Judges

Chapter 1

1 After the death of Joshua, The Israelites consulted the Lord, saying, »Which of us will go up first against the Canaanites to fight against them?« 
2 Yahweh answered, »Judah will go up; behold, I have given the land into their hands.« 
3 And Judah said to Simeon his brother, »Come up with me to the land that the lot has assigned me, and we will fight against the Canaanites; I will also go with you to the land that the lot has assigned you.» So Simeon went with him.

4 Judah went up, and Yahweh delivered the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hands; they defeated ten thousand men at Bezek.
5 Having found Adoni-Besech at Bezek, they attacked him and defeated the Canaanites and the Perizzites.
6 Adoni-Bésec fled, but they pursued him and, having seized him, they cut off his thumbs and toes.
7 Adoni-Besech said: »Seventy kings, with their thumbs and toes cut off, were gathering the crumbs "Under my table; what I have done, God repays me." They took him to Jerusalem, and he died there.

8 The sons of Judah attacked Jerusalem and, having taken it, they struck it with the edge of the sword and set fire to the city.

9 Then the sons of Judah went down to fight the Canaanites who lived in the hill country, the Negev and the Shephelah.
10 Judah marched against the Canaanites who lived in Hebron, formerly called Cariath-arbe, and he defeated Shesai, Ahiman and Tolmai.
11 From there he marched against the inhabitants of Dabir, which was formerly called Cariath-Sepher.
12 Caleb said, »To the one who strikes down Cariath-Sepher and captures it, I will give my daughter Axah as a wife.« 
13 Othoniel, son of Cenez, younger brother of Caleb, took possession of it, and Caleb gave him his daughter Axah as a wife.
14 When she went to Othoniel's house, she urged him to ask his father for a field. She got down from her donkey, and Caleb said to her, "What's the matter?"» 
15 She answered him, »Do me a favor, for you have settled me in a dry land; give me springs of water.» And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.

16 The sons of the Kenite, Moses’ brother-in-law, went up from the city of palm trees with the sons of Judah to the wilderness of Judah, south of Arad, and they came to settle with the people.

17 Judah went out with Simeon his brother, and they defeated the Canaanites who lived in Sephaath; they devoted the city to anathema, and it was called Hormah.
18 Judah also took possession of Gaza and its territory, Ashkelon and its territory, and Acharon and its territory.
19 Yahweh was with Judah; and Judah He took possession of the mountain, but he could not drive out the inhabitants of the plain, because they had iron chariots.
20 They gave Hebron to Caleb, as Moses had said, and he drove out the three sons of Enak.

21 The sons of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem, and the Jebusites have lived in Jerusalem with the sons of Benjamin to this day.

22 The house of Joseph also went up against Bethel, and Yahweh was with them.
23 The house of Joseph sent a reconnaissance to Bethel, a town formerly called Luz.
24 When the guards saw a man coming out of the city, they said to him, »Show us how to get back into the city, and we will spare your life.« 
25 He showed them how they could enter the city, and they struck the city with the edge of the sword, but they let the man go with all his family.
26 This man went to the land of the Hittites; he built a city and named it Luz, and that is its name to this day.

27 Manasseh did not drive out the inhabitants of Bethsan and the towns dependent on it, nor those of Thanach and its dependent towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and its dependent towns, nor the inhabitants of Jeblaam and its dependent towns, nor the inhabitants of Mageddo and its dependent towns; and the Canaanites became bolder to remain in that land.
28 When Israel had become strong enough, they subjected the Canaanites to tribute, and did not drive them out.

29 Ephraim did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gaser, and the Canaanites lived among Ephraim in Gaser.

30 Zebulun did not drive out the inhabitants of Ketron, nor the inhabitants of Naalol; and the Canaanites lived in the midst of Zebulun, but they were submitted to a tribute.

31 Asher did not drive out the inhabitants of Achcho, nor the inhabitants of Sidon, nor those of Ahalab, Ahazib, Helba, Aphek, and Rehob;
32 and the sons of Asher remained among the Canaanites, inhabitants of the land, for they did not drive them out.

33 Naphtali did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shamesh, nor the inhabitants of Beth-anath, and he remained among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land; but the inhabitants of Beth-shamesh and Beth-anath were submitted to a tribute in his favor.

34 The Amorites drove the sons of Dan back into the mountains, and did not let them come down into the plain.
35 The Amorites became bold enough to remain in Har-Hares, Aijalon, and Shelbim; but the hand of the house of Joseph came down heavily upon them, and they were submitted to a tribute.
36 The territory of the Amorites extended from the ascent of Acrabbim, from Sela, and above.

Chapter 2

1 The angel of the Lord went up from Gilgal to Bochim and said, »I brought you up out of Egypt and brought you into the land I swore to your ancestors to give you. I said, ‘I will never break my covenant with you;
2 And you shall not make any alliance with the inhabitants of this land, you shall tear down their altars. But you have not obeyed my voice. Why have you done this?
3 And I also said, «I will not drive them out before you; they will be at your side, and their gods will be a snare to you.” 
4 When the angel of Yahweh spoke these words to all the children of Israel, the people lifted up their voices and wept.
5 They named the place Bokim, and there they offered sacrifices to Yahweh.

6 Joshua sent the people away, and the children of Israel went each to their inheritance to take possession of the land.
7 The people served Yahweh throughout the days of Joshua, and throughout the lives of the elders who survived Joshua And who had seen all the great work that Yahweh had accomplished for Israel.
8 Joshua, son of Nun, servant of Yahweh, died at the age of one hundred and ten years.
9 He was buried in the territory he had received as his inheritance, at Tamnath-heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaas.

10 This whole generation was also gathered to their fathers, and another generation arose after them who did not know Yahweh, nor the work that he had done for Israel.

11 The children of Israel did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and they served the Baals.
12 They abandoned Yahweh, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and they went after other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who surrounded them; they bowed down before them and angered Yahweh.
13 Forsaking Yahweh, they served Baal and the Astartes.

14 The anger of Yahweh was kindled against Israel; he gave them into the hands of plunderers who plundered them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, and they could no longer stand before their enemies.
15 Wherever they went, the hand of Yahweh was against them for their Woe, as Yahweh had said, as Yahweh had sworn to them, and they came to great distress.

16 Yahweh raised up judges who delivered them from the hand of those who plundered them.
17 But they did not listen to their judges, for they prostituted themselves to other gods and bowed down to them. They quickly turned aside from the way their fathers had followed in obeying the commandments of Yahweh; they did not do the same.
18 When Yahweh raised up judges for them, Yahweh was with the judge and delivered them from the hand of their enemies, as long as the judge lived; for Yahweh relented because of their groaning before those who oppressed and tormented them.
19 But, Upon the death of the judge, they became even more corrupt than their fathers, going after other gods to serve them and prostrate themselves before them; they did not abandon their errors and their obstinacy.

20 Then the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and he said, »Because this nation has transgressed my covenant that I commanded their ancestors, and has not obeyed my voice,
21 I will no longer drive out before them a single nation that Joshua left behind when he died,
22 in order to test Israel by them, to see whether or not they will be attentive to following the way of Yahweh, as their fathers were attentive.« 

23 And Yahweh left in peace, without hastening to drive them out, those nations whom he had not given into the hands of Joshua.

Chapter 3

1 These are the nations that Yahweh left in peace to test Israel through them, all those who had not experienced all the wars of Canaan,
2 and that solely for the instruction of the generations of Israel, in order to teach them the war, at least to those who had not known her before.
3 These nations were: the five Philistine princes, all the Canaanites and Sidonians, and the Hivites who lived in the mountain of Lebanon, from the mountain of Baal-Hermon to the entrance of Hamath.
4 These peoples were meant to test Israel, to see if they would obey the commandments that Yahweh had prescribed to their fathers through Moses.
5 And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites;
6 They took their daughters as wives, and gave their own daughters to their sons, and they served their gods.

7 The children of Israel did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh; forgetting Yahweh, they served the Baals and the Asheroths.
8 The anger of Yahweh was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Chusan-Rashataim, king of Mesopotamia, and the children of Israel were enslaved to Chusan-Rashataim for eight years.

9 The children of Israel cried out to Yahweh, and Yahweh raised up a deliverer for them, Othniel, son of Kenez, the younger brother of Caleb.
10 The Spirit of Yahweh came upon him; he judged Israel and went out to war; Yahweh delivered into his hand Cushan-Rashataim, king of Mesopotamia, and his hand prevailed against Cushan-Rashataim.
11 The country had rest for forty years, and Othoniel, son of Cenez, died.

12 The children of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and Yahweh strengthened Eglon, king of Moab, against Israel, because they were doing what was evil in the sight of Yahweh.
13 Eglon gathered the sons of Ammon and Amalek, and he marched out. He defeated Israel, and they captured the city of Palm Trees.
14 The children of Israel were enslaved for eighteen years to Eglon, king of Moab.

15 The Israelites cried out to the Lord, and the Lord raised up a deliverer for them, Ehud son of Gera, a Benjamite, who was left-handed. The Israelites sent a present by him to Eglon king of Moab.
16 Aod made himself a double-edged sword, a cubit long, and he fastened it under his garments, on his right hip.
17 He offered the present to Eglon, king of Moab; now Eglon was a very fat man.
18 When he had finished offering the gift, he sent away the people who had brought the gift.
19 And he himself returned from the idols which are near Gilgal, and he said: "O king, I have something secret to tell you." The king said: "Silence!" And all those who were with him came out.
20 Aod approached him as he was sitting alone in his summer room, and said, »I have a word from God for you.» Eglon stood up from his seat.
21 Then Aod, extending his left hand, drew the sword that was on his right hip, and thrust it into his stomach.
22 The hilt itself went in after the blade, and the grease closed over the blade; for he did not take the sword out of his belly, and the blade exited from the back.
23 Aod exited by the outside staircase, closed on Eglon the doors of the upper room and pulled the bolt.
24 When he had gone out, the servants of the king They came and looked; and behold, the doors of the upper room were bolted. They said, "No doubt he covers his feet in the summer room."» 
25 They waited a long time until they were ashamed, and when he would not open the doors of the upper room, they took the key and opened it; and behold, their master lay lifeless on the floor.
26 During their delay, Aod fled, passed by the idols, and escaped to Seirath.
27 As soon as he arrived, he sounded the trumpet in the hill country of Ephraim. The Israelites went down with him from the hill country, and he began at their head.
28 He said to them, »Follow me! For Yahweh has delivered your enemies, the Moabites, into your hands.» So they went down after him and seized the fords of the Jordan opposite Moab, and let no one pass through.
29 They defeated Moab at that time, about ten thousand men, all strong and valiant, and not one escaped.
30 On that day Moab was subdued under the hand of Israel, and the land had rest for eighty years.

31 After him came Samgar son of Anath, who defeated six hundred Philistine men with an ox goad; he too was a deliverer of Israel.

Chapter 4

1 The children of Israel did again what was evil in the sight of Yahweh, after the death of Aod.
2 And Yahweh sold them into the hand of Jabin, king of Canaan, who reigned in Ashor; the commander of his army was Sisera, and he lived in Haroseth-gayim.

3 The children of Israel cried out to Yahweh, for Jabin had nine hundred iron chariots and for twenty years he had been oppressing the children of Israel severely.

4 In those days Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, was administering justice in Israel.
5 She sat under the palm tree of Deborah, between Ramah and Bethel, in the hill country of Ephraim; and the children of Israel went up to her to be judged.
6 She sent for Barak son of Abinoëm from Kedes in Naphtali, and said to him, »Has not the Lord, the God of Israel, commanded? Go to Mount Tabor, and take with you ten thousand men from the sons of Naphtali and the sons of Zebulun.
7 I will bring Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and troops, to the Wadi Zishon, and I will deliver him into your hands.« 
8 Barak said to him, »If you come with me, I will go; but if you do not come with me, I will not go.« 
9 She answered, »Yes, I will go with you, but in the expedition you are about to undertake, the glory will not be yours, for the Lord will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman.» So Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh.
10 Barak summoned Zebulun and Naphtali to Cedes; and ten thousand men went out after him, and Deborah went with him.

11 Heber the Kinnee had captured the Kinnees, the sons of Hobab, Moses’ brother-in-law, and had pitched his tent as far as the oak of Sennim, near Kedesh.

12 Sisara was informed that Barak, son of Abinoëm, had gone to Mount Tabor;
13 And Sisera brought from Haroseth-goyim, to the Wadi Zishon, all his chariots, nine hundred iron chariots, and all the people who were with him.
14 Then Deborah said to Barak, »Get up, for this is the day the Lord has given Sisera into your hand. Has not the Lord gone out before you?» So Barak went down from Mount Tabor, with ten thousand men following him.
15 Yahweh routed Sisera, all his chariots and all his army, with the edge of the sword, before Barak; and Sisera got down from his chariot and fled on foot.
16 Barak pursued the chariots and the army as far as Haroseth-goyim, and all the army of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword; not a man escaped.

17 Sisera fled on foot to the tent of Jahel, the wife of Heber the Kinnee; for there was peace between Jabin king of Ashor and the house of Heber the Kinnee.
18 Jahel went out to meet Sisara and said to him, »Come in, my lord, come in to me, do not be afraid.» So he went into her tent, and she hid him under a covering.
19 He said to her, »Please give me a little water to drink, for I am thirsty.» She opened the skin of milk, gave him a drink, and covered him.
20 He told him, »Stand at the entrance of the tent, and if anyone comes to ask him, «Is there a man here?’ you shall say, ‘No.’” 
21 Jahel, Heber’s wife, took a tent peg and, having taken the hammer in her hand, she approached him quietly and drove the peg into his temple, and it went into the ground, for he was fast asleep, being overcome with fatigue; and he died.
22 And behold, as Barak was pursuing Sisara, Jahel went out to meet him and said, "Come, and I will show you the man you are looking for." He went into her house and saw Sisara lying dead with a stake through his temple.

23 On that day God humbled Jabin, king of Canaan, before the children of Israel.
24 And the hand of the children of Israel pressed harder and harder on Jabin, king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin, king of Canaan.

Chapter 5

1 On that day Deborah and Barak, sons of Abinoëm, sang, saying:

2 The leaders took the lead in Israel; the people offered themselves willingly for battle, bless Yahweh!
3 Listen, O kings: O princes, give ear. It is I, it is I who will sing to Yahweh; I will sing a song to Yahweh, the God of Israel.

4 Yahweh, when you went out from Seir, when you advanced from the fields of Edom, the earth trembled, the heavens themselves melted, and the clouds melted into water.
5 Before Yahweh the mountains trembled, this Sinai, before Yahweh, the God of Israel.

6 In the days of Samgar, son of Anath, in the days of Jahel, the roads were deserted, and travelers took winding paths.
7 The countryside was neglected in Israel, until I, Deborah, arose, a mother in Israel.

8 New gods were chosen; then the war was at the gates, and neither shield nor spear was seen among forty thousand in Israel!
9 My heart rushes to the leaders of Israel, to those of the people who have offered themselves: Bless Yahweh!

10 You who ride on white donkeys, who sit on carpets, and you who travel along the roads, sing!
11 Let the archers, near the watering places, sing aloud of the righteous acts of Yahweh, the righteous acts he has performed in Israel! Then the people of Yahweh went down into his gates.
12 Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake, awake, sing the song! Rise up, Barak, and take your prisoners, sons of Abinoëm!
13 Now come down, you remnant of the nobles of the people! Yahweh, come down to me among these heroes!

14 Of Ephraim came those who have their roots in Amalek; behind you, Benjamin joined to your troops; from Machir, commanders have come down; from Zebulun, leaders, with the scribe's staff.
15 The princes of Issachar are with Deborah, Issachar is beside Barak; in the plain he is sent after him.

Near the streams of Reuben, there were great resolutions of the heart:
16 Why did you remain in the midst of your pastures, listening to the pipe of your shepherds? By the streams of Reuben, there were great resolutions of the heart!

17 Gilead did not leave his dwelling place beyond the Jordan; and Dan, why did he remain in his ships? Asher stayed at rest on the seashore, and remained in his harbors.
18 But Zebulun is a people who expose their soul to death, as is Naphtali, on his high plateaus.

19 The kings came, they fought; then they fought, the kings of Canaan, at Thanac, by the waters of Mageddo; they did not take away a single ingot of silver.
20 From the sky we fought for us, From their paths the stars fought against Sisara.

21 The Cison torrent has washed away their corpses. The torrent of olden times, the Cison torrent. — O my soul, advance boldly! —
22 Then the horses' hooves resounded, in the race, the swift race of their warriors.
23 Curse Meroz, says the angel of Yahweh, curse, curse its inhabitants! For they did not come to the aid of Yahweh, to the aid of Yahweh, with the mighty ones.

24 Blessed be between women Jahel, wife of Heber the Cinean; between the troops who live under the blessed tent!
25 He asked for water, she gave milk; in the cup of honor, she offered the purest milk.
26 With one hand she grasped the stake, and with her right, the workman's hammer.

She strikes Sisara, she breaks his head, she smashes and pierces his temple;
27 At his feet he sinks, he falls, he is stretched out; at his feet he sinks, he falls: where he sinks, there he lies lifeless.

28 Through the window, through the latticework, she looks, the mother of Sisera, and cries out: »Why is his chariot delayed? Why is the movement of his chariots so slow?« 
29 The wisest of her ladies answer her, and she repeats their words to herself:

30 »Have they not found the spoils? Have they not divided them among themselves? One young woman, two young women for each warrior; colored garments as spoils for Sisera, garments of various colors as spoils; one colored garment, two garments of various colors, for the shoulders of the wife!« 

31 May all your enemies perish, O Yahweh! And may those who love him be like the sun when it rises in its strength!

32 The country was at rest for forty years.

Chapter 6

1 The children of Israel did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and Yahweh delivered them into the hand of Midian for seven years.
2 The hand of Midian was mighty against Israel. Because of Midian, the children of Israel made for themselves the dens that are in the mountains, the caverns, and the fortified heights.
3 When Israel had sown, Midian came up with Amalek and the sons of the East, and they marched against him.
4 Camped opposite’Israel, They devastated the land's produce as far as Gaza, and left no sustenance in Israel, neither sheep, nor oxen, nor donkeys.
5 For they came up with their flocks and their tents, and came in great numbers like swarms of locusts; they and their camels were countless, and they came into the land to devastate it.
6 Israel was greatly weakened because of Midian, and the children of Israel cried out to Yahweh.

7 When the Israelites cried out to the Lord about Midian,
8 Yahweh sent a prophet to the children of Israel. He said to them, »Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel: I brought you up out of Egypt, and I brought you out of the house of bondage.
9 I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all your oppressors; I drove them out before you, and I gave you their land.
10 I told you, «I am the Lord your God; you shall not fear the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell.” But you did not listen to my voice.« 

11 And the Angel of the Lord came and sat under the oak in Ephraia, who would bring to Joash of the family of Abiezer. Gideon, his son, was threshing wheat in the winepress to hide it from the Midianites.
12 The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, »The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.« 
13 Gideon said to him, »Ah, my lord, if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about, saying, «Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hands of Midian.” 
14 Yahweh turned to him and said, »Go in the strength you have and deliver Israel from the hand of Midian. Have I not sent you?« 
15 Gideon said to him, »Ah, Lord, how can I deliver Israel? Look, my clan is the poorest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.« 
16 Yahweh said to him, »I will be with you, and you will strike down the Midianites as one man.« 
17 Gideon said to him, »If I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is you who are speaking to me.
18 Do not leave this place until I come back to you and bring my offering and set it before you.» And the Lord said, »I will stay until you return.« 

19 Gideon, having entered, prepared a young goat and, with an ephah of flour, made unleavened loaves; Then, Having placed the meat in a basket and the juice in a vessel, he brought them to him under the terebinth tree and the him offered.
20 The Angel of Yahweh said to him, »Take the meat and the unleavened bread, place them on this rock, and pour over the juice.» And he did so.
21 The angel of the Lord stretched out the tip of the staff that was in his hand and touched the meat and the unleavened bread. Immediately fire sprang up from the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened bread, and the angel of the Lord vanished from his sight.
22 Gideon saw that it was the Angel of the Lord, and Gideon said, »Woe to you!” to me, Lord Yahweh, for I have seen the Angel of Yahweh face to face.« 
23 Yahweh said to him, »Peace be with you; do not be afraid. You will not die.« 
24 Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and called it: »The Lord is Shalom;» this altar still exists today in Ephra d'Abiéser.

25 That night, Yahweh said to Gideon »Take your father’s young bull and the second bull, seven years old. Tear down your father’s altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah pole beside it.”.
26 Then you shall build an altar to the Lord your God on the top of this stronghold, and you THE You shall prepare it; you shall take the second bull and offer a burnt offering with the wood of the Asherah that you have cut down.« 
27 Gideon took ten of his servants and did as the Lord had told him, but he did not dare THE He did this during the day out of fear of his father's house and the people of the town. THE It was done at night.
28 When The people of the city awoke the next morning to find the altar of Baal overturned, the Asherah pole beside it cut down, and the second bull offered as a burnt offering on the altar. recently built.
29 They asked each other, »Who did this?» And they inquired and made some inquiries. They were told, »Gideon, son of Joash, did this.« 
30 Then the people of the city said to Joash, »Bring out your son so that he may die, for he has torn down the altar of Baal and cut down the Asherah that was beside it.« 
31 Joash said to all those who were standing there against him: »Is it for you to take Baal’s side? Or is it for you to come to his aid? Whoever takes Baal’s side shall be put to death before morning. If Baal is God, let him take up his own cause, since his altar has been torn down!« 
32 On that day, someone named Gideon Jerobaal, saying, »Let Baal defend himself against him, since he has torn down his altar!« 

33 All Midian, Amalek, and the people of the East gathered together, and having passed the Jordan, They camped in the plain of Jezreel.
34 The Spirit of Yahweh came upon Gideon, and he sounded the trumpet, and the Abieserites gathered to follow him.
35 He sent messengers throughout all Manasseh, and they also gathered to follow him. He sent messengers to Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, and they went up to meet them.

36 Gideon said to God, »If you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said,
37 Behold, I will put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor: if only the fleece is covered with dew, and all the ground around "Remain dry, and I will know that you will deliver Israel by my hand, as you have said."« 
38 And so it happened. The next day, having risen early in the morning, he squeezed the fleece, and brought out the dew, filling a cup with water.
39 Gideon said to God, »Do not let your anger burn against me; let me speak just once more. I would like to test the fleece just once more: let the fleece alone remain dry, and let the dew fall on all the ground.” around.« 
40 And God did this that night: only the fleece remained dry, and all the ground was covered with dew.

Chapter 7

1 Jerobaal, who is Gideon, with all the people who were with him, got up early in the morning and went to camp above the spring of Harad. The camp of Midian was north of Gideon's camp, towards the hill of Moreh, in the plain.

2 Yahweh said to Gideon, »The people with you are too many for me to give Midian into their hands, lest Israel boast against me, saying, ‘It was my hand that delivered me.
3 Therefore proclaim this to the people: Let whoever is afraid and trembling return and depart from Mount Gilboa.» Twenty-two thousand men of the people returned, and ten thousand remained.

4 The Lord said to Gideon, »The people are still too many. Bring them down to the water, and there I will separate them for you. Those I tell you to go with you will go with you, and those I tell you not to go with you will not go with you.« 
5 Gideon He brought the people down to the water, and Yahweh said to Gideon, »All those who lap the water with their tongue, like a dog laps, set them apart; likewise all those who will kneel to drink.« 
6 Those who lapped the water in their hands, bringing it to their mouths, numbered three hundred men; all the rest of the people knelt down to drink.
7 And the Lord said to Gideon, »With these three hundred men who have lapped, I will save you and deliver Midian into your hands; all the rest of the people should go home.« 
8 The three hundred They took provisions from the people and their trumpets; then Gideon sent everyone away the rest The men of Israel, each in his own tent, and he kept the three hundred men. The camp of the Midianites was below him, in the plain.

9 During that night, Yahweh said to Gideon, »Get up, go down to the camp, for I have given it into your hands.
10 If you are afraid to attack him, go down with Pharaoh your servant;
11 You will listen to what they say, and then your hands will be strengthened and you will go down without fear to the camp.» He went down with Phara, his servant, to the outposts of the camp.
12 — Midian, Amalek, and all the people of the East were spread out across the plain, as numerous as locusts, and their camels were as countless as the sand on the seashore.
13 Gideon arrived, and behold, a man was telling his companion a dream; he said, »I had a dream, and behold, a barley loaf was rolling into the camp of Midian; it came to the tent, and struck it, and it fell; it overturned it, and the tent fell.« 
14 His companion answered and said, »It is none other than the sword of Gideon, son of Joash, a man of Israel; God has delivered Midian and the entire camp into his hand.« 

15 When Gideon heard the account of the dream and its interpretation, he bowed down and returned to the camp of Israel and said, »Get up, for the Lord has given the camp of Midian into our hands.« 
16 He divided the three hundred men into three columns, and gave each of them trumpets and empty jugs, with torches in the jugs,
17 and he said to them, »You will watch me, and you will do as I do. As soon as I arrive at the edge of the camp, you will do as I do.
18 When I and all who are with me blow the trumpet, you also shall blow the trumpet all around the camp, and you shall say: For the Lord and for Gideon!« 

19 Gideon and the hundred men who were with him arrived at the edge of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just as the sentries had been relieved; they blew the trumpets and broke the jars that were in their hands.
20 Then the three bodies blew their trumpets and smashed the jars, and taking hold of the torches in their left hands and the trumpets in their right to sound them, they cried out: »A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!« 
21 They each remained in their place around the camp; and the whole camp began to run, shout, and flee.
22 While the three hundred men were blowing the trumpets, the Lord caused the Midianites to turn their swords against each other and against the whole camp. The camp fled as far as Beth-setta toward Zarerah, to the border of Abel-mehula, near Tebbath.

23 The men of Israel gathered together, those of Naphtali, Asher, and all Manasseh, and they pursued Midian.

24 Gideon sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim, saying, »Go down to meet the Midianites and occupy them before they do.” the passage waters as far as Bethbera, as well as the fords of the Jordan.» All the men of Ephraim gathered together, and they occupied the waters as far as Bethbera, as well as the fords of Jordan.
25 Having captured two princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeb, they killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and they killed Zeb at the winepress of Zeb. They pursued Midian, and they brought the heads of Oreb and Zeb to Gideon, on the other side of the Jordan.

Chapter 8

1 The men of Ephraim said to Gideon, »What is this you have done to us, not calling us when you went out to fight against Midian?» And they quarreled with him fiercely.
2 Gideon answered them, »What have I done compared to you? Is not the gleaning of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?”
3 It is into your hands that Yahweh has delivered the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeb. What could I do compared to you?» When he had said this, their anger against him subsided.

4 Gideon arrived at the Jordan, and he crossed it, he and the three hundred men who were with him, tired and continuing to pursue.
5 He said to the people of Zoccoth, »Please give some loaves of bread to the people who are with me, for they are weary, and I am pursuing Zeba and Shalman, kings of Midian.« 
6 The leaders of Zoccoth replied, »Is the hand of Zebae and Shalman already in yours, that we should give bread to your troops?« 
7 Gideon their He said, »Well, when the Lord has delivered Zeba and Shalman into my hands, I will tear your flesh with desert thorns and thistles.« 
8 From there he went up to Phanuel, and he addressed the people of Phanuel with the same message. The people of Phanuel answered him as the people of Zoccoth had answered.
9 And he said to Phanuel's men, "When I return victorious, I will raze this tower."» 

10 Zebeah and Shalman were at Carchor, and their army with them, about fifteen thousand men, all those who had remained of the whole army of the sons of the East; for one hundred and twenty thousand men had fallen, drawing the sword.
11 Gideon went up by the way of those who dwell in tents, to the east of Nobah and Jegbaah, and he broke camp, which thought itself safe.
12 Zebeah and Shalmanah fled; he pursued them and captured the two kings of Midian, Zebeah and Shalmanah, and routed the whole camp.

13 Gideon, son of Joash, returned from the battle by way of Hares.
14 Having seized a young man from among the people of Soccoth, he questioned him, and he wrote down for him the names of the leaders and elders of Soccoth, seventy-seven men.
15 Then Gideon He came to the people of Soccoth and said, "Here are Zeba and Shalman, about whom you insulted me, saying, 'Is the hand of Zeba and Shalman already in your hand that we should give bread to your weary people?'"» 
16 He seized the elders of the city and, having taken thorns from the desert and briers, he punished the people of Soccoth.
17 He also razed the tower of Phanuel, and killed the men of the city.

18 He said to Zeba and Shalman, »What were the men like whom you killed on Tabor?» They said, »They were like you; each of them looked like a king’s son.« 
19 He said, »They were my brothers, my mother’s sons. As surely as the Lord lives, if you had let them live, I would not have killed you.« 
20 And he said to Jether, his firstborn, »Get up, kill them.» But the young man did not draw his sword, because he was afraid, for he was still a young boy.
21 Zebeah and Salmanah said, »Get up and attack us! For as the man is, so is his strength.» Gideon got up and killed Zebeah and Salmanah, and he took the crescent moons that were on the necks of their camels.

22 The men of Israel said to Gideon, »Reign over us, you and your son and your grandson, because you have delivered us from the hand of Midian.« 
23 Gideon said to them, »I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you; the Lord will rule over you.« 

24 Gideon said to them, »I have one request to make of you: each of you give me the rings from your plunder.» (Now the enemy had gold rings, for they were Ishmaelites.)
25 They said, »We will gladly give them.» And they spread out a cloak, on which each one threw the rings of his plunder.
26 The weight of the gold rings that Gideon had requested was 1,700 shekels of gold, besides the crescents, the earrings, and the purple garments worn by the kings of Midian, and besides the necklaces that were on the necks of their camels.
27 With this gold, Gideon made an ephod and stored it in his city, Ephrah. All Israel went there to prostitute themselves after this ephod, and it became a snare to Gideon and his household.

28 Midian was humbled before the children of Israel and did not lift up his head again; and the land had rest for forty years in the days of Gideon.

29 Jerobaal, son of Joash, returned home and remained in his house.
30 Gideon had seventy sons, from himself, for he had many wives.
31 His concubine, who was at Shechem, also bore him a son, who received his from Abimelech.
32 Gideon, son of Joash, died at a good old age, and was buried in the tomb of Joash his father, in Ephrah of Abiezer.

33 When Gideon died, the children of Israel again prostituted themselves to the Baals, and they took Baal-Berith as their god.
34 The children of Israel no longer remembered Yahweh, their God, who had delivered them from the hand of all their enemies around them;
35 and they showed no loyalty to the house of Jerobaal-Gideon, in spite of all the good he had done for Israel.

Chapter 9

1 Abimelech, son of Jerobaal, went to Shechem to his mother's brothers, and addressed these words to them and to all the family of his mother's father's house:
2 »Please tell all the inhabitants of Shechem: Which is better for you, that seventy men, all sons of Jerobaal, rule over you, or that one man rule over you? Remember that I am your own flesh and blood.« 
3 When his mother's brothers repeated all these words about him to all the inhabitants of Shechem, their hearts inclined toward Abimelech, for they said to one another, "He is our brother."» 
4 They gave him seventy shekels of silver from the house of Baal-Berith, and Abimelech used it to bribe worthless people and adventurers, who attached themselves to him.
5 He came to his father’s house in Ephrah, and killed his brothers, the sons of Jerobaal, seventy of them, on one stone; only Jotham, the youngest son of Jerobaal, escaped because he had hidden himself.
6 Then all the inhabitants of Shechem and all the house of Melo gathered together; they came and proclaimed Abimelech king, near the terebinth tree of the monument that is in Shechem.

7 When Jotham was informed of this, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim and, raising his voice, cried out to them, saying: »Listen to me, inhabitants of Shechem, so that God may listen to you!
8 The trees set out to anoint a king to rule over them. They said to the olive tree, “Reign over us.”.
9 But the olive tree said to them, “Should I give up my oil, which brings me glory before God and men, to go and sway above the others trees?
10 And the trees said to the fig tree, “Come, you, reign over us.”.
11 But the fig tree said to them, “Should I give up my sweetness and excellent fruit to go and sway above the others trees?
12 And the trees said to the vine, “Come, you, reign over us.”.
13 But the vine said to them, “Should I give up my wine, which brings joy to God and men, to go and sway above the others trees?
14 Then all the trees said to the thorn bush, “Come, you, reign over us.”.
15 And the thornbush said to the trees, “If you will anoint me for your king, come, put your trust in my shade; but if not, let fire come out of the thornbush and devour the cedars of Lebanon!”
16 Now, if you have acted justly and rightly in making Abimelech king, if you have dealt well with Jerobaal and his household, and have treated him according to the merit of his own hands,
17 — for my father fought for you, risked his life, and delivered you from the hand of Midian;
18 And you have risen up today against my father's house, and have killed his sons, seventy of them, on one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother—
19 If you have acted with fairness and justice this day toward Jerobaal and his house, then let Abimelech be your joy, and let you be his too!
20 Otherwise, let fire come out from Abimelech and consume the inhabitants of Shechem and the house of Melo, and let fire come out from the inhabitants of Shechem and the house of Melo and consume Abimelech!« 

21 Joatham withdrew and fled; he went to Bera and remained there, for fear of Abimelech, his brother.

22 Abimelech ruled over Israel for three years.
23 And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the inhabitants of Shechem, and the inhabitants of Shechem became unfaithful to Abimelech:
24 so that the crime committed against the seventy sons of Jerobaal might be avenged and their blood might fall upon Abimelech, their brother, who had killed them, and upon the men of Shechem who had helped him to kill his brothers.
25 The men of Shechem placed men in ambush against him on the mountaintops, who plundered all who passed by them on the road; and this was reported to Abimelech.

26 Gaal, son of Obed, came with his brothers, and they crossed over to Shechem. The men of Shechem put their trust in him.
27 They went out into the countryside, harvested their grapes, trodden the vines the grapes and held a celebration; Then, Having entered the house of their god, they ate and drank, and they cursed Abimelech.
28 Then Gaal son of Obed said, »Who is Abimelech? Who is Shechem? Should we serve him? Is not Abimelech the son of Jerobaal, and is not Zebul his officer? Serve the men of Emor, Shechem’s father. But why should we serve them?” Abimelech ?
29 »Oh, that I were the leader of this people! I would drive out Abimelech!» And he said to Abimelech, «Strengthen your army and go out!” 

30 Zebul, governor of the city, heard the words of Gaal, son of Obed, and his anger burned.
31 He secretly sent messengers to Abimelech, saying, »Look, Gaal son of Obed has come to Shechem with his brothers, and they are stirring up the city against you.
32 Rise up at night, you and the people who are with you, and lie in ambush in the countryside.
33 In the morning, at sunrise, get up and rush upon the city; and when Gaal and the people who are with him come out against you, you shall do to them as the opportunity allows.« 

34 Abimelech and all the people who were with him got up at night and lay in ambush near Shechem, divided into four bodies.
35 Gaal, son of Obed, went out and stood at the entrance of the city gate. Right away Abimelech and all the people who were with him got up from the ambush.
36 When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, »Look, people are coming down from the top of the mountains.» Zebul replied, »You think the shadows of the mountains are people.« 
37 Gaal spoke again and said, »Look, a troop is coming down from the middle of the country, and a band is coming by way of the oak of the diviners.« 
38 Zebul answered him, »Where is your mouth now, with which you said, «Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him?’ Are they not the people you despised? Now go out and fight them!” 
39 Gaal made a sortie, at the head of the men of Shechem, and gave battle to Abimelech.
40 Abimelech pursued him, and Gaal fled before him, and many of his Men fell dead right up to the entrance of the gate.
41 Abimelech stopped at Ruma; and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brothers, who could no longer remain in Shechem.

42 The next day, the people went out into the countryside. Abimelech having been informed,
43 took his troops, divided them into three corps, and lay in ambush in the countryside. As soon as he saw the people coming out of the city, he rose up against them and defeated them.
44 Abimelech and the corps that were with him rushed forward and stood at the entrance of the city gate; two of these corps rushed upon all those who were in the countryside and beat them.
45 And Abimelech attacked the city all day long; he captured it and killed the people who were in it; then he razed the city and sowed salt there.

46 When they heard this news, all the men from the tower of Shechem went to the fortress of the house of the god Berith.
47 As soon as Abimelech was told that all the inhabitants of the tower of Shechem had gathered there,
48 Abimelech went up Mount Selmon, he and all the people who were with him. Abimelech took an axe in his hand, cut down a branch from a tree, lifted it up, and put it on his shoulder. He said to the people who were with him, »What you have seen me do, hurry and do as I have done.« 
49 And all the people also cut off a branch each and followed Abimelech; they placed the branches against the fortress, and they gave it up to the fire along with those that it contained. And all the people of the tower of Shechem also perished, about a thousand, men and women.

50 From there, Abimelech marched against Thebes; he besieged Thebes and captured it.
51 There was a strong tower in the middle of the city where all the inhabitants of the city, men and women, took refuge; having shut the gate behind them, they went up onto the roof of the tower.
52 Abimelech came to the tower; he attacked it and approached the gate of the tower to set it on fire.
53 Then a woman threw a piece of millstone on Abimelech's head and smashed his skull.
54 He immediately called to the young man who carried his armor, and said to him, »Draw your sword and kill me, so that it will not be said of me, »A woman killed him.’” The young man pierced him, and he died.
55 When the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they each went to their own house.

56 So God brought back on Abimelech the evil he had done to his father, killing his seventy brothers;
57 And God brought back upon the heads of the people of Shechem all their wickedness. Thus was fulfilled upon them the curse of Jotham, son of Jerobaal.

Chapter 10

1 After Abimelech, Tola, son of Puah, son of Dodo, a man of Issachar, arose to deliver Israel; he lived in Samir, in the hill country of Ephraim.
2 He was a judge in Israel for twenty-three years; then he died and was buried in Samir.

3 After him arose Jair of Gilead, who judged Israel for twenty-two years.
4 He had thirty sons, who rode thirty donkeys, and who owned thirty towns, still called to this day the Boroughs of Jair, and situated in the land of Gilead.
5 And Jair died, and was buried in Camon.

6 The Israelites again did evil in the sight of the Lord; they served the Baals and the Ashtoreths, the gods of Syria, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites, and the gods of the Philistines, and they forsook Yahweh and no longer served him.
7 The anger of Yahweh was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hands of the Philistines and into the hands of the Ammonites.
8 The latter oppressed and crushed the children of Israel in that year; and this oppression lasted eighteen years old For all the children of Israel who lived on the other side of the Jordan, in the land of the Amorites in Gilead.
9 The Ammonites crossed the Jordan to fight also against Judah, Benjamin and the house of Ephraim; and Israel was brought to a great distress.

10 The Israelites cried out to the Lord, saying, »We have sinned against you, for we have abandoned our God and served the Baals.« 
11 Yahweh said to the children of Israel: »Is it I didn't tell you not delivered Egyptians, Amorites, Ammonites, Philistines?
12 And when The Sidonians, Amalek, and Maon oppressed you, and when you cried out to me, did I not save you from their hands?
13 But you have abandoned me and served other gods; therefore I will no longer deliver you.
14 Go, call upon the gods you have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your distress!« 
15 The Israelites said to the Lord, »We have sinned; do to us all as you see fit. Only deliver us this day.« 
16 And they removed the foreign gods from among them, and they served Yahweh, and his soul could not bear the sufferings of Israel.

17 The Ammonites gathered together and camped in Gilead, and the Israelites gathered together and camped at Maspha.
18 The people, the leaders of Gilead, said to one another, »Who is the man who will begin the attack against the Ammonites? He will become leader of all the inhabitants of Gilead.« 

Chapter 11

1 Jephthah the Gileadite was a valiant warrior. He was the son of a prostitute, and it was Gilead who fathered Jephthah.
2 Gilead's wife bore him sons, and the sons of this The women grew up and drove Jephthah out, saying to him, »You will not inherit in our father’s house, because you are the son of another woman.« 
3 So Jephthah fled from his brothers and settled in the land of Tob. Some worthless people gathered around Jephthah, and they went on excursions with him.

4 Some time later, the sons of Ammon did the war to Israel.
5 While the sons of Ammon were doing the war In Israel, the elders of Gilead went to the land of Tob to find Jephthah.
6 They said to Jephthah, »Come, you will be our general, and we will fight the Ammonites.« 
7 Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, »Did you not hate me and drive me out of my father’s house? Why then have you come to me now that you are in distress?« 
8 The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, »This is why we have now returned to you, so that you may go with us, fight against the Ammonites, and be our leader, the chief of all the inhabitants of Gilead.« 
9 Jephthah answered the elders of Gilead, »If you bring me back to fight against the Ammonites, and the Lord delivers them into my hands, I will be your leader.« 
10 The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, »May the Lord be our witness: we will certainly do as you say.« 
11 And Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead. The people appointed him over them as leader and general, and Jephthah repeated all his words before Yahweh at Masphah.

12 Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the Ammonites, saying, »What have you to do with me, that you have come against me to do the war to my country?« 
13 The king of the Ammonites answered Jephthah's messengers, "When Israel came up out of Egypt, they took possession of my land, from the Arnon to the Jabbok and the Jordan. Now give it back willingly."» 

14 Jephthah again sent messengers to the king of the Ammonites,
15 and he said to him, »Thus says Jephthah: Israel has not taken possession of the land of Moab, nor of the land of the sons of Ammon.
16 For when Israel went up out of Egypt, they walked in the desert as far as the Red Sea, and they came to Kadesh.
17 Then Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, “Please let us pass through your country,” but the king of Edom would not agree. They also sent messengers to the king of Moab, who refused. also ; and Israel remained at Kadesh.
18 Then, marching through the desert, he went around the land of Edom and the land of Moab, and came to the east of the land of Moab. And they camped beyond the Arnon, and they did not come to the border of Moab, for the Arnon is the border of Moab.
19 From there, Israel sent messengers to Sihon, king of the Amorites, king of Heshbon; and Israel said to him, “Please let us pass through your country to our place.”.
20 But Sihon did not trust Israel enough to let them pass through his territory. Sihon gathered all his people; they camped at Jasa, and he fought against Israel.
21 And Yahweh, the God of Israel, delivered Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel, who defeated them; and Israel took possession of all the land of the Amorites who lived in that region;
22 They took possession of all the territory of the Amorites, from the Arnon to the Jaboc, and from the desert to the Jordan.
23 Now that Yahweh, the God of Israel, has driven out the Amorites before his people Israel, you would drive out this one!
24 What your God Shamash has given you as a possession, do you not possess? And all that Yahweh, our God, has put before us as a possession, we should not possess!
25 Are you then better than Balak, son of Zippor, king of Moab? Has he contended with Israel, or has he made war against them?
26 For three hundred years Israel has lived in Heshbon and its surrounding towns, in Aroer and its surrounding towns, and in all the towns along the Arnon River; why not him Didn't you remove them during that time?
27 I have not sinned against you; but you have done wrong to me by making me the war. May Yahweh, the Judge supreme, judges today between the children of Israel and the sons of Ammon.« 

28 The king of the Ammonites did not listen to the words that Jephthah had sent him say.

29 The Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah. He passed through Gilead and Manasseh, and went on to Maspha of Gilead; and from Maspha of Gilead he marched against the Ammonites.
30 Jephthah made a vow to Yahweh, saying:
31 »If you deliver the Ammonites into my hands, then whoever comes out of the gates of my house to meet me when I return safely from the Ammonites will belong to the Lord, and I will offer him as a burnt offering.« 

32 Jephthah advanced against the Ammonites, and Yahweh delivered them into his hand.
33 He defeated them from Aroer to Mennith, taking their twenty cities, and as far as Abel-Keramin; it was a very great defeat. And the Ammonites were humbled before the Israelites.

34 Jephthah went up to his house in Maspha; and behold, his daughter came out to meet him with tambourines and dancing. She was his only child; apart from her, he had neither son nor daughter.
35 As soon as he saw her, he tore his clothes and said, »Ah! My daughter, you overwhelm me and are among those who trouble me. I have opened my mouth to the Lord, and I cannot turn back.« 
36 She said to him, »My father, you have opened your mouth to the Lord; do to me according to what has come out of your mouth, since the Lord has avenged you on your enemies, the Ammonites.« 
37 And she said to her father, »Let this grace only Grant me this; leave me free for two months; I will go, I will come down to go on the mountains, and I will mourn my virginity with my companions.« 
38 He replied, »Go,» and he let her go for two months. She and her companions went away, and she wept over her virginity on the mountains.
39 After two months had passed, she returned to her father, and he fulfilled for her the vow he had made; and she had not known a man. From there This custom came to Israel:
40 Every year the daughters of Israel celebrate the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite, four days a year.

Chapter 12

1 The men of Ephraim gathered together and passed by Zaphon. They said to Jephthah, »Why did you go to fight against the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We will burn your house down over you.« 
2 Jephthah answered them, »I and my people were in great conflict with the Ammonites; so I called you, but you did not deliver me from their hands.
3 When I saw that you did not come to my aid, I risked my life and marched against the Ammonites; and the Lord delivered them into my hands. Why then have you come up against me today to wage war against me?« 

4 Jephthah gathered all the men of Gilead and fought against Ephraim. The men of Gilead defeated those of Ephraim, for the latter had said, »You Gileadites are nothing but fugitives from Ephraim, in the midst of Ephraim and Manasseh!« 
5 Gilead seized the fords of the Jordan on the side of Ephraim, and when one of the fugitives from Ephraim said, "Let me cross over," the men of Gilead asked him, "Are you an Ephraimite?" He answered, "No.".
6 They would say to him, »Say »Shibboleth.»» But he would say, “Sibboleth,” though he could not pronounce it correctly. So they seized him SO and slaughtered him near the fords of the Jordan. At that time forty-two thousand men of Ephraim perished.

7 Jephthah judged Israel for six years; then Jephthah the Gileadite died and was buried in one of the cities of Gilead.

8 After him, Abesan, of Bethlehem, was a judge in Israel.
9 He had thirty sons; he married thirty daughters outside his household, and he brought thirty daughters from elsewhere for his sons. He judged Israel for seven years;
10 then Abesan died and was buried at Bethlehem.

11 After him, Ahilon of Zebulun became a judge in Israel; he judged in Israel for ten years;
12 Then Ahialon of Zebulun died and was buried in Ahialon in the land of Zebulun.

13 After him, Abdon, son of Ilel, the Pharathonite, was judge in Israel.
14 He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys. He judged Israel for eight years;
15 Then Abdon, son of Ilel, of Pharathon, died and was buried in Pharathon, in the land of Ephraim, in the mountain of the Amalekites.

Chapter 13

1 The children of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and Yahweh delivered them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years.

2 There was a man from Saraa, of the family of the Danites, named Manué; his wife was barren and had not borne children.
3 The Angel of Yahweh appeared to the woman and said to her, »Behold, you are barren and childless, but you will conceive and bear a son.
4 And now, be very careful, drink neither wine nor strong drink and eat nothing unclean,
5 For you will conceive and give birth to a son. No razor shall touch his head, for he shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb from his mother, And he will begin to deliver Israel from the hand of the Philistines.« 

6 The woman went and told her husband, »A man of God came to me. He had the appearance of an angel of God, and an awesome appearance. I did not ask him where he was from, and he did not tell me his name;
7 But he said to me, »You will conceive and give birth to a son; and now drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, because the child will be a Nazirite of God from the womb.” from his mother, until the day of his death.« 

8 Then Manouh called on the Lord and said, »I pray you, Lord, let the man of God whom you sent come to us again, and let him teach us what we should do for the child who will be born!« 
9 God heard Manué's prayer, and the Angel of God came again to the woman; she was seat in a field, and Manué, her husband, was not with her.
10 The woman immediately ran to tell her husband, saying, »Look, the man who came to me the other day has appeared to me again.« 

11 Manoah got up and followed his wife to the man and said to him, »Were you the one who spoke to this woman?» He answered, »I was.« 
12 Manué said, »Now, when your word comes true, what must be done for this child, and what must be done for him?« 
13 The Angel of the Lord answered Manouh, »The woman must abstain from everything I have told her:
14 She shall eat nothing that comes from the vine, she shall drink neither wine nor strong drink, and she shall eat nothing unclean: all that I have commanded her she shall observe.« 
15 Then Manué said to the Angel of the Lord, »Please let us detain you and prepare a young goat for you.« 
16 The angel of the Lord answered Manoah, »Even if you detain me, I will not eat any of your food; but if you wish to offer a burnt offering to the Lord.» (Manoah did not know that it was the angel of the Lord.)
17 Then Manoeh said to the angel of the Lord, »What is your name, so that we may honor you when your word comes true?« 
18 The Angel of the Lord answered him, »Why do you ask me about my name? It is wonderful.« 
19 Manoeh took the young goat with the offering and presented it to Yahweh on the rock, and Yahweh He performed a miracle while Manué and his wife watched.
20 As the flame went up from the altar to heaven, the Angel of the Lord ascended in the flame of the altar. When Manoah and his wife saw this, they fell facedown to the ground.
21 And the Angel of the Lord did not appear again to Manoah and his wife. Then Manoah understood that it was the Angel of the Lord.
22 And Manoah said to his wife, »We are going to die, for we have seen God.« 
23 His wife answered him, »If the Lord had wanted to kill us, he would not have accepted the burnt offering and grain offering from our hands, nor would he have shown us all this, nor would he have told us such things today.« 

24 The woman gave birth to a son and named him Samson. The child grew up and the Lord blessed him;
25 The spirit of Yahweh began to drive him to Machaneh-Dan, between Saraa and Esthaol.

Chapter 14

1 Samson went down to Thamna, and he saw in Thamna a woman of the daughters of the Philistines.
2 When it was reassembled, it THE declared to his father and mother, saying, »I saw in Thamna a woman of the Philistine daughters; now take her for be my wife. "« 
3 His father and mother said to him, »Is there no woman among the daughters of your brothers or in all our people, that you must go and take a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?» And Samson said to his father, »Get her for me, for she pleases me.« 
4 His father and mother did not know that this was from the Lord; for he was looking for an opportunity quarrel coming from the Philistines. — At that time the Philistines ruled over Israel.

5 Samson went down with his father and mother to Thamna. When they arrived at the vineyards of Thamna, behold, a roaring young lion came to meet him.
6 The Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon Samson, and with nothing in his hand, Samson tore the lion apart as one tears a young goat. And he did not tell his father or mother what he had done.
7 He went down and spoke to the woman, and she pleased him.

8 Some time later, having surrendered again in Thamna To get it, he made a detour to see the lion's carcass, and behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the lion's body.
9 He took some in his hands and ate it as he went along; and when he came to his father and mother, he gave it to them and they ate it; but he did not tell them that he had taken the honey from the lion's body.

10 Samson's father went down to the woman's house; and there Samson gave a feast, for this was the custom of young men.
11 As soon as they saw him, they invited thirty companions to be with him.
12 Samson said to them, »I am going to propose a riddle to you. If you explain it to me during the seven days of the feast and if you guess it, I will give you thirty tunics and thirty changes of clothing;
13 But if you cannot explain it to me, you will give me thirty tunics and thirty changes of clothing.» They said to him, »Tell us your riddle, so that we may hear it.« 
14 He said to them:

 »"From the eater came what is edible, from the strong came what is sweet."« 

For three days, they were unable to solve the riddle.
15 On the seventh day, they said to Samson's wife, "Persuade your husband to explain the riddle to us; otherwise, we will burn you and your father's house. Is it to rob us that you invited us?"» 
16 Samson's wife wept beside him and said, "You hate me and do not love me. You have posed a riddle to the sons of my people, but you have not explained it to me!" He answered her, "I have not explained it to my father or my mother, but I would explain it to you!"» 
17 She wept before him for the seven days that the feast lasted; on the seventh day, as she tormented him, he explained the riddle to her, and she explained it to the children of her people.
18 The people of the town said to Samson on the seventh day, before sunset:

 »"What is sweeter than honey, and what is stronger than the lion?"« 

And he said to them, "If you hadn't plowed with my heifer, you wouldn't have guessed my riddle."» 

19 The Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon. There he killed thirty men and, having taken their spoils, gave the changes of clothing to those who had solved the riddle. Then, in a fit of anger, he went up to his father's house.

20 Samson's wife was given to one of his companions whom he had chosen as a friend.

Chapter 15

1 Some time later, at the time of the wheat harvest, Samson went to see his wife, by bringing a kid goat. He said, "I want to go to my wife in her room." But his father would not let him in;
2 And her father said, »I thought you hated her, and I gave her to your friend. Is not her younger sister more beautiful than she? Let her be your wife instead.« 
3 Samson said to them, »This time I will be innocent before the Philistines if I harm them.« 

4 And Samson went away. He caught three hundred foxes and, having taken torches, he turned foxes tail to tail, and placed a torch between the two tails, in the middle.
5 He then lit the torches and released foxes in the Philistines' harvests; it set ablaze from the piles of sheaves to the standing wheat and the olive groves.
6 The Philistines said, »Who did this?» They answered, »Samson, the son-in-law of the Thamnean, because this man took his wife and gave her to his friend.» So the Philistines went up and burned her and her father.
7 Samson said to them, »Is this how you act? Well, I will not stop until I have taken revenge on you.« 
8 And he beat them severely, thigh and hip; then he went down and stayed in the cave of the rock of Etam.

9 Then the Philistines went up and camped in Judah, spreading out into Lehi.
10 The men of Judah said, »Why have you turned against us?» They answered, »We have come up to bind Samson, so that we may do to him as he has done to us.« 
11 Three thousand men of Judah went down to the cave in the rock of Etam and said to Samson, »Don’t you know that the Philistines are our masters? What have you done to us?» He answered them, »I have done to them as they have done to me.« 
12 They said to him, »We have come down to bind you, so that we may hand you over to the Philistines.» Samson said to them, »Swear to me that you will not kill me.« 
13 They answered him, saying, »No; we only want to bind you and hand you over to them, but we will not kill you.» And having bound him with two new ropes, they brought him up the rock.

14 When he When he arrived at Lehi, the Philistines shouted for joy to meet him. Then the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him, and the cords on his arms became like flax threads scorched by the fire, and his bonds fell from his hands.
15 Finding a fresh donkey jawbone, he stretched out his hand, seized it, and struck a thousand men with it.
16 And Samson said:

 »"With a donkey's jaw, I got them well" donkeys (beaten),
With the jawbone of a donkey, I struck a thousand men.« 

17 When he had finished speaking, he threw down the jawbone from his hand, and named that place Ramath-lehi.

18 Consumed by thirst, he called upon the Lord and said, »It is you who have granted this great deliverance by the hand of your servant; and now, is it necessary that I'm dying of thirst and falling into the hands of the uncircumcised?« 
19 And God split open the hollow rock that is at Lehi, and water came out. Samson drank, his spirit revived, and he came back to life. Therefore the spring was called En-Hakkore; it exists at Lehi to this day.

20 Samson judged Israel during the time of the Philistines for twenty years.

Chapter 16

1 Samson went to Gaza; he saw a prostitute there, and he went in to her.
2 It was announced to the people of Gaza, saying, »Samson has come here.» And they surrounded him and lay in ambush all night at the city gate. They remained quiet all night, saying,» Let's wait until morning breaks, and then we will kill him.« 
3 Samson remained lying down until midnight; at midnight he got up and, taking hold of the doors of the city gate and the two posts, he tore them down with the bar, THE he put them on his shoulders and carried them to the top of the mountain overlooking Hebron.

4 After that, he loved a woman in the valley of Sorec; her name was Delilah.
5 The Philistine princes went up to her and said, »Flatter him and see where lies his great strength, and how we can overpower him, to bind and subdue him, and we will each give you one thousand and one hundred shekels of silver.« 

6 Delilah said to Samson, »Please tell me, or lies Your great strength, and what would it take to bind you in order to tame you?« 
7 Samson said to him, »If I were bound with seven fresh ropes that had not yet dried, I would become weak and be like any other man.« 
8 The Philistine princes brought to Delilah seven fresh ropes, which were not yet dry; and she bound him with these ropes.
9 — Now she had men lying in ambush in the room. — She said to him, »The Philistines are upon you, Samson!» And he broke the ropes, as a cord of tow breaks when it feels the fire; and the secret of his strength was not known.

10 Delilah said to Samson, »Look, you have deceived me and told me lies. Now please tell me how I should bind you.« 
11 He said to him, »If I were bound with new ropes that have not been used at all, I would become weak and be like any other man.« 
12 Delilah took new ropes and bound him with them. Then she said to him, »The Philistines are upon you, Samson!» — Now some men were lying in wait in the room. — And he snapped the ropes that were on his arms like a thread.

13 Delilah said to Samson, »Until now you have deceived me and told me lies. Tell me how I should bind you.» He said to her, »Just weave the seven braids of my head with the cloth.« 
14 And she fastened them with the peg. Then she said to him, »The Philistines are upon you, Samson!» And he awoke from his sleep and pulled out the peg and the cloth from the loom.

15 She said to him, »How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with me? This is the third time you have deceived me, and you have not told me where lies your great strength.« 
16 She tormented him Thus every day and tired him of her insistence; at the end, his soul grew impatient until he died;
17 He told her everything and said, »No razor has ever touched my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If I were shaved, my strength would leave me, I would become weak, and I would be like any other man.« 
18 When Delilah saw that he had told her everything, she sent word to the Philistine princes, saying, »Come up this time, for he has told me everything.» So the Philistine princes came up to her, bringing the money in their hands.
19 She lulled him to sleep on her knees and, having called the man, she shaved off the seven braids of Samson's head and began to subdue him, and his strength departed from him.
20 Then she said, »The Philistines are upon you, Samson!» He awoke from his sleep and said, »I will get out of this as at other times, and I will free myself,» for he did not know that Yahweh had departed from him.
21 The Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes, and having brought him down to Gaza, they bound him with a double bronze chain. He ground the millstone in the prison.

22 However, the hair on his head had begun to grow back since he had been shaved.
23 The Philistine princes assembled to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to rejoice. They said, »Our god has delivered Samson, our enemy, into our hands.« 
24 The people saw it, and they praised their god, for they said, »Our god has delivered into our hands our enemy, the one who ravaged our land and killed so many of us.« 
25 When their hearts were filled with joy, they said, »Bring Samson here to entertain us!» So they brought Samson from the prison, and he danced before them. He had been placed between the columns.
26 Samson said to the young man who was holding his hand, »Let me touch the pillars on which the house stands and lean against them.
27 Now the house was full of men and women; all the princes of the Philistines were there, and there were on the roof about three thousand people, men and women, watching Samson dance.
28 Then Samson called on the Lord and said, »Lord Lord, remember me, I pray, and give me strength just this once, O God, so that with one blow I may take revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes.« 
29 And Samson, embracing the two middle pillars on which the house stood, leaned on them, on one with his right hand, on the other with his left hand.
30 And Samson said, »Let me die with the Philistines!« And he bent down with great force, and the house collapsed on the princes and on all the people who were in it. Those whom he killed when he died were more than those whom he had killed during his life.
31 His brothers and all his father's household came down in Gaza and they carried him up. When they had gone up, they buried him between Sarah and Eshtaol, in the tomb of Manuah, his father. He had judged Israel for twenty years.

Chapter 17

1 There was a man from the hill country of Ephraim, named Micah.
2 He said to his mother, »The 1,000 shekels of silver that were taken from you, and about which you pronounced a curse—and you L'’"You even told me," he said, "this money is in my hands; I took it myself." And his mother said, "May my son be blessed by the Lord!"» 
3 He returned the 1,000 shekels of silver to his mother; and his mother said, »I dedicate this silver of my own hand to the Lord for my son, to make a carved image and a molten object; and now I am returning it to you.« 
4 When he had returned the money to his mother, his mother took two hundred shekels and gave them to the metalworker, who made a carved image and a cast object; and they were in the house of Micah.
5 For this Micah had a house of God; he made an ephod and teraphim, and he consecrated one of his sons, who served as his priest.

6 In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in their own eyes.

7 There was a young man from Bethlehem of Judah, of the family of Judah; he was a Levite and resided in that city.
8 This man left the city of Bethlehem from Judah, to find a place to stay. So he arrived in the hill country of Ephraim, as far as the house of Micah.
9 Micah said to him, “Where are you from?” He answered him, “I am a Levite, from Bethlehem from Judah, and I am traveling to find a place to stay. 
10 Micah said to him, »Stay with me; be a father and a priest to me, and I will give you ten shekels of silver a year, a supply of clothing and food.» And the Levite went in.
11 The Levite agreed to stay with this man, and the young man was like one of his sons to him.
12 Micah installed the Levite, and the young man served as his priest and lived in the house of Micah.
13 And Micah said, »Now I know that the Lord will be kind to me, since I have this Levite as my priest.« 

Chapter 18

1 At that time there was no king in Israel; at that time the tribe of Dan was seeking a possession to settle in, for until that day no inheritance had fallen to it among the tribes of Israel.
2 The sons of Dan, having taken Five men from their family, valiant men, sent them from Saraah and Eshtaol to explore the land and discover it. They told them, »Go, explore the land.» The five men They arrived in the hill country of Ephraim as far as the house of Micah, and they spent the night there.
3 As they were near the house of Michas, recognizing the voice of the young Levite, they approached him and said, »Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place, and what do you have here?« 
4 He answered them, »Michas has done such and such for me, he gives me a wage, and I serve as his priest.« 
5 They said to him, »Well, inquire of God, so that we may know whether our journey will be successful.« 
6 And the priest answered them, »Go in peace; the journey you are making is under the watchful eye of the Lord.« 

7 Having set out, the five men arrived at Laish. They saw the people who were in that city, living securely like the Sidonians, peaceful and quiet, and there was no one in the land who, having been invested with authority, harassed them in any way; they were far from the Sidonians, and had no dealings with anyone.

8 They returned to their brothers at Sarah and Eshtaol, and their brothers said to them, »What say-YOU ? "« 
9 They replied, »Get up and let us go up against them; for we have seen the land, and behold, it is very good. And you are standing here without saying a word? Do not be lazy, but set out and go and take possession of this land.”.
10 When you enter it, you will come to a people in safety. The land is vast, and God has given it into your hands; it is a place where nothing is lacking of all that is on the earth.« 

11 Six hundred men from the family of Dan set out from Saraa and Esthaol, armed with their weapons of war.
12 They went up and camped at Cariatharym in Judah; therefore that place has been called Machaneh-Dan to this day; behold, it is west of Cariatharym.
13 From there they went on to the hill country of Ephraim, and they came to the house of Micah.

14 The five men who had been exploring the land of Laish spoke up and said to their brothers, »Do you know that in these houses there is an ephod, household idols, a carved image, and a cast object? Now consider what you must do.« 
15 They went in that direction and, entering the house of the young Levite, the house of Michas, they asked him how he was.
16 The six hundred men from among the sons of Dan, armed with their weapons of war, stood at the entrance of the gate.
17 And the five men who had gone to spy out the land went up and, having entered the sanctuary, they took the carved image, the ephod, the teraphim and the cast object, while the priest stood at the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men with their weapons of war.
18 When they had entered the house of Micah and had taken the carved image, the ephod, the teraphim, and the cast object, the priest said to them, »What are you doing?« 
19 They answered him, »Be quiet, put your hand over your mouth, and come with us, and you will be a father and a priest to us. Is it better for you to be a priest for the household of one man, or for a tribe and a clan in Israel?« 
20 The priest's heart became joyful; he took the ephod, the teraphim, and the carved image, and came into the midst of the company.

21 They set out again and departed, having placed before them the children, the livestock, and all the valuables.
22 They were already far from the house of Michas, when the people who lived in the houses near the house of Michas gathered together and pursued the sons of Dan.
23 They shouted at the sons of Dan, and the latter turned around and said to Micah, »What is it that you have gathered together?” These men? «"« 
24 He answered, »My gods that I made, you THE You took them away, along with the priest, and left: what do I have left? How then can you say to me, "What do you need?"« 
25 The sons of Dan said to him, »Do not let us hear your voice, lest angry men attack you and you lose your life and that of your people.” people from your house.« 
26 And the sons of Dan continued on their way. Seeing that they were stronger than he, Micah turned back and returned to his house.

27 This is how the Danites They took away what Micah had made, and the priest who was in his service; and they marched against Laish, against a people who were at peace and secure; they put them to the sword and burned the city.
28 There was no one to deliver it, for it was far from Sidon, and its inhabitants had no dealings with other men: it was in the valley that extends toward Beth-rohob. The sons of Dan rebuilt the city and lived there;
29 They called it Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born of Israel; but the city was originally called Laish.
30 The sons of Dan set up the carved image for them, and Jonathan, son of Gersam, son of Moses, he and his sons, were priests of the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land.
31 They set up for themselves the carved image that Micah had made, during all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.

Chapter 19

1 At that time, when there was no king in Israel, a Levite, who was staying in the hill country of Ephraim, took a woman as his concubine. Bethlehem of Judah.
2 His concubine was unfaithful to him, and she left him to go to her father's house. Bethlehem of Judah, where she stayed for four months.
3 Her husband got up and went to her to speak tenderly to her and bring her back to him; he had with him his servant and two donkeys. She brought him into her father's house; and when the young woman's father saw him, he went joyfully to meet him.
4 His father-in-law, the young woman's father, kept him there, and he stayed with him for three days; they ate and drank, and they stayed there.

5 On the fourth day, they got up early in the morning, and the Levite was preparing to leave. But the young woman's father said to his son-in-law, "Strengthen your heart by taking a piece of bread, and then you can leave."» 
6 They sat down and ate and drank together. Then the young woman's father said to her husband, "Please agree to stay the night, and let your heart be glad."» 
7 The husband got up to leave; but, at the urging of his father-in-law, he returned and spent time there Again at night.

8 On the fifth day, he got up early in the morning to leave. Then the young woman's father said, "Strengthen your heart, I beg you, and put it off until the end of the day." And they both ate.
9 The husband was getting up to leave, he, his concubine, and his servant; but his father-in-law, the young woman's father, said to him, »Look, the day is drawing to a close; please stay here tonight. The day is almost over; stay here tonight and be merry. Tomorrow you can get up early and go to your tent.« 

10 The husband did not agree to spend the night; he got up and left. He came as far as opposite Jebus, which is Jerusalem, with the two saddled donkeys and his concubine with him.
11 When they came near Jebus, the day was far over. The servant said to his master, »Come, please, let us turn aside and go to this city of the Jebusites, and spend the night there.« 
12 His master answered him, »We will not turn aside to a foreign city, where there are no Israelites; we will go on to Gibeah.« 
13 He also said to his servant, »Come, let us try to reach one of these places and spend the night there, either Gibeah or Ramah.« 
14 They continued walking, and the sun set when they were near Gabaah, which belongs to Benjamin.
15 They turned away in that direction, to go and spend the night at Gabaa.

The Levite, having entered, stood in the city square, and there was no one who received them into his house. y spend the night.
16 Now behold, an old man was coming in the evening from working in the fields; he was a man from the hill country of Ephraim, who was staying in Gibeah, and the people of the place were Benjamites.
17 Looking up, he saw the traveler in the town square, and the old man said, »Where are you going and where have you been?« 
18 He replied, “We are going to Bethlehem from Judah to the far reaches of the hill country of Ephraim, where I am from. I had gone to Bethlehem of Judah, and NOW I go to the house of Yahweh, and there is no one who receives me in his house.
19 However, we have straw and fodder for our donkeys, and also bread and wine for myself, for your maidservant, and for the young man who is with your servants; we lack nothing.« 
20 The old man said, »Peace be with you! I will provide for all your needs, but do not spend the night in the square.« 
21 He brought him into his house, and he gave fodder to the donkeys; travelers They washed their feet, then they ate and drank.

22 While they were enjoying themselves, some wicked men from the city surrounded the house and, beating loudly at the door, said to the old man, the owner of the house, »Bring out the man who came into your house, so that we may have relations with him.« 
23 The master of the house went out to them and said, »No, my brothers, please do not do this wicked thing; since this man has come into my house, do not commit this shameful act.
24 Here is my daughter, who is a virgin, and his concubine; I will bring them out to you, and you may rape them and treat them as you please; but do not commit such an infamous act against this man.« 
25 These men would not listen to him. So the man took his concubine and brought her out to them. They had sexual relations with her and abused her all night until morning, and they sent her away at daybreak.

26 Towards morning, this woman came and fell at the entrance of the house of the man with whom her husband was staying, and she stayed there until daybreak.
27 Her husband got up in the morning and, having opened the door of the house, went out to continue on his way. And behold, his wife, his concubine, was lying at the entrance of the house, with her hands on the threshold.
28 He said to her, »Get up and let’s go.» But no one answered. So the husband put her on his donkey and set off for home.

29 When he arrived home, he took a knife and, seizing his concubine, he cut her limb by limb into twelve pieces, and sent them throughout the territory of Israel.
30 All those who saw that They said, »Nothing like this has ever happened or been seen since the Israelites came up out of Egypt until this day. Consider it, consult with one another, and decide.« 

Chapter 20

1 All the children of Israel went out, from Dan to Beersheba and to the land of Gilead, and the assembly gathered together as one man before Yahweh at Maspha.
2 The leaders of all the people, all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God: four hundred thousand foot soldiers drawing swords.
3 And the sons of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel had gone up to Maspha.

The Israelites said, »Speak up: how was this crime committed?« 
4 Then the Levite, the husband of the woman who had been killed, spoke up and said: »I and my concubine had entered Gibeah of Benjamin to spend the night there.
5 The inhabitants of Gabaah rose up against me and surrounded the house where I was during the night; they intended to kill me, and they violated my concubine, and she died.
6 I seized my concubine, cut her into pieces, and sent her throughout the territory of the inheritance of Israel; for they have committed a crime and an outrage in Israel.
7 Here you are, all of you children of Israel; consult with one another and decide here and now.« 

8 All the people stood up as one, saying, »None of us will go to his tent, none of us will return to his house.
9 Now this is what we will do to Gabaah: Against her according to the lot!
10 We will take from all the tribes of Israel ten men out of every hundred, a hundred out of every thousand, and a thousand out of every ten thousand; they will go and get provisions for the people, so that when they arrive, Gibeah of Benjamin may be dealt with according to all the infamy she has committed in Israel.« 
11 So all the men of Israel gathered together against the city, united as one man.

12 The tribes of Israel sent men to all the families of Benjamin to say, »What is this crime that has been committed among you?
13 Now hand over the wicked men who are at Gibeah, so that we may put them to death and remove the evil from the midst of Israel.» But the Benjamites would not listen to the voice of their brothers, the children of Israel.

14 The sons of Benjamin, outgoing from their cities, they gathered at Gibeah to go to war against the children of Israel.
15 The sons of Benjamin, out from the cities, were counted on that day in the number of twenty-six thousand, drawing their swords, not counting the inhabitants of Gabaa, forming seven hundred elite men.
16 Among all these people there were seven hundred elite men who did not use their right hand; all these fighters could throw a stone with a sling at a hair's breadth, without missing.

17 The number of the men of Israel counted, not including those of Benjamin, was four hundred thousand who drew the sword, all men of war.
18 The Israelites got up and went to Bethel to inquire of God, saying, »Which of us will go up first to fight against the Benjaminites?» The Lord answered, »Let Judah go up first.« 

19 The children of Israel set out early in the morning, and they camped near Gibeah.
20 The men of Israel advanced to fight those of Benjamin, and the men of Israel drew up in battle array against them before Gibeah.
21 Then the sons of Benjamin went out from Gibeah, and that day they laid down twenty-two thousand men of Israel.

22 The people, know The men of Israel strengthened their courage, and they again drew up in battle formation in the place where they had positioned themselves on the first day.
23 Then the Israelites went up and wept before the Lord until evening, and they inquired of the Lord, saying, »Shall I go out again to fight against the Benjaminites, my brother?» The Lord answered, »Go up against them.« 
24 The children of Israel approached the sons of Benjamin on the second day;
25 And on the second day, the sons of Benjamin came out from Gibeah against them, and they laid down again eighteen thousand men of the children of Israel, all of them drawing their swords.

26 All the children of Israel and all the people went up and came to Bethel; they wept, sitting there before Yahweh; they fasted that day until evening, and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before Yahweh.
27 And the children of Israel inquired of Yahweh, — in those days, the ark of the covenant of God was there,
28 And Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron, stood before her in those days, and they said, »Shall I go on again to fight against the sons of Benjamin, my brother, or shall I stand still?» The Lord answered, »Go up, for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand.« 

29 Then Israel set an ambush around Gibeah,
30 And on the third day the children of Israel went up against the sons of Benjamin; they drew up in battle array before Gibeah, as at other times.
31 And the sons of Benjamin went out to meet the people, allowing themselves to be drawn away from the city. They began to strike and kill among the people, as at other times, on the roads, one of which leads up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah, in the countryside; they killed about thirty men from Israel.
32 The sons of Benjamin said, »Look, they are defeated before us as before!» And the children of Israel said, »Let us flee and lure them away from the city, to these roads.« 
33 All the men of Israel left their positions and gathered at Baal-Tamar; at the same time Israel's ambush set out from its post on the plain of Gibeah.
34 Ten thousand elite men from all Israel arrived from before Gibeah. The battle was fierce, and Benjamin's sons They had no idea that misfortune was about to befall them.
35 Yahweh defeated Benjamin before Israel, and the children of Israel killed twenty-five thousand and one hundred men in Benjamin that day, all of them drawing the sword.

36 So the sons of Benjamin saw that they were defeated. The men of Israel had not, Indeed, ceded land to Benjamin that because they had confidence in the ambush they had set against Gabaa.
37 As for the men of the ambush, they quickly rushed upon Gibeah; then, advancing, the men of the ambush struck the whole city with the edge of the sword.
38 Now there was this agreed-upon sign between the men of Israel and those in the ambush, that the latter would raise a cloud of smoke from the city.
39 The men of Israel then turned back in the battle. The Benjamites had already killed about thirty of their men, and they were saying, »Surely they are defeated before us as in the first battle!« 
40 But the cloud began to rise from the city like a column of smoke, and the Benjamites, looking behind them, saw the whole city rising up in flames toward heaven.
41 The men of Israel turned back, and the men of Benjamin were terrified when they saw that disaster had befallen them.
42 They turned their backs on the men of Israel, by way of the desert; but the fighting men pressed on close, and they killed those of the cities, each in their own place.
43 They surrounded Benjamin, they pursued him, they crushed him where he stopped, as far as opposite Gabaah, on the side of the rising sun.
44 Eighteen thousand of Benjamin's men fell, all valiant men.
45 Those who remained They turned their backs and fled towards the desert, towards the rock of Remmon. The men of Israel They killed five thousand men on the roads; they pressed them closely as far as Gideon, and they killed two thousand of them.
46 The number The total number of Benjamites who perished that day was twenty-five thousand men who drew the sword, all valiant men.

47 Six hundred men who had turned their backs and fled into the desert, towards the rock of Remmon, remained at the rock of Remmon for four months.
48 The men of Israel returned to the sons of Benjamin, and they struck them with the edge of the sword, destroying cities, men, and livestock, as well as everything that could be found. They also set fire to all the cities they found.

Chapter 21

1 The men of Israel had sworn an oath at Masphah, saying, »None of us will give his daughter in marriage to a Benjamite.« 

2 The people came to Bethel and remained there before God until evening. Lifting their voices, they made a great lamentation, and said:
3 »Why, O Yahweh, God of Israel, has it come to pass in Israel that today one tribe of Israel is missing?« 
4 The next day, the people rose early in the morning and built an altar there, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.
5 And the children of Israel said, »Which of all the tribes of Israel has not come up to the assembly before the Lord?» For they had sworn an oath against whoever did not come up to the Lord at Mizpah, saying, »He shall surely be put to death.« 
6 The children of Israel had compassion on Benjamin, their brother, and they said, »A tribe has been cut off today from Israel!”
7 What shall we do for them, for procure wives for those who remain? For we swore by Yahweh not to give them any of our daughters as wives.« 
8 So they said, »Is there a single tribe of Israel that has not gone up to Yahweh at Maspha?» And behold, no one from Jabesh-gilead had come to the camp, to the assembly.
9 They took a census of the people, and behold, there was none of the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead there.
10 Then the assembly sent against them twelve thousand valiant men, giving them this order: “Go, and strike down the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead with the edge of the sword, with women and the children.
11 This is what you are to do: you are to devote to destruction every man and every woman who has had sexual relations with a man.« 
12 They found among the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead four hundred virgin girls, who had not known a man by sharing his bed, and they brought them to the camp at Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.
13 Then the whole assembly sent messengers to speak to Benjamin's sons who were refugees to the rock of Remmon, and to announce to them peace.
14 The Benjamites returned at that time, and they were given women to whom life had been spared among women from Jabesh-Gilead; but not enough was found for them.

15 The people had compassion on Benjamin, because Yahweh had made a breach in the tribes of Israel.
16 The elders of the congregation said, “What shall we do to provide wives for those who remain, since women Were Benjamin's destroyed? 
17 And they said, »Let the inheritance of those who escaped remain with Benjamin, so that no tribe may be blotted out of Israel.
18 But we cannot give them any of our daughters as wives, for the Israelites have sworn an oath, saying, »Cursed are you who are in the kingdom of heaven.” either whoever would give his daughter in marriage to a Benjamite?« 
19 And they said, »This is a festival to the Lord, which is celebrated every year at Silo, city located north of Bethel, east of the road that goes up from Bethel to Shechem, and south of Lebonah.« 
20 Then they gave this order to the sons of Benjamin: »Go, and lie in wait in the vineyards.
21 You will watch, and when the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance together, you will come out of the vineyards, and each of you will take your wife from among the daughters of Shiloh, and you will go to the land of Benjamin.
22 If their fathers or brothers come to us to plead with us, we will tell them, “Leave them to us, for we have not taken a wife for each one in the war. And it wasn't you who gave them to them; in that case, you would be guilty.« 
23 The sons of Benjamin did this: they took wives according to their number from among the dancers, whom they abducted, and, having set out, they returned to their inheritance; they rebuilt the cities and they lived there.

24 At that time the children of Israel went from there, each to his tribe and to his family, and they returned from there, each to his inheritance.

In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right…