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Zebch and Zalmunna slain.

CHAP. IX.

Abimelech made king.

Nobah and Jogbehah, and smote the host: besides the chains that were about their for the host was secure. camels' necks.

12 And when Zebah and Zalmunna 27 And Gideon made an ephod thereof, fled, he pursued after them, and took the and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmun- all Israel went thither a whoring after it: na, and discomfited all the host. which thing became a snare unto Gideon,

13 And Gideon the son of Joash re-and to his house. turned from battle before the sun was up, 28 T Thus was Midian subdued before 14 And caught a young man of the men the children of Israel, so that they lifted of Succoth, and inquired of him: and he up their heads no more. And the country described unto him the princes of Suc-was in quietness forty years in the days of coth, and the elders thereof, even three- Gideon. score and seventeen men.

29 And Jerubbaal the son of Joash

15 And he came unto the men of Suc- went and dwelt in his own house. coth, and said, Behold Zebah and Zal- 30 And Gideon had threescore and ten munna, with whom ye did upbraid me, sons of his body begotten: for he had saying, Are the hands of Zebah and Zal- many wives. munna now in thy hand, that we should 31 And his concubine that was in Shegive bread unto thy men that are weary? chem, she also bare him a son, whose 16 And he took the elders of the city, name he called Abimelech. and thorns of the wilderness, and briers,

32 And Gideon the son of Joash died and with them he taught the men of Suc-in a good old age, and was buried in the coth. sepulchre of Joash his father, in Ophrah 17 And he beat down the tower of Pe-of the Abi-ezrites. nuel, and slew the men of the city.

33 And it came to pass as soon as Gi18 Then said he unto Zebah and Zal-deon was dead, that the children of Israel munna, What manner of men were they turned again, and went a whoring after whom ye slew at Tabor? And they answer-Baalim, and made Baal-berith their god. ed, As thou art, so were they; each one 34 And the children of Israel rememresembled the children of a king. bered not the LORD their God, who had

19 And he said, They were my breth-delivered them out of the hands of all ren, even the sons of my mother as the their enemies on every side: LORD liveth, if ye had saved them alive, 35 Neither shewed they kindness to the I would not slay you. house of Jerubbaal, namely, Gideon, ac20 And he said unto Jether his first- cording to all the goodness which he had born, Up, and slay them. But the youth shewed unto Israel. drew not his sword: for he feared, because he was yet a youth.

CHAP. IX.

21 Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, AND Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal

went to Shechem unto his mother's Rise thou, and fall upon us for as the brethren, and communed with them, and man is, so is his strength. And Gideon with all the family of the house of his arose, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and mother's father, saying, 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 22 Then the men of Israel said unto for you, either that all the sons of JerubGideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and baal, which are threescore and tez perthy son, and thy son's son also: for thou sons, reign over you, or that one reign hast delivered us from the hand of Midian. over you? remember also that I am your 23 And Gideon said unto them, I will bone and your flesh.

not rule over you, neither shall my son 3 And his mother's brethren spake of rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you. him in the ears of all the men of Shechem 24 And Gideon said unto them, I would all these words: and their hearts inclined desire a request of you, that you would to follow Abimelech; for they said, He is give me every mau the ear-rings of his our brother. prey. (For they had golden ear-rings, be- 4 And they gave him threescore and ten cause they were Ishmaelites.) pieces of silver out of the house of Baal25 And they answered, We will will-berith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain ingly give them. And they spread a gar- and light persons, which followed him. ment, and did cast therein every man the 5 And he went unto his father's house ear-rings of his prey. at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons

26 And the weight of the golden ear- of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten rings that he requested, was a thousand persons, upon one stone: notwithstanding, and seven hundred shekels of gold; besides yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal ornaments, and collars, and purple rai- was left; for he hid himself.

ment that was on the kings of Midian, and 6 And all the men of Shechem gather

The parable of Jotham.

JUDGES.

Conspiracy of Gaal. ed together, and all the house of Millo, Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and and went and made Abimelech king, by the men of Shechem dealt treacherously the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem. with Abimelech :

7 And when they told it to Jotham, 24 That the cruelty done to the threehe went and stood in the top of mount Ge- score and ten sons of Jerubbaal might rizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, come, and their blood be laid upon Abiand said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye melech their brother which slew them, men of Shechem, that God may hearkenj and upon the men of Shechem which

unto you.

8 The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive-tree, Reign thou over us.

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

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

aided him in the killing of his brethren.

25 And the men of Shechem set liers in wait for him in the top of the mountains, and they robbed all that came along that way by thein: and it was told Abimelech.

26 And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to Shechem: and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him.

27 And they went out into the fields, 11 But the fig-tree said unto them, and gathered their vineyards, and trode Should I forsake my sweetness, and my the grapes, and made merry, and went good fruit, and go to be promoted over the into the house of their god, and did eat trees? and drink, and cursed Abimelech.

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

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

28 And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? is not he the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: for why should we serve him? 29 And would to God this people were 15 And the bramble said unto the trees, under my hand! then would I remove If in truth ye anoint me king over you, Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, then come and put your trust in my shadow: Increase thine army, and come out. and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.

30 And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.

16 Now therefore, if ye have done truly and sincerely, in that ye have made Abi- 31 And he sent messengers unto Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well melech privily, saying, Behold, Gaal the with Jerubbaal and his house, and have son of Ebed, and his brethren, be come done unto him according to the deserving to Shechem; and behold, they fortify the of his hands: city against thee.

17 (For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian:

32 Now therefore up by night, thou, and the people that is with thee, and lie in wait in the field:

33 And it shall be, that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, thou shalt rise early, and set upon the city: and behold, when he and the people that is with him come out against thee, then mayest thou do to them as thou shalt find occasion.

18 And ye are risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maid-servant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother:) 19 If ye then have dealt truly and sin- 34 And Abimelech rose up, and all cerely with Jerubbaal and with bis house the people that were with him, by night, this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and they laid wait against Shechem in and let him also rejoice in you: four companies.

20 But if not, let fire come out from 35 And Gaal the son of Ebed went out, Abimelech, and devour the men of She- and stood in the entering of the gate of the chem, and the house of Millo; and let fire city: and Abimelech rose up, and the peocome out from the men of Shechem, and ple that were with him, from lying in wait. from the house of Millo, and devour Abi- 36 And when Gaal saw the people, he melech.

21 And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.

22 When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel,

23 Then God sent an evil spirit between

said to Zebul, Behold, there come people down from the top of the mountains. And Zebul said unto him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.

37 And Gaal spake again, and said, See, there come people down by the middle of the land, and another company

Abimelech overcomes him.

CHAP. X.

The Israelites oppressed.

come along by the plain of Meonenim. the door of the tower to burn it with fire. 38 Then said Zebul unto him, Where is 53 And a certain woman cast a piece of now thy mouth, wherewith thou saidst, a millstone upon Abimelech's head, and all Who is Abimelech, that we should serve to break his skull.

him? is not this the people that thou hast 54 Then he called hastily unto the despised? go out, I pray now, and fight young man his armour-bearer, and said with them. unto him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, 39 And Gaal went out before the men that men say not of me, A woman slew of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech. him. And his young man thrust him 40 And Abimelech chased him, and he through, and he died.

fled before him, and many were over- 55 And when the men of Israel saw thrown and wounded, even unto the en-that Abimelech was dead, they departed tering of the gate. every man unto his place. 41 And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: 56 Thus God rendered the wickedand Zebul thrust out Gaal and his brethren, ness of Abimelech, which he did unto his that they should not dwell in Shechem. father, in slaying his seventy brethren:

42 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.

CHAP. X.

57 And all the evil of the men of Shechem did God render upon their heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham 43 And he took the people, and divided the son of Jerubbaal. them into three companies, and laid wait in the field, and looked, and behold, the ANDfend Israel Tola the son of Puah, people were come forth out of the city; and he rose up against them, and smote the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; and them. he dwelt in Shamir in mount Ephraim.

44 And Abimelech, and the company that was with him, rushed forward, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and the two other companies ran upon all the people that were in the fields, and slew them.

45 And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that was therein, and beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.

46 And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that, they entered into a hold of the house of the god Berith.

47 And it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.

after Abimelech there arose to

2 And he judged Israel twenty and three years, and died, and was buried in Shamir.

3 ¶ And after him arose Jair, a Gileadite, and judged Israel twenty and two years.

4 And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts, and they had thirty cities, which are called Havoth-jair unto this day, which are in the land of Gilead.

5 And Jair died, and was buried in Camon.

6 And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the LORD, and served not him.

48 And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in 7 ¶ And the anger of the LORD was hot his hand, and cut down a bough from the against Israel, and he sold them into the trees, and took it, and laid it on his shoul- hands of the Philistines, and into the hands der, and said unto the people that were of the children of Ammon.

with him, What ye have seen me do, make 8 And that year they vexed and ophaste, and do as I have done. pressed the children of Israel eighteen 49 And all the people likewise cut years, all the children of Israel that were down every man his bough, and followed on the other side Jordan in the land of the Abimelech, and put them to the hold, and Amorites, which is in Gilead. set the hold on fire upon them: so that all 9 Moreover, the children of Ammon the men of the tower of Shechem died passed over Jordan, to fight also against also, about a thousand men and women. Judah, and against Benjamin, and against 50 T Then went Abimelech to Thebez, the house of Ephraim: so that Israel was and encamped against Thebez, and took it. sore distressed.

51 But there was a strong tower within 10 T And the children of Israel cried the city, and thither fled all the men and unto the LORD, saying, We have sinned women, and all they of the city, and shut against thee, both because we have forit to them, and gat them up to the top of saken our God, and also served Baalim. 11 And the LORD said unto the children 52 And Abimelech came unto the tower, of Israel, Did not I deliver you from the and fought against it, and went hard unto Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from

the tower.

Jephthah's covenant

JUDGES.

with the Gileadites. the children of Ammon, and from the Phi-Gilead, If ye bring me home again to fight listines? against the children of Ammon, and the LORD deliver them before me, shall I be your head?

12 The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites did oppress you; and ye cried to me, and I delivered you out of their hand.

13 Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you

no more.

14 Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation.

10 And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, The LORD be witness between us, if we do not so according to thy words.

11 Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and captain over them: and Jephthah uttered all his words before the LORD in Mizpeh.

15 And the children of Israel said 12 T And Jephthah sent messengers unto the LORD, We have sinned: do thou unto the king of the children of Ammon, unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto saying, What hast thou to do with me, thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this that thou art come against me to fight in day. my land? 16 And they put away the strange gods 13 And the king of the children of Amfrom among them, and served the LORD: mon answered unto the messengers of and his soul was grieved for the misery of Jephthah, Because Israel took away my Israel. land, when they came up out of Egypt, 17 Then the children of Ammon were from Arnon even unto Jabbok, and unto gathered together, and encamped in Gi- Jordan: now therefore restore those lands lead. And the children of Israel assem- again peaceably. bled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpeh.

14 And Jephthah sent messengers again unto the king of the children of Ammon: 15 And said unto him, Thus saith Jephthah, Israel took not away the land of Moab, nor the land of the children of

18 And the people and princes of Gilead said one to another, What man is he that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? he shall be head over all the Ammon: inhabitants of Gilead.

NOW

CHAP. XI.

TOW Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour, and he was the son of a harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah.

16 But when Israel came up from Egypt, and walked through the wilderness unto the Red sea, and came to Kadesh;

17 Then Israel sent messengers unto the king of Edom, saying, Let me, I pray thee, pass through thy land: but the king 2 And Gilead's wife bare him sons; and of Edom would not hearken thereto. And his wife's sons grew up, and they thrust out Jephthah, and said unto him, Thou shalt not inherit in our father's house; for thou art the son of a strange woman.

in like manner they sent unto the king of Moab; but he would not consent. And Israel abode in Kadesh.

18 Then they went along through the 3 Then Jephthah fled from his brethren, wilderness, and compassed the land of and dwelt in the land of Tob: and there Edom, and the land of Moab, and came were gathered vain men to Jephthah, and by the east side of the land of Moab, and went out with him. pitched on the other side of Arnon, but 4 And it came to pass in process of came not within the border of Moab: for time, that the children of Ammon made Arnon was the border of Moab. war against Israel. 19 And Israel sent messengers unto

5 And it was so, that when the children Sihon king of the Amorites, the king of of Ammon made war against Israel, the Heshbon; and Israel said unto him, Let us elders of Gilead went to fetch Jephthah out pass, we pray thee, through thy land unto of the land of Tob: my place.

6 And they said unto Jephthah, Come, 20 But Sihon trusted not Israel to pass and be our captain, that we may fight through his coast: but Sihon gathered all with the children of Ammon. his people together, and pitched in Jahaz, and fought against Israel.

7 And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, Did not ye hate me, and expel me 21 And the LORD God of Israel deliverout of my father's house? and why are ye ed Sihon and all his people into the hand come unto me now when ye are indistress? of Israel, and they smote them: so Israel 8 And the elders of Gilead said unto possessed all the land of the Amorites, the Jephthah, Therefore we turn again to thee inhabitants of that country. now, that thou mayest go with us, and 22 And they possessed all the coasts of fight against the children of Ammon, and be the Amorites, from Arnon even unto Jabour head over all the inhabitants of Gilead. bok, and from the wilderness even unto 9 And Jephthah said unto the elders of Jordan.

He makes a rash vow.

CHAP. XII.

The Ephraimites slain. 23 So now the LORD God of Israel hath LORD, do to me according to that which dispossessed the Amorites from before his hath proceeded out of thy mouth; foraspeople Israel, and shouldest thou possess it? much as the LORD hath taken vengeance 24 Wilt not thou possess that which for thee of thine enemies, even of the chilChemosh thy god giveth thee to possess? dren of Ammon.

So whomsoever the LORD our God shall 37 And she said unto her father, Let drive out from before us, them will we this thing be done for me: Let me alone possess. two months, that I may go up and down upon the mountains, and bewail my vir ginity, I and my fellows.

25 And now art thou any thing better than Balak the son of Zippor king of Moab? did he ever strive against Israel, or did he ever fight against them,

38 And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months: and she went with her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains.

26 While Israel dwelt in Heshbon and her towns, and in Aroer and her towns, and in all the cities that be along by the 39 And it came to pass at the end of coasts of Arnon, three hundred years? two months, that she returned unto her fawhy therefore did ye not recover them ther, who did with her according to his within that time? vow which he had vowed: and she knew 27 Wherefore I have not sinned against no man. And it was a custom in Israel, thee, but thou doest me wrong to war 40 That the daughters of Israel went against me: the LORD the Judge be judge yearly to lament the daughter of Jephthis day between the children of Israel thah the Gileadite four days in a year. and the children of Ammon.

28 Howbeit, the king of the children of

CHAP. XII.

Ammon hearkened not unto the words of AND the men of Ephraim gathered

Jephthah which he sent him.

themselves together, and went northward, and said unto Jephthah, Wherefore passedst thou over to fight against the children of Ammon, and didst not call us to go with thee? we will burn thy house upon thee with fire.

29 Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead, and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over unto the children of Am- 2 And Jephthah said unto them, I and my people were at great strife with the 30 And Jephthah vowed a vow unto children of Ammon; and when I called the LORD, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into my hands,

mon.

you, ye delivered me not out of their hands.

3 And when I saw that ye delivered me not, I put my life in my hands, and 31 Then it shall be, that whatsoever passed over against the children of Amcometh forth of the doors of my house to mon, and the LORD delivered them into meet me, when I return in peace from the my hand: wherefore then are ye come children of Ammon, shalf surely be the up unto me this day, to fight against me? LORD's, and I will offer it up for a burnt- 4 Then Jephthah gathered together all offering. the men of Gilead, and fought with 32 So Jephthah passed over unto the Ephraim: and the men of Gilead smote children of Ammon to fight against them: Ephraim, because they said, Ye Gileadand the LORD delivered them into his ites are fugitives of Ephraim among the hands. Ephraimites, and among the Manassites. 33 And he smote them from Aroer even 5 And the Gileadites took the passages till thou come to Minnith, even twenty of Jordan before the Ephraimites and cities, and unto the plain of the vineyards, it was so, that when those Ephraimites with a very great slaughter. Thus the which were escaped, said, Let me go over; children of Ammon were subdued before that the men of Gilead said unto him, Art the children of Israel. thou an Ephraimite? If he said, Nay;

34 And Jephthah came to Mizpeh 6 Then said they unto him, Say now unto his house, and behold, his daughter Shibboleth: and he said Sibboleth: for came out to meet him with timbrels and he could not frame to pronounce it right. with dances: and she was his only child; Then they took him and slew him at besides her he had neither son nor daughter. the passages of Jordan. And there fell 35 And it came to pass, when he saw at that time of the Ephraimites forty and her, that he rent his clothes, and said, Alas, two thousand.

my daughter! thou hast brought me very 7 And Jephthah judged Israel six years: low, and thou art one of them that trouble then died Jephthah the Gileadite, and was me: for I have opened my mouth unto buried in one of the cities of Gilead. the LORD, and I cannot go back. 8 And after him Ibzan of Beth-lehem

36 And she said unto him, My father, judged Israel.

if thou hast opened thy mouth unto the 9 And he had thirty sons and thrty

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