c Deut. 20.&

Jerubbesheth. I ver. S.

| Heb. clothed.

him. nch, 3. 10.

o Num. 10. 3. ch. 3. 27.

p See Ex. 4.

di Sam. 14.6.

B. C.
Baal ? will ye save him ? he that will 3 Now therefore go to, proclaim in

B. C. about 1249. plead for him, let him be put to death the ears of the people, saying, " Who- about 1249.

whilst it is yet morning : if he be a soever is fearful and afraid, let him
god, let him plead for himself, be- return and depart early from mount
cause one hath cast down his altar. Gilead. And there returned of the

32 Therefore on that day he called people twenty and two thousand; and
That is, Let him | Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal there remained ten thousand.
k 1 Sam. 12. 11. plead against him, because he hath 4 And the Lord said unto Gideon,
2 Sam. 11. 21, thrown down his altar.

The people are yet too many; bring 33 | Then all 'the Midianites and them down unto the water, and I the Amalekites and the children of will try them for thee there : and it

the east were gathered together, and shall be, that of whom I say unto m Josh. 17. 16. went over, and pitched in the valley thee, This shall go with thee, the of Jezreel.

same shall go with thee; and of 34 But the Spirit of the LORD whomsoever I say unto thee, This

+ came upon Gideon, and he oblew a shall not go with thee, the same shall | Heb. was

trumpet; and Abi-ezer I was gathered not go. called after after him.

5 So he brought down the people 35 And he sent messengers through- unto the water: and the Lord said 2. Chr. 24. 28. out all Manasseh ; who also was gath- unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth

ered after him: and he sent messen- of the water with his tongue, as a dog
gers unto Asher, and unto Zebulun, lappeth, him shalt thou set by him-
and unto Naphtali; and they came self; likewise every one that boweth
up to meet them.

down upon his knees to drink.
36 | And Gideon said unto God, If 6 And the number of them that
thou wilt save Israel hy mine hand, lapped, putting their hand to their
as thou hast said,

mouth, were three hundred men : 37 P Behold, I will put a fleece of but all the rest of the people bowed 3, 4, 6,7.

wool in the floor; and if the dew be down upon their knees to drink wa-
on the fleece only, and it be dry upon ter.
all the earth beside, then shall I know 7 And the Lord said unto Gideon,
that thou wilt save Israel by mine By the three hundred men that
hand, as thou hast said.

lapped will I save you, and deliver
38 And it was so : for he rose up the Midianites into thine hand : and
early on the morrow, and thrust the let all the other people go every man
fleece together, and wringed the dew unto his place.
out of the fleece, a bowl full of water. 8 So the people took victuals in

39 And Gideon said unto God, Let their hand, and their trumpets: and
not thine anger be hot against me, and he sent all the rest of Israel every
I will speak but this once : let me man unto his tent, and retained those
prove, I pray thee, but this once with three hundred men: and the host of
the fleece; let it now be dry only Midian was beneath him in the val-
upon the fleece, and upon all the ley.
ground let there be dew.

9 [ And it came to pass the same
40 And God did so that night: for night, that the Lord said unto him,
it was dry upon the fleece only, and Arise, get thee down unto the host;
there was dew on all the ground. for I have delivered it into thine

hand. CHAPTER VII.

10 But if thou fear to go down, go
Gideon's army of two and thirty thousand is re-

thou with Phurah thy servant down
duced to three hundred. 9 He is encouraged by the to the host:
droom and interpretation of the barley cake. 16
His stratagem of trumpets and lamps in pitchers.

11 And thou shalt 'hear what they 1 ver. 19,14, 15.
24 The Ephraimites take Oreb and 2ecb.
say; and afterward shall thine hands

14. 9, 10. all the people were with host Then went he down with him, rose up early, and pitched be- Phurah his servant unto the outside side the well of Harod : so that the of the larmed men that were in the Or, ranks host of the Midianites were on the host.

by Ase. Ex north side of them, by the hill of 12 And the Midianites and the AmMoreh, in the valley.

alekites and 5 all the children of the ch. 6. 5, 33. 2 And the Lord said unto Gideon, east lay along in the valley like grassThe people that are with thee are too hoppers for multitude; and their cammany for me to give the Midianites els were without number, as the sand into their hands, lest Israel "vaunt by the sea side for multitude. themselves against me, saying, Mine 13 And when Gideon was come, beown hand hath saved me.

hold, there was a man that told a

9 Gen, 18. 32.

. Gen. 46.23.

See Gen. 241 14. 1 Sam.

a ch. 6. 32.

13. 18.

& &. 10.

b Deut. 8. 17.
Is. 10. 13.
1 Cor. 1. 29.
2 Cor. 4. 7.

The Midianites defeated.

JUDGES.

The Ephraimites pacified.

och. 3. 28.
P John 1. 28.

83. 11.

sch. 8. 4.

Heb. the

Zalmunna are taken. 13 Succoth and Penucl are

16.

And he divided the three hun: A unto him, "Why hast thou serv

+ Heb. What

hast of all

done unto us.

Phil. 2. 3.

B. C. dream unto his fellow, and said, Be- unto Beth-barah and Jordan. Then B. C. about 1249. hold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a all the men of Ephraim gathered about 1249.

cake of barley bread tumbled into the themselves together, and took the
host of Midian, and came unto a tent, waters unto P Beth-barah and Jordan.
and smote it that it fell, and ove:- 25 And they took two princes of 4 ch. 8. 3. Ps.
turned it, that the tent lay along. the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb; and

14 And his fellow answered and they slew Oreb upon the rock Oreb, - 18. 10. 25.
said, This is nothing else, save the and Zeeb they slew at the winepress
sword of Gideon the son of Joash, of Zeeb, and pursued Midian, and
a man of Israel: for into his hand brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb
hath God delivered Midian, and all to Gideon on the other side Jordan.
the host.
15 | And it was so, when Gideon

CHAPTER VIII.
heard the telling of the dream, and

Gideon pacifieth the Ephraimites. 4 Succoth and Pet the interpretation thereof, that he nuel refuse to relieve Gideon's army. 10 Zebah and breaking Heroj worshipped, and returned into the

destroyed. 18 Gideon revengeth his brethren's death host of Israel, and said, Arise; for

on Zebah and Zalmunna. 22 He refuseth the otfice

of ruler. 24 He maketh an ephod which becometh the Lord hath delivered into your the cituse of idolatry, 29 Gideon's children, and hand the host of Midian.

death. 33 The Israelites' idolatry and ingratitude.

a See ch. 12. 1. ND the

2 Sam, 19.41. dred men into three companies, and Heb.tramp he put ta trumpet in every man's ed us thus, that thou calledst us not,

thing is this

thou hast hand, with empty pitchers, and il lamps when thou wentest to fight with the within the pitchers.

Midianites? And they did chide with 10., are brisda, or, 17 And he said unto them, Look on him tsharply.

| Heb. me, and do likewise : and, behold, 2 And he said unto them, What have strongly. when I come to the outside of the I done now in comparison of you? camp, it shall be that, as I do, so Is not the gleaning of the grapes of shall ye do.

Ephraim better than the vintage of 18 When I blow with a trumpet, I Abi-ezer ? and all that are with me, then blow 3 God hath delivered into your bch. 7. 24, 25. ye the trumpets also on every side of hands the princes of Midian, Öreb all the camp, and say, The sword of and Zeeb : and what was I able to do the Lord, and of Gideon.

in comparison of you? Then their 19 [ So Gideon, and the hundred to anger was abated toward him, when + Heb. spirit. men that were with him, came unto he had said that. the outside of the camp in the begin- 4 | And Gideon came to Jordan, ning of the middle watch ; and they and passed over, he, and the three had but newly set the watch: and hundred men that were with him, they blew the trumpets, and brake faint, yet pursuing them. the pitchers that were in their hands. 5 And he said unto the men of 20 And the three companies blew « Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of 1 Gen. 33. 17.

Ps. 60. 6. the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, bread unto the people that follow me; and held the lamps in their left hands, for they be faint, and I am pursuing and the trumpets in their right hands after Zebah and Zalmunna, king :3 of

to blow withal : and they cried, The Midian. 1, 2 Clar. a. sword of the Lord, and of Gideon. 6 And the princes of Succoth said,

21 And they hstood every man in Are the hands of Zebah and Zal- e See 1 Kings 12 Kings 7.7.

his place round about the camp: and munna now in thine hand, that 'we
all the host ran, and cried, and fled. should give bread unto thine army ?

22 And the three hundred k blew the 7 And Gideon said, Therefore when
trumpets, and 'the LorDuset mevery the Lord hath delivered Zebah and
man's sword against his fellow, even Zalmunna into mine hand, 5 then I 5 ver. 16.

throughout all the host : and the host will + tear your flesh with the thorns + Heb. thresh. !107, karda. fled to Beth-shittah ll in Zererath, and of the wilderness and with briers. to the border of Abel-meholah, unto 8 And he went up thence h to Pe- Gen. 32. 30.

1 Kings 12. Tabbath.

nuel, and spake unto them likewise :
23 And the men of Israel gathered and the men of Penuel answered him
themselves together out of Naphtali, as the men of Succoth nad answered
and out of Asher, and out of all Ma- him.
nasseh, and pursued after the Midian- 9 And he spake also unto the men
ites.

of Penuel, saying, When I i come ' 1 Kings 22.
24 | And Gideon sent messengers again in peace, “I will break down kver. 17.
throughout all mount Ephraim, say- this tower.
ing, Come down against the Midian- 10 | Now Zebah and Zalmunna
ites, and take before them the waters were in Karkor, and their hosts with

c Prov. 15. 1.

Ex 14 13

20. 11. ( See 1 Sam. 25. 11.

Josh 6.4, 16, 22. See 2 Cor. 4.7. Ps. 8.9.

• 1 Sam 14 202 Chr. 20.

Heb. lip.

25.

Zebah and Zalmunna slain.

JUDGES.

Gideon maketh an ephod.

I 1 Sam. 8. 7. & 10. 19. & 12. 12

dred

sund,

every

Gen. 25. 13.

17, 25.

I ch. 7. 12.

D
secure.

42.

1 Thess. 5. 3.

a

o Ps. 83. 11.

was up,

b Ps. 108. 2

p ver. 6.

9 ver. 7.

B. C. them, about fifteen thousand men, all my son rule over you: *the LORD B. C. about 1249. that were left of all the hosts of the shall rule over you.

about 1249. children of the east: for there fell 24 | And Gideon said unto them, I 1., OT, a hun; a hundred and twenty thousand men would desire a request of you, that

that drew sword. twenty thou.

ye would give me every man the 11 And Gideon went up by the way earrings of his prey. For they had one drawing a sword, of them that dwelt in tents on the golden earrings, because they were ch. 20. 2, 15,

& 37. 25, 23. east of m Nobah and Jogbehah, and Ishmaelites. 2 Kings 3.26. smote the host: for the host was 25 And they answered, We will will

ingly give them. And they spread a m Num. 32. 35,

12 And when Zebah and Zalmunna garment, and did cast therein every n ch. 18, 2m. fled, he pursued after them, and otook man the earrings of his prey.

the two kings of Midian, Zebah and 26 And the weight of the golden + Heb. terri- Zalmunna, and I discomfited all the earrings that he requested was host.

thousand and seven hundred shekels 13 | And Gideon the son of Joash of gold ; besides ornaments, and col- , Or; sweet

jewela. returned from battle before the sun lars, and purple raiment that was on

the kings of Midian, and besides the 14 And caught a young man of the chains that were about their camels'

men of Succoth, an inquired of necks. Heb. writ. him: and he described unto him 27 And Gideon ? made an ephod 2 ch. 17. 5.

the princes of Succoth, and the el- thereof, and put it in his city, even
ders thereof, even threescore and sev- in Ophrah : and all Israel went a ch. 6. 24.
enteen men.

thither a whoring after it: which
15 And he came unto the men of thing became 'a snare unto Gideon, - Deat. 7. 16.
Succoth, and said, Behold Zebah and and to his house.
Zalmunna, with whom ye did Pup- 28 f Thus was Midian subdued be-
braid me, saying, Are the hands of fore the children of Israel, so that
Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine they lifted up their heads no more.
hand, that we should give bread unto And the country was in quietness a ch. 5. SL.
thy men that are weary?

forty years in the days of Gideon.
16 9 And he took the elders of the 29 † And Jerubbaal the son of

city, and thorns of the wilderness, Joash went and dwelt in his own
+ Heb. made to and briers, and with them he + taught house.
the men of Succoth.

30 And Gideon had e threescore and e ch 9.25 17 - And he beat down the tower ten sons tof his body begotten: for 1 Heb. going * 1 Kings 12 of • Penuel, and slew the men of the he had many wives.

out of his

thigh. city.

31 And his concubine that was in ich. 9. 1. 18 [ Then said he unto Zebah and Shechem, she also bare him a son, Zalmunna, What manner of men were whose name he + called Abimelech. | Heb. set. they whom ye slew at 'Tabor ? And 32 1 And Gideon the son of Joash about 1209.

they answered, As thou art, so were died bin a good old age, and was + Heb. accord they ; each one t resembled the chil- buried in the sepulchre of Joash his

dren of a king. form, ar.

father, "in Ophrah of the Abi-ezrites. ver. 27. 19 And he said, They were my breth- 33 And it came to pass, 'as soon as ren, even the sons of my mother: as Gideon was dead, that the children the Lord liveth, if ye had saved them of Israel turned again, and went a

k ch.2 17. alive, I would not slay you.

whoring after Baalim, 'and made Ba- 1 ch. 9. 4, 46.
20 And he said unto Jether his first- al-berith their god.
born, Up, and slay them. But the 34 And the children of Israel mre-
youth drew not his sword: for he membered not the LORD their God,
feared, because he was yet a youth. who had delivered them out of the

21 Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, hands of all their enemies on every
Rise thou, and fall upon us: for as side :

the man is, so is his strength. And 35 Neither shewed they kindness ch. 9 16, 17, Pa, 83 11. Gideon arose, and "slew Zebah and to the house of Jerubbaal, namely, il Or, orna: Zalmunna, and took away the lor- Gideon, according to all the good

naments that were on their camels' ness which he had shewed unto Is-
necks.

rael.
22 | Then the men of Israel said

CHAPTER IX.
unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both Abimelech hy conspiracy with the Shechemites, and
thou, and thy son, and thy son's son

Abimelech is made king.

JUDGES

The parable of Jotham.

o Is. 30, 2.
Dan. 4. 12.
Hos. 14. 7.
p ver. 20.
Num. 21. 28.
Ez. 19. 14.

18. 2. 13. & 37. 24. Ez. 31. 3.

rch. 8. 35.

c Gen. 29. 14.

de 2. 15.

.ch 8.33 l. 11.3. 2 Clar. 13. 7. Pux. 12. 11. Acts 17,5

Phil. 3. 3.

B. C.

15 And the bramble said unto the B. C. ANDA Abimelech the son of Jeruba about 1209 baal went to Shechem unto a his trees, If in truth ye anoint me king about 1209.

mother's brethren, and communed over you, then come and put your
with them, and with all the family trust in my oshadow; and if not, Plet
of the house of his mother's father, fire come out of the bramble, and de-
saying,

vour the 'cedars of Lebanon. 2 Speak, I pray you, in the ears of 16 Now therefore, if ye have done thleb. What is all the men of Shechem, + Whether truly and sincerely, in that ye have 2 Kings 1.4 goeie wheth is better for you, either that all the made Abimelech king, and if ye have

sons of Jerubbaal, which are bthree- dealt well with Jerubbaal and his
score and ten persons, reign over you, house, and have done unto him 'ac-
or that one reign over you? remember cording to the deserving of his hands :
also that I am your bone and your 17 (For my father fought for you,
flesh.
and tadventured his life far, and Heb, cast

his life.
3 And his mother's brethren spake delivered you out of the hand of
of him in the ears of all the men of Midian :

Shechem all these words : and their 18 . And ye are risen up against my : ver. 5, 6. + Heb. after hearts inclined † to follow Abimelech; father's house this day, and have slain

for they said, He is our d brother. his sons, threescore and ten persons,

4 And they gave him threescore and upon one stone, and have made Abim-
ten pieces of silver out of the house elech, the son of his maidservant,
of Baal-berith, wherewith Abime- king over the men of Shechem, be-
lech hired 'vain and light persons, cause he is your brother :)
which followed him.

19 If ye then have dealt truly and
5 And he went unto his father's house sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his

bat Ophrah, and "slew his brethren the house this day, then rejoice ye in 18. 8.6. 12 Kinga 11. sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in

and ten persons, upon one stone: not- you:
withstanding, yet Jotham the young- 20 But if not, let fire come out uver. 15, 56, 57.
est son of Jerubbaal was left; for he from Abimelech, and devour the men
hid himself,

of Shechem, and the house of Millo;
6 And all the men of Shechem gath- and let fire come out from the men
ered together, and all the house of of Shechem, and from the house of

Millo, and went and made Abimelech Millo, and devour Abimelech.
Ot, by the

king, 1 by the plain of the pillar that 21 And Jotham ran away, and fled,
was in Shechem.

and went to *Beer, and dwelt there, 12 Sam. 20. 14. 7 I And when they told it to Jo- for fear of Abimelech his brother. 1 tham, he went and stood in the top 22 1 When Abimelech had reigned about 1206. Date 11. 29. of imount Gerizim, and lifted up his three years over Israel,

voice, and cried, and said unto them, 23 Then y God sent an evil spirit
Hearken unto me, ye men of She- between Abimelech and the men of

chem, that God may hearken unto you. Shechem; and the men of Shechem The Kings 8 * The trees went forth on a time to ? dealt treacherously with Abimelech:

anoint a king over them; and they 24 - That the cruelty done to the lid 2.222. said unto the olive tree, 'Reign thou threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal 318, 3.1

might come, and their blood be laid, 9 But the olive tree said unto them, upon Abimelech their brother, which

Matt. 23.35, Should I leave my fatness, "where- slew them, and upon the men of with by me they honour God and Shechem, which taided him in the Heb.

strengthened the man, and t go to be promoted over killing of his brethren. the trees?

25 And the men of Shechem set
10 And the trees said to the fig tree, liers in wait for him in the top of
Come thou, and reign over us. the mountains, and they robbed all
11 But the fig tree said unto them, that came along that way by them :
Should I forsake my sweetness, and and it was told Abimelech.
my good fruit, and go to be promoted 26 And Gaal the son of Ebed came
over the trees?

with his brethren, and went over to
12 Then said the trees unto the vine, Shechem: and the men of Shechem
Come thou, and reign over us. put their confidence in him.

13 And the vine said unto them, 27 And they went out into the fields,
Should I leave my wine, "which and gathered their vineyards, and
cheereth God and man, and go to be trode the grapes, and made Il merry, "Or, songs.
promoted over the trees?

and went into bthe house of their
14 Then said all the trees unto the god, and did eat and drink, and b ver. 4.
I bramble, Come thou, and reign over cursed Abimelech.

28 And Gaal the son of Ebed said,

pillar,
See Joah. 24.

Jox2.33. Jaen 4. 20.

y 1 Sam. 16. 14. & 18. 9. 10. See 1 Kings 12. 15. & 22. 22. 2 Chr. 10. 15. & 18. 19, &c. Is. 19. 2, 14.

over us.

a 1 Kings 2.32. Esth. 9. 25. Ps. 7. 16.

Gaal's conspiracy.

JUDGES.

Abimelech is slain.

e 2 Sam. 15. 4.

1 Kings 12

3. 25.

B. C. “Who is Abimelech, and who is She- 42 And it came to pass on the B. C. about 1206. chem, that we should serve him ? is morrow, that the people went out about 1206.

not he the son of Jerubbaal ? and Zebul into the field ; and they told Abime-
c1 Sam. 25, 10. his officer ? serve the men of "Hamor lech.
d Gen. 34. 2, 6. the father of Shechem: for why should 43 And he took the people, and
we serve him?

divided them into three companies,
29 And would to God this people and laid wait in the field, and looked,
were under my hand! then would I and, behold, the people were come
remove Abimelech. And he said to forth out of the city; and he rose up
Abimelech, Increase thine army, and against them, and smote them.
come out.

44 And Abimelech, and the company
30 1 And when Zebul the ruler of that was with him, rushed forward,

the city heard the words of Gaal the and stood in the entering of the gate || Or, hot son of Ebed, his anger was I kindled. of the city: and the two other com

31 And he sent messengers unto panies ran upon all the people that + Heb. crafti- Abimelech + privily, saying, Behold, were in the fields, and slew them. ly, or, to Tor- Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren 45 And Abimelech fought against

be come to Shechem; and, behold, the city all that day; and she took & ver. 20. they fortify the city against thee. the city, and slew the people that

32 Now therefore up by night, thou was therein, and beat down the city, 5 Deul 29. 23. and the people that is with thee, and and sowed it with salt.

25. 2 Kings lie in wait in the field :

46 | And when all the men of the 33 And it shall be, that in the morn-tower of Shechem heard that, they ing, as soon as the sun is up, thou entered into a hold of the house i of ich. 8. 8. shalt rise early, and set upon the city: the god Berith. and, behold, when he and the people 47 And it was told Abimelech, that that is with him come out against all the men of the tower of Shechem

thee, then mayest thou do to them were gathered together. + Heb. as thy | tas thou shalt find occasion.

48 And Abimelech gat him up to 34 1 And Abimelech rose up, and mount * Zalmon, he and all the peo- *Ps. 68. 14. all the people that were with him, by ple that were with him; and Abimenight, and they laid wait against She- lech took an axe in his hand, and cut chem in four companies.

down a bough from the trees, and
35 And Gaal the son of Ebed went took it, and laid it on his shoulder,
out, and stood in the entering of the and said unto the people that were
gate of the city: and Abimelech rose with him, What ye have seen me
up, and the people that were with him, do, make haste, and do as I have
from lying in wait.

done.
36 And when Gaal saw the people, 49 And all the people likewise cut
he said to Zebul, Behold, there come down every man his bough, and fol-
people down from the top of the lowed Abimelech, and put them to
mountains. And Zebul said unto the hold, and set the hold on fire up-
him, Thou seest the shadow of the on them ; so that all the men of the
mountains as if they were men. tower of Shechem died also, about a
37 And Gaal spake again and said, thousand men and women.

See, there come people down by the 50 | Then went Abimelech to The| Heb. navel. t middle of the land, and another bez, and encamped against Thebez,

company come along by the plain and took it. 1 Or, The re- of | Meonenim.

51 But there was a strong tower garders of

38 Then said Zebul unto him, Where within the city, and thither fled all
is now thy mouth, wherewith thou the men and women, and all they

hand shall find, 1 Sam. 10. 7. & 25. 8. Ecc. 9. 10.

Heb. I have done.

times,
Deut. 18. 14.

29.

should serve him ? is not this the and gat them up to the top of the
people that thou hast despised ? go tower.
out, I pray now, and fight with them. 52 And Abimelech came unto the

39 And Gaal went out before the tower, and fought against it, and
men of Shechem, and fought with went hard unto the door of the tower
Abimelech.

to burn it with fire.
40 And Abimelech chased him, and 53 And a certain woman'cast a piece 12 Sam. 11. 21.
he fled before him, and many were of a millstone upon Abimelech's head,
overthrown and wounded, even unto and llall-to brake his skull.

That is, the entering of the gate.

54 Then m he called hastily unto

altogether. 41 And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: the young man his armourbearer, and and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his said unto him, Draw thy sword, and brethren, that they should not dwell | slay me, that men say not of me, A in Shechem.

woman slew him.

Ånd his young

m So 1 Sam. 31.4