eng_aiv Amundson Interpretive Version Judges Judges Judges Judg Judges id=eng_aiv name=Amundson Interpretive Version (AIV) status=draft spec=USFM-USX 3.1.1 export=2026-11-02 char:add=translator-addition-italic char:wj=words-of-Jesus-as-received-unmapped note:f=footnotes para:r=parallel-passage-references para:d=psalm-superscriptions The Conquest of Canaan Proceeds (Joshua 13:1–7) And it came to pass after the death of Joshua, that the sons of Israel asked of YHWH, saying, “Who shall go up for us against the Canaanite as the first to fight against them?” And YHWH said, “Judah shall go up; behold, I have delivered the land into his hand.” And Judah said to Simeon his brother, “Come up with me into my allotment, that we may fight against the Canaanite. And will go likewise I with you into your allotment.” And Simeon went with him. And Judah went up, and YHWH delivered the Canaanite and the Perizzite into their hand, and they struck them in Bezek—ten thousand men. And they found Adoni-bezek in Bezek and fought against him, and they struck down the Canaanite and the Perizzite. And Adoni-bezek fled, and they pursued him and caught him and cut off his thumbs and his feet. And Adoni-bezek said, “Seventy kings, with the thumbs of their hands and their feet cut off, have been scavenging under my table; as I have done, so God has repaid me.” And they brought him to Jerusalem, and he died there. The Capture of Jerusalem and Hebron (Joshua 15:13–19) And the sons of Judah fought against Jerusalem, and they took it, and they struck it with the mouth of the sword, and they sent the city into fire. And afterward the sons of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanite dwelling in the hill country, and in the Negev, and in the Shephelah.1.9 Or foothills or lowlands; that is, the western foothills of Judea And Judah went against the Canaanite dwelling in Hebron (and the name of Hebron was formerly Kiriath-arba), and they killed Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai. And they went from there against those dwelling in Debir (and the name of Debir was formerly Kiriath-sepher). And Caleb said, “Whoever strikes down Kiriath-sepher and takes it, I will give to him Acsah my daughter as wife.” And Othniel son of Kenaz, the younger brother of Caleb, took it. And he gave to him Acsah his daughter as wife. And it came to pass in her coming in, that she urged him to ask from her father the field. And she dismounted from her donkey, and Caleb said to her, “What shall be unto you?” 1.14 Hebrew; LXX and Vulgate he urged her; see Joshua 15:18. And she said to him, “Give to me a blessing. Since the land of the Negev you have given me, give to me springs of water.” And Caleb gave to her the upper springs and the lower springs. And the sons of the Kenite, father-in-law of Moses, went up from the City of Palms1.16 That is, Jericho with the sons of Judah into the Wilderness of Judah, which is in the Negev of Arad; and they went and dwelt among the people. And Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they attacked the Canaanite dwelling in Zephath and devoted it to destruction.1.17 Forms of the Hebrew cherem refer to the giving over of things or persons to YHWH, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering. And they called the name of the city Hormah.1.17 Hormah means destruction. And Judah took1.18 Hebrew; LXX But Judah did not capture Gaza and its territory, and Ashkelon and its territory, and Ekron and its territory. And YHWH was with Judah, and he possessed the hill country. But he did not dispossess those dwelling in the valley, because they had chariots of iron. And they gave to Caleb Hebron, as Moses had said, and he dispossessed from there the three sons of Anak. And the Jebusite who inhabited Jerusalem, the sons of Benjamin did not dispossess. And the Jebusite has dwelt with the sons of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this day. And the house of Joseph went up—even they—against Bethel, and YHWH was with them. And the house of Joseph they sent to spy out in Bethel (and the name of the city was formerly Luz), and the spies saw a man coming out of the city, and they said to him, “Show us, please, the entrance to the city, and we will show you kindness.” And he showed them the entrance to the city, and they struck the city with the mouth of the sword. And the man and all his family they sent away. And the man went to the land of the Hittites and built a city, and he called its name Luz; that is its name to this day. The Failure to Complete the Conquest And Manasseh did not dispossess those of Beth-shean and its villages, and Taanach and its villages, and those dwelling in Dor and its villages, and those dwelling in Ibleam and its villages, and those dwelling in Megiddo and its villages; for the Canaanite were determined to dwell in this land. And it came to pass, when Israel became strong, that he put the Canaanite to forced labor, and he did not drive him out completely. And Ephraim did not dispossess the Canaanite dwelling in Gezer; and the Canaanite dwelt among them in Gezer. Zebulun did not dispossess those dwelling in Kitron, and those dwelling in Nahalol; and the Canaanite dwelt among them and were put to forced labor. Asher did not dispossess those dwelling in Acco, and those dwelling in Sidon, and of Ahlab, and Achzib, and Helbah, and Aphek, and Rehob. And the Asherite dwelt among the Canaanite dwellers of the land, for they did not drive them out. Naphtali did not dispossess those dwelling in Beth-shemesh and those dwelling in Beth-anath, and they dwelt among the Canaanite dwellers of the land. And those dwelling in Beth-shemesh and Beth-anath were put to forced labor to them. And the Amorite pressed the sons of Dan into the hill country, for they would not allow them to come down to the valley. And the Amorite were determined to dwell in Mount Heres, in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim. And the strength of the house of Joseph became heavy, and they were put to forced labor. And the border of the Amorite was from the Ascent of Akrabbim1.36 Or the Ascent of Scorpions or Scorpion Pass to Sela and upward. Israel Rebuked at Bochim And the angel2.1 Or Angel; also in verse 4 of YHWH came up from Gilgal to Bochim and said, “I led you⁺ up out of Egypt and brought you⁺ to the land of which I swore to your⁺ fathers, and I said, ‘I will not break My covenant with you⁺ forever. And you⁺ shall not cut a covenant with those dwelling in this land; their altars you⁺ shall tear down.’ You⁺ have not obeyed My voice. What is this you⁺ have done? And also I said, I will not drive them out before you⁺, and they shall be unto you⁺ in the sides, and their gods shall be unto you⁺ a snare.” And it came to pass, when the angel of YHWH spoke these words to all the sons of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice and they wept. And they called the name of that place Bochim,2.5 Bochim means weepers. and they sacrificed there to YHWH. Joshua’s Death and Burial (Joshua 24:29–33) And Joshua dismissed the people, and the sons of Israel went each to his own inheritance to possess the land. And the people served YHWH all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who had lengthened their days after Joshua, who had seen all the great works of YHWH that He had done for Israel. And Joshua son of Nun, the servant of YHWH, died, a son of a hundred and ten years. And they buried him within the border of his inheritance at Timnath-heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, on the north side of Mount Gaash. 2.9 Timnath-heres is also known as Timnath-serah; see Joshua 19:50 and Joshua 24:30. Israel’s Unfaithfulness (Isaiah 43:22–28; Jeremiah 2:23–37) And all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, and another generation arose after them who did not know YHWH nor the work that He had done for Israel. And the sons of Israel did evil in the eyes of YHWH, and they served the Baals, and they forsook YHWH, God of their fathers, who had brought them out from the land of Egypt, and they went after other gods from the gods of the peoples who were around them, and they bowed down to them, and they provoked to anger YHWH. And they forsook YHWH and did service to Baal and to the Ashtoreths. And the anger of YHWH was hot against Israel, and He delivered them into the hands of plunderers, and they plundered them, and He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, and they were not able anymore to stand before the faces of their enemies. In all that they went out, the hand of YHWH was against them for calamity, as YHWH had said, and as had sworn YHWH to them; and they were distressed greatly. Judges Raised Up And YHWH raised up judges,2.16 Or governors or leaders; here and throughout the book of Judges and they delivered them out of the hand of those plundering them. Yet to their judges they would not listen, but they played the prostitute with other gods and bowed down to them. They turned quickly from the way in which their fathers had walked to listen to the commandments of YHWH; they did not do so. And YHWH raised up for them judges, and YHWH was with the judge and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for YHWH was moved to pity by their groaning, because of those who oppressed them and harassed them. And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they turned back and acted corruptly more than their fathers, going after other gods to serve them and bow down to them. They did not cease from their deeds and from their stubborn way. And the anger of YHWH was hot against Israel, and He said, “Because that this nation has transgressed My covenant that I commanded their fathers, and has not listened to My voice, I also will not continue to dispossess any before their faces from the nations that Joshua left when he died, in order to test by them Israel, whether they are going to keep the ways of YHWH, to walk in them as their fathers kept them, or not.” And YHWH left these nations so as not to dispossess them immediately, and He did not deliver them into the hand of Joshua. Nations Left to Test Israel And these are the nations that YHWH left, that He might test by them Israel, all who had not known any of the wars of Canaan, only so that the generations of the sons of Israel might be taught to know war, only those who formerly had not known it: Five princes of the Philistines, and all the Canaanite, and the Sidonian, and the Hivite that dwelt in Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal-hermon to Lebo-hamath. And they were to test by them Israel, to know whether they would heed the commandments of YHWH, which He had commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses. And the sons of Israel dwelt among the Canaanite, the Hittite, and the Amorite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite. And they took their daughters to be their wives, and they gave their daughters to their sons, and they served their gods. Othniel And the sons of Israel did evil in the eyes of YHWH, and they forgot YHWH their God, and they served the Baals and the Asherahs. And the anger of YHWH was hot against Israel, and He sold them into the hand of Cushan-rishathaim king of Aram-naharaim,3.8 That is, Mesopotamia; Aram-naharaim means Aram of the two rivers, likely the region between the Euphrates and Balih Rivers in northwestern Mesopotamia. and the sons of Israel served Cushan-rishathaim eight years. And the sons of Israel cried out to YHWH, and YHWH raised up a deliverer for the sons of Israel, and he delivered them—Othniel son of Kenaz, the younger brother of Caleb—from it. And the Spirit of YHWH came upon him, and he judged Israel and he went out to war. And YHWH delivered into his hand Cushan-rishathaim king of Aram, and his hand prevailed over Cushan-rishathaim. And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel son of Kenaz died. Ehud And the sons of Israel again did evil in the eyes of YHWH, and YHWH strengthened Eglon king of Moab against Israel, because that they had done evil in the eyes of YHWH. And he gathered to himself the sons of Ammon and Amalek, and they went and defeated Israel, and they took possession of the City of Palms.3.13 That is, Jericho And the sons of Israel served Eglon king of Moab eighteen years. And the sons of Israel cried out to YHWH, and YHWH raised up a deliverer for them, Ehud son of Gera the Benjamite, a man impeded in his right hand. And the sons of Israel sent by his hand tribute to Eglon king of Moab. And Ehud made himself a dagger, and it had two edges a cubit in length.3.16 A cubit is approximately 18 inches or 45.7 centimeters. And he fastened it under his cloak on his right thigh. And he brought the tribute to Eglon king of Moab. And Eglon was a very fat man. And when he had finished presenting the tribute, he sent away the people who had carried the tribute. And he himself turned back from the stone images that were at Gilgal, and said, “I have a secret message for you, O king.” And He said, “Silence!” And all attending him went out from him. And Ehud came to him, and he was sitting in the cool upper chamber, which was private to him. And Ehud said, “I have a message from God for you.” And he arose from the throne. And Ehud reached with his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly. And the hilt even went in after the blade, and the fat closed over the blade, for he did not draw the dagger out of his belly. And his excrement came out. And Ehud went out through the porch and shut the doors of the upper room behind him and locked them. And he had gone out, and Eglon’s servants came and looked. And behold, the doors of the upper room were locked. And they said, “He is only covering his feet in the cool inner chamber.” And they waited until they felt ashamed, and still he had not opened the doors of the upper room. And they took the key and opened them, and behold, their master was fallen on the floor dead. And Ehud had escaped while they delayed, and he passed beyond the stone images and escaped to Seirah. And it came to pass when he arrived, that he blew on the shofar in the hill country of Ephraim, and went down with him the sons of Israel from the hills, and he was before their faces. And he said to them, “Follow after me, for YHWH has delivered your⁺ enemies the Moabites into your⁺ hands.” And they went down after him and seized the fords of the Jordan leading to Moab, and did not allow anyone to pass over. And they struck down at that time about ten thousand men of Moab, all stout and men of valor, and not a man escaped. And Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest for eighty years. Shamgar And after him was Shamgar son of Anath, who killed six hundred men of the Philistines with an oxgoad. And he also delivered Israel. Deborah and Barak And the sons of Israel again did evil in the eyes of YHWH, and Ehud was dead. And YHWH sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. And the commander of his army was Sisera, and he dwelt in Harosheth-hagoyim. And the sons of Israel cried out to YHWH, for nine hundred chariots of iron were unto him, and he oppressed the sons of Israel harshly twenty years. And Deborah, a woman, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she was judging Israel at that time. And she would sit under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and between Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim. And the sons of Israel came up to her for judgment. And she sent and called for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh of Naphtali, and said to him, “Has not YHWH, God of Israel, commanded, ‘Go and draw out at Mount Tabor, and take with you ten thousand men of the sons of Naphtali and of the sons of Zebulun, and I will draw out against you at the River Kishon Sisera, commander of the army of Jabin, and his chariots and his multitude, and I will deliver him into your hand’?” And Barak said to her, “If you will go with me I will go, but if you will not go with me, I will not go.” And she said, “I will surely go with you; only that there will not be glory for you in the journey that you are taking, for into the hand of a woman YHWH will sell Sisera.” And Deborah went and arose with Barak to Kedesh. And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh, and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet, and Deborah went up with him. And Heber the Kenite had separated himself from the Kenites of the sons of Hobab the father-in-law4.11 Or brother-in-law of Moses, and he pitched his tent near a great tree in Zaanannim, which is beside Kedesh. And they reported to Sisera that Barak son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor. And Sisera gathered together all his chariots, nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people who were with him from Harosheth-hagoyim to the River Kishon. And Deborah said to Barak, “Arise, for this is the day that YHWH has delivered Sisera into your hand. Has not YHWH gone out before you?” And Barak went down from Mount Tabor, and ten thousand men following him. And YHWH routed Sisera, and all the chariots, and all the army, with the mouth of the sword before the face of Barak; and Sisera came down from the chariot and fled on foot. And Barak pursued after the chariots and the army as far as Harosheth-hagoyim, and all the army of Sisera fell by the mouth of the sword; not even one remained. Jael Kills Sisera And Sisera had fled on foot to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite, for there was peace between Jabin king of Hazor and between the house of Heber the Kenite. And Jael went out to meet Sisera and said to him, “Turn aside, my lord, turn aside to me. Fear not.” And he turned aside with her into the tent, and she covered him with a blanket. And he said to her, “Give me to drink, please, a little water, for I am thirsty.” And she opened a jug of milk, and gave him a drink, and covered him. And he said to her, “Stand at the door of the tent, and if any man comes and inquires of you and says, ‘Is there any man here?’ You shall say, ‘No.’” And Jael the wife of Heber took a peg of the tent, and she put the hammer in her hand, and she went to him in secrecy and drove the peg into his temple, and it went down into the ground. For he was fast asleep and weary, and he died. And behold, Barak pursued Sisera, and Jael came out to meet him and said to him, “Come, and I will show you the man whom you seek.” And he went with her, and there Sisera lay dead, with the peg in his temple. And God subdued on that day Jabin king of Canaan before the faces of the sons of Israel. And the hand of the sons of Israel grew stronger, going on and becoming hard against Jabin king of Canaan, until that they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan. The Song of Deborah and Barak (Exodus 15:1–21) And Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang on that day, saying, “When leaders lead in Israel, when the people willingly offer themselves, bless YHWH. Hear, O kings; give ear, O princes; I to YHWH, I will sing. I will sing to YHWH, God of Israel. O YHWH, when You went out from Seir, when You marched from the field of Edom, the earth trembled and the heavens poured down; also the clouds poured down water. The mountains flowed before YHWH, this one—Sinai— before the face of YHWH, God of Israel. In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were deserted, and the travelers walked the crooked ways. Village life ceased, in Israel it ceased, until I arose—Deborah Arose— a mother in Israel. They chose new gods; then there was war in the gates. A shield was not seen, or a spear, among forty thousand in Israel. My heart is with the rulers of Israel, who offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless YHWH! You who ride on white donkeys, who sit in judges’ attire, and who walk along the road, ponder from the voice of the singers5.11 Or archers or those who divide the sheep between the watering places. There they shall recount the righteous acts of YHWH, the righteous acts for His villagers5.11 Or warriors in Israel. Then shall go down to the gates the people of YHWH. ‘Awake, awake, O Deborah; Awake, awake, sing a song! Arise, O Barak, and lead away your captives, O son of Abinoam.’ Then came down the survivors to the nobles; the people of YHWH came down for me against the mighty. From Ephraim their root is in Amalek, after you Benjamin, with your peoples. From Machir came down commanders, and from Zebulun those drawing with the staff of a scribe. And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah, and as Issachar, so was Barak; into the valley he was sent on his feet. Among the divisions of Reuben were great decrees of the heart. Why did you sit among the sheepfolds, to hear the pipings for the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben great were the searchings of heart. Gilead dwelt beyond the Jordan, and Dan, why does he sojourn on ships? Asher continued at the seashore, and by his inlets he dwelt. Zebulun is a people who exposed its soul to death, and Naphtali, on the heights of the field. The kings came—they fought; then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; spoils of silver they did not take. From the heavens the stars fought; from their courses they fought against Sisera. The torrent of Kishon swept them away, the ancient torrent, the torrent of Kishon. March on in strength, O my soul. Then pounded the hooves of horses, from the galloping—the galloping of its mighty ones. ‘Curse Meroz,’ said the angel of YHWH. ‘Bitterly curse its dwellers, because they did not come to the aid of YHWH, to the aid of YHWH against the mighty.’ Most blessed above women is Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite; above women in the tent she is blessed. Water he requested, milk she gave; in a Magnificent bowl she brought out curds. Her hand to the tent peg she stretched, and her right hand to the hammer of workmen, and she pounded Sisera, she pierced his head, and she shattered and pierced through his temple. Between her feet he sank, he fell, he lay still; between her feet he sank, he fell; where he sank, there he fell dead. Through the window looked and cried out the mother of Sisera, through the lattice, ‘Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why do tarry the hoofbeats of his chariots?’ The wisest of her princesses answered her; indeed, she returns her words herself: ‘Do not they find and divide the loot— a womb or two wombs for every man; loot of dyed garments for Sisera, loot of embroidered dyed garments, two pieces of dyed embroidery for the neck of the looter?’ So may all Your enemies perish, O YHWH; and let those who love Him be like the sun when it rises in full strength.” And the land had rest forty years. Midian Oppresses Israel And the sons of Israel did evil in the eyes of YHWH, and YHWH delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years. And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel. From the faces of the Midianite, the sons of Israel made for themselves the dens that are in the mountains and the caves and the strongholds. And it came to pass, when Israel had sown, that Midian came up, and Amalek and the sons of the East, and they came up against him. And they would encamp against them and destroy the produce of the earth, as far as Gaza, and leave no sustenance for Israel, either sheep, or ox, or donkey. For they and their livestock and their tents would come up, and they would come as the fullness of the locust for multitude. And of them and their camels was no number, and they would enter the land to destroy it. And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianite, and the sons of Israel cried out to YHWH. And it came to pass, when the sons of Israel cried out to YHWH on account of the Midianite, that YHWH sent a prophet to the sons of Israel, who said to them, “Thus says YHWH, God of Israel: I brought you⁺ up from Egypt and brought you⁺ out of the house of slavery. And I delivered you⁺ out of the hand of Egypt and out of the hand of all who oppressed you⁺, and I drove them out before your⁺ faces, and I gave to you⁺ their land. And I said to you⁺, ‘I am YHWH your⁺ God. Do not fear the gods of the Amorite, in whose land you⁺ dwell.’ You⁺ have not listened to My voice.” The Call of Gideon And the angel6.11 Or Angel; also in verses 12, 20, 21, and 22; corresponding pronouns may also be capitalized. of YHWH came and sat under the oak6.11 Or terebinth or great tree; also in verse 19 that was in Ophrah, which was unto Joash the Abi-ezrite, and Gideon his son threshed wheat in the winepress to hide it from the face of the Midianite. And the angel of YHWH appeared to him and said to him, “YHWH is with you, O mighty man of valor.” And Gideon said to Him, “Please, my Lord, if YHWH is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles about which our fathers told us, saying, ‘Did not YHWH bring us up from Egypt?’ And YHWH has forsaken us and given us into the palm of Midian.” And YHWH6.14 LXX The angel of the LORD or The Angel of the LORD; also in verse 16 turned to him and said, “Go in this strength of yours, and you shall save Israel from the palm of Midian. Have not I sent you?” And he said to Him, “Please, my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed, my clan is the poorest in Manasseh, and I am the least in the house of my father.” And YHWH said to him, “Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianite as one man.” And he said to Him, “If now I have found favor in Your eyes, show me a sign that You are speaking with me. Do not, please, depart from this place until I come to You and bring out my offering and set it before Your face.” And He said, “I will wait until you come back.” And Gideon went in and prepared a kid of the goats and an ephah of flour6.19 An ephah is approximately 20 dry quarts or 22 liters (probably about 25.5 pounds or 11.6 kilograms of flour). of unleavened bread. He put the flesh in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot, and he brought them out to Him, to under the oak, and brought them near. And the angel of God said to him, “Take the flesh and the unleavened bread and lay them on this rock, and pour out the broth.” And he did so. And the angel of YHWH stretched out the end of the staff that was in his hand, and he touched the flesh and the unleavened bread, and the fire rose out of the rock and consumed the flesh and the unleavened bread. And the angel of YHWH departed out of his sight. And Gideon perceived that it was the angel of YHWH. And Gideon said, “Alas, Lord YHWH! For upon that I have seen the angel of YHWH face to face.” And YHWH said to him, “Peace be with you. Fear not; you shall not die.” And Gideon built there an altar to YHWH, and he called it YHWH-Shalom.6.24 That is, YHWH is Peace To this day it is still in Ophrah of the Abi-ezrites. Gideon Destroys Baal’s Altar And it came to pass that night, that YHWH said to him, “Take the young bull, that of your father, and the second bull, of seven years, and tear down the altar of Baal that is to your father, and cut down the Asherah pole that is beside it. And build an altar to YHWH your God on top of this rock by the arrangement, and take the second bull and offer a burnt offering with the wood of the Asherah pole that you shall cut down.” And Gideon took ten men of his servants and did as YHWH had said to him. And because he feared the house of his father and the men of the city, to do it by day, he did it by night. And the men of the city arose early in the morning, and behold, the altar of Baal was torn down, and the Asherah pole that was beside it was cut down, and the second bull was being offered on the altar—the built one. And they said one to another, “Who has done this thing?” And they inquired and asked, and they said, “Gideon son of Joash has done this thing.” And the men of the city said to Joash, “Bring out your son, that he may die, because he has torn down the altar of Baal, and because he has cut down the Asherah pole that was beside it.” And Joash said to all who stood against him, “Would you⁺ plead for Baal, if you⁺ would save him? The one who would plead for him shall be put to death by the morning! If he is a god, let him plead for himself because has been torn down his altar.” Therefore he called him on that day Jerubbaal, saying, “Let Baal plead against him because he has torn down his altar.” 6.32 Jerubbaal probably means let Baal contend. The Sign of the Fleece And all the Midianite and Amalekite and the sons of the East gathered together, and they passed over and encamped in the Valley of Jezreel. And the Spirit of YHWH came upon Gideon, and he blew on the shofar, and the Abiezrites gathered behind him. And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh, and he also gathered after him. And He sent messengers to Asher, and Zebulun, and Naphtali, and they came up to meet them. And Gideon said to God, “If You will save Israel by my hand as You have said, behold, I shall put a fleece of the wool on the threshing floor. If dew there is on the fleece only, and on all the ground it is dry, I shall know that You will save Israel by my hand as You have said.” And it was so, and he rose early the next morning and squeezed the fleece, and the dew he wrung out of the fleece, the fullness of the bowl of water. And Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me, and let me speak just once more. Let me test, please, only this time with the fleece. Let it be now dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground let there be dew.” And God did so that night, and it was dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground there was dew. Gideon’s Army of Three Hundred And Jerubbaal (he is Gideon)7.1 Jerubbaal is another name for Gideon and probably means let Baal contend; see Judges 6:32. rose early, and all the people who were with him, and they encamped beside the well of Harod, so that the camp of the Midianite was on the north side of them by the hill of Moreh in the valley. And YHWH said to Gideon, “The people are too many who are with you for My giving the Midianite into their hands, lest Israel glorify itself against Me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ And now proclaim, please, in the ears of the people, saying, ‘Who is fearful and afraid, let him turn and depart at once from Mount Gilead.’” And returned of the people twenty-two thousand; and ten thousand remained. And YHWH said to Gideon, “Still the people are too many; bring them down to the water, and I will refine it for you there. And it will be that of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go with you; and of whomever I say to you, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.” And he brought down the people to the water. And YHWH said to Gideon, “Everyone who laps with his tongue from the water as a dog laps, you shall set apart by himself, and likewise everyone who gets down on his knees to drink.” And the number of those lapping with their hand to their mouth was three hundred men; and all the rest of the people got down on their knees to drink water. And YHWH said to Gideon, “By the three hundred men who are lapping I will save you⁺ and deliver the Midianite into your hand; and let all the people go, every man to his place.” And the people took provisions in their hands, and their shofars, and every man of Israel he sent away, every man to his tent, and on the three hundred men he kept hold, and the camp of Midian was below him in the valley. The Sword of Gideon And it happened on that night that YHWH said to him, “Arise, go down against the camp, for I have delivered it into your hand. But if you are afraid to go down—go down, you and Purah your servant, to the camp, and you shall hear what they say, and afterward your hand shall be strengthened to go down against the camp.” And he went down, and Purah his young man, to the outpost of the armed men who were in the camp. And the Midianite and Amalekite and all the sons of the East were lying in the valley as the locust in multitude, and their camels were without number, as the sand by the shore of the sea in multitude. And Gideon had come, and there was a man telling to his companion a dream, and He said, “Behold, I have had a dream. And behold, a loaf of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian, and it came to a tent and struck it so that it fell, and it overturned upwards, and the tent collapsed.” And his companion answered and said, “This is nothing except but the sword of Gideon son of Joash, a man of Israel. God has delivered into his hand Midian and all the camp.” Gideon Defeats Midian And it came to pass, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream and its interpretation, that he bowed in worship, and he returned to the camp of Israel and said, “Arise, for YHWH has delivered into your⁺ hands the camp of Midian.” And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put shofars into the hand of every man, and empty pitchers, and torches in the midst of the pitchers. And he said to them, “You⁺ shall look at me, and likewise you⁺ shall do. And behold, I am coming to the edge of the camp, and as I do, so you⁺ shall do. And I will blow on the shofar, I and all who are with me, and you⁺ shall blow on the shofars—even you⁺—on every side of all the camp; and you⁺ shall say, ‘For YHWH and for Gideon.’” And Gideon came, and the hundred men who were with him, to the outpost of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after the complete stationing of the guard. And they blew on the shofars and shattered the pitchers that were in their hands. And the three companies blew on the shofars and broke the pitchers, and they held in their left hand the torches and in their right hand the shofars for blowing, and they cried out, “A sword for YHWH, and for Gideon.” And every man stood in his place all around the camp, and all the camp ran and cried out and fled. And the three hundred blew the shofars, and YHWH set the sword of every man against his companion and against all the camp, and the camp fled to Beth-shittah toward Zererah,7.22 Some Hebrew manuscripts Zeredah as far as the border of Abel-meholah by Tabbath. And the men of Israel gathered together from Naphtali and Asher and all Manasseh, and they pursued after the Midianite. And Gideon sent messengers throughout all the hill country of Ephraim, saying, “Come down against the Midianite and seize from them the watering places as far as Beth-barah and the Jordan.” And gathered together all the men of Ephraim and seized the watering places as far as Beth-barah and the Jordan. And they captured two princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb; and they killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and Zeeb they killed at the winepress of Zeeb. And pursuing the Midianite and the heads of Oreb and Zeeb, they brought them to Gideon on the other side of the Jordan. Gideon Defeats Zebah and Zalmunna And the men of Ephraim said to him, “What is this thing you have done to us by not calling us when you went to fight against Midian?” And they contended with him in strength. And he said to them, “What have I done now compared to you⁺? Are not the gleanings of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer? Into your⁺ hands God has delivered the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. And what was I able to do compared to you⁺?” Then their spirit8.3 Or their anger subsided toward him when he said this word. And Gideon came to the Jordan, passing over, he and the three hundred men who were with him, exhausted and pursuing. And he said to the men of Succoth, “Give, please, loaves of bread to the people who are at my feet, for they are exhausted, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.” And the leaders of Succoth said, “Is the palm of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your army?” And Gideon said, “Therefore, when YHWH has delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, I will tear your⁺ flesh with the thorns of the wilderness, and with briers.” And he went up from there to Penuel,8.8 Penuel is a variant of Peniel; also in verses 9 and 17; see Genesis 32:30. and spoke to them thus; and the men of Penuel answered him as had answered the men of Succoth. And he spoke also to the men of Penuel, saying, “When I come back in peace, I will tear down this tower.” And Zebah and Zalmunna were at Karkor, and their camps with them, about fifteen thousand, all who were left of all the camp of the sons of the East; for had fallen a hundred and twenty thousand men who drew the sword. And Gideon went up by the road of those who dwell in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and he attacked the camp, and the camp was in security. And Zebah and Zalmunna fled, and he pursued them, and he took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and all the camp he made tremble. And Gideon son of Joash returned from battle along the Ascent of Heres. And he caught a young man of the men of Succoth and questioned him, and he wrote down for him the leaders of Succoth and its elders—seventy-seven men. And he came to the men of Succoth and said, “Here are Zebah and Zalmunna, about whom you⁺ taunted me, saying, ‘Is the palm of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your men who are weary?’” And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and he taught with them the men of Succoth. And he tore down the tower of Penuel and killed the men of the city. And he said to Zebah and Zalmunna, “What kind of men were they whom you⁺ killed at Tabor?” And they answered, “As you are, so were they; each one resembled the son of a king.” And he said, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As YHWH lives, if you⁺ had let them live, I would not kill you⁺.” And he said to Jether his firstborn, “Rise and kill them.” And the youth would not draw his sword, for he was afraid, for he was still a youth. And Zebah and Zalmunna said, “Rise yourself and kill us, for as the man, is his strength.” And Gideon arose and killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and he took the crescent ornaments that were on the necks of their camels. Gideon’s Ephod And the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, both you and also your son, and your son’s son, for you have delivered us from the hand of Midian.” And Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you⁺, nor shall my son rule over you⁺. YHWH shall rule over you⁺.” And Gideon said to them, “I would like to make a request of you⁺, that would give to me, each of you, the rings from his plunder.” (For gold rings were unto them, because they were Ishmaelites.) And they answered, “We will give them gladly.” And they spread out a garment, and each man threw into it the rings from his plunder. And the weight of the gold rings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold,8.26 1,700 shekels is approximately 42.7 pounds or 19.4 kilograms. apart from the crescent ornaments and pendants and purple robes that were on the kings of Midian, and apart from the chains that were around the necks of their camels. And Gideon made it into an ephod and set it up in his city, in Ophrah. And all Israel played the prostitute with it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and to his house. Forty Years of Peace And Midian was subdued before the faces of the sons of Israel, so that no more they lifted up their head. And the country was quiet forty years in the days of Gideon. And Jerubbaal8.29 Jerubbaal is another name for Gideon and probably means let Baal contend; also in verse 35; see Judges 6:32. son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house. And Gideon had seventy sons coming from his loin,8.30 Or coming from his thigh for unto him were many wives, and his concubine who was in Shechem, and she also bore him a son, and he called his name Abimelech. Gideon’s Death And Gideon son of Joash died at a good old age, and he was buried in the tomb of Joash his father in Ophrah of the Abi-ezrites. And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the sons of Israel turned back and played the prostitute with the Baals, and they set up to them Baal-berith for a god. And the sons of Israel did not remember YHWH their God, who had delivered them from the hands of all their enemies on every side, nor did they show kindness to the house of Jerubbaal (Gideon) in accordance with the good that he had done for Israel. Abimelech’s Conspiracy And Abimelech son of Jerubbaal9.1 Jerubbaal is another name for Gideon and probably means let Baal contend; here and throughout this chapter; see Judges 6:32. went to Shechem to the brothers of his mother, and he spoke to them and to all the family of the house of the father of his mother, saying, “Speak, please, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, ‘What is better for you⁺, that seventy men reign over you⁺, all sons of Jerubbaal, or that one man reigns over you⁺?’ And remember that I am your⁺ bone and your⁺ flesh.” And the brothers of his mother spoke concerning him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words, and their heart was inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is our brother.” And they gave to him seventy shekels of silver9.4 70 shekels is approximately 1.76 pounds or 797.8 grams of silver. from the temple of Baal-berith, and Abimelech hired with them worthless and reckless men, and they followed him. And he went into the house of his father at Ophrah and killed his brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, on one stone. And Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, was left, because he hid himself. And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all of Beth-millo, and they went and made Abimelech king beside the oak9.6 Or terebinth or great tree at the pillar that was in Shechem. Jotham’s Parable And they told Jotham, and he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim, and he lifted his voice and cried out and said to them, “Listen to me, O masters of Shechem, that God may listen to you⁺. The trees have diligently gone to anoint over them a king. And they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’ And the olive tree said to them, ‘Should I cease giving my oil, with which they honor God and men, and go to sway over the trees?’ And the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come you, reign over us.’ And the fig tree said to them, ‘Should I cease my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to sway over the trees?’ And the trees said to the vine, ‘Come you, reign over us.’ And the vine said to them, ‘Should I cease my new wine, which cheers God and men, and go to sway over the trees?’ And all the trees said to the bramble, ‘Come you, reign over us.’ And the bramble said to the trees, ‘If in truth you⁺ anoint me as king over you⁺, come, take refuge in my shade. But if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’ And now, if in truth and sincerity you⁺ have acted in making Abimelech king, and if you⁺ have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and if according to the deed of his hands you⁺ have done to him— for my father fought for you⁺ and cast away his life from him, and delivered you⁺ out of the hand of Midian. And you⁺ have risen up against the house of my father this day and killed his sons, seventy men, on one stone, and made Abimelech son of his maidservant king over the men of Shechem, because he is your⁺ brother— and if then in truth and sincerity you⁺ have acted with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice in Abimelech and let him rejoice also in you⁺. But if not, let fire come from Abimelech and devour the men of Shechem and Beth-millo, and let come fire from the men of Shechem and Beth-millo, and devour Abimelech.” And Jotham ran away and fled, and he went to Beer and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother. Gaal Conspires with the Shechemites And Abimelech had reigned over Israel three years, and God sent a spirit of animosity9.23 Or a harmful spirit between Abimelech and between the men of Shechem, and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech, for the coming in of the violence to the seventy the sons of Jerubbaal, and to place their blood on Abimelech their brother who killed them, and on the men of Shechem who aided him in the killing of his brothers. And the men of Shechem set against him an ambush on the tops of the hills, and they robbed all who passed by them along that way. And it was told to Abimelech. And Gaal son of Ebed came, and his brothers, and went over to Shechem. And the men of Shechem put their confidence in him. And they went out into the fields, and gathered from their vineyards, and trod and made merry. And they went into the house of their god and ate and drank and cursed Abimelech. And Gaal son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal? And is not Zebul his officer? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem—and why should we serve him? And if only were given this people into my hand, Abimelech I would remove.” I would say9.29 LXX; Hebrew And he said to Abimelech, “Increase your army and come out.” The Fall of Shechem And Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, and his anger was kindled. And he sent messengers to Abimelech in deceit,9.31 Or he sent messengers to Abimelech in Arumah; see verse 41. saying, “Behold, Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem. And behold, they are fortifying9.31 Or besieging or closing up the city against you. And now get up by night, you and the people who are with you, and lie in wait in the field. And it shall come to pass in the morning, at the rising of the sun, that you shall rise early and rush upon the city. And behold, he and the people who are with him will be coming out against you, and you may do to them as your hand finds.” And Abimelech rose, and all the people who were with him, by night, and they lay in wait against Shechem in four companies. And Gaal son of Ebed went out and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city, and Abimelech rose, and the people who were with him, from the ambush. And Gaal saw the people, and he said to Zebul, “Behold, a people is coming down from the tops of the mountains.” And Zebul said to him, “The shadows of the mountains You are seeing as men.” And Gaal added again to speak, and he said, “Behold, a people are coming down from the center of the land, and one company is coming from the way of the Oak of the Diviners.9.37 Or the Diviners’ Terebinth or the diviners’ tree” And Zebul said to him, “Where now is your mouth, with which you said, ‘Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him?’ Is this not the people whom you have despised? Go out, please, now, and fight against it.” And Gaal went out before the faces of the masters of Shechem, and he fought with Abimelech. And Abimelech chased him, and he fled from him, and many fell wounded as far as the entrance of the gate. And Abimelech dwelt in Arumah, and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brothers from dwelling in Shechem. And it came to pass on the next day that the people went out into the field. And they declared it to Abimelech. And he took the people and divided them into three companies and lay in wait in the field, and he looked, and behold, the people were coming out of the city; and he rose up against them and attacked them. And Abimelech and the company that was with him rushed forward and stood at the entrance of the gate of the city, and the two companies rushed upon all who were in the fields, and struck them. And Abimelech fought against the city all that day, and he took the city, and he killed the people who were in it, and he tore down the city and sowed it with salt. And all the men of the tower of Shechem had heard, and they entered into the stronghold of the temple of El-berith.9.46 El-berith was another name for Baal-berith; see verse 4. And it was told to Abimelech that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together. And Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him, and Abimelech took an ax in his hand and cut down a bough from the trees, and lifted it and set it on his shoulder, and he said to the people who were with him, “What you⁺ have seen me do, hurry and do as I.” And all the people, indeed each man, cut down his bough, and they went after Abimelech, and they put them against the stronghold, and they burned above them the stronghold with the fire, and died also all the people of the tower of Shechem—about a thousand men and women. Abimelech’s Punishment And Abimelech went to Thebez, and he encamped against Thebez and took it. And there was a strong tower in the midst of the city, and there fled all the men and the women, and all the masters of the city, and shut themselves in. And they went up to the top of the tower. And Abimelech came as far as the tower and fought against it, and he drew near the door of the tower to burn it with the fire. And one woman dropped an upper millstone on the head of Abimelech, and it crushed his skull. And he called quickly to the young man bearing his armor and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, lest they say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’” And his young man thrust him through, and he died. And the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, and every man departed to his place. And God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he had done to his father by killing his seventy brothers. And all the evil of the men of Shechem God returned on their own heads, and came upon them the curse of Jotham son of Jerubbaal. Tola And there arose after Abimelech to save Israel Tola son of Puah, son of Dodo, a man of Issachar. And he dwelt in Shamir in the hill country of Ephraim. And He judged10.2 Or governed or led; here and throughout the book of Judges Israel twenty-three years, and he died, and he was buried in Shamir. Jair And arose after him Jair the Gileadite, and he judged Israel twenty-two years. And there were unto him thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys, and thirty towns unto him, which are called Havvoth-jair10.4 Or the villages of Jair to this day, which are in the land of Gilead. And Jair died, and he was buried in Kamon. Oppression by the Philistines and Ammonites And the sons of Israel added to do evil in the eyes of YHWH, and they served the Baals, and the Ashtoreths, and the gods of Aram, and the gods of Sidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the sons of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and they forsook YHWH and did not serve Him. And the anger of YHWH was hot against Israel, and He sold them into the hands of the Philistines and into the hands of the sons of Ammon. And they harassed and oppressed the sons of Israel—from that year, eighteen years, all the sons of Israel who were on the other side of the Jordan in the land of the Amorite, that is, in Gilead. And the sons of Ammon passed over the Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim. And Israel was greatly distressed. And the sons of Israel cried out to YHWH, saying, “We have sinned against You, because we have both forsaken our God and served the Baals.” And YHWH said to the sons of Israel, “Did not I save you from Egypt, and from the Amorite, and from the sons of Ammon, and from the Philistines? And the Sidonians and Amalekite and Maonites10.12 Hebrew; some LXX manuscripts Midianites oppressed you⁺, and you⁺ cried out to Me, and I delivered you⁺ from their hands. And you⁺ have forsaken Me and served other gods; therefore I will not add to deliver you⁺. Go and cry out to the gods that you⁺ have chosen; let them deliver you⁺ in the time of your⁺ distress.” And the sons of Israel said to YHWH, “We have sinned. You do to us according to all that is good in Your eyes. Only deliver us, please, this day.” And they put away the foreign gods from among them, and they served YHWH, and His soul was shortened in the misery of Israel. And the sons of Ammon gathered together and encamped in Gilead, and the sons of Israel assembled and encamped in Mizpah. And the people—the leaders of Gilead—said one to another, “Who is the man who will begin the fight against the sons of Ammon? He shall be head over all those dwelling in Gilead.” Jephthah Delivers Israel And Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor. And he was son of a woman, a prostitute. And Gilead begat Jephthah. And the wife of Gilead bore to him sons, and the sons of his wife grew up, and they drove out Jephthah and said to him, “You shall not have an inheritance in the house of our father; for you are the son of another woman.” And Jephthah fled from his brothers and dwelt in the land of Tob. And worthless men gathered themselves to Jephthah and went out with him. And it came to pass after some days, that the sons of Ammon made war against Israel. And it came to pass, when the sons of Ammon made war against Israel, that the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah from the land of Tob; and they said to Jephthah, “Come and be our commander, that we may fight against the sons of Ammon.” And Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “Did not you⁺ hate me and expel me from the house of my father? Why have you⁺ come to me now when there is distress to you⁺?” And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “Therefore now we have turned again to you, that you may go with us and fight against the sons of Ammon, and be our leader over all those dwelling in Gilead.” And Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “If you⁺ take me back to fight against the sons of Ammon, and YHWH delivers them to me, will I be to you⁺ leader?” And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “YHWH will be a witness between us if according to your words we do not so.” And Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head over them and commander. And Jephthah spoke all his words before the face of YHWH in Mizpah. And Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the sons of Ammon, saying, “And what do you have against me that you have come against me to fight in my land?” And the king of the sons of Ammon answered unto the messengers of Jephthah, “Because Israel took away my land when they came up out of Egypt, from the Arnon and as far as the Jabbok and as far as the Jordan. And now, return them in peace.” And Jephthah added again and sent messengers to the king of the sons of Ammon and said to him, “Thus says Jephthah: Israel did not take away the land of Moab or the land of the sons of Ammon. For in their coming up out of Egypt, Israel walked through the wilderness as far as the Red Sea,11.16 Or the Sea of Reeds and came to Kadesh; and Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, ‘Let me pass, please, through your land,’ and the king of Edom did not listen. And in like manner they sent to the king of Moab, and he was not willing. And Israel remained in Kadesh. And he went along through the wilderness and bypassed the land of Edom and the land of Moab, and he came to the east side of the land of Moab and encamped on the other side of the Arnon. They did not enter into the border of Moab, for the Arnon was the border of Moab. And Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorite, king of Heshbon. And Israel said to him, ‘Let us pass, please, through your land into our place.’ And Sihon did not trust Israel to pass through his territory. And Sihon gathered together all his people and encamped in Jahaz, and he fought against Israel. And YHWH, God of Israel, gave Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel, and they struck them. And Israel gained possession of all the land of the Amorite inhabiting that land. And they took possession of all the territory of the Amorite, from the Arnon and to the Jabbok, and from the wilderness and to the Jordan. And YHWH, God of Israel, has dispossessed the Amorite from before His people Israel; and should you possess it? Whatever Chemosh your god would give you to possess, is it not that you will possess it? And all that YHWH our God takes possession of before us, we will possess. And now are you so good, better than Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever contend against Israel, or did he at all fight against them? In the dwelling of Israel in Heshbon and its villages, and in Aroer and its villages, and in all the cities that are along the banks of the Arnon, three hundred years—why did you⁺ not snatch them up within that time? And I have not sinned against you, and you are doing to me evil by fighting against me. May YHWH, the Judge, render judgment this day between the sons of Israel and between the sons of Ammon.” And the king of the sons of Ammon did not listen to the words of Jephthah, that he sent to him. Jephthah’s Tragic Vow And the Spirit of YHWH came upon Jephthah, and he passed through Gilead and Manasseh, and he passed through Mizpah of Gilead, and from Mizpah of Gilead he passed through to the sons of Ammon. And Jephthah made a vow to YHWH, and said, “If You fully deliver the sons of Ammon into my hands, Then it shall come to pass that whatever comes forth from the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the sons of Ammon, it will be unto YHWH, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.” And Jephthah passed over toward the sons of Ammon to fight against them, and YHWH delivered them into his hand. And he defeated them from Aroer and as far as the entrance to Minnith, twenty cities, and to Abel-keramim. And with a very great slaughter the sons of Ammon were subdued before the sons of Israel. And Jephthah came to his house at Mizpah, and there was his daughter coming out to meet him with timbrels and dancing. And she was his only child; none were unto him besides her, son or daughter. And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he tore his clothes and said, “Alas, my daughter! You have caused me greatly to bow, and you are among those who trouble me. For I have given my word to YHWH, and I cannot turn back.” And she said to him, “My father, if you have given your word to YHWH, do to me according to what has gone out of your mouth, after that YHWH has done for you vengeance on your enemies, the sons of Ammon.” And she said to her father, “Let this thing be done for me. Leave me alone for two months, that I may go and wander on the mountains and mourn for my virginity, I and my friends.” And he said, “Go.” And he sent her away for two months. And she went, and her friends, and wept for her virginity on the mountains. And it was at the end of two months that she returned to her father, and he carried out with her his vow that he had vowed. And she knew not a man. And it became a custom in Israel that from time to time the daughters of Israel went to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite, four days in the year. Jephthah Defeats Ephraim And the men of Ephraim gathered together and passed over toward Zaphon, and they said to Jephthah, “Why did you pass over to fight against the sons of Ammon and did not call us to go with you? Your house we will burn down over you with the fire.” And Jephthah said to them, “I have been a man of exceedingly great struggle—I and My people—with the sons of Ammon. And I called you⁺ and you⁺ did not deliver me out of their hands. And I saw that you would not deliver me, and I took my life in my hands, and passed over against the sons of Ammon. And YHWH delivered them into my hand. Why have you⁺ come up to me this day to fight against me?” And Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead, and fought against Ephraim. And the men of Gilead defeated Ephraim, because they said, “You⁺ Gileadites are fugitives of Ephraim in the midst of Ephraim, in the midst of Manasseh.” And Gilead seized the fords of the Jordan to Ephraim, and when a fugitive from Ephraim said, “Let me pass over,” the men of Gilead would say to him, “Are you an Ephraimite?” And if he said, “No,” they would say to him, “Say, please, Shibboleth.” And he would say, “Sibboleth,” for he could not pronounce it correctly. And they would take him and kill him at the fords of the Jordan. And there fell at that time of Ephraim forty-two thousand. And Jephthah judged Israel six years. And Jephthah the Gileadite died, and was buried among the cities of Gilead.12.7 LXX in his city in Gilead Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon And after him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel. And he had thirty sons, and thirty daughters he gave in marriage to outsiders, and thirty daughters he brought in for his sons from outside. And He judged Israel seven years. And Ibzan died, and was buried in Bethlehem. And after him, Elon the Zebulunite judged Israel. And He judged Israel ten years. And Elon the Zebulunite died and was buried in Aijalon, in the land of Zebulun. And after him Abdon son of Hillel the Pirathonite judged Israel, and there were unto him forty sons and thirty sons of sons, who rode on seventy young donkeys. And he judged Israel eight years. And Abdon son of Hillel the Pirathonite died, and he was buried in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekite. The Birth of Samson (Numbers 6:1–21) And the sons of Israel again did evil in the eyes of YHWH. And YHWH delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years. And there was a certain man from Zorah of the family of the Danite, and his name was Manoah. And his wife was barren and she had not given birth. And the angel13.3 Or Angel; here and throughout chapter 13; corresponding pronouns may also be capitalized. of YHWH appeared to the woman and said to her, “Behold please, you are barren, and you have not borne children. You shall conceive and bear a son. And now be careful, please, and do not drink wine or strong drink, and do not eat anything unclean. For behold, you will conceive and bear a son. And a razor shall not come upon his head, for a Nazirite13.5 Or set apart to God shall be the child from the womb, and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.” And the woman came and spoke to her husband, saying, “A man of God came to me, and his appearance was like the appearance of the angel of God, exceedingly awesome. I did not ask Him where He was from, and his name he did not tell to me. And he said to me, ‘Behold, you will conceive and bear a son, and now, do not drink wine or strong drink, and do not eat anything unclean, for a Nazirite to God shall be the child from the womb until the day of his death.’” And Manoah prayed to YHWH and said, “O my Lord, the man of God whom You sent, please let him come again to us and teach us what we shall do for the child who will be born.” And God listened to the voice of Manoah, and the angel of God came again to the woman, and she was sitting in the field, and Manoah her husband was not with her. And the woman hurried and ran and declared to her husband and said to him, “Behold, the man has appeared to me who came to me the other day.” And Manoah arose and followed after his wife, and he came to the man, and he said to him, “Are you the man who spoke to the woman?” And He said, “I am.” And Manoah said, “Now let your words come, what will be the custom of the boy and his work?” And the angel of YHWH said to Manoah, “Of all that I said to the woman, let her take heed. Of anything that comes from the wine vine she may not eat, and wine or strong drink she may not drink, and anything unclean she may not eat. All that I have commanded her she shall keep.” And Manoah said to the angel of YHWH, “Let us detain, please, you, and we will prepare for you a kid of the goats.” And the angel of YHWH said to Manoah, “Even if you detain me, I will not eat of your food, but if you prepare a burnt offering, to YHWH you shall offer it.” For Manoah did not know that he was the angel of YHWH. And Manoah said to the angel of YHWH, “What is your name, that when your word comes, we may honor you?” And the angel of YHWH said to him, “Why is this—you do ask My name, and it is incomprehensible?” And Manoah took the kid of the goats, and a grain offering, and he offered it upon the rock to YHWH, and doing wonderously in doing it; and Manoah and his wife were watching. And it came to pass, in the going up of the flame from the altar toward the heavens, that the angel of YHWH ascended in the flame of the altar. And Manoah and his wife saw it, and they fell on their faces to the ground. And the angel of YHWH added not again to appear to Manoah and his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was the angel of YHWH. And Manoah said to his wife, “We will surely die, because we have seen God.” And his wife said to him, “If YHWH had delighted to kill us, He would not have accepted from our hands a burnt offering and a grain offering, and He would not have shown us all these things, nor at this time would He have told us as this.” And the woman bore a son, and she called his name Samson. And the child grew, and YHWH blessed him. And the Spirit of YHWH began to move upon him at Mahaneh-dan,13.25 Mahaneh-dan means camp of Dan. between Zorah and between Eshtaol. Samson’s Marriage And Samson went down to Timnah and saw a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines. And he went up and declared to his father and mother and said, “I have seen a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines. And now, get her for me as a wife.” And his father and mother said to him, “Is there not among the daughters of your brothers, or among all my people, a woman, that you must go and get a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?” And Samson said to his father, “Get her for me, for she is right in my eyes.” (And his father and mother did not know that it was of YHWH, that He was seeking an occasion to move against the Philistines. And for that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.) And Samson and his father and mother went down to Timnah, and they came to the vineyards of Timnah. And behold, a young lion of lions came roaring against him. And the Spirit of YHWH came mightily upon him, and he tore it as the tearing of a young goat, and not anything was in his hand. He did not tell his father or his mother what he had done. And he went down and talked with the woman, and she was right in the eyes of Samson. Samson’s Riddle And he returned after some time to get her, and he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion. And behold, a swarm of bees was in the carcass of the lion, and honey. And He took some of it in his hands and went on, going and eating, and he came to his father and to his mother, and he gave some to them and they ate, and he did not tell them that he had taken the honey out of the carcass of the lion. And his father went down to the woman, and Samson gave there a feast; for thus the young men would do. And it came to pass in their seeing him, that they took thirty companions, and they were with him. And Samson said to them, “Please let me pose a riddle to you⁺. If you⁺ surely declare it to me in the seven days of the feast, and have found it out, then I will give to you⁺ thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing. But if you⁺ are not able to explain it to me, then you⁺ shall give to me thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing.” And they said to him, “Pose your riddle, that we may hear it.” And he said to them, “Out of the eater came something to eat, and out of the strong came something sweet.” And they could not explain the riddle in three days. And it came to pass on the fourth14.15 LXX and Syriac; Hebrew seventh day that they said to the wife of Samson, “Entice your husband, that he may explain to us the riddle, or else we will burn you and the house of your father with the fire. Have you⁺ not called us here to dispossess us?” And the wife of Samson wept on him and said, “You have only hated me, and you have not loved me. You have posed a riddle to the sons of my people, and to me you have not explained it.” And he said to her, “Behold, to my father and to my mother I have not explained it, and to you should I explain it?” And she wept on him the seven days, while their feast lasted. And it came to pass on the seventh day that he told her, because she had pressed him so much, and she explained the riddle to the sons of her people. And the men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down, “What is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion?” And he said to them, “If you⁺ had not plowed with my heifer, You⁺ would not have solved my riddle.” And the Spirit of YHWH came mightily upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon and killed thirty of their men and took their apparel, and he gave the changes to those who had explained the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to the house of his father. And the wife of Samson was unto his companion who had attended to him. Samson’s Revenge And it came to pass after some days, in the days of the wheat harvest, that Samson visited his wife with a kid of the goats, and he said, “Let me go in to my wife in the inner chamber.” And her father would not permit him to go in. And her father said, “I surely said that you surely hated her, and I gave her to your companion. Is not her younger sister better than she? Please take her to you, instead of her.” And Samson said to them, “I shall be blameless this time regarding the Philistines, though I am doing them harm.” And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and he took torches and turned them tail to tail, and he put one torch between the two tails in the middle. And he kindled fire in the torches and sent them out into the standing grain of the Philistines, and burned up from the shocks and to the standing grain, and to the vineyards and olive groves. And the Philistines said, “Who has done this?” And they answered, “Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite, because he has taken his wife and given her to his companion.” And the Philistines came up and burned her and her father with the fire. And Samson said to them, “Since you⁺ would do a thing like this, yet surely I will take revenge on you⁺, and afterward I will cease.” And he struck them hip and thigh with a great slaughter. And he went down and dwelt in the cleft of the rock of Etam. And the Philistines went up and encamped in Judah, and they spread out in Lehi. And the men of Judah said, “Why have you⁺ come up against us?” And they answered, “To bind Samson. We have come up to do to him as he has done to us.” And three thousand men of Judah went down to the cleft of the rock of Etam, and said to Samson, “Do you not know that the Philistines are ruling over us? And what is this you have done to us?” And he said to them, “As they did to me, so I have done to them.” And they said to him, “We have come down to bind you, that we may deliver you into the hand of the Philistines.” And Samson said to them, “Swear to me that you⁺ will not kill me yourselves.” And they spoke to him, saying, “No, but we will securely bind you and deliver you into their hands. And surely we will not put you to death.” And they bound him with two new ropes and brought him up from the rock. He came to Lehi, and the Philistines came out shouting against him, and the Spirit of YHWH rushed mightily upon him, and the ropes that were on his arms became like flax that is burned with the fire, and his bonds broke loose from his hands. And He found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, and he stretched out his hand and took it, and killed with it a thousand men. And Samson said, “With the jawbone of a donkey— a heap upon heaps15.16 Or I have made them into donkeys— with the jawbone of a donkey I have struck down a thousand men.” And so it was, when he had finished speaking, that he threw the jawbone from his hand, and called that place Ramath-lehi.15.17 Ramath-lehi means the hill of the jawbone. And he became exceedingly thirsty, and he cried out to YHWH and said, “You have given by the hand of Your servant this great deliverance, and shall I die of thirst and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised?” And God split the hollow place that is in Lehi, and water came out, and he drank, and his spirit returned, and he revived. Upon thus he called its name En-hakkore,15.19 En-hakkore means the spring of him who calls. which is in Lehi to this day. And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years. Samson Escapes Gaza And Samson went to Gaza and saw there a woman, a prostitute, and he went in to her. To the Gazites it was said, “Samson has come here.” And they surrounded and lay in wait for him all the night at the gate of the city, and they were quiet all the night, saying, “At the light of the morning, then we will kill him.” And Samson lay down until the middle of the night. And he arose in the middle of the night and took hold of the doors of the gate of the city, and the two gateposts, and he pulled them up along with the bar, and he put them on his shoulders, and he brought them up to the top of the hill that is at the face of Hebron. Samson and Delilah And it came to pass after thus, that he loved a woman in the Valley of Sorek, and her name was Delilah. And the lords of the Philistines came up to her and said to her, “Entice him and find out in what is his great power, and by what we may overpower him, that we may bind him to afflict him. And we will give to you, each man, a thousand and a hundred shekels of silver.16.5 1,100 shekels is approximately 27.6 pounds or 12.5 kilograms of silver.” And Delilah said to Samson, “Tell me, please, in what is your great power, and with what may you be bound to afflict you.” And Samson said to her, “If they bind me with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, I shall become weak and I will be as any man.” And the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven fresh bowstrings that had not been dried, and she bound him with them. And they were lying in wait, staying with her in the room. And she said to him, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson.” And he broke the bowstrings as a strand of yarn breaks at its touching the fire. And his power was not known. And Delilah said to Samson, “Behold, you have mocked me and told to me lies. Now tell me, please, with what may you be bound.” And he said to her, “If they securely bind me with new ropes that never were used in work, I shall become weak, and be like any man.” Delilah therefore took new ropes and bound him with them, and she said to him, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson.” And they were lying in wait, staying in the room. And he broke them off his arms like a thread. And Delilah said to Samson, “Until now you have mocked me and told to me lies. Tell me with what you may be bound.” And he said to her, “If you weave the seven locks of my head into the web of a loom and tighten it with a pin, I will become as weak as any other man.16.13 See LXX and Vulgate; Hebrew does not include and tighten it with a pin, I will become as weak as any other man.” And while he slept, Delilah took the seven braids of his hair and wove them into the web. And she wove it tightly16.14 See LXX and Vulgate; Hebrew does not include And while he slept, Delilah took the seven braids of his hair and wove them into the web.Then she tightened it with a pin, and said to him, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson.” And he awoke from his sleep and pulled out the pin of the loom, and with it the web. Delilah Learns the Secret And she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ and your heart is not with me? This is three times you have mocked me, and you have not told me in what is your great power.” And it came to pass, when she had pressed him with her words all the days, and pleaded, and his soul was grieved to death, that he told her all his heart and said to her, “A razor has not ever come upon my head. For I am a Nazirite to God from the womb of my mother. If I am shaven, my power will leave me, and I shall become weak and be as any man.” And Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, and she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, “Come up once more, for he has told me all his heart.” And the lords of the Philistines came up to her and brought the silver in their hands. And she put him to sleep on her knees, and called for the man, and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. And she began to subdue him,16.19 Hebrew; some LXX manuscripts he began to grow weak and his power turned aside from him. And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson.” And he awoke from his sleep and said, “I will go out as before at other times and shake myself free.” And he did not know that YHWH had turned aside from him. And the Philistines took him and put out his eyes, and they brought him down to Gaza, and they bound him with bronze shackles. And he was grinding in the house of the imprisoned. And the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaved. Samson’s Vengeance and Death And the lords of the Philistines gathered together to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god, and to rejoice. And they said, “Our god has delivered into our hand Samson our enemy.” And the people saw him, and they praised their god, for they said, “Our god has delivered our enemy into our hand, and he who destroyed our land, and the one who multiplied our dead.” And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, “Call for Samson, that he may perform for us.” And they called for Samson from the house of the imprisoned, and he performed for them. And they stationed him between the pillars. And Samson said to the boy who held him by the hand, “Let me feel the pillars on which the temple is established, so that I can lean on them.” And the temple was full of the men and the women, and all the lords of the Philistines were there. And on the roof about three thousand men and women were watching while Samson performed. And Samson called to YHWH and said, “O Lord YHWH, remember me, please, and Strengthen me, please, just this once, O God, that I may take vengeance with one vengeful blow for my two eyes against the Philistines.” And Samson took hold of the middle two pillars on which the temple was established, and he braced himself against them, one on his right and one on his left. And Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines.” And he pushed with power, and the temple fell on the lords and all the people who were in it. And the dead that he killed at his death were more than he had killed in his life. And his brothers and all the house of his father came down, and they lifted him and brought him up and buried him between Zorah and between Eshtaol in the tomb of Manoah his father. And He had judged Israel twenty years. Micah’s Idolatry And there was a man from the hill country of Ephraim, and his name was Micah. And he said to his mother, “The thousand and a hundred shekels of silver17.2 1,100 shekels is approximately 27.6 pounds or 12.5 kilograms of silver; also in verse 3. that were taken from you, and on which you put a curse, and even saying it in my ears, here is the silver with me. I took it.” And his mother said, “Blessed is my son of YHWH!” And he returned the thousand and a hundred shekels of silver to his mother, and his mother said, “I wholly dedicate the silver to YHWH from my hand for my son to make a carved image and a molten image. And now I will return it to you.” And he returned the silver to his mother, and his mother took two hundred shekels of silver17.4 200 shekels is approximately 5 pounds or 2.3 kilograms of silver. and gave them to the silversmith, and he made it into a carved image and a molten image, and they were in the house of Micah. And the man Micah had a shrine of gods, and he made an ephod and teraphim, and he filled the hand of one17.5 That is, he ordained one; also in verse 12 of his sons, and he was to him for a priest. In those days there was no king in Israel; each man did the right in his own eyes. And there was a young man from Bethlehem in Judah, from the family of Judah, and he was a Levite, and he was staying there. And the man departed from the city, from Bethlehem in Judah, to stay wherever he could find, and he came to the hill country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, as he made his journey. And Micah said to him, “From where have you come?” And he said to him, “I am a Levite from Bethlehem in Judah, and I am going to sojourn where I do find.” And Micah said to him, “Dwell with me, and be to me a father and a priest, and I will give to you ten shekels of silver17.10 10 shekels is approximately 4 ounces or 114 grams of silver. for the days, and a suit of clothes, and your sustenance.” And the Levite went in. And the Levite was willing to dwell with the man, and the young man became to him like one of his sons. And Micah filled the hand of the Levite, and the young man was to him for a priest, and he was in the house of Micah. And Micah said, “Now I know that YHWH will be good to me, since a Levite has become a priest to me.” The Danites Settle in Laish In those days there was no king in Israel, and in those days the tribe of the Danite was seeking for itself an inheritance to dwell in, for it had not fallen to them until that day in the midst of the tribes of Israel by inheritance. and the sons of Dan sent from their family five men from their territory, men of valor from Zorah and Eshtaol, to spy out the land and search it. And they said to them, “Go, search the land.” And they went to the hill country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, and they lodged there. While they were with the house of Micah, they recognized the voice of the young man, the Levite, and they turned aside there and said to him, “Who brought you here? And what are you doing in this place? And why are you here?” And he said to them, “This and like this Micah has done for me. And he has hired me, and I have become unto him priest.” And they said to him, “Inquire, please, of God, that we may know whether the journey will prosper on which we are going.” And the priest said to them, “Go in peace. Before YHWH is your⁺ way in which you are going.” And the five men departed and went to Laish, and they saw the people who were in its midst, dwelling securely, in the manner of the Sidonians, quiet and secure, and nothing was lacking in the land in anything, possessing restraint, and they were far off from the Sidonians, and were no ties to them with man. And they came back to their brothers at Zorah and Eshtaol, and their brothers said to them, “What do you⁺ say?” And they said, “Arise, and let us go up against them, for we have seen the land, and behold, it is very good. And you⁺ are keeping silent? Do not hesitate to go, to enter to possess the land. When you⁺ enter, you⁺ will come to a people unsuspecting, and the land is large on both hands, for God has given it into your⁺ hands, a place that is not lacking of anything that is on the earth.” And went from there of the family of the Danite from Zorah and Eshtaol six hundred men girded with weapons of war. And they went up and encamped at Kiriath-jearim in Judah. Upon thus they call that place Mahaneh-dan18.12 Mahaneh-dan means camp of Dan. to this day. Behold, it is behind Kiriath-jearim. And they passed from there to the hill country of Ephraim and came to the house of Micah. The Danites Take Micah’s Idols And the five men who had gone to spy out the country of Laish answered and said to their brothers, “Do you⁺ know that there is in these houses an ephod, and teraphim, and a carved image, and a molten image? And now, consider what you⁺ should do.” And they turned aside there and came to the house of the young man, the Levite, to the house of Micah, and they asked of his welfare. And six hundred men armed with their weapons of war, who were of the sons of Dan, stood at the entrance of the gate, and the five men who had gone to spy out the land went up. Having entered there, they took the carved image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image. And the priest stood at the entrance of the gate, and six hundred men girded with weapons of war. And these entered the house of Micah and took the carved image, the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image. And the priest said to them, “What are you⁺ doing?” And they said to him, “Be quiet, put your hand over your mouth, and come with us, and be to us a father and a priest. Is it better for you to be a priest to the house of one man, or for you to be a priest to a tribe and to a family in Israel?” And the heart of the priest was glad, and he took the ephod, and the teraphim, and the carved image, and took his place among the people. And they turned and departed, and they put the little ones and the livestock and the goods before their faces. They were far off from the house of Micah, and the men who were in the houses that were near the house of Micah gathered together, and they overtook the sons of Dan. And they called out to the sons of Dan, and they turned around and said to Micah, “What ails you that you have gathered such a company?” And he said, “My gods that I made you⁺ have taken, and the priest, and you⁺ have gone away. And what more is unto me? And what is this you⁺ say to me: ‘What ails you?’” And the sons of Dan said to him, “Do not let your voice be heard among us, lest men angry in soul fall upon you⁺, and you lose your life and the lives of your house.” And the sons of Dan went their way. And Micah saw that they were stronger than he, and he turned and went back to his house. And they took that which Micah had made and the priest who had belonged to him, and they came to Laish, to a people quiet and unsuspecting, and they struck them with the mouth of the sword, and they burned the city with the fire. And there was no rescuer, because it was far from Sidon, and they had no ties with anyone. And it was in the valley that belongs to Beth-rehob. And they rebuilt the city and dwelt there. And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father who was born to Israel. But Laish was the name of the city formerly. And the sons of Dan set up for themselves the carved image. And Jonathan son of Gershom son of Moses18.30 Some Hebrew and LXX manuscripts and Vulgate; other Hebrew and LXX manuscripts son of Manasseh—he and his sons were priests to the tribe of the Danite until the day of the captivity of the land. And they set up for themselves the carved image from Micah, which he had made, all the days of the house of God being in Shiloh. The Crime of the Benjamites (Genesis 19:1–11) And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite staying in the sides of the hill country of Ephraim, and He took for himself a woman, a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah. And his concubine committed prostitution against him19.2 LXX became angry with him and went away from him to the house of her father at Bethlehem in Judah. And she was there days—four months. And her husband arose and went after her to speak to her kindly and bring her back, and his young man was with him, and a couple of donkeys. And she brought him into the house of her father, and the father of the young woman saw him, and he was glad to meet him. And his father-in-law prevailed upon him, the father of the young woman, and he stayed with him three days, and they ate and drank and lodged there. And it came to pass on the fourth day that they arose early in the morning, and he stood to depart. And the father of the young woman said to his son-in-law, “Refresh your heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward go your⁺ way.” And they sat down and ate, the two of them together, and they drank. And the father of the young woman said to the man, “Be content, please, and lodge, and let your heart be merry.” And the man stood to depart, and his father-in-law urged him, and again he lodged there. And he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart. And the father of the young woman said, “Refresh, please, Your heart.” And they delayed until the stretching of the day, and the two of them ate. And the man stood to depart, he and his concubine and his servant, and his father-in-law, the father of the young woman, said to him, “Behold, now the day is drawing toward evening. Spend the night, please. Behold, is coming to an end the day. Lodge here, that your heart may be merry, and go early tomorrow your⁺ way, so that you may get home.” The man was not willing to spend that night. And he rose and departed, and came to opposite Jebus (that is, Jerusalem), and with him were the two donkeys saddled, and his concubine was with him. They were near Jebus, and the day had gone down greatly. And the servant said to his master, “Come, please, and let us turn aside into this city of the Jebusite, and lodge in it.” And his master said to him, “We will not turn aside into a city of foreigners who are not of the sons of Israel; and we will go on to Gibeah.” And he said to his servant, “Come, and let us draw near to one of these places, and we shall lodge in Gibeah or in Ramah.” And they passed by and went their way. And the sun went down on them near Gibeah, which belongs to Benjamin. And they turned aside there to go in to lodge in Gibeah. And he went in and he sat down in the open square of the city, for no one would take them into the house to spend the night. And behold, an old man came in from his work in the field at the evening. And the man was from the mountains of Ephraim, and he was staying in Gibeah, and the men of the place were Benjamites. And he raised his eyes, and he saw the traveler in the open square of the city, and the old man said, “Where are you going, and from where do you come?” And he said to him, “We are passing from Bethlehem in Judah toward the far reaches of the hill country of Ephraim. I am from there, and I went to Bethlehem in Judah. I am going to the house of YHWH,19.18 LXX I am going to my home; see verse 29. and there is no man who will take me into his house. And straw and fodder there is for our donkeys, and bread and wine there is for myself, and for your maidservant, and for the young man with your servant. There is no lack of anything.” And the old man said, “Peace be with you. Only all your needs is on me, only do not spend the night in the open square.” And he brought him into his house, and gave fodder to the donkeys, and they washed their feet and ate and drank. They were enjoying themselves, and suddenly men of the city, certain perverted men, surrounded the house and beat on the door, and they spoke to the old man, the master of the house, saying, “Bring out the man who came to your house, that we may know him.” And the man, the master of the house, went out to them and said to them, “No, my brothers, do not act wickedly, please, not after that this man has come in my house. Do not commit this outrage. Behold, my daughter the virgin and his concubine, let me bring them out now, and you⁺ may humble them and do with them what is good in your⁺ eyes; and to this man do not this vile thing.” And the men would not listen to him. And the man took his concubine and brought her out to them outside. And they knew her and abused her all the night until the morning, and sent her away at the rising of the dawn. And the woman came as was dawning the day, and she fell down at the door of the house of the man where her master was, until the light. And her master arose in the morning and opened the doors of the house and went out to go his way, and there was the woman, his concubine, fallen at the door of the house, and her hands were on the threshold. And he said to her, “Get up, and let us be going.” And there was no answer. And the man lifted her onto the donkey, and the man got up and went to his place. And he entered into his house, and he took a knife and laid hold of his concubine, and divided her limb by limb into twelve pieces, and he sent her into all the territory of Israel. And so it was that all who saw it said, “Nothing has been done nor seen as this from the day that came up the sons of Israel from the land of Egypt until this day. Set you⁺ upon it, take counsel, and speak.” The Decree of the Assembly And all the sons of Israel came out, and the congregation gathered together as one man from Dan and to Beersheba, and from the land of Gilead, before YHWH at Mizpah. And the leaders of all the people, all the tribes of Israel, stationed themselves in the assembly of the people of God: Four hundred thousand soldiers, foot soldiers who drew the sword. And the sons of Benjamin heard that the sons of Israel had gone up to Mizpah, and the sons of Israel said, “Tell us, how did this wicked thing happen?” And the Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered and said, “Into Gibeah, which is to Benjamin, I and my concubine came to lodge. And arose against me the masters of Gibeah, and they surrounded the house against me at night. They intended to kill me, and instead my concubine they ravished, so that she died. And I took hold of my concubine and cut her in pieces and sent her throughout all the territory of the inheritance of Israel, because they had committed lewdness and outrage in Israel. Behold, all you⁺ sons of Israel, give for you⁺ a word and counsel here.” And all the people arose as one man, saying, “Not a man will go to his tent, nor will a man turn back to his house. And this is the thing that we will do to Gibeah, against it by lot. And we will take ten men of a hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and a hundred of a thousand, and a thousand of a myriad, to make provisions for the people, that they may repay when they come to Gibeah20.10 One Hebrew manuscript; most Hebrew manuscripts Geba, a variant of Gibeah in Benjamin, according to all the vileness that they have done in Israel.” And all the men of Israel were gathered against the city as one man united. And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribes of Benjamin, saying, “What is this wickedness that has occurred among you⁺? And now deliver up the men, the sons of worthlessness, who are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death and remove the evil from Israel.” And the Benjamite were not willing to listen to the voice of their brothers, the sons of Israel. And the sons of Benjamin gathered together from their cities to Gibeah to go out to battle against the sons of Israel. And the sons of Benjamin numbered at that time from their cities twenty-six thousand men who drew the sword, besides those dwelling in Gibeah, who numbered seven hundred select men. Among all this people were seven hundred select men, restricted of right hand, each of these slinging with a stone at a hair and not missing. And the men of Israel mobilized themselves, apart from Benjamin, four hundred thousand men who drew the sword, each of these a man of war. Civil War against Benjamin And they arose and went up to Bethel and inquired of God, and the sons of Israel said, “Who shall go up of us first into battle against the sons of Benjamin?” And YHWH said, “Judah first.” And the sons of Israel rose in the morning and encamped against Gibeah. And the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin, and the men of Israel arrayed themselves to fight at Gibeah. And the sons of Benjamin came out from Gibeah and they destroyed in Israel on that day two and twenty thousand men to the ground. And the people, the men of Israel, strengthened themselves and added to array the battle line at the place where they had arrayed on the first day. And the sons of Israel went up and wept before the face of YHWH until the evening, and they inquired of YHWH, saying, “Shall I add to draw near for the battle against the sons of Benjamin my brother?” And YHWH said, “Go up against him.” And the sons of Israel approached to the sons of Benjamin on the second day. And Benjamin went out against them from Gibeah on the second day, and they cut down from the sons of Israel another eighteen thousand men to the ground, all these drawing the sword. And all the sons of Israel went up, and all the people, and they came to Bethel and wept. And they sat there before the face of YHWH and fasted that day until the evening, and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the face of YHWH. And the sons of Israel inquired of YHWH, and was there the ark of the covenant of God in those days. And Phinehas son of Eleazar son of Aaron stood before it in those days, saying, “Shall I add again to go out into battle against the sons of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease?” And YHWH said, “Go up, for tomorrow I will give them into your hand.” And Israel set those lying in wait to Gibeah all around. And the sons of Israel went up against the sons of Benjamin on the third day, and they arrayed against Gibeah as time upon time. And the sons of Benjamin went out against the people, and they were drawn away from the city. And they began to strike down some of the people and kill some, as time upon time, in the highways, of which one goes up to Bethel and one to Gibeah, and in the field, about thirty men of Israel. And the sons of Benjamin said, “They are struck down before us as at first.” And the sons of Israel said, “Let us flee and draw them away from the city to the highways.” And all the men of Israel rose from their place, and arrayed at Baal-tamar, and those lying in wait of Israel burst forth from their place on the west of Gibeah.20.33 Some LXX manuscripts and Vulgate; Hebrew burst forth from their place in Maareh-geba or burst forth from their place into the open space of Geba And came over against Gibeah ten thousand select men from all Israel, and the battle was fierce. And they did not know that evil was upon them. And YHWH defeated Benjamin before the face of Israel, and the sons of Israel destroyed in Benjamin that day twenty-five thousand and a hundred men, all these drawing the sword. And the sons of Benjamin saw that they were defeated. And the men of Israel had given ground to Benjamin, because they trusted in those lying in wait whom they had set against Gibeah. And those lying in wait quickly rushed upon Gibeah, and those lying in wait spread out and struck all the city with the mouth of the sword. And there was a signal between the men of Israel and between those lying in wait, that they would make a great cloud of smoke rise up from the city, and the men of Israel would turn in the battle. And Benjamin had begun to strike and kill of the men of Israel—about thirty men—for they said, “Surely he is utterly struck before us, as in the first battle.” And the cloud began to rise from the city in a column of smoke, and Benjamin looked behind them, and there was going up all the city to the heavens. And the men of Israel turned back, and the men of Benjamin were alarmed, for they saw that disaster had come upon them. And they turned before the faces of the men of Israel in the direction of the wilderness, and the battle overtook him, and whoever came out of the cities they destroyed him in the midst of him. They surrounded Benjamin, chased them, and easily trampled them down as far as the front of Gibeah toward the rising of the sun. And fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men, all of these men of valor. And they turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, and they gleaned on the highways five thousand men, and they pursued them relentlessly up to Gidom, and they struck two thousand of their men. And all who fell of Benjamin on that day were twenty-five thousand men who drew the sword, all of these men of valor. And turned and fled into the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon six hundred men, and they stayed at the rock of Rimmon four months. And the men of Israel turned back against the sons of Benjamin, and they struck them with the mouth of the sword from every city—men even to beasts—even to all they found; also to all the cities that are found they set fire. Wives for the Benjamites And the men of Israel had sworn an oath at Mizpah, saying, “Not a man of us shall give his daughter to Benjamin as a wife.” And the people came to Bethel and remained there until the evening before the face of God, and they lifted up their voices and wept, bitterly weeping, and they said, “Why, O YHWH, God of Israel, has this come to pass in Israel, to be lacking today in Israel one tribe?” And it came to pass on the next morning that the people rose early and built there an altar, and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. And the sons of Israel said, “Who is he that did not come up with the assembly among all the tribes of Israel to YHWH?” For a great oath had been concerning not coming up to YHWH at Mizpah, saying, “He must surely be put to death.” And the sons of Israel grieved for Benjamin their brother, and they said, “Today is cut off one tribe from Israel. What shall we do for those who remain for wives, since we have sworn by YHWH that we will not give to them our daughters as wives?” And they said, “Who is one from the tribes of Israel who did not come up to YHWH to Mizpah?” And behold, no man had come to the camp from Jabesh-gilead to the assembly. And the people were numbered, and behold, there was not a man of those dwelling in Jabesh-gilead. And the congregation sent out there twelve thousand of their most valiant men, and they commanded them, saying, “Go and strike the dwellers in Jabesh-gilead with the mouth of the sword, and the women and the children. And this is the thing that you⁺ shall do: Every male and every woman knowing the lying of a male you⁺ shall devote to destruction.21.11 Forms of the Hebrew cherem refer to the giving over of things or persons to YHWH, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering.” And they found among those dwelling in Jabesh-gilead four hundred young virgins who had not known a man by the lying with a male, and they brought them in to the camp at Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan. And all the congregation sent and spoke to the sons of Benjamin who were at the rock of Rimmon, and they proclaimed to them peace. And Benjamin came back at that time, and they gave to them the women whom they had saved alive of the women from Jabesh-gilead, and they had found not for them enough. And the people grieved for Benjamin, because YHWH had made a void in the tribes of Israel. And the elders of the congregation said, “What shall we do for those who remain for wives, since the women have been destroyed out of Benjamin?” And they said, “An inheritance for the survivors of Benjamin, that a tribe will not be blotted out from Israel. And we are not able to give to them wives from our daughters.” For the sons of Israel had sworn an oath, saying, “Cursed be the one who gives a wife to Benjamin.” And they said, “Behold, there is a feast of YHWH in Shiloh from days to days, which is north of Bethel at the rising of the sun by the highway that goes up from Bethel to Shechem, and from the south of Lebonah.” And they commanded the sons of Benjamin, saying, “Go and lie in wait in the vineyards. And watch, and behold, if the daughters of Shiloh come out to perform their dances, then you⁺ shall come out from the vineyards and you⁺ shall catch for yourselves, every man, a wife from the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin. And it shall be, when their fathers or their brothers come to plead to us, that we will say to them, ‘Be kind to them, since we did not take to each man a wife in the war, for you⁺—you⁺ not have given to them at this time—that you⁺ should be guilty.’” And the sons of Benjamin did so, and they took enough wives for their number from those who danced, whom they caught. And they went and returned to their inheritance, and they rebuilt the cities and dwelt in them. And the sons of Israel departed from there at that time, every man to his tribe and to his family, and every man went out from there to his inheritance. In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did right in his own eyes.