Jael kills Sisera.

JUDGES. Song of Deborah and Barak.

19 And he said unto her, Give me, I 12 Awake, awake, Deborah; awake, pray thee, a little water to drink; for I am awake, utter a song: arise, Barak, and lead thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam. and gave him drink, and covered him.

20 Again he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man doth come and inquire of thee, and say, Is there any man here? that thou shalt say, No.

13 Then he made him that remaineth have dominion over the nobles among the people: the LORD made me have dominion over the mighty.

14 Out of Ephraim was there a root of them against Amalek; after thee, Benja21 Then Jael Heber's wife took a nail min, among thy people; out of Machir of the tent, and took an hammer in her came down governors, and out of Zebulun hand, and went softly unto him, and smote they that handle the pen of the writer. the nail into his temples, and fastened it 15 And the princes of Issachar were into the ground: for he was fast asleep, with Deborah; even Issachar, and also and weary. So he died. Barak he was sent on foot into the valley.

22 And behold, as Barak pursued Si-For the divisions of Reuben there were great sera, Jael came out to meet him, and said thoughts of heart.

unto him, Come, and I will shew thee the 16 Why abodest thou among the sheepman whom thou seekest. And when he folds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, For the divisions of Reuben there were and the nail was in his temples. great searchings of heart.

23 So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel.

24 And the hand of the children of Israel prospered, and prevailed against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan. CHAP. V.

TH

HEN sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying, 2 Praise ye the LORD for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly offered themselves.

17 Gilead abode beyond Jordan: and why did Dan remain in ships? Asher continued on the sea-shore, and abode in his breaches.

18 Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their fives unto the death in the high places of the field.

19 The kings came and fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no gain of money.

20 They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera.

3 Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye prin- 21 The river of Kishon swept them ces; I, even I, will sing unto the LORD; I away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel. O my soul, thou hast trodden down 4 LORD, when thou wentest out of Seir, strength.

when thou marchedst out of the field of 22 Then were the horse-hoofs broken by Edom, the earth trembled, and the hea- the means of the prancings, the prancings vens dropped, the clouds also dropped of their mighty ones.

water.

23 Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of

5 The mountains melted from before the LORD, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants the LORD, even that Sinai from before the thereof; because they came not to the help LORD God of Israel. of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against

6 In the days of Shamgar the son of the mighty. Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways 24 Blessed above women shall Jael the were unoccupied, and the travellers walked wife of Heber the Kenite be, blessed shall through by-ways. she be above women in the tent.

7 The inhabitants of the villages ceased, 25 He asked water, and she gave him they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah milk; she brought forth butter in a lordly arose, that I arose a mother in Israel.

dish.

8 They chose new gods; then was war 26 She put her hand to the nail, and her in the gates was there a shield or spear right hand to the workmen's hammer; and seen among forty thousand in Israel? with the hammer she smote Sisera, she 9 My heart is toward the governors of smote off his head, when she had pierced Israel that offered themselves willingly and stricken through his temples. among the people: Bless ye the LORD. 27 At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay 10 Speak, ye that ride on white asses, ye down: at her feet he bowed, he fell: where that sit in judgment, and walk by the way, he bowed, there he fell down dead.

11 They that are delivered from the noise 28 The mother of Sisera looked out at a of archers in the places of drawing water, window, and cried through the lattice, Why there shall they rehearse the righteous acts is his chariot so long in coming? why tarry of the LORD, even the righteous acts to- the wheels of his chariots? ward the inhabitants of his villages in Israel: then shall the people of the LORD go returned answer to herself, down to the gates.

29 Her wise ladies answered her, yea, she

30 Have they not sped? have they not

The Israelites oppressed.

CHAP. VI.

Gideon sent to deliver them. divided the prey; to every man a damsel Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? or two: to Sisera a prey of divers colours, but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and a prey of divers colours of needle-work, of delivered us into the hands of the Midiandivers colours of needle-work on both sides, ites. meet for the necks of them that take the spoil?

31 So let all thine enemies perish, O LORD: but let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest forty years. CHAP. VI.

14 And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?

15 And he said unto him, O my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the

AND the children of Israel did evil in least in my father's house.

the sight of the LORD: and the LORD 16 And the LORD said unto him, Surely delivered them into the hand of Midian se-I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.

ven years.

2 And the hand of Midian prevailed 17 And he said unto him, If now I have against Israel: and because of the Midian- found grace in thy sight, then shew me a ites the children of Israel made them the sign that thou talkest with me. dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds.

18 Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come unto thee, and bring forth my pre3 And so it was, when Israel had sown, sent, and set it before thee. And he said, that the Midianites came up, and the Ama- I will tarry until thou come again. lekites, and the children of the east, event 19 And Gideon went in, and made ready they came up against them: a kid, and unleavened cakes of an ephah of flour: the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out unto him under the oak, and presented it.

4 And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza; and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor

ass.

20 And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, 5 For they came up with their cattle and and lay them upon this rock, and pour out their tents, and they came as grasshoppers the broth. And he did so.

for multitude; for both they and their 21 Then the angel of the LORD put forth camels were without number: and they the end of the staff that was in his hand, and entered into the land to destroy it. touched the flesh and the unleavened 6 And Israel was greatly impoverished cakes; and there rose up fire out of the because of the Midianites; and the chil- rock, and consumed the flesh and the undren of Israel cried unto the LORD. leavened cakes. Then the angel of the

7¶ And it came to pass, when the chil- LORD departed out of his sight. dren of Israel cried unto the LORD because 22 And when Gideon perceived that he of the Midianites, was an angel of the LORD, Gideon said, 8 That the LORD sent a prophet unto Alas, O Lord GOD! for because I have the children of Israel, which said unto them, seen an angel of the LORD face to face. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Í 23 And the LORD said unto him, Peace brought you up from Egypt, and brought be unto thee; fear not thou shalt not die. you forth out of the house of bondage; 24 Then Gideon built an altar there unto

9 And I delivered you out of the hand the LORD, and called it Jehovah-shalom: of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the all that oppressed you, and drave them Abi-ezrites.

out from before you, and gave you their 25 ¶ And it came to pass the same night, land; that the LORD said unto him, Take thy fa10 And I said unto you, I am the LORD ther's young bullock, even the second bulyour God; fear not the gods of the Amo-lock of seven years old, and throw down rites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and not obeyed my voice. cut down the grove that is by it:

11 ¶ And there came an angel of the 26 And build an altar unto the LORD thy LORD, and sat under an oak which was in God upon the top of this rock, in the orderOphrah, that pertained unto Joash the red place, and take the second bullock, and Abi-ezrite: and his son Gideon threshed offer a burnt-sacrifice with the wood of the wheat by the wine-press, to hide it from the grove which thou shalt cut down. Midianites. 27 Then Gideon took ten men of his ser12 And the angel of the LORD appeared vants, and did as the LORD had said unto unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is him and so it was, because he feared his with thee, thou mighty man of valour. father's household, and the men of the city, 13 And Gideon said unto him, O my that he could not do it by day, that he did LORD, if the LORD be with us, why then is it by night.

all this befallen us? and where be all his 28 And when the men of the city miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, arose early in the morning, behold, the al

Gideon's fleece.

JUDGES. He is encouraged by a dream. tar of Baal was cast down, and the grove lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, was cut down that was by it, and the se- saying, Mine own hand hath saved me. cond bullock was offered upon the altar that 3 Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is 29 And they said one to another, Who fearful and afraid, let him return and depart hath done this thing? And when they in- early from mount Gilead. And there required and asked, they said, Gideon the turned of the people twenty and two son of Joash hath done this thing. thousand; and there remained ten thou

was built.

30 Then the men of the city said unto sand. Joash, Bring out thy son, that he may die: 4 And the LORD said unto Gideon, The because he hath cast down the altar of Baal, people are yet too many; bring them down and because he hath cut down the grove unto the water, and I will try them for thee that was by it. there; and it shall be that, of whom I say

tar.

31 And Joash said unto all that stood unto thee, This shall go with thee, the against him, Will ye plead for Baal? will same shall go with thee; and of whomsoye save him? he that will plead for him, let ever. I say unto thee, This shall not go with him be put to death whilst it is yet morn- thee, the same shall not go. ing: if he be a god, let him plead for him- 5 So he brought down the people unto self, because one hath cast down his al- the water: and the LORD said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with 32 Therefore on that day he called him his tongue as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal plead against set by himself; likewise every one that him, because he hath thrown down his al- boweth down upon his knees to drink. 6 And the number of them that lapped, 33 Then all the Midianites, and the putting their hand to their mouth, were Amalekites, and the children of the east three hundred men: but all the rest of the were gathered together, and went over, and people bowed down upon their knees to pitched in the valley of Jezreel. drink water.

tar.

34 But the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered after him."

35 And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh; who also was gathered after him and he sent messengers unto Asher, and unto Zebulun, and unto Naphtali; and they came up to meet them.

36. ¶ And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said,

7 And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand; and let all the other people go every man unto his place.

8 So the people took victuals in their hand, and their trumpets: and he sent all the rest of Israel every man unto his tent, and retained those three hundred men. And the host of Midian was beneath him in the valley.

37 Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in 9 ¶ And it came to pass the same night, the floor and if the dew be on the fleece that the LORD said unto him, Arise, get only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, thee down unto the host; for I have dethen shall I know that thou wilt save Israel livered it into thine hand.' by mine hand, as thou hast said.

38 And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl-full of water.

10 But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Phurah thy servant down to the host:

11 And thou shalt hear what they say: and afterward shall thine hands be strengthened to go down unto the host. Then 39 And Gideon said unto God, Let not went he down with Phurah his servant unto thine anger be hot against me, and I the outside of the armed men that were in will speak but this once: Let me prove, I the host. pray thee, but this once with the fleece; 12 And the Midianites, and the Amalelet it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew.

40 And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.

CHAP. VII.

kites, and all the children of the east, lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the sea side for multitude.

13 And when Gideon was come, behold, HEN Jerubbaal (who is Gideon) and there was a man that told a dream unto his rose said, Behold, a dream,

up early and pitched beside the well of Ha- and lo, a cake of barley-bread tumbled into rod: so that the host of the Midianites were the host of Midian, and came unto a tent, on the north side of them by the hill of and smote it that it fell, and overturned it Moreh, in the valley. that the tent lay along.

2 And the LORD said unto Gideon, The 14 And his fellow answered, and said, people that are with thee are too many for This is nothing else save the sword of Gideme to give the Midianites into their hands, on the son of Joash, a man of Israel: for

The Ephraimites pacified.

into his hand hath God delivered Midian, | 2 And he said unto them, What have 1 and all the host. done now in comparison of you? Is not the 15 And it was so, when Gideon heard gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better the telling of the dream, and the interpre- than the vintage of Abiezer? tation thereof, that he worshipped, and re- 3 God hath delivered into your hands the turned into the host of Israel, and said, princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and Arise; for the LORD hath delivered into what was I able to do in comparison of your hand the host of Midian. you? Then their anger was abated toward

16 And he divided the three hundred him, when he had said that. men into three companies, and he put a 4 ¶ And Gideon came to Jordan, and trumpet in every man's hand, with empty passed over, he, and the three hundred men pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers. that were with him, faint, yet pursuing 17 And he said unto them, Look on me, them. and do likewise: and behold, when I come 5 And he said unto the men of Succoth, to the outside of the camp, it shall be that Give, I pray you, loaves of bread unto the as I do, so shall ye do. people that follow me: for they be faint, 18 When I blow with a trumpet, I and and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalall that are with me, then blow ye the trum- munna, kings of Midian.

on.

pets also on every side of all the camp, and 6 And the princes of Succoth said, Are say, The sword of the LORD, and of Gide- the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give broad unto 19 So Gideon, and the hundred men thine army? that were with him, came unto the outside 7 And Gideon said, Therefore. when the of the camp in the beginning of the middle LORD hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna watch; and they had but newly set the into mine hand, then I will tear your flesh watch and they blew the trumpets, and with the thorns of the wilderness and with brake the pitchers that were in their hands. 20 And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon.

21 And they stood every man in his place round about the camp; and all the host ran, and cried, and fled.

22 And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every man's sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled to Beth-shittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abel-meholah, unto Tabbath.

23 And the men of Israel gathered themselves together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after the Midianites.

briers.

8 And he went up thence to Penuel, and spake unto them likewise: and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered him.

9 And he spake also unto the men of Penuel, saying, When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower.

10 ¶ Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their hosts with them, about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of all the hosts of the children of the east : for there fell an hundred and twenty thousand men that drew sword.

11 And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and smote the host: for the host was secure.

12 And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them, and took the 24 And Gideon sent messengers two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunthroughout all mount Ephraim, saying, na, and discomfited all the host. Come down against the Midianites, and 13 And Gideon the son of Joash retake before them the waters unto Beth-ba- turned from battle before the sun was up, rah and Jordan. Then all the men of 14 And caught a young man of the men Ephraim gathered themselves together, and of Succoth, and inquired of him and he took the waters unto Beth-barah and Jor- described unto him the princes of Succoth, dan. and the elders thereof, even threescore and seventeen men.

:

25 And they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb; and they slew 15 And he came unto the men of SucOreb upon the rock Oreb, and Zeeb they coth, and said, Behold Zebah and Zalmun slew at the wine-press of Zeeb, and pursu- na, with whom ye did upbraid me, saying, ed Midian, and brought the heads of Oreb Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side Jor- now in thine hand, that we should give dan. bread unto thy men that are weary? 16 And he took the elders of the city, ND the men of Ephraim said unto and thorns of the wilderness and briers,

CHAP. VIII.

men

17 And he beat down the tower of Penuel and slew the men of the city.

Gideon's death and burial.

JUDGES.

Abimelech made king. 18 ¶ Then said he unto Zebah and Zal-turned again, and went a whoring after munna, What manner of men were they Baalim, and made Baal-berith their god. whom ye slew at Tabor? And they an- 34 And the children of Israel rememberswered, As thou art, so were they; each ed not the LORD their God, who had deone resembled the children of a king. livered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side:

19 And he said, They were my brethren, even the sons of my mother: as the LORD liveth, if ye had saved them alive, I would not slay you.

35 Neither shewed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, namely, Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shew20 And he said unto Jether his first-born, ed unto Israel. Up, and slay them. But the youth drew

CHAP. IX.

not his sword: for he feared, because he AND Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal

was yet a youth.

went to Shechem unto his mother's 21 Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, brethren, and communed with them, and Rise thou, and fall upon us for as the man with all the family of the house of his mois, so is his strength. And Gideon arose, ther's father, saying, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took away the ornaments that were on their camels' necks.

2 Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether is better for you, either that all the sons of Jerub22 Then the men of Israel said unto baal, which are threescore and ten persons, Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and reign over you, or that one reign over you? thy son, and thy son's son also: for thou remember also that I am your bone and hast delivered us from the hand of Midi-your flesh.

an.

3 And his mother's brethren spake of

23 And Gideon said unto them, I will him in the ears of all the men of Shechem not rule over you, neither shall my son rule all these words: and their hearts inclined to over you: the LORD shall rule over you. follow Abimelech: for they said, He is our brother.

24 And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that you would give me every man the ear-rings of his prey. (For they had golden ear-rings, because they were Ishmaelites.)

4 And they gave him threescore and ten pieces of silver out of the house of Baal-berith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light persons, which followed him.

25 And they answered, We will willingly 5 And he went unto his father's house at give them. And they spread a garment, Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of and did cast therein every man the ear-rings Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, of his prey. upon one stone: notwithstanding, yet Jo 26 And the weight of the golden ear- tham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was rings that he requested, was a thousand and left; for he hid himself. seven hundred shekels of gold; beside or- 6 And all the men of Shechem gathered naments, and collars, and purple raiment together, and all the house of Millo, and that was on the kings of Midian, and be- went and made Abimelech king, by the side the chains that were about their ca- plain of the pillar that was in Shechem. mels' necks.

27 And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house.

7¶ And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you.

28 Thus was Midian subdued before 8 The trees went forth on a time to anoint the children of Israel, so that they lifted up a king over them; and they said unto the their heads no more. And the country olive-tree, Reign thou over us. was in quietness forty years in the days of Gideon.

29 And Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house.

30 And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten: for he had many wives.

31 And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son, whose name he called Abimelech.

32 ¶ And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age, and was buried in the sepulchre of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abi-ezrites.

33 And it came to pass as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel

9 But the olive-tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?

10 And the trees said to the fig-tree, Come thou, and reign over us.

I

11 But the fig-tree said unto them, Should forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?

12 Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us.

I

13 And the vine said unto them, Should leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? 14 Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us.