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1
Judges 1:1-36
1 Now after the death of Joshua it came to
pass, that the children of Israel asked the LORD, saying, Who shall go up for us against
the Canaanites first, to fight against them? 2 And the LORD said, Judah shall go up:
behold, I have delivered the land into his hand. 3 And Judah said unto Simeon his brother,
Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I likewise will
go with thee into thy lot. So Simeon went with him. 4 And Judah went up; and the LORD
delivered the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand: and they slew of them in
Bezek ten thousand men. 5 And they found Adonibezek in Bezek: and they fought against him,
and they slew the Canaanites and the Perizzites. 6 But Adonibezek fled; and they pursued
after him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes. 7 And Adonibezek
said, Threescore and ten kings, having their thumbs and their great toes cut off, gathered
their meat under my table: as I have done, so God hath requited me. And they
brought him to Jerusalem, and there he died. 8 Now the children of Judah had fought
against Jerusalem, and had taken it, and smitten it with the edge of the sword, and set
the city on fire.
9 And afterward the children of Judah went
down to fight against the Canaanites, that dwelt in the mountain, and in the south, and in
the valley. 10 And Judah went against the Canaanites that dwelt in Hebron: (now the name
of Hebron before was Kirjatharba:) and they slew Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai.
11 And from thence he went against the inhabitants of Debir: and the name of Debir before was
Kirjathsepher: 12 And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjathsepher, and taketh it, to him
will I give Achsah my daughter to wife. 13 And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger
brother, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife. 14 And it came to pass,
when she came to him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she
lighted from off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wilt thou? 15 And she said
unto him, Give me a blessing: for thou hast given me a south land; give me also springs of
water. And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the nether springs. 16 And the children of
the Kenite, Moses' father in law, went up out of the city of palm trees with the children
of Judah into the wilderness of Judah, which lieth in the south of Arad; and they
went and dwelt among the people. 17 And Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they slew
the Canaanites that inhabited Zephath, and utterly destroyed it. And the name of the city
was called Hormah. 18 Also Judah took Gaza with the coast thereof, and Askelon with the
coast thereof, and Ekron with the coast thereof. 19 And the LORD was with Judah; and he
drave out the inhabitants of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants
of the valley, because they had chariots of iron. 20 And they gave Hebron unto Caleb, as
Moses said: and he expelled thence the three sons of Anak.
21 And the children of Benjamin did not
drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem; but the Jebusites dwell with the
children of Benjamin in Jerusalem unto this day. 22 And the house of Joseph, they also
went up against Bethel: and the LORD was with them. 23 And the house of Joseph sent
to descry Bethel. (Now the name of the city before was Luz.) 24 And the spies saw a
man come forth out of the city, and they said unto him, Shew us, we pray thee, the
entrance into the city, and we will shew thee mercy. 25 And when he shewed them the
entrance into the city, they smote the city with the edge of the sword; but they let go
the man and all his family. 26 And the man went into the land of the Hittites, and built a
city, and called the name thereof Luz: which is the name thereof unto this day. 27
Neither did Manasseh drive out the inhabitants of Bethshean and her towns, nor
Taanach and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, nor the inhabitants of
Ibleam and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns: but the Canaanites
would dwell in that land. 28 And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put
the Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out. 29 Neither did Ephraim
drive out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among
them. 30 Neither did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of
Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelt among them, and became tributaries. 31 Neither did Asher
drive out the inhabitants of Accho, nor the inhabitants of Zidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of
Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor of Rehob: 32 But the Asherites dwelt among the
Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: for they did not drive them out. 33 Neither did
Naphtali drive out the inhabitants of Bethshemesh, nor the inhabitants of Bethanath; but
he dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: nevertheless the inhabitants
of Bethshemesh and of Bethanath became tributaries unto them. 34 And the Amorites forced
the children of Dan into the mountain: for they would not suffer them to come down to the
valley: 35 But the Amorites would dwell in mount Heres in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim: yet
the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so that they became tributaries. 36 And the
coast of the Amorites was from the going up to Akrabbim, from the rock, and upward.
(KJV)
2
Judges 2:1-23
1 And an angel of the LORD came up from
Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto
the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with
you. 2 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? 3 Wherefore I also
said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in
your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you. 4 And it came to pass, when the
angel of the LORD spake these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people
lifted up their voice, and wept. 5 And they called the name of that place Bochim: and they
sacrificed there unto the LORD.
6 And when Joshua had let the people go,
the children of Israel went every man unto his inheritance to possess the land. 7 And the
people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that
outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD, that he did for Israel. 8
And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten
years old. 9 And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathheres, in the
mount of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash. 10 And also all that generation
were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which
knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel. 11 And the children of
Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim: 12 And they forsook the LORD
God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other
gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves
unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger. 13 And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal
and Ashtaroth. 14 And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them
into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their
enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies. 15
Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD
had said, and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed. 16
Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that
spoiled them. 17 And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring
after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which
their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the LORD; but they did not so.
18 And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the judge, and
delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented
the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.
19 And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they returned, and corrupted themselves
more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto
them; they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way. 20 And the anger
of the LORD was hot against Israel; and he said, Because that this people hath
transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my
voice; 21 I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which
Joshua left when he died: 22 That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep
the way of the LORD to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not. 23
Therefore the LORD left those nations, without driving them out hastily; neither delivered
he them into the hand of Joshua. (KJV)
3
Judges 3:1-31
1 Now these are the nations which
the LORD left, to prove Israel by them, even as many of Israel as had not
known all the wars of Canaan; 2 Only that the generations of the children of Israel might
know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof; 3 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. 4 And
they were to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would hearken unto the
commandments of the LORD, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses. 5 And the
children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amorites, and Perizzites, and
Hivites, and Jebusites: 6 And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their
daughters to their sons, and served their gods. 7 And the children of Israel did evil in
the sight of the LORD, and forgat the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves.
8 Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot
against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia:
and the children of Israel served Chushanrishathaim eight years. 9 And when the children
of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel,
who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother. 10 And
the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the
LORD delivered Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed
against Chushanrishathaim. 11 And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of
Kenaz died.
12 And the children of Israel did evil
again in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against
Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD. 13 And he gathered unto him
the children of Ammon and Amalek, and went and smote Israel, and possessed the city of
palm trees. 14 So the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years. 15
But when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised them up a deliverer,
Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man lefthanded: and by him the children of Israel
sent a present unto Eglon the king of Moab. 16 But Ehud made him a dagger which had two
edges, of a cubit length; and he did gird it under his raiment upon his right thigh. 17
And he brought the present unto Eglon king of Moab: and Eglon was a very fat man.
18 And when he had made an end to offer the present, he sent away the people that bare the
present. 19 But he himself turned again from the quarries that were by Gilgal, and
said, I have a secret errand unto thee, O king: who said, Keep silence. And all that stood
by him went out from him. 20 And Ehud came unto him; and he was sitting in a summer
parlour, which he had for himself alone. And Ehud said, I have a message from God unto
thee. And he arose out of his seat. 21 And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took
the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly: 22 And the haft also went
in after the blade; and the fat closed upon the blade, so that he could not draw the
dagger out of his belly; and the dirt came out. 23 Then Ehud went forth through the porch,
and shut the doors of the parlour upon him, and locked them. 24 When he was gone out, his
servants came; and when they saw that, behold, the doors of the parlour were locked,
they said, Surely he covereth his feet in his summer chamber. 25 And they tarried till
they were ashamed: and, behold, he opened not the doors of the parlour; therefore they
took a key, and opened them: and, behold, their lord was fallen down dead on
the earth. 26 And Ehud escaped while they tarried, and passed beyond the quarries, and
escaped unto Seirath. 27 And it came to pass, when he was come, that he blew a trumpet in
the mountain of Ephraim, and the children of Israel went down with him from the mount, and
he before them. 28 And he said unto them, Follow after me: for the LORD hath delivered
your enemies the Moabites into your hand. And they went down after him, and took the fords
of Jordan toward Moab, and suffered not a man to pass over. 29 And they slew of Moab at
that time about ten thousand men, all lusty, and all men of valour; and there escaped not
a man. 30 So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest
fourscore years.
31 And after him was Shamgar the son of
Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad: and he also
delivered Israel. (KJV)
4
Judges 4:1-24
1 And the children of Israel again did
evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was dead. 2 And the LORD sold them into the hand
of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera,
which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles. 3 And the children of Israel cried unto the
LORD: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the
children of Israel.
4 And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of
Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time. 5 And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah
between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for
judgment. 6 And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and
said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw
toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of
the children of Zebulun? 7 And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the
captain of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into
thine hand. 8 And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if
thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go. 9 And she said, I will surely go with
thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the
LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to
Kedesh.
10 And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali
to Kedesh; and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with him.
11 Now Heber the Kenite, which was of the children of Hobab the father in law of
Moses, had severed himself from the Kenites, and pitched his tent unto the plain of
Zaanaim, which is by Kedesh. 12 And they shewed Sisera that Barak the son of
Abinoam was gone up to mount Tabor. 13 And Sisera gathered together all his chariots, even
nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that were with him, from
Harosheth of the Gentiles unto the river of Kishon. 14 And Deborah said unto Barak, Up;
for this is the day in which the LORD hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not
the LORD gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men
after him. 15 And the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his
host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot,
and fled away on his feet. 16 But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host,
unto Harosheth of the Gentiles: and all the host of Sisera fell upon the edge of the
sword; and there was not a man left.
17 Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to
the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite: for there was peace between Jabin
the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite. 18 And Jael went out to meet Sisera,
and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. And when he had turned in
unto her into the tent, she covered him with a mantle. 19 And he said unto her, Give me, I
pray thee, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and
gave him drink, and covered him. 20 Again he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent,
and it shall be, when any man doth come and enquire of thee, and say, Is there any man
here? that thou shalt say, No. 21 Then Jael Heber's wife took a nail of the tent, and took
an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and
fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died. 22 And, behold,
as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, and I will
shew thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera
lay dead, and the nail was in his temples. 23 So God subdued on that day Jabin the
king of Canaan before the children of Israel. 24 And the hand of the children of Israel
prospered, and prevailed against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin
king of Canaan. (KJV)
5
Judges 5:1-31
1 Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of
Abinoam on that day, saying, 2 Praise ye the LORD for the avenging of Israel, when the
people willingly offered themselves. 3 Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even
I, will sing unto the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel. 4
LORD, when thou wentest out of Seir, when thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, the
earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped water. 5 The mountains
melted from before the LORD, even that Sinai from before the LORD God of Israel.
6 In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath,
in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, and the travellers walked through
byways. 7 The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that
I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel. 8 They chose new gods; then was war
in the gates: was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel? 9 My heart is
toward the governors of Israel, that offered themselves willingly among the people.
Bless ye the LORD. 10 Speak, ye that ride on white asses, ye that sit in judgment, and
walk by the way. 11 They that are delivered from the noise of archers in the places
of drawing water, there shall they rehearse the righteous acts of the LORD, even the
righteous acts toward the inhabitants of his villages in Israel: then shall the
people of the LORD go down to the gates.
12 Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake,
utter a song: arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam. 13 Then
he made him that remaineth have dominion over the nobles among the people: the LORD made
me have dominion over the mighty. 14 Out of Ephraim was there a root of them
against Amalek; after thee, Benjamin, among thy people; out of Machir came down governors,
and out of Zebulun they that handle the pen of the writer. 15 And the princes of Issachar were
with Deborah; even Issachar, and also Barak: he was sent on foot into the valley. For
the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart. 16 Why abodest thou
among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben there
were great searchings of heart. 17 Gilead abode beyond Jordan: and why did Dan remain
in ships? Asher continued on the sea shore, and abode in his breaches. 18 Zebulun and
Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high
places of the field. 19 The kings came and fought, then fought the kings of Canaan
in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no gain of money. 20 They fought from
heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera. 21 The river of Kishon swept
them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. O my soul, thou hast trodden down
strength. 22 Then were the horsehoofs broken by the means of the pransings, the pransings
of their mighty ones. 23 Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the LORD, curse ye bitterly the
inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the LORD, to the help of the
LORD against the mighty.
24 Blessed above women shall Jael the wife
of Heber the Kenite be, blessed shall she be above women in the tent. 25 He asked water, and
she gave him milk; she brought forth butter in a lordly dish. 26 She put her
hand to the nail, and her right hand to the workmen's hammer; and with the hammer she
smote Sisera, she smote off his head, when she had pierced and stricken through his
temples. 27 At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay down: at her feet he bowed, he fell:
where he bowed, there he fell down dead. 28 The mother of Sisera looked out at a window,
and cried through the lattice, Why is his chariot so long in coming? why tarry the
wheels of his chariots? 29 Her wise ladies answered her, yea, she returned answer to
herself, 30 Have they not sped? have they not divided the prey; to every man a
damsel or two; to Sisera a prey of divers colours, a prey of divers colours of
needlework, of divers colours of needlework on both sides, meet for the necks of them
that take the spoil? 31 So let all thine enemies perish, O LORD: but let them
that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest
forty years. (KJV)
6
Judges 6:1-40
1 And the children of Israel did evil in
the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years. 2
And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the
children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and
strong holds. 3 And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up,
and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them; 4 And
they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto
Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass. 5 For they came
up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; for both
they and their camels were without number: and they entered into the land to destroy it. 6
And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel
cried unto the LORD.
7 And it came to pass, when the children
of Israel cried unto the LORD because of the Midianites, 8 That the LORD sent a prophet
unto the children of Israel, which said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I
brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage; 9 And I
delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed
you, and drave them out from before you, and gave you their land; 10 And I said unto you,
I am the LORD your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell:
but ye have not obeyed my voice.
11 And there came an angel of the LORD,
and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the
Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the
Midianites. 12 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is
with thee, thou mighty man of valour. 13 And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the
LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles
which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the
LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites. 14 And the LORD
looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand
of the Midianites: have not I sent thee? 15 And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith
shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the
least in my father's house. 16 And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and
thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man. 17 And he said unto him, If now I have found
grace in thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me. 18 Depart not hence, I
pray thee, until I come unto thee, and bring forth my present, and set it before
thee. And he said, I will tarry until thou come again. 19 And Gideon went in, and made
ready a kid, and unleavened cakes of an ephah of flour: the flesh he put in a basket, and
he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out unto him under the oak, and presented
it. 20 And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes,
and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so. 21 Then the
angel of the LORD put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched
the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed
the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the LORD departed out of his sight.
22 And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the LORD, Gideon said, Alas, O
Lord GOD! for because I have seen an angel of the LORD face to face. 23 And the LORD said
unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die. 24 Then Gideon built an
altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovahshalom: unto this day it is yet in
Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
25 And it came to pass the same night,
that the LORD said unto him, Take thy father's young bullock, even the second bullock of
seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the
grove that is by it: 26 And build an altar unto the LORD thy God upon the top of
this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice
with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down. 27 Then Gideon took ten men of his
servants, and did as the LORD had said unto him: and so it was, because he feared
his father's household, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day,
that he did it by night. 28 And when the men of the city 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. 29 And they
said one to another, Who hath done this thing? And when they enquired and asked, they
said, Gideon the son of Joash hath done this thing. 30 Then the men of the city said unto
Joash, Bring out thy son, that he may die: because he hath cast down the altar of Baal,
and because he hath cut down the grove that was by it. 31 And Joash said unto all
that stood against him, Will ye plead for Baal? will ye save him? he that will plead for
him, 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. 32 Therefore on that
day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal plead against him, because he hath thrown
down his altar.
33 Then all the Midianites and the
Amalekites and the children of the east were gathered together, and went over, and pitched
in the valley of Jezreel. 34 But the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a
trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered after him. 35 And he sent messengers throughout all
Manasseh; who also was gathered after him: and he sent messengers unto Asher, and unto
Zebulun, and unto Naphtali; and they came up to meet them. 36 And Gideon said unto God, If
thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said, 37 Behold, I will put a fleece of
wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon
all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as
thou hast said. 38 And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the
fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water. 39 And
Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this
once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only
upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew. 40 And God did so that night:
for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground. (KJV)
7
Judges 7:1-25
1 Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon,
and all the people that were with him, rose up early, and pitched beside the well
of Harod: so that the host of the Midianites were on the north side of them, by the hill
of Moreh, in the valley. 2 And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with
thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt
themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me. 3 Now therefore 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. 4 And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people
are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for
thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee,
the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with
thee, the same shall not go. 5 So he brought down the people unto the water: and the LORD
said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth,
him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to
drink. 6 And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth,
were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to
drink water. 7 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. 8 So the people took victuals in their hand, and their
trumpets: and he sent all the rest of Israel every man unto his tent, and retained
those three hundred men: and the host of Midian was beneath him in the valley.
9 And it came to pass the same night, that
the LORD said unto him, Arise, get thee down unto the host; for I have delivered it into
thine hand. 10 But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Phurah thy servant down to the
host: 11 And thou shalt hear what they say; and afterward shall thine hands be
strengthened 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. 12 And the Midianites and the
Amalekites and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for
multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the sea side for
multitude. 13 And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man that told a dream
unto his fellow, and said, Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barley bread
tumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and
overturned it, that the tent lay along. 14 And his fellow answered and said, This is nothing
else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: for into his hand
hath God delivered Midian, and all the host. 15 And it was so, when Gideon heard
the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, that he worshipped, and returned
into the host of Israel, and said, Arise; for the LORD hath delivered into your hand the
host of Midian.
16 And 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. 17 And he said unto them, Look on me, and do likewise: and,
behold, when I come to the outside of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so shall
ye do. 18 When I blow with a trumpet, 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. 19 So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside
of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch:
and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands. 20 And
the three companies blew the trumpets, and 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. 21 And they stood every man in his place round about
the camp: and all the host ran, and cried, and fled. 22 And the three hundred blew the
trumpets, and the LORD set every man's sword against his fellow, even throughout all the
host: and the host fled to Bethshittah in Zererath, and to the border of
Abelmeholah, unto Tabbath.
23 And the men of Israel gathered
themselves together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and
pursued after the Midianites. 24 And Gideon sent messengers throughout all mount Ephraim,
saying, Come down against the Midianites, and take before them the waters unto Bethbarah
and Jordan. Then all the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and took the waters
unto Bethbarah and Jordan. 25 And they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb;
and they slew Oreb upon the rock Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at the winepress of Zeeb, and
pursued Midian, and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side Jordan.
(KJV)
8
Judges 8:1-35
1 And the men of Ephraim said unto him,
Why hast thou served us thus, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with
the Midianites? And they did chide with him sharply. 2 And he said unto them, What have I
done now in comparison of you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better
than the vintage of Abiezer? 3 God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian,
Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison of you? Then their anger was abated
toward him, when he had said that.
4 And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed
over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them.
5 And he said unto the men of Succoth, 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. 6 And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and
Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thine army? 7 And Gideon said,
Therefore when the LORD hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into mine hand, then I will tear
your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers. 8 And he went up thence to
Penuel, and spake unto them likewise: and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of
Succoth had answered him. 9 And he spake also unto the men of Penuel, saying, When
I come again in peace, I will break down this tower. 10 Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in
Karkor, and their hosts with them, about fifteen thousand men, all that were left
of all the hosts of the children of the east: for there fell an hundred and twenty
thousand men that drew sword. 11 And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents
on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and smote the host: for the host was secure. 12 And
when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them, and took the two kings of Midian,
Zebah and Zalmunna, and discomfited all the host. 13 And Gideon the son of Joash returned
from battle before the sun was up, 14 And caught a young man of the men of Succoth,
and enquired of him: and he described unto him the princes of Succoth, and the elders
thereof, even threescore and seventeen men. 15 And he came unto the men of Succoth,
and said, Behold 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? 16 And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and
briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth. 17 And he beat down the tower of
Penuel, and slew the men of the city.
18 Then said he unto Zebah and Zalmunna,
What manner of men were they whom ye slew at Tabor? And they answered, As thou art,
so were they; each one resembled the children of a king. 19 And he said, They were
my brethren, even the sons of my mother: as the LORD liveth, if ye had
saved them alive, I would not slay you. 20 And he said unto Jether his firstborn, Up, and
slay them. But the youth drew not his sword: for he feared, because he was yet
a youth. 21 Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise thou, and fall upon us: for as the man is,
so is his strength. And Gideon arose, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took away the
ornaments that were on their camels' necks.
22 Then the men of Israel said unto
Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son's son also: for thou hast
delivered us from the hand of Midian. 23 And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over
you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you. 24 And Gideon said
unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings
of his prey. (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.) 25 And
they answered, We will willingly give them. And they spread a garment, and did cast
therein every man the earrings of his prey. 26 And the weight of the golden earrings that
he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside ornaments,
and collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the
chains that were about their camels' necks. 27 And Gideon made an ephod thereof,
and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after
it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house. 28 Thus was Midian subdued
before the children of Israel, so that they lifted up their heads no more. And the country
was in quietness forty years in the days of Gideon.
29 And Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and
dwelt in his own house. 30 And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten:
for he had many wives. 31 And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him
a son, whose name he called Abimelech. 32 And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old
age, and was buried in the sepulchre of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. 33
And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again,
and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baalberith their god. 34 And the children of
Israel remembered not the LORD their God, who had delivered them out of the hands of all
their enemies on every side: 35 Neither shewed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, namely,
Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shewed unto Israel. (KJV)
9
Judges 9:1-57
1 And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went
to Shechem unto his mother's brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family of
the house of his mother's father, saying, 2 Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men
of Shechem, Whether is better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, which
are threescore and ten persons, reign over you, or that one reign over you? remember
also that I am your bone and your flesh. 3 And his mother's brethren spake of him
in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow
Abimelech; for they said, He is our brother. 4 And they gave him threescore and ten
pieces of silver out of the house of Baalberith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and
light persons, which followed him. 5 And he went unto his father's house at Ophrah, and
slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one
stone: notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid
himself. 6 And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and
went, and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem.
7 And when they told it to Jotham,
he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and
said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you. 8 The
trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive
tree, Reign thou over us. 9 But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness,
wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? 10 And the
trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us. 11 But the fig tree said
unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over
the trees? 12 Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us. 13
And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to
be promoted over the trees? 14 Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and
reign over us. 15 And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king
over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire
come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon. 16 Now therefore, if ye have
done truly and sincerely, in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well
with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his
hands; 17 (For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you
out of the hand of Midian: 18 And ye are risen up against my father's house this day, and
have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech,
the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your
brother;) 19 If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his house
this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you: 20 But if
not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of
Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and
devour Abimelech. 21 And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for
fear of Abimelech his brother.
22 When Abimelech had reigned three years
over Israel, 23 Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and
the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech: 24 That the cruelty done to
the threescore and ten sons of 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. 25 And the men of Shechem set liers in wait for him in the
top of the mountains, and they robbed all that came along that way by them: and it was
told Abimelech. 26 And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to
Shechem: and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him. 27 And they went out into the
fields, and gathered their vineyards, and trode the grapes, and made merry, and
went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech. 28 And Gaal
the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should
serve him? is not he the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? serve the
men of Hamor the father of Shechem: for why should we serve him? 29 And would to God this
people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech,
Increase thine army, and come out. 30 And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words
of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled. 31 And he sent messengers unto Abimelech
privily, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren be come to Shechem; and,
behold, they fortify the city against thee. 32 Now therefore up by night, thou and the
people that is with thee, and lie in wait in the field: 33 And it shall be, that
in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, thou shalt rise early, and set upon the
city: and, behold, when he and the people that is with him come out against
thee, then mayest thou do to them as thou shalt find occasion. 34 And Abimelech rose up,
and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem
in four companies. 35 And Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entering of the
gate of the city: and Abimelech rose up, and the people that were with him, from
lying in wait. 36 And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there come
people down from the top of the mountains. And Zebul said unto him, Thou seest the shadow
of the mountains as if they were men. 37 And Gaal spake again and said, See there
come people down by the middle of the land, and another company come along by the plain of
Meonenim. 38 Then said Zebul unto him, Where is now thy mouth, wherewith thou
saidst, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? is not this the people
that thou hast despised? go out, I pray now, and fight with them. 39 And Gaal went out
before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech. 40 And Abimelech chased him, and he
fled before him, and many were overthrown and wounded, even unto the
entering of the gate. 41 And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his
brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem. 42 And it came to pass on the morrow,
that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech. 43 And he took the
people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field, and looked,
and, behold, the people were come forth out of the city; and he rose up against
them, and smote them. 44 And Abimelech, and the company that was with him, rushed
forward, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and the two other companies
ran upon all the people that were in the fields, and slew them. 45 And
Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people
that was therein, and beat down the city, and sowed it with salt. 46 And when all
the men of the tower of Shechem heard that, they entered into an hold of the house
of the god Berith. 47 And it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Shechem
were gathered together. 48 And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people
that were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough
from the trees, and took it, and laid it on his shoulder, and said unto the people
that were with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have
done. 49 And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed
Abimelech, and put them to the hold, and set the hold on fire upon them; so that
all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.
50 Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and
encamped against Thebez, and took it. 51 But there was a strong tower within the city, and
thither fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut it to them,
and gat them up to the top of the tower. 52 And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought
against it, and went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire. 53 And a
certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech's head, and all to brake his
skull. 54 Then he called hastily unto the young man his armourbearer, and said unto him,
Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him. And his young man
thrust him through, and he died. 55 And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was
dead, they departed every man unto his place. 56 Thus God rendered the wickedness of
Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren: 57 And all the
evil of the men of Shechem did God render upon their heads: and upon them came the curse
of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal. (KJV)
10
Judges 10:1-18
1 And after Abimelech there arose to
defend Israel Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; and he dwelt in
Shamir in mount Ephraim. 2 And he judged Israel twenty and three years, and died, and was
buried in Shamir. 3 And after him arose Jair, a Gileadite, and judged Israel twenty and
two years. 4 And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts, and they had thirty
cities, which are called Havothjair unto this day, which are in the land of Gilead.
5 And Jair died, and was buried in Camon.
6 And the children of Israel did evil
again in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria,
and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and
the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the LORD, and served not him. 7 And the anger of
the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hands of the Philistines, and
into the hands of the children of Ammon. 8 And that year they vexed and oppressed the
children of Israel: eighteen years, all the children of Israel that were on the
other side Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead. 9 Moreover the
children of Ammon passed over Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin,
and against the house of Ephraim; so that Israel was sore distressed.
10 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. 11 And the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Did not I
deliver you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and
from the Philistines? 12 The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did
oppress you; and ye cried to me, and I delivered you out of their hand. 13 Yet ye have
forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more. 14 Go and cry
unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation.
15 And the children of Israel said unto the LORD, We have sinned: do thou unto us
whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day. 16 And they
put away the strange gods from among them, and served the LORD: and his soul was grieved
for the misery of Israel. 17 Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and
encamped in Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled themselves together, and encamped
in Mizpeh. 18 And the people and princes of Gilead said one to another, What man is
he that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? he shall be head over all
the inhabitants of Gilead. (KJV)
11
Judges 11:1-40
1 Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty
man of valour, and he was the son of an harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah. 2 And
Gilead's wife bare him sons; and his wife's 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. 3 Then Jephthah fled from his brethren, and dwelt in the land of
Tob: and there were gathered vain men to Jephthah, and went out with him.
4 And it came to pass in process of time,
that the children of Ammon made war against Israel. 5 And it was so, that when the
children of Ammon made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to fetch Jephthah out
of the land of Tob: 6 And they said unto Jephthah, Come, and be our captain, that we may
fight with the children of Ammon. 7 And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, Did not
ye hate me, and expel me out of my father's house? and why are ye come unto me now when ye
are in distress? 8 And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, Therefore we turn again to
thee now, that thou mayest go with us, and fight against the children of Ammon, and be our
head over all the inhabitants of Gilead. 9 And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, If
ye bring me home again to fight against the children of Ammon, and the LORD deliver them
before me, shall I be your head? 10 And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, The LORD
be witness between us, if we do not so according to thy words. 11 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.
12 And Jephthah sent messengers unto the
king of the children of Ammon, saying, What hast thou to do with me, that thou art come
against me to fight in my land? 13 And the king of the children of Ammon answered unto the
messengers of Jephthah, Because Israel took away my land, when they came up out of Egypt,
from Arnon even unto Jabbok, and unto Jordan: now therefore restore those lands again
peaceably. 14 And Jephthah sent messengers again unto the king of the children of Ammon:
15 And said unto him, Thus saith Jephthah, Israel took not away the land of Moab, nor the
land of the children of Ammon: 16 But when Israel came up from Egypt, and walked through
the wilderness unto the Red sea, and came to Kadesh; 17 Then Israel sent messengers unto
the king of Edom, saying, Let me, I pray thee, pass through thy land: but the king of Edom
would not hearken thereto. And in like manner they sent unto the king of Moab: but
he would not consent: and Israel abode in Kadesh. 18 Then they went along through
the wilderness, and compassed the land of Edom, and the land of Moab, and came by the east
side of the land of Moab, and pitched on the other side of Arnon, but came not within the
border of Moab: for Arnon was the border of Moab. 19 And Israel sent messengers
unto Sihon king of the Amorites, the king of Heshbon; and Israel said unto him, Let us
pass, we pray thee, through thy land into my place. 20 But Sihon trusted not Israel to
pass through his coast: but Sihon gathered all his people together, and pitched in Jahaz,
and fought against Israel. 21 And the LORD God of Israel delivered Sihon and all his
people into the hand of Israel, and they smote them: so Israel possessed all the land of
the Amorites, the inhabitants of that country. 22 And they possessed all the coasts of the
Amorites, from Arnon even unto Jabbok, and from the wilderness even unto Jordan. 23 So now
the LORD God of Israel hath dispossessed the Amorites from before his people Israel, and
shouldest thou possess it? 24 Wilt not thou possess that which Chemosh thy god giveth thee
to possess? So whomsoever the LORD our God shall drive out from before us, them will we
possess. 25 And now art thou any thing better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of
Moab? did he ever strive against Israel, or did he ever fight against them, 26 While
Israel dwelt in Heshbon and her towns, and in Aroer and her towns, and in all the cities
that be along by the coasts of Arnon, three hundred years? why therefore did ye not
recover them within that time? 27 Wherefore I have not sinned against thee, but
thou doest me wrong to war against me: the LORD the Judge be judge this day between the
children of Israel and the children of Ammon. 28 Howbeit the king of the children of Ammon
hearkened not unto the words of Jephthah which he sent him.
29 Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon
Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead, and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and
from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over unto the children of Ammon. 30 And Jephthah
vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of
Ammon into mine hands, 31 Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of
my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be
the LORD'S, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering. 32 So Jephthah passed over unto
the children of Ammon to fight against them; and the LORD delivered them into his hands.
33 And he smote them from Aroer, even till thou come to Minnith, even twenty
cities, and unto the plain of the vineyards, with a very great slaughter. Thus the
children of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel. 34 And Jephthah came to
Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and
with dances: and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor
daughter. 35 And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes, and said,
Alas, my daughter! thou hast brought me very low, and thou art one of them that trouble
me: for I have opened my mouth unto the LORD, and I cannot go back. 36 And she said unto
him, My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth unto the LORD, do to me according to
that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth; forasmuch as the LORD hath taken vengeance for
thee of thine enemies, even of the children of Ammon. 37 And she said unto her
father, Let this thing be done for me: let me alone two months, that I may go up and down
upon the mountains, and bewail my virginity, I and my fellows. 38 And he said, Go. And he
sent her away for two months: and she went with her companions, and bewailed her
virginity upon the mountains. 39 And it came to pass at the end of two months, that she
returned unto her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed:
and she knew no man. And it was a custom in Israel, 40 That the daughters of Israel
went yearly to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year. (KJV)
12
Judges 12:1-15
1 And the men of Ephraim gathered
themselves together, and went northward, and said unto Jephthah, Wherefore passedst thou
over to fight against the children of Ammon, and didst not call us to go with thee? we
will burn thine house upon thee with fire. 2 And Jephthah said unto them, I and my people
were at great strife with the children of Ammon; and when I called you, ye delivered me
not out of their hands. 3 And when I saw that ye delivered me not, I put my life in
my hands, and passed over against the children of Ammon, and the LORD delivered them into
my hand: wherefore then are ye come up unto me this day, to fight against me? 4 Then
Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead, and fought with Ephraim: and the men of
Gilead smote Ephraim, because they said, Ye Gileadites are fugitives of Ephraim
among the Ephraimites, and among the Manassites. 5 And the Gileadites took the
passages of Jordan before the Ephraimites: and it was so, that when those
Ephraimites which were escaped said, Let me go over; that the men of Gilead said unto him,
Art thou an Ephraimite? If he said, Nay; 6 Then said they unto him, Say now
Shibboleth: and he said Sibboleth: for he could not frame to pronounce it right.
Then they took him, and slew him at the passages of Jordan: and there fell at that time of
the Ephraimites forty and two thousand. 7 And Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then died
Jephthah the Gileadite, and was buried in one of the cities of Gilead.
8 And after him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged
Israel. 9 And he had thirty sons, and thirty daughters, whom he sent abroad, and
took in thirty daughters from abroad for his sons. And he judged Israel seven years. 10
Then died Ibzan, and was buried at Bethlehem. 11 And after him Elon, a Zebulonite, judged
Israel; and he judged Israel ten years. 12 And Elon the Zebulonite died, and was buried in
Aijalon in the country of Zebulun. 13 And after him Abdon the son of Hillel, a
Pirathonite, judged Israel. 14 And he had forty sons and thirty nephews, that rode on
threescore and ten ass colts: and he judged Israel eight years. 15 And Abdon the son of
Hillel the Pirathonite died, and was buried in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the
mount of the Amalekites.
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