Israet oppressed by Midlan JUDGES. Gideon and the anger. 23 Curse ye Meroz, said the angel 8 That the LORD sent a prophet of the LORD, curse ye bitterly the unto the children of Israel, which said inhabitants thereof; because they unto them, Thus saith the LORD God came not to the help of the LORD, of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, to the help of the LORD against the and brought you forth out of the house of bondage; mighty. 24 Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be, blessed shall she be above women in the tent. 25 He asked water, and she gave hi milk; she brought forth butter in a lordly dish. 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. 27 At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay down at her feet he bowed, he fell where he bowed, there he fell stown dead. 25 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? 29 Her wise ladies answered her, yea, she returned answer to herself, 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 needje-work. of divers colours of needle-work on both sides, meet for the necks of them that take the spoil? 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. CHAP. VI. 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. 9 And I delivered you out of the band 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 10 And I said unto you, I am the LORD your God; fear not the gods of the Anorites, in whose kind ye dwell: but ye have not obeyed my voice. 11And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash, the Abi-ezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the wine-press, to hide it from the Midianites. 12 And the angel of the LORD anpeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour. 13 And Gideon said unto bim, 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. 14 And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the band of the Midianites: have not I sent thee? 15 And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israe!? behold, my family is poor in Manas seh, and I am the least in my father's bouse. 16 And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man. 2 And the band of Midian prevailed 17 And he said unto him, If now against Israel: and because of the 1 have found grace in thy sight, then Midianites the children of Israel made shew me a sign that thou talkest with them the dens which are in the moun-me. tains, and caves and strong holds. 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, 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. 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. 18 Depart not bence, I pray thee, until I come unto thee, and bring forth my present, and set it before thee. And be said, I will tarry until thou come again. 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. 20 And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unlea vened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so. 21 Then the angel of the LORD 6 And Israel was greatly impove-put forth the end of the staff that was rished because of the Midianites; and in his hand, and touched the flesh and the children of Israel cried unto the the unleavened cakes; and there rose LORD. 7. And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD because of the Midianites, up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the LORD departed out of his sig. he was an angel of the LORD, Gideon said, Alas, O Lord GOD! for because 1 have seen an angel of the LORD face Gideon's fleece: his army. And when Gideon perceived that p 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 besides, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said. to face. 23 And the LORD said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not, thou shalt not die. 24 Then Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovahshalom unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abi-ezrités. 25 And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Take thy father's young bullock, even the second hullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father bath, and cut down the grove that is by it: 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. 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. 28 And when the men of the city aruse 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. 29 And they said one to another, Who hath done this thing? And when they inquired and asked, they said, Gideon the son of Joash hath done this thing 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. 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, lez him be put to death whilst atts yet morning: if he be a god, let lata plead for himself, because one hath cast down his altar. 32 Therefore on that day he called tim Jerubhaal, saying, Let Baal plead against him, because he hath thrown down his altar. 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. 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. 30 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 le: 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. 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. 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. 3 Now therefore po to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whoso lever is fearful and afraid, let him re turn and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand. 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 shal 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 un to 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 druk. 6 And the number of them that lapped, putting their hana to their mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water. 7 And the LORD said unto Gideon, 34 But the Spirit of the LORD came By the three hundred men that lapupon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; ped will I save you, and deliver the and Abi-ezer was gathered after him. Midianites into thine hand: and let 35 And he sent messengers through-all the other people go every man unto out all Manasseh; who also was ga. his place. thered after him and he sent mes-. s So the people took victuals in sengers unto Asber, and unto Zebulun, and unto Naphtali; and they came up to meet them. 36 And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as shou hast said, 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. 9 And it came to pass the same Gideon's stratagem. JUDGES. The Ephraimties pacified. to the border of Abel-meholab, unte night, that the LORD said unto him, 10 But if thou fear to go down, go Thou with Phurah thy servant down to the host: 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. 11 And thou shalt bear what they 94 And Gideon sent messengers say; and afterwards shall thine hands throughout all mount Ephraim, say be strengthened to go down unto the ing, Come down against the Midianhost. Then went he down with Phu-ites, and take before them the waters rah his servant unto the outside of the unto Beth-barah and Jordan. Then all armed men that were in the host the men of Ephraim gathered them12 And the Midianites, and the Ama-selves together, and took the waters Jekites, and all the children of the east, unto Beth-barah and Jor Jan. lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels were without nuraber, as the sand by the sea-side for multitude. 25 And they took two princes of the Midianites, Óreb and Zeeb; and they slew Oreh upon the rock Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at the wine-press of 13 And when Gideon was come, be-Zeeb, and pursued Midian,and brought hold, there was a man that told a dream the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon unto his fellow, and said, Behold, I on the other side Jordan. 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. 14 And his fellow answered and said, This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Isael: for into his hand hath God delivered Midian and all the host. 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. 16 And be divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet in every man's hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps with in the pitchers. 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. 18 When I blow with a trumpet, 1 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. 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. 20 And the three companies blew the trumpets, and omke the pitchers, sad held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpes in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon. 21 And they stood every man in his place round about the camp: and all the host ran, and cried, and fled. 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 " Aed to Beth-shittah in Zererath, and CHAP. VIII. AND the men of Ephraim said un to 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. ? 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? 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. 4¶ And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them 5 And he said unto the men of Succoth, ive, I pray you, loaves of bread unto the people that follow me; for they be faint, and I am pursuing after Zebab and Zalmunaa, kings of Midian. 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 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 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, I will break down this tower. 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. 11 And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents on the east Bidcon's ephod. CHAP. IX. Abimelech made king. of Nobab, and Jogbehah, and smote the jof, and put it in his city, even in host for the host was secure. Ophrah: and all Israel went thither 12 And when Zebab and Zalmunna a whoring after it which thing be. fed, he pursued after them, and took came a snare unto Gideon, and to his the two kings of Midian, Zebah and house. Zalmunna, and discomfited all the 28 Thus was Midian subdued before host. 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. 13 And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the sun was up, 14 And caught a young man of the men of Succoth, and inquired of him: and he described unto him the princes of Succoth and the elders thereof, even threescore and seventeen men. 15 And he came unto the men of Succoth, and said, Behold Zehah and Zalmunna, with whom ye did upbraid me, saying, Are the bands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thy men that are weary? 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 29 And Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house. 30 And Gideon had tbreescore 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 name he called Abimelech. 32 And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age, and was buried in the sepulchre of Joash bis 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-berith their god. 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: 35 Neither shewed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, namely, Gi deon, according to all the goodness which he had shewed unto Israel. CHAP. IX. AND Abimelech the son of Jerub baal 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, 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. 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. 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 foilowed him. 24 And Gideon said unto them, 1 would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the ear-rings of his prey. (For they bad golden 5 And he went unto his father's ear-rings, because they were Ish-house at Ophrah, and slew his brenaelites.) thren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: notwithstanding, yet Jothan the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left: for he hid himself. 25 And they answered, We will wil lingly give them. And they spread a garment, and did cast therein every Laan the ear-rings of his prey. 26 And the weight of the golden 6 And all the men of Shechem gaear-rings that he requested was a thou-thered together, and all the house of sand and seven hundred shekels of gold; Millo, and went, and made Abimelech besides ornaments and collars, and pur- king, by the plain of the pillar that ple raiment that was on the kings of was in Shechem. Midian, and besides the chains that were about their camels' necks. 47 And Gideon made an ephod there 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 Shechein, that God may hearken unto you. 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 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? 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. Gaal's conspiracy. 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 Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to Shechem: and the men of Shechein put their confidence in him. 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 Abr melech. 28 And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech, and who is Sbechem, that we should serve him? is not he the son of Jerubbaal, and Ze13 And the vine said unto them, but his officer? Serve the men of HaShould I leave my wine, which cheer-mor the father of Shechem: for why eth God and man, and go to be pro-should we serve him? moted over the trees? 29 And would to God this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech. And he said to Aoimelech, Increase thine army, and come out. 30 And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindied. 31 And he sent messengers unto Abimelech privily, saving, Behold, Gaal the son of Ehed 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 field: 16 Now therefore, if ye bave done truly and sincerely, in that ye have Tuade 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, 33 And it shall be, that in the mornand adventured his life far, and deli-ing, as soon as the sun is up, thou vered you out of the hand of Midran: shalt rise early, and set upon the city; 19 And ye are risen up against my and behold, when he and the people father's house this day, and have slain that is with him come out against bis sons, threescore and ten persons, thee, then mayest thou do to them as upon one stone, and have made Abi-thou shalt find occasion. Inelech, the son of his maid-servant, 34 And Abimelech rose up, and all king over the men of Shechem, be- the people that were with him, bp cause he is your brother ;) night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies. 19 If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his 35 And Gaal the son of Ebed wen house this day, then rejoice ye in Abi-out, and stood in the entering of tha melech, and let him also rejoice in gate of the city and Abimelech rose up, and the people that were with him, from lying in wait. you: 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 Shechein, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech. 21 And Jotham ran away, and fled, and 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: 24 That the cruelty done to the threescore and ten sons of Jeru baal night 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. 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 into him, Thou seest the shadow of the 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 by the plain of Meonenum. 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 |