against the people, till they were drawn a great way from the city. And they began to smite of the people dead (as twice before, by two high ways of which one goeth up to Bethel and the other to Gabaah thorow the field) upon a thirty men of Israel.
For the children of Benjamin thought that the other had been beaten before them, as at the first time. But the children of Israel said, let us flee and pluck them away from the city, unto the high ways.
And then all the men of Israel rose up out of their standing, and put themselves in array at Baal Thamar. And likewise the layers in wait of Israel came forth out of their places, even out of the meadows of Gabaah,
And the LORD plagued Benjamin before Israel, so that the children of Israel destroyed in Benjamin the same day twenty five thousand and an hundredth men, that drew swords every one of them.
It seemed the children of Benjamin, that the other had been put to the worse. For the men of Israel gave Rome to Benjamin, because they trusted unto the layers in wait which they had laid against Gabaah.
And the appointment of the men of Israel with the layers in wait to run upon Benjamin with the sword, was when they should make the smoke rise up out of the city.
And the men of Israel fled in the battle. And Benjamin began to smite dead of the children of Israel, about a thirty persons, for they supposed that the other had been put to the worse before them, as in the first battle.
Then began to arise out of the city, a pillar of smoke. And the Benjamites looked back: and behold the wasting of the whole city began to ascend up to heaven.
And they turned before the men of Israel into the way that leadeth to the wilderness, the other following them at the hard heels. And beside that they of the city destroyed them in the middle of them.
And they turned and fled to the wilderness ward and unto the rock of pomegranates. And the other slew by the way of the rest of them, five thousand men, and sticked unto them until they came to Gadaam, and slew two thousand more of them.
And then the men of Israel turned back again unto the children of Benjamin, and smote them with the edge of the sword in the cities both man and beast and all that came to hand, and moreover set all the cities they could come by on fire.
And the children of Israel asked, who are they among all the tribes of Israel that came not with the congregation unto the LORD? for they had made a great oath concerning them that came not up to the LORD to Mazphah saying that they should surely die.
what shall we do unto the remnant of them, for to get them wives, forasmuch as we have sworn by the LORD that we will not give them of our daughters to wives.
Then they said, what are they of the tribes of Israel that came not up to Mazphah to the LORD. And behold there came none of the inhabiters of Jabes Gilead unto the congregation.
And the congregation sent thither twelve thousand men of the strongest of them, and commanded them saying: go and smite the inhabiters of Jabes Gilead with the edge of the sword both women and children.
And they found among the inhabiters of Jabes Gilead four hundredth damsels virgins that had known no man by lying with any male. And they brought them unto the host to Siloh which is in the land of Canaan.
and Benjamin came again at that time, and they gave them the women which they had saved alive of the women of Jabes Gilead. But they so sufficed them not.
And then the elders of the congregation said: what shall we do to the remnant of them, to get them wives seeing all the wives of Benjamin are destroyed?
how be it we may not give them wives of our daughters. For the children of Israel had made an adjuration saying: acursed be he that giveth a wife to Benjamin.
Then they said: behold, there is a feast of the LORD yearly in Siloh which is on the north side of Bethel,|the Gods house| and on the east side of the way that goeth from Bethel to Sichem and south from Libanon.
And when ye see that the daughters of Siloh come out to dance in a row, then come ye out of the vineyards, and catch you every man a wife of the daughters of Siloh, and get you unto the land of Benjamin.
And if their fathers or brethren come to us to complain, we will say unto them, have pity on them, because we reserved not to each man his wife in time of war, and thereto because that ye gave them none in due time, ye were to blame.
And the children of Benjamin did even so: and took them wives according to the number of them of the dancers which they caught. And then they went and returned unto their inheritance, and built their cities and dwelt in them.
And the children of Israel departed thence at that time and went every man to his tribe, and to his kindred, and went out from thence every man to his inheritance.