Judges

Book 07        Judges

07:001:001 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?

07:001:002 And the LORD said, Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered

           the land into his hand.

07:001:003 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.

07:001:004 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.

07:001:005 And they found Adonibezek in Bezek: and they fought against

           him, and they slew the Canaanites and the Perizzites.

07:001:006 But Adonibezek fled; and they pursued after him, and caught

           him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes.

07:001:007 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.

07:001:008 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.

07:001:009 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.

07:001:010 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.

07:001:011 And from thence he went against the inhabitants of Debir: and

           the name of Debir before was Kirjathsepher:

07:001:012 And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjathsepher, and taketh it,

           to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.

07:001:013 And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, took

           it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.

07:001:014 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?

07:001:015 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.

07:001:016 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.

07:001:017 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.

07:001:018 Also Judah took Gaza with the coast thereof, and Askelon with

           the coast thereof, and Ekron with the coast thereof.

07:001:019 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.

07:001:020 And they gave Hebron unto Caleb, as Moses said: and he

           expelled thence the three sons of Anak.

07:001:021 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.

07:001:022 And the house of Joseph, they also went up against Bethel: and

           the LORD was with them.

07:001:023 And the house of Joseph sent to descry Bethel. (Now the name

           of the city before was Luz.)

07:001:024 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.

07:001:025 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.

07:001:026 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.

07:001:027 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.

07:001:028 And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the

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

07:001:029 Neither did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites that dwelt in

           Gezer; but the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them.

07:001:030 Neither did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor

           the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelt among

           them, and became tributaries.

07:001:031 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:

07:001:032 But the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants

           of the land: for they did not drive them out.

07:001:033 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.

07:001:034 And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountain:

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

07:001:035 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.

07:001:036 And the coast of the Amorites was from the going up to

           Akrabbim, from the rock, and upward.

07:002:001 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.

07:002:002 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?

07:002:003 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.

07:002:004 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.

07:002:005 And they called the name of that place Bochim: and they

           sacrificed there unto the LORD.

07:002:006 And when Joshua had let the people go, the children of Israel

           went every man unto his inheritance to possess the land.

07:002:007 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.

07:002:008 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died,

           being an hundred and ten years old.

07:002:009 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.

07:002:010 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.

07:002:011 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD,

           and served Baalim:

07:002:012 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.

07:002:013 And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.

07:002:014 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.

07:002:015 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.

07:002:016 Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them

           out of the hand of those that spoiled them.

07:002:017 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.

07:002:018 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.

07:002:019 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.

07:002:020 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;

07:002:021 I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of

           the nations which Joshua left when he died:

07:002:022 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.

07:002:023 Therefore the LORD left those nations, without driving them

           out hastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of

           Joshua.

07:003:001 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;

07:003:002 Only that the generations of the children of Israel might

           know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew

           nothing thereof;

07:003:003 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.

07:003:004 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.

07:003:005 And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites,

           Hittites, and Amorites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and

           Jebusites:

07:003:006 And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave

           their daughters to their sons, and served their gods.

07:003:007 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.

07:003:008 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.

07:003:009 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.

07:003:010 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.

07:003:011 And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of

           Kenaz died.

07:003:012 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.

07:003:013 And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek, and

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

07:003:014 So the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab

           eighteen years.

07:003:015 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.

07:003:016 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.

07:003:017 And he brought the present unto Eglon king of Moab: and Eglon

           was a very fat man.

07:003:018 And when he had made an end to offer the present, he sent away

           the people that bare the present.

07:003:019 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.

07:003:020 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.

07:003:021 And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his

           right thigh, and thrust it into his belly:

07:003:022 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.

07:003:023 Then Ehud went forth through the porch, and shut the doors of

           the parlour upon him, and locked them.

07:003:024 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.

07:003:025 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.

07:003:026 And Ehud escaped while they tarried, and passed beyond the

           quarries, and escaped unto Seirath.

07:003:027 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.

07:003:028 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.

07:003:029 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.

07:003:030 So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the

           land had rest fourscore years.

07:003:031 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.

07:004:001 And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the

           LORD, when Ehud was dead.

07:004:002 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.

07:004:003 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.

07:004:004 And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged

           Israel at that time.

07:004:005 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.

07:004:006 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?

07:004:007 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.

07:004:008 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.

07:004:009 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.

07:004:010 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.

07:004:011 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.

07:004:012 And they shewed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone

           up to mount Tabor.

07:004:013 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.

07:004:014 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.

07:004:015 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.

07:004:016 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.

07:004:017 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.

07:004:018 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.

07:004:019 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.

07:004:020 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.

07:004:021 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.

07:004:022 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.

07:004:023 So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the

           children of Israel.

07:004:024 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.

07:005:001 Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day,

           saying,

07:005:002 Praise ye the LORD for the avenging of Israel, when the people

           willingly offered themselves.

07:005:003 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.

07:005:004 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.

07:005:005 The mountains melted from before the LORD, even that Sinai

           from before the LORD God of Israel.

07:005:006 In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael,

           the highways were unoccupied, and the travellers walked

           through byways.

07:005:007 The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel,

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

07:005:008 They chose new gods; then was war in the gates: was there a

           shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel?

07:005:009 My heart is toward the governors of Israel, that offered

           themselves willingly among the people. Bless ye the LORD.

07:005:010 Speak, ye that ride on white asses, ye that sit in judgment,

           and walk by the way.

07:005:011 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.

07:005:012 Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song: arise,

           Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam.

07:005:013 Then he made him that remaineth have dominion over the nobles

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

           mighty.

07:005:014 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.

07:005:015 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.

07:005:016 Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings

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

           searchings of heart.

07:005:017 Gilead abode beyond Jordan: and why did Dan remain in ships?

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

07:005:018 Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives

           unto the death in the high places of the field.

07:005:019 The kings came and fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in

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

07:005:020 They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought

           against Sisera.

07:005:021 The river of Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the

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

07:005:022 Then were the horsehoofs broken by the means of the pransings,

           the pransings of their mighty ones.

07:005:023 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.

07:005:024 Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite

           be, blessed shall she be above women in the tent.

07:005:025 He asked water, and she gave him milk; she brought forth

           butter in a lordly dish.

07:005:026 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.

07:005:027 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.

07:005:028 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?

07:005:029 Her wise ladies answered her, yea, she returned answer to

           herself,

07:005:030 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?

07:005:031 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.

07:006:001 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.

07:006:002 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.

07:006:003 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;

07:006:004 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.

07:006:005 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.

07:006:006 And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites;

           and the children of Israel cried unto the LORD.

07:006:007 And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto

           the LORD because of the Midianites,

07:006:008 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;

07:006:009 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;

07:006:010 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.

07:006:011 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.

07:006:012 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto

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

07:006:013 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.

07:006:014 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?

07:006:015 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.

07:006:016 And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and

           thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.

07:006:017 And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight,

           then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me.

07:006:018 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.

07:006:019 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.

07:006:020 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.

07:006:021 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.

07:006:022 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.

07:006:023 And the LORD said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou

           shalt not die.

07:006:024 Then Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it

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

           Abiezrites.

07:006:025 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:

07:006:026 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.

07:006:027 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.

07:006:028 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.

07:006:029 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.

07:006:030 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.

07:006:031 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.

07:006:032 Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let

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

07:006:033 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.

07:006:034 But the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a

           trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered after him.

07:006:035 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.

07:006:036 And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine

           hand, as thou hast said,

07:006:037 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.

07:006:038 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.

07:006:039 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.

07:006:040 And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece

           only, and there was dew on all the ground.

07:007:001 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.

07:007:002 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.

07:007:003 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.

07:007:004 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.

07:007:005 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.

07:007:006 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.

07:007:007 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.

07:007:008 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.

07:007:009 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.

07:007:010 But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Phurah thy servant

           down to the host:

07:007:011 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.

07:007:012 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.

07:007:013 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.

07:007:014 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.

07:007:015 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.

07:007:016 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.

07:007:017 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.

07:007:018 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.

07:007:019 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.

07:007:020 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.

07:007:021 And they stood every man in his place round about the camp;

           and all the host ran, and cried, and fled.

07:007:022 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.

07:007:023 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.

07:007:024 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.

07:007:025 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.

07:008:001 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.

07:008:002 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?

07:008:003 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.

07:008:004 And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three

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

07:008:005 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.

07:008:006 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?

07:008:007 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.

07:008:008 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.

07:008:009 And he spake also unto the men of Penuel, saying, When I come

           again in peace, I will break down this tower.

07:008:010 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.

07:008:011 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.

07:008:012 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.

07:008:013 And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the

           sun was up,

07:008:014 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.

07:008:015 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?

07:008:016 And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the

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

           Succoth.

07:008:017 And he beat down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the

           city.

07:008:018 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.

07:008:019 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.

07:008:020 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.

07:008:021 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.

07:008:022 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.

07:008:023 And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither

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

07:008:024 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.)

07:008:025 And they answered, We will willingly give them. And they

           spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings

           of his prey.

07:008:026 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.

07:008:027 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.

07:008:028 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.

07:008:029 And Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own

           house.

07:008:030 And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten:

           for he had many wives.

07:008:031 And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a

           son, whose name he called Abimelech.

07:008:032 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.

07:008:033 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.

07:008:034 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:

07:008:035 Neither shewed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal,

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

           shewed unto Israel.

07:009:001 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,

07:009:002 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.

07:009:003 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.

07:009:004 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.

07:009:005 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.

07:009:006 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.

07:009:007 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.

07:009:008 The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and

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

07:009:009 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?

07:009:010 And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over

           us.

07:009:011 But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my

           sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the

           trees?

07:009:012 Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over

           us.

07:009:013 And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which

           cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?

07:009:014 Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign

           over us.

07:009:015 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.

07:009:016 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;

07:009:017 (For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far,

           and delivered you out of the hand of Midian:

07:009:018 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;)

07:009:019 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:

07:009:020 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.

07:009:021 And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt

           there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.

07:009:022 When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel,

07:009:023 Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of

           Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with

           Abimelech:

07:009:024 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.

07:009:025 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.

07:009:026 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.

07:009:027 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.

07:009:028 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?

07:009:029 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.

07:009:030 And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal

           the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.

07:009:031 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.

07:009:032 Now therefore up by night, thou and the people that is with

           thee, and lie in wait in the field:

07:009:033 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.

07:009:034 And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him,

           by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four

           companies.

07:009:035 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.

07:009:036 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.

07:009:037 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.

07:009:038 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.

07:009:039 And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with

           Abimelech.

07:009:040 And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many

           were overthrown and wounded, even unto the entering of the

           gate.

07:009:041 And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul thrust out Gaal and

           his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem.

07:009:042 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out

           into the field; and they told Abimelech.

07:009:043 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.

07:009:044 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.

07:009:045 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.

07:009:046 And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that, they

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

07:009:047 And it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of

           Shechem were gathered together.

07:009:048 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.

07:009:049 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.

07:009:050 Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez,

           and took it.

07:009:051 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.

07:009:052 And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and

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

07:009:053 And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon

           Abimelech's head, and all to brake his skull.

07:009:054 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.

07:009:055 And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they

           departed every man unto his place.

07:009:056 Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did

           unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren:

07:009:057 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.

07:010:001 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.

07:010:002 And he judged Israel twenty and three years, and died, and was

           buried in Shamir.

07:010:003 And after him arose Jair, a Gileadite, and judged Israel

           twenty and two years.

07:010:004 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.

07:010:005 And Jair died, and was buried in Camon.

07:010:006 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.

07:010:007 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.

07:010:008 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.

07:010:009 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.

07:010:010 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.

07:010:011 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?

07:010:012 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.

07:010:013 Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I

           will deliver you no more.

07:010:014 Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them

           deliver you in the time of your tribulation.

07:010:015 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.

07:010:016 And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served

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

07:010:017 Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and

           encamped in Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled

           themselves together, and encamped in Mizpeh.

07:010:018 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.

07:011:001 Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour, and he

           was the son of an harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah.

07:011:002 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.

07:011:003 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.

07:011:004 And it came to pass in process of time, that the children of

           Ammon made war against Israel.

07:011:005 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:

07:011:006 And they said unto Jephthah, Come, and be our captain, that we

           may fight with the children of Ammon.

07:011:007 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?

07:011:008 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.

07:011:009 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?

07:011:010 And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, The LORD be

           witness between us, if we do not so according to thy words.

07:011:011 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.

07:011:012 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?

07:011:013 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.

07:011:014 And Jephthah sent messengers again unto the king of the

           children of Ammon:

07:011:015 And said unto him, Thus saith Jephthah, Israel took not away

           the land of Moab, nor the land of the children of Ammon:

07:011:016 But when Israel came up from Egypt, and walked through the

           wilderness unto the Red sea, and came to Kadesh;

07:011:017 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.

07:011:018 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.

07:011:019 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.

07:011:020 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.

07:011:021 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.

07:011:022 And they possessed all the coasts of the Amorites, from Arnon

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

07:011:023 So now the LORD God of Israel hath dispossessed the Amorites

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

07:011:024 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.

07:011:025 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,

07:011:026 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?

07:011:027 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.

07:011:028 Howbeit the king of the children of Ammon hearkened not unto

           the words of Jephthah which he sent him.

07:011:029 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.

07:011:030 And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou

           shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine

           hands,

07:011:031 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.

07:011:032 So Jephthah passed over unto the children of Ammon to fight

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

07:011:033 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.

07:011:034 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.

07:011:035 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.

07:011:036 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.

07:011:037 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.

07:011:038 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.

07:011:039 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,

07:011:040 That the daughters of Israel went yearly to lament the

           daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year.

07:012:001 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.

07:012:002 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.

07:012:003 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?

07:012:004 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.

07:012:005 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;

07:012:006 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.

07:012:007 And Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then died Jephthah the

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

07:012:008 And after him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel.

07:012:009 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.

07:012:010 Then died Ibzan, and was buried at Bethlehem.

07:012:011 And after him Elon, a Zebulonite, judged Israel; and he judged

           Israel ten years.

07:012:012 And Elon the Zebulonite died, and was buried in Aijalon in the

           country of Zebulun.

07:012:013 And after him Abdon the son of Hillel, a Pirathonite, judged

           Israel.

07:012:014 And he had forty sons and thirty nephews, that rode on

           threescore and ten ass colts: and he judged Israel eight

           years.

07:012:015 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.

07:013:001 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.

07:013:002 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.

07:013:003 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.

07:013:004 Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor

           strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing:

07:013:005 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.

07:013:006 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:

07:013:007 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.

07:013:008 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.

07:013:009 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.

07:013:010 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.

07:013:011 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.

07:013:012 And Manoah said, Now let thy words come to pass. How shall we

           order the child, and how shall we do unto him?

07:013:013 And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Of all that I said

           unto the woman let her beware.

07:013:014 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.

07:013:015 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.

07:013:016 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.

07:013:017 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?

07:013:018 And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Why askest thou thus

           after my name, seeing it is secret?

07:013:019 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.

07:013:020 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.

07:013:021 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.

07:013:022 And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we

           have seen God.

07:013:023 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.

07:013:024 And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the

           child grew, and the LORD blessed him.

07:013:025 And the Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in the

           camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.

07:014:001 And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of

           the daughters of the Philistines.

07:014:002 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.

07:014:003 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.

07:014:004 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.

07:014:005 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.

07:014:006 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.

07:014:007 And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased

           Samson well.

07:014:008 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.

07:014:009 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.

07:014:010 So his father went down unto the woman: and Samson made there

           a feast; for so used the young men to do.

07:014:011 And it came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought

           thirty companions to be with him.

07:014:012 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:

07:014:013 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.

07:014:014 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.

07:014:015 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?

07:014:016 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?

07:014:017 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.

07:014:018 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.

07:014:019 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.

07:014:020 But Samson's wife was given to his companion, whom he had used

           as his friend.

07:015:001 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.

07:015:002 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.

07:015:003 And Samson said concerning them, Now shall I be more blameless

           than the Philistines, though I do them a displeasure.

07:015:004 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.

07:015:005 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.

07:015:006 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.

07:015:007 And Samson said unto them, Though ye have done this, yet will

           I be avenged of you, and after that I will cease.

07:015:008 And he smote them hip and thigh with a great slaughter: and he

           went down and dwelt in the top of the rock Etam.

07:015:009 Then the Philistines went up, and pitched in Judah, and spread

           themselves in Lehi.

07:015:010 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.

07:015:011 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.

07:015:012 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.

07:015:013 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.

07:015:014 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.

07:015:015 And he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand,

           and took it, and slew a thousand men therewith.

07:015:016 And Samson said, With the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps,

           with the jaw of an ass have I slain a thousand men.

07:015:017 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.

07:015:018 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?

07:015:019 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.

07:015:020 And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty

           years.

07:016:001 Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there an harlot, and went in

           unto her.

07:016:002 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.

07:016:003 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.

07:016:004 And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the

           valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.

07:016:005 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.

07:016:006 And Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray thee, wherein thy

           great strength lieth, and wherewith thou mightest be bound to

           afflict thee.

07:016:007 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.

07:016:008 Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven

           green withs which had not been dried, and she bound him with

           them.

07:016:009 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.

07:016:010 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.

07:016:011 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.

07:016:012 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.

07:016:013 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.

07:016:014 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.

07:016:015 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.

07:016:016 And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her

           words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death;

07:016:017 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.

07:016:018 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.

07:016:019 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.

07:016:020 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.

07:016:021 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.

07:016:022 Howbeit the hair of his head began to grow again after he was

           shaven.

07:016:023 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.

07:016:024 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.

07:016:025 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.

07:016:026 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.

07:016:027 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.

07:016:028 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.

07:016:029 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.

07:016:030 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.

07:016:031 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.

07:017:001 And there was a man of mount Ephraim, whose name was Micah.

07:017:002 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.

07:017:003 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.

07:017:004 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.

07:017:005 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.

07:017:006 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did

           that which was right in his own eyes.

07:017:007 And there was a young man out of Bethlehemjudah of the family

           of Judah, who was a Levite, and he sojourned there.

07:017:008 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.

07:017:009 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.

07:017:010 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.

07:017:011 And the Levite was content to dwell with the man; and the

           young man was unto him as one of his sons.

07:017:012 And Micah consecrated the Levite; and the young man became his

           priest, and was in the house of Micah.

07:017:013 Then said Micah, Now know I that the LORD will do me good,

           seeing I have a Levite to my priest.

07:018:001 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.

07:018:002 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.

07:018:003 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?

07:018:004 And he said unto them, Thus and thus dealeth Micah with me,

           and hath hired me, and I am his priest.

07:018:005 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.

07:018:006 And the priest said unto them, Go in peace: before the LORD is

           your way wherein ye go.

07:018:007 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.

07:018:008 And they came unto their brethren to Zorah and Eshtaol: and

           their brethren said unto them, What say ye?

07:018:009 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.

07:018:010 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.

07:018:011 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.

07:018:012 And they went up, and pitched in Kirjathjearim, in Judah:

           wherefore they called that place Mahanehdan unto this day:

           behold, it is behind Kirjathjearim.

07:018:013 And they passed thence unto mount Ephraim, and came unto the

           house of Micah.

07:018:014 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.

07:018:015 And they turned thitherward, and came to the house of the

           young man the Levite, even unto the house of Micah, and

           saluted him.

07:018:016 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.

07:018:017 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.

07:018:018 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?

07:018:019 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?

07:018:020 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.

07:018:021 So they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the

           cattle and the carriage before them.

07:018:022 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.

07:018:023 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?

07:018:024 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?

07:018:025 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.

07:018:026 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.

07:018:027 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.

07:018:028 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.

07:018:029 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.

07:018:030 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.

07:018:031 And they set them up Micah's graven image, which he made, all

           the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.

07:019:001 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.

07:019:002 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.

07:019:003 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.

07:019:004 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.

07:019:005 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.

07:019:006 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.

07:019:007 And when the man rose up to depart, his father in law urged

           him: therefore he lodged there again.

07:019:008 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.

07:019:009 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.

07:019:010 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.

07:019:011 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.

07:019:012 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.

07:019:013 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.

07:019:014 And they passed on and went their way; and the sun went down

           upon them when they were by Gibeah, which belongeth to

           Benjamin.

07:019:015 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.

07:019:016 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.

07:019:017 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?

07:019:018 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.

07:019:019 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.

07:019:020 And the old man said, Peace be with thee; howsoever let all

           thy wants lie upon me; only lodge not in the street.

07:019:021 So he brought him into his house, and gave provender unto the

           asses: and they washed their feet, and did eat and drink.

07:019:022 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.

07:019:023 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.

07:019:024 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.

07:019:025 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.

07:019:026 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.

07:019:027 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.

07:019:028 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.

07:019:029 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.

07:019:030 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.

07:020:001 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.

07:020:002 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.

07:020:003 (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?