1:1 Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass, that the children



of Israel asked the LORD, saying, Who shall go up for us against the



Canaanites first, to fight against them?  1:2 And the LORD said, Judah



shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hand.







1:3 And Judah said unto Simeon his brother, Come up with me into my



lot, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I likewise will go



with thee into thy lot. So Simeon went with him.







1:4 And Judah went up; and the LORD delivered the Canaanites and the



Perizzites into their hand: and they slew of them in Bezek ten



thousand men.







1:5 And they found Adonibezek in Bezek: and they fought against him,



and they slew the Canaanites and the Perizzites.







1:6 But Adonibezek fled; and they pursued after him, and caught him,



and cut off his thumbs and his great toes.







1:7 And Adonibezek said, Threescore and ten kings, having their thumbs



and their great toes cut off, gathered their meat under my table: as I



have done, so God hath requited me. And they brought him to Jerusalem,



and there he died.







1:8 Now the children of Judah had fought against Jerusalem, and had



taken it, and smitten it with the edge of the sword, and set the city



on fire.







1:9 And afterward the children of Judah went down to fight against the



Canaanites, that dwelt in the mountain, and in the south, and in the



valley.







1:10 And Judah went against the Canaanites that dwelt in Hebron: (now



the name of Hebron before was Kirjatharba:) and they slew Sheshai, and



Ahiman, and Talmai.







1:11 And from thence he went against the inhabitants of Debir: and the



name of Debir before was Kirjathsepher: 1:12 And Caleb said, He that



smiteth Kirjathsepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my



daughter to wife.







1:13 And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, took it:



and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.







1:14 And it came to pass, when she came to him, that she moved him to



ask of her father a field: and she lighted from off her ass; and Caleb



said unto her, What wilt thou?  1:15 And she said unto him, Give me a



blessing: for thou hast given me a south land; give me also springs of



water. And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the nether springs.







1:16 And the children of the Kenite, Moses' father in law, went up out



of the city of palm trees with the children of Judah into the



wilderness of Judah, which lieth in the south of Arad; and they went



and dwelt among the people.







1:17 And Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they slew the



Canaanites that inhabited Zephath, and utterly destroyed it. And the



name of the city was called Hormah.







1:18 Also Judah took Gaza with the coast thereof, and Askelon with the



coast thereof, and Ekron with the coast thereof.







1:19 And the LORD was with Judah; and he drave out the inhabitants of



the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley,



because they had chariots of iron.







1:20 And they gave Hebron unto Caleb, as Moses said: and he expelled



thence the three sons of Anak.







1:21 And the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that



inhabited Jerusalem; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of



Benjamin in Jerusalem unto this day.







1:22 And the house of Joseph, they also went up against Bethel: and



the LORD was with them.







1:23 And the house of Joseph sent to descry Bethel. (Now the name of



the city before was Luz.)  1:24 And the spies saw a man come forth out



of the city, and they said unto him, Shew us, we pray thee, the



entrance into the city, and we will shew thee mercy.







1:25 And when he shewed them the entrance into the city, they smote



the city with the edge of the sword; but they let go the man and all



his family.







1:26 And the man went into the land of the Hittites, and built a city,



and called the name thereof Luz: which is the name thereof unto this



day.







1:27 Neither did Manasseh drive out the inhabitants of Bethshean and



her towns, nor Taanach and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and



her towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and her towns, nor the



inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns: but the Canaanites would dwell



in that land.







1:28 And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the



Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out.







1:29 Neither did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer;



but the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them.







1:30 Neither did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the



inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelt among them, and



became tributaries.







1:31 Neither did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Accho, nor the



inhabitants of Zidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor



of Aphik, nor of Rehob: 1:32 But the Asherites dwelt among the



Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: for they did not drive them



out.







1:33 Neither did Naphtali drive out the inhabitants of Bethshemesh,



nor the inhabitants of Bethanath; but he dwelt among the Canaanites,



the inhabitants of the land: nevertheless the inhabitants of



Bethshemesh and of Bethanath became tributaries unto them.







1:34 And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountain:



for they would not suffer them to come down to the valley: 1:35 But



the Amorites would dwell in mount Heres in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim:



yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so that they became



tributaries.







1:36 And the coast of the Amorites was from the going up to Akrabbim,



from the rock, and upward.







2:1 And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said,



I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land



which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my



covenant with you.







2:2 And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye



shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why



have ye done this?  2:3 Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them



out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and



their gods shall be a snare unto you.







2:4 And it came to pass, when the angel of the LORD spake these words



unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their



voice, and wept.







2:5 And they called the name of that place Bochim: and they sacrificed



there unto the LORD.







2:6 And when Joshua had let the people go, the children of Israel went



every man unto his inheritance to possess the land.







2:7 And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the



days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great



works of the LORD, that he did for Israel.







2:8 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an



hundred and ten years old.







2:9 And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in



Timnathheres, in the mount of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill



Gaash.







2:10 And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers:



and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the



LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.







2:11 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and



served Baalim: 2:12 And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers,



which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods,



of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed



themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger.







2:13 And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.







2:14 And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he



delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he



sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they



could not any longer stand before their enemies.







2:15 Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against



them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn unto



them: and they were greatly distressed.







2:16 Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out



of the hand of those that spoiled them.







2:17 And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a



whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned



quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the



commandments of the LORD; but they did not so.







2:18 And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with



the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the



days of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings



by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.







2:19 And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they returned,



and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other



gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from



their own doings, nor from their stubborn way.







2:20 And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and he said,



Because that this people hath transgressed my covenant which I



commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice; 2:21 I



also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations



which Joshua left when he died: 2:22 That through them I may prove



Israel, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk therein, as



their fathers did keep it, or not.







2:23 Therefore the LORD left those nations, without driving them out



hastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua.







3:1 Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to prove Israel by



them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan;



3:2 Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to



teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof; 3:3



Namely, five lords of the Philistines, and all the Canaanites, and the



Sidonians, and the Hivites that dwelt in mount Lebanon, from mount



Baalhermon unto the entering in of Hamath.







3:4 And they were to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would



hearken unto the commandments of the LORD, which he commanded their



fathers by the hand of Moses.







3:5 And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites,



and Amorites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites: 3:6 And they



took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to



their sons, and served their gods.







3:7 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and



forgat the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves.







3:8 Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he



sold them into the hand of Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and



the children of Israel served Chushanrishathaim eight years.







3:9 And when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD



raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them,



even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother.







3:10 And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel,



and went out to war: and the LORD delivered Chushanrishathaim king of



Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against



Chushanrishathaim.







3:11 And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz



died.







3:12 And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the



LORD: and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel,



because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD.







3:13 And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek, and



went and smote Israel, and possessed the city of palm trees.







3:14 So the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen



years.







3:15 But when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD



raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man



lefthanded: and by him the children of Israel sent a present unto



Eglon the king of Moab.







3:16 But Ehud made him a dagger which had two edges, of a cubit



length; and he did gird it under his raiment upon his right thigh.







3:17 And he brought the present unto Eglon king of Moab: and Eglon was



a very fat man.







3:18 And when he had made an end to offer the present, he sent away



the people that bare the present.







3:19 But he himself turned again from the quarries that were by



Gilgal, and said, I have a secret errand unto thee, O king: who said,



Keep silence. And all that stood by him went out from him.







3:20 And Ehud came unto him; and he was sitting in a summer parlour,



which he had for himself alone. And Ehud said, I have a message from



God unto thee.







And he arose out of his seat.







3:21 And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his



right thigh, and thrust it into his belly: 3:22 And the haft also went



in after the blade; and the fat closed upon the blade, so that he



could not draw the dagger out of his belly; and the dirt came out.







3:23 Then Ehud went forth through the porch, and shut the doors of the



parlour upon him, and locked them.







3:24 When he was gone out, his servants came; and when they saw that,



behold, the doors of the parlour were locked, they said, Surely he



covereth his feet in his summer chamber.







3:25 And they tarried till they were ashamed: and, behold, he opened



not the doors of the parlour; therefore they took a key, and opened



them: and, behold, their lord was fallen down dead on the earth.







3:26 And Ehud escaped while they tarried, and passed beyond the



quarries, and escaped unto Seirath.







3:27 And it came to pass, when he was come, that he blew a trumpet in



the mountain of Ephraim, and the children of Israel went down with him



from the mount, and he before them.







3:28 And he said unto them, Follow after me: for the LORD hath



delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand. And they went down



after him, and took the fords of Jordan toward Moab, and suffered not



a man to pass over.







3:29 And they slew of Moab at that time about ten thousand men, all



lusty, and all men of valour; and there escaped not a man.







3:30 So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the



land had rest fourscore years.







3:31 And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, which slew of the



Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad: and he also delivered



Israel.







4:1 And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the



LORD, when Ehud was dead.







4:2 And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that



reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in



Harosheth of the Gentiles.







4:3 And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine



hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the



children of Israel.







4:4 And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel



at that time.







4:5 And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and



Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for



judgment.







4:6 And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of



Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel



commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee



ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of



Zebulun?  4:7 And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera,



the captain of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his multitude; and



I will deliver him into thine hand.







4:8 And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go:



but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go.







4:9 And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the



journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the LORD



shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and



went with Barak to Kedesh.







4:10 And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and he went up



with ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with him.







4:11 Now Heber the Kenite, which was of the children of Hobab the



father in law of Moses, had severed himself from the Kenites, and



pitched his tent unto the plain of Zaanaim, which is by Kedesh.







4:12 And they shewed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up



to mount Tabor.







4:13 And Sisera gathered together all his chariots, even nine hundred



chariots of iron, and all the people that were with him, from



Harosheth of the Gentiles unto the river of Kishon.







4:14 And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the



LORD hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the LORD gone out



before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men



after him.







4:15 And the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all



his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera



lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet.







4:16 But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, unto



Harosheth of the Gentiles: and all the host of Sisera fell upon the



edge of the sword; and there was not a man left.







4:17 Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife



of Heber the Kenite: for there was peace between Jabin the king of



Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite.







4:18 And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my



lord, turn in to me; fear not. And when he had turned in unto her into



the tent, she covered him with a mantle.







4:19 And he said unto her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water to



drink; for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him



drink, and covered him.







4:20 Again he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it



shall be, when any man doth come and enquire of thee, and say, Is



there any man here? that thou shalt say, No.







4:21 Then Jael Heber's wife took a nail of the tent, and took an



hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into



his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep



and weary. So he died.







4:22 And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him,



and said unto him, Come, and I will shew thee the man whom thou



seekest. And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and



the nail was in his temples.







4:23 So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the



children of Israel.







4:24 And the hand of the children of Israel prospered, and prevailed



against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king



of Canaan.







5:1 Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day,



saying, 5:2 Praise ye the LORD for the avenging of Israel, when the



people willingly offered themselves.







5:3 Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing



unto the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel.







5:4 LORD, when thou wentest out of Seir, when thou marchedst out of



the field of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the



clouds also dropped water.







5:5 The mountains melted from before the LORD, even that Sinai from



before the LORD God of Israel.







5:6 In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the



highways were unoccupied, and the travellers walked through byways.







5:7 The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel,



until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel.







5:8 They chose new gods; then was war in the gates: was there a shield



or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel?  5:9 My heart is toward



the governors of Israel, that offered themselves willingly among the



people. Bless ye the LORD.







5:10 Speak, ye that ride on white asses, ye that sit in judgment, and



walk by the way.







5:11 They that are delivered from the noise of archers in the places



of drawing water, there shall they rehearse the righteous acts of the



LORD, even the righteous acts toward the inhabitants of his villages



in Israel: then shall the people of the LORD go down to the gates.







5:12 Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barak,



and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam.







5:13 Then he made him that remaineth have dominion over the nobles



among the people: the LORD made me have dominion over the mighty.







5:14 Out of Ephraim was there a root of them against Amalek; after



thee, Benjamin, among thy people; out of Machir came down governors,



and out of Zebulun they that handle the pen of the writer.







5:15 And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; even Issachar, and



also Barak: he was sent on foot into the valley. For the divisions of



Reuben there were great thoughts of heart.







5:16 Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of



the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of



heart.







5:17 Gilead abode beyond Jordan: and why did Dan remain in ships?



Asher continued on the sea shore, and abode in his breaches.







5:18 Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives



unto the death in the high places of the field.







5:19 The kings came and fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in



Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no gain of money.







5:20 They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought



against Sisera.







5:21 The river of Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the



river Kishon. O my soul, thou hast trodden down strength.







5:22 Then were the horsehoofs broken by the means of the pransings,



the pransings of their mighty ones.







5:23 Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the LORD, curse ye bitterly the



inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the LORD, to



the help of the LORD against the mighty.







5:24 Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be,



blessed shall she be above women in the tent.







5:25 He asked water, and she gave him milk; she brought forth butter



in a lordly dish.







5:26 She put her hand to the nail, and her right hand to the workmen's



hammer; and with the hammer she smote Sisera, she smote off his head,



when she had pierced and stricken through his temples.







5:27 At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay down: at her feet he bowed,



he fell: where he bowed, there he fell down dead.







5:28 The mother of Sisera looked out at a window, and cried through



the lattice, Why is his chariot so long in coming? why tarry the



wheels of his chariots?  5:29 Her wise ladies answered her, yea, she



returned answer to herself, 5:30 Have they not sped? have they not



divided the prey; to every man a damsel or two; to Sisera a prey of



divers colours, a prey of divers colours of needlework, of divers



colours of needlework on both sides, meet for the necks of them that



take the spoil?  5:31 So let all thine enemies perish, O LORD: but let



them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And



the land had rest forty years.







6:1 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and



the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.







6:2 And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of



the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in



the mountains, and caves, and strong holds.







6:3 And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up,



and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up



against them; 6:4 And they encamped against them, and destroyed the



increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no



sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass.







6:5 For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came



as grasshoppers for multitude; for both they and their camels were



without number: and they entered into the land to destroy it.







6:6 And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and



the children of Israel cried unto the LORD.







6:7 And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the



LORD because of the Midianites, 6:8 That the LORD sent a prophet unto



the children of Israel, which said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God



of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of



the house of bondage; 6:9 And I delivered you out of the hand of the



Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drave



them out from before you, and gave you their land; 6:10 And I said



unto you, I am the LORD your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites,



in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not obeyed my voice.







6:11 And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which



was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son



Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the



Midianites.







6:12 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him,



The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.







6:13 And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why



then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our



fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt?



but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of



the Midianites.







6:14 And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and



thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I



sent thee?  6:15 And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I



save Israel?  behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the



least in my father's house.







6:16 And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou



shalt smite the Midianites as one man.







6:17 And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight,



then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me.







6:18 Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come unto thee, and bring



forth my present, and set it before thee. And he said, I will tarry



until thou come again.







6:19 And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid, and unleavened cakes of



an ephah of flour: the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth



in a pot, and brought it out unto him under the oak, and presented it.







6:20 And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the



unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth.



And he did so.







6:21 Then the angel of the LORD put forth the end of the staff that



was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and



there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the



unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the LORD departed out of his



sight.







6:22 And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the LORD,



Gideon said, Alas, O LORD God! for because I have seen an angel of the



LORD face to face.







6:23 And the LORD said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou



shalt not die.







6:24 Then Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it



Jehovahshalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.







6:25 And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him,



Take thy father's young bullock, even the second bullock of seven



years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and



cut down the grove that is by it: 6:26 And build an altar unto the



LORD thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take



the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the



grove which thou shalt cut down.







6:27 Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the LORD had



said unto him: and so it was, because he feared his father's



household, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day,



that he did it by night.







6:28 And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold,



the altar of Baal was cast down, and the grove was cut down that was



by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was



built.







6:29 And they said one to another, Who hath done this thing? And when



they enquired and asked, they said, Gideon the son of Joash hath done



this thing.







6:30 Then the men of the city said unto Joash, Bring out thy son, that



he may die: because he hath cast down the altar of Baal, and because



he hath cut down the grove that was by it.







6:31 And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye plead for



Baal? will ye save him? he that will plead for him, let him be put to



death whilst it is yet morning: if he be a god, let him plead for



himself, because one hath cast down his altar.







6:32 Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal



plead against him, because he hath thrown down his altar.







6:33 Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of



the east were gathered together, and went over, and pitched in the



valley of Jezreel.







6:34 But the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a



trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered after him.







6:35 And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh; who also was



gathered after him: and he sent messengers unto Asher, and unto



Zebulun, and unto Naphtali; and they came up to meet them.







6:36 And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand,



as thou hast said, 6:37 Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the



floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all



the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine



hand, as thou hast said.







6:38 And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the



fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of



water.







6:39 And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me,



and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this



once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon



all the ground let there be dew.







6:40 And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only,



and there was dew on all the ground.







7:1 Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, and all the people that were with



him, rose up early, and pitched beside the well of Harod: so that the



host of the Midianites were on the north side of them, by the hill of



Moreh, in the valley.







7:2 And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are



too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel



vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.







7:3 Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying,



Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from



mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two



thousand; and there remained ten thousand.







7:4 And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring



them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it



shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the



same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall



not go with thee, the same shall not go.







7:5 So he brought down the people unto the water: and the LORD said



unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a



dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that



boweth down upon his knees to drink.







7:6 And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their



mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed



down upon their knees to drink water.







7:7 And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that



lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand:



and let all the other people go every man unto his place.







7:8 So the people took victuals in their hand, and their trumpets: and



he sent all the rest of Israel every man unto his tent, and retained



those three hundred men: and the host of Midian was beneath him in the



valley.







7:9 And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him,



Arise, get thee down unto the host; for I have delivered it into thine



hand.







7:10 But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Phurah thy servant down



to the host: 7:11 And thou shalt hear what they say; and afterward



shall thine hands be strengthened to go down unto the host. Then went



he down with Phurah his servant unto the outside of the armed men that



were in the host.







7:12 And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the



east lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and



their camels were without number, as the sand by the sea side for



multitude.







7:13 And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man that told a



dream unto his fellow, and said, Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a



cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto a



tent, and smote it that it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay



along.







7:14 And his fellow answered and said, This is nothing else save the



sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: for into his hand



hath God delivered Midian, and all the host.







7:15 And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and



the interpretation thereof, that he worshipped, and returned into the



host of Israel, and said, Arise; for the LORD hath delivered into your



hand the host of Midian.







7:16 And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he



put a trumpet in every man's hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps



within the pitchers.







7:17 And he said unto them, Look on me, and do likewise: and, behold,



when I come to the outside of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so



shall ye do.







7:18 When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow



ye the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and say, The sword



of the LORD, and of Gideon.







7:19 So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the



outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had



but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake the



pitchers that were in their hands.







7:20 And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the



pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in



their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the



LORD, and of Gideon.







7:21 And they stood every man in his place round about the camp; and



all the host ran, and cried, and fled.







7:22 And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every



man's sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the



host fled to Bethshittah in Zererath, and to the border of



Abelmeholah, unto Tabbath.







7:23 And the men of Israel gathered themselves together out of



Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after



the Midianites.







7:24 And Gideon sent messengers throughout all mount Ephraim, saying,



come down against the Midianites, and take before them the waters unto



Bethbarah and Jordan. Then all the men of Ephraim gathered themselves



together, and took the waters unto Bethbarah and Jordan.







7:25 And they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb; and



they slew Oreb upon the rock Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at the winepress



of Zeeb, and pursued Midian, and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to



Gideon on the other side Jordan.







8:1 And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us



thus, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with the



Midianites?  And they did chide with him sharply.







8:2 And he said unto them, What have I done now in comparison of you?



Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage



of Abiezer?  8:3 God hath delivered into your hands the princes of



Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison of you?



Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that.







8:4 And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three



hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them.







8:5 And he said unto the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of



bread unto the people that follow me; for they be faint, and I am



pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian.







8:6 And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and



Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thine army?



8:7 And Gideon said, Therefore when the LORD hath delivered Zebah and



Zalmunna into mine hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns



of the wilderness and with briers.







8:8 And he went up thence to Penuel, and spake unto them likewise: and



the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered him.







8:9 And he spake also unto the men of Penuel, saying, When I come



again in peace, I will break down this tower.







8:10 Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their hosts with them,



about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of all the hosts of the



children of the east: for there fell an hundred and twenty thousand



men that drew sword.







8:11 And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents on the



east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and smote the host; for the host was



secure.







8:12 And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them, and took



the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and discomfited all the



host.







8:13 And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the sun



was up, 8:14 And caught a young man of the men of Succoth, and



enquired of him: and he described unto him the princes of Succoth, and



the elders thereof, even threescore and seventeen men.







8:15 And he came unto the men of Succoth, and said, Behold Zebah and



Zalmunna, with whom ye did upbraid me, saying, Are the hands of Zebah



and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thy men



that are weary?  8:16 And he took the elders of the city, and thorns



of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of



Succoth.







8:17 And he beat down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the



city.







8:18 Then said he unto Zebah and Zalmunna, What manner of men were



they whom ye slew at Tabor? And they answered, As thou art, so were



they; each one resembled the children of a king.







8:19 And he said, They were my brethren, even the sons of my mother:



as the LORD liveth, if ye had saved them alive, I would not slay you.







8:20 And he said unto Jether his firstborn, Up, and slay them. But the



youth drew not his sword: for he feared, because he was yet a youth.







8:21 Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise thou, and fall upon us: for as



the man is, so is his strength. And Gideon arose, and slew Zebah and



Zalmunna, and took away the ornaments that were on their camels'



necks.







8:22 Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both



thou, and thy son, and thy son's son also: for thou hast delivered us



from the hand of Midian.







8:23 And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither



shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you.







8:24 And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that



ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey. (For they had



golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)  8:25 And they



answered, We will willingly give them. And they spread a garment, and



did cast therein every man the earrings of his prey.







8:26 And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a



thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside ornaments, and



collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and



beside the chains that were about their camels' necks.







8:27 And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in



Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing



became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house.







8:28 Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Israel, so that



they lifted up their heads no more. And the country was in quietness



forty years in the days of Gideon.







8:29 And Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house.







8:30 And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten: for



he had many wives.







8:31 And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son,



whose name he called Abimelech.







8:32 And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age, and was



buried in the sepulchre of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the



Abiezrites.







8:33 And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the



children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and



made Baalberith their god.







8:34 And the children of Israel remembered not the LORD their God, who



had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every



side: 8:35 Neither shewed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal,



namely, Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shewed unto



Israel.







9:1 And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his



mother's brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family of



the house of his mother's father, saying, 9:2 Speak, I pray you, in



the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether is better for you, either



that all the sons of Jerubbaal, which are threescore and ten persons,



reign over you, or that one reign over you? remember also that I am



your bone and your flesh.







9:3 And his mother's brethren spake of him in the ears of all the men



of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow



Abimelech; for they said, He is our brother.







9:4 And they gave him threescore and ten pieces of silver out of the



house of Baalberith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light persons,



which followed him.







9:5 And he went unto his father's house at Ophrah, and slew his



brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon



one stone: notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal



was left; for he hid himself.







9:6 And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of



Millo, and went, and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar



that was in Shechem.







9:7 And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of



mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them,



Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you.







9:8 The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and



they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.







9:9 But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness,



wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over



the trees?  9:10 And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and



reign over us.







9:11 But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness,



and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?  9:12 Then



said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us.







9:13 And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which



cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?  9:14 Then



said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us.







9:15 And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me



king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not,



let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.







9:16 Now therefore, if ye have done truly and sincerely, in that ye



have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and



his house, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his



hands; 9:17 (For my father fought for you, and adventured his life



far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian: 9:18 And ye are



risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons,



threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech,



the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he



is your brother;) 9:19 If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with



Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech,



and let him also rejoice in you: 9:20 But if not, let fire come out



from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo;



and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of



Millo, and devour Abimelech.







9:21 And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there,



for fear of Abimelech his brother.







9:22 When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel, 9:23 Then God



sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the



men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech: 9:24 That the



cruelty done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come,



and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them;



and upon the men of Shechem, which aided him in the killing of his



brethren.







9:25 And the men of Shechem set liers in wait for him in the top of



the mountains, and they robbed all that came along that way by them:



and it was told Abimelech.







9:26 And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to



Shechem: and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him.







9:27 And they went out into the fields, and gathered their vineyards,



and trode the grapes, and made merry, and went into the house of their



god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech.







9:28 And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech, and who is



Shechem, that we should serve him? is not he the son of Jerubbaal? and



Zebul his officer? serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: for



why should we serve him?  9:29 And would to God this people were under



my hand! then would I remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech,



Increase thine army, and come out.







9:30 And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the



son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.







9:31 And he sent messengers unto Abimelech privily, saying, Behold,



Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren be come to Shechem; and, behold,



they fortify the city against thee.







9:32 Now therefore up by night, thou and the people that is with thee,



and lie in wait in the field: 9:33 And it shall be, that in the



morning, as soon as the sun is up, thou shalt rise early, and set upon



the city: and, behold, when he and the people that is with him come



out against thee, then mayest thou do to them as thou shalt find



occasion.







9:34 And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by



night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.







9:35 And Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entering of



the gate of the city: and Abimelech rose up, and the people that were



with him, from lying in wait.







9:36 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, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.







9:37 And Gaal spake again, and said, See there come people down by the



middle of the land, and another company come along by the plain of



Meonenim.







9:38 Then said Zebul unto him, Where is now thy mouth, wherewith thou



saidst, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? is not this the



people that thou hast despised? go out, I pray now, and fight with



them.







9:39 And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with



Abimelech.







9:40 And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many were



overthrown and wounded, even unto the entering of the gate.







9:41 And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his



brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem.







9:42 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into



the field; and they told Abimelech.







9:43 And he took the people, and divided them into three companies,



and laid wait in the field, and looked, and, behold, the people were



come forth out of the city; and he rose up against them, and smote



them.







9:44 And Abimelech, and the company that was with him, rushed forward,



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.







9:45 And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took



the city, and slew the people that was therein, and beat down the



city, and sowed it with salt.







9:46 And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that, they



entered into an hold of the house of the god Berith.







9:47 And it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of



Shechem were gathered together.







9:48 And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people



that were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut



down a bough from the trees, and took it, and laid it on his shoulder,



and said unto the people that were with him, What ye have seen me do,



make haste, and do as I have done.







9:49 And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and



followed Abimelech, and put them to the hold, and set the hold on fire



upon them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also,



about a thousand men and women.







9:50 Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and



took it.







9:51 But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled



all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut it to them,



and gat them up to the top of the tower.







9:52 And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and



went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire.







9:53 And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech's



head, and all to brake his skull.







9:54 Then he called hastily unto the young man his armourbearer, and



said unto him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A



women slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.







9:55 And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they



departed every man unto his place.







9:56 Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto



his father, in slaying his seventy brethren: 9:57 And all the evil of



the men of Shechem did God render upon their heads: and upon them came



the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.







10:1 And after Abimelech there arose to defend Israel Tola the son of



Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; and he dwelt in Shamir in



mount Ephraim.







10:2 And he judged Israel twenty and three years, and died, and was



buried in Shamir.







10:3 And after him arose Jair, a Gileadite, and judged Israel twenty



and two years.







10:4 And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts, and they



had thirty cities, which are called Havothjair unto this day, which



are in the land of Gilead.







10:5 And Jair died, and was buried in Camon.







10:6 And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the



LORD, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the



gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of



Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the LORD, and



served not him.







10:7 And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold



them into the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of the



children of Ammon.







10:8 And that year they vexed and oppressed the children of Israel:



eighteen years, all the children of Israel that were on the other side



Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead.







10:9 Moreover the children of Ammon passed over Jordan to fight also



against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim;



so that Israel was sore distressed.







10:10 And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, saying, We have



sinned against thee, both because we have forsaken our God, and also



served Baalim.







10:11 And the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Did not I deliver



you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of



Ammon, and from the Philistines?  10:12 The Zidonians also, and the



Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress you; and ye cried to me, and



I delivered you out of their hand.







10:13 Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will



deliver you no more.







10:14 Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver



you in the time of your tribulation.







10:15 And the children of Israel said unto the LORD, We have sinned:



do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we



pray thee, this day.







10:16 And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served



the LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.







10:17 Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped



in Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled themselves together,



and encamped in Mizpeh.







10:18 And the people and princes of Gilead said one to another, What



man is he that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? he



shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.







11:1 Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour, and he was



the son of an harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah.







11:2 And Gilead's wife bare him sons; and his wife's sons grew up, and



they thrust out Jephthah, and said unto him, Thou shalt not inherit in



our father's house; for thou art the son of a strange woman.







11:3 Then Jephthah fled from his brethren, and dwelt in the land of



Tob: and there were gathered vain men to Jephthah, and went out with



him.







11:4 And it came to pass in process of time, that the children of



Ammon made war against Israel.







11:5 And it was so, that when the children of Ammon made war against



Israel, the elders of Gilead went to fetch Jephthah out of the land of



Tob: 11:6 And they said unto Jephthah, Come, and be our captain, that



we may fight with the children of Ammon.







11:7 And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, Did not ye hate me,



and expel me out of my father's house? and why are ye come unto me now



when ye are in distress?  11:8 And the elders of Gilead said unto



Jephthah, Therefore we turn again to thee now, that thou mayest go



with us, and fight against the children of Ammon, and be our head over



all the inhabitants of Gilead.







11:9 And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, If ye bring me home



again to fight against the children of Ammon, and the LORD deliver



them before me, shall I be your head?  11:10 And the elders of Gilead



said unto Jephthah, The LORD be witness between us, if we do not so



according to thy words.







11:11 Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people



made him head and captain over them: and Jephthah uttered all his



words before the LORD in Mizpeh.







11:12 And Jephthah sent messengers unto the king of the children of



Ammon, saying, What hast thou to do with me, that thou art come



against me to fight in my land?  11:13 And the king of the children of



Ammon answered unto the messengers of Jephthah, Because Israel took



away my land, when they came up out of Egypt, from Arnon even unto



Jabbok, and unto Jordan: now therefore restore those lands again



peaceably.







11:14 And Jephthah sent messengers again unto the king of the children



of Ammon: 11:15 And said unto him, Thus saith Jephthah, Israel took



not away the land of Moab, nor the land of the children of Ammon:



11:16 But when Israel came up from Egypt, and walked through the



wilderness unto the Red sea, and came to Kadesh; 11:17 Then Israel



sent messengers unto the king of Edom, saying, Let me, I pray thee,



pass through thy land: but the king of Edom would not hearken thereto.



And in like manner they sent unto the king of Moab: but he would not



consent: and Israel abode in Kadesh.







11:18 Then they went along through the wilderness, and compassed the



land of Edom, and the land of Moab, and came by the east side of the



land of Moab, and pitched on the other side of Arnon, but came not



within the border of Moab: for Arnon was the border of Moab.







11:19 And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites, the



king of Heshbon; and Israel said unto him, Let us pass, we pray thee,



through thy land into my place.







11:20 But Sihon trusted not Israel to pass through his coast: but



Sihon gathered all his people together, and pitched in Jahaz, and



fought against Israel.







11:21 And the LORD God of Israel delivered Sihon and all his people



into the hand of Israel, and they smote them: so Israel possessed all



the land of the Amorites, the inhabitants of that country.







11:22 And they possessed all the coasts of the Amorites, from Arnon



even unto Jabbok, and from the wilderness even unto Jordan.







11:23 So now the LORD God of Israel hath dispossessed the Amorites



from before his people Israel, and shouldest thou possess it?  11:24



Wilt not thou possess that which Chemosh thy god giveth thee to



possess? So whomsoever the LORD our God shall drive out from before



us, them will we possess.







11:25 And now art thou any thing better than Balak the son of Zippor,



king of Moab? did he ever strive against Israel, or did he ever fight



against them, 11:26 While Israel dwelt in Heshbon and her towns, and



in Aroer and her towns, and in all the cities that be along by the



coasts of Arnon, three hundred years? why therefore did ye not recover



them within that time?  11:27 Wherefore I have not sinned against



thee, but thou doest me wrong to war against me: the LORD the Judge be



judge this day between the children of Israel and the children of



Ammon.







11:28 Howbeit the king of the children of Ammon hearkened not unto the



words of Jephthah which he sent him.







11:29 Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, and he passed



over Gilead, and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from



Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over unto the children of Ammon.







11:30 And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou shalt



without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands, 11:31 Then



it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to



meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall



surely be the LORD's, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.







11:32 So Jephthah passed over unto the children of Ammon to fight



against them; and the LORD delivered them into his hands.







11:33 And he smote them from Aroer, even till thou come to Minnith,



even twenty cities, and unto the plain of the vineyards, with a very



great slaughter. Thus the children of Ammon were subdued before the



children of Israel.







11:34 And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his



daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she



was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter.







11:35 And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes,



and said, Alas, my daughter! thou hast brought me very low, and thou



art one of them that trouble me: for I have opened my mouth unto the



LORD, and I cannot go back.







11:36 And she said unto him, My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth



unto the LORD, do to me according to that which hath proceeded out of



thy mouth; forasmuch as the LORD hath taken vengeance for thee of



thine enemies, even of the children of Ammon.







11:37 And she said unto her father, Let this thing be done for me: let



me alone two months, that I may go up and down upon the mountains, and



bewail my virginity, I and my fellows.







11:38 And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months: and she



went with her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the



mountains.







11:39 And it came to pass at the end of two months, that she returned



unto her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had



vowed: and she knew no man. And it was a custom in Israel, 11:40 That



the daughters of Israel went yearly to lament the daughter of Jephthah



the Gileadite four days in a year.







12:1 And the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and went



northward, and said unto Jephthah, Wherefore passedst thou over to



fight against the children of Ammon, and didst not call us to go with



thee? we will burn thine house upon thee with fire.







12:2 And Jephthah said unto them, I and my people were at great strife



with the children of Ammon; and when I called you, ye delivered me not



out of their hands.







12:3 And when I saw that ye delivered me not, I put my life in my



hands, and passed over against the children of Ammon, and the LORD



delivered them into my hand: wherefore then are ye come up unto me



this day, to fight against me?  12:4 Then Jephthah gathered together



all the men of Gilead, and fought with Ephraim: and the men of Gilead



smote Ephraim, because they said, Ye Gileadites are fugitives of



Ephraim among the Ephraimites, and among the Manassites.







12:5 And the Gileadites took the passages of Jordan before the



Ephraimites: and it was so, that when those Ephraimites which were



escaped said, Let me go over; that the men of Gilead said unto him,



Art thou an Ephraimite? If he said, Nay; 12:6 Then said they unto him,



Say now Shibboleth: and he said Sibboleth: for he could not frame to



pronounce it right. Then they took him, and slew him at the passages



of Jordan: and there fell at that time of the Ephraimites forty and



two thousand.







12:7 And Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then died Jephthah the



Gileadite, and was buried in one of the cities of Gilead.







12:8 And after him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel.







12:9 And he had thirty sons, and thirty daughters, whom he sent



abroad, and took in thirty daughters from abroad for his sons. And he



judged Israel seven years.







12:10 Then died Ibzan, and was buried at Bethlehem.







12:11 And after him Elon, a Zebulonite, judged Israel; and he judged



Israel ten years.







12:12 And Elon the Zebulonite died, and was buried in Aijalon in the



country of Zebulun.







12:13 And after him Abdon the son of Hillel, a Pirathonite, judged



Israel.







12:14 And he had forty sons and thirty nephews, that rode on



threescore and ten ass colts: and he judged Israel eight years.







12:15 And Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died, and was buried



in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the mount of the Amalekites.







13:1 And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the



LORD; and the LORD delivered them into the hand of the Philistines



forty years.







13:2 And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the



Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare not.







13:3 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman, and said unto



her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt



conceive, and bear a son.







13:4 Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong



drink, and eat not any unclean thing: 13:5 For, lo, thou shalt



conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the



child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin



to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.







13:6 Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, A man of God



came unto me, and his countenance was like the countenance of an angel



of God, very terrible: but I asked him not whence he was, neither told



he me his name: 13:7 But he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive,



and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, neither eat



any unclean thing: for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the



womb to the day of his death.







13:8 Then Manoah intreated the LORD, and said, O my Lord, let the man



of God which thou didst send come again unto us, and teach us what we



shall do unto the child that shall be born.







13:9 And God hearkened to the voice of Manoah; and the angel of God



came again unto the woman as she sat in the field: but Manoah her



husband was not with her.







13:10 And the woman made haste, and ran, and shewed her husband, and



said unto him, Behold, the man hath appeared unto me, that came unto



me the other day.







13:11 And Manoah arose, and went after his wife, and came to the man,



and said unto him, Art thou the man that spakest unto the woman? And



he said, I am.







13:12 And Manoah said, Now let thy words come to pass. How shall we



order the child, and how shall we do unto him?  13:13 And the angel of



the LORD said unto Manoah, Of all that I said unto the woman let her



beware.







13:14 She may not eat of any thing that cometh of the vine, neither



let her drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing: all



that I commanded her let her observe.







13:15 And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, I pray thee, let us



detain thee, until we shall have made ready a kid for thee.







13:16 And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Though thou detain



me, I will not eat of thy bread: and if thou wilt offer a burnt



offering, thou must offer it unto the LORD. For Manoah knew not that



he was an angel of the LORD.







13:17 And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, What is thy name,



that when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee honour?  13:18 And



the angel of the LORD said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my



name, seeing it is secret?  13:19 So Manoah took a kid with a meat



offering, and offered it upon a rock unto the LORD: and the angel did



wonderously; and Manoah and his wife looked on.







13:20 For it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven from



off the altar, that the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of the



altar. And Manoah and his wife looked on it, and fell on their faces



to the ground.







13:21 But the angel of the LORD did no more appear to Manoah and to



his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was an angel of the LORD.







13:22 And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we



have seen God.







13:23 But his wife said unto him, If the LORD were pleased to kill us,



he would not have received a burnt offering and a meat offering at our



hands, neither would he have shewed us all these things, nor would as



at this time have told us such things as these.







13:24 And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the



child grew, and the LORD blessed him.







13:25 And the Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in the



camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.







14:1 And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of



the daughters of the Philistines.







14:2 And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I



have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now



therefore get her for me to wife.







14:3 Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a



woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people,



that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And



Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well.







14:4 But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the LORD,



that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time



the Philistines had dominion over Israel.







14:5 Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath,



and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young lion roared



against him.







14:6 And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent



him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but



he told not his father or his mother what he had done.







14:7 And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased



Samson well.







14:8 And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to



see the carcase of the lion: and, behold, there was a swarm of bees



and honey in the carcase of the lion.







14:9 And he took thereof in his hands, and went on eating, and came to



his father and mother, and he gave them, and they did eat: but he told



not them that he had taken the honey out of the carcase of the lion.







14:10 So his father went down unto the woman: and Samson made there a



feast; for so used the young men to do.







14:11 And it came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought thirty



companions to be with him.







14:12 And Samson said unto them, I will now put forth a riddle unto



you: if ye can certainly declare it me within the seven days of the



feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty sheets and thirty



change of garments: 14:13 But if ye cannot declare it me, then shall



ye give me thirty sheets and thirty change of garments. And they said



unto him, Put forth thy riddle, that we may hear it.







14:14 And he said unto them, Out of the eater came forth meat, and out



of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in three days



expound the riddle.







14:15 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they said unto



Samson's wife, Entice thy husband, that he may declare unto us the



riddle, lest we burn thee and thy father's house with fire: have ye



called us to take that we have? is it not so?  14:16 And Samson's wife



wept before him, and said, Thou dost but hate me, and lovest me not:



thou hast put forth a riddle unto the children of my people, and hast



not told it me. And he said unto her, Behold, I have not told it my



father nor my mother, and shall I tell it thee?  14:17 And she wept



before him the seven days, while their feast lasted: and it came to



pass on the seventh day, that he told her, because she lay sore upon



him: and she told the riddle to the children of her people.







14:18 And the men of the city said unto him on the seventh day before



the sun went down, What is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger



than a lion?  and he said unto them, If ye had not plowed with my



heifer, ye had not found out my riddle.







14:19 And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he went down to



Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave



change of garments unto them which expounded the riddle. And his anger



was kindled, and he went up to his father's house.







14:20 But Samson's wife was given to his companion, whom he had used



as his friend.







15:1 But it came to pass within a while after, in the time of wheat



harvest, that Samson visited his wife with a kid; and he said, I will



go in to my wife into the chamber. But her father would not suffer him



to go in.







15:2 And her father said, I verily thought that thou hadst utterly



hated her; therefore I gave her to thy companion: is not her younger



sister fairer than she? take her, I pray thee, instead of her.







15:3 And Samson said concerning them, Now shall I be more blameless



than the Philistines, though I do them a displeasure.







15:4 And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took



firebrands, and turned tail to tail, and put a firebrand in the midst



between two tails.







15:5 And when he had set the brands on fire, he let them go into the



standing corn of the Philistines, and burnt up both the shocks, and



also the standing corn, with the vineyards and olives.







15:6 Then the Philistines said, Who hath done this? And they answered,



Samson, the son in law of the Timnite, because he had taken his wife,



and given her to his companion. And the Philistines came up, and burnt



her and her father with fire.







15:7 And Samson said unto them, Though ye have done this, yet will I



be avenged of you, and after that I will cease.







15:8 And he smote them hip and thigh with a great slaughter: and he



went down and dwelt in the top of the rock Etam.







15:9 Then the Philistines went up, and pitched in Judah, and spread



themselves in Lehi.







15:10 And the men of Judah said, Why are ye come up against us? And



they answered, To bind Samson are we come up, to do to him as he hath



done to us.







15:11 Then three thousand men of Judah went to the top of the rock



Etam, and said to Samson, Knowest thou not that the Philistines are



rulers over us? what is this that thou hast done unto us? And he said



unto them, As they did unto me, so have I done unto them.







15:12 And they said unto him, We are come down to bind thee, that we



may deliver thee into the hand of the Philistines. And Samson said



unto them, Swear unto me, that ye will not fall upon me yourselves.







15:13 And they spake unto him, saying, No; but we will bind thee fast,



and deliver thee into their hand: but surely we will not kill thee.



And they bound him with two new cords, and brought him up from the



rock.







15:14 And when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him:



and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and the cords that



were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his



bands loosed from off his hands.







15:15 And he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand,



and took it, and slew a thousand men therewith.







15:16 And Samson said, With the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps,



with the jaw of an ass have I slain a thousand men.







15:17 And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking, that



he cast away the jawbone out of his hand, and called that place



Ramathlehi.







15:18 And he was sore athirst, and called on the LORD, and said, Thou



hast given this great deliverance into the hand of thy servant: and



now shall I die for thirst, and fall into the hand of the



uncircumcised?  15:19 But God clave an hollow place that was in the



jaw, and there came water thereout; and when he had drunk, his spirit



came again, and he revived: wherefore he called the name thereof



Enhakkore, which is in Lehi unto this day.







15:20 And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty



years.







16:1 Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there an harlot, and went in



unto her.







16:2 And it was told the Gazites, saying, Samson is come hither. And



they compassed him in, and laid wait for him all night in the gate of



the city, and were quiet all the night, saying, In the morning, when



it is day, we shall kill him.







16:3 And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight, and took the



doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and went away with



them, bar and all, and put them upon his shoulders, and carried them



up to the top of an hill that is before Hebron.







16:4 And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the



valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.







16:5 And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto



her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by what



means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him;



and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver.







16:6 And Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray thee, wherein thy



great strength lieth, and wherewith thou mightest be bound to afflict



thee.







16:7 And Samson said unto her, If they bind me with seven green withs



that were never dried, then shall I be weak, and be as another man.







16:8 Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven green



withs which had not been dried, and she bound him with them.







16:9 Now there were men lying in wait, abiding with her in the



chamber.







And she said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he



brake the withs, as a thread of tow is broken when it toucheth the



fire. So his strength was not known.







16:10 And Delilah said unto Samson, Behold, thou hast mocked me, and



told me lies: now tell me, I pray thee, wherewith thou mightest be



bound.







16:11 And he said unto her, If they bind me fast with new ropes that



never were occupied, then shall I be weak, and be as another man.







16:12 Delilah therefore took new ropes, and bound him therewith, and



said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And there were



liers in wait abiding in the chamber. And he brake them from off his



arms like a thread.







16:13 And Delilah said unto Samson, Hitherto thou hast mocked me, and



told me lies: tell me wherewith thou mightest be bound. And he said



unto her, If thou weavest the seven locks of my head with the web.







16:14 And she fastened it with the pin, and said unto him, The



Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awaked out of his sleep, and



went away with the pin of the beam, and with the web.







16:15 And she said unto him, How canst thou say, I love thee, when



thine heart is not with me? thou hast mocked me these three times, and



hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth.







16:16 And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words,



and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death; 16:17 That he



told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a razor



upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother's



womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall



become weak, and be like any other man.







16:18 And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she



sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come up this



once, for he hath shewed me all his heart. Then the lords of the



Philistines came up unto her, and brought money in their hand.







16:19 And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man,



and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she



began to afflict him, and his strength went from him.







16:20 And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke



out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before,



and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him.







16:21 But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought



him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did



grind in the prison house.







16:22 Howbeit the hair of his head began to grow again after he was



shaven.







16:23 Then the lords of the Philistines gathered them together for to



offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice: for they



said, Our god hath delivered Samson our enemy into our hand.







16:24 And when the people saw him, they praised their god: for they



said, Our god hath delivered into our hands our enemy, and the



destroyer of our country, which slew many of us.







16:25 And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they



said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called for



Samson out of the prison house; and he made them sport: and they set



him between the pillars.







16:26 And Samson said unto the lad that held him by the hand, Suffer



me that I may feel the pillars whereupon the house standeth, that I



may lean upon them.







16:27 Now the house was full of men and women; and all the lords of



the Philistines were there; and there were upon the roof about three



thousand men and women, that beheld while Samson made sport.







16:28 And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord God, remember



me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O



God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.







16:29 And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the



house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right



hand, and of the other with his left.







16:30 And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed



himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and



upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at



his death were more than they which he slew in his life.







16:31 Then his brethren and all the house of his father came down, and



took him, and brought him up, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol



in the buryingplace of Manoah his father. And he judged Israel twenty



years.







17:1 And there was a man of mount Ephraim, whose name was Micah.







17:2 And he said unto his mother, The eleven hundred shekels of silver



that were taken from thee, about which thou cursedst, and spakest of



also in mine ears, behold, the silver is with me; I took it. And his



mother said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my son.







17:3 And when he had restored the eleven hundred shekels of silver to



his mother, his mother said, I had wholly dedicated the silver unto



the LORD from my hand for my son, to make a graven image and a molten



image: now therefore I will restore it unto thee.







17:4 Yet he restored the money unto his mother; and his mother took



two hundred shekels of silver, and gave them to the founder, who made



thereof a graven image and a molten image: and they were in the house



of Micah.







17:5 And the man Micah had an house of gods, and made an ephod, and



teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.







17:6 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that



which was right in his own eyes.







17:7 And there was a young man out of Bethlehemjudah of the family of



Judah, who was a Levite, and he sojourned there.







17:8 And the man departed out of the city from Bethlehemjudah to



sojourn where he could find a place: and he came to mount Ephraim to



the house of Micah, as he journeyed.







17:9 And Micah said unto him, Whence comest thou? And he said unto



him, I am a Levite of Bethlehemjudah, and I go to sojourn where I may



find a place.







17:10 And Micah said unto him, Dwell with me, and be unto me a father



and a priest, and I will give thee ten shekels of silver by the year,



and a suit of apparel, and thy victuals. So the Levite went in.







17:11 And the Levite was content to dwell with the man; and the young



man was unto him as one of his sons.







17:12 And Micah consecrated the Levite; and the young man became his



priest, and was in the house of Micah.







17:13 Then said Micah, Now know I that the LORD will do me good,



seeing I have a Levite to my priest.







18:1 In those days there was no king in Israel: and in those days the



tribe of the Danites sought them an inheritance to dwell in; for unto



that day all their inheritance had not fallen unto them among the



tribes of Israel.







18:2 And the children of Dan sent of their family five men from their



coasts, men of valour, from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, to spy out the



land, and to search it; and they said unto them, Go, search the land:



who when they came to mount Ephraim, to the house of Micah, they



lodged there.







18:3 When they were by the house of Micah, they knew the voice of the



young man the Levite: and they turned in thither, and said unto him,



Who brought thee hither? and what makest thou in this place? and what



hast thou here?  18:4 And he said unto them, Thus and thus dealeth



Micah with me, and hath hired me, and I am his priest.







18:5 And they said unto him, Ask counsel, we pray thee, of God, that



we may know whether our way which we go shall be prosperous.







18:6 And the priest said unto them, Go in peace: before the LORD is



your way wherein ye go.







18:7 Then the five men departed, and came to Laish, and saw the people



that were therein, how they dwelt careless, after the manner of the



Zidonians, quiet and secure; and there was no magistrate in the land,



that might put them to shame in any thing; and they were far from the



Zidonians, and had no business with any man.







18:8 And they came unto their brethren to Zorah and Eshtaol: and their



brethren said unto them, What say ye?  18:9 And they said, Arise, that



we may go up against them: for we have seen the land, and, behold, it



is very good: and are ye still? be not slothful to go, and to enter to



possess the land.







18:10 When ye go, ye shall come unto a people secure, and to a large



land: for God hath given it into your hands; a place where there is no



want of any thing that is in the earth.







18:11 And there went from thence of the family of the Danites, out of



Zorah and out of Eshtaol, six hundred men appointed with weapons of



war.







18:12 And they went up, and pitched in Kirjathjearim, in Judah:



wherefore they called that place Mahanehdan unto this day: behold, it



is behind Kirjathjearim.







18:13 And they passed thence unto mount Ephraim, and came unto the



house of Micah.







18:14 Then answered the five men that went to spy out the country of



Laish, and said unto their brethren, Do ye know that there is in these



houses an ephod, and teraphim, and a graven image, and a molten image?



now therefore consider what ye have to do.







18:15 And they turned thitherward, and came to the house of the young



man the Levite, even unto the house of Micah, and saluted him.







18:16 And the six hundred men appointed with their weapons of war,



which were of the children of Dan, stood by the entering of the gate.







18:17 And the five men that went to spy out the land went up, and came



in thither, and took the graven image, and the ephod, and the



teraphim, and the molten image: and the priest stood in the entering



of the gate with the six hundred men that were appointed with weapons



of war.







18:18 And these went into Micah's house, and fetched the carved image,



the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image. Then said the



priest unto them, What do ye?  18:19 And they said unto him, Hold thy



peace, lay thine hand upon thy mouth, and go with us, and be to us a



father and a priest: is it better for thee to be a priest unto the



house of one man, or that thou be a priest unto a tribe and a family



in Israel?  18:20 And the priest's heart was glad, and he took the



ephod, and the teraphim, and the graven image, and went in the midst



of the people.







18:21 So they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the



cattle and the carriage before them.







18:22 And when they were a good way from the house of Micah, the men



that were in the houses near to Micah's house were gathered together,



and overtook the children of Dan.







18:23 And they cried unto the children of Dan. And they turned their



faces, and said unto Micah, What aileth thee, that thou comest with



such a company?  18:24 And he said, Ye have taken away my gods which I



made, and the priest, and ye are gone away: and what have I more? and



what is this that ye say unto me, What aileth thee?  18:25 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 thy household.







18:26 And the children of Dan went their way: and when Micah saw that



they were too strong for him, he turned and went back unto his house.







18:27 And they took the things which Micah had made, and the priest



which he had, and came unto Laish, unto a people that were at quiet



and secure: and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and burnt



the city with fire.







18:28 And there was no deliverer, because it was far from Zidon, and



they had no business with any man; and it was in the valley that lieth



by Bethrehob. And they built a city, and dwelt therein.







18:29 And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan



their father, who was born unto Israel: howbeit the name of the city



was Laish at the first.







18:30 And the children of Dan set up the graven image: and Jonathan,



the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests



to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land.







18:31 And they set them up Micah's graven image, which he made, all



the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.







19:1 And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in



Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the side of



mount Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Bethlehemjudah.







19:2 And his concubine played the whore against him, and went away



from him unto her father's house to Bethlehemjudah, and was there four



whole months.







19:3 And her husband arose, and went after her, to speak friendly unto



her, and to bring her again, having his servant with him, and a couple



of asses: and she brought him into her father's house: and when the



father of the damsel saw him, he rejoiced to meet him.







19:4 And his father in law, the damsel's father, retained him; and he



abode with him three days: so they did eat and drink, and lodged



there.







19:5 And it came to pass on the fourth day, when they arose early in



the morning, that he rose up to depart: and the damsel's father said



unto his son in law, Comfort thine heart with a morsel of bread, and



afterward go your way.







19:6 And they sat down, and did eat and drink both of them together:



for the damsel's father had said unto the man, Be content, I pray



thee, and tarry all night, and let thine heart be merry.







19:7 And when the man rose up to depart, his father in law urged him:



therefore he lodged there again.







19:8 And he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart; and



the damsel's father said, Comfort thine heart, I pray thee. And they



tarried until afternoon, and they did eat both of them.







19:9 And when the man rose up to depart, he, and his concubine, and



his servant, his father in law, the damsel's father, said unto him,



Behold, now the day draweth toward evening, I pray you tarry all



night: behold, the day groweth to an end, lodge here, that thine heart



may be merry; and to morrow get you early on your way, that thou



mayest go home.







19:10 But the man would not tarry that night, but he rose up and



departed, and came over against Jebus, which is Jerusalem; and there



were with him two asses saddled, his concubine also was with him.







19:11 And when they were by Jebus, the day was far spent; and the



servant said unto his master, Come, I pray thee, and let us turn in



into this city of the Jebusites, and lodge in it.







19:12 And his master said unto him, We will not turn aside hither into



the city of a stranger, that is not of the children of Israel; we will



pass over to Gibeah.







19:13 And he said unto his servant, Come, and let us draw near to one



of these places to lodge all night, in Gibeah, or in Ramah.







19:14 And they passed on and went their way; and the sun went down



upon them when they were by Gibeah, which belongeth to Benjamin.







19:15 And they turned aside thither, to go in and to lodge in Gibeah:



and when he went in, he sat him down in a street of the city: for



there was no man that took them into his house to lodging.







19:16 And, behold, there came an old man from his work out of the



field at even, which was also of mount Ephraim; and he sojourned in



Gibeah: but the men of the place were Benjamites.







19:17 And when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw a wayfaring man in



the street of the city: and the old man said, Whither goest thou? and



whence comest thou?  19:18 And he said unto him, We are passing from



Bethlehemjudah toward the side of mount Ephraim; from thence am I: and



I went to Bethlehemjudah, but I am now going to the house of the LORD;



and there is no man that receiveth me to house.







19:19 Yet there is both straw and provender for our asses; and there



is bread and wine also for me, and for thy handmaid, and for the young



man which is with thy servants: there is no want of any thing.







19:20 And the old man said, Peace be with thee; howsoever let all thy



wants lie upon me; only lodge not in the street.







19:21 So he brought him into his house, and gave provender unto the



asses: and they washed their feet, and did eat and drink.







19:22 Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of



the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about, and



beat at the door, and spake to the master of the house, the old man,



saying, Bring forth the man that came into thine house, that we may



know him.







19:23 And the man, the master of the house, went out unto them, and



said unto them, Nay, my brethren, nay, I pray you, do not so wickedly;



seeing that this man is come into mine house, do not this folly.







19:24 Behold, here is my daughter a maiden, and his concubine; them I



will bring out now, and humble ye them, and do with them what seemeth



good unto you: but unto this man do not so vile a thing.







19:25 But the men would not hearken to him: so the man took his



concubine, and brought her forth unto them; and they knew her, and



abused her all the night until the morning: and when the day began to



spring, they let her go.







19:26 Then came the woman in the dawning of the day, and fell down at



the door of the man's house where her lord was, till it was light.







19:27 And her lord rose up in the morning, and opened the doors of the



house, and went out to go his way: and, behold, the woman his



concubine was fallen down at the door of the house, and her hands were



upon the threshold.







19:28 And he said unto her, Up, and let us be going. But none



answered.







Then the man took her up upon an ass, and the man rose up, and gat him



unto his place.







19:29 And when he was come into his house, he took a knife, and laid



hold on his concubine, and divided her, together with her bones, into



twelve pieces, and sent her into all the coasts of Israel.







19:30 And it was so, that all that saw it said, There was no such deed



done nor seen from the day that the children of Israel came up out of



the land of Egypt unto this day: consider of it, take advice, and



speak your minds.







20:1 Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation



was gathered together as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba, with the



land of Gilead, unto the LORD in Mizpeh.







20:2 And the chief of all the people, even of all the tribes of



Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God,



four hundred thousand footmen that drew sword.







20:3 (Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel



were gone up to Mizpeh.) Then said the children of Israel, Tell us,



how was this wickedness?  20:4 And the Levite, the husband of the



woman that was slain, answered and said, I came into Gibeah that



belongeth to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge.







20:5 And the men of Gibeah rose against me, and beset the house round



about upon me by night, and thought to have slain me: and my concubine



have they forced, that she is dead.







20:6 And I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent her



throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel: for they have



committed lewdness and folly in Israel.







20:7 Behold, ye are all children of Israel; give here your advice and



counsel.







20:8 And all the people arose as one man, saying, We will not any of



us go to his tent, neither will we any of us turn into his house.







20:9 But now this shall be the thing which we will do to Gibeah; we



will go up by lot against it; 20:10 And we will take ten men of an



hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and an hundred of a



thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand, to fetch victual for the



people, that they may do, when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin,



according to all the folly that they have wrought in Israel.







20:11 So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit



together as one man.







20:12 And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of



Benjamin, saying, What wickedness is this that is done among you?



20:13 Now therefore deliver us the men, the children of Belial, which



are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from



Israel. But the children of Benjamin would not hearken to the voice of



their brethren the children of Israel.







20:14 But the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together out of



the cities unto Gibeah, to go out to battle against the children of



Israel.







20:15 And the children of Benjamin were numbered at that time out of



the cities twenty and six thousand men that drew sword, beside the



inhabitants of Gibeah, which were numbered seven hundred chosen men.







20:16 Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men



lefthanded; every one could sling stones at an hair breadth, and not



miss.







20:17 And the men of Israel, beside Benjamin, were numbered four



hundred thousand men that drew sword: all these were men of war.







20:18 And the children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of



God, and asked counsel of God, and said, Which of us shall go up first



to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And the LORD said,



Judah shall go up first.







20:19 And the children of Israel rose up in the morning, and encamped



against Gibeah.







20:20 And the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin; and



the men of Israel put themselves in array to fight against them at



Gibeah.







20:21 And the children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah, and



destroyed down to the ground of the Israelites that day twenty and two



thousand men.







20:22 And the people the men of Israel encouraged themselves, and set



their battle again in array in the place where they put themselves in



array the first day.







20:23 (And the children of Israel went up and wept before the LORD



until even, and asked counsel of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up again



to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother? And the LORD



said, Go up against him.)  20:24 And the children of Israel came near



against the children of Benjamin the second day.







20:25 And Benjamin went forth against them out of Gibeah the second



day, and destroyed down to the ground of the children of Israel again



eighteen thousand men; all these drew the sword.







20:26 Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up,



and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the



LORD, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and



peace offerings before the LORD.







20:27 And the children of Israel enquired of the LORD, (for the ark of



the covenant of God was there in those days, 20:28 And Phinehas, the



son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days,)



saying, Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of



Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease? And the LORD said, Go up; for



to morrow I will deliver them into thine hand.







20:29 And Israel set liers in wait round about Gibeah.







20:30 And the children of Israel went up against the children of



Benjamin on the third day, and put themselves in array against Gibeah,



as at other times.







20:31 And the children of Benjamin went out against the people, and



were drawn away from the city; and they began to smite of the people,



and kill, as at other times, in the highways, of which one goeth up to



the house of God, and the other to Gibeah in the field, about thirty



men of Israel.







20:32 And the children of Benjamin said, They are smitten down before



us, as at the first. But the children of Israel said, Let us flee, and



draw them from the city unto the highways.







20:33 And all the men of Israel rose up out of their place, and put



themselves in array at Baaltamar: and the liers in wait of Israel came



forth out of their places, even out of the meadows of Gibeah.







20:34 And there came against Gibeah ten thousand chosen men out of all



Israel, and the battle was sore: but they knew not that evil was near



them.







20:35 And the LORD smote Benjamin before Israel: and the children of



Israel destroyed of the Benjamites that day twenty and five thousand



and an hundred men: all these drew the sword.







20:36 So the children of Benjamin saw that they were smitten: for the



men of Israel gave place to the Benjamites, because they trusted unto



the liers in wait which they had set beside Gibeah.







20:37 And the liers in wait hasted, and rushed upon Gibeah; and the



liers in wait drew themselves along, and smote all the city with the



edge of the sword.







20:38 Now there was an appointed sign between the men of Israel and



the liers in wait, that they should make a great flame with smoke rise



up out of the city.







20:39 And when the men of Israel retired in the battle, Benjamin began



to smite and kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons: for they



said, Surely they are smitten down before us, as in the first battle.







20:40 But when the flame began to arise up out of the city with a



pillar of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them, and, behold, the



flame of the city ascended up to heaven.







20:41 And when the men of Israel turned again, the men of Benjamin



were amazed: for they saw that evil was come upon them.







20:42 Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel unto



the way of the wilderness; but the battle overtook them; and them



which came out of the cities they destroyed in the midst of them.







20:43 Thus they inclosed the Benjamites round about, and chased them,



and trode them down with ease over against Gibeah toward the



sunrising.







20:44 And there fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men; all these were



men of valour.







20:45 And they turned and fled toward the wilderness unto the rock of



Rimmon: and they gleaned of them in the highways five thousand men;



and pursued hard after them unto Gidom, and slew two thousand men of



them.







20:46 So that all which fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and five



thousand men that drew the sword; all these were men of valour.







20:47 But six hundred men turned and fled to the wilderness unto the



rock Rimmon, and abode in the rock Rimmon four months.







20:48 And the men of Israel turned again upon the children of



Benjamin, and smote them with the edge of the sword, as well the men



of every city, as the beast, and all that came to hand: also they set



on fire all the cities that they came to.







21:1 Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpeh, saying, There shall



not any of us give his daughter unto Benjamin to wife.







21:2 And the people came to the house of God, and abode there till



even before God, and lifted up their voices, and wept sore; 21:3 And



said, O LORD God of Israel, why is this come to pass in Israel, that



there should be to day one tribe lacking in Israel?  21:4 And it came



to pass on the morrow, that the people rose early, and built there an



altar, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.







21:5 And the children of Israel said, Who is there among all the



tribes of Israel that came not up with the congregation unto the LORD?



For they had made a great oath concerning him that came not up to the



LORD to Mizpeh, saying, He shall surely be put to death.







21:6 And the children of Israel repented them for Benjamin their



brother, and said, There is one tribe cut off from Israel this day.







21:7 How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing we have



sworn by the LORD that we will not give them of our daughters to



wives?  21:8 And they said, What one is there of the tribes of Israel



that came not up to Mizpeh to the LORD? And, behold, there came none



to the camp from Jabeshgilead to the assembly.







21:9 For the people were numbered, and, behold, there were none of the



inhabitants of Jabeshgilead there.







21:10 And the congregation sent thither twelve thousand men of the



valiantest, and commanded them, saying, Go and smite the inhabitants



of Jabeshgilead with the edge of the sword, with the women and the



children.







21:11 And this is the thing that ye shall do, Ye shall utterly destroy



every male, and every woman that hath lain by man.







21:12 And they found among the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead four



hundred young virgins, that had known no man by lying with any male:



and they brought them unto the camp to Shiloh, which is in the land of



Canaan.







21:13 And the whole congregation sent some to speak to the children of



Benjamin that were in the rock Rimmon, and to call peaceably unto



them.







21:14 And Benjamin came again at that time; and they gave them wives



which they had saved alive of the women of Jabeshgilead: and yet so



they sufficed them not.







21:15 And the people repented them for Benjamin, because that the LORD



had made a breach in the tribes of Israel.







21:16 Then the elders of the congregation said, How shall we do for



wives for them that remain, seeing the women are destroyed out of



Benjamin?  21:17 And they said, There must be an inheritance for them



that be escaped of Benjamin, that a tribe be not destroyed out of



Israel.







21:18 Howbeit we may not give them wives of our daughters: for the



children of Israel have sworn, saying, Cursed be he that giveth a wife



to Benjamin.







21:19 Then they said, Behold, there is a feast of the LORD in Shiloh



yearly in a place which is on the north side of Bethel, on the east



side of the highway that goeth up from Bethel to Shechem, and on the



south of Lebonah.







21:20 Therefore they commanded the children of Benjamin, saying, Go



and lie in wait in the vineyards; 21:21 And see, and, behold, if the



daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in dances, then come ye out of



the vineyards, and catch you every man his wife of the daughters of



Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin.







21:22 And it shall be, when their fathers or their brethren come unto



us to complain, that we will say unto them, Be favourable unto them



for our sakes: because we reserved not to each man his wife in the



war: for ye did not give unto them at this time, that ye should be



guilty.







21:23 And the children of Benjamin did so, and took them wives,



according to their number, of them that danced, whom they caught: and



they went and returned unto their inheritance, and repaired the



cities, and dwelt in them.







21:24 And the children of Israel departed thence at that time, every



man to his tribe and to his family, and they went out from thence



every man to his inheritance.







21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that



which was right in his own eyes.