Chapter 1


1

Jerusalem Is Captured

Now it came 1961 about after 310 the death 4194 of Joshua 3091 that the sons 1121 of Israel 3478 inquired 7592 of the LORD 3068, saying 559, "Who 4310 shall go 5927 up first 8462 for us against 413 the Canaanites 3669, to fight 3898 against them?"
2 The LORD 3068 said 559, "Judah 3063 shall go 5927 up; behold 2009, I have given 5414 the land 776 into his hand 3027."
3 Then Judah 3063 said 559 to Simeon 8095 his brother 251, "Come 5927 up with me into the territory 1486 allotted 1486 me, that we may fight 3898 against the Canaanites 3669; and I in turn 1571 will go 1980 with you into the territory 1486 allotted 1486 you." So Simeon 8095 went 1980 with him.
4 Judah 3063 went 5927 up, and the LORD 3068 gave 5414 the Canaanites 3669 and the Perizzites 6522 into their hands 3027, and they defeated 5221 ten 6235 thousand 505 men 376 at Bezek 966.
5 They found 4672 Adoni-bezek 137 in Bezek 966 and fought 3898 against him, and they defeated 5221 the Canaanites 3669 and the Perizzites 6522.
6 But Adoni-bezek 137 fled 5127; and they pursued 7291 him and caught 270 him and cut 7112 off 7112 his thumbs 931 and big 931 toes.
7 Adoni-bezek 137 said 559, "Seventy 7657 kings 4428 with their thumbs 931 and their big 931 toes cut 7112 off 7112 used to gather 3950 up {scraps} under 8478 my table 7979; as I have done 6213, so 3651 God 430 has repaid 7999 me." So they brought 935 him to Jerusalem 3389 and he died 4191 there 8033.
8 ¶ Then the sons 1121 of Judah 3063 fought 3898 against Jerusalem 3389 and captured 3920 it and struck 5221 it with the edge 6310 of the sword 2719 and set 7971 the city 5892 on fire 784.
9 Afterward 310 the sons 1121 of Judah 3063 went 3381 down 3381 to fight 3898 against the Canaanites 3669 living 3427 in the hill 2022 country 2022 and in the Negev 5045 and in the lowland 8219.
10 So Judah 3063 went 1980 against 413 the Canaanites 3669 who lived 3427 in Hebron 2275 (now the name 8034 of Hebron 2275 formerly 6440 {was} Kiriath-arba 7153); and they struck 5221 Sheshai 8344 and Ahiman 289 and Talmai 8526.
11

Capture of Other Cities

¶ Then from there 8033 he went 1980 against 413 the inhabitants 3427 of Debir 1688 (now the name 8034 of Debir 1688 formerly 6440 {was} Kiriath-sepher 7158).
12 And Caleb 3612 said 559, "The one who 834 attacks 5221 Kiriath-sepher 7158 and captures 3920 it, I will even give 5414 him my daughter 1323 Achsah 5915 for a wife 802."
13 Othniel 6274 the son 1121 of Kenaz 7073, Caleb's 3612 younger 6996 brother 251, captured 3920 it; so he gave 5414 him his daughter 1323 Achsah 5915 for a wife 802.
14 Then it came 1961 about when she came 935 {to him,} that she persuaded 5496 him to ask 7592 her father 1 for a field 7704. Then she alighted 6795 from her donkey 2543, and Caleb 3612 said 559 to her, "What 4100 do you want?"
15 She said 559 to him, "Give 3051 me a blessing 1293, since 3588 you have given 5414 me the land 776 of the Negev 5045, give 5414 me also springs 1543 of water 4325." So Caleb 3612 gave 5414 her the upper 5942 springs 1543 and the lower 8482 springs 1543.
16 ¶ The descendants 1121 of the Kenite 7017, Moses' 4872 father-in-law 2860, went 5927 up from the city 5892 of palms 8558 with the sons 1121 of Judah 3063, to the wilderness 4057 of Judah 3063 which 834 is in the south 5045 of Arad 6166; and they went 1980 and lived 3427 with the people 5971.
17 Then Judah 3063 went 1980 with Simeon 8095 his brother 251, and they struck 5221 the Canaanites 3669 living 3427 in Zephath 6857, and utterly 2763 destroyed 2763 it. So the name 8034 of the city 5892 was called 7121 Hormah 2767.
18 And Judah 3063 took 3920 Gaza 5804 with its territory 1366 and Ashkelon 831 with its territory 1366 and Ekron 6138 with its territory 1366.
19 Now the LORD 3068 was with Judah 3063, and they took 3423 possession 3423 of the hill 2022 country 2022; but they could not drive 3423 out the inhabitants 3427 of the valley 6010 because 3588 they had iron 1270 chariots 7393.
20 Then they gave 5414 Hebron 2275 to Caleb 3612, as Moses 4872 had promised 1696; and he drove 3423 out from there 8033 the three 7969 sons 1121 of Anak 6061.
21 But the sons 1121 of Benjamin 1144 did not drive 3423 out the Jebusites 2983 who lived 3427 in Jerusalem 3389; so the Jebusites 2983 have lived 3427 with the sons 1121 of Benjamin 1144 in Jerusalem 3389 to this 2088 day 3117.
22 ¶ Likewise the house 1004 of Joseph 3130 went 5927 up against Bethel 1008, and the LORD 3068 was with them.
23 The house 1004 of Joseph 3130 spied 8446 out Bethel 1008 (now the name 8034 of the city 5892 was formerly 6440 Luz 3870).
24 The spies 8104 saw 7200 a man 376 coming 3318 out of the city 5892 and they said 559 to him, "Please 4994 show 7200 us the entrance 3996 to the city 5892 and we will treat 6213 you kindly 2617."
25 So he showed 7200 them the entrance 3996 to the city 5892, and they struck 5221 the city 5892 with the edge 6310 of the sword 2719, but they let 7971 the man 376 and all 3605 his family 4940 go 7971 free 7971.
26 The man 376 went 1980 into the land 776 of the Hittites 2850 and built 1129 a city 5892 and named it Luz 3870 which 1931 is its name 8034 to this 2088 day 3117.
27

Places Not Conquered

But Manasseh 4519 did not take 3423 possession 3423 of Beth-shean 1052 and its villages 1323, or Taanach 8590 and its villages 1323, or the inhabitants 3427 of Dor 1756 and its villages 1323, or the inhabitants 3427 of Ibleam 2991 and its villages 1323, or the inhabitants 3427 of Megiddo 4023 and its villages 1323; so the Canaanites 3669 persisted 2974 in living 3427 in that land 776.
28 It came 1961 about when 3588 Israel 3478 became 2388 strong 2388, that they put 7760 the Canaanites 3669 to forced 4522 labor 4522, but they did not drive 3423 them out completely 3423.
29 ¶ Ephraim 669 did not drive 3423 out the Canaanites 3669 who were living 3427 in Gezer 1507; so the Canaanites 3669 lived 3427 in Gezer 1507 among 7130 them.
30 ¶ Zebulun 2074 did not drive 3423 out the inhabitants 3427 of Kitron 7003, or the inhabitants 3427 of Nahalol 5096; so the Canaanites 3669 lived 3427 among 7130 them and became 1961 subject to forced 4522 labor 4522.
31 ¶ Asher 836 did not drive 3423 out the inhabitants 3427 of Acco 5910, or the inhabitants 3427 of Sidon 6721, or of Ahlab 303, or of Achzib 392, or of Helbah 2462, or of Aphik 663, or of Rehob 7340.
32 So the Asherites 843 lived 3427 among 7130 the Canaanites 3669, the inhabitants 3427 of the land 776; for they did not drive 3423 them out.
33 ¶ Naphtali 5321 did not drive 3423 out the inhabitants 3427 of Beth-shemesh 1053, or the inhabitants 3427 of Beth-anath 1043, but lived 3427 among 7130 the Canaanites 3669, the inhabitants 3427 of the land 776; and the inhabitants 3427 of Beth-shemesh 1053 and Beth-anath 1043 became 1961 forced 4522 labor 4522 for them.
34 ¶ Then the Amorites 567 forced 3905 the sons 1121 of Dan 1835 into the hill 2022 country 2022, for they did not allow 5414 them to come 3381 down 3381 to the valley 6010;
35 yet the Amorites 567 persisted 2974 in living 3427 in Mount 2022 Heres 2776, in Aijalon 357 and in Shaalbim 8169; but when the power 3027 of the house 1004 of Joseph 3130 grew 3513 strong 3513, they became 1961 forced 4522 labor 4522.
36 The border 1366 of the Amorites 567 ran from the ascent 4610 of Akrabbim 4610, from Sela 5554 and upward 4605.

Chapter 2


1

Israel Rebuked

Now the angel 4397 of the LORD 3068 came 5927 up from Gilgal 1537 to Bochim 1066. And he said 559, "I brought 5927 you up out of Egypt 4714 and led 935 you into the land 776 which 834 I have sworn 7650 to your fathers 1; and I said 559, 'I will never break 6565 My covenant 1285 with you,
2 and as for you, you shall make 3772 no 3808 covenant 1285 with the inhabitants 3427 of this 2088 land 776; you shall tear 5422 down 5422 their altars 4196.' But you have not obeyed Me; what 4100 is this 2088 you have done 6213?
3 "Therefore I also 1571 said 559, 'I will not drive 1644 them out before you; but they will become 1961 {as thorns} in your sides 6654 and their gods 430 will be a snare 4170 to you.'"
4 When the angel 4397 of the LORD 3068 spoke 1696 these 428 words 1697 to all 3605 the sons 1121 of Israel 3478, the people 5971 lifted 5375 up their voices 6963 and wept 1058.
5 So they named that place 4725 Bochim 1066; and there 8033 they sacrificed 2076 to the LORD 3068.
6

Joshua Dies

When Joshua 3091 had dismissed 7971 the people 5971, the sons 1121 of Israel 3478 went 1980 each 376 to his inheritance 5159 to possess 3423 the land 776.
7 The people 5971 served 5647 the LORD 3068 all 3605 the days 3117 of Joshua 3091, and all 3605 the days 3117 of the elders 2205 who 834 survived Joshua 3091, who 834 had seen 7200 all 3605 the great 1419 work 4639 of the LORD 3068 which 834 He had done 6213 for Israel 3478.
8 Then Joshua 3091 the son 1121 of Nun 5126, the servant 5650 of the LORD 3068, died 4191 at the age 1121 of one hundred 3967 and ten 6235.
9 And they buried 6912 him in the territory 1366 of his inheritance 5159 in Timnath-heres 8556, in the hill 2022 country 2022 of Ephraim 669, north 6828 of Mount 2022 Gaash 1608.
10 All 3605 that generation 1755 also 1571 were gathered 622 to their fathers 1; and there arose 6965 another 312 generation 1755 after 310 them who 834 did not know 3045 the LORD 3068, nor 1571 yet 1571 the work 4639 which 834 He had done 6213 for Israel 3478.
11

Israel Serves Baals

¶ Then the sons 1121 of Israel 3478 did 6213 evil 7451 in the sight 5869 of the LORD 3068 and served 5647 the Baals 1168,
12 and they forsook 5800 the LORD 3068, the God 430 of their fathers 1, who had brought 3318 them out of the land 776 of Egypt 4714, and followed other 312 gods 430 from {among} the gods 430 of the peoples 5971 who 834 were around 5439 them, and bowed 7812 themselves down 7812 to them; thus they provoked 3707 the LORD 3068 to anger 3707.
13 So they forsook 5800 the LORD 3068 and served 5647 Baal 1168 and the Ashtaroth 6252.
14 The anger 639 of the LORD 3068 burned 2734 against Israel 3478, and He gave 5414 them into the hands 3027 of plunderers 8154 who plundered 8155 them; and He sold 4376 them into the hands 3027 of their enemies 340 around 5439 {them,} so that they could 3201 no 3808 longer 5750 stand 5975 before 6440 their enemies 340.
15 Wherever they went 3318, the hand 3027 of the LORD 3068 was against them for evil 7463, as the LORD 3068 had spoken 1696 and as the LORD 3068 had sworn 7650 to them, so that they were severely 3966 distressed 6887.
16 ¶ Then the LORD 3068 raised 6965 up judges 8199 who delivered 3467 them from the hands 3027 of those who plundered 8154 them.
17 Yet 1571 they did not listen 8085 to their judges 8199, for they played 2181 the harlot 2181 after 310 other 312 gods 430 and bowed 7812 themselves down 7812 to them. They turned 5493 aside 5493 quickly 4118 from the way 1870 in which 834 their fathers 1 had walked 1980 in obeying 8085 the commandments 4687 of the LORD 3068; they did 6213 not do 6213 as {their fathers.}
18 When 3588 the LORD 3068 raised 6965 up judges 8199 for them, the LORD 3068 was with the judge 8199 and delivered 3467 them from the hand 3027 of their enemies 340 all 3605 the days 3117 of the judge 8199; for the LORD 3068 was moved 5162 to pity 5162 by their groaning 5009 because of those who oppressed 3905 and afflicted 1766 them.
19 But it came 1961 about when the judge 8199 died 4194, that they would turn 7725 back 7725 and act 7843 more 4480 corruptly 7843 than 4480 their fathers 1, in following other 312 gods 430 to serve 5647 them and bow 7812 down 7812 to them; they did not abandon 5307 their practices 4611 or their stubborn 7186 ways 1870.
20 So the anger 639 of the LORD 3068 burned 2734 against Israel 3478, and He said 559, "Because this 2088 nation 1471 has transgressed 5674 My covenant 1285 which 834 I commanded 6680 their fathers 1 and has not listened 8085 to My voice 6963,
21 I also 1571 will no 3808 longer 3254 drive 3423 out before them any 376 of the nations 1471 which 834 Joshua 3091 left 5800 when he died 4191,
22 in order 4616 to test 5254 Israel 3478 by them, whether they will keep 8104 the way 1870 of the LORD 3068 to walk 1980 in it as their fathers 1 did 8104, or 518 not."
23 So the LORD 3068 allowed those 428 nations 1471 to remain 5117, not driving 3423 them out quickly 4118; and He did not give 5414 them into the hand 3027 of Joshua 3091.

Chapter 3


1

Idolatry Leads to Servitude

Now these 428 are the nations 1471 which 834 the LORD 3068 left 5117, to test 5254 Israel 3478 by them ({that is,} all 3605 who 834 had not experienced 3045 any 3605 of the wars 4421 of Canaan 3667;
2 only 7534 in order 4616 that the generations 1755 of the sons 1121 of Israel 3478 might be taught 3925 war 4421, those 7534 who 834 had not experienced 3045 it formerly 6440).
3 {These nations are:} the five 2568 lords 5633 of the Philistines 6430 and all 3605 the Canaanites 3669 and the Sidonians 6722 and the Hivites 2340 who lived 3427 in Mount 2022 Lebanon 3844, from Mount 2022 Baal-hermon 1179 as far 5704 as Lebo-hamath 935.
4 They were for testing 5254 Israel 3478, to find 3045 out if they would obey 8085 the commandments 4687 of the LORD 3068, which 834 He had commanded 6680 their fathers 1 through 3027 Moses 4872.
5 The sons 1121 of Israel 3478 lived 3427 among 7130 the Canaanites 3669, the Hittites 2850, the Amorites 567, the Perizzites 6522, the Hivites 2340, and the Jebusites 2983;
6 and they took 3947 their daughters 1323 for themselves as wives 802, and gave 5414 their own daughters 1323 to their sons 1121, and served 5647 their gods 430.
7 ¶ The sons 1121 of Israel 3478 did 6213 what 7451 was evil 7451 in the sight 5869 of the LORD 3068, and forgot 7911 the LORD 3068 their God 430 and served 5647 the Baals 1168 and the Asheroth 842.
8 Then the anger 639 of the LORD 3068 was kindled 2734 against Israel 3478, so that He sold 4376 them into the hands 3027 of Cushan-rishathaim 3573 king 4428 of Mesopotamia 763; and the sons 1121 of Israel 3478 served 5647 Cushan-rishathaim 3573 eight 8083 years 8141.
9

The First Judge Delivers Israel

When the sons 1121 of Israel 3478 cried 2199 to the LORD 3068, the LORD 3068 raised 6965 up a deliverer 3467 for the sons 1121 of Israel 3478 to deliver 3467 them, Othniel 6274 the son 1121 of Kenaz 7073, Caleb's 3612 younger 6996 brother 251.
10 The Spirit 7307 of the LORD 3068 came 1961 upon him, and he judged 8199 Israel 3478. When he went 3318 out to war 4421, the LORD 3068 gave 5414 Cushan-rishathaim 3573 king 4428 of Mesopotamia 763 into his hand 3027, so that he prevailed over 5921 Cushan-rishathaim 3573.
11 Then the land 776 had 8252 rest 8252 forty 705 years 8141. And Othniel 6274 the son 1121 of Kenaz 7073 died 4191.
12 ¶ Now the sons 1121 of Israel 3478 again 3254 did 6213 evil 7451 in the sight 5869 of the LORD 3068. So the LORD 3068 strengthened 2388 Eglon 5700 the king 4428 of Moab 4124 against 5921 Israel 3478, because they had done 6213 evil 7451 in the sight 5869 of the LORD 3068.
13 And he gathered 622 to himself the sons 1121 of Ammon 5983 and Amalek 6002; and he went 1980 and defeated 5221 Israel 3478, and they possessed 3423 the city 5892 of the palm 8558 trees 8558.
14 The sons 1121 of Israel 3478 served 5647 Eglon 5700 the king 4428 of Moab 4124 eighteen years 8141.
15

Ehud Delivers from Moab

¶ But when the sons 1121 of Israel 3478 cried 2199 to the LORD 3068, the LORD 3068 raised 6965 up a deliverer 3467 for them, Ehud 164 the son 1121 of Gera 1617, the Benjamite 1145, a left-handed man 376. And the sons 1121 of Israel 3478 sent 7971 tribute 4503 by him to Eglon 5700 the king 4428 of Moab 4124.
16 Ehud 164 made 6213 himself a sword 2719 which had two 8147 edges 6310, a cubit 1574 in length 753, and he bound 2296 it on his right 3225 thigh 3409 under 8478 his cloak 4055.
17 He presented 7126 the tribute 4503 to Eglon 5700 king 4428 of Moab 4124. Now Eglon 5700 was a very 3966 fat 1277 man 376.
18 It came 1961 about when 3512 he had finished 3615 presenting 7126 the tribute 4503, that he sent 7971 away 7971 the people 5971 who had carried 5375 the tribute 4503.
19 But he himself 1931 turned 7725 back 7725 from the idols 6456 which 834 were at Gilgal 1537, and said 559, "I have a secret 5643 message 1697 for you, O king 4428." And he said 559, "Keep 2013 silence 2013." And all 3605 who attended 5975 him left 3318 him.
20 Ehud 164 came 935 to him while he was sitting 3427 alone 905 in his cool 4747 roof 5944 chamber 5944. And Ehud 164 said 559, "I have a message 1697 from God 430 for you." And he arose 6965 from his seat 3678.
21 Ehud 164 stretched 7971 out his left 8040 hand 8040, took 3947 the sword 2719 from his right 3225 thigh 3409 and thrust 8628 it into his belly 990.
22 The handle 5325 also 1571 went 935 in after 310 the blade 3851, and the fat 2459 closed 5462 over 5704 the blade 3851, for he did not draw 8025 the sword 2719 out of his belly 990; and the refuse 6574 came 3318 out.
23 Then Ehud 164 went 3318 out into the vestibule 4528 and shut 5462 the doors 1817 of the roof 5944 chamber 5944 behind 1157 him, and locked 5274 {them.}
24 ¶ When he had gone 3318 out, his servants 5650 came 935 and looked 7200, and behold 2009, the doors 1817 of the roof 5944 chamber 5944 were locked 5274; and they said 559, "He is only 389 relieving himself in the cool 4747 room 2315."
25 They waited 2342 until 5704 they became 954 anxious 954; but behold 2009, he did not open 6605 the doors 1817 of the roof 5944 chamber 5944. Therefore they took 3947 the key 4668 and opened 6605 them, and behold 2009, their master 113 had fallen 5307 to the floor 776 dead 4191.
26 ¶ Now Ehud 164 escaped 4422 while 5704 they were delaying 4102, and he passed 5674 by the idols 6456 and escaped 4422 to Seirah 8167.
27 It came 1961 about when he had arrived 935, that he blew 8628 the trumpet 7782 in the hill 2022 country 2022 of Ephraim 669; and the sons 1121 of Israel 3478 went 3381 down 3381 with him from the hill 2022 country 2022, and he {was} in front 6440 of them.
28 He said 559 to them, "Pursue 7291 {them,} for the LORD 3068 has given 5414 your enemies 340 the Moabites 4124 into your hands 3027." So they went 3381 down 3381 after 310 him and seized 3920 the fords 4569 of the Jordan 3383 opposite Moab 4124, and did not allow 5414 anyone 376 to cross 5674.
29 They struck 5221 down 5221 at that time 6256 about ten 6235 thousand 505 Moabites 4124, all 3605 robust 8082 and valiant 2428 men 376; and no 3808 one 376 escaped 4422.
30 So Moab 4124 was subdued 3665 that day 3117 under 8478 the hand 3027 of Israel 3478. And the land 776 was undisturbed 8252 for eighty 8084 years 8141.
31

Shamgar Delivers from Philistines

¶ After 310 him came 1961 Shamgar 8044 the son 1121 of Anath 6067, who struck 5221 down 5221 six 8337 hundred 3967 Philistines 6430 with an oxgoad 4451; and he also 1571 saved 3467 Israel 3478.

Chapter 4


1

Deborah and Barak Deliver from Canaanites

Then the sons 1121 of Israel 3478 again 3254 did 6213 evil 7451 in the sight 5869 of the LORD 3068, after Ehud 164 died 4191.
2 And the LORD 3068 sold 4376 them into the hand 3027 of Jabin 2985 king 4428 of Canaan 3667, who 834 reigned 4427 in Hazor 2674; and the commander 8269 of his army 6635 was Sisera 5516, who 834 lived 3427 in Harosheth-hagoyim.
3 The sons 1121 of Israel 3478 cried 6817 to the LORD 3068; for he had nine 8672 hundred 3967 iron 1270 chariots 7393, and he oppressed 3905 the sons 1121 of Israel 3478 severely 2394 for twenty 6242 years 8141.
4 ¶ Now Deborah 1683, a prophetess 5031, the wife 802 of Lappidoth 3941, was judging 8199 Israel 3478 at that time 6256.
5 She used to sit 3427 under 8478 the palm 8560 tree 8560 of Deborah 1683 between 996 Ramah 7414 and Bethel 1008 in the hill 2022 country 2022 of Ephraim 669; and the sons 1121 of Israel 3478 came 5927 up to her for judgment 4941.
6 Now she sent 7971 and summoned 7121 Barak 1301 the son 1121 of Abinoam 42 from Kedesh-naphtali, and said 559 to him, "Behold 3808, the LORD 3068, the God 430 of Israel 3478, has commanded 6680, 'Go 1980 and march 4900 to Mount 2022 Tabor 8396, and take 3947 with you ten 6235 thousand 505 men 376 from the sons 1121 of Naphtali 5321 and from the sons 1121 of Zebulun 2074.
7 'I will draw 4900 out to you Sisera 5516, the commander 8269 of Jabin's 2985 army 6635, with his chariots 7393 and his many 1995 {troops} to the river 5158 Kishon 7028, and I will give 5414 him into your hand 3027.'"
8 Then Barak 1301 said 559 to her, "If 518 you will go 1980 with me, then I will go 1980; but if 518 you will not go 1980 with me, I will not go 1980."
9 She said 559, "I will surely 1980 go 1980 with you; nevertheless, the honor 8597 shall not be yours on the journey 1870 that you are about to take 1980, for the LORD 3068 will sell 4376 Sisera 5516 into the hands 3027 of a woman 802." Then Deborah 1683 arose 6965 and went 1980 with Barak 1301 to Kedesh 6943.
10 Barak 1301 called 2199 Zebulun 2074 and Naphtali 5321 together 2199 to Kedesh 6943, and ten 6235 thousand 505 men 376 went 5927 up with him; Deborah 1683 also went 5927 up with him.
11 ¶ Now Heber 2268 the Kenite 7017 had separated 6504 himself from the Kenites 7014, from the sons 1121 of Hobab 2246 the father-in-law 2860 of Moses 4872, and had pitched 5186 his tent 168 as far 5704 away as the oak 436 in Zaanannim 6815, which 834 is near 854 Kedesh 6943.
12 ¶ Then they told 5046 Sisera 5516 that Barak 1301 the son 1121 of Abinoam 42 had gone 5927 up to Mount 2022 Tabor 8396.
13 Sisera 5516 called 2199 together 2199 all 3605 his chariots 7393, nine 8672 hundred 3967 iron 1270 chariots 7393, and all 3605 the people 5971 who 834 {were} with him, from Harosheth-hagoyim to the river 5158 Kishon 7028.
14 Deborah 1683 said 559 to Barak 1301, "Arise 6965! For this 2088 is the day 3117 in which 834 the LORD 3068 has given 5414 Sisera 5516 into your hands 3027; behold 3808, the LORD 3068 has gone 3318 out before 6440 you." So Barak 1301 went 3381 down 3381 from Mount 2022 Tabor 8396 with ten 6235 thousand 505 men 376 following 310 him.
15 The LORD 3068 routed 2000 Sisera 5516 and all 3605 {his} chariots 7393 and all 3605 {his} army 4264 with the edge 6310 of the sword 2719 before 6440 Barak 1301; and Sisera 5516 alighted 3381 from {his} chariot 4818 and fled 5127 away on foot 7272.
16 But Barak 1301 pursued 7291 the chariots 7393 and the army 4264 as far 5704 as Harosheth-hagoyim, and all 3605 the army 4264 of Sisera 5516 fell 5307 by the edge 6310 of the sword 2719; not even 5704 one 259 was left 7604.
17 ¶ Now Sisera 5516 fled 5127 away on foot 7272 to the tent 168 of Jael 3278 the wife 802 of Heber 2268 the Kenite 7017, for {there was} peace 7965 between 996 Jabin 2985 the king 4428 of Hazor 2674 and the house 1004 of Heber 2268 the Kenite 7017.
18 Jael 3278 went 3318 out to meet 7122 Sisera 5516, and said 559 to him, "Turn 5493 aside 5493, my master 113, turn 5493 aside 5493 to me! Do not be afraid 3372." And he turned 5493 aside 5493 to her into the tent 168, and she covered 3680 him with a rug 8063.
19 He said 559 to her, "Please 4994 give 8248 me a little 4592 water 4325 to drink 8248, for I am thirsty 6770." So she opened 6605 a bottle 4997 of milk 2461 and gave 8248 him a drink 8248; then she covered 3680 him.
20 He said 559 to her, "Stand 5975 in the doorway 6607 of the tent 168, and it shall be if 518 anyone 376 comes 935 and inquires 7592 of you, and says 559, 'Is there 3426 anyone 376 here 6311?' that you shall say 559, 'No 369.'"
21 But Jael 3278, Heber's 2268 wife 802, took 3947 a tent 168 peg 3489 and seized 7760 a hammer 4717 in her hand 3027, and went 935 secretly 3909 to him and drove 8628 the peg 3489 into his temple 7541, and it went 6795 through 6795 into the ground 776; for he was sound 7290 asleep 7290 and exhausted 5888. So he died 4191.
22 And behold 2009, as Barak 1301 pursued 7291 Sisera 5516, Jael 3278 came 3318 out to meet 7122 him and said 559 to him, "Come 1980, and I will show 7200 you the man 376 whom 834 you are seeking 1245." And he entered 935 with her, and behold 2009 Sisera 5516 was lying 5307 dead 4191 with the tent 3489 peg 3489 in his temple 7541.
23 ¶ So God 430 subdued 3665 on that day 3117 Jabin 2985 the king 4428 of Canaan 3667 before 6440 the sons 1121 of Israel 3478.
24 The hand 3027 of the sons 1121 of Israel 3478 pressed 1980 heavier 1980 and heavier 7186 upon Jabin 2985 the king 4428 of Canaan 3667, until they had destroyed 3772 Jabin 2985 the king 4428 of Canaan 3667.

Chapter 5


1

The Song of Deborah and Barak

Then Deborah 1683 and Barak 1301 the son 1121 of Abinoam 42 sang 7891 on that day 3117, saying 559,
2 "That the leaders 6546 led 6544 in Israel 3478, That the people 5971 volunteered 5068, Bless 1288 the LORD 3068!
3 "Hear 8085, O kings 4428; give 238 ear 238, O rulers 7336! I--to the LORD 3068, I will sing 7891, I will sing 2167 praise 2167 to the LORD 3068, the God 430 of Israel 3478.
4 "LORD 3068, when You went 3318 out from Seir 8165, When You marched 6805 from the field 7704 of Edom 112, The earth 776 quaked 7493, the heavens 8064 also 1571 dripped 5197, Even 1571 the clouds 5645 dripped 5197 water 4325.
5 "The mountains 2022 quaked 5140 at the presence 6440 of the LORD 3068, This 2088 Sinai 5514, at the presence 6440 of the LORD 3068, the God 430 of Israel 3478.
6 ¶ "In the days 3117 of Shamgar 8044 the son 1121 of Anath 6067, In the days 3117 of Jael 3278, the highways 734 were deserted 2308, And travelers went 1980 by roundabout 6128 ways 734.
7 "The peasantry 6520 ceased 2308, they ceased 2308 in Israel 3478, Until 5704 I, Deborah 1683, arose 6965, Until I arose 6965, a mother 517 in Israel 3478.
8 "New 2319 gods 430 were chosen 977; Then 227 war 3901 {was} in the gates 8179. Not a shield 4043 or a spear 7420 was seen 7200 Among forty 705 thousand 505 in Israel 3478.
9 "My heart 3820 {goes out} to the commanders 2710 of Israel 3478, The volunteers 5068 among the people 5971; Bless 1288 the LORD 3068!
10 "You who ride 7392 on white 6715 donkeys 860, You who sit 3427 on {rich} carpets 4055, And you who travel 1980 on the road 1870--sing 7878!
11 "At the sound 6963 of those who divide 2686 {flocks} among 996 the watering 4857 places 4857, There 8033 they shall recount 8567 the righteous 6666 deeds 6666 of the LORD 3068, The righteous 6666 deeds 6666 for His peasantry 6520 in Israel 3478. Then 227 the people 5971 of the LORD 3068 went 3381 down 3381 to the gates 8179.
12 ¶ "Awake 5782, awake 5782, Deborah 1683; Awake 5782, awake 5782, sing 1696 a song 7892! Arise 6965, Barak 1301, and take 7617 away your captives 7628, O son 1121 of Abinoam 42.
13 "Then 227 survivors 8300 came 3381 down 3381 to the nobles 117; The people 5971 of the LORD 3068 came 3381 down 3381 to me as warriors 1368.
14 "From Ephraim 669 those whose root 8328 is in Amalek 6002 {came down,} Following 310 you, Benjamin 1144, with your peoples 5971; From Machir 4353 commanders 2710 came 3381 down 3381, And from Zebulun 2074 those who wield 4900 the staff 7626 of office 5613.
15 "And the princes 8269 of Issachar 3485 {were} with Deborah 1683; As {was} Issachar 3485, so 3651 {was} Barak 1301; Into the valley 6010 they rushed 7971 at his heels 7272; Among the divisions 6390 of Reuben 7205 {There were} great 1419 resolves 2706 of heart 3820.
16 "Why 4100 did you sit 3427 among 996 the sheepfolds 4942, To hear 8085 the piping 8292 for the flocks 5739? Among the divisions 6390 of Reuben 7205 {There were} great 1419 searchings 2714 of heart 3820.
17 "Gilead 1568 remained 7931 across 5676 the Jordan 3383; And why 4100 did Dan 1835 stay 1481 in ships 591? Asher 836 sat 3427 at the seashore, And remained 7931 by its landings 4664.
18 "Zebulun 2074 {was} a people 5971 who despised 2778 their lives 5315 {even} to death 4191, And Naphtali 5321 also, on the high 4791 places 4791 of the field 7704.
19 ¶ "The kings 4428 came 935 {and} fought 3898; Then 227 fought 3898 the kings 4428 of Canaan 3667 At Taanach 8590 near 5921 the waters 4325 of Megiddo 4023; They took 3947 no 3808 plunder 1215 in silver 3701.
20 "The stars 3556 fought 3898 from heaven 8064, From their courses 4546 they fought 3898 against 5973 Sisera 5516.
21 "The torrent 5158 of Kishon 7028 swept 1640 them away 1640, The ancient 6917 torrent 5158, the torrent 5158 Kishon 7028. O my soul 5315, march 1869 on with strength 5797.
22 "Then 227 the horses' 5483 hoofs 6119 beat 1986 From the dashing 1726, the dashing 1726 of his valiant 47 steeds 47.
23 'Curse 779 Meroz 4789,' said 559 the angel 4397 of the LORD 3068, 'Utterly 779 curse 779 its inhabitants 3427; Because 3588 they did not come 935 to the help 5833 of the LORD 3068, To the help 5833 of the LORD 3068 against the warriors 1368.'
24 ¶ "Most blessed 1288 of women 802 is Jael 3278, The wife 802 of Heber 2268 the Kenite 7017; Most blessed 1288 is she of women 802 in the tent 168.
25 "He asked 7592 for water 4325 {and} she gave 5414 him milk 2461; In a magnificent 117 bowl 5602 she brought 7126 him curds 2529.
26 "She reached 7971 out her hand 3027 for the tent 3489 peg 3489, And her right 3225 hand 3225 for the workmen's 6001 hammer 1989. Then she struck 1986 Sisera 5516, she smashed 4277 his head 7218; And she shattered 4272 and pierced 2498 his temple 7541.
27 "Between 996 her feet 7272 he bowed 3766, he fell 5307, he lay 7901; Between 996 her feet 7272 he bowed 3766, he fell 5307; Where 834 he bowed 3766, there 8033 he fell 5307 dead 7703.
28 ¶ "Out of the window 2474 she looked 8259 and lamented 2980, The mother 517 of Sisera 5516 through 1157 the lattice 822, 'Why 4069 does his chariot 7393 delay 309 in coming 935? Why 4069 do the hoofbeats 6471 of his chariots 4818 tarry 309?'
29 "Her wise 2450 princesses 8282 would answer 6030 her, Indeed 637 she repeats 7725 her words 561 to herself,
30 'Are they not finding 4672, are they not dividing 2505 the spoil 7998? A maiden 7358, two maidens 7358 for every 7218 warrior 1397; To Sisera 5516 a spoil 7998 of dyed 6648 work 6648, A spoil 7998 of dyed 6648 work 6648 embroidered 7553, Dyed 6648 work 6648 of double embroidery 7553 on the neck 6677 of the spoiler 7998?'
31 "Thus 3651 let all 3605 Your enemies 340 perish 6, O LORD 3068; But let those who love 157 Him be like the rising 3318 of the sun 8121 in its might 1369." And the land 776 was undisturbed 8252 for forty 705 years 8141.

Chapter 6


1

Israel Oppressed by Midian

Then the sons 1121 of Israel 3478 did 6213 what 7451 was evil 7451 in the sight 5869 of the LORD 3068; and the LORD 3068 gave 5414 them into the hands 3027 of Midian 4080 seven 7651 years 8141.
2 The power 3027 of Midian 4080 prevailed 5810 against 5921 Israel 3478. Because of Midian 4080 the sons 1121 of Israel 3478 made 6213 for themselves the dens 4492 which 834 were in the mountains 2022 and the caves 4631 and the strongholds 4679.
3 For it was when 518 Israel 3478 had sown 2232, that the Midianites 4080 would come 5927 up with the Amalekites 6002 and the sons 1121 of the east 6924 and go 5927 against 5921 them.
4 So they would camp 2583 against 5921 them and destroy 7843 the produce 2981 of the earth 776 as far as Gaza 5804, and leave 7604 no 3808 sustenance 4241 in Israel 3478 as well as no sheep 7716, ox 7794, or donkey 2543.
5 For they would come 5927 up with their livestock 4735 and their tents 168, they would come 5927 in like locusts 697 for number 7230, both they and their camels 1581 were innumerable; and they came 935 into the land 776 to devastate 7843 it.
6 So Israel 3478 was brought 1809 very 3966 low 1809 because of Midian 4080, and the sons 1121 of Israel 3478 cried 2199 to the LORD 3068.
7 ¶ Now it came 1961 about when 3588 the sons 1121 of Israel 3478 cried 2199 to the LORD 3068 on account 182 of Midian 4080,
8 that the LORD 3068 sent 7971 a prophet 5030 to the sons 1121 of Israel 3478, and he said 559 to them, "Thus 3541 says 559 the LORD 3068, the God 430 of Israel 3478, 'It was I who brought 5927 you up from Egypt 4714 and brought 3318 you out from the house 1004 of slavery 5650.
9 'I delivered 5337 you from the hands 3027 of the Egyptians 4714 and from the hands 3027 of all 3605 your oppressors 3905, and dispossessed 1644 them before you and gave 5414 you their land 776,
10 and I said 559 to you, "I am the LORD 3068 your God 430; you shall not fear 3372 the gods 430 of the Amorites 567 in whose 834 land 776 you live 3427. But you have not obeyed Me."'"
11

Gideon Is Visited

¶ Then the angel 4397 of the LORD 3068 came 935 and sat 3427 under 8478 the oak 424 that was in Ophrah 6084, which 834 belonged to Joash 3060 the Abiezrite 33 as his son 1121 Gideon 1439 was beating 2251 out wheat 2406 in the wine 1660 press 1660 in order to save 5127 {it} from the Midianites 4080.
12 The angel 4397 of the LORD 3068 appeared 7200 to him and said 559 to him, "The LORD 3068 is with you, O valiant 2428 warrior 1368."
13 Then Gideon 1439 said 559 to him, "O 994 my lord 113, if the LORD 3068 is with us, why 4100 then has all 3605 this 2088 happened 4672 to us? And where 346 are all 3605 His miracles 6381 which 834 our fathers 1 told 5608 us about, saying 559, 'Did not the LORD 3068 bring 5927 us up from Egypt 4714?' But now 6258 the LORD 3068 has abandoned 5203 us and given 5414 us into the hand 3709 of Midian 4080."
14 The LORD 3068 looked 6437 at him and said 559, "Go 1980 in this 2088 your strength 3581 and deliver 3467 Israel 3478 from the hand 3709 of Midian 4080. Have I not sent 7971 you?"
15 He said 559 to Him, "O 994 Lord 136, how 4100 shall I deliver 3467 Israel 3478? Behold 2009, my family 505 is the least 1800 in Manasseh 4519, and I am the youngest 6810 in my father's 1 house 1004."
16 But the LORD 3068 said 559 to him, "Surely 3588 I will be with you, and you shall defeat 5221 Midian 4080 as one 259 man 376."
17 So Gideon said 559 to Him, "If 518 now 4994 I have found 4672 favor 2580 in Your sight 5869, then show 6213 me a sign 226 that it is You who speak 1696 with me.
18 "Please 4994 do not depart 4185 from here 2088, until 5704 I come 935 {back} to You, and bring 3318 out my offering 4503 and lay 5117 it before 6440 You." And He said 559, "I will remain 3427 until 5704 you return 7725."
19 ¶ Then Gideon 1439 went 935 in and prepared 6213 a young goat and unleavened 4682 bread 4682 from an ephah 374 of flour 7058; he put 7760 the meat 1320 in a basket 5536 and the broth 4839 in a pot 6517, and brought 3318 {them} out to him under 8478 the oak 424 and presented 5066 {them.}
20 The angel 4397 of God 430 said 559 to him, "Take 3947 the meat 1320 and the unleavened 4682 bread 4682 and lay 5117 them on this 1975 rock 5553, and pour 8210 out the broth 4839." And he did 6213 so 3651.
21 Then the angel 4397 of the LORD 3068 put 7971 out the end 7097 of the staff 4938 that was in his hand 3027 and touched 5060 the meat 1320 and the unleavened 4682 bread 4682; and fire 784 sprang 5927 up from the rock 6697 and consumed 398 the meat 1320 and the unleavened 4682 bread 4682. Then the angel 4397 of the LORD 3068 vanished 1980 from his sight 5869.
22 When Gideon 1439 saw 7200 that he was the angel 4397 of the LORD 3068, he said 559, "Alas 162, O Lord 136 GOD 3068! For now I have seen 7200 the angel 4397 of the LORD 3068 face 6440 to face 6440."
23 The LORD 3068 said 559 to him, "Peace 7965 to you, do not fear 3372; you shall not die 4191."
24 Then Gideon 1439 built 1129 an altar 4196 there 8033 to the LORD 3068 and named 7121 it The LORD 3068 is Peace 7965. To this 2088 day 3117 it is still 5750 in Ophrah 6084 of the Abiezrites 33.
25 ¶ Now on the same 1931 night 3915 the LORD 3068 said 559 to him, "Take 3947 your father's 1 bull 6499 and a second 8145 bull 6499 seven 7651 years 8141 old, and pull 2040 down 2040 the altar 4196 of Baal 1168 which 834 belongs to your father 1, and cut 3772 down 3772 the Asherah 842 that is beside 5921 it;
26 and build 1129 an altar 4196 to the LORD 3068 your God 430 on the top 7218 of this 2088 stronghold 4581 in an orderly 4634 manner 4634, and take 3947 a second 8145 bull 6499 and offer 5927 a burnt 5930 offering 5930 with the wood 6086 of the Asherah 842 which 834 you shall cut 3772 down 3772."
27 Then Gideon 1439 took 3947 ten 6235 men 376 of his servants 5650 and did 6213 as the LORD 3068 had spoken 1696 to him; and because 834 he was too afraid 3372 of his father's 1 household 1004 and the men 376 of the city 5892 to do 6213 it by day 3119, he did 6213 it by night 3915.
28

The Altar of Baal Destroyed

¶ When the men 376 of the city 5892 arose 7925 early 7925 in the morning 1242, behold 2009, the altar 4196 of Baal 1168 was torn 5422 down 5422, and the Asherah 842 which 834 was beside 5921 it was cut 3772 down 3772, and the second 8145 bull 6499 was offered 5927 on the altar 4196 which had been built 1129.
29 They said 559 to one 376 another 7453, "Who 4310 did 6213 this 2088 thing 1697?" And when they searched 1875 about and inquired 1245, they said 559, "Gideon 1439 the son 1121 of Joash 3060 did 6213 this 2088 thing 1697."
30 Then the men 376 of the city 5892 said 559 to Joash 3060, "Bring 3318 out your son 1121, that he may die 4191, for he has torn 5422 down 5422 the altar 4196 of Baal 1168, and indeed 3588, he has cut 3772 down 3772 the Asherah 842 which 834 was beside 5921 it."
31 But Joash 3060 said 559 to all 3605 who 834 stood 5975 against 5921 him, "Will you contend 7378 for Baal 1168, or 518 will you deliver 3467 him? Whoever 834 will plead 7378 for him shall be put 4191 to death 4191 by morning 1242. If 518 he is a god 430, let him contend 7378 for himself, because 3588 someone has torn 5422 down 5422 his altar 4196."
32 Therefore on that day 3117 he named 7121 him Jerubbaal 3378, that is to say 559, "Let Baal 1168 contend 7378 against him," because 3588 he had torn 5422 down 5422 his altar 4196.
33 ¶ Then all 3605 the Midianites 4080 and the Amalekites 6002 and the sons 1121 of the east 6924 assembled 622 themselves; and they crossed 5674 over 5674 and camped 2583 in the valley 6010 of Jezreel 3157.
34 So the Spirit 7307 of the LORD 3068 came 3847 upon Gideon 1439; and he blew 8628 a trumpet 7782, and the Abiezrites 44 were called 2199 together 2199 to follow 310 him.
35 He sent 7971 messengers 4397 throughout 3605 Manasseh 4519, and they also 1571 were called 2199 together 2199 to follow 310 him; and he sent 7971 messengers 4397 to Asher 836, Zebulun 2074, and Naphtali 5321, and they came 5927 up to meet 7122 them.
36

Sign of the Fleece

¶ Then Gideon 1439 said 559 to God 430, "If 518 You will 3426 deliver 3467 Israel 3478 through 3027 me, as You have spoken 1696,
37 behold 2009, I will put 3322 a fleece 1492 of wool 6785 on the threshing 1637 floor 1637. If 518 there is dew 2919 on the fleece 1492 only 905, and it is dry 2721 on all 3605 the ground 776, then I will know 3045 that You will deliver 3467 Israel 3478 through 3027 me, as You have spoken 1696."
38 And it was so 3651. When he arose 7925 early 7925 the next 4283 morning 4283 and squeezed 2115 the fleece 1492, he drained 4680 the dew 2919 from the fleece 1492, a bowl 5602 full 4393 of water 4325.
39 Then Gideon 1439 said 559 to God 430, "Do not let Your anger 639 burn 2734 against me that I may speak 1696 once 6471 more 6471; please 4994 let me make 5254 a test 5254 once 6471 more 6471 with the fleece 1492, let it now 4994 be dry 2721 only 905 on the fleece 1492, and let there be dew 2919 on all 3605 the ground 776."
40 God 430 did 6213 so 3651 that night 3915; for it was dry 2721 only 905 on the fleece 1492, and dew 2919 was on all 3605 the ground 776.

Chapter 7


1

Gideon's 300 Chosen Men

Then Jerubbaal 3378 (that is, Gideon 1439) and all 3605 the people 5971 who 834 were with him, rose 7925 early 7925 and camped 2583 beside 5921 the spring 5871 of Harod 2730; and the camp 4264 of Midian 4080 was on the north 6828 side 6828 of them by the hill 1389 of Moreh 4176 in the valley 6010.
2 ¶ The LORD 3068 said 559 to Gideon 1439, "The people 5971 who 834 are with you are too 4480 many 7227 for Me to give 5414 Midian 4080 into their hands 3027, for Israel 3478 would become 6286 boastful 6286, saying 559, 'My own power 3027 has delivered 3467 me.'
3 "Now 6258 therefore come 4994, proclaim 7121 in the hearing 241 of the people 5971, saying 559, 'Whoever 4310 is afraid 3372 and trembling 2730, let him return 7725 and depart 6852 from Mount 2022 Gilead 1568.'" So 22,000 people 5971 returned 7725, but 10,000 remained 7604.
4 ¶ Then the LORD 3068 said 559 to Gideon 1439, "The people 5971 are still 5750 too many 7227; bring 3381 them down 3381 to the water 4325 and I will test 6884 them for you there 8033. Therefore it shall be that he of whom 834 I say 559 to you, 'This 2088 one 2088 shall go 1980 with you,' he shall go 1980 with you; but everyone 3605 of whom 834 I say 559 to you, 'This 2088 one 2088 shall not go 1980 with you,' he shall not go 1980."
5 So he brought 3381 the people 5971 down 3381 to the water 4325. And the LORD 3068 said 559 to Gideon 1439, "You shall separate 905 everyone 3605 who 834 laps 3952 the water 4325 with his tongue 3956 as a dog 3611 laps 3952, as well as everyone 3605 who 834 kneels to drink 8354."
6 Now the number 4557 of those who lapped 3952, putting their hand 3027 to their mouth 6310, was 300 men 376; but all 3605 the rest 3499 of the people 5971 kneeled to drink 8354 water 4325.
7 The LORD 3068 said 559 to Gideon 1439, "I will deliver 3467 you with the 300 men 376 who lapped 3952 and will give 5414 the Midianites 4080 into your hands 3027; so let all 3605 the {other} people 5971 go 1980, each 376 man 376 to his home 4725."
8 So the 300 men took 3947 the people's 5971 provisions 6720 and their trumpets 7782 into their hands 3027. And Gideon sent 7971 all 3605 the {other} men 376 of Israel 3478, each 376 to his tent 168, but retained 2388 the 300 men 376; and the camp 4264 of Midian 4080 was below him in the valley 6010.
9 ¶ Now the same 1931 night 3915 it came 1961 about that the LORD 3068 said 559 to him, "Arise 6965, go 3381 down 3381 against the camp 4264, for I have given 5414 it into your hands 3027.
10 "But if 518 you are afraid 3372 to go 3381 down 3381, go 3381 with Purah 6513 your servant 5288 down 3381 to the camp 4264,
11 and you will hear 8085 what 4100 they say 1696; and afterward 310 your hands 3027 will be strengthened 2388 that you may go 3381 down 3381 against the camp 4264." So he went 3381 with Purah 6513 his servant 5288 down 3381 to the outposts 7097 of the army 2571 that was in the camp 4264.
12 Now the Midianites 4080 and the Amalekites 6002 and all 3605 the sons 1121 of the east 6924 were lying 5307 in the valley 6010 as numerous 7230 as locusts 697; and their camels 1581 were without 369 number 4557, as numerous 7230 as the sand 2344 on the seashore.
13 When Gideon 1439 came 935, behold 2009, a man 376 was relating 5608 a dream 2472 to his friend 7453. And he said 559, "Behold 2009, I had 2492 a dream 2472; a loaf 6742 of barley 8184 bread 3899 was tumbling 2015 into the camp 4264 of Midian 4080, and it came 935 to the tent 168 and struck 5221 it so that it fell 5307, and turned 2015 it upside 4605 down 4605 so that the tent 168 lay 5307 flat 5307."
14 His friend 7453 replied 6030, "This 2088 is nothing 369 less than the sword 2719 of Gideon 1439 the son 1121 of Joash 3060, a man 376 of Israel 3478; God 430 has given 5414 Midian 4080 and all 3605 the camp 4264 into his hand 3027."
15 ¶ When Gideon 1439 heard 8085 the account 4557 of the dream 2472 and its interpretation 7667, he bowed 7812 in worship 7812. He returned 7725 to the camp 4264 of Israel 3478 and said 559, "Arise 6965, for the LORD 3068 has given 5414 the camp 4264 of Midian 4080 into your hands 3027."
16 He divided 2673 the 300 men 376 into three 7969 companies 7218, and he put 5414 trumpets 7782 and empty 7386 pitchers 3537 into the hands 3027 of all 3605 of them, with torches 3940 inside 8432 the pitchers 3537.
17 He said 559 to them, "Look 7200 at me and do 6213 likewise 3651. And behold 2009, when I come 935 to the outskirts 7097 of the camp 4264, do 6213 as I do 6213.
18 "When I and all 3605 who 834 are with me blow 8628 the trumpet 7782, then you also 1571 blow 8628 the trumpets 7782 all 3605 around 5439 the camp 4264 and say 559, 'For the LORD 3068 and for Gideon 1439.'"
19

Confusion of the Enemy

¶ So Gideon 1439 and the hundred 3967 men 376 who 834 were with him came 935 to the outskirts 7097 of the camp 4264 at the beginning 7218 of the middle 8484 watch 821, when 389 they had just 389 posted 6965 the watch 8104; and they blew 8628 the trumpets 7782 and smashed 5310 the pitchers 3537 that were in their hands 3027.
20 When the three 7969 companies 7218 blew 8628 the trumpets 7782 and broke 7665 the pitchers 3537, they held 2388 the torches 3940 in their left 8040 hands 3027 and the trumpets 7782 in their right 3225 hands 3027 for blowing 8628, and cried 7121, "A sword 2719 for the LORD 3068 and for Gideon 1439!"
21 Each 376 stood 5975 in his place 8478 around 5439 the camp 4264; and all 3605 the army 4264 ran 7323, crying 7321 out as they fled 5127.
22 When they blew 8628 300 trumpets 7782, the LORD 3068 set 7760 the sword 2719 of one 376 against another 7453 even throughout 3605 the whole 3605 army 4264; and the army 4264 fled 5127 as far 5704 as Beth-shittah 1029 toward Zererah 6888, as far 5704 as the edge 8193 of Abel-meholah 65, by Tabbath 2888.
23 The men 376 of Israel 3478 were summoned 6817 from Naphtali 5321 and Asher 836 and all 3605 Manasseh 4519, and they pursued 7291 Midian 4080.
24 ¶ Gideon 1439 sent 7971 messengers 4397 throughout 3605 all 3605 the hill 2022 country 2022 of Ephraim 669, saying 559, "Come 3381 down 3381 against 7122 Midian 4080 and take 3920 the waters 4325 before them, as far 5704 as Beth-barah 1012 and the Jordan 3383." So all 3605 the men 376 of Ephraim 669 were summoned 6817 and they took 3920 the waters 4325 as far 5704 as Beth-barah 1012 and the Jordan 3383.
25 They captured 3920 the two 8147 leaders 8269 of Midian 4080, Oreb 6159 and Zeeb 2062, and they killed 2026 Oreb 6159 at the rock 6697 of Oreb 6159, and they killed 2026 Zeeb 2062 at the wine 3342 press 3342 of Zeeb 2062, while they pursued 7291 Midian 4080; and they brought 935 the heads 7218 of Oreb 6159 and Zeeb 2062 to Gideon 1439 from across 5676 the Jordan 3383.

Chapter 8


1

Zebah and Zalmunna Routed

Then the men 376 of Ephraim 669 said 559 to him, "What 4100 is this 2088 thing 1697 you have done 6213 to us, not calling 7121 us when 3588 you went 1980 to fight 3898 against Midian 4080?" And they contended 7378 with him vigorously 2394.
2 But he said 559 to them, "What 4100 have I done 6213 now 6258 in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning 5955 {of the grapes} of Ephraim 669 better 2896 than 4480 the vintage 1210 of Abiezer 44?
3 "God 430 has given 5414 the leaders 8269 of Midian 4080, Oreb 6159 and Zeeb 2062 into your hands 3027; and what 4100 was I able 3201 to do 6213 in comparison with you?" Then 227 their anger 7307 toward him subsided 7503 when he said 1696 that.
4 ¶ Then Gideon 1439 and the 300 men 376 who 834 were with him came 935 to the Jordan 3383 {and} crossed 5674 over 5674, weary 5889 yet pursuing 7291.
5 He said 559 to the men 376 of Succoth 5523, "Please 4994 give 5414 loaves 3603 of bread 3899 to the people 5971 who 834 are following 7272 me, for they are weary 5889, and I am pursuing 7291 Zebah 2078 and Zalmunna 6759, the kings 4428 of Midian 4080."
6 The leaders 8269 of Succoth 5523 said 559, "Are the hands 3709 of Zebah 2078 and Zalmunna 6759 already 6258 in your hands 3027, that we should give 5414 bread 3899 to your army 6635?"
7 Gideon 1439 said 559, "All right 3651, when the LORD 3068 has given 5414 Zebah 2078 and Zalmunna 6759 into my hand 3027, then I will thrash 1758 your bodies 1320 with the thorns 6975 of the wilderness 4057 and with briers 1303."
8 He went 5927 up from there 8033 to Penuel 6439 and spoke 1696 similarly 2088 to them; and the men 376 of Penuel 6439 answered 6030 him just 3512 as the men 376 of Succoth 5523 had answered 6030.
9 So he spoke 559 also 1571 to the men 376 of Penuel 6439, saying 559, "When I return 7725 safely 7965, I will tear 5422 down 5422 this 2088 tower 4026."
10 ¶ Now Zebah 2078 and Zalmunna 6759 were in Karkor 7174, and their armies 4264 with them, about 15,000 men, all 3605 who were left 3498 of the entire 3605 army 4264 of the sons 1121 of the east 6924; for the fallen 5307 were 120,000 swordsmen.
11 Gideon 1439 went 5927 up by the way 1870 of those who lived 7931 in tents 168 on the east 6924 of Nobah 5025 and Jogbehah 3011, and attacked 5221 the camp 4264 when the camp 4264 was unsuspecting 983.
12 When Zebah 2078 and Zalmunna 6759 fled 5127, he pursued 7291 them and captured 3920 the two 8147 kings 4428 of Midian 4080, Zebah 2078 and Zalmunna 6759, and routed 2729 the whole 3605 army 4264.
13 ¶ Then Gideon 1439 the son 1121 of Joash 3060 returned 7725 from the battle 4421 by the ascent 4608 of Heres 2776.
14 And he captured 3920 a youth 5288 from Succoth 5523 and questioned 7592 him. Then {the youth} wrote 3789 down 3789 for him the princes 8269 of Succoth 5523 and its elders 2205, seventy-seven 7657 men 376.
15 He came 935 to the men 376 of Succoth 5523 and said 559, "Behold 2009 Zebah 2078 and Zalmunna 6759, concerning whom 834 you taunted 2778 me, saying 559, 'Are the hands 3709 of Zebah 2078 and Zalmunna 6759 already 6258 in your hand 3027, that we should give 5414 bread 3899 to your men 376 who are weary 3287?'"
16 He took 3947 the elders 2205 of the city 5892, and thorns 6975 of the wilderness 4057 and briers 1303, and he disciplined 3045 the men 376 of Succoth 5523 with them.
17 He tore 5422 down 5422 the tower 4026 of Penuel 6439 and killed 2026 the men 376 of the city 5892.
18 ¶ Then he said 559 to Zebah 2078 and Zalmunna 6759, "What 375 kind 375 of men 376 {were} they whom 834 you killed 2026 at Tabor 8396?" And they said 559, "They were like 3644 you, each one 259 resembling 8389 the son 1121 of a king 4428."
19 He said 559, "They {were} my brothers 251, the sons 1121 of my mother 517. {As} the LORD 3068 lives 2416, if 3863 only 3863 you had let them live 2421, I would not kill 2026 you."
20 So he said 559 to Jether 3500 his firstborn 1060, "Rise 6965, kill 2026 them." But the youth 5288 did not draw 8025 his sword 2719, for he was afraid 3372, because 3588 he was still 5750 a youth 5288.
21 Then Zebah 2078 and Zalmunna 6759 said 559, "Rise 6965 up yourself 859, and fall 6293 on us; for as the man 376, so is his strength 1369." So Gideon 1439 arose 6965 and killed 2026 Zebah 2078 and Zalmunna 6759, and took 3947 the crescent 7720 ornaments 7720 which 834 were on their camels' 1581 necks 6677.
22 ¶ Then the men 376 of Israel 3478 said 559 to Gideon 1439, "Rule 4910 over us, both 1571 you and your son 1121, also 1571 your son's 1121 son 1121, for you have delivered 3467 us from the hand 3027 of Midian 4080."
23 But Gideon 1439 said 559 to them, "I will not rule 4910 over you, nor 3808 shall my son 1121 rule 4910 over you; the LORD 3068 shall rule 4910 over you."
24 Yet Gideon 1439 said 559 to them, "I would request of you, that each 376 of you give 5414 me an earring 5141 from his spoil 7998." (For they had gold 2091 earrings 5141, because 3588 they were Ishmaelites 3459.)
25 They said 559, "We will surely 5414 give 5414 {them.}" So they spread 6566 out a garment 8071, and every 376 one 376 of them threw 7993 an earring 5141 there 8033 from his spoil 7998.
26 The weight 4948 of the gold 2091 earrings 5141 that he requested 7592 was 1,700 {shekels} of gold 2091, besides the crescent 7720 ornaments 7720 and the pendants 5188 and the purple 713 robes 899 which 7945 {were} on the kings 4428 of Midian 4080, and besides the neck 6060 bands 6060 that {were} on their camels' 1581 necks 6677.
27 Gideon 1439 made 6213 it into an ephod 646, and placed 3322 it in his city 5892, Ophrah 6084, and all 3605 Israel 3478 played 2181 the harlot 2181 with it there 8033, so that it became 1961 a snare 4170 to Gideon 1439 and his household 1004.
28

Forty Years of Peace

So Midian 4080 was subdued 3665 before 6440 the sons 1121 of Israel 3478, and they did not lift 5375 up their heads 7218 anymore 3254. And the land 776 was undisturbed 8252 for forty 705 years 8141 in the days 3117 of Gideon 1439.
29 ¶ Then Jerubbaal 3378 the son 1121 of Joash 3060 went 1980 and lived 3427 in his own house 1004.
30 Now Gideon 1439 had 1961 seventy 7657 sons 1121 who were his direct 3409 descendants 3318, for he had 1961 many 7227 wives 802.
31 His concubine 6370 who 834 was in Shechem 7927 also 1571 bore 3205 him a son 1121, and he named him Abimelech 40.
32 And Gideon 1439 the son 1121 of Joash 3060 died 4191 at a ripe 2896 old 7872 age 7872 and was buried 6912 in the tomb 6913 of his father 1 Joash 3060, in Ophrah 6084 of the Abiezrites 33.
33 ¶ Then it came 1961 about, as soon 3512 as Gideon 1439 was dead 4191, that the sons 1121 of Israel 3478 again 7725 played 2181 the harlot 2181 with the Baals 1168, and made 7760 Baal-berith 1170 their god 430.
34 Thus the sons 1121 of Israel 3478 did not remember 2142 the LORD 3068 their God 430, who had delivered 5337 them from the hands 3027 of all 3605 their enemies 340 on every 5439 side 5439;
35 nor 3808 did they show 6213 kindness 2617 to the household 1004 of Jerubbaal 3378 ({that is,} Gideon 1439) in accord with all 3605 the good 2899 that he had done 6213 to Israel 3478.

Chapter 9


1

Abimelech's Conspiracy

And Abimelech 40 the son 1121 of Jerubbaal 3378 went 1980 to Shechem 7927 to his mother's 517 relatives 251, and spoke 1696 to them and to the whole 3605 clan 4940 of the household 1004 of his mother's 517 father 1, saying 559,
2 "Speak 1696, now 4994, in the hearing 241 of all 3605 the leaders 1167 of Shechem 7927, 'Which 4100 is better 2896 for you, that seventy 7657 men 376, all 3605 the sons 1121 of Jerubbaal 3378, rule 4910 over you, or 518 that one 259 man 376 rule 4910 over you?' Also, remember 2142 that I am your bone 6106 and your flesh 1320."
3 And his mother's 517 relatives 251 spoke 1696 all 3605 these 428 words 1697 on his behalf 5921 in the hearing 241 of all 3605 the leaders 1167 of Shechem 7927; and they were inclined 5186 to follow 310 Abimelech 40, for they said 559, "He is our relative 251."
4 They gave 5414 him seventy 7657 {pieces} of silver 3701 from the house 1004 of Baal-berith 1170 with which 1992 Abimelech 40 hired 7936 worthless 7386 and reckless 6348 fellows 376, and they followed him.
5 Then he went 935 to his father's 1 house 1004 at Ophrah 6084 and killed 2026 his brothers 251 the sons 1121 of Jerubbaal 3378, seventy 7657 men 376, on one 259 stone 68. But Jotham 3147 the youngest 6996 son 1121 of Jerubbaal 3378 was left 3498, for he hid 2244 himself.
6 All 3605 the men 1167 of Shechem 7927 and all 3605 Beth-millo 1037 assembled 622 together, and they went 1980 and made 4427 Abimelech 40 king 4428, by the oak 436 of the pillar 5324 which 834 was in Shechem 7927.
7 ¶ Now when they told 5046 Jotham 3147, he went 1980 and stood 5975 on the top 7218 of Mount 2022 Gerizim 1630, and lifted 5375 his voice 6963 and called 7121 out. Thus he said 559 to them, "Listen 8085 to me, O men 1167 of Shechem 7927, that God 430 may listen 8085 to you.
8 "Once 1980 the trees 6086 went 1980 forth 1980 to anoint 4886 a king 4428 over 5921 them, and they said 559 to the olive 2132 tree 2132, 'Reign 4427 over 5921 us!'
9 "But the olive 2132 tree 2132 said 559 to them, 'Shall I leave 2308 my fatness 1880 with which 834 God 430 and men 376 are honored 3513, and go 1980 to wave 5128 over 5921 the trees 6086?'
10 "Then the trees 6086 said 559 to the fig 8384 tree 8384, 'You come 1980, reign 4427 over 5921 us!'
11 "But the fig 8384 tree 8384 said 559 to them, 'Shall I leave 2308 my sweetness 4987 and my good 2896 fruit 8570, and go 1980 to wave 5128 over 5921 the trees 6086?'
12 "Then the trees 6086 said 559 to the vine 1612, 'You come 1980, reign 4427 over 5921 us!'
13 "But the vine 1612 said 559 to them, 'Shall I leave 2308 my new 8492 wine 8492, which cheers 8055 God 430 and men 376, and go 1980 to wave 5128 over 5921 the trees 6086?'
14 "Finally all 3605 the trees 6086 said 559 to the bramble 329, 'You come 1980, reign 4427 over 5921 us!'
15 "The bramble 329 said 559 to the trees 6086, 'If 518 in truth 571 you are anointing 4886 me as king 4428 over 5921 you, come 935 and take 2620 refuge 2620 in my shade 6738; but if 518 not, may fire 784 come 3318 out from the bramble 329 and consume 398 the cedars 730 of Lebanon 3844.'
16 ¶ "Now 6258 therefore, if 518 you have dealt 6213 in truth 571 and integrity 8549 in making 4427 Abimelech 40 king 4427, and if 518 you have dealt 6213 well 2899 with Jerubbaal 3378 and his house 1004, and have dealt 6213 with him as he deserved--
17 for my father 1 fought 3898 for you and risked his life 5315 and delivered 5337 you from the hand 3027 of Midian 4080;
18 but you have risen 6965 against 5921 my father's 1 house 1004 today 3117 and have killed 2026 his sons 1121, seventy 7657 men 376, on one 259 stone 68, and have made 4427 Abimelech 40, the son 1121 of his maidservant 519, king 4427 over 5921 the men 1167 of Shechem 7927, because 3588 he is your relative 251--
19 if 518 then you have dealt 6213 in truth 571 and integrity 8549 with Jerubbaal 3378 and his house 1004 this 2088 day 3117, rejoice 8055 in Abimelech 40, and let him also 1571 rejoice 8055 in you.
20 "But if 518 not, let fire 784 come 3318 out from Abimelech 40 and consume 398 the men 1167 of Shechem 7927 and Beth-millo 1037; and let fire 784 come 3318 out from the men 1167 of Shechem 7927 and from Beth-millo 1037, and consume 398 Abimelech 40."
21 Then Jotham 3147 escaped 5127 and fled 1272, and went 1980 to Beer 876 and remained 3427 there 8033 because of Abimelech 40 his brother 251.
22

Shechem and Abimelech Fall

¶ Now Abimelech 40 ruled 8323 over 5921 Israel 3478 three 7969 years 8141.
23 Then God 430 sent 7971 an evil 7451 spirit 7307 between 996 Abimelech 40 and the men 1167 of Shechem 7927; and the men 1167 of Shechem 7927 dealt 898 treacherously 898 with Abimelech 40,
24 so that the violence 2555 done to the seventy 7657 sons 1121 of Jerubbaal 3378 might come 935, and their blood 1818 might be laid 7760 on Abimelech 40 their brother 251, who 834 killed 2026 them, and on the men 1167 of Shechem 7927, who 834 strengthened 2388 his hands 3027 to kill 2026 his brothers 251.
25 The men 1167 of Shechem 7927 set 7760 men in ambush 693 against him on the tops 7218 of the mountains 2022, and they robbed 1497 all 3605 who 834 might pass 5674 by them along the road 1870; and it was told 5046 to Abimelech 40.
26 ¶ Now Gaal 1603 the son 1121 of Ebed 5651 came 935 with his relatives 251, and crossed 5674 over 5674 into Shechem 7927; and the men 1167 of Shechem 7927 put 982 their trust 982 in him.
27 They went 3318 out into the field 7704 and gathered 1219 {the grapes of} their vineyards 3754 and trod 1869 {them,} and held 6213 a festival 1974; and they went 935 into the house 1004 of their god 430, and ate 398 and drank 8354 and cursed 7043 Abimelech 40.
28 Then Gaal 1603 the son 1121 of Ebed 5651 said 559, "Who 4310 is Abimelech 40, and who 4310 is Shechem 7927, that we should serve 5647 him? Is he not the son 1121 of Jerubbaal 3378, and {is} Zebul 2083 {not} his lieutenant 6496? Serve 5647 the men 376 of Hamor 2544 the father 1 of Shechem 7927; but why 4069 should we serve 5647 him?
29 "Would, therefore, that this 2088 people 5971 were under my authority 3027! Then I would remove 5493 Abimelech 40." And he said 559 to Abimelech 40, "Increase 7235 your army 6635 and come 3318 out."
30 ¶ When Zebul 2083 the ruler 8269 of the city 5892 heard 8085 the words 1697 of Gaal 1603 the son 1121 of Ebed 5651, his anger 639 burned 2734.
31 He sent 7971 messengers 4397 to Abimelech 40 deceitfully 8649, saying 559, "Behold 2009, Gaal 1603 the son 1121 of Ebed 5651 and his relatives 251 have come 935 to Shechem 7927; and behold 2009, they are stirring 6696 up the city 5892 against 5921 you.
32 "Now 6258 therefore, arise 6965 by night 3915, you and the people 5971 who 834 are with you, and lie 693 in wait 693 in the field 7704.
33 "In the morning 1242, as soon as the sun 8121 is up, you shall rise 7925 early 7925 and rush 6584 upon the city 5892; and behold 2009, when he and the people 5971 who 834 are with him come 3318 out against 413 you, you shall do 6213 to them whatever 3512 you can."
34 ¶ So Abimelech 40 and all 3605 the people 5971 who 834 {were} with him arose 6965 by night 3915 and lay 693 in wait 693 against 5921 Shechem 7927 in four 702 companies 7218.
35 Now Gaal 1603 the son 1121 of Ebed 5651 went 3318 out and stood 5975 in the entrance 6607 of the city 5892 gate 8179; and Abimelech 40 and the people 5971 who 834 {were} with him arose 6965 from the ambush 3993.
36 When Gaal 1603 saw 7200 the people 5971, he said 559 to Zebul 2083, "Look 2009, people 5971 are coming 3381 down 3381 from the tops 7218 of the mountains 2022." But Zebul 2083 said 559 to him, "You are seeing 7200 the shadow 6738 of the mountains 2022 as {if they were} men 376."
37 Gaal 1603 spoke 1696 again and said 559, "Behold 2009, people 5971 are coming 3381 down 3381 from the highest 2872 part 2872 of the land 776, and one 259 company 7218 comes 935 by the way 1870 of the diviners' 6049 oak 436."
38 Then Zebul 2083 said 559 to him, "Where 346 is your boasting 6310 now 645 with which 834 you said 559, 'Who 4310 is Abimelech 40 that we should serve 5647 him?' Is this 2088 not the people 5971 whom 834 you despised 3988? Go 3318 out now 6258 and fight 3898 with them!"
39 So Gaal 1603 went 3318 out before 6440 the leaders 1167 of Shechem 7927 and fought 3898 with Abimelech 40.
40 Abimelech 40 chased 7291 him, and he fled 5127 before him; and many 7227 fell 5307 wounded 2491 up to the entrance 6607 of the gate 8179.
41 Then Abimelech 40 remained 3427 at Arumah 725, but Zebul 2083 drove 1644 out Gaal 1603 and his relatives 251 so 4480 that they could not remain 3427 in Shechem 7927.
42 ¶ Now it came 1961 about the next 4283 day 4283, that the people 5971 went 3318 out to the field 7704, and it was told 5046 to Abimelech 40.
43 So he took 3947 his people 5971 and divided 2673 them into three 7969 companies 7218, and lay 693 in wait 693 in the field 7704; when he looked 7200 and saw 7200 the people 5971 coming 3318 out from the city 5892, he arose 6965 against 5921 them and slew 5221 them.
44 Then Abimelech 40 and the company 7218 who 834 was with him dashed 6584 forward and stood 5975 in the entrance 6607 of the city 5892 gate 8179; the other two 8147 companies 7218 then dashed 6584 against 5921 all 3605 who 834 {were} in the field 7704 and slew 5221 them.
45 Abimelech 40 fought 3898 against the city 5892 all 3605 that day 3117, and he captured 3920 the city 5892 and killed 2026 the people 5971 who 834 {were} in it; then he razed 5422 the city 5892 and sowed 2232 it with salt 4417.
46 ¶ When all 3605 the leaders 1167 of the tower 4026 of Shechem 7927 heard 8085 of {it,} they entered 935 the inner 6877 chamber 6877 of the temple 1004 of El-berith.
47 It was told 5046 Abimelech 40 that all 3605 the leaders 1167 of the tower 4026 of Shechem 7927 were gathered 6908 together.
48 So Abimelech 40 went 5927 up to Mount 2022 Zalmon 6756, he and all 3605 the people 5971 who 834 {were} with him; and Abimelech 40 took 3947 an axe 7134 in his hand 3027 and cut 3772 down 3772 a branch 7754 from the trees 6086, and lifted 5375 it and laid 7760 {it} on his shoulder 7926. Then he said 559 to the people 5971 who 834 {were} with him, "What 4100 you have seen 7200 me do 6213, hurry 4116 {and} do 6213 likewise 3644."
49 All 3605 the people 5971 also 1571 cut 3772 down 3772 each 376 one 376 his branch 7754 and followed Abimelech 40, and put 7760 {them} on the inner 6877 chamber 6877 and set 3341 the inner 6877 chamber 6877 on fire 784 over 5921 those {inside,} so that all 3605 the men 376 of the tower 4026 of Shechem 7927 also 1571 died 4191, about a thousand 505 men 376 and women 802.
50 ¶ Then Abimelech 40 went 1980 to Thebez 8405, and he camped 2583 against Thebez 8405 and captured 3920 it.
51 But there was a strong 5797 tower 4026 in the center 8432 of the city 5892, and all 3605 the men 376 and women 802 with all 3605 the leaders 1167 of the city 5892 fled 5127 there 8033 and shut 5462 themselves in; and they went 5927 up on the roof 1406 of the tower 4026.
52 So Abimelech 40 came 935 to the tower 4026 and fought 3898 against it, and approached 5066 the entrance 6607 of the tower 4026 to burn 8313 it with fire 784.
53 But a certain 259 woman 802 threw 7993 an upper 7393 millstone 7393 on Abimelech's 40 head 7218, crushing 7533 his skull 1538.
54 Then he called 7121 quickly 4120 to the young 5288 man 5288, his armor 3627 bearer 5375, and said 559 to him, "Draw 8025 your sword 2719 and kill 4191 me, so 6435 that it will not be said 559 of me, 'A woman 802 slew 2026 him.'" So the young 5288 man 5288 pierced 1856 him through 1856, and he died 4191.
55 When the men 376 of Israel 3478 saw 7200 that Abimelech 40 was dead 4191, each 376 departed 1980 to his home 4725.
56 Thus God 430 repaid 7725 the wickedness 7463 of Abimelech 40, which 834 he had done 6213 to his father 1 in killing 2026 his seventy 7657 brothers 251.
57 Also God 430 returned 7725 all 3605 the wickedness 7463 of the men 376 of Shechem 7927 on their heads 7218, and the curse 7045 of Jotham 3147 the son 1121 of Jerubbaal 3378 came 935 upon them.

Chapter 10


1

Oppression of Philistines and Ammonites

Now after 310 Abimelech 40 died, Tola 8439 the son 1121 of Puah 6312, the son 1121 of Dodo 1734, a man 376 of Issachar 3485, arose 6965 to save 3467 Israel 3478; and he lived 3427 in Shamir 8069 in the hill 2022 country 2022 of Ephraim 669.
2 He judged 8199 Israel 3478 twenty-three years 8141. Then he died 4191 and was buried 6912 in Shamir 8069.
3 ¶ After 310 him, Jair 2971 the Gileadite 1569 arose 6965 and judged 8199 Israel 3478 twenty-two years 8141.
4 He had 1961 thirty 7970 sons 1121 who rode 7392 on thirty 7970 donkeys 5895, and they had thirty 7970 cities 5892 in the land 776 of Gilead 1568 that are called 7121 Havvoth-jair 2334 to this 2088 day 3117.
5 And Jair 2971 died 4191 and was buried 6912 in Kamon 7056.
6 ¶ Then the sons 1121 of Israel 3478 again 3254 did 6213 evil 7451 in the sight 5869 of the LORD 3068, served 5647 the Baals 1168 and the Ashtaroth 6252, the gods 430 of Aram 758, the gods 430 of Sidon 6721, the gods 430 of Moab 4124, the gods 430 of the sons 1121 of Ammon 5983, and the gods 430 of the Philistines 6430; thus they forsook 5800 the LORD 3068 and did not serve 5647 Him.
7 The anger 639 of the LORD 3068 burned 2734 against Israel 3478, and He sold 4376 them into the hands 3027 of the Philistines 6430 and into the hands 3027 of the sons 1121 of Ammon 5983.
8 They afflicted 7492 and crushed 7533 the sons 1121 of Israel 3478 that year 8141; for eighteen years 8141 they {afflicted} all 3605 the sons 1121 of Israel 3478 who 834 were beyond 5676 the Jordan 3383 in Gilead 1568 in the land 776 of the Amorites 567.
9 The sons 1121 of Ammon 5983 crossed 5674 the Jordan 3383 to fight 3898 also 1571 against Judah 3063, Benjamin 1144, and the house 1004 of Ephraim 669, so that Israel 3478 was greatly 3966 distressed 6887.
10 ¶ Then the sons 1121 of Israel 3478 cried 2199 out to the LORD 3068, saying 559, "We have sinned 2398 against You, for indeed, we have forsaken 5800 our God 430 and served 5647 the Baals 1168."
11 The LORD 3068 said 559 to the sons 1121 of Israel 3478, "{Did I} not {deliver you} from the Egyptians 4714, the Amorites 567, the sons 1121 of Ammon 5983, and the Philistines 6430?
12 "Also when the Sidonians 6722, the Amalekites 6002 and the Maonites 4584 oppressed 3905 you, you cried 6817 out to Me, and I delivered 3467 you from their hands 3027.
13 "Yet you have forsaken 5800 Me and served 5647 other 312 gods 430; therefore 3651 I will no 3808 longer 3254 deliver 3467 you.
14 "Go 1980 and cry 2199 out to the gods 430 which 834 you have chosen 977; let them deliver 3467 you in the time 6256 of your distress 6869."
15 The sons 1121 of Israel 3478 said 559 to the LORD 3068, "We have sinned 2398, do 6213 to us whatever 3605 seems good 2896 to You; only 389 please 4994 deliver 5337 us this 2088 day 3117."
16 So they put 5493 away 5493 the foreign 5236 gods 430 from among 7130 them and served 5647 the LORD 3068; and He could 7114 bear 7114 the misery 5999 of Israel 3478 no 7114 longer 7114.
17 ¶ Then the sons 1121 of Ammon 5983 were summoned 6817 and they camped 2583 in Gilead 1568. And the sons 1121 of Israel 3478 gathered 622 together and camped 2583 in Mizpah 4709.
18 The people 5971, the leaders 8269 of Gilead 1568, said 559 to one 376 another 7453, "Who 4310 is the man 376 who 834 will begin 2490 to fight 3898 against the sons 1121 of Ammon 5983? He shall become 1961 head 7218 over all 3605 the inhabitants 3427 of Gilead 1568."

Chapter 11


1

Jephthah the Ninth Judge

Now Jephthah 3316 the Gileadite 1569 was a valiant 2428 warrior 1368, but he was the son 1121 of a harlot. And Gilead 1568 was the father 3205 of Jephthah 3316.
2 Gilead's 1568 wife 802 bore 3205 him sons 1121; and when his wife's 802 sons 1121 grew 1431 up, they drove 1644 Jephthah 3316 out and said 559 to him, "You shall not have 5157 an inheritance 5157 in our father's 1 house 1004, for you are the son 1121 of another 312 woman 802."
3 So Jephthah 3316 fled 1272 from his brothers 251 and lived 3427 in the land 776 of Tob 2897; and worthless 7386 fellows 376 gathered 3950 themselves about 413 Jephthah 3316, and they went 3318 out with him.
4 ¶ It came 1961 about after 4480 a while 3117 that the sons 1121 of Ammon 5983 fought 3898 against 5973 Israel 3478.
5 When 3512 the sons 1121 of Ammon 5983 fought 3898 against 5973 Israel 3478, the elders 2205 of Gilead 1568 went 1980 to get 3947 Jephthah 3316 from the land 776 of Tob 2897;
6 and they said 559 to Jephthah 3316, "Come 1980 and be our chief 7101 that we may fight 3898 against the sons 1121 of Ammon 5983."
7 Then Jephthah 3316 said 559 to the elders 2205 of Gilead 1568, "Did you not hate 8130 me and drive 1644 me from my father's 1 house 1004? So why 4069 have you come 935 to me now 6258 when 3512 you are in trouble 6887?"
8 The elders 2205 of Gilead 1568 said 559 to Jephthah 3316, "For this 3651 reason 3651 we have now 6258 returned 7725 to you, that you may go 1980 with us and fight 3898 with the sons 1121 of Ammon 5983 and become 1961 head 7218 over all 3605 the inhabitants 3427 of Gilead 1568."
9 So Jephthah 3316 said 559 to the elders 2205 of Gilead 1568, "If 518 you take 7725 me back 7725 to fight 3898 against the sons 1121 of Ammon 5983 and the LORD 3068 gives 5414 them up to me, will I become 1961 your head 7218?"
10 The elders 2205 of Gilead 1568 said 559 to Jephthah 3316, "The LORD 3068 is witness 8085 between 996 us; surely we will do 6213 as you have said 1697."
11 Then Jephthah 3316 went 1980 with the elders 2205 of Gilead 1568, and the people 5971 made 7760 him head 7218 and chief 7101 over 5921 them; and Jephthah 3316 spoke 1696 all 3605 his words 1697 before 6440 the LORD 3068 at Mizpah 4709.
12 ¶ Now Jephthah 3316 sent 7971 messengers 4397 to the king 4428 of the sons 1121 of Ammon 5983, saying 559, "What 4100 is between you and me, that you have come 935 to me to fight 3898 against my land 776?"
13 The king 4428 of the sons 1121 of Ammon 5983 said 559 to the messengers 4397 of Jephthah 3316, "Because 3588 Israel 3478 took 3947 away my land 776 when they came 5927 up from Egypt 4714, from the Arnon 769 as far 5704 as the Jabbok 2999 and the Jordan 3383; therefore, return 7725 them peaceably 7965 now 6258."
14 But Jephthah 3316 sent 7971 messengers 4397 again to the king 4428 of the sons 1121 of Ammon 5983,
15 and they said 559 to him, "Thus 3541 says 559 Jephthah 3316, 'Israel 3478 did not take 3947 away the land 776 of Moab 4124 nor 3808 the land 776 of the sons 1121 of Ammon 5983.
16 'For when they came 5927 up from Egypt 4714, and Israel 3478 went 1980 through the wilderness 4057 to the Red Sea 3220 and came 935 to Kadesh 6946,
17 then Israel 3478 sent 7971 messengers 4397 to the king 4428 of Edom 112, saying 559, "Please 4994 let us pass 5674 through your land 776," but the king 4428 of Edom 112 would not listen 8085. And they also 1571 sent 7971 to the king 4428 of Moab 4124, but he would not consent 14. So Israel 3478 remained 3427 at Kadesh 6946.
18 'Then they went 1980 through the wilderness 4057 and around 5437 the land 776 of Edom 112 and the land 776 of Moab 4124, and came 935 to the east side of the land 776 of Moab 4124, and they camped 2583 beyond 5676 the Arnon 769; but they did not enter 935 the territory 1366 of Moab 4124, for the Arnon 769 {was} the border 1366 of Moab 4124.
19 'And Israel 3478 sent 7971 messengers 4397 to Sihon 5511 king 4428 of the Amorites 567, the king 4428 of Heshbon 2809, and Israel 3478 said 559 to him, "Please 4994 let us pass 5674 through your land 776 to our place 4725."
20 'But Sihon 5511 did not trust 539 Israel 3478 to pass 5674 through his territory 1366; so Sihon 5511 gathered 622 all 3605 his people 5971 and camped 2583 in Jahaz 3096 and fought 3898 with Israel 3478.
21 'The LORD 3068, the God 430 of Israel 3478, gave 5414 Sihon 5511 and all 3605 his people 5971 into the hand 3027 of Israel 3478, and they defeated 5221 them; so Israel 3478 possessed 3423 all 3605 the land 776 of the Amorites 567, the inhabitants 3427 of that country 776.
22 'So they possessed 3423 all 3605 the territory 1366 of the Amorites 567, from the Arnon 769 as far 5704 as the Jabbok 2999, and from the wilderness 4057 as far 5704 as the Jordan 3383.
23 'Since now 6258 the LORD 3068, the God 430 of Israel 3478, drove 3423 out the Amorites 567 from before 6440 His people 5971 Israel 3478, are you then to possess 3423 it?
24 'Do you not possess 3423 what 834 Chemosh 3645 your god 430 gives 3423 you to possess 3423? So whatever the LORD 3068 our God 430 has driven 3423 out before us, we will possess 3423 it.
25 'Now 6258 are you any 2895 better 2896 than 4480 Balak 1111 the son 1121 of Zippor 6834, king 4428 of Moab 4124? Did he ever 7378 strive 7378 with Israel 3478, or 518 did he ever 3898 fight 3898 against them?
26 'While Israel 3478 lived 3427 in Heshbon 2809 and its villages 1323, and in Aroer 6177 and its villages 1323, and in all 3605 the cities 5892 that are on the banks 3027 of the Arnon 769, three 7969 hundred 3967 years 8141, why 4069 did you not recover 5337 them within that time 6256?
27 'I therefore have not sinned 2398 against you, but you are doing 6213 me wrong 7463 by making 3898 war 3898 against me; may the LORD 3068, the Judge 8199, judge 8199 today 3117 between 996 the sons 1121 of Israel 3478 and the sons 1121 of Ammon 5983.'"
28 But the king 4428 of the sons 1121 of Ammon 5983 disregarded the message 1697 which 834 Jephthah 3316 sent 7971 him.
29

Jephthah's Tragic Vow

¶ Now the Spirit 7307 of the LORD 3068 came 1961 upon Jephthah 3316, so that he passed 5674 through 5674 Gilead 1568 and Manasseh 4519; then he passed 5674 through 5674 Mizpah 4708 of Gilead 1568, and from Mizpah 4708 of Gilead 1568 he went 5674 on to the sons 1121 of Ammon 5983.
30 Jephthah 3316 made 5087 a vow 5088 to the LORD 3068 and said 559, "If 518 You will indeed 5414 give 5414 the sons 1121 of Ammon 5983 into my hand 3027,
31 then it shall be that whatever 834 comes 3318 out of the doors 1817 of my house 1004 to meet 7122 me when I return 7725 in peace 7965 from the sons 1121 of Ammon 5983, it shall be the LORD'S 3068, and I will offer 5927 it up as a burnt 5930 offering 5930."
32 So Jephthah 3316 crossed 5674 over 5674 to the sons 1121 of Ammon 5983 to fight 3898 against them; and the LORD 3068 gave 5414 them into his hand 3027.
33 He struck 5221 them with a very 3966 great 1419 slaughter 4347 from Aroer 6177 to the entrance 935 of Minnith 4511, twenty 6242 cities 5892, and as far 5704 as Abel-keramim 64. So the sons 1121 of Ammon 5983 were subdued 3665 before the sons 1121 of Israel 3478.
34 ¶ When Jephthah 3316 came 935 to his house 1004 at Mizpah 4709, behold 2009, his daughter 1323 was coming 3318 out to meet 7122 him with tambourines 8596 and with dancing 4246. Now she was his one 3173 {and} only 7534 child 3173; besides 4480 her he had 369 no 369 son 1121 or 176 daughter 1323.
35 When he saw 7200 her, he tore 7167 his clothes 899 and said 559, "Alas 162, my daughter 1323! You have brought 3766 me very 3766 low 3766, and you are among those who trouble 5916 me; for I have given 6475 my word 6310 to the LORD 3068, and I cannot take 7725 {it} back 7725."
36 So she said 559 to him, "My father 1, you have given 6475 your word 6310 to the LORD 3068; do 6213 to me as you have said, since the LORD 3068 has avenged 5360 you of your enemies 340, the sons 1121 of Ammon 5983."
37 She said 559 to her father 1, "Let this 2088 thing 1697 be done 6213 for me; let 7503 me alone two 8147 months 2320, that I may go to the mountains 2022 and weep 1058 because 5921 of my virginity 1331, I and my companions 7464."
38 Then he said 559, "Go 1980." So he sent 7971 her away 7971 for two 8147 months 2320; and she left 1980 with her companions 7464, and wept 1058 on the mountains 2022 because 5921 of her virginity 1331.
39 At the end 7093 of two 8147 months 2320 she returned 7725 to her father 1, who did 6213 to her according to the vow 5088 which 834 he had made 5087; and she had 3045 no 3808 relations 3045 with a man 376. Thus it became 1961 a custom 2706 in Israel 3478,
40 that the daughters 1323 of Israel 3478 went 1980 yearly 3117 to commemorate 8567 the daughter 1323 of Jephthah 3316 the Gileadite 1569 four 702 days 3117 in the year 8141.

Chapter 12


1

Jephthah and His Successors

Then the men 376 of Ephraim 669 were summoned 6817, and they crossed 5674 to Zaphon 6829 and said 559 to Jephthah 3316, "Why 4069 did you cross 5674 over 5674 to fight 3898 against the sons 1121 of Ammon 5983 without 3808 calling 7121 us to go 1980 with you? We will burn 8313 your house 1004 down on you."
2 Jephthah 3316 said 559 to them, "I and my people 5971 were at great 3966 strife 7379 with the sons 1121 of Ammon 5983; when I called 2199 you, you did not deliver 3467 me from their hand 3027.
3 "When I saw 7200 that you would not deliver 3467 {me,} I took 7760 my life 5315 in my hands 3709 and crossed 5674 over 5674 against 413 the sons 1121 of Ammon 5983, and the LORD 3068 gave 5414 them into my hand 3027. Why 4100 then have you come 5927 up to me this 2088 day 3117 to fight 3898 against me?"
4 Then Jephthah 3316 gathered 6908 all 3605 the men 376 of Gilead 1568 and fought 3898 Ephraim 669; and the men 376 of Gilead 1568 defeated 5221 Ephraim 669, because 3588 they said 559, "You are fugitives 6412 of Ephraim 669, O Gileadites 1568, in the midst 8432 of Ephraim 669 {and} in the midst 8432 of Manasseh 4519."
5 The Gileadites 1568 captured 3920 the fords 4569 of the Jordan 3383 opposite Ephraim 669. And it happened 1961 when 3588 {any of} the fugitives 6412 of Ephraim 669 said 559, "Let me cross 5674 over 5674," the men 376 of Gilead 1568 would say 559 to him, "Are you an Ephraimite 673?" If he said 559, "No 3808,"
6 then they would say 559 to him, "Say 559 now 4994, 'Shibboleth 7642.'" But he said 559, "Sibboleth 5451," for he could 3559 not pronounce 1696 it correctly 3651. Then they seized 270 him and slew 7819 him at the fords 4569 of the Jordan 3383. Thus there fell 5307 at that time 6256 42,000 of Ephraim 669.
7 ¶ Jephthah 3316 judged 8199 Israel 3478 six 8337 years 8141. Then Jephthah 3316 the Gileadite 1569 died 4191 and was buried 6912 in {one of} the cities 5892 of Gilead 1568.
8 ¶ Now Ibzan 78 of Bethlehem 1035 judged 8199 Israel 3478 after 310 him.
9 He had 1961 thirty 7970 sons 1121, and thirty 7970 daughters 1323 {whom} he gave 7971 in marriage outside 2351 {the family,} and he brought 935 in thirty 7970 daughters 1323 from outside 2351 for his sons 1121. And he judged 8199 Israel 3478 seven 7651 years 8141.
10 Then Ibzan 78 died 4191 and was buried 6912 in Bethlehem 1035.
11 ¶ Now Elon 356 the Zebulunite 2075 judged 8199 Israel 3478 after 310 him; and he judged 8199 Israel 3478 ten 6235 years 8141.
12 Then Elon 356 the Zebulunite 2075 died 4191 and was buried 6912 at Aijalon 357 in the land 776 of Zebulun 2074.
13 ¶ Now Abdon 5658 the son 1121 of Hillel 1985 the Pirathonite 6553 judged 8199 Israel 3478 after 310 him.
14 He had 1961 forty 705 sons 1121 and thirty 7970 grandsons 1121 who rode 7392 on seventy 7657 donkeys 5895; and he judged 8199 Israel 3478 eight 8083 years 8141.
15 Then Abdon 5658 the son 1121 of Hillel 1985 the Pirathonite 6553 died 4191 and was buried 6912 at Pirathon 6552 in the land 776 of Ephraim 669, in the hill 2022 country 2022 of the Amalekites 6003.

Chapter 13


1

Philistines Oppress Again

Now the sons 1121 of Israel 3478 again 3254 did 6213 evil 7451 in the sight 5869 of the LORD 3068, so that the LORD 3068 gave 5414 them into the hands 3027 of the Philistines 6430 forty 705 years 8141.
2 ¶ There was a certain 259 man 376 of Zorah 6881, of the family 4940 of the Danites 1839, whose name 8034 was Manoah 4495; and his wife 802 was barren 6135 and had borne 3205 no 3808 {children.}
3 Then the angel 4397 of the LORD 3068 appeared 7200 to the woman 802 and said 559 to her, "Behold 2009 now 4994, you are barren 6135 and have borne 3205 no 3808 {children,} but you shall conceive 2029 and give 3205 birth 3205 to a son 1121.
4 "Now 6258 therefore, be careful 8104 not to drink 8354 wine 3196 or strong 7941 drink 7941, nor 408 eat 398 any 3605 unclean 2931 thing 2931.
5 "For behold 2009, you shall conceive 2030 and give 3205 birth 3205 to a son 1121, and no 3808 razor 4177 shall come 5927 upon his head 7218, for the boy 5288 shall be a Nazirite 5139 to God 430 from the womb 990; and he shall begin 2490 to deliver 3467 Israel 3478 from the hands 3027 of the Philistines 6430."
6 Then the woman 802 came 935 and told 559 her husband 376, saying 559, "A man 376 of God 430 came 935 to me and his appearance 4758 was like the appearance 4758 of the angel 4397 of God 430, very 3966 awesome 3372. And I did not ask 7592 him where 335 he {came} from, nor 3808 did he tell 5046 me his name 8034.
7 "But he said 559 to me, 'Behold 2009, you shall conceive 2030 and give 3205 birth 3205 to a son 1121, and now 6258 you shall not drink 8354 wine 3196 or strong 7941 drink 7941 nor 408 eat 398 any 3605 unclean 2932 thing 2932, for the boy 5288 shall be a Nazirite 5139 to God 430 from the womb 990 to the day 3117 of his death 4194.'"
8 ¶ Then Manoah 4495 entreated 6279 the LORD 3068 and said 559, "O 994 Lord 136, please let the man 376 of God 430 whom 834 You have sent 7971 come 935 to us again 5750 that he may teach 3384 us what 4100 to do 6213 for the boy 5288 who is to be born 3205."
9 God 430 listened 8085 to the voice 6963 of Manoah 4495; and the angel 4397 of God 430 came 935 again 5750 to the woman 802 as she was sitting 3427 in the field 7704, but Manoah 4495 her husband 376 was not with her.
10 So the woman 802 ran 7323 quickly 4116 and told 5046 her husband 376, "Behold 2009, the man 376 who 834 came 935 the {other} day 3117 has appeared 7200 to me."
11 Then Manoah 4495 arose 6965 and followed his wife 802, and when he came 935 to the man 376 he said 559 to him, "Are you the man 376 who 834 spoke 1696 to the woman 802?" And he said 559, "I am."
12 Manoah 4495 said 559, "Now 6258 when your words 1697 come 935 {to pass,} what 4100 shall be the boy's 5288 mode 4941 of life 4941 and his vocation 4639?"
13 So the angel 4397 of the LORD 3068 said 559 to Manoah 4495, "Let the woman 802 pay 8104 attention 8104 to all 3605 that I said 559.
14 "She should not eat 398 anything 3605 that comes 3318 from the vine 1612 nor 408 drink 8354 wine 3196 or strong 7941 drink 7941, nor 408 eat 398 any 3605 unclean 2932 thing 2932; let her observe 8104 all 3605 that I commanded 6680."
15 ¶ Then Manoah 4495 said 559 to the angel 4397 of the LORD 3068, "Please 4994 let us detain 6113 you so that we may prepare 6213 a young goat for you."
16 The angel 4397 of the LORD 3068 said 559 to Manoah 4495, "Though 518 you detain 6113 me, I will not eat 398 your food 3899, but if 518 you prepare 6213 a burnt 5930 offering 5930, {then} offer 5927 it to the LORD 3068." For Manoah 4495 did not know 3045 that he was the angel 4397 of the LORD 3068.
17 Manoah 4495 said 559 to the angel 4397 of the LORD 3068, "What 4310 is your name 8034, so that when your words 1697 come 935 {to pass,} we may honor 3513 you?"
18 But the angel 4397 of the LORD 3068 said 559 to him, "Why 4100 do you ask 7592 my name 8034, seeing it is wonderful 6383?"
19 So Manoah 4495 took 3947 the young goat with the grain offering 4503 and offered 5927 it on the rock 6697 to the LORD 3068, and He performed 6213 wonders 6381 while Manoah 4495 and his wife 802 looked 7200 on.
20 For it came 1961 about when the flame 3851 went 5927 up from the altar 4196 toward heaven 8064, that the angel 4397 of the LORD 3068 ascended 5927 in the flame 3851 of the altar 4196. When Manoah 4495 and his wife 802 saw 7200 {this,} they fell 5307 on their faces 6440 to the ground 776.
21 ¶ Now the angel 4397 of the LORD 3068 did not appear 7200 to Manoah 4495 or his wife 802 again. Then 227 Manoah 4495 knew 3045 that he was the angel 4397 of the LORD 3068.
22 So Manoah 4495 said 559 to his wife 802, "We will surely 4191 die 4191, for we have seen 7200 God 430."
23 But his wife 802 said 559 to him, "If 3863 the LORD 3068 had desired 2654 to kill 4191 us, He would not have accepted 3947 a burnt 5930 offering 5930 and a grain offering 4503 from our hands 3027, nor 3808 would He have shown 7200 us all 3605 these 428 things 428, nor 3808 would He have let us hear 8085 {things} like this 2088 at this time 6256."
24 ¶ Then the woman 802 gave 3205 birth 3205 to a son 1121 and named him Samson 8123; and the child 5288 grew 1431 up and the LORD 3068 blessed 1288 him.
25 And the Spirit 7307 of the LORD 3068 began 2490 to stir 6470 him in Mahaneh-dan 4265, between 996 Zorah 6881 and Eshtaol 847.

Chapter 14


1

Samson's Marriage

Then Samson 8123 went 3381 down 3381 to Timnah 8553 and saw 7200 a woman 802 in Timnah 8553, {one} of the daughters 1323 of the Philistines 6430.
2 So he came 5927 back 5927 and told 5046 his father 1 and mother 517, "I saw 7200 a woman 802 in Timnah 8553, {one} of the daughters 1323 of the Philistines 6430; now 6258 therefore, get 3947 her for me as a wife 802."
3 Then his father 1 and his mother 517 said 559 to him, "Is there 369 no 369 woman 802 among the daughters 1323 of your relatives 251, or among all 3605 our people 5971, that you go 1980 to take 3947 a wife 802 from the uncircumcised 6189 Philistines 6430?" But Samson 8123 said 559 to his father 1, "Get 3947 her for me, for she looks good 3474 to me."
4 However, his father 1 and mother 517 did not know 3045 that it was of the LORD 3068, for He was seeking 1245 an occasion 8385 against 4480 the Philistines 6430. Now at that time 6256 the Philistines 6430 were ruling 4910 over Israel 3478.
5 ¶ Then Samson 8123 went 3381 down 3381 to Timnah 8553 with his father 1 and mother 517, and came 935 as far 5704 as the vineyards 3754 of Timnah 8553; and behold 2009, a young 3715 lion 738 {came} roaring 7580 toward 7122 him.
6 The Spirit 7307 of the LORD 3068 came 6743 upon him mightily 6743, so that he tore 8156 him as one tears 8156 a young 1423 goat 1423 though he had 369 nothing in his hand 3027; but he did not tell 5046 his father 1 or mother 517 what 834 he had done 6213.
7 So he went 3381 down 3381 and talked 1696 to the woman 802; and she looked good 3474 to Samson 8123.
8 When he returned 7725 later to take 3947 her, he turned 5493 aside 5493 to look 7200 at the carcass 4658 of the lion 743; and behold 2009, a swarm 5712 of bees 1682 and honey 1706 were in the body 1472 of the lion 743.
9 So he scraped 7287 the honey into his hands 3709 and went 1980 on, eating 398 as he went 1980. When he came 1980 to his father 1 and mother 517, he gave 5414 {some} to them and they ate 398 {it;} but he did not tell 5046 them that he had scraped 7287 the honey 1706 out of the body 1472 of the lion 743.
10 ¶ Then his father 1 went 3381 down 3381 to the woman 802; and Samson 8123 made 6213 a feast 4960 there 8033, for the young 970 men 970 customarily did 6213 this 3651.
11 When they saw 7200 him, they brought 3947 thirty 7970 companions 4828 to be with him.
12

Samson's Riddle

Then Samson 8123 said 559 to them, "Let me now 4994 propound 2330 a riddle 2420 to you; if 518 you will indeed 5046 tell 5046 it to me within the seven 7651 days 3117 of the feast 4960, and find 4672 it out, then I will give 5414 you thirty 7970 linen 5466 wraps 5466 and thirty 7970 changes 2487 of clothes 899.
13 "But if 518 you are unable to tell 5046 me, then you shall give 5414 me thirty 7970 linen 5466 wraps 5466 and thirty 7970 changes 2487 of clothes 899." And they said 559 to him, "Propound 2330 your riddle 2420, that we may hear 8085 it."
14 So he said 559 to them, "Out of the eater 398 came 3318 something 3978 to eat 3978, And out of the strong 5794 came 3318 something 4966 sweet 4966." But they could 3201 not tell 5046 the riddle 2420 in three 7969 days 3117.
15 ¶ Then it came 1961 about on the fourth 7637 day 3117 that they said 559 to Samson's 8123 wife 802, "Entice 6601 your husband 376, so that he will tell 5046 us the riddle 2420, or 6435 we will burn 8313 you and your father's 1 house 1004 with fire 784. Have you invited 7121 us to impoverish 3423 us? Is this not {so?}"
16 Samson's 8123 wife 802 wept 1058 before 5921 him and said 559, "You only 7534 hate 8130 me, and you do not love 157 me; you have propounded 2330 a riddle 2420 to the sons 1121 of my people 5971, and have not told 5046 {it} to me." And he said 559 to her, "Behold 2009, I have not told 5046 {it} to my father 1 or mother 517; so should I tell 5046 you?"
17 However she wept 1058 before 5921 him seven 7651 days 3117 while 834 their feast 4960 lasted 1961. And on the seventh 7637 day 3117 he told 5046 her because 3588 she pressed 6693 him so hard 6693. She then told 5046 the riddle 2420 to the sons 1121 of her people 5971.
18 So the men 376 of the city 5892 said 559 to him on the seventh 7637 day 3117 before 2962 the sun 2775 went 935 down, "What 4100 is sweeter 4966 than 4480 honey 1706? And what 4100 is stronger 5794 than 4480 a lion 738?" And he said 559 to them, "If 3884 you had not plowed 2790 with my heifer 5697, You would not have found 4672 out my riddle 2420."
19 Then the Spirit 7307 of the LORD 3068 came 6743 upon him mightily 6743, and he went 3381 down 3381 to Ashkelon 831 and killed 5221 thirty 7970 of them and took 3947 their spoil 2488 and gave 5414 the changes 2487 {of clothes} to those who told 5046 the riddle 2420. And his anger 639 burned 2734, and he went 5927 up to his father's 1 house 1004.
20 But Samson's 8123 wife 802 was {given} to his companion 4828 who 834 had been his friend 7462.

Chapter 15


1

Samson Burns Philistine Crops

But after 4480 a while 3117, in the time 3117 of wheat 2406 harvest 7105, Samson 8123 visited 6485 his wife 802 with a young 1423 goat 5795, and said 559, "I will go 935 in to my wife 802 in {her} room 2315." But her father 1 did not let 5414 him enter 935.
2 Her father 1 said 559, "I really 559 thought 559 that you hated 8130 her intensely 8130; so I gave 5414 her to your companion 4828. Is not her younger 6996 sister 269 more beautiful 2896 than 4480 she? Please 4994 let her be yours instead 8478."
3 Samson 8123 then said 559 to them, "This 6471 time 6471 I shall be blameless 5352 in regard 4480 to the Philistines 6430 when 3588 I do 6213 them harm 7463."
4 Samson 8123 went 1980 and caught 3920 three 7969 hundred 3967 foxes 7776, and took 3947 torches 3940, and turned 6437 {the foxes} tail 2180 to tail 2180 and put 7760 one 259 torch 3940 in the middle 8432 between 996 two 8147 tails 2180.
5 When he had set 1197 fire 784 to the torches 3940, he released 7971 the foxes into the standing 7054 grain 7054 of the Philistines 6430, thus burning 1197 up both 4480 the shocks 1430 and the standing 7054 grain 7054, along 5704 with the vineyards 3754 {and} groves 2132.
6 Then the Philistines 6430 said 559, "Who 4310 did 6213 this 2088?" And they said 559, "Samson 8123, the son-in-law 2860 of the Timnite 8554, because 3588 he took 3947 his wife 802 and gave 5414 her to his companion 4828." So the Philistines 6430 came 5927 up and burned 8313 her and her father 1 with fire 784.
7 Samson 8123 said 559 to them, "Since 518 you act 6213 like this 2088, I will surely take 5358 revenge 5358 on you, but after 310 that I will quit 2308."
8 He struck 5221 them ruthlessly with a great 1419 slaughter 4347; and he went 3381 down 3381 and lived 3427 in the cleft 5585 of the rock 5553 of Etam 5862.
9 ¶ Then the Philistines 6430 went 5927 up and camped 2583 in Judah 3063, and spread 6566 out in Lehi 3896.
10 The men 376 of Judah 3063 said 559, "Why 4100 have you come 5927 up against 5921 us?" And they said 559, "We have come 5927 up to bind 631 Samson 8123 in order to do 6213 to him as he did 6213 to us."
11 Then 3,000 men 376 of Judah 3063 went 3381 down 3381 to the cleft 5585 of the rock 5553 of Etam 5862 and said 559 to Samson 8123, "Do you not know 3045 that the Philistines 6430 are rulers 4910 over us? What 4100 then is this 2088 that you have done 6213 to us?" And he said 559 to them, "As they did 6213 to me, so 3651 I have done 6213 to them."
12 They said 559 to him, "We have come 3381 down 3381 to bind 631 you so that we may give 5414 you into the hands 3027 of the Philistines 6430." And Samson 8123 said 559 to them, "Swear 7650 to me that you will not kill 6293 me."
13 So they said 559 to him, "No 3808, but we will bind 631 you fast 631 and give 5414 you into their hands 3027; yet surely 4191 we will not kill 4191 you." Then they bound 631 him with two 8147 new 2319 ropes 5688 and brought 5927 him up from the rock 5553.
14 ¶ When he came 935 to Lehi 3896, the Philistines 6430 shouted 7321 as they met 7122 him. And the Spirit 7307 of the LORD 3068 came 6743 upon him mightily 6743 so that the ropes 5688 that were on his arms 2220 were as flax 6593 that is burned 1197 with fire 784, and his bonds 612 dropped 4549 from his hands 3027.
15 He found 4672 a fresh 2961 jawbone 3895 of a donkey 2543, so he reached out and took 3947 it and killed 5221 a thousand 505 men 376 with it.
16 Then Samson 8123 said 559, "With the jawbone 3895 of a donkey 2543, Heaps 2565 upon heaps 2565, With the jawbone 3895 of a donkey 2543 I have killed 5221 a thousand 505 men 376."
17 When he had finished 3615 speaking 1696, he threw 7993 the jawbone 3895 from his hand 3027; and he named 7121 that place 4725 Ramath-lehi 7437.
18 Then he became 6770 very 3966 thirsty 6770, and he called 7121 to the LORD 3068 and said 559, "You have given 5414 this 2088 great 1419 deliverance 8668 by the hand 3027 of Your servant 5650, and now 6258 shall I die 4191 of thirst 6772 and fall 5307 into the hands 3027 of the uncircumcised 6189?"
19 But God 430 split 1234 the hollow 4388 place that is in Lehi 3896 so that water 4325 came 3318 out of it. When he drank 8354, his strength 7307 returned 7725 and he revived 2421. Therefore he named it En-hakkore 5875, which 834 is in Lehi 3896 to this 2088 day 3117.
20 So he judged 8199 Israel 3478 twenty 6242 years 8141 in the days 3117 of the Philistines 6430.

Chapter 16


1

Samson's Weakness

Now Samson 8123 went 1980 to Gaza 5804 and saw 7200 a harlot there 8033, and went 935 in to her.
2 {When it was told} to the Gazites 5841, saying 559, "Samson 8123 has come 935 here 2008," they surrounded 5437 {the place} and lay 693 in wait 693 for him all 3605 night 3915 at the gate 8179 of the city 5892. And they kept 2790 silent 2790 all 3605 night 3915, saying 559, "{Let us wait} until 5704 the morning 1242 light 216, then we will kill 2026 him."
3 Now Samson 8123 lay 7901 until 5704 midnight, and at midnight he arose 6965 and took 270 hold 270 of the doors 1817 of the city 5892 gate 8179 and the two 8147 posts 4201 and pulled 5265 them up along 5973 with the bars 1280; then he put 7760 them on his shoulders 3802 and carried 5927 them up to the top 7218 of the mountain 2022 which 834 is opposite Hebron 2275.
4 ¶ After 310 this 3651 it came 1961 about that he loved 157 a woman 802 in the valley 5158 of Sorek 7796, whose name 8034 was Delilah 1807.
5 The lords 5633 of the Philistines 6430 came 5927 up to her and said 559 to her, "Entice 6601 him, and see 7200 where 4100 his great 1419 strength 3581 {lies} and how 4100 we may overpower 3201 him that we may bind 631 him to afflict 6031 him. Then we will each 376 give 5414 you eleven hundred 3967 {pieces} of silver 3701."
6 So Delilah 1807 said 559 to Samson 8123, "Please 4994 tell 5046 me where 4100 your great 1419 strength 3581 is and how 4100 you may be bound 631 to afflict 6031 you."
7 Samson 8123 said 559 to her, "If 518 they bind 631 me with seven 7651 fresh 3892 cords 3499 that have not been dried 2717, then I will become 2470 weak 2470 and be like any 259 {other} man 120."
8 Then the lords 5633 of the Philistines 6430 brought 5927 up to her seven 7651 fresh 3892 cords 3499 that had not been dried 2717, and she bound 631 him with them.
9 Now she had 3427 {men} lying 693 in wait 693 in an inner 2315 room 2315. And she said 559 to him, "The Philistines 6430 are upon you, Samson 8123!" But he snapped 5423 the cords 3499 as a string 6616 of tow 5296 snaps 5423 when it touches 7381 fire 784. So his strength 3581 was not discovered 3045.
10 ¶ Then Delilah 1807 said 559 to Samson 8123, "Behold 2009, you have deceived 8524 me and told 1696 me lies 3577; now 6258 please 4994 tell 5046 me how 4100 you may be bound 631."
11 He said 559 to her, "If 518 they bind 631 me tightly 631 with new 2319 ropes 5688 which 834 have not been used 4399, then I will become 2470 weak 2470 and be like any 259 {other} man 120."
12 So Delilah 1807 took 3947 new 2319 ropes 5688 and bound 631 him with them and said 559 to him, "The Philistines 6430 are upon you, Samson 8123!" For the {men} were lying 693 in wait 693 in the inner 2315 room 2315. But he snapped 5423 the ropes from his arms 2220 like a thread 2339.
13 ¶ Then Delilah 1807 said 559 to Samson 8123, "Up to now 2008 you have deceived 8524 me and told 1696 me lies 3577; tell 5046 me how 4100 you may be bound 631." And he said 559 to her, "If 518 you weave 707 the seven 7651 locks 4253 of my hair 7218 with the web 4545 [and fasten 8628 it with a pin 3489, then I will become weak 2470 and be like any 259 other man 120."
14 So while he slept 3462, Delilah took the seven 7651 locks 4253 of his hair 7218 and wove them into the web 4545]. And she fastened 8628 {it} with the pin 3489 and said 559 to him, "The Philistines 6430 are upon you, Samson 8123!" But he awoke 3364 from his sleep 8142 and pulled 5265 out the pin 3489 of the loom 708 and the web 4545.
15

Delilah Extracts His Secret

¶ Then she said 559 to him, "How 349 can you say 559, 'I love 157 you,' when your heart 3820 is not with me? You have deceived 8524 me these 2088 three 7969 times 6471 and have not told 5046 me where 4100 your great 1419 strength 3581 is."
16 It came 1961 about when 3588 she pressed 6693 him daily 3117 with her words 1697 and urged 509 him, that his soul 5315 was annoyed 7114 to death 4191.
17 So he told 5046 her all 3605 {that was} in his heart 3820 and said 559 to her, "A razor 4177 has never 3808 come 5927 on my head 7218, for I have been a Nazirite 5139 to God 430 from my mother's 517 womb 990. If 518 I am shaved 1548, then my strength 3581 will leave me and I will become 2470 weak 2470 and be like any 3605 {other} man 120."
18 ¶ When Delilah 1807 saw 7200 that he had told 5046 her all 3605 {that was} in his heart 3820, she sent 7971 and called 7121 the lords 5633 of the Philistines 6430, saying 559, "Come 5927 up once 6471 more 6471, for he has told 5046 me all 3605 {that is} in his heart 3820." Then the lords 5633 of the Philistines 6430 came 5927 up to her and brought 5927 the money 3701 in their hands 3027.
19 She made him sleep 3462 on her knees 1290, and called 7121 for a man 376 and had him shave 1548 off 1548 the seven 7651 locks 4253 of his hair 7218. Then she began 2490 to afflict 6031 him, and his strength 3581 left 5493 him.
20 She said 559, "The Philistines 6430 are upon you, Samson 8123!" And he awoke 3364 from his sleep 8142 and said 559, "I will go 3318 out as at other 6471 times 6471 and shake 5287 myself free 5287." But he did not know 3045 that the LORD 3068 had departed 5493 from him.
21 Then the Philistines 6430 seized 270 him and gouged 5365 out his eyes 5869; and they brought 3381 him down 3381 to Gaza 5804 and bound 631 him with bronze 5178 chains 5178, and he was a grinder 2912 in the prison.
22 However, the hair 8181 of his head 7218 began 2490 to grow 6779 again after 3512 it was shaved 1548 off 1548.
23 ¶ Now the lords 5633 of the Philistines 6430 assembled 622 to offer 2076 a great 1419 sacrifice 2077 to Dagon 1712 their god 430, and to rejoice 8057, for they said 559, "Our god 430 has given 5414 Samson 8123 our enemy 340 into our hands 3027."
24 When the people 5971 saw 7200 him, they praised 1984 their god 430, for they said 559, "Our god 430 has given 5414 our enemy 340 into our hands 3027, Even the destroyer 2717 of our country 776, Who 834 has slain 2491 many 7235 of us."
25 It so happened 1961 when they were in high 2895 spirits 3820, that they said 559, "Call 7121 for Samson 8123, that he may amuse 7832 us." So they called 7121 for Samson 8123 from the prison, and he entertained them. And they made him stand 5975 between 996 the pillars 5982.
26 Then Samson 8123 said 559 to the boy 5288 who was holding 2388 his hand 3027, "Let me feel 4184 the pillars 5982 on which 834 the house 1004 rests 3559, that I may lean 8172 against 5921 them."
27 Now the house 1004 was full 4390 of men 376 and women 802, and all 3605 the lords 5633 of the Philistines 6430 were there 8033. And about 3,000 men 376 and women 802 were on the roof 1406 looking 7200 on while Samson 8123 was amusing 7832 {them.}
28

Samson Is Avenged

Then Samson 8123 called 7121 to the LORD 3068 and said 559, "O Lord 136 GOD 3068, please 4994 remember 2142 me and please 4994 strengthen 2388 me just 389 this 2088 time 6471, O God 430, that I may at once 259 be avenged 5358 of the Philistines 6430 for my two 8147 eyes 5869."
29 Samson 8123 grasped 3943 the two 8147 middle 8432 pillars 5982 on which 834 the house 1004 rested 3559, and braced 5564 himself against 5921 them, the one 259 with his right 3225 hand 3225 and the other 259 with his left 8040.
30 And Samson 8123 said 559, "Let me die 4191 with the Philistines 6430!" And he bent 5186 with all his might 3581 so that the house 1004 fell 5307 on the lords 5633 and all 3605 the people 5971 who 834 were in it. So the dead 4191 whom 834 he killed 4191 at his death 4194 were more 7227 than 4480 those whom 834 he killed 4191 in his life 2425.
31 Then his brothers 251 and all 3605 his father's 1 household 1004 came 3381 down 3381, took 5375 him, brought 5927 him up and buried 6912 him between 996 Zorah 6881 and Eshtaol 847 in the tomb 6913 of Manoah 4495 his father 1. Thus he had judged 8199 Israel 3478 twenty 6242 years 8141.

Chapter 17


1

Micah's Idolatry

Now there was a man 376 of the hill 2022 country 2022 of Ephraim 669 whose name 8034 was Micah 4321.
2 He said 559 to his mother 517, "The eleven hundred 3967 {pieces} of silver 3701 which 834 were taken 3947 from you, about which you uttered 422 a curse 422 in my hearing 241, behold 2009, the silver 3701 is with me; I took 3947 it." And his mother 517 said 559, "Blessed 1288 be my son 1121 by the LORD 3068."
3 He then returned 7725 the eleven hundred 3967 {pieces} of silver 3701 to his mother 517, and his mother 517 said 559, "I wholly 6942 dedicate 6942 the silver 3701 from my hand 3027 to the LORD 3068 for my son 1121 to make 6213 a graven 6459 image 6459 and a molten 4541 image 4541; now 6258 therefore, I will return 7725 them to you."
4 So when he returned 7725 the silver 3701 to his mother 517, his mother 517 took 3947 two hundred 3967 {pieces} of silver 3701 and gave 5414 them to the silversmith 6884 who made 6213 them into a graven 6459 image 6459 and a molten 4541 image 4541, and they were in the house 1004 of Micah 4321.
5 And the man 376 Micah 4318 had a shrine and he made 6213 an ephod 646 and household 8655 idols 8655 and consecrated one 259 of his sons 1121, that he might become 1961 his priest 3548.
6 In those 1992 days 3117 there 369 was no 369 king 4428 in Israel 3478; every 376 man 376 did 6213 what 3477 was right 3477 in his own eyes 5869.
7 ¶ Now there was a young 5288 man 5288 from Bethlehem 1035 in Judah 3063, of the family 4940 of Judah 3063, who 1931 was a Levite 3881; and he was staying 1481 there 8033.
8 Then the man 376 departed 1980 from the city 5892, from Bethlehem 1035 in Judah 3063, to stay 1481 wherever 834 he might find 4672 {a place;} and as he made 6213 his journey 1870, he came 935 to the hill 2022 country 2022 of Ephraim 669 to the house 1004 of Micah 4318.
9 Micah 4318 said 559 to him, "Where 370 do you come 935 from?" And he said 559 to him, "I am a Levite 3881 from Bethlehem 1035 in Judah 3063, and I am going 1980 to stay 1481 wherever 834 I may find 4672 {a place.}"
10 Micah 4318 then said 559 to him, "Dwell 3427 with me and be a father 1 and a priest 3548 to me, and I will give 5414 you ten 6235 {pieces} of silver 3701 a year 3117, a suit 6187 of clothes 899, and your maintenance 4241." So the Levite 3881 went 1980 {in.}
11 The Levite 3881 agreed 2974 to live 3427 with the man 376, and the young 5288 man 5288 became 1961 to him like one 259 of his sons 1121.
12 So Micah 4318 consecrated the Levite 3881, and the young 5288 man 5288 became 1961 his priest 3548 and lived 1961 in the house 1004 of Micah 4318.
13 Then Micah 4318 said 559, "Now 6258 I know 3045 that the LORD 3068 will prosper 3190 me, seeing 3588 I have 1961 a Levite 3881 as priest 3548."

Chapter 18


1

Danites Seek Territory

In those 1992 days 3117 there 369 was no 369 king 4428 of Israel 3478; and in those 1992 days 3117 the tribe 7626 of the Danites 1839 was seeking 1245 an inheritance 5159 for themselves to live 3427 in, for until 5704 that day 3117 an inheritance 5159 had not been allotted 5307 to them as a possession 5159 among 8432 the tribes 7626 of Israel 3478.
2 So the sons 1121 of Dan 1835 sent 7971 from their family 4940 five 2568 men 376 out of their whole 7098 number 7098, valiant 2428 men 376 from Zorah 6881 and Eshtaol 847, to spy 7270 out the land 776 and to search 2713 it; and they said 559 to them, "Go 1980, search 2713 the land 776." And they came 935 to the hill 2022 country 2022 of Ephraim 669, to the house 1004 of Micah 4318, and lodged 3885 there 8033.
3 When they were near 5973 the house 1004 of Micah 4318, they recognized 5234 the voice 6963 of the young 5288 man 5288, the Levite 3881; and they turned 5493 aside 5493 there 8033 and said 559 to him, "Who 4310 brought 935 you here 1988? And what 4100 are you doing 6213 in this 2088 {place?} And what 4100 do you have here 6311?"
4 He said 559 to them, "Thus 2090 and so 2088 has Micah 4318 done 6213 to me, and he has hired 7936 me and I have 1961 become 1961 his priest 3548."
5 They said 559 to him, "Inquire 7592 of God 430, please 4994, that we may know 3045 whether our way 1870 on which 834 we are going 1980 will be prosperous 6743."
6 The priest 3548 said 559 to them, "Go 1980 in peace 7965; your way 1870 in which 834 you are going 1980 has the LORD'S 3068 approval 5227."
7 ¶ Then the five 2568 men 376 departed 1980 and came 935 to Laish 3919 and saw 7200 the people 5971 who 834 were in it living 3427 in security 983, after the manner 4941 of the Sidonians 6722, quiet 8252 and secure 982; for there 369 was no 369 ruler humiliating 3637 {them} for anything 1697 in the land 776, and they were far 7350 from the Sidonians 6722 and had 369 no 369 dealings 1697 with anyone 120.
8 When they came 935 back to their brothers 251 at Zorah 6881 and Eshtaol 847, their brothers 251 said 559 to them, "What 4100 {do} you {report?}"
9 They said 559, "Arise 6965, and let us go 5927 up against 5921 them; for we have seen 7200 the land 776, and behold 2009, it is very 3966 good 2896. And will you sit 2814 still 2814? Do not delay 6101 to go 1980, to enter 935, to possess 3423 the land 776.
10 "When you enter 935, you will come 935 to a secure 982 people 5971 with a spacious land 776; for God 430 has given 5414 it into your hand 3027, a place 4725 where there 369 is no 369 lack 4270 of anything that is on the earth 776."
11 ¶ Then from the family 4940 of the Danites 1839, from Zorah 6881 and from Eshtaol 847, six 8337 hundred 3967 men 376 armed 2296 with weapons 3627 of war 4421 set 5265 out.
12 They went 5927 up and camped 2583 at Kiriath-jearim 7157 in Judah 3063. Therefore they called 7121 that place 4725 Mahaneh-dan 4265 to this 2088 day 3117; behold 2009, it is west 310 of Kiriath-jearim 7157.
13 They passed 5674 from there 8033 to the hill 2022 country 2022 of Ephraim 669 and came 935 to the house 1004 of Micah 4318.
14

Danites Take Micah's Idols

¶ Then the five 2568 men 376 who went 1980 to spy 7270 out the country 776 of Laish 3919 said 559 to their kinsmen 251, "Do you know 3045 that there 3426 are in these 428 houses 1004 an ephod 646 and household 8655 idols 8655 and a graven 6459 image 6459 and a molten 4541 image 4541? Now 6258 therefore, consider 3045 what 4100 you should do 6213."
15 They turned 5493 aside 5493 there 8033 and came 935 to the house 1004 of the young 5288 man 5288, the Levite 3881, to the house 1004 of Micah 4318, and asked 7592 him of his welfare 7965.
16 The six 8337 hundred 3967 men 376 armed 2296 with their weapons 3627 of war 4421, who 834 were of the sons 1121 of Dan 1835, stood 5324 by the entrance 6607 of the gate 8179.
17 Now the five 2568 men 376 who went 1980 to spy 7270 out the land 776 went 5927 up {and} entered 935 there 8033, {and} took 3947 the graven 6459 image 6459 and the ephod 646 and household 8655 idols 8655 and the molten 4541 image 4541, while the priest 3548 stood 5324 by the entrance 6607 of the gate 8179 with the six 8337 hundred 3967 men 376 armed 2296 with weapons 3627 of war 4421.
18 When these 428 went 935 into Micah's 4318 house 1004 and took 3947 the graven 6459 image 6459, the ephod 646 and household 8655 idols 8655 and the molten 4541 image 4541, the priest 3548 said 559 to them, "What 4100 are you doing 6213?"
19 They said 559 to him, "Be silent 2790, put 7760 your hand 3027 over 5921 your mouth 6310 and come 1980 with us, and be to us a father 1 and a priest 3548. Is it better 2896 for you to be a priest 3548 to the house 1004 of one 259 man 376, or 176 to be priest 3548 to a tribe 7626 and a family 4940 in Israel 3478?"
20 The priest's 3548 heart 3820 was glad 3190, and he took 3947 the ephod 646 and household 8655 idols 8655 and the graven 6459 image 6459 and went 935 among 7130 the people 5971.
21 ¶ Then they turned 6437 and departed 1980, and put 7760 the little 2945 ones 2945 and the livestock 4735 and the valuables 3520 in front 6440 of them.
22 When they had gone 7368 some 7368 distance 7368 from the house 1004 of Micah 4318, the men 376 who 834 {were} in the houses 1004 near 5973 Micah's 4318 house 1004 assembled 2199 and overtook 1692 the sons 1121 of Dan 1835.
23 They cried 7121 to the sons 1121 of Dan 1835, who turned 5437 around 6440 and said 559 to Micah 4318, "What 4100 is {the matter} with you, that you have assembled 2199 together 2199?"
24 He said 559, "You have taken 3947 away my gods 430 which 834 I made 6213, and the priest 3548, and have gone 1980 away, and what 4100 do I have besides 5750? So how can you say 559 to me, 'What 4100 is {the matter} with you?'"
25 The sons 1121 of Dan 1835 said 559 to him, "Do not let your voice 6963 be heard 8085 among 5973 us, or 6435 else 6435 fierce men 376 will fall 6293 upon you and you will lose 622 your life 5315, with the lives 5315 of your household 1004."
26 So the sons 1121 of Dan 1835 went 1980 on their way 1870; and when Micah 4318 saw 7200 that they were too 4480 strong 2389 for him, he turned 6437 and went 7725 back 7725 to his house 1004.
27 ¶ Then they took 3947 what 834 Micah 4318 had made 6213 and the priest 3548 who 834 had 1961 belonged 1961 to him, and came 935 to Laish 3919, to a people 5971 quiet 8252 and secure 982, and struck 5221 them with the edge 6310 of the sword 2719; and they burned 8313 the city 5892 with fire 784.
28 And there 369 was no 369 one 369 to deliver 5337 {them,} because 3588 it was far 7350 from Sidon 6721 and they had 369 no 369 dealings 1697 with anyone 120, and it was in the valley 6010 which 834 is near Beth-rehob 1050. And they rebuilt 1129 the city 5892 and lived 3427 in it.
29 They called 7121 the name 8034 of the city 5892 Dan 1835, after the name 8034 of Dan 1835 their father 1 who 834 was born 3205 in Israel 3478; however 199, the name 8034 of the city 5892 formerly 7223 was Laish 3919.
30 The sons 1121 of Dan 1835 set 6965 up for themselves the graven 6459 image 6459; and Jonathan 3083, the son 1121 of Gershom 1647, the son 1121 of Manasseh 4519, he and his sons 1121 were priests 3548 to the tribe 7626 of the Danites 1839 until 5704 the day 3117 of the captivity 1540 of the land 776.
31 So they set 7760 up for themselves Micah's 4318 graven 6459 image 6459 which 834 he had made 6213, all 3605 the time 3117 that the house 1004 of God 430 was at Shiloh 7887.

Chapter 19


1

A Levite's Concubine Degraded

Now it came 1961 about in those 1992 days 3117, when there 369 was no 369 king 4428 in Israel 3478, that there was a certain 376 Levite 3881 staying 1481 in the remote 3411 part 3411 of the hill 2022 country 2022 of Ephraim 669, who took 3947 a concubine 6370 for himself from Bethlehem 1035 in Judah 3063.
2 But his concubine 6370 played 2181 the harlot 2181 against 5921 him, and she went 1980 away from him to her father's 1 house 1004 in Bethlehem 1035 in Judah 3063, and was there 8033 for a period 3117 of four 702 months 2320.
3 Then her husband 376 arose 6965 and went 1980 after 310 her to speak 1696 tenderly 3820 to her in order to bring 7725 her back 7725, taking with him his servant 5288 and a pair 6776 of donkeys 2543. So she brought 935 him into her father's 1 house 1004, and when the girl's 5291 father 1 saw 7200 him, he was glad 8055 to meet 7122 him.
4 His father-in-law 2860, the girl's 5291 father 1, detained 2388 him; and he remained 3427 with him three 7969 days 3117. So they ate 398 and drank 8354 and lodged 3885 there 8033.
5 Now on the fourth 7243 day 3117 they got 7925 up early 7925 in the morning 1242, and he prepared 6965 to go 1980; and the girl's 5291 father 1 said 559 to his son-in-law 2860, "Sustain 5582 yourself 3820 with a piece 6595 of bread 3899, and afterward 310 you may go 1980."
6 So both 8147 of them sat 3427 down 3427 and ate 398 and drank 8354 together 3164; and the girl's 5291 father 1 said 559 to the man 376, "Please 4994 be willing 2974 to spend 3885 the night 3885, and let your heart 3820 be merry 3190."
7 Then the man 376 arose 6965 to go 1980, but his father-in-law 2860 urged 6484 him so that he spent 3885 the night 3885 there 8033 again 7725.
8 On the fifth 2549 day 3117 he arose 7925 to go 1980 early 7925 in the morning 1242, and the girl's 5291 father 1 said 559, "Please 4994 sustain 5582 yourself 3824, and wait 4102 until 5704 afternoon"; so both 8147 of them ate 398.
9 When the man 376 arose 6965 to go 1980 along with his concubine 6370 and servant 5288, his father-in-law 2860, the girl's 5291 father 1, said 559 to him, "Behold 2009 now 4994, the day 3117 has drawn 7503 to a close 6150; please 4994 spend 3885 the night 3885. Lo 2009, the day 3117 is coming 2583 to an end 2583; spend 3885 the night 3885 here 6311 that your heart 3824 may be merry 3190. Then tomorrow 4279 you may arise 7925 early 7925 for your journey 1870 so that you may go 1980 home 168."
10 ¶ But the man 376 was not willing 14 to spend 3885 the night 3885, so he arose 6965 and departed 1980 and came 935 to {a place} opposite 5227 Jebus 2982 (that is, Jerusalem 3389). And there were with him a pair 6776 of saddled 2280 donkeys 2543; his concubine 6370 also was with him.
11 When they {were} near 5973 Jebus 2982, the day 3117 was almost 3966 gone 7286; and the servant 5288 said 559 to his master 113, "Please 4994 come 1980, and let us turn 5493 aside 5493 into this 2088 city 5892 of the Jebusites 2983 and spend 3885 the night 3885 in it."
12 However, his master 113 said 559 to him, "We will not turn 5493 aside 5493 into the city 5892 of foreigners 5237 who 834 are not of the sons 1121 of Israel 3478; but we will go 5674 on as far 5704 as Gibeah 1390."
13 He said 559 to his servant 5288, "Come 1980 and let us approach 7126 one 259 of these places 4725; and we will spend 3885 the night 3885 in Gibeah 1390 or 176 Ramah 7414."
14 So they passed 5674 along 5674 and went 1980 their way, and the sun 8121 set 935 on them near 681 Gibeah 1390 which 834 belongs to Benjamin 1144.
15 They turned 5493 aside 5493 there 8033 in order to enter 935 {and} lodge 3885 in Gibeah 1390. When they entered 935, they sat 3427 down 3427 in the open 7339 square 7339 of the city 5892, for no 369 one 376 took 622 them into {his} house 1004 to spend 3885 the night 3885.
16 ¶ Then behold 2009, an old 2205 man 376 was coming 935 out of the field 7704 from his work 4639 at evening 6153. Now the man 376 was from the hill 2022 country 2022 of Ephraim 669, and he was staying 1481 in Gibeah 1390, but the men 376 of the place 4725 were Benjamites 1145.
17 And he lifted 5375 up his eyes 5869 and saw 7200 the traveler in the open 7339 square 7339 of the city 5892; and the old 2205 man 376 said 559, "Where 575 are you going 1980, and where 370 do you come 935 from?"
18 He said 559 to him, "We are passing 5674 from Bethlehem 1035 in Judah 3063 to the remote 3411 part 3411 of the hill 2022 country 2022 of Ephraim 669, {for} I am from there 8033, and I went 1980 to Bethlehem 1035 in Judah 3063. But I am {now} going 1980 to my house 1004, and no 369 man 376 will take 622 me into his house 1004.
19 "Yet there 3426 is both 1571 straw 8401 and fodder 4554 for our donkeys 2543, and also 1571 bread 3899 and wine 3196 for me, your maidservant 519, and the young 5288 man 5288 who is with your servants 5650; there 369 is no 369 lack 4270 of anything."
20 The old 2205 man 376 said 559, "Peace 7965 to you. Only 7534 let me {take care of} all 3605 your needs 4270; however 7534, do not spend 3885 the night 3885 in the open 7339 square 7339."
21 So he took 935 him into his house 1004 and gave 1101 the donkeys 2543 fodder 1101, and they washed 7364 their feet 7272 and ate 398 and drank 8354.
22 ¶ While they were celebrating, behold 2009, the men 376 of the city 5892, certain 376 worthless 1100 fellows 1121, surrounded 5437 the house 1004, pounding 1849 the door 1817; and they spoke 559 to the owner 1167 of the house 1004, the old 2205 man 376, saying 559, "Bring 3318 out the man 376 who 834 came 935 into your house 1004 that we may have 3045 relations 3045 with him."
23 Then the man 376, the owner 1167 of the house 1004, went 3318 out to them and said 559 to them, "No 408, my fellows 251, please 4994 do not act 7489 so wickedly 7489; since this 2088 man 376 has come 935 into my house 1004, do not commit 6213 this 2088 act 5039 of folly 5039.
24 "Here 2009 is my virgin 1330 daughter 1323 and his concubine 6370. Please 4994 let me bring 3318 them out that you may ravish 6031 them and do 6213 to them whatever you wish. But do not commit 6213 such 2088 an act 1697 of folly 5039 against this 2088 man 376."
25 But the men 376 would 14 not listen 8085 to him. So the man 376 seized 2388 his concubine 6370 and brought 3318 {her} out to them; and they raped 3045 her and abused 5953 her all 3605 night 3915 until 5704 morning 1242, then let 7971 her go 7971 at the approach 5927 of dawn 7837.
26 As the day 1242 began to dawn, the woman 802 came 935 and fell 5307 down 5307 at the doorway 6607 of the man's 376 house 1004 where her master 113 was, until 5704 {full} daylight 216.
27 ¶ When her master 113 arose 6965 in the morning 1242 and opened 6605 the doors 1817 of the house 1004 and went 3318 out to go 1980 on his way 1870, then behold 2009, his concubine 6370 was lying 5307 at the doorway 6607 of the house 1004 with her hands 3027 on the threshold 5592.
28 He said 559 to her, "Get 6965 up and let us go 1980," but there 369 was no 369 answer 6030. Then he placed 3947 her on the donkey 2543; and the man 376 arose 6965 and went 1980 to his home 4725.
29 When he entered 935 his house 1004, he took 3947 a knife 3979 and laid 2388 hold 2388 of his concubine 6370 and cut 5408 her in twelve pieces 5409, limb by limb 6106, and sent 7971 her throughout 3605 the territory 1366 of Israel 3478.
30 All 3605 who saw 7200 {it} said 559, "Nothing 3808 like this 2088 has {ever} happened 1961 or been seen 7200 from the day 3117 when the sons 1121 of Israel 3478 came 5927 up from the land 776 of Egypt 4714 to this 2088 day 3117. Consider 7760 it, take 5779 counsel 5779 and speak 1696 up!"

Chapter 20


1

Resolve to Punish the Guilty

Then all 3605 the sons 1121 of Israel 3478 from Dan 1835 to Beersheba 884, including the land 776 of Gilead 1568, came 3318 out, and the congregation 5712 assembled 6950 as one 259 man 376 to the LORD 3068 at Mizpah 4709.
2 The chiefs 6438 of all 3605 the people 5971, {even} of all 3605 the tribes 7626 of Israel 3478, took 3320 their stand 3320 in the assembly 6951 of the people 5971 of God 430, 400,000 foot 7273 soldiers 376 who drew 8025 the sword 2719.
3 (Now the sons 1121 of Benjamin 1144 heard 8085 that the sons 1121 of Israel 3478 had gone 5927 up to Mizpah 4709.) And the sons 1121 of Israel 3478 said 559, "Tell 1696 {us,} how 351 did this 2088 wickedness 7463 take 1961 place 1961?"
4 So the Levite 3881, the husband 376 of the woman 802 who was murdered 7523, answered 6030 and said 559, "I came 935 with my concubine 6370 to spend 3885 the night 3885 at Gibeah 1390 which 834 belongs to Benjamin 1144.
5 "But the men 1167 of Gibeah 1390 rose 6965 up against 5921 me and surrounded 5437 the house 1004 at night 3915 because 5921 of me. They intended 1819 to kill 2026 me; instead, they ravished 6031 my concubine 6370 so that she died 4191.
6 "And I took 270 hold 270 of my concubine 6370 and cut 5408 her in pieces 5408 and sent 7971 her throughout 3605 the land 7704 of Israel's 3478 inheritance 5159; for they have committed 6213 a lewd 2154 and disgraceful 5039 act 5039 in Israel 3478.
7 "Behold 2009, all 3605 you sons 1121 of Israel 3478, give 3051 your advice 1697 and counsel 6098 here 1988."
8 ¶ Then all 3605 the people 5971 arose 6965 as one 259 man 376, saying 559, "Not one 376 of us will go 1980 to his tent 168, nor 3808 will any 376 of us return 5493 to his house 1004.
9 "But now 6258 this 2088 is the thing 1697 which 834 we will do 6213 to Gibeah 1390; {we will go up} against 5921 it by lot 1486.
10 "And we will take 3947 10 6235 men 376 out of 100 3967 throughout 3605 the tribes 7626 of Israel 3478, and 100 3967 out of 1,000 505, and 1,000 505 out of 10,000 to supply 3947 food 6720 for the people 5971, that when they come 935 to Gibeah 1390 of Benjamin 1144, they may punish 6213 {them} for all 3605 the disgraceful 5039 acts 5039 that they have committed 6213 in Israel 3478."
11 Thus all 3605 the men 376 of Israel 3478 were gathered 622 against 413 the city 5892, united 2270 as one 259 man 376.
12 ¶ Then the tribes 7626 of Israel 3478 sent 7971 men 376 through the entire 3605 tribe 7626 of Benjamin 1144, saying 559, "What 4100 is this 2088 wickedness 7463 that has taken 1961 place 1961 among you?
13 "Now 6258 then, deliver 5414 up the men 376, the worthless 1100 fellows 1121 in Gibeah 1390, that we may put 4191 them to death 4191 and remove 1197 {this} wickedness 7463 from Israel 3478." But the sons 1121 of Benjamin 1144 would 14 not listen 8085 to the voice 6963 of their brothers 251, the sons 1121 of Israel 3478.
14 The sons 1121 of Benjamin 1144 gathered 622 from the cities 5892 to Gibeah 1390, to go 3318 out to battle 4421 against 5973 the sons 1121 of Israel 3478.
15 From the cities 5892 on that day 3117 the sons 1121 of Benjamin 1144 were numbered 6485, 26,000 men 376 who draw 8025 the sword 2719, besides the inhabitants 3427 of Gibeah 1390 who were numbered 6485, 700 choice 977 men 376.
16 Out of all 3605 these 2088 people 5971 700 choice 977 men 376 were left-handed; each 3605 one 2088 could sling 7049 a stone 68 at a hair 8185 and not miss 2398.
17 ¶ Then the men 376 of Israel 3478 besides Benjamin 1144 were numbered 6485, 400,000 men 376 who draw 8025 the sword 2719; all 3605 these 2088 were men 376 of war 4421.
18

Civil War, Benjamin Defeated

¶ Now the sons 1121 of Israel 3478 arose 6965, went 5927 up to Bethel 1008, and inquired 7592 of God 430 and said 559, "Who 4310 shall go 5927 up first 8462 for us to battle 4421 against 5973 the sons 1121 of Benjamin 1144?" Then the LORD 3068 said 559, "Judah 3063 {shall go up} first 8462."
19 ¶ So the sons 1121 of Israel 3478 arose 6965 in the morning 1242 and camped 2583 against 5921 Gibeah 1390.
20 The men 376 of Israel 3478 went 3318 out to battle 4421 against 5973 Benjamin 1144, and the men 376 of Israel 3478 arrayed 6186 for battle 4421 against 854 them at Gibeah 1390.
21 Then the sons 1121 of Benjamin 1144 came 3318 out of Gibeah 1390 and felled 7843 to the ground 776 on that day 3117 22,000 men 376 of Israel 3478.
22 But the people 5971, the men 376 of Israel 3478, encouraged 2388 themselves and arrayed 6186 for battle 4421 again 3254 in the place 4725 where they had arrayed 6186 themselves the first 7223 day 3117.
23 The sons 1121 of Israel 3478 went 5927 up and wept 1058 before 6440 the LORD 3068 until 5704 evening 6153, and inquired 7592 of the LORD 3068, saying 559, "Shall we again 3254 draw 5066 near 5066 for battle 4421 against 5973 the sons 1121 of my brother 251 Benjamin 1144?" And the LORD 3068 said 559, "Go 5927 up against 413 him."
24 ¶ Then the sons 1121 of Israel 3478 came 7126 against 413 the sons 1121 of Benjamin 1144 the second 8145 day 3117.
25 Benjamin 1144 went 3318 out against 7122 them from Gibeah 1390 the second 8145 day 3117 and felled 7843 to the ground 776 again 5750 18,000 men 376 of the sons 1121 of Israel 3478; all 3605 these 428 drew 8025 the sword 2719.
26 Then all 3605 the sons 1121 of Israel 3478 and all 3605 the people 5971 went 5927 up and came 935 to Bethel 1008 and wept 1058; thus they remained 3427 there 8033 before 6440 the LORD 3068 and fasted 6684 that day 3117 until 5704 evening 6153. And they offered 5927 burnt 5930 offerings 5930 and peace 8002 offerings 8002 before 6440 the LORD 3068.
27 The sons 1121 of Israel 3478 inquired 7592 of the LORD 3068 (for the ark 727 of the covenant 1285 of God 430 {was} there 8033 in those 1992 days 3117,
28 and Phinehas 6372 the son 1121 of Eleazar 499, Aaron's 175 son 1121, stood 5975 before 6440 it to {minister} in those 1992 days 3117), saying 559, "Shall I yet 5750 again 3254 go 3318 out to battle 4421 against 5973 the sons 1121 of my brother 251 Benjamin 1144, or 518 shall I cease 2308?" And the LORD 3068 said 559, "Go 5927 up, for tomorrow 4279 I will deliver 5414 them into your hand 3027."
29 ¶ So Israel 3478 set 7760 men in ambush 693 around 5439 Gibeah 1390.
30 The sons 1121 of Israel 3478 went 5927 up against 413 the sons 1121 of Benjamin 1144 on the third 7992 day 3117 and arrayed 6186 themselves against 413 Gibeah 1390 as at other 6471 times 6471.
31 The sons 1121 of Benjamin 1144 went 3318 out against 7122 the people 5971 and were drawn 5423 away 5423 from the city 5892, and they began 2490 to strike 5221 and kill 5221 some 4480 of the people 5971 as at other 6471 times 6471, on the highways 4546, one 259 of which 834 goes 5927 up to Bethel 1008 and the other 259 to Gibeah 1390, {and} in the field 7704, about thirty 7970 men 376 of Israel 3478.
32 The sons 1121 of Benjamin 1144 said 559, "They are struck 5062 down 5062 before 6440 us, as at the first 7223." But the sons 1121 of Israel 3478 said 559, "Let us flee 5127 that we may draw 5423 them away 5423 from the city 5892 to the highways 4546."
33 Then all 3605 the men 376 of Israel 3478 arose 6965 from their place 4725 and arrayed 6186 themselves at Baal-tamar 1193; and the men of Israel 3478 in ambush 693 broke 1518 out of their place 4725, even out of Maareh-geba.
34 When ten 6235 thousand 505 choice 977 men 376 from all 3605 Israel 3478 came 935 against 5048 Gibeah 1390, the battle 4421 became 3513 fierce 3513; but Benjamin did not know 3045 that disaster 7463 was close 5060 to them.
35 And the LORD 3068 struck 5062 Benjamin 1144 before 6440 Israel 3478, so that the sons 1121 of Israel 3478 destroyed 7843 25,100 men 376 of Benjamin 1144 that day 3117, all 3605 who 428 draw 8025 the sword 2719.
36 ¶ So the sons 1121 of Benjamin 1144 saw 7200 that they were defeated 5062. When the men 376 of Israel 3478 gave 5414 ground 4725 to Benjamin 1144 because 3588 they relied 982 on the men in ambush 693 whom 834 they had set 7760 against 413 Gibeah 1390,
37 the men in ambush 693 hurried 2363 and rushed 6584 against 413 Gibeah 1390; the men in ambush 693 also deployed 4900 and struck 5221 all 3605 the city 5892 with the edge 6310 of the sword 2719.
38 Now the appointed 4150 sign 4150 between the men 376 of Israel 3478 and the men in ambush 693 was that they would make a great 7235 cloud 4864 of smoke 6227 rise 5927 from the city 5892.
39 Then the men 376 of Israel 3478 turned 2015 in the battle 4421, and Benjamin 1144 began 2490 to strike 5221 and kill about thirty 7970 men 376 of Israel 3478, for they said 559, "Surely they are defeated 5062 before 6440 us, as in the first 7223 battle 4421."
40 But when the cloud 4864 began 2490 to rise 5927 from the city 5892 in a column 5982 of smoke 6227, Benjamin 1144 looked 6437 behind 310 them; and behold 2009, the whole 3632 city 5892 was going 5927 up {in smoke} to heaven 8064.
41 Then the men 376 of Israel 3478 turned 2015, and the men 376 of Benjamin 1144 were terrified 926; for they saw 7200 that disaster 7463 was close 5060 to them.
42 Therefore, they turned 6437 their backs before 6440 the men 376 of Israel 3478 toward 413 the direction 1870 of the wilderness 4057, but the battle 4421 overtook 1692 them while 834 those who 834 came out of the cities 5892 destroyed 7843 them in the midst 8432 of them.
43 They surrounded 3803 Benjamin 1144, pursued 7291 them without rest 4496 {and} trod 1869 them down 1869 opposite 5227 Gibeah 1390 toward 4480 the east.
44 Thus 18,000 men 376 of Benjamin 1144 fell 5307; all 3605 these 428 were valiant 2428 warriors 376.
45 The rest turned 6437 and fled 5127 toward the wilderness 4057 to the rock 5553 of Rimmon 7417, but they caught 5953 5,000 of them on the highways 4546 and overtook 1692 them at Gidom 1440 and killed 5221 2,000 505 of them.
46 So all 3605 of Benjamin 1144 who fell 5307 that day 3117 were 25,000 men 376 who draw 8025 the sword 2719; all 3605 these 428 were valiant 2428 warriors 376.
47 But 600 men 376 turned 6437 and fled 5127 toward the wilderness 4057 to the rock 5553 of Rimmon 7417, and they remained 3427 at the rock 5553 of Rimmon 7417 four 702 months 2320.
48 The men 376 of Israel 3478 then turned 7725 back 7725 against 413 the sons 1121 of Benjamin 1144 and struck 5221 them with the edge 6310 of the sword 2719, both 4480 the entire 4974 city 5892 with the cattle 929 and all 3605 that they found 4672; they also 1571 set 7971 on fire 784 all 3605 the cities 5892 which they found 4672.

Chapter 21


1

Mourning Lost Tribe

Now the men 376 of Israel 3478 had sworn 7650 in Mizpah 4709, saying 559, "None of us shall give 5414 his daughter 1323 to Benjamin 1144 in marriage 802."
2 So the people 5971 came 935 to Bethel 1008 and sat 3427 there 8033 before 6440 God 430 until 5704 evening 6153, and lifted 5375 up their voices 6963 and wept 1058 bitterly.
3 They said 559, "Why 4100, O LORD 3068, God 430 of Israel 3478, has this 2088 come 1961 about in Israel 3478, so that one 259 tribe 7626 should be {missing} today 3117 in Israel 3478?"
4 It came 1961 about the next 4283 day 4283 that the people 5971 arose 7925 early 7925 and built 1129 an altar 4196 there 8033 and offered 5927 burnt 5930 offerings 5930 and peace 8002 offerings 8002.
5 ¶ Then the sons 1121 of Israel 3478 said 559, "Who 4310 is there among 4480 all 3605 the tribes 7626 of Israel 3478 who 834 did not come 5927 up in the assembly 6951 to the LORD 3068?" For they had taken 1961 a great 1419 oath 7621 concerning him who 834 did not come 5927 up to the LORD 3068 at Mizpah 4709, saying 559, "He shall surely 4191 be put 4191 to death 4191."
6 And the sons 1121 of Israel 3478 were sorry 5162 for their brother 251 Benjamin 1144 and said 559, "One 259 tribe 7626 is cut 1438 off 1438 from Israel 3478 today 3117.
7 "What 4100 shall we do 6213 for wives 802 for those 1992 who are left 3498, since we have sworn 7650 by the LORD 3068 not to give 5414 them any 4480 of our daughters 1323 in marriage 802?"
8

Provision for Their Survival

¶ And they said 559, "What 4310 one 259 is there of the tribes 7626 of Israel 3478 who 834 did not come 5927 up to the LORD 3068 at Mizpah 4709?" And behold 2009, no 3808 one 376 had come 935 to the camp 4264 from Jabesh-gilead to the assembly 6951.
9 For when the people 5971 were numbered 6485, behold 2009, not one 376 of the inhabitants 3427 of Jabesh-gilead was there 8033.
10 And the congregation 5712 sent 7971 12,000 of the valiant 2428 warriors 1121 there 8033, and commanded 6680 them, saying 559, "Go 1980 and strike 5221 the inhabitants 3427 of Jabesh-gilead with the edge 6310 of the sword 2719, with the women 802 and the little 2945 ones 2945.
11 "This 2088 is the thing 1697 that you shall do 6213: you shall utterly 2763 destroy 2763 every 3605 man 2145 and every 3605 woman 802 who has lain with a man 2145."
12 And they found 4672 among 4480 the inhabitants 3427 of Jabesh-gilead 400 young 5291 virgins 1330 who 834 had not known 3045 a man 376 by lying 4904 with him; and they brought 935 them to the camp 4264 at Shiloh 7887, which 834 is in the land 776 of Canaan 3667.
13 ¶ Then the whole 3605 congregation 5712 sent 7971 {word} and spoke 1696 to the sons 1121 of Benjamin 1144 who 834 were at the rock 5553 of Rimmon 7417, and proclaimed 7121 peace 7965 to them.
14 Benjamin 1144 returned 7725 at that time 6256, and they gave 5414 them the women 802 whom 834 they had kept 2421 alive 2421 from the women 802 of Jabesh-gilead; yet they were not enough 3651 for them.
15 And the people 5971 were sorry 5162 for Benjamin 1144 because 3588 the LORD 3068 had made 6213 a breach 6556 in the tribes 7626 of Israel 3478.
16 ¶ Then the elders 2205 of the congregation 5712 said 559, "What 4310 shall we do 6213 for wives 802 for those who are left 3498, since 3588 the women 802 are destroyed 8045 out of Benjamin 1144?"
17 They said 559, "{There must be} an inheritance 3425 for the survivors 6413 of Benjamin 1144, so 3808 that a tribe 7626 will not be blotted 4229 out from Israel 3478.
18 "But we cannot give 5414 them wives 802 of our daughters 1323." For the sons 1121 of Israel 3478 had sworn 7650, saying 559, "Cursed 779 is he who gives 5414 a wife 802 to Benjamin 1144."
19 ¶ So they said 559, "Behold 2009, there is a feast 2282 of the LORD 3068 from year 3117 to year 3117 in Shiloh 7887, which 834 is on the north 6828 side 6828 of Bethel 1008, on the east side of the highway 4546 that goes 5927 up from Bethel 1008 to Shechem 7927, and on the south 5045 side 5045 of Lebonah 3829."
20 And they commanded 6680 the sons 1121 of Benjamin 1144, saying 559, "Go 1980 and lie 693 in wait 693 in the vineyards 3754,
21 and watch 7200; and behold 2009, if 518 the daughters 1323 of Shiloh 7887 come 3318 out to take 2342 part 2342 in the dances 4246, then you shall come 3318 out of the vineyards 3754 and each 376 of you shall catch 2414 his wife 802 from the daughters 1323 of Shiloh 7887, and go 1980 to the land 776 of Benjamin 1144.
22 "It shall come 1961 about, when 3588 their fathers 1 or 176 their brothers 251 come 935 to complain 7378 to us, that we shall say 559 to them, 'Give 2603 them to us voluntarily 2603, because 3588 we did not take 3947 for each 376 man 376 {of Benjamin} a wife 802 in battle 4421, nor did you give 5414 {them} to them, {else} you would now 6256 be guilty 816.'"
23 The sons 1121 of Benjamin 1144 did 6213 so 3651, and took 5375 wives 802 according to their number 4557 from those who danced 2342, whom 834 they carried 1497 away 1497. And they went 1980 and returned 7725 to their inheritance 5159 and rebuilt 1129 the cities 5892 and lived 3427 in them.
24 The sons 1121 of Israel 3478 departed 1980 from there 8033 at that time 6256, every 376 man 376 to his tribe 7626 and family 4940, and each 376 one 376 of them went 3318 out from there 8033 to his inheritance 5159.
25 ¶ In those 1992 days 3117 there 369 was no 369 king 4428 in Israel 3478; everyone 376 did 6213 what 3477 was right 3477 in his own eyes 5869.