early in the morning, behold, the altar of and afraid, let him return, and depart early Baal was cast down, and the grove was cut from mount Gilead. And there returned of down that was by it, and the second bullock the people twenty and two thousand, and was offered upon the altar that was built. there remained ten thousand. 29 And they said one to another, Who hath 4 And the LORD said unto Gideon, Tre done this thing? And when they enquired and asked, they said, Gideon the son of Joash hath done this thing. 30 Then the men of the city said unte Joash, Bring out thy son, that he may die; be Ense be hath cast down the altar of Baal, BJ because he hath cut down the grove that Bus by it. 1 And Joash said unto all that stood against Lim, Will ye plead for Baal? will ye save in? he that will plead for him, let him be 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. 5 So he brought down the people unto the water: and the LORD said unto Gidron, Every one that lappeth of the water with Lis tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set t to death whilst it is vet morning: if he be by himself; likewise every one that boweth god, let Lim plead for himself, because one down upon his knees to drink. hath cast down his altar. 6 And the number of them that lapped, 32 Therefore on that day he called him Je- putting their hand to their mouth, were ubbaal. saying, Let Baal plead against him, three hundred men: but all the rest of the Decause he hath thrown down his altar. people bowed down upon their knçes to 331 Then all the Midianites, and the Ama-drink water. ekites, and the children of the east, were ga- 7 And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the hered together, and went over, and pitched three hundred men that lapped will I save in the valley of Jezreel. you, and deliver the Midianites into thine 34 But the Spirit of the LORD came upon hand and let all the other people go every Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abi- man unto his place. ezer was gathered after him. 8 So the people took victuals in their 35 And he sent messengers throughout all hand, and their trumpets: and he sent all the Manasseh; who also was gathered after him: rest of Israel, every man unto his tent, and and he sent messengers unto Asher, and unto retained those three hundred men. And the Zebulun, and unto Naphtali; and they came up to meet them. 36 And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt Jave Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said, 37 Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the bor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then thall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said. host of Midian was beneath him in the valley. 91 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. 10 But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Phurah thy servant down to the host: 11 And thou shalt hear what they say; and afterward shall thine hands be strengthened 38 And it was so: for he rose up early on he morrow, and thrust the fleece together, to go down unto the host. Then went he and wringed the dew out of the fleece, al down with Phurah his servant unto the outpowl-full of water side of the armed men that were in the host 39 And Gideon said unto God. Let not 12 And the Midianites, and the Amalekites, hine anger be hot against me, and I will and all the children of the east, lay along in speak but this once: Let me prove, I pray the valley like grasshoppers for maltitude; thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now and their camels were without number, as be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the the sand by the sea-side for multitude. ground let there be dew. 40 And God did so that night for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground. CHAP VII. 13 And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man that told a dream unto Lis fellow, and said, Behold. I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of bariey-bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto a tent. and smote it that it fell, and overturned it, that THEN HEN Jerubbaal, (who is Gileon,) and all the people that were with him, rose the tent lay along. ap early, and pitched beside the well of Ha- 14 And his fellow answered and said, lis rod: so that the host of the Midianites were is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the on the north side of them, by the hill of Mo- son of Joash, a man of Israel: for into his reh, in the valley. hand hath God delivered Midian, and ail the 2 And the LORD said unto Gideon, The host. people that are with thee are too many for 151 And it was so, when Gideon heard me to give the Midianites into their hands, the teling of the dream, and the interpretales: Israel vaunt themselves against me, say-tion thereof, that he worshipped, and returnung, Mine own hand hath saved me. ed into the host of Israel, and said, Arise; 3 Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears for the LORD bath delivered into your hand of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful the host of Midian. JUDGES. 16 Ad he divided the three hundred men 5 And he said unto the men of Succoth into three companies, and he put a trumpet Give, I pray you, loaves of bread unto the in every man's hand, with empty pitchers, people that follow me, for they be faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna. and lamps within the pitchers. 17 And he said unto them, Look on me, kings of Midian. 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. 6 And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebch and Zalmunna now in thane hand, that we should give bread unto thine army? 13 When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with me. then blow ye the trumpets 7 And Gideon said, Therefore, when the aiso on every side of all the camp, and say, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon. 191 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. 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 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. 9 And he spake also unto the men of Penuel, saying, When I come again in peace, 20 And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trum- I will break down this tower. 10 Now Zebah and Zalmunna were ir. pets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the LORD, and of Karkor, and their hosts with them, about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of all Gideon. 21 And they stood every man in his place the hosts of the children of the east: for there round about the camp: and all the host ran, fell an hundred and twenty thousand men and cried, and fled. that drew sword. 11 And Gideon went up by the way of 22 And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every man's sword them that dwelt in tents, on the east of Noagainst his fellow, even throughout all the bah and Jogbehah, and smote the host: for host: and the host fled to Beth-shittah in the host was secure. Zererath, and to the border of Abel-meholalı, unto Tabbath. 12 And when Zebali and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them, and took the two 23 And the men of Israel gathered them-kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, selves together out of Naphtali, and out of and discomfited all the host. Asher, and ont of all Manasseh, and pursued efter the Midianites. 131 And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the sun was up, 241 And Gideon sent messengers through- 14 And caught a young man of the men out all mount Ephraim, saying, Come down of Succoth, and enquired of him and he against the Midianites, and take before them described unto him the princes of Succoth, the waters unto Beth-barah and Jordan. Then and the elders thereof, even threescore and all the men of Ephraim gathered themselves seventeen men. together, and took the waters unto Beth-barah and Jordan. 15 And he came unto the men of Succoth, and said, Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, with hand, that we should give bread unto thy men that are weary? 25 And they took two princes of the Mi-whom ye did upbraid me, saying, Are the dianites, Oreb and Zeeb: and they slew Oreb hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine upon the rock Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at the wine-press of Zeeb, and pursued Midian, and brought the leads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side Jordan. CHAP. VIII. A ND 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. 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, 17 And he beat down the tower of Penuel and slew the men of the city. 181 Then said he unto Zebah and Za. munna, What manner of men were they whom ye slew at Tabor? And they answer sembled the children of a king. 2 And he said unto them, What have led, As thou art, so were they; each one re done now in comparison of you? Is not the 3 God hath delivered into your hands the 41 And Gideon came to Jordan, and pass ed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them. 190 19 And he said, They were my brethren, even the sons of my mother: as the LORU liveth, if ye had saved them alive, I wouid not slay you. 20 And he said unto Jether his first-born, Up, and slay them: but the youth drew not kis sword; for he feared, because he was yet a youth. 21 Toen Zeball and thou, and fall upon as for as the man is, so Zalmuma said. Rise Is his strength. And Gideon arose, and slew or that one reign over you remember also Zebab and Zalmunna, and took away the or- that I am your bone and your flesh. naments that were on their camel's necks. 3 And his mother's brethren spake of him 221 Then the men of Israel said unto Gi- in the ears of all the men of Shechem all deon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy these words: and their hearts inclined to son. and thy son's son also; for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian. 23 And Gideon said u to them I will not rule over you, neither shaayson Le over you: the LORD shall rule over you. follow Abimelech; for they said, He is our brother. 4 And they gave him threescore and ten pieces of silver out of the house of Baal-berith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light persons which followed him. 24 And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give 5 And he went unto his father's house at me every man the ear-rings of his prey: (for Ophrah, and slew his brethren, the sons of they had golden ear-rings, because they Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, were Ishmaelites.) upon one stone: notwithstanding, yet Jo 25 And they answered, We will willingly tham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; give them. And they spread a garment, for he hid himself. and did cast therein every man the ear-rings 6 And all the men of Shechem gathered of his prey. together, and all the house of Millo, and went and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem, 26 And the weight of the golden ear-rings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold, besides ornaments, 711 And when they told it to Jotham, he and collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and besides the chains that were about their camels' necks. went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice and cried, and said un to them, Hearken unto me, ye men of She chem, that God may hearken unto you. 27 And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and 8. The trees went forth on a time to anoint all Israel went thither a whoring after it a king over them; and they said unto the which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house. 231 Thas 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. 291 And Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house. 30 And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten: for he had many wives. 31 And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son, whose naine he called Abimelech. 321 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 Abi-ezrites. 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 Baal-herith their god. 34 And the children of Israel remembered not the LORD their God, whe had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side: 35 Neither shewed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, namely, Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shewed unto Israel. 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 persone, reign over you, olive-tree, Reign thou over us. 9 But the o'ive-tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be proanoted over the trees? 10 And the trees said to the fig-tree, Come thou, and reign over us. 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? 12 Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us. 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? 14 Then said all the trees unto the bram ble, Come thou, and reign over us. 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. 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; 17 (For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, aud delivered you out of the hand of Midian; 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:) 19 If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimeleen, and le him also rejoice in you JUDGES. 20 But if not, let fire come out from Abi- said unto him, Thou seest the shadow of. melech, 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. mountains as if they were men. 37 And Gaal spake again, and said, See, there come people down by the middle of the land, and another company come along 21 And Jotham ran away, and fled, and by the plain of Meonenim. went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother. 22 When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel, 23 Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech: 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. 39 And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech. 40 And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him; and many were overthrown and wounded, even unto the entering of the gate 24 That the cruelty done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their 41 And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and brother, which slew them; and upon the men of Shechem, which aided him in the killing of his brethren. 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. 26 And Gaal the son of Ehed came with his brethren, and went over to Shechem: and the menof Shechem put their confidence in him. 27 And they went out into the fields, and gathered their vineyards, and trode the grapes, and made me y, and went into the house of their god and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech. Zebul thrust out Gaal and his bretiren, that they should not dwell in Shechem. 12 And it came to pass on the morrow that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech. 43 And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field, and boked, and, behold, the people were come forth out of the city; and he rose up against them, and smote them. 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 peop ie that were in the fields, and slew them. 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 28 And Gaal the sen of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech, and who is Snechem, that we should serve him? Is not he the son of Jerabbaal? and Zebal his officer: Serve the men the city, and sowed it with salt. of Hamor the father of Shechem; for why shou'd we serve hira? 29 And would to God this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelern, increase thine army, and come out. 301 And when Zebul, the ruler of the city, neard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled. 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. 32 Now therefore, up by night, thou and the people that is with thee, and lie in wait in the ficid; 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, wnen he and the people that is with him come out against thee, then mayest thou do to them as thou shalt find occasion. 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. 47 And it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together. 43 And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he, and all the people that wer 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 hasie, and do as I have done. 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. 50 Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez; an I took it. 341 And Abimelech rose up, and all the 51 But there was a strong tower within the people that were with him, by night, and they city, and thither fled all the men and women, laid wait against Shechem in four companies, and all they of the city, and shut it to them, 35 And Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and gat them up to the top of the tower. and stood in the entering of the gate of the 52 And Abimelech came unto the tower, city; and Abimelech rose up and the peo-and fought against it, and went hard unte ple that were with him, from lying in wait, the door of the tower, to burn it with fire. 36 And when Gaal saw the people, he said 53 And a certain woman cast a piece of to Zebul, Behold, there come people down millstone upon Abimelech's head, and all from the top of the mountains. And Zebul break his scull. 1.02 54 Thes he called hastily unto the young the LORD. We have sinned: do thou unto us mau his amour-bearer, and said unto him, whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say us only, we pray thee, this day. not of me, A woman slew him. And his 16 And they put away the strange gods young man thrust him through, and he died. from among them, and served the LORD: 55 And when the men of Israel saw that and his soul was grieved for the misery of Abimelech was dead, they departed every Israel. man unto his place. 17 Then the children of Ammon were ga56 Thus God rendered the wickedness of thered together, and encamped in Gilead: Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in and the children of Israel assembled themslaying his seventy brethren: selves together, and encamped in Mizpeh. 57 And all the evil of the men of Shechem 18 And the people, and princes of Gilead did God render upon their heads: and upon said one to another. What man is he that them came the curse of Jotham the son of will begin to fight against the children of Jerubbaal. Ammon? he shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead. A CHAP. X. ND 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.. And he judged Israel twenty and three years, and died, and was buried in Shamir. CHAP. XI. as a migh NOW Jephthah the Gileadite was ty man of valour, and he was the son of an harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah. 2 And Gilead's wife bare him sons: and his wife's sops grew up, and they thrast out 31 And after him arose Jair, a Gileadite, Jephthah, and said unto him, Thou shalt not and judged Israel twenty and two years. inherit in our father's house; for thou art the 4 And he had thirty sons that rode on thir-son of a strange woman. ty ass-colts, and they had thirty cities, which 3 Then Jephthah fled from his brethren, are called Havoth-jair unto this day, which and dwelt in the land of Tob: and there are in the land of Gilead. were gathered vain men to Jephthah, and 5 And Jair died, and was buriedin Camon. went out with him. 6 And the children of Israel did evii again 4 And it came to pass in process of time, in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim, that the children of Ammon made war against and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and Israel. the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, 5 And it was so, that, when the children of and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the LORD, and served not him. Ammon made war against Israel, the eldera of Gilead went to fetch Jephthah out of the land of Tob: 7 And the anger of the LORD was hot 6 And they said unto Jephthah, Come, and against Israel, and he sold them into the be our captain, that we may fight with the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands children of Ammon. of the children of Ammon. 7 And Jephthah said unto the elders of 8 And that year they vexed and oppressed Gilead, Did not ye hate me, and expel me the children of Israel eighteen years, all the out of my father's house? and why are ye Children of Israel that were on other side come unto me now when ye are in distress? Jordan. in the land of the Amorites, which 8 And the elders of Gilead said unto Jeph. is in Gilead. thah, Therefore we turn again to thee now, 9 Moreover, the children of Ammon passed that thou mayest go with us, and fight over Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against tre children of Ammon, and be our against Benjamin, and against the house of head over all the inhabitants of Gilead. Ephraim; so that Israel was sore distressed 9 And Jephthah said unto the elders of 10 And the children of Israel cried unto Gilead, If ye bring me home again to fight the Loun, saying, We have sinned against against the children of Ammon, and the thee, both because we have forsaken our God, LORD deliver them before me, shall I he and also served Baalim. your head? 11 And the LORD said unto the children of 10 And the elders of Gilead said unto Jeph Israel. Did not I deliver you from the Egyp-thah, The LORD be winess between us, il vans, and from the Amorites, from the chil- we do not so according to thy words. dren of Ammon, and from the Philistines? 11 Then Jephthah went with the elders of 12 The Zidonians also and the Amalekites, Gilead, and the people made him head and and the Macnites, did oppress you; and ye captain over them. and Jephthah uttered ali cried to me, and I delivered you out of their his words before the LORD in Mizpelt. hand. 12 And Jephthah sent messengers unte 13 Yet ye hrve forsaken me, and served the king of the children of Ammon, saying, other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more. 14 Go and cry unto the gods which ye have thosen; let them deliver you in the time of four tribulation. 151 And the children of Israel said unto What hast thou to do with me, that thou art come against me to figlit in my land? 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 Arzon even unte |