it on the second day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all
the souls that were therein, according to all that he had done to
Libnah.
10:33 Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish; and Joshua smote
him and his people, until he had left him none remaining.
10:34 And from Lachish Joshua passed unto Eglon, and all Israel with
him; and they encamped against it, and fought against it:
10:35 And they took it on that day, and smote it with the edge of the
sword, and all the souls that were therein he utterly destroyed that
day, according to all that he had done to Lachish.
10:36 And Joshua went up from Eglon, and all Israel with him, unto
Hebron; and they fought against it:
10:37 And they took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the
king thereof, and all the cities thereof, and all the souls that were
therein; he left none remaining, according to all that he had done to
Eglon; but destroyed it utterly, and all the souls that were therein.
10:38 And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to Debir; and fought
against it:
10:39 And he took it, and the king thereof, and all the cities thereof;
and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed
all the souls that were therein; he left none remaining: as he had done
to Hebron, so he did to Debir, and to the king thereof; as he had done
also to Libnah, and to her king.
10:40 So Joshua smote all the country of the hills, and of the south,
and of the vale, and of the springs, and all their kings: he left none
remaining, but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the LORD God of
Israel commanded.
10:41 And Joshua smote them from Kadeshbarnea even unto Gaza, and all
the country of Goshen, even unto Gibeon.
10:42 And all these kings and their land did Joshua take at one time,
because the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel.
10:43 And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to
Gilgal.
11:1 And it came to pass, when Jabin king of Hazor had heard those
things, that he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of Shimron,
and to the king of Achshaph,
11:2 And to the kings that were on the north of the mountains, and of
the plains south of Chinneroth, and in the valley, and in the borders of
Dor on the west,
11:3 And to the Canaanite on the east and on the west, and to the
Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite in the
mountains, and to the Hivite under Hermon in the land of Mizpeh.
11:4 And they went out, they and all their hosts with them, much people,
even as the sand that is upon the sea shore in multitude, with horses
and chariots very many.
11:5 And when all these kings were met together, they came and pitched
together at the waters of Merom, to fight against Israel.
11:6 And the LORD said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them: for
to morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before
Israel: thou shalt hough their horses, and burn their chariots with
fire.
11:7 So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by
the waters of Merom suddenly; and they fell upon them.
11:8 And the LORD delivered them into the hand of Israel, who smote
them, and chased them unto great Zidon, and unto Misrephothmaim, and
unto the valley of Mizpeh eastward; and they smote them, until they left
them none remaining.
11:9 And Joshua did unto them as the LORD bade him: he houghed their
horses, and burnt their chariots with fire.
11:10 And Joshua at that time turned back, and took Hazor, and smote the
king thereof with the sword: for Hazor beforetime was the head of all
those kingdoms.
11:11 And they smote all the souls that were therein with the edge of
the sword, utterly destroying them: there was not any left to breathe:
and he burnt Hazor with fire.
11:12 And all the cities of those kings, and all the kings of them, did
Joshua take, and smote them with the edge of the sword, and he utterly
destroyed them, as Moses the servant of the LORD commanded.
11:13 But as for the cities that stood still in their strength, Israel
burned none of them, save Hazor only; that did Joshua burn.
11:14 And all the spoil of these cities, and the cattle, the children of
Israel took for a prey unto themselves; but every man they smote with
the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them, neither left they
any to breathe.
11:15 As the LORD commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command
Joshua, and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that the LORD
commanded Moses.
11:16 So Joshua took all that land, the hills, and all the south
country, and all the land of Goshen, and the valley, and the plain, and
the mountain of Israel, and the valley of the same;
11:17 Even from the mount Halak, that goeth up to Seir, even unto
Baalgad in the valley of Lebanon under mount Hermon: and all their kings
he took, and smote them, and slew them.
11:18 Joshua made war a long time with all those kings.
11:19 There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel,
save the Hivites the inhabitants of Gibeon: all other they took in
battle.
11:20 For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, that they should
come against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them utterly, and
that they might have no favour, but that he might destroy them, as the
LORD commanded Moses.
11:21 And at that time came Joshua, and cut off the Anakims from the
mountains, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the
mountains of Judah, and from all the mountains of Israel: Joshua
destroyed them utterly with their cities.
11:22 There was none of the Anakims left in the land of the children of
Israel: only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, there remained.
11:23 So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD said
unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according
to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war.
12:1 Now these are the kings of the land, which the children of Israel
smote, and possessed their land on the other side Jordan toward the
rising of the sun, from the river Arnon unto mount Hermon, and all the
plain on the east:
12:2 Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, and ruled from
Aroer, which is upon the bank of the river Arnon, and from the middle of
the river, and from half Gilead, even unto the river Jabbok, which is
the border of the children of Ammon;
12:3 And from the plain to the sea of Chinneroth on the east, and unto
the sea of the plain, even the salt sea on the east, the way to
Bethjeshimoth; and from the south, under Ashdothpisgah:
12:4 And the coast of Og king of Bashan, which was of the remnant of the
giants, that dwelt at Ashtaroth and at Edrei,
12:5 And reigned in mount Hermon, and in Salcah, and in all Bashan, unto
the border of the Geshurites and the Maachathites, and half Gilead, the
border of Sihon king of Heshbon.
12:6 Them did Moses the servant of the LORD and the children of Israel
smite: and Moses the servant of the LORD gave it for a possession unto
the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh.
12:7 And these are the kings of the country which Joshua and the
children of Israel smote on this side Jordan on the west, from Baalgad
in the valley of Lebanon even unto the mount Halak, that goeth up to
Seir; which Joshua gave unto the tribes of Israel for a possession
according to their divisions;
12:8 In the mountains, and in the valleys, and in the plains, and in the
springs, and in the wilderness, and in the south country; the Hittites,
the Amorites, and the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the
Jebusites:
12:9 The king of Jericho, one; the king of Ai, which is beside Bethel,
one;
12:10 The king of Jerusalem, one; the king of Hebron, one;
12:11 The king of Jarmuth, one; the king of Lachish, one;
12:12 The king of Eglon, one; the king of Gezer, one;
12:13 The king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one;
12:14 The king of Hormah, one; the king of Arad, one;
12:15 The king of Libnah, one; the king of Adullam, one;
12:16 The king of Makkedah, one; the king of Bethel, one;
12:17 The king of Tappuah, one; the king of Hepher, one;
12:18 The king of Aphek, one; the king of Lasharon, one;
12:19 The king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one;
12:20 The king of Shimronmeron, one; the king of Achshaph, one;
12:21 The king of Taanach, one; the king of Megiddo, one;
12:22 The king of Kedesh, one; the king of Jokneam of Carmel, one;
12:23 The king of Dor in the coast of Dor, one; the king of the nations
of Gilgal, one;
12:24 The king of Tirzah, one: all the kings thirty and one.
13:1 Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the LORD said unto
him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very
much land to be possessed.
13:2 This is the land that yet remaineth: all the borders of the
Philistines, and all Geshuri,
13:3 From Sihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron
northward, which is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the
Philistines; the Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, the
Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avites:
13:4 From the south, all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that is
beside the Sidonians unto Aphek, to the borders of the Amorites:
13:5 And the land of the Giblites, and all Lebanon, toward the
sunrising, from Baalgad under mount Hermon unto the entering into
Hamath.
13:6 All the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon unto
Misrephothmaim, and all the Sidonians, them will I drive out from before
the children of Israel: only divide thou it by lot unto the Israelites
for an inheritance, as I have commanded thee.
13:7 Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance unto the nine
tribes, and the half tribe of Manasseh,
13:8 With whom the Reubenites and the Gadites have received their
inheritance, which Moses gave them, beyond Jordan eastward, even as
Moses the servant of the LORD gave them;
13:9 From Aroer, that is upon the bank of the river Arnon, and the city
that is in the midst of the river, and all the plain of Medeba unto
Dibon;
13:10 And all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, which reigned in
Heshbon, unto the border of the children of Ammon;
13:11 And Gilead, and the border of the Geshurites and Maachathites, and
all mount Hermon, and all Bashan unto Salcah;
13:12 All the kingdom of Og in Bashan, which reigned in Ashtaroth and in
Edrei, who remained of the remnant of the giants: for these did Moses
smite, and cast them out.
13:13 Nevertheless the children of Israel expelled not the Geshurites,
nor the Maachathites: but the Geshurites and the Maachathites dwell
among the Israelites until this day.
13:14 Only unto the tribes of Levi he gave none inheritance; the
sacrifices of the LORD God of Israel made by fire are their inheritance,
as he said unto them.
13:15 And Moses gave unto the tribe of the children of Reuben
inheritance according to their families.
13:16 And their coast was from Aroer, that is on the bank of the river
Arnon, and the city that is in the midst of the river, and all the plain
by Medeba;
13:17 Heshbon, and all her cities that are in the plain; Dibon, and
Bamothbaal, and Bethbaalmeon,
13:18 And Jahaza, and Kedemoth, and Mephaath,
13:19 And Kirjathaim, and Sibmah, and Zarethshahar in the mount of the
valley,
13:20 And Bethpeor, and Ashdothpisgah, and Bethjeshimoth,
13:21 And all the cities of the plain, and all the kingdom of Sihon king
of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses smote with the
princes of Midian, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, which
were dukes of Sihon, dwelling in the country.
13:22 Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer, did the children of
Israel slay with the sword among them that were slain by them.
13:23 And the border of the children of Reuben was Jordan, and the
border thereof. This was the inheritance of the children of Reuben after
their families, the cities and the villages thereof.
13:24 And Moses gave inheritance unto the tribe of Gad, even unto the
children of Gad according to their families.
13:25 And their coast was Jazer, and all the cities of Gilead, and half
the land of the children of Ammon, unto Aroer that is before Rabbah;
13:26 And from Heshbon unto Ramathmizpeh, and Betonim; and from Mahanaim
unto the border of Debir;
13:27 And in the valley, Betharam, and Bethnimrah, and Succoth, and
Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon, Jordan and his
border, even unto the edge of the sea of Chinnereth on the other side
Jordan eastward.
13:28 This is the inheritance of the children of Gad after their
families, the cities, and their villages.
13:29 And Moses gave inheritance unto the half tribe of Manasseh: and
this was the possession of the half tribe of the children of Manasseh by
their families.
13:30 And their coast was from Mahanaim, all Bashan, all the kingdom of
Og king of Bashan, and all the towns of Jair, which are in Bashan,
threescore cities:
13:31 And half Gilead, and Ashtaroth, and Edrei, cities of the kingdom
of Og in Bashan, were pertaining unto the children of Machir the son of
Manasseh, even to the one half of the children of Machir by their
families.
13:32 These are the countries which Moses did distribute for inheritance
in the plains of Moab, on the other side Jordan, by Jericho, eastward.
13:33 But unto the tribe of Levi Moses gave not any inheritance: the
LORD God of Israel was their inheritance, as he said unto them.
14:1 And these are the countries which the children of Israel inherited
in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of
Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of
Israel, distributed for inheritance to them.
14:2 By lot was their inheritance, as the LORD commanded by the hand of
Moses, for the nine tribes, and for the half tribe.
14:3 For Moses had given the inheritance of two tribes and an half tribe
on the other side Jordan: but unto the Levites he gave none inheritance
among them.
14:4 For the children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim:
therefore they gave no part unto the Levites in the land, save cities to
dwell in, with their suburbs for their cattle and for their substance.
14:5 As the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did, and
they divided the land.
14:6 Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb
the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing
that the LORD said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in
Kadeshbarnea.
14:7 Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me
from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as
it was in mine heart.
14:8 Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the
people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God.
14:9 And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy
feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children's for
ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God.
14:10 And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these
forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses,
while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I
am this day fourscore and five years old.
14:11 As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent
me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both
to go out, and to come in.
14:12 Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in
that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and
that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with
me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said.
14:13 And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh
Hebron for an inheritance.
14:14 Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of
Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly followed
the LORD God of Israel.
14:15 And the name of Hebron before was Kirjatharba; which Arba was a
great man among the Anakims. And the land had rest from war.
15:1 This then was the lot of the tribe of the children of Judah by
their families; even to the border of Edom the wilderness of Zin
southward was the uttermost part of the south coast.
15:2 And their south border was from the shore of the salt sea, from the
bay that looketh southward:
15:3 And it went out to the south side to Maalehacrabbim, and passed
along to Zin, and ascended up on the south side unto Kadeshbarnea, and
passed along to Hezron, and went up to Adar, and fetched a compass to
Karkaa:
15:4 From thence it passed toward Azmon, and went out unto the river of
Egypt; and the goings out of that coast were at the sea: this shall be
your south coast.
15:5 And the east border was the salt sea, even unto the end of Jordan.
And their border in the north quarter was from the bay of the sea at the
uttermost part of Jordan:
15:6 And the border went up to Bethhogla, and passed along by the north
of Betharabah; and the border went up to the stone of Bohan the son of
Reuben:
15:7 And the border went up toward Debir from the valley of Achor, and
so northward, looking toward Gilgal, that is before the going up to
Adummim, which is on the south side of the river: and the border passed
toward the waters of Enshemesh, and the goings out thereof were at
Enrogel:
15:8 And the border went up by the valley of the son of Hinnom unto the
south side of the Jebusite; the same is Jerusalem: and the border went
up to the top of the mountain that lieth before the valley of Hinnom
westward, which is at the end of the valley of the giants northward:
15:9 And the border was drawn from the top of the hill unto the fountain
of the water of Nephtoah, and went out to the cities of mount Ephron;
and the border was drawn to Baalah, which is Kirjathjearim:
15:10 And the border compassed from Baalah westward unto mount Seir, and
passed along unto the side of mount Jearim, which is Chesalon, on the
north side, and went down to Bethshemesh, and passed on to Timnah:
15:11 And the border went out unto the side of Ekron northward: and the
border was drawn to Shicron, and passed along to mount Baalah, and went
out unto Jabneel; and the goings out of the border were at the sea.
15:12 And the west border was to the great sea, and the coast thereof.
This is the coast of the children of Judah round about according to
their families.
15:13 And unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh he gave a part among the
children of Judah, according to the commandment of the LORD to Joshua,
even the city of Arba the father of Anak, which city is Hebron.
15:14 And Caleb drove thence the three sons of Anak, Sheshai, and
Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak.
15:15 And he went up thence to the inhabitants of Debir: and the name of
Debir before was Kirjathsepher.
15:16 And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjathsepher, and taketh it, to
him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.
15:17 And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it: and
he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.
15:18 And it came to pass, as she came unto him, that she moved him to
ask of her father a field: and she lighted off her ass; and Caleb said
unto her, What wouldest thou?
15:19 Who answered, Give me a blessing; for thou hast given me a south
land; give me also springs of water. And he gave her the upper springs,
and the nether springs.
15:20 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Judah
according to their families.
15:21 And the uttermost cities of the tribe of the children of Judah
toward the coast of Edom southward were Kabzeel, and Eder, and Jagur,
15:22 And Kinah, and Dimonah, and Adadah,
15:23 And Kedesh, and Hazor, and Ithnan,
15:24 Ziph, and Telem, and Bealoth,
15:25 And Hazor, Hadattah, and Kerioth, and Hezron, which is Hazor,
15:26 Amam, and Shema, and Moladah,
15:27 And Hazargaddah, and Heshmon, and Bethpalet,
15:28 And Hazarshual, and Beersheba, and Bizjothjah,
15:29 Baalah, and Iim, and Azem,
15:30 And Eltolad, and Chesil, and Hormah,
15:31 And Ziklag, and Madmannah, and Sansannah,
15:32 And Lebaoth, and Shilhim, and Ain, and Rimmon: all the cities are
twenty and nine, with their villages:
15:33 And in the valley, Eshtaol, and Zoreah, and Ashnah,
15:34 And Zanoah, and Engannim, Tappuah, and Enam,
15:35 Jarmuth, and Adullam, Socoh, and Azekah,
15:36 And Sharaim, and Adithaim, and Gederah, and Gederothaim; fourteen
cities with their villages:
15:37 Zenan, and Hadashah, and Migdalgad,
15:38 And Dilean, and Mizpeh, and Joktheel,
15:39 Lachish, and Bozkath, and Eglon,
15:40 And Cabbon, and Lahmam, and Kithlish,
15:41 And Gederoth, Bethdagon, and Naamah, and Makkedah; sixteen cities
with their villages:
15:42 Libnah, and Ether, and Ashan,
15:43 And Jiphtah, and Ashnah, and Nezib,
15:44 And Keilah, and Achzib, and Mareshah; nine cities with their
villages:
15:45 Ekron, with her towns and her villages:
15:46 From Ekron even unto the sea, all that lay near Ashdod, with their
villages:
15:47 Ashdod with her towns and her villages, Gaza with her towns and
her villages, unto the river of Egypt, and the great sea, and the border
thereof:
15:48 And in the mountains, Shamir, and Jattir, and Socoh,
15:49 And Dannah, and Kirjathsannah, which is Debir,
15:50 And Anab, and Eshtemoh, and Anim,
15:51 And Goshen, and Holon, and Giloh; eleven cities with their
villages:
15:52 Arab, and Dumah, and Eshean,
15:53 And Janum, and Bethtappuah, and Aphekah,
15:54 And Humtah, and Kirjatharba, which is Hebron, and Zior; nine
cities with their villages:
15:55 Maon, Carmel, and Ziph, and Juttah,
15:56 And Jezreel, and Jokdeam, and Zanoah,
15:57 Cain, Gibeah, and Timnah; ten cities with their villages:
15:58 Halhul, Bethzur, and Gedor,
15:59 And Maarath, and Bethanoth, and Eltekon; six cities with their
villages:
15:60 Kirjathbaal, which is Kirjathjearim, and Rabbah; two cities with
their villages:
15:61 In the wilderness, Betharabah, Middin, and Secacah,
15:62 And Nibshan, and the city of Salt, and Engedi; six cities with
their villages.
15:63 As for the Jebusites the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of
Judah could not drive them out; but the Jebusites dwell with the
children of Judah at Jerusalem unto this day.
16:1 And the lot of the children of Joseph fell from Jordan by Jericho,
unto the water of Jericho on the east, to the wilderness that goeth up
from Jericho throughout mount Bethel,
16:2 And goeth out from Bethel to Luz, and passeth along unto the
borders of Archi to Ataroth,
16:3 And goeth down westward to the coast of Japhleti, unto the coast of
Bethhoron the nether, and to Gezer; and the goings out thereof are at
the sea.
16:4 So the children of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, took their
inheritance.
16:5 And the border of the children of Ephraim according to their
families was thus: even the border of their inheritance on the east side
was Atarothaddar, unto Bethhoron the upper;
16:6 And the border went out toward the sea to Michmethah on the north
side; and the border went about eastward unto Taanathshiloh, and passed
by it on the east to Janohah;
16:7 And it went down from Janohah to Ataroth, and to Naarath, and came
to Jericho, and went out at Jordan.
16:8 The border went out from Tappuah westward unto the river Kanah; and
the goings out thereof were at the sea. This is the inheritance of the
tribe of the children of Ephraim by their families.
16:9 And the separate cities for the children of Ephraim were among the
inheritance of the children of Manasseh, all the cities with their
villages.
16:10 And they drave not out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer: but the
Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites unto this day, and serve under
tribute.
17:1 There was also a lot for the tribe of Manasseh; for he was the
firstborn of Joseph; to wit, for Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the
father of Gilead: because he was a man of war, therefore he had Gilead
and Bashan.
17:2 There was also a lot for the rest of the children of Manasseh by
their families; for the children of Abiezer, and for the children of
Helek, and for the children of Asriel, and for the children of Shechem,
and for the children of Hepher, and for the children of Shemida: these
were the male children of Manasseh the son of Joseph by their families.
17:3 But Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of
Machir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons, but daughters: and these are
the names of his daughters, Mahlah, and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and
Tirzah.
17:4 And they came near before Eleazar the priest, and before Joshua the
son of Nun, and before the princes, saying, The LORD commanded Moses to
give us an inheritance among our brethren. Therefore according to the
commandment of the LORD he gave them an inheritance among the brethren
of their father.
17:5 And there fell ten portions to Manasseh, beside the land of Gilead
and Bashan, which were on the other side Jordan;
17:6 Because the daughters of Manasseh had an inheritance among his
sons: and the rest of Manasseh's sons had the land of Gilead.
17:7 And the coast of Manasseh was from Asher to Michmethah, that lieth
before Shechem; and the border went along on the right hand unto the
inhabitants of Entappuah.
17:8 Now Manasseh had the land of Tappuah: but Tappuah on the border of
Manasseh belonged to the children of Ephraim;
17:9 And the coast descended unto the river Kanah, southward of the
river: these cities of Ephraim are among the cities of Manasseh: the
coast of Manasseh also was on the north side of the river, and the
outgoings of it were at the sea:
17:10 Southward it was Ephraim's, and northward it was Manasseh's, and
the sea is his border; and they met together in Asher on the north, and
in Issachar on the east.
17:11 And Manasseh had in Issachar and in Asher Bethshean and her towns,
and Ibleam and her towns, and the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, and
the inhabitants of Endor and her towns, and the inhabitants of Taanach
and her towns, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns, even three
countries.
17:12 Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants
of those cities; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.
17:13 Yet it came to pass, when the children of Israel were waxen
strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, but did not utterly
drive them out.
17:14 And the children of Joseph spake unto Joshua, saying, Why hast
thou given me but one lot and one portion to inherit, seeing I am a
great people, forasmuch as the LORD hath blessed me hitherto?
17:15 And Joshua answered them, If thou be a great people, then get thee
up to the wood country, and cut down for thyself there in the land of
the Perizzites and of the giants, if mount Ephraim be too narrow for
thee.
17:16 And the children of Joseph said, The hill is not enough for us:
and all the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have
chariots of iron, both they who are of Bethshean and her towns, and they
who are of the valley of Jezreel.
17:17 And Joshua spake unto the house of Joseph, even to Ephraim and to
Manasseh, saying, Thou art a great people, and hast great power: thou
shalt not have one lot only:
17:18 But the mountain shall be thine; for it is a wood, and thou shalt
cut it down: and the outgoings of it shall be thine: for thou shalt
drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though
they be strong.
18:1 And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled
together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there.
And the land was subdued before them.
18:2 And there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes, which
had not yet received their inheritance.
18:3 And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long are ye slack
to go to possess the land, which the LORD God of your fathers hath given
you?
18:4 Give out from among you three men for each tribe: and I will send
them, and they shall rise, and go through the land, and describe it
according to the inheritance of them; and they shall come again to me.
18:5 And they shall divide it into seven parts: Judah shall abide in
their coast on the south, and the house of Joseph shall abide in their
coasts on the north.
18:6 Ye shall therefore describe the land into seven parts, and bring
the description hither to me, that I may cast lots for you here before
the LORD our God.
18:7 But the Levites have no part among you; for the priesthood of the
LORD is their inheritance: and Gad, and Reuben, and half the tribe of
Manasseh, have received their inheritance beyond Jordan on the east,
which Moses the servant of the LORD gave them.
18:8 And the men arose, and went away: and Joshua charged them that went
to describe the land, saying, Go and walk through the land, and describe
it, and come again to me, that I may here cast lots for you before the
LORD in Shiloh.
18:9 And the men went and passed through the land, and described it by
cities into seven parts in a book, and came again to Joshua to the host
at Shiloh.
18:10 And Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the LORD: and there
Joshua divided the land unto the children of Israel according to their
divisions.
18:11 And the lot of the tribe of the children of Benjamin came up
according to their families: and the coast of their lot came forth
between the children of Judah and the children of Joseph.
18:12 And their border on the north side was from Jordan; and the border
went up to the side of Jericho on the north side, and went up through
the mountains westward; and the goings out thereof were at the
wilderness of Bethaven.
18:13 And the border went over from thence toward Luz, to the side of
Luz, which is Bethel, southward; and the border descended to
Atarothadar, near the hill that lieth on the south side of the nether
Bethhoron.
18:14 And the border was drawn thence, and compassed the corner of the
sea southward, from the hill that lieth before Bethhoron southward; and
the goings out thereof were at Kirjathbaal, which is Kirjathjearim, a
city of the children of Judah: this was the west quarter.
18:15 And the south quarter was from the end of Kirjathjearim, and the
border went out on the west, and went out to the well of waters of
Nephtoah:
18:16 And the border came down to the end of the mountain that lieth
before the valley of the son of Hinnom, and which is in the valley of
the giants on the north, and descended to the valley of Hinnom, to the
side of Jebusi on the south, and descended to Enrogel,
18:17 And was drawn from the north, and went forth to Enshemesh, and
went forth toward Geliloth, which is over against the going up of
Adummim, and descended to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben,
18:18 And passed along toward the side over against Arabah northward,
and went down unto Arabah:
18:19 And the border passed along to the side of Bethhoglah northward:
and the outgoings of the border were at the north bay of the salt sea at
the south end of Jordan: this was the south coast.
18:20 And Jordan was the border of it on the east side. This was the
inheritance of the children of Benjamin, by the coasts thereof round
about, according to their families.
18:21 Now the cities of the tribe of the children of Benjamin according
to their families were Jericho, and Bethhoglah, and the valley of Keziz,
18:22 And Betharabah, and Zemaraim, and Bethel,
18:23 And Avim, and Pharah, and Ophrah,
18:24 And Chepharhaammonai, and Ophni, and Gaba; twelve cities with
their villages:
18:25 Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth,
18:26 And Mizpeh, and Chephirah, and Mozah,
18:27 And Rekem, and Irpeel, and Taralah,
18:28 And Zelah, Eleph, and Jebusi, which is Jerusalem, Gibeath, and
Kirjath; fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of
the children of Benjamin according to their families.
19:1 And the second lot came forth to Simeon, even for the tribe of the
children of Simeon according to their families: and their inheritance
was within the inheritance of the children of Judah.
19:2 And they had in their inheritance Beersheba, and Sheba, and
Moladah,
19:3 And Hazarshual, and Balah, and Azem,
19:4 And Eltolad, and Bethul, and Hormah,
19:5 And Ziklag, and Bethmarcaboth, and Hazarsusah,
19:6 And Bethlebaoth, and Sharuhen; thirteen cities and their villages:
19:7 Ain, Remmon, and Ether, and Ashan; four cities and their villages:
19:8 And all the villages that were round about these cities to
Baalathbeer, Ramath of the south. This is the inheritance of the tribe
of the children of Simeon according to their families.
19:9 Out of the portion of the children of Judah was the inheritance of
the children of Simeon: for the part of the children of Judah was too
much for them: therefore the children of Simeon had their inheritance
within the inheritance of them.
19:10 And the third lot came up for the children of Zebulun according to
their families: and the border of their inheritance was unto Sarid:
19:11 And their border went up toward the sea, and Maralah, and reached
to Dabbasheth, and reached to the river that is before Jokneam;
19:12 And turned from Sarid eastward toward the sunrising unto the
border of Chislothtabor, and then goeth out to Daberath, and goeth up to
Japhia,
19:13 And from thence passeth on along on the east to Gittahhepher, to
Ittahkazin, and goeth out to Remmonmethoar to Neah;
19:14 And the border compasseth it on the north side to Hannathon: and
the outgoings thereof are in the valley of Jiphthahel:
19:15 And Kattath, and Nahallal, and Shimron, and Idalah, and Bethlehem:
twelve cities with their villages.
19:16 This is the inheritance of the children of Zebulun according to
their families, these cities with their villages.
19:17 And the fourth lot came out to Issachar, for the children of
Issachar according to their families.
19:18 And their border was toward Jezreel, and Chesulloth, and Shunem,
19:19 And Haphraim, and Shihon, and Anaharath,
19:20 And Rabbith, and Kishion, and Abez,
19:21 And Remeth, and Engannim, and Enhaddah, and Bethpazzez;
19:22 And the coast reacheth to Tabor, and Shahazimah, and Bethshemesh;
and the outgoings of their border were at Jordan: sixteen cities with
their villages.
19:23 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Issachar
according to their families, the cities and their villages.
19:24 And the fifth lot came out for the tribe of the children of Asher
according to their families.
19:25 And their border was Helkath, and Hali, and Beten, and Achshaph,
19:26 And Alammelech, and Amad, and Misheal; and reacheth to Carmel
westward, and to Shihorlibnath;
19:27 And turneth toward the sunrising to Bethdagon, and reacheth to
Zebulun, and to the valley of Jiphthahel toward the north side of
Bethemek, and Neiel, and goeth out to Cabul on the left hand,
19:28 And Hebron, and Rehob, and Hammon, and Kanah, even unto great
Zidon;
19:29 And then the coast turneth to Ramah, and to the strong city Tyre;
and the coast turneth to Hosah; and the outgoings thereof are at the sea
from the coast to Achzib:
19:30 Ummah also, and Aphek, and Rehob: twenty and two cities with their
villages.
19:31 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Asher
according to their families, these cities with their villages.
19:32 The sixth lot came out to the children of Naphtali, even for the
children of Naphtali according to their families.
19:33 And their coast was from Heleph, from Allon to Zaanannim, and
Adami, Nekeb, and Jabneel, unto Lakum; and the outgoings thereof were at
Jordan:
19:34 And then the coast turneth westward to Aznothtabor, and goeth out
from thence to Hukkok, and reacheth to Zebulun on the south side, and
reacheth to Asher on the west side, and to Judah upon Jordan toward the
sunrising.
19:35 And the fenced cities are Ziddim, Zer, and Hammath, Rakkath, and
Chinnereth,
19:36 And Adamah, and Ramah, and Hazor,
19:37 And Kedesh, and Edrei, and Enhazor,
19:38 And Iron, and Migdalel, Horem, and Bethanath, and Bethshemesh;
nineteen cities with their villages.
19:39 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Naphtali
according to their families, the cities and their villages.
19:40 And the seventh lot came out for the tribe of the children of Dan
according to their families.
19:41 And the coast of their inheritance was Zorah, and Eshtaol, and
Irshemesh,
19:42 And Shaalabbin, and Ajalon, and Jethlah,
19:43 And Elon, and Thimnathah, and Ekron,
19:44 And Eltekeh, and Gibbethon, and Baalath,
19:45 And Jehud, and Beneberak, and Gathrimmon,
19:46 And Mejarkon, and Rakkon, with the border before Japho.
19:47 And the coast of the children of Dan went out too little for them:
therefore the children of Dan went up to fight against Leshem, and took
it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and possessed it, and dwelt
therein, and called Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their father.
19:48 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Dan
according to their families, these cities with their villages.
19:49 When they had made an end of dividing the land for inheritance by
their coasts, the children of Israel gave an inheritance to Joshua the
son of Nun among them:
19:50 According to the word of the LORD they gave him the city which he
asked, even Timnathserah in mount Ephraim: and he built the city, and
dwelt therein.
19:51 These are the inheritances, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua
the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the
children of Israel, divided for an inheritance by lot in Shiloh before
the LORD, at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. So they
made an end of dividing the country.
20:1 The LORD also spake unto Joshua, saying,
20:2 Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities
of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses:
20:3 That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly
may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of
blood.
20:4 And when he that doth flee unto one of those cities shall stand at
the entering of the gate of the city, and shall declare his cause in the
ears of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city unto
them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them.
20:5 And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not
deliver the slayer up into his hand; because he smote his neighbour
unwittingly, and hated him not beforetime.
20:6 And he shall dwell in that city, until he stand before the
congregation for judgment, and until the death of the high priest that
shall be in those days: then shall the slayer return, and come unto his
own city, and unto his own house, unto the city from whence he fled.
20:7 And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in mount Naphtali, and Shechem
in mount Ephraim, and Kirjatharba, which is Hebron, in the mountain of
Judah.
20:8 And on the other side Jordan by Jericho eastward, they assigned
Bezer in the wilderness upon the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, and
Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the
tribe of Manasseh.
20:9 These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel, and
for the stranger that sojourneth among them, that whosoever killeth any
person at unawares might flee thither, and not die by the hand of the
avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation.
21:1 Then came near the heads of the fathers of the Levites unto Eleazar
the priest, and unto Joshua the son of Nun, and unto the heads of the
fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel;
21:2 And they spake unto them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying,
The LORD commanded by the hand of Moses to give us cities to dwell in,
with the suburbs thereof for our cattle.
21:3 And the children of Israel gave unto the Levites out of their
inheritance, at the commandment of the LORD, these cities and their
suburbs.
21:4 And the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites: and the
children of Aaron the priest, which were of the Levites, had by lot out
of the tribe of Judah, and out of the tribe of Simeon, and out of the
tribe of Benjamin, thirteen cities.
21:5 And the rest of the children of Kohath had by lot out of the
families of the tribe of Ephraim, and out of the tribe of Dan, and out
of the half tribe of Manasseh, ten cities.
21:6 And the children of Gershon had by lot out of the families of the
tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe
of Naphtali, and out of the half tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen
cities.
21:7 The children of Merari by their families had out of the tribe of
Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun,
twelve cities.
21:8 And the children of Israel gave by lot unto the Levites these
cities with their suburbs, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.
21:9 And they gave out of the tribe of the children of Judah, and out of
the tribe of the children of Simeon, these cities which are here
mentioned by name.
21:10 Which the children of Aaron, being of the families of the
Kohathites, who were of the children of Levi, had: for theirs was the
first lot.
21:11 And they gave them the city of Arba the father of Anak, which city
is Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, with the suburbs thereof round
about it.
21:12 But the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, gave they to
Caleb the son of Jephunneh for his possession.
21:13 Thus they gave to the children of Aaron the priest Hebron with her
suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Libnah with her
suburbs,
21:14 And Jattir with her suburbs, and Eshtemoa with her suburbs,
21:15 And Holon with her suburbs, and Debir with her suburbs,
21:16 And Ain with her suburbs, and Juttah with her suburbs, and
Bethshemesh with her suburbs; nine cities out of those two tribes.
21:17 And out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with her suburbs, Geba
with her suburbs,
21:18 Anathoth with her suburbs, and Almon with her suburbs; four
cities.
21:19 All the cities of the children of Aaron, the priests, were
thirteen cities with their suburbs.
21:20 And the families of the children of Kohath, the Levites which
remained of the children of Kohath, even they had the cities of their
lot out of the tribe of Ephraim.
21:21 For they gave them Shechem with her suburbs in mount Ephraim, to
be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Gezer with her suburbs,
21:22 And Kibzaim with her suburbs, and Bethhoron with her suburbs; four
cities.
21:23 And out of the tribe of Dan, Eltekeh with her suburbs, Gibbethon
with her suburbs,
21:24 Aijalon with her suburbs, Gathrimmon with her suburbs; four
cities.
21:25 And out of the half tribe of Manasseh, Tanach with her suburbs,
and Gathrimmon with her suburbs; two cities.
21:26 All the cities were ten with their suburbs for the families of the
children of Kohath that remained.
21:27 And unto the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites,
out of the other half tribe of Manasseh they gave Golan in Bashan with
her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Beeshterah with
her suburbs; two cities.
21:28 And out of the tribe of Issachar, Kishon with her suburbs, Dabareh
with her suburbs,
21:29 Jarmuth with her suburbs, Engannim with her suburbs; four cities.
21:30 And out of the tribe of Asher, Mishal with her suburbs, Abdon with
her suburbs,
21:31 Helkath with her suburbs, and Rehob with her suburbs; four cities.
21:32 And out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with her
suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Hammothdor with her
suburbs, and Kartan with her suburbs; three cities.
21:33 All the cities of the Gershonites according to their families were
thirteen cities with their suburbs.
21:34 And unto the families of the children of Merari, the rest of the
Levites, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with her suburbs, and
Kartah with her suburbs,
21:35 Dimnah with her suburbs, Nahalal with her suburbs; four cities.
21:36 And out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer with her suburbs, and
Jahazah with her suburbs,
21:37 Kedemoth with her suburbs, and Mephaath with her suburbs; four
cities.
21:38 And out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbs, to
be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Mahanaim with her suburbs,
21:39 Heshbon with her suburbs, Jazer with her suburbs; four cities in
all.
21:40 So all the cities for the children of Merari by their families,
which were remaining of the families of the Levites, were by their lot
twelve cities.
21:41 All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the
children of Israel were forty and eight cities with their suburbs.
21:42 These cities were every one with their suburbs round about them:
thus were all these cities.
21:43 And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give
unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein.
21:44 And the LORD gave them rest round about, according to all that he
sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies
before them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand.
21:45 There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken
unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.
22:1 Then Joshua called the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half
tribe of Manasseh,
22:2 And said unto them, Ye have kept all that Moses the servant of the
LORD commanded you, and have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded
you:
22:3 Ye have not left your brethren these many days unto this day, but
have kept the charge of the commandment of the LORD your God.
22:4 And now the LORD your God hath given rest unto your brethren, as he
promised them: therefore now return ye, and get you unto your tents, and
unto the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the LORD
gave you on the other side Jordan.
22:5 But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which
Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God,
and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave
unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.
22:6 So Joshua blessed them, and sent them away: and they went unto
their tents.
22:7 Now to the one half of the tribe of Manasseh Moses had given
possession in Bashan: but unto the other half thereof gave Joshua among
their brethren on this side Jordan westward. And when Joshua sent them
away also unto their tents, then he blessed them,
22:8 And he spake unto them, saying, Return with much riches unto your
tents, and with very much cattle, with silver, and with gold, and with
brass, and with iron, and with very much raiment: divide the spoil of
your enemies with your brethren.
22:9 And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half
tribe of Manasseh returned, and departed from the children of Israel out
of Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go unto the country of
Gilead, to the land of their possession, whereof they were possessed,
according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses.
22:10 And when they came unto the borders of Jordan, that are in the
land of Canaan, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the
half tribe of Manasseh built there an altar by Jordan, a great altar to
see to.
22:11 And the children of Israel heard say, Behold, the children of
Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh have built
an altar over against the land of Canaan, in the borders of Jordan, at
the passage of the children of Israel.
22:12 And when the children of Israel heard of it, the whole
congregation of the children of Israel gathered themselves together at
Shiloh, to go up to war against them.
22:13 And the children of Israel sent unto the children of Reuben, and
to the children of Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, into the land
of Gilead, Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest,
22:14 And with him ten princes, of each chief house a prince throughout
all the tribes of Israel; and each one was an head of the house of their
fathers among the thousands of Israel.
22:15 And they came unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of
Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, unto the land of Gilead, and
they spake with them, saying,
22:16 Thus saith the whole congregation of the LORD, What trespass is
this that ye have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away this
day from following the LORD, in that ye have builded you an altar, that
ye might rebel this day against the LORD?
22:17 Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we are not
cleansed until this day, although there was a plague in the congregation
of the LORD,
22:18 But that ye must turn away this day from following the LORD? and
it will be, seeing ye rebel to day against the LORD, that to morrow he
will be wroth with the whole congregation of Israel.
22:19 Notwithstanding, if the land of your possession be unclean, then
pass ye over unto the land of the possession of the LORD, wherein the
LORD's tabernacle dwelleth, and take possession among us: but rebel not
against the LORD, nor rebel against us, in building you an altar beside
the altar of the LORD our God.
22:20 Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the accursed
thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? and that man
perished not alone in his iniquity.
22:21 Then the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half
tribe of Manasseh answered, and said unto the heads of the thousands of
Israel,
22:22 The LORD God of gods, the LORD God of gods, he knoweth, and Israel
he shall know; if it be in rebellion, or if in transgression against the
LORD, (save us not this day,)
22:23 That we have built us an altar to turn from following the LORD, or
if to offer thereon burnt offering or meat offering, or if to offer
peace offerings thereon, let the LORD himself require it;
22:24 And if we have not rather done it for fear of this thing, saying,
In time to come your children might speak unto our children, saying,
What have ye to do with the LORD God of Israel?
22:25 For the LORD hath made Jordan a border between us and you, ye
children of Reuben and children of Gad; ye have no part in the LORD: so
shall your children make our children cease from fearing the LORD.
22:26 Therefore we said, Let us now prepare to build us an altar, not
for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice:
22:27 But that it may be a witness between us, and you, and our
generations after us, that we might do the service of the LORD before
him with our burnt offerings, and with our sacrifices, and with our
peace offerings; that your children may not say to our children in time
to come, Ye have no part in the LORD.
22:28 Therefore said we, that it shall be, when they should so say to us
or to our generations in time to come, that we may say again, Behold the
pattern of the altar of the LORD, which our fathers made, not for burnt
offerings, nor for sacrifices; but it is a witness between us and you.
22:29 God forbid that we should rebel against the LORD, and turn this
day from following the LORD, to build an altar for burnt offerings, for
meat offerings, or for sacrifices, beside the altar of the LORD our God
that is before his tabernacle.
22:30 And when Phinehas the priest, and the princes of the congregation
and heads of the thousands of Israel which were with him, heard the
words that the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the
children of Manasseh spake, it pleased them.
22:31 And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said unto the children
of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the children of Manasseh,
This day we perceive that the LORD is among us, because ye have not
committed this trespass against the LORD: now ye have delivered the
children of Israel out of the hand of the LORD.
22:32 And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, and the princes,
returned from the children of Reuben, and from the children of Gad, out
of the land of Gilead, unto the land of Canaan, to the children of
Israel, and brought them word again.
22:33 And the thing pleased the children of Israel; and the children of
Israel blessed God, and did not intend to go up against them in battle,
to destroy the land wherein the children of Reuben and Gad dwelt.
22:34 And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad called the
altar Ed: for it shall be a witness between us that the LORD is God.
23:1 And it came to pass a long time after that the LORD had given rest
unto Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua waxed old
and stricken in age.
23:2 And Joshua called for all Israel, and for their elders, and for
their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers, and said unto
them, I am old and stricken in age:
23:3 And ye have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto all
these nations because of you; for the LORD your God is he that hath
fought for you.
23:4 Behold, I have divided unto you by lot these nations that remain,
to be an inheritance for your tribes, from Jordan, with all the nations
that I have cut off, even unto the great sea westward.
23:5 And the LORD your God, he shall expel them from before you, and
drive them from out of your sight; and ye shall possess their land, as
the LORD your God hath promised unto you.
23:6 Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is
written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside
therefrom to the right hand or to the left;
23:7 That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you;
neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by
them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them:
23:8 But cleave unto the LORD your God, as ye have done unto this day.
23:9 For the LORD hath driven out from before you great nations and
strong: but as for you, no man hath been able to stand before you unto
this day.
23:10 One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he
it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.
23:11 Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the LORD
your God.
23:12 Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of
these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make
marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you:
23:13 Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out
any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps
unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye
perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.
23:14 And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye
know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath
failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning
you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed
thereof.
23:15 Therefore it shall come to pass, that as all good things are come
upon you, which the LORD your God promised you; so shall the LORD bring
upon you all evil things, until he have destroyed you from off this good
land which the LORD your God hath given you.
23:16 When ye have transgressed the covenant of the LORD your God, which
he commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed
yourselves to them; then shall the anger of the LORD be kindled against
you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which he hath
given unto you.
24:1 And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called
for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and
for their officers; and they presented themselves before God.
24:2 And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the LORD God of
Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time,
even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they
served other gods.
24:3 And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood,
and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed,
and gave him Isaac.
24:4 And I gave unto Isaac Jacob and Esau: and I gave unto Esau mount
Seir, to possess it; but Jacob and his children went down into Egypt.
24:5 I sent Moses also and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt, according to that
which I did among them: and afterward I brought you out.
24:6 And I brought your fathers out of Egypt: and ye came unto the sea;
and the Egyptians pursued after your fathers with chariots and horsemen
unto the Red sea.
24:7 And when they cried unto the LORD, he put darkness between you and
the Egyptians, and brought the sea upon them, and covered them; and your
eyes have seen what I have done in Egypt: and ye dwelt in the wilderness
a long season.
24:8 And I brought you into the land of the Amorites, which dwelt on the
other side Jordan; and they fought with you: and I gave them into your
hand, that ye might possess their land; and I destroyed them from before
you.
24:9 Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and warred
against Israel, and sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you:
24:10 But I would not hearken unto Balaam; therefore he blessed you
still: so I delivered you out of his hand.
24:11 And you went over Jordan, and came unto Jericho: and the men of
Jericho fought against you, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the
Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the
Jebusites; and I delivered them into your hand.
24:12 And I sent the hornet before you, which drave them out from before
you, even the two kings of the Amorites; but not with thy sword, nor
with thy bow.
24:13 And I have given you a land for which ye did not labour, and
cities which ye built not, and ye dwell in them; of the vineyards and
oliveyards which ye planted not do ye eat.
24:14 Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in
truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side
of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.
24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this
day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that
were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in
whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
24:16 And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should
forsake the LORD, to serve other gods;
24:17 For the LORD our God, he it is that brought us up and our fathers
out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and which did those
great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we
went, and among all the people through whom we passed:
24:18 And the LORD drave out from before us all the people, even the
Amorites which dwelt in the land: therefore will we also serve the LORD;
for he is our God.
24:19 And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the LORD: for he
is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your
transgressions nor your sins.
24:20 If ye forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn
and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good.
24:21 And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the LORD.
24:22 And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against
yourselves that ye have chosen you the LORD, to serve him. And they
said, We are witnesses.
24:23 Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among
you, and incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel.
24:24 And the people said unto Joshua, The LORD our God will we serve,
and his voice will we obey.
24:25 So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set them a
statute and an ordinance in Shechem.
24:26 And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, and
took a great stone, and set it up there under an oak, that was by the
sanctuary of the LORD.
24:27 And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall be a
witness unto us; for it hath heard all the words of the LORD which he
spake unto us: it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest ye deny
your God.
24:28 So Joshua let the people depart, every man unto his inheritance.
24:29 And it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of
Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old.
24:30 And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in
Timnathserah, which is in mount Ephraim, on the north side of the hill
of Gaash.
24:31 And Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the
days of the elders that overlived Joshua, and which had known all the
works of the LORD, that he had done for Israel.
24:32 And the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up
out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem, in a parcel of ground which Jacob
bought of the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for an hundred pieces
of silver: and it became the inheritance of the children of Joseph.
24:33 And Eleazar the son of Aaron died; and they buried him in a hill
that pertained to Phinehas his son, which was given him in mount
Ephraim.
Judges
Chapter
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21
1:1 Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass, that the children of
Israel asked the LORD, saying, Who shall go up for us against the
Canaanites first, to fight against them?
1:2 And the LORD said, Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered the
land into his hand.
1:3 And Judah said unto Simeon his brother, Come up with me into my lot,
that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I likewise will go with
thee into thy lot. So Simeon went with him.
1:4 And Judah went up; and the LORD delivered the Canaanites and the
Perizzites into their hand: and they slew of them in Bezek ten thousand
men.
1:5 And they found Adonibezek in Bezek: and they fought against him, and
they slew the Canaanites and the Perizzites.
1:6 But Adonibezek fled; and they pursued after him, and caught him, and
cut off his thumbs and his great toes.
1:7 And Adonibezek said, Threescore and ten kings, having their thumbs
and their great toes cut off, gathered their meat under my table: as I
have done, so God hath requited me. And they brought him to Jerusalem,
and there he died.
1:8 Now the children of Judah had fought against Jerusalem, and had
taken it, and smitten it with the edge of the sword, and set the city on
fire.
1:9 And afterward the children of Judah went down to fight against the
Canaanites, that dwelt in the mountain, and in the south, and in the
valley.
1:10 And Judah went against the Canaanites that dwelt in Hebron: (now
the name of Hebron before was Kirjatharba:) and they slew Sheshai, and
Ahiman, and Talmai.
1:11 And from thence he went against the inhabitants of Debir: and the
name of Debir before was Kirjathsepher:
1:12 And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjathsepher, and taketh it, to
him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.
1:13 And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, took it: and
he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.
1:14 And it came to pass, when she came to him, that she moved him to
ask of her father a field: and she lighted from off her ass; and Caleb
said unto her, What wilt thou?
1:15 And she said unto him, Give me a blessing: for thou hast given me a
south land; give me also springs of water. And Caleb gave her the upper
springs and the nether springs.
1:16 And the children of the Kenite, Moses' father in law, went up out
of the city of palm trees with the children of Judah into the wilderness
of Judah, which lieth in the south of Arad; and they went and dwelt
among the people.
1:17 And Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they slew the
Canaanites that inhabited Zephath, and utterly destroyed it. And the
name of the city was called Hormah.
1:18 Also Judah took Gaza with the coast thereof, and Askelon with the
coast thereof, and Ekron with the coast thereof.
1:19 And the LORD was with Judah; and he drave out the inhabitants of
the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley,
because they had chariots of iron.
1:20 And they gave Hebron unto Caleb, as Moses said: and he expelled
thence the three sons of Anak.
1:21 And the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that
inhabited Jerusalem; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of
Benjamin in Jerusalem unto this day.
1:22 And the house of Joseph, they also went up against Bethel: and the
LORD was with them.
1:23 And the house of Joseph sent to descry Bethel. (Now the name of the
city before was Luz.)
1:24 And the spies saw a man come forth out of the city, and they said
unto him, Shew us, we pray thee, the entrance into the city, and we will
shew thee mercy.
1:25 And when he shewed them the entrance into the city, they smote the
city with the edge of the sword; but they let go the man and all his
family.
1:26 And the man went into the land of the Hittites, and built a city,
and called the name thereof Luz: which is the name thereof unto this
day.
1:27 Neither did Manasseh drive out the inhabitants of Bethshean and her
towns, nor Taanach and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and her
towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and her towns, nor the inhabitants
of Megiddo and her towns: but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.
1:28 And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the
Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out.
1:29 Neither did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer;
but the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them.
1:30 Neither did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the
inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelt among them, and became
tributaries.
1:31 Neither did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Accho, nor the
inhabitants of Zidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of
Aphik, nor of Rehob:
1:32 But the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of
the land: for they did not drive them out.
1:33 Neither did Naphtali drive out the inhabitants of Bethshemesh, nor
the inhabitants of Bethanath; but he dwelt among the Canaanites, the
inhabitants of the land: nevertheless the inhabitants of Bethshemesh and
of Bethanath became tributaries unto them.
1:34 And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountain: for
they would not suffer them to come down to the valley:
1:35 But the Amorites would dwell in mount Heres in Aijalon, and in
Shaalbim: yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so that they
became tributaries.
1:36 And the coast of the Amorites was from the going up to Akrabbim,
from the rock, and upward.
2:1 And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I
made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which
I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant
with you.
2:2 And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye
shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have
ye done this?
2:3 Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you;
but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a
snare unto you.
2:4 And it came to pass, when the angel of the LORD spake these words
unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice,
and wept.
2:5 And they called the name of that place Bochim: and they sacrificed
there unto the LORD.
2:6 And when Joshua had let the people go, the children of Israel went
every man unto his inheritance to possess the land.
2:7 And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the
days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great
works of the LORD, that he did for Israel.
2:8 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an
hundred and ten years old.
2:9 And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in
Timnathheres, in the mount of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill
Gaash.
2:10 And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and
there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor
yet the works which he had done for Israel.
2:11 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and
served Baalim:
2:12 And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them
out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the
people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and
provoked the LORD to anger.
2:13 And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.
2:14 And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered
them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into
the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any
longer stand before their enemies.
2:15 Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them
for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and
they were greatly distressed.
2:16 Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of
the hand of those that spoiled them.
2:17 And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a
whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned
quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the
commandments of the LORD; but they did not so.
2:18 And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the
judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days
of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by
reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.
2:19 And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they returned,
and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other
gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from
their own doings, nor from their stubborn way.
2:20 And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and he said,
Because that this people hath transgressed my covenant which I commanded
their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice;
2:21 I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the
nations which Joshua left when he died:
2:22 That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the
way of the LORD to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not.
2:23 Therefore the LORD left those nations, without driving them out
hastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua.
3:1 Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to prove Israel by
them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan;
3:2 Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to
teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof;
3:3 Namely, five lords of the Philistines, and all the Canaanites, and
the Sidonians, and the Hivites that dwelt in mount Lebanon, from mount
Baalhermon unto the entering in of Hamath.
3:4 And they were to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would
hearken unto the commandments of the LORD, which he commanded their
fathers by the hand of Moses.
3:5 And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, and
Amorites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites:
3:6 And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their
daughters to their sons, and served their gods.
3:7 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and
forgat the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves.
3:8 Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold
them into the hand of Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the
children of Israel served Chushanrishathaim eight years.
3:9 And when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised
up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even
Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother.
3:10 And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel, and
went out to war: and the LORD delivered Chushanrishathaim king of
Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against
Chushanrishathaim.
3:11 And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz
died.
3:12 And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD:
and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because
they had done evil in the sight of the LORD.
3:13 And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek, and went
and smote Israel, and possessed the city of palm trees.
3:14 So the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen
years.
3:15 But when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD
raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man
lefthanded: and by him the children of Israel sent a present unto Eglon
the king of Moab.
3:16 But Ehud made him a dagger which had two edges, of a cubit length;
and he did gird it under his raiment upon his right thigh.
3:17 And he brought the present unto Eglon king of Moab: and Eglon was a
very fat man.
3:18 And when he had made an end to offer the present, he sent away the
people that bare the present.
3:19 But he himself turned again from the quarries that were by Gilgal,
and said, I have a secret errand unto thee, O king: who said, Keep
silence. And all that stood by him went out from him.
3:20 And Ehud came unto him; and he was sitting in a summer parlour,
which he had for himself alone. And Ehud said, I have a message from God
unto thee. And he arose out of his seat.
3:21 And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his
right thigh, and thrust it into his belly:
3:22 And the haft also went in after the blade; and the fat closed upon
the blade, so that he could not draw the dagger out of his belly; and
the dirt came out.
3:23 Then Ehud went forth through the porch, and shut the doors of the
parlour upon him, and locked them.
3:24 When he was gone out, his servants came; and when they saw that,
behold, the doors of the parlour were locked, they said, Surely he
covereth his feet in his summer chamber.
3:25 And they tarried till they were ashamed: and, behold, he opened not
the doors of the parlour; therefore they took a key, and opened them:
and, behold, their lord was fallen down dead on the earth.
3:26 And Ehud escaped while they tarried, and passed beyond the
quarries, and escaped unto Seirath.
3:27 And it came to pass, when he was come, that he blew a trumpet in
the mountain of Ephraim, and the children of Israel went down with him
from the mount, and he before them.
3:28 And he said unto them, Follow after me: for the LORD hath delivered
your enemies the Moabites into your hand. And they went down after him,
and took the fords of Jordan toward Moab, and suffered not a man to pass
over.
3:29 And they slew of Moab at that time about ten thousand men, all
lusty, and all men of valour; and there escaped not a man.
3:30 So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land
had rest fourscore years.
3:31 And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, which slew of the
Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad: and he also delivered
Israel.
4:1 And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD,
when Ehud was dead.
4:2 And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that
reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in
Harosheth of the Gentiles.
4:3 And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine
hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the
children of Israel.
4:4 And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel
at that time.
4:5 And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and
Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for
judgment.
4:6 And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of
Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel
commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee
ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of
Zebulun?
4:7 And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of
Jabin's army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver
him into thine hand.
4:8 And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go:
but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go.
4:9 And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the
journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the LORD
shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went
with Barak to Kedesh.
4:10 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.
4:11 Now Heber the Kenite, which was of the children of Hobab the father
in law of Moses, had severed himself from the Kenites, and pitched his
tent unto the plain of Zaanaim, which is by Kedesh.
4:12 And they shewed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up to
mount Tabor.
4:13 And Sisera gathered together all his chariots, even nine hundred
chariots of iron, and all the people that were with him, from Harosheth
of the Gentiles unto the river of Kishon.
4:14 And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the
LORD hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the LORD gone out
before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men
after him.
4:15 And the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his
host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted
down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet.
4:16 But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, unto
Harosheth of the Gentiles: and all the host of Sisera fell upon the edge
of the sword; and there was not a man left.
4:17 Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife
of Heber the Kenite: for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor
and the house of Heber the Kenite.
4:18 And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my
lord, turn in to me; fear not. And when he had turned in unto her into
the tent, she covered him with a mantle.
4:19 And he said unto her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water to
drink; for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him
drink, and covered him.
4:20 Again he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall
be, when any man doth come and enquire of thee, and say, Is there any
man here? that thou shalt say, No.
4:21 Then Jael Heber's wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer
in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his
temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and
weary. So he died.
4:22 And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him,
and said unto him, Come, and I will shew thee the man whom thou seekest.
And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail
was in his temples.
4:23 So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the
children of Israel.
4:24 And the hand of the children of Israel prospered, and prevailed
against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of
Canaan.
5:1 Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying,
5:2 Praise ye the LORD for the avenging of Israel, when the people
willingly offered themselves.
5:3 Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto
the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel.
5:4 LORD, when thou wentest out of Seir, when thou marchedst out of the
field of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds
also dropped water.
5:5 The mountains melted from before the LORD, even that Sinai from
before the LORD God of Israel.
5:6 In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the
highways were unoccupied, and the travellers walked through byways.
5:7 The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until
that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel.
5:8 They chose new gods; then was war in the gates: was there a shield
or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel?
5:9 My heart is toward the governors of Israel, that offered themselves
willingly among the people. Bless ye the LORD.
5:10 Speak, ye that ride on white asses, ye that sit in judgment, and
walk by the way.
5:11 They that are delivered from the noise of archers in the places of
drawing water, there shall they rehearse the righteous acts of the LORD,
even the righteous acts toward the inhabitants of his villages in
Israel: then shall the people of the LORD go down to the gates.
5:12 Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barak,
and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam.
5:13 Then he made him that remaineth have dominion over the nobles among
the people: the LORD made me have dominion over the mighty.
5:14 Out of Ephraim was there a root of them against Amalek; after thee,
Benjamin, among thy people; out of Machir came down governors, and out
of Zebulun they that handle the pen of the writer.
5:15 And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; even Issachar, and
also Barak: he was sent on foot into the valley. For the divisions of
Reuben there were great thoughts of heart.
5:16 Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the
flocks? For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of
heart.
5:17 Gilead abode beyond Jordan: and why did Dan remain in ships? Asher
continued on the sea shore, and abode in his breaches.
5:18 Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives unto
the death in the high places of the field.
5:19 The kings came and fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in
Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no gain of money.
5:20 They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against
Sisera.
5:21 The river of Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river
Kishon. O my soul, thou hast trodden down strength.
5:22 Then were the horsehoofs broken by the means of the pransings, the
pransings of their mighty ones.
5:23 Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the LORD, curse ye bitterly the
inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the LORD, to
the help of the LORD against the mighty.
5:24 Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be,
blessed shall she be above women in the tent.
5:25 He asked water, and she gave him milk; she brought forth butter in
a lordly dish.
5:26 She put her hand to the nail, and her right hand to the workmen's
hammer; and with the hammer she smote Sisera, she smote off his head,
when she had pierced and stricken through his temples.
5:27 At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay down: at her feet he bowed,
he fell: where he bowed, there he fell down dead.
5:28 The mother of Sisera looked out at a window, and cried through the
lattice, Why is his chariot so long in coming? why tarry the wheels of
his chariots?
5:29 Her wise ladies answered her, yea, she returned answer to herself,
5:30 Have they not sped? have they not divided the prey; to every man a
damsel or two; to Sisera a prey of divers colours, a prey of divers
colours of needlework, of divers colours of needlework on both sides,
meet for the necks of them that take the spoil?
5:31 So let all thine enemies perish, O LORD: but let them that love him
be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest
forty years.
6:1 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and
the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.
6:2 And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the
Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the
mountains, and caves, and strong holds.
6:3 And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up,
and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up
against them;
6:4 And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the
earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel,
neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass.
6:5 For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as
grasshoppers for multitude; for both they and their camels were without
number: and they entered into the land to destroy it.
6:6 And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and
the children of Israel cried unto the LORD.
6:7 And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD
because of the Midianites,
6:8 That the LORD sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, which said
unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought you up from
Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage;
6:9 And I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the
hand of all that oppressed you, and drave them out from before you, and
gave you their land;
6:10 And I said unto you, I am the LORD your God; fear not the gods of
the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not obeyed my voice.
6:11 And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was
in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon
threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.
6:12 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The
LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.
6:13 And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why
then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our
fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but
now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the
Midianites.
6:14 And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and
thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent
thee?
6:15 And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel?
behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's
house.
6:16 And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou
shalt smite the Midianites as one man.
6:17 And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then
shew me a sign that thou talkest with me.
6:18 Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come unto thee, and bring
forth my present, and set it before thee. And he said, I will tarry
until thou come again.
6:19 And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid, and unleavened cakes of
an ephah of flour: the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in
a pot, and brought it out unto him under the oak, and presented it.
6:20 And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the
unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth.
And he did so.
6:21 Then the angel of the LORD put forth the end of the staff that was
in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there
rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened
cakes. Then the angel of the LORD departed out of his sight.
6:22 And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the LORD, Gideon
said, Alas, O LORD God! for because I have seen an angel of the LORD
face to face.
6:23 And the LORD said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou
shalt not die.
6:24 Then Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it
Jehovahshalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
6:25 And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him,
Take thy father's young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years
old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down
the grove that is by it:
6:26 And build an altar unto the LORD thy God upon the top of this rock,
in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt
sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down.
6:27 Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the LORD had
said unto him: and so it was, because he feared his father's household,
and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it
by night.
6:28 And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold,
the altar of Baal was cast down, and the grove was cut down that was by
it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built.
6:29 And they said one to another, Who hath done this thing? And when
they enquired and asked, they said, Gideon the son of Joash hath done
this thing.
6:30 Then the men of the city said unto Joash, Bring out thy son, that
he may die: because he hath cast down the altar of Baal, and because he
hath cut down the grove that was by it.
6:31 And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye plead for
Baal? will ye save him? he that will plead for him, let him be put to
death whilst it is yet morning: if he be a god, let him plead for
himself, because one hath cast down his altar.
6:32 Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal
plead against him, because he hath thrown down his altar.
6:33 Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the
east were gathered together, and went over, and pitched in the valley of
Jezreel.
6:34 But the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet;
and Abiezer was gathered after him.
6:35 And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh; who also was
gathered after him: and he sent messengers unto Asher, and unto Zebulun,
and unto Naphtali; and they came up to meet them.
6:36 And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as
thou hast said,
6:37 Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be
on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall
I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said.
6:38 And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the
fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of
water.
6:39 And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me,
and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once
with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all
the ground let there be dew.
6:40 And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and
there was dew on all the ground.
7:1 Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, and all the people that were with
him, rose up early, and pitched beside the well of Harod: so that the
host of the Midianites were on the north side of them, by the hill of
Moreh, in the valley.
7:2 And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too
many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt
themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.
7:3 Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying,
Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from
mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand;
and there remained ten thousand.
7:4 And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring
them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it
shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the
same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall
not go with thee, the same shall not go.
7:5 So he brought down the people unto the water: and the LORD said unto
Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog
lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth
down upon his knees to drink.
7:6 And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their
mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down
upon their knees to drink water.
7:7 And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped
will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all
the other people go every man unto his place.
7:8 So the people took victuals in their hand, and their trumpets: and
he sent all the rest of Israel every man unto his tent, and retained
those three hundred men: and the host of Midian was beneath him in the
valley.
7:9 And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him,
Arise, get thee down unto the host; for I have delivered it into thine
hand.
7:10 But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Phurah thy servant down
to the host:
7:11 And thou shalt hear what they say; and afterward shall thine hands
be strengthened to go down unto the host. Then went he down with Phurah
his servant unto the outside of the armed men that were in the host.
7:12 And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the
east lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and their
camels were without number, as the sand by the sea side for multitude.
7:13 And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man that told a dream
unto his fellow, and said, Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of
barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto a tent, and
smote it that it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay along.
7:14 And his fellow answered and said, This is nothing else save the
sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: for into his hand
hath God delivered Midian, and all the host.
7:15 And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the
interpretation thereof, that he worshipped, and returned into the host
of Israel, and said, Arise; for the LORD hath delivered into your hand
the host of Midian.
7:16 And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he
put a trumpet in every man's hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within
the pitchers.
7:17 And he said unto them, Look on me, and do likewise: and, behold,
when I come to the outside of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so
shall ye do.
7:18 When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow
ye the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and say, The sword
of the LORD, and of Gideon.
7:19 So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the
outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had
but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake the
pitchers that were in their hands.
7:20 And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers,
and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right
hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the LORD, and of
Gideon.
7:21 And they stood every man in his place round about the camp; and all
the host ran, and cried, and fled.
7:22 And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every
man's sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the
host fled to Bethshittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abelmeholah,
unto Tabbath.
7:23 And the men of Israel gathered themselves together out of Naphtali,
and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after the
Midianites.
7:24 And Gideon sent messengers throughout all mount Ephraim, saying,
come down against the Midianites, and take before them the waters unto
Bethbarah and Jordan. Then all the men of Ephraim gathered themselves
together, and took the waters unto Bethbarah and Jordan.
7:25 And they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb; and
they slew Oreb upon the rock Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at the winepress
of Zeeb, and pursued Midian, and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to
Gideon on the other side Jordan.
8:1 And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus,
that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with the
Midianites? And they did chide with him sharply.
8:2 And he said unto them, What have I done now in comparison of you? Is
not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of
Abiezer?
8:3 God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and
Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison of you? Then their anger
was abated toward him, when he had said that.
8:4 And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three
hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them.
8:5 And he said unto the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of
bread unto the people that follow me; for they be faint, and I am
pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian.
8:6 And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna
now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thine army?
8:7 And Gideon said, Therefore when the LORD hath delivered Zebah and
Zalmunna into mine hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of
the wilderness and with briers.
8:8 And he went up thence to Penuel, and spake unto them likewise: and
the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered him.
8:9 And he spake also unto the men of Penuel, saying, When I come again
in peace, I will break down this tower.
8:10 Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their hosts with them,
about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of all the hosts of the
children of the east: for there fell an hundred and twenty thousand men
that drew sword.
8:11 And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents on the
east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and smote the host; for the host was secure.
8:12 And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them, and took
the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and discomfited all the
host.
8:13 And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the sun was
up,
8:14 And caught a young man of the men of Succoth, and enquired of him:
and he described unto him the princes of Succoth, and the elders
thereof, even threescore and seventeen men.
8:15 And he came unto the men of Succoth, and said, Behold Zebah and
Zalmunna, with whom ye did upbraid me, saying, Are the hands of Zebah
and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thy men
that are weary?
8:16 And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness
and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth.
8:17 And he beat down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the city.
8:18 Then said he unto Zebah and Zalmunna, What manner of men were they
whom ye slew at Tabor? And they answered, As thou art, so were they;
each one resembled the children of a king.
8:19 And he said, They were my brethren, even the sons of my mother: as
the LORD liveth, if ye had saved them alive, I would not slay you.
8:20 And he said unto Jether his firstborn, Up, and slay them. But the
youth drew not his sword: for he feared, because he was yet a youth.
8:21 Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise thou, and fall upon us: for as
the man is, so is his strength. And Gideon arose, and slew Zebah and
Zalmunna, and took away the ornaments that were on their camels' necks.
8:22 Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both
thou, and thy son, and thy son's son also: for thou hast delivered us
from the hand of Midian.
8:23 And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall
my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you.
8:24 And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye
would give me every man the earrings of his prey. (For they had golden
earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)
8:25 And they answered, We will willingly give them. And they spread a
garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings of his prey.
8:26 And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a
thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside ornaments, and
collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside
the chains that were about their camels' necks.
8:27 And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in
Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing
became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house.
8:28 Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Israel, so that they
lifted up their heads no more. And the country was in quietness forty
years in the days of Gideon.
8:29 And Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house.
8:30 And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten: for he
had many wives.
8:31 And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son,
whose name he called Abimelech.
8:32 And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age, and was buried
in the sepulchre of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
8:33 And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children
of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made
Baalberith their god.
8:34 And the children of Israel remembered not the LORD their God, who
had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side:
8:35 Neither shewed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, namely,
Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shewed unto Israel.
9:1 And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother's
brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family of the house
of his mother's father, saying,
9:2 Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether is
better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, which are
threescore and ten persons, reign over you, or that one reign over you?
remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.
9:3 And his mother's brethren spake of him in the ears of all the men of
Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech;
for they said, He is our brother.
9:4 And they gave him threescore and ten pieces of silver out of the
house of Baalberith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light persons,
which followed him.
9:5 And he went unto his father's house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren
the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone:
notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for
he hid himself.
9:6 And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of
Millo, and went, and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar
that was in Shechem.
9:7 And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of
mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them,
Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you.
9:8 The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they
said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.
9:9 But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness,
wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the
trees?
9:10 And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us.
9:11 But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and
my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?
9:12 Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us.
9:13 And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth
God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?
9:14 Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over
us.
9:15 And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king
over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let
fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.
9:16 Now therefore, if ye have done truly and sincerely, in that ye have
made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his
house, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands;
9:17 (For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and
delivered you out of the hand of Midian:
9:18 And ye are risen up against my father's house this day, and have
slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have
made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of
Shechem, because he is your brother;)
9:19 If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with
his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also
rejoice in you:
9:20 But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of
Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of
Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech.
9:21 And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there,
for fear of Abimelech his brother.
9:22 When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel,
9:23 Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of
Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:
9:24 That the cruelty done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal
might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which
slew them; and upon the men of Shechem, which aided him in the killing
of his brethren.
9:25 And the men of Shechem set liers in wait for him in the top of the
mountains, and they robbed all that came along that way by them: and it
was told Abimelech.
9:26 And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to
Shechem: and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him.
9:27 And they went out into the fields, and gathered their vineyards,
and trode the grapes, and made merry, and went into the house of their
god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech.
9:28 And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech, and who is
Shechem, that we should serve him? is not he the son of Jerubbaal? and
Zebul his officer? serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: for why
should we serve him?
9:29 And would to God this people were under my hand! then would I
remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase thine army, and
come out.
9:30 And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the
son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.
9:31 And he sent messengers unto Abimelech privily, saying, Behold, Gaal
the son of Ebed and his brethren be come to Shechem; and, behold, they
fortify the city against thee.
9:32 Now therefore up by night, thou and the people that is with thee,
and lie in wait in the field:
9:33 And it shall be, that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up,
thou shalt rise early, and set upon the city: and, behold, when he and
the people that is with him come out against thee, then mayest thou do
to them as thou shalt find occasion.
9:34 And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by
night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.
9:35 And Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entering of the
gate of the city: and Abimelech rose up, and the people that were with
him, from lying in wait.
9:36 And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there come
people down from the top of the mountains. And Zebul said unto him, Thou
seest the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.
9:37 And Gaal spake again, and said, See there come people down by the
middle of the land, and another company come along by the plain of
Meonenim.
9:38 Then said Zebul unto him, Where is now thy mouth, wherewith thou
saidst, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? is not this the
people that thou hast despised? go out, I pray now, and fight with them.
9:39 And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with
Abimelech.
9:40 And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many were
overthrown and wounded, even unto the entering of the gate.
9:41 And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his
brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem.
9:42 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into
the field; and they told Abimelech.
9:43 And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and
laid wait in the field, and looked, and, behold, the people were come
forth out of the city; and he rose up against them, and smote them.
9:44 And Abimelech, and the company that was with him, rushed forward,
and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and the two other
companies ran upon all the people that were in the fields, and slew
them.
9:45 And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the
city, and slew the people that was therein, and beat down the city, and
sowed it with salt.
9:46 And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that, they
entered into an hold of the house of the god Berith.
9:47 And it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Shechem
were gathered together.
9:48 And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people
that were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down
a bough from the trees, and took it, and laid it on his shoulder, and
said unto the people that were with him, What ye have seen me do, make
haste, and do as I have done.
9:49 And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and
followed Abimelech, and put them to the hold, and set the hold on fire
upon them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about
a thousand men and women.
9:50 Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and
took it.
9:51 But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all
the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut it to them, and
gat them up to the top of the tower.
9:52 And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and went
hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
9:53 And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech's
head, and all to brake his skull.
9:54 Then he called hastily unto the young man his armourbearer, and
said unto him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A
women slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.
9:55 And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they
departed every man unto his place.
9:56 Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto
his father, in slaying his seventy brethren:
9:57 And all the evil of the men of Shechem did God render upon their
heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.
10:1 And after Abimelech there arose to defend Israel Tola the son of
Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; and he dwelt in Shamir in
mount Ephraim.
10:2 And he judged Israel twenty and three years, and died, and was
buried in Shamir.
10:3 And after him arose Jair, a Gileadite, and judged Israel twenty and
two years.
10:4 And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts, and they had
thirty cities, which are called Havothjair unto this day, which are in
the land of Gilead.
10:5 And Jair died, and was buried in Camon.
10:6 And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD,
and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of
Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and
the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the LORD, and served not him.
10:7 And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them
into the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of the children of
Ammon.
10:8 And that year they vexed and oppressed the children of Israel:
eighteen years, all the children of Israel that were on the other side
Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead.
10:9 Moreover the children of Ammon passed over Jordan to fight also
against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim;
so that Israel was sore distressed.
10:10 And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, saying, We have
sinned against thee, both because we have forsaken our God, and also
served Baalim.
10:11 And the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Did not I deliver
you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of
Ammon, and from the Philistines?
10:12 The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did
oppress you; and ye cried to me, and I delivered you out of their hand.
10:13 Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will
deliver you no more.
10:14 Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver
you in the time of your tribulation.
10:15 And the children of Israel said unto the LORD, We have sinned: do
thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray
thee, this day.
10:16 And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the
LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.
10:17 Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in
Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled themselves together, and
encamped in Mizpeh.
10:18 And the people and princes of Gilead said one to another, What man
is he that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? he shall
be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.
11:1 Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour, and he was
the son of an harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah.
11:2 And Gilead's wife bare him sons; and his wife's sons grew up, and
they thrust out Jephthah, and said unto him, Thou shalt not inherit in
our father's house; for thou art the son of a strange woman.
11:3 Then Jephthah fled from his brethren, and dwelt in the land of Tob:
and there were gathered vain men to Jephthah, and went out with him.
11:4 And it came to pass in process of time, that the children of Ammon
made war against Israel.
11:5 And it was so, that when the children of Ammon made war against
Israel, the elders of Gilead went to fetch Jephthah out of the land of
Tob:
11:6 And they said unto Jephthah, Come, and be our captain, that we may
fight with the children of Ammon.
11:7 And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, Did not ye hate me,
and expel me out of my father's house? and why are ye come unto me now
when ye are in distress?
11:8 And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, Therefore we turn
again to thee now, that thou mayest go with us, and fight against the
children of Ammon, and be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.
11:9 And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, If ye bring me home
again to fight against the children of Ammon, and the LORD deliver them
before me, shall I be your head?
11:10 And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, The LORD be witness
between us, if we do not so according to thy words.
11:11 Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made
him head and captain over them: and Jephthah uttered all his words
before the LORD in Mizpeh.
11:12 And Jephthah sent messengers unto the king of the children of
Ammon, saying, What hast thou to do with me, that thou art come against
me to fight in my land?
11:13 And the king of the children of Ammon answered unto the messengers
of Jephthah, Because Israel took away my land, when they came up out of
Egypt, from Arnon even unto Jabbok, and unto Jordan: now therefore
restore those lands again peaceably.
11:14 And Jephthah sent messengers again unto the king of the children
of Ammon:
11:15 And said unto him, Thus saith Jephthah, Israel took not away the
land of Moab, nor the land of the children of Ammon:
11:16 But when Israel came up from Egypt, and walked through the
wilderness unto the Red sea, and came to Kadesh;
11:17 Then Israel sent messengers unto the king of Edom, saying, Let me,
I pray thee, pass through thy land: but the king of Edom would not
hearken thereto. And in like manner they sent unto the king of Moab: but
he would not consent: and Israel abode in Kadesh.
11:18 Then they went along through the wilderness, and compassed the
land of Edom, and the land of Moab, and came by the east side of the
land of Moab, and pitched on the other side of Arnon, but came not
within the border of Moab: for Arnon was the border of Moab.
11:19 And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites, the
king of Heshbon; and Israel said unto him, Let us pass, we pray thee,
through thy land into my place.
11:20 But Sihon trusted not Israel to pass through his coast: but Sihon
gathered all his people together, and pitched in Jahaz, and fought
against Israel.
11:21 And the LORD God of Israel delivered Sihon and all his people into
the hand of Israel, and they smote them: so Israel possessed all the
land of the Amorites, the inhabitants of that country.
11:22 And they possessed all the coasts of the Amorites, from Arnon even
unto Jabbok, and from the wilderness even unto Jordan.
11:23 So now the LORD God of Israel hath dispossessed the Amorites from
before his people Israel, and shouldest thou possess it?
11:24 Wilt not thou possess that which Chemosh thy god giveth thee to
possess? So whomsoever the LORD our God shall drive out from before us,
them will we possess.
11:25 And now art thou any thing better than Balak the son of Zippor,
king of Moab? did he ever strive against Israel, or did he ever fight
against them,
11:26 While Israel dwelt in Heshbon and her towns, and in Aroer and her
towns, and in all the cities that be along by the coasts of Arnon, three
hundred years? why therefore did ye not recover them within that time?
11:27 Wherefore I have not sinned against thee, but thou doest me wrong
to war against me: the LORD the Judge be judge this day between the
children of Israel and the children of Ammon.
11:28 Howbeit the king of the children of Ammon hearkened not unto the
words of Jephthah which he sent him.
11:29 Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, and he passed over
Gilead, and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh
of Gilead he passed over unto the children of Ammon.
11:30 And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou shalt
without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands,
11:31 Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my
house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon,
shall surely be the LORD's, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.
11:32 So Jephthah passed over unto the children of Ammon to fight
against them; and the LORD delivered them into his hands.
11:33 And he smote them from Aroer, even till thou come to Minnith, even
twenty cities, and unto the plain of the vineyards, with a very great
slaughter. Thus the children of Ammon were subdued before the children
of Israel.
11:34 And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his
daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was
his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter.
11:35 And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes,
and said, Alas, my daughter! thou hast brought me very low, and thou art
one of them that trouble me: for I have opened my mouth unto the LORD,
and I cannot go back.
11:36 And she said unto him, My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth
unto the LORD, do to me according to that which hath proceeded out of
thy mouth; forasmuch as the LORD hath taken vengeance for thee of thine
enemies, even of the children of Ammon.
11:37 And she said unto her father, Let this thing be done for me: let
me alone two months, that I may go up and down upon the mountains, and
bewail my virginity, I and my fellows.
11:38 And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months: and she went
with her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains.
11:39 And it came to pass at the end of two months, that she returned
unto her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had
vowed: and she knew no man. And it was a custom in Israel,
11:40 That the daughters of Israel went yearly to lament the daughter of
Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year.
12:1 And the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and went
northward, and said unto Jephthah, Wherefore passedst thou over to fight
against the children of Ammon, and didst not call us to go with thee? we
will burn thine house upon thee with fire.
12:2 And Jephthah said unto them, I and my people were at great strife
with the children of Ammon; and when I called you, ye delivered me not
out of their hands.
12:3 And when I saw that ye delivered me not, I put my life in my hands,
and passed over against the children of Ammon, and the LORD delivered
them into my hand: wherefore then are ye come up unto me this day, to
fight against me?
12:4 Then Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead, and fought
with Ephraim: and the men of Gilead smote Ephraim, because they said, Ye
Gileadites are fugitives of Ephraim among the Ephraimites, and among the
Manassites.
12:5 And the Gileadites took the passages of Jordan before the
Ephraimites: and it was so, that when those Ephraimites which were
escaped said, Let me go over; that the men of Gilead said unto him, Art
thou an Ephraimite? If he said, Nay;
12:6 Then said they unto him, Say now Shibboleth: and he said Sibboleth:
for he could not frame to pronounce it right. Then they took him, and
slew him at the passages of Jordan: and there fell at that time of the
Ephraimites forty and two thousand.
12:7 And Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then died Jephthah the
Gileadite, and was buried in one of the cities of Gilead.
12:8 And after him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel.
12:9 And he had thirty sons, and thirty daughters, whom he sent abroad,
and took in thirty daughters from abroad for his sons. And he judged
Israel seven years.
12:10 Then died Ibzan, and was buried at Bethlehem.
12:11 And after him Elon, a Zebulonite, judged Israel; and he judged
Israel ten years.
12:12 And Elon the Zebulonite died, and was buried in Aijalon in the
country of Zebulun.
12:13 And after him Abdon the son of Hillel, a Pirathonite, judged
Israel.
12:14 And he had forty sons and thirty nephews, that rode on threescore
and ten ass colts: and he judged Israel eight years.
12:15 And Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died, and was buried
in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the mount of the Amalekites.
13:1 And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD;
and the LORD delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty
years.
13:2 And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites,
whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare not.
13:3 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman, and said unto
her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt
conceive, and bear a son.
13:4 Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong
drink, and eat not any unclean thing:
13:5 For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall
come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the
womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the
Philistines.
13:6 Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, A man of God came
unto me, and his countenance was like the countenance of an angel of
God, very terrible: but I asked him not whence he was, neither told he
me his name:
13:7 But he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son;
and now drink no wine nor strong drink, neither eat any unclean thing:
for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb to the day of his
death.
13:8 Then Manoah intreated the LORD, and said, O my Lord, let the man of
God which thou didst send come again unto us, and teach us what we shall
do unto the child that shall be born.
13:9 And God hearkened to the voice of Manoah; and the angel of God came
again unto the woman as she sat in the field: but Manoah her husband was
not with her.
13:10 And the woman made haste, and ran, and shewed her husband, and
said unto him, Behold, the man hath appeared unto me, that came unto me
the other day.
13:11 And Manoah arose, and went after his wife, and came to the man,
and said unto him, Art thou the man that spakest unto the woman? And he
said, I am.
13:12 And Manoah said, Now let thy words come to pass. How shall we
order the child, and how shall we do unto him?
13:13 And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Of all that I said
unto the woman let her beware.
13:14 She may not eat of any thing that cometh of the vine, neither let
her drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing: all that I
commanded her let her observe.
13:15 And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, I pray thee, let us
detain thee, until we shall have made ready a kid for thee.
13:16 And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Though thou detain me,
I will not eat of thy bread: and if thou wilt offer a burnt offering,
thou must offer it unto the LORD. For Manoah knew not that he was an
angel of the LORD.
13:17 And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, What is thy name, that
when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee honour?
13:18 And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Why askest thou thus
after my name, seeing it is secret?
13:19 So Manoah took a kid with a meat offering, and offered it upon a
rock unto the LORD: and the angel did wonderously; and Manoah and his
wife looked on.
13:20 For it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven from off
the altar, that the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of the
altar. And Manoah and his wife looked on it, and fell on their faces to
the ground.
13:21 But the angel of the LORD did no more appear to Manoah and to his
wife. Then Manoah knew that he was an angel of the LORD.
13:22 And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we
have seen God.
13:23 But his wife said unto him, If the LORD were pleased to kill us,
he would not have received a burnt offering and a meat offering at our
hands, neither would he have shewed us all these things, nor would as at
this time have told us such things as these.
13:24 And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the
child grew, and the LORD blessed him.
13:25 And the Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in the camp
of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.
14:1 And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the
daughters of the Philistines.
14:2 And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I
have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now
therefore get her for me to wife.
14:3 Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a
woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that
thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson
said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well.
14:4 But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the LORD,
that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the
Philistines had dominion over Israel.
14:5 Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath,
and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young lion roared
against him.
14:6 And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him
as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told
not his father or his mother what he had done.
14:7 And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson
well.
14:8 And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to
see the carcase of the lion: and, behold, there was a swarm of bees and
honey in the carcase of the lion.
14:9 And he took thereof in his hands, and went on eating, and came to
his father and mother, and he gave them, and they did eat: but he told
not them that he had taken the honey out of the carcase of the lion.
14:10 So his father went down unto the woman: and Samson made there a
feast; for so used the young men to do.
14:11 And it came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought thirty
companions to be with him.
14:12 And Samson said unto them, I will now put forth a riddle unto you:
if ye can certainly declare it me within the seven days of the feast,
and find it out, then I will give you thirty sheets and thirty change of
garments:
14:13 But if ye cannot declare it me, then shall ye give me thirty
sheets and thirty change of garments. And they said unto him, Put forth
thy riddle, that we may hear it.
14:14 And he said unto them, Out of the eater came forth meat, and out
of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in three days
expound the riddle.
14:15 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they said unto
Samson's wife, Entice thy husband, that he may declare unto us the
riddle, lest we burn thee and thy father's house with fire: have ye
called us to take that we have? is it not so?
14:16 And Samson's wife wept before him, and said, Thou dost but hate
me, and lovest me not: thou hast put forth a riddle unto the children of
my people, and hast not told it me. And he said unto her, Behold, I have
not told it my father nor my mother, and shall I tell it thee?
14:17 And she wept before him the seven days, while their feast lasted:
and it came to pass on the seventh day, that he told her, because she
lay sore upon him: and she told the riddle to the children of her
people.
14:18 And the men of the city said unto 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 unto them, If ye had not plowed with my heifer, ye
had not found out my riddle.
14:19 And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he went down to
Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave
change of garments unto them which expounded the riddle. And his anger
was kindled, and he went up to his father's house.
14:20 But Samson's wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as
his friend.
15:1 But it came to pass within a while after, in the time of wheat
harvest, that Samson visited his wife with a kid; and he said, I will go
in to my wife into the chamber. But her father would not suffer him to
go in.
15:2 And her father said, I verily thought that thou hadst utterly hated
her; therefore I gave her to thy companion: is not her younger sister
fairer than she? take her, I pray thee, instead of her.
15:3 And Samson said concerning them, Now shall I be more blameless than
the Philistines, though I do them a displeasure.
15:4 And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took
firebrands, and turned tail to tail, and put a firebrand in the midst
between two tails.
15:5 And when he had set the brands on fire, he let them go into the
standing corn of the Philistines, and burnt up both the shocks, and also
the standing corn, with the vineyards and olives.
15:6 Then the Philistines said, Who hath done this? And they answered,
Samson, the son in law of the Timnite, because he had taken his wife,
and given her to his companion. And the Philistines came up, and burnt
her and her father with fire.
15:7 And Samson said unto them, Though ye have done this, yet will I be
avenged of you, and after that I will cease.
15:8 And he smote them hip and thigh with a great slaughter: and he went
down and dwelt in the top of the rock Etam.