Jael killeth Sisera. JUDGES. Deboral and Barak's song. of Naphtali, and of the children of Zebulun; even I, will sing unto the LORD; I will sing 8 And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with clouds also dropped water. 9 And she said, I will surely go with thee: 5 The mountains melted from before the LORD, even that Sinai from before the LORDGod 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 by-ways. 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 scen 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. 12 And they shewed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up to mount Tabor. 11 They that are delivered from the noise of 13 And Sisera gathered together all his chari- archers in the places of drawing water, there shall ots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all they rehearse the righteous acts of the LORD,. the people that were with him, from Harosheth even the righteous acts toward the inhabitants of the Gentiles unto the river of Kishon. of his villages in Israel: then shall the people of 14 And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this the LORD go down to the gates. is the day in which the LORD hath delivered Sisera into thy 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. 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 thems 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 Debo17 Howbeit, Sisera fled away on his feet to the rah; even Issachar, and also Barak: he was sent tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite: for on foot into the valley. For the divisions of there was peace between Jabin the king of Ha- Reuben there were great thoughts of heart. zor and the house of Heber the Kenite. 16 Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, ta 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 Zebu'un and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field. 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, Etand in the door of 19 The kings came and fought, then fought the the tent, and it shall be, when any man doth kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of come and inquire of thee, and say, Is there any Megiddo; they took no gain of money. man here? that thou shalt say, No. 20 They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera. 21 Then Jael Heber's wife took a nail of the tent, and took a 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. that 21 The river of Kishon swept them away, ancient river, the river Kishon. O my soul, thou hast trodden down strength. 22 Then were the horse-hoofs broken by the means of the prancings, the prancings 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 hier feet he bowed, he fell, he lay down at her feet he bowed, he fell where he bowed, there he fell down dead. Esraelites rebuked by a prophet. CHAP. VI. Gideon sent to deliver them 28 The mother of Sisera looked out at a win- grace in thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou dow, and cried through the lattice, Why is his talkest with me. chariot so long in coming? why tarry the wheels 18 Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come of his chariots? unto thee, and bring forth my present, and set it before thee. And he said, I will tarry until thou Cole again. 29 Her wise ladies answered her, yea, she returned answer to herself, 30 Have they not sped? have they not divided 19 And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid, the prey; to every man a damsel or two; to Si- and unleavened cakes of an ephali of flour: the sera a prey of divers colours, a prey of divers flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a colours of needle-work, of divers colours of nee-pot, and brought it out unto him under the oak, dle-work on both sides, meet for the necks of and presented it. them that take the spoil? 20 And the angel of God said unto him, Take the 31 So let all thine enemies perish, O LORD: but flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upor let them that love him be as the sun when he this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so. goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest 21 Then the angel of the LORD put forth the forty years. 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 CHAP. VI. Israel oppressed by Midian. AND the children of Israel did evil in the sight flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel 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 gown, 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, meither 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 Israc cried unto the LORD. of the LORD departed out of his sight. 23 And the LORD said unto him, Peace be unto 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 71 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 chil- by day, that he did it by night. dren of Israel, which said unto them, Thus saith 28 And when the men of the city arose early the LORD God of Israel, I brought you up from in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was cast Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of down, and the grove was cut down that was by bondage; it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built. 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; 29 And they said one to another, Who hath done this thing? And when they inquired and asked, they said, Gideon the son of Joash hath done this 10 And I said unto you, I am the LORD your thing. God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose 30 Then the men of the city said unto Joash, land ye dwell: but ye have not obeyed my voice. Bring out thy son, that he may die: because he 11 And there came an angel of the LORD, hath cast down the altar of Baal, and because he and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that hath cut down the grove that was by it. pertained unto Joash the Abi-ezrite: and his son 31 And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Gideon threshed wheat by the wine-press, to Will ye plead for Baal? will ye save him? he that hide it from the Midianites. will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst it 12 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto is yet morning: if he be a god, let him plead for him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, himself, because one hath cast down his altar. thou mighty man of valour 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 Abi-ezer was gathered after him. 13 And Gideon said unto him, Omy 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? 35 And he sent messer gers throughout all Ma15 And he said unto him, Omy Lord, wherewith nasseh; who also was gathered after him: and he shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in sent messengers unto Asher, and unto Zebulun, Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house. and untoNaphtali; and they came up to meet them. 16 And the LORD said unto him, Surely. I will 36 And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites save Israel by my hand, as thou hast said, 37 Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the as one man. 17 And he said unto him, If now I have found floor: and if the dew be on the fleece only, and Gideon's fleece. JUDGES. He is encouraged by a dream it be dry upon all the earth besides, then shall I of Joash, a man of Israel: for into his hand hath know that thou wilt save Israel by my hand, as God delivered Midian, and all the host. thou hast said. 15 And it was so, when Gideon heard the tell38 And it was so: for he rose up early on the mor- ing of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, row, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed that he worshipped, and returned into the host the dew out of the fleece, a bowl-full of water. of Israel, and said, Arise; for the LORD hath 39 And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine an-delivered into your hand the host of Midian. ger be hot against me, and I will speak but this 16 And he divided the three hundred men inte once: Let me prove, I pray thee, but this once three companies, and he put a trumpet in every with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the man's hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew. within the pitchers. 40 And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground. THE CHAP. VII. The Midianitish host put to fight. NHEN 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, Jet 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 Cideon, 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. 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 1 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 fel low, even throughout all the host: and the host fled to Beth-shittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abel-meholah, unto Tabbath. 23 And the men of Israel gathered themselves together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out 5 So he brought down the people unto the water: of all Manasseh, and pursued after the Midianites. and the LORD said unto Gideon; Every one that 24 T And Gideon sent messengers throughout lappeth of the water with his tongue as a dog lap- all mount Ephraim, saying, Come down against peth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every the Midianites, and take before them the waters one that boweth down, upon his knees to drink. unto Beth-barah and Jordan. Then all the men of 6 And the number of them that lapped, putting Ephraim gathered themselves together, and took their hand to their mouth, were three hundred the waters unto Beth-barah and Jordan. 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 thy 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 thy 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 thy 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. 25 And they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb; and they slew Oreh upon the rock Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at the wine-press of Zeeb, and pursued Midian, and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side Jordan. CHAP. VIII. Zebah and Zalmunna taken. Ahast thou served us thus, that thou calledst us not when thou wentest to fight with the Mid- 3 God hath delivered into your hands the princes I 5 And he said unto the men of Suecoth, Give, pray you, loaves of bread unto the people that follow me: for they be faint, and I am pursuing 13 And when Gideon was come, behold, there after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian. was a man that told a dream unto his fellow, 6 T And the princes of Succoth said, Are the and said, Behold, I dreamed a dream, and lo, a hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thy hand, cake of barley-bread tumbled into the host of that we should give bread unto thine army? Midian, and came unto a tent, and smote it that 7 And Gideon said, Therefore when the LORD it fell, and overturned it that the tent lay along. hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into my 14 And his fellow answered, and said, This is hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of the wilderness and with briers. Conspiracy of Gaal. JUDGES. The Death of Abimeleck 17 (For my father fought for you, and adven- 38 Then said Zebul unto him, Where is now thy tured his life far, and delivered you out of the mouth, wherewith thou saidst, Who is Abimehand of Midian : lech, that we should serve him? is not this the 18 And ye are risen up against my father's house people that thou hast despised? go out, I pray this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and now, and fight with them." ten persons, upon one stone, and have made 39 And Gaal went out before the men of SheAbimelech, the son of his maid-servant, king over chem, and fought with Abimelech. the men of Shechem, because he is your brother:) 40 And Abimelech chased him, and he fled be 19 If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with fore him, and many were overthrown and Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice wounded, even unto the entering of the gate. ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you: 41 And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul 20 But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, thrust out Gaal and his brethren, that they should and devour the men of Shechem, and the house not dwell in Shechem. 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 1 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. 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 en tering 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, 25 And the men of Shechem set liers in wind sowed it with salt. 46 And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that, they entered into a hold of the house of the god Berith. 26 And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his 47 And it was told Abimelech, that all the men brethren, and went over to Shechem: and the of the tower of Shechem were gathered together. men of Shechem put their confidence in him. 48 And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zal27 And they went out into the fields, and gather-mon, he and all the people that were with him; ed their vineyards, and trode the grapes, and and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut made merry, and went into the house of their god, down a bough from the trees, and took it, and and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech. laid it on his shoulder, and said unto the people 28 And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abim- that were with him, What ye have seen me do, elech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve make haste, and do as I have done. him? is not he the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul 49 And all the people likewise cut down every his officer? Serve the men of Ilamor the father man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and of Shechem: for why should we serve him? put them to the hold, and set the hold on fire upon 29 And would to God this people were under them: so that all the men of the tower of Shemy hand! then would I remove Abimelech. And chem died also,about a thousand men and women. he said to Abimelech, Increase thine army, and 50 1 Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it. come out. 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. 30 ¶ And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard 51 But there was a strong tower within the the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger city, and thither fled all the men and women, was kindled. 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. 32 Now therefore up by night, thou, and the peo- 53And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone ple that is with thee, and lie in wait in the field: upon Abimelech's head, and all to break his skull. 33 And it shall be, that in the morning, as soon 54 Then he called hastily unto the young man as the sun is up, thou shalt rise early, and set his armour-bearer, and said unto him, Draw thy upon the city: and behold, when he and the people sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A that is with him come out against thee, then may-woman slew him. And his young man thrust est thou do to them as thou shalt find occasion. him through, and he died. 34 T And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies. 55And when the men of Israel sawthatAbimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place. 57 T Thus God rendered the wickedness of 35 And Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in stood in the entering of the gate of the city and slaying his seventy brethren: Abimelech rose up, and the people that were 56 And all the evil of the men of Shechem did with him, from lying in wait. God render upon their heads: and upon them 36 And when Gaal saw the people, he said to came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal Zebul, Behold, there come people down from the top of the mountains. And Zebul said unto CHAP. X. him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains AND after Abimelech there arose to defend as if they were men. Israel,Tola_the son of Puah, the son of 37 And Gaal spake again, and said, See, there Dodo, a man of Issachar; and he dwelt in Shacome people down by the middle of the land, mir in mount Ephraim. and another company come along by the plain 2 And he judged Isi ael twenty and three years, of Meonenim, and died, and was buried in Shamir. |