The defolation of Benjamin.

faid, Surely they are fimitten down before us, as in the firft battel.

40 But when the flame began to rife up out of the city, with a pillar of fmoke, the Benjamites looked behind them, and behold, the flame of the whole the city afcended up to heaven.

Heb.

confum Ption.

Heb. touched

them.

41 And when the men of Ifrael turned again, the men of Benjamin were amazed; for they faw that evil was come upon them.

42 Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Ifrael, unto the way of the wildernefs, but the battel overtook them: and them which came out of the cities, they destroyed in the midft of them.

43 Thus they inclofed the Benjamites round about, and chafed them, and trode them down Or, from with eafe, tover against Gibeah toward the fun-rifing

Menuchah,&c. Heb.

Ento over guia.

Chap

21. 13.

+Heb.

Wives for the Benjamites.

camp from Jabelh-gilead to the aflembly.

9 For the people were numbred, and behold, there were none of the inhabitants of Jabefhgilead there.

to And the congregation fent thither twelve thousand men of the valianteft, and commanded them, faying, Go, and fmite the inhabitants of Jabefh-gilead with the edge of the fword, with the women and the children. Numb. II And this is the thing that ye fhall do, Ye 31 17. fhall utterly deftroy every male, and every wo-f Heb. man that thathlien by man.

*

knoweth

with man

45 And they turned and fled toward the wildernefs, unto the rock of Rimmon: and they gleaned of them in the high ways five thouand men; and purfued hard after them unto Gidom, and flew two thousand men of them.

46 So that all which fell that day of Benjamin, were twenty and five thousand men that drew the fword: all thefe were men of valour.

47 But fix hundred men turned and fled to the wilderness, unto the rock Rimmon, and abode in the rock Rimmon four moneths. 48 And the men of Ifrael turned again upon Was found the children of Benjamin, and fmote them with the edge of the fwords as well the men of every city, as the beaft, and all that came to hand: alfo they fet on fire all the cities that they

Heb.

were found.

came to.

CHAP. XXI.

The people bewail the defolation of Benjamin.8 By the deftruction of Fabefb-gilead,they provide them four hundred wives. 16 They advise them to fur prife the virgins that danced at Shilob.

Now the men of hardenbad worn in Mizpen faying, There fhall not any of us give his daughter unto Benjamin to wife.

And the people came to the house of God, and abode there tillven before God, and lift up their voices and wept fore:

3 And faid, O LORD God of Ifrael, why is this come to pafs in Ifrael, that there fhould be to day one tribe lacking in Ifrael?

4 And it came to pafs on the morrow, that the people rofe early, and built there an altar, and offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings.

5 And the children of Ifrael faid,Who is there among all the tribes of Ifrael, that came not up with the congregation unto the LORD? for they had made a great oath concerning him that came not up to the LORD to Mizpeh, laying, He fhall furely be put to death.

6 And the children of Ifrael repented them for Benjamin their brother, and faid, There is one tribe cut off from Ifrael this day:

7 How fhall we do for wives for them that remain, feeing we have fworn by the LORD that we will not give them of our daughters to wives?

8 And they faid, What one is there of the tribes of Ifrael, that came not up to Mizpeh to the LORD? And behold, there came none to the

+ Heh.

proclaim

14 And Benjamin came again at that time,and peace. they gave them wives which they had faved alive of the women of Jabesh-gilead: and yet fo they fufficed them not.

15 And the people repented them for Benjamin, becaufe that the LORD had made a breach in the tribes of Ifrael.

16 Then the elders of the congregation faid, How fhall we do for wives for them that remain? feeing the women are deftroyed out of Benjamin:

17 And they faid, There must be an inheritance for them that be escaped of Benjamin, that a tribe be not deftroyed out of Ifrael.

18 Howbeit we may not give them wives of our daughters: for the children of Ifrael have fworn, faying, Curfed be he that giveth a wife to Benjamin.

19 Then they faid, Behold, there is a feaft of the LORD in Shiloh tyearly, in a place which is on the north-fide of Beth-el,on the eaft-fide of

the high-way that theth from Beth-:! to Shechem, and on the fouth of Lebonah.

Heb.

from vear to year.

Or, towards

20 Therefore they comnianded the children the funof Benjamin, faying, Go, and lie in wait in the rifing. 107, vineyards:

21 And fee, and behold, if the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in dances, then come ye out of the vineyards, and catch ye every man his wife of the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin.

22 And it fhall be when their fathers, or their brethren come unto us to complain, that we will fay unto them, Be favourable unto them for Or, our fakes: because we referved not to each man Gratife his wife in the war for ye did not give unto us in them at this time, that yefhould be guilty. them.

23 And the children of Benjamin did fo, and took them wives according to their number of them that danced, whom they caught: and they went and returned unto their inheritance, and repaired the cities and dwelt in them.

24 And the children of Ifrael departed thence at that time, every man to his tribe, and to his family, and they went out from thence, every man to his inheritance.

Chap 25 In those days there was no king in If-17. 6. an rael: every man did that which was right in his 18.1 and own eyes.

Gaals flight.

Or, Monge

ROT,

hot. Hebr. craftily,

07 to Tolmah.

Hebr. as thine hand thall Sude.

robbed all that came along that way by them: and it was told Abimelech.

26 And Gaal the fon of Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to Shechem: and the nien of Shechem put their confidence in him. 27 And they went out into the fields, and gatherered their vineyards,and trod the grapes, and made merry, and went into the houfe of their god, and did eat and drink, and curfed Abimelech.

28 And Gaal the fon of Ebed faid,Who is Abimelech,and who is Shechem that we fhould ferve him? is not be the fon of Jerubbaal? And Zebul his officer? ferve the men of Hamor the father Shechem: for why fhould we ferve him? 29 And would to God this people were under my hand, then would I remove Abimelech. And he faid to Abimelech, Increase thine army, and

come out.

30 And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the fon of Ebed, his an ger was kindled.

31 And he fent meffengers unto Abimelech privily, faying,Behold, Gaal the fon of Ebed, and his brethren be come to Shechem; and behold, they fortifie the city against thee.

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

33 And it fhall be, that in the morning affoon as the fun is up, thou fhalt rife early, and fet upon the city and behold, when he, and the people that is with him come out against thee, then mayelt thou do to them as thou fhalt find occaion.

34 And Abimelech rofe up,and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.

35 And Gaal the fun of Ebed went out, and food in the entring of the gate of the city: and Abimelech rofe up, and the people that were with him, from lying in wait.

36 And when Gaal faw the people, he faid to Zebul,Behold, there come people down from the top of the mountains. And 'Zebul faid unto him, Thou feeft the fhadow of the mountains, as if they were men.

37 And Gaal fpake again, and faid, See,there come people down by the + middle of the land, Heb and another company come along by the plain

ravel.

IN Or,

the re

of Meonenim.

38 Then faid Zebul unto him, Where is now garders of thy mouth,wherewith thou faidft, Who is Abimelech,that we fhould ferve him? is not this the people that thou haft defpifed? Go out, I pray now, and fight with them.

the fields, and flew them.

Abimelech flain

45 And Abimelech fought against the city all that day, and he took the city, and flew the people that was therein, and beat down the city,and fowed it with falt.

46 ¶ And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that, they entred into an hold of the houte of the god Berith.

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

48 And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he, and all the people that were with him, and Abimelech took an ax in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it, and laid it on his fhoulder, and laid unto the peo-+ Hebr. ple that were with him, What ye have feen f me have do, make hafte, and do as I have done.

49 And all the people likewife cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the hold, and fet the hold on fire upon them: fo that all the men of the tower of Shechem died alfo, about a thousand men and women.

50 Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.

51 But there was aftrong tower within the city, and thither fled all the men, and women, and all they of the city, and fhut it to them, and gat them up to the top of the tower.

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.

done..

53 And a certain woman caft a piece of a 2 Sam milftone upon Abimelechs head, and all to brake 11. 21. his fcull.

54 Then he called haftily unto the young man his armour-bearer, and faid unto him, Draw thy fword and flay me, that men fay not of me, A woman flew him and his young man thruft him through, and he died.

55 And when the men of Ifrael faw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place.

56 Thus God rendred the wickedness of A 2 Sim bimelech which he did unto his father, in flay-25 ing his feventy brethren.

57 And all the evil of the men of Shechem did God render upon their heads: and upon them came the curfe of Jotham, the fon of Jerubbaal.

CHAP. X.

Tola judgetb Ifrael in Shamir. 3 Fair, whose thir ty Sons bad thiry cities. 7 The Philistines and Ammonites opprefs Ifrael. xo in their misery, God fendeth them to their falfe gods. 15 Upon their repentance be pittieth them.

Ruth

2.20

40 And Abimelech chafed him, and he fled before him, and many were overthrown and wounded, even unto the entring of the gate. 41 And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah; and Zebul thruft out Gaal and his brethren,that they hould not dwell in Shechem.

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

43 And he took the pople, and divided them imo three companies and laid wait in the field, and tooked, and behold, the people were come forth out of the city,and he rofe up against them and imote them.

44 And Abimelech, and the company that was with him, rufhed forward, and flood in the entring of the gate of the city, and the two other Companies ran upon all the people that were in

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

31 And after him arofe Jair a Gileadite, and judged Ifrael twenty and two years.

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

Or

the villages of Bair.

6.1. and

2. 13.

Fephthah made captain.

+ Heb. Canhed.

* Deat. 31.15. Jer.2.13.

7And the anger of the LORD was hot against Ifrael, and he fold them into the hand of the Philiftines, and into the hand of the children of Ammon.

8 And that year they vexed and oppreffed the children of Ifrael: eighteen years, all the children of Ifrael that were on the other fide Jordan, in, the land of the Amorite which is in Gilead.

9 Moreover, the children of Ammon paffed over Jordan, to fight alfo against Judah, and againft Benjamin, and against the houfe of Ephraim: fo that Ifrael was fore diftreffed.

10 And the children of Ifrael cried unto the LORD,faying, We have finned against thee,both because we have forfaken our God, and alfo Herved Baalim.

11 And the LORD faid unto the children of Ifrael, Did not I deliver you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorite, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines?

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

13* Yet ye have forfaken me,and ferved other gods; wherefore I will deliver you no more.

chofen, let them deliver you in the time of your 14. Go and cry unto the gods which ye have

tribulation.

His treaty of peace.

fathers houfe? and why are ye come unto me now, when ye are in diftrefs?

8 And the elders of Gilead faid unto Jephthah, Therefore we turn again to thee now, that thou mayeft go with us, and fight against the children of Animon, and be our head over all the inha-| bitants of Gilead.

9 And Jephthah faid 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, fhall I be your head?

10 And the elders of Gilead faid unto Jeph-+ Heb. thah, The LORD be witnefs between us, if we be the do not fo according to thy words. hearer be I Then Jephthah went with the elders of tween us. Gilead, and the people made him head and captain over them and Jephthah uttered all his words before the LORD in Mizpeh.

12 And Jephthah fent meffengers unto the king of the children of Ammon, laying, What haft thou to do with me, that thou art come againit me, to fight in my land.

13 And the king of the children of Ammon anfwered unto the meffengers of Jephthah, *Becaufe Ifrael took away my land when they came up out of Egypt, from Arnon even unto Jabbok, and unto Jordan: now therefore reftore thofe lands again peaceably.

the

king of the children of Ammon: 14 And Jephthah fent meffengers again unto

* Numb

21.13.

15 And faid unto him, Thus faith Jephthah, D.ut. Ifrael took not away the land of Moab, nor 2.9. the land of the children of Ammon.

+ Heb.

thine eyes + Heb. gods of Strangers. + Heb.

16 And they put away the ftrange gods from among them, and ferved the LORD: and his foul t was grieved for the mifery of Ifrael.

17 Then the children of Ammon were tgather was hort-ed together, and encamped in Gilead, and the

ned.

Heb. 11.32. called Jepthae.

+ Heb.

a woman

16 But when Ifrael came up from Egypt, and walked through the wildernefs unto the Red fea, and came to Kadesh:

18 And the people and princes of Gilead faid one to another, What man is be that will begin

CHAP. XL

The covenant between Fepbtbab and the Gilea dites, that be should be their head. 12 The treaty of peace between him and the Ammonites is in vain. 20 Jephtbabs vow. 32 His conquest of the Ammonites. 34 He performech bis vow on bis daughter.

N

Numb.

21.13.

Deal.

$2.26.

+ Heb. from the face.

+ Heb.

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.

41 And it came to pafst in procefs of time, after day that the children of Ammon made war against Ifrael.

5 And it was fo, that when the children of Ammon made war againft Ifrael, the elders of Gilead went to fetch Jephthah out of the land of Tob.

6 And they faid unto Jephthah, Come, and be our captain, that we may fight with the children of Ammon.

7 And Jephthah faid unto the elders of Gilead, Did not ye hate me, and expel me out of my

Fephthah his vow:

+ Heb.

towns, and in Aroer, and her towns, and in daughters all the cities that be along by the coafts of Ardaughters non, three hundred years? why therefore did ye not recover them within that time?

+ Heb.

+ Heb.

cometh

27 Wherefore I have not finned against thee, but thou doeft me wrong to war againft me: the LORD the judge, be judge this day between the children of Ifrael and the children of Ammon.i 28 Howbeit, the king of the children of Ammon hearkened not unto the words of Jephthah which he fent him.

29 Then the fpirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, and he palled over Gilead and Manatleh, and palled over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he paffed over unto the children of Ammon.

30 And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD, and faid, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hand:

31 Then it fhall be, that what foever cothat which meth forth of the doors of my houfe to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, fhall furely be the LORDS, and I will offer it for a burnt-offering.

forth,

which fhalicome forth,

HOT,

up

32 So Jephthah paffed over unto the children of Ammon, to fight against them, and the or i will LORD delivered them into his hand. offer it,

06

11 Or, Abel.

4 Or,

he had not of his own

33 And he finote them from Aroer, even till thou come to Minnith, even twenty cities; and unto the plain of the vineyards, with a very great flaughter: thus the children of Ammon were fubdued before the children of Ifrael.

34 And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his houfe, and behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances, and fhe was bis onely child: at befide her he had neither fon nor daughter.

35 And it came to pafs when he faw her, that either ton he rent his clothes, and faid, Alas, my daugher daughter, thou haft brought me very low, and thou art one of them that trouble me: for I have of himself opened my mouth unto the LORD, and I cannot go back.

ter.

↑ Heb.

36 And fhe faid unto him, My father, if thou haft opened thy mouth unto the LORD, do to me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth: forafmuch as the LORD hath taken vengeance for thee of thine enemies, even of the children of Ammon.

37 And the faid unto her father, Let this thing be done for me let me alone two moneths, that I may go up and down upon the go and gomountains, and bewail my virginity, I, and my Hellows.

+ Heb.

down.

#er,

ortance t Heb.

38 And he faid, Go. And he fent her away for two moneths, and fhe went with her companions and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains.

39 And it came to pafs at the end of two moneths, that fhe returned unto her father,who did with her according to his vow which he had had vowed and fhe knew no man: and it was a cuftom in Ifrael,

40 That the daughters of Ifrael went † yearly to kment the daughter of Jephthah the Gilefrom days adite four dayes in a year.

to days.

ao talk with.

CHAP. XIL

The Epbraimites quarrelling with Jephthah,and difcerned by Shibboleth are flain by the Gileas dites.7 Ferbthab dieth. 81ban, who had thirty Jons, and thirty daughters, 1 and Elon, 13 and Abdon, who had forty fons and thirty nephews, judged Ifrael.

+ Heb. Nd the men of Ephraim † gathered themfelves together, and went northward, and faid unto Jephthah, Wherefore Fatledit thou

were.al

led.

over to fight against the children of Ammon, and didft not call us to go with thee? We will burn thine houfe upon thee with fire.

2 And Jephthah faid unto them, I and my people were at great firife with the children of Ammon; and when I called you, ye delivered me not out of their hand.

3 And when I faw that ye delivered me not, I put my life in my hand, and paffed over againft the children of Animon, and the LORD delivered them into my hand. Wherefore then are ye come up unto me this day to fight against ine?

4 Then Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead, and fought with Ephraim: and the men of Gilead fmote Ephraim, becaufe they faid, Ye Gileadites are fugitives of Ephraim, among the Ephraimites, and among the Manallites.

5 And the Gileadites took the paffages of Jordan before the Ephraimites, and it was fo2 that when thofe Ephraimites which were efcaped, faid, Let me go over, that the men of Gilead faid unto him, Art thou an Ephraimite? If he faid, Nay:

6 Then faid they unto him, Say now Shibbo leth, and he faid. Sibboleth: for he could not frame to pronounce it right. Then they took him, and flew him at the paffages of Jordan: and there fell at that time of the Ephramites forty and two thousand.

7 And Jephthah judged Ifrael fix years. then died Jephthah the Gileadite, and was buried in one of the cities of Gilead.

And after him Ibzan of Bethlehem judg-|

+ Heb. ancleanBefs.

Heb.

what fhall be the

6 Then the woman came, and told her hufband, faying, 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:

7 But he said unto me,Behold, thou fhalt conceive, and bear a fon and now drink no wine, por ftrong drink,neither eat anytunclean thing: for the child fhall be a Nazarite to God from the womb, to the day of his death.

8Then Manoah intreated the LORD, and faid, O my Lord, let the man of God, which thou didst fend, come again unto us, and teach us what we fhall do unto the child that fhall be born.

9 And God hearkened to the voice of Manoah: and the angel of God came again unto the woman as the fate in the field: but Manoah her husband was not with her.

to And the woman made hafte, and ran, and fhewed her husband, and faid unto him.Behold, the man hath appeared unto me, that came unto me the other day.

I And Manoah arofe, and went after his wife, and came to the man, and faid unto him, Art thou the man that fpakeft unto the woman? and he faid, I am.

12 And Manoah faid, Now let thy words come manner of to pafs: f how fhall we order the childe, and tbow fhall we do unto him?

the &c. Or,

what fall he do? theo.. What shall be his

Work ? + Heb. uncicannels.

Heb. before

thee.

Or,

Wonderfull.

13 And the angel of the LORD faid unto Ma noah, Of all that I faid unto the woman, let her beware.

14 She may not eat of any thing that cometh of the vine,neither let her drink wine,or ftrong drink, nor eat any unclean thing: all that I commanded her, let her obferve.

15 And Manoah faid unto the angel of the LORD, I pray thee, let us detain thee, until we fhall have made ready a kid † for thee.

16 And the angel of the LORD faid 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.

17 And Manoah faid unto the angel of the LORD, What is thy name, that when thy fayings come to pals, we may do thee honour?

18 And the angel of the LORD faid unto him, Why askeft thou thus after my name, feeing it is u fecret?

19 So Manoah took a kid, with a meat-offer ing, and offered it upon a rock unto the LORD and the angel did wonderously, and Manoah and his wife looked on.

20 For it came to pafs when the flame went up toward heaven from off the altar, that the angel of the LORD afcended in the flame of the altar: and Manoah and his wife looked on it, and fell on their faces to the ground.

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.

Exod. 33.20. 22 And Manoah faid unto his wife, We fhall Ghap-6-22. furely die, because we have feen God.

23 But his wife faid unto him, If the LORD were pleafed to kill us, he would not have received a burnt-offering, and a meat offering at our hands, neither would he have fhewed us all these things, nor would as at this time

Samfon killeth a lion.

have told us fuch things as thefe.

24 And the woman bare a fon, and called his name Samfon : and the child grew, and the LORD bleffed him.

25 And the spirit of the LORD began to move him at times, in the camp of Dan, between Zorah and Efhtaol.

CHAP. XIV.

1 Samfon defireth a wife of the Philistines. 5 In bis journey be killeth a lion. 8 In a fecond journey be findeth boney in the carcafe. 10 Sams fons marriage feaft: 12 His riddle by his wife is made known. 19 He Spoileth thirty Philiftines. 20 His wife is married to another. ANd Samfon went down to Timnah, and faw a woman in Timnah,of the daughters of the Philiftines.

2 And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and faid, I have feen a woman in Timnah, of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife.

3 Then his father and his mother faid unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goeft to take a wife of the uncircumcifed Philiftines? and Samfon faid unto his father, Get her for me; for the pleafeth me + Heb.

well.

The is

4 But his father and his mother knew not right in that it was of the LORD, that he fought an oc- mine cyca. cafion against the Philiftines: for at that time the Philiftines had dominion over Ifrael.

5 Then went Samfon down, and his father and his mother to Timnah, and came to the vineyards of Timnah: and behold, a young lion roared † against him.

t Heb.

6 And the fpirit of the LORD came mightily in meet upon him, and he rent him as he would have ing him. rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand : but he told not his father or his mother what he had done.

7 And he went down, and talked with the wo man, and the pleafed Samfon well.

8¶And after a time he returned to take her and he turned afide to fee the carcafe of the li on, and behold there was a fwarm of bees, and honey in the carcale of the lion.

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 carcafe of the lion.

TO So his father went down unto the wo man, and Samfon made there a feaft; for foufed the young men to do.

II And it came to pafs when they faw him that they brought thirty companions to be with him.

12 And Samfon faid unto them, I will now put forth a riddle unto you: if ye can certainly declare it me within the feven dayes of the feaft, and find it out, then I will give you thirty fheets, and thirty change of garments.

13 But if ye cannot declare it me, then fhall ye give me thirty fheets, and thirty change of garments. And they faid unto him, Put forth thy riddle, that we may hear it.

14 And he faid unto them. Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth fweetness. And they could not in three dayes expound the riddle.

110r

fhirte

15 And it came to pafs on the feventh day,that they faid unto Samfons wife, Entice thy hus- Heb. band, that he may declare unto us the riddle, to poffef left we burn thee and thy fathers houfe with impovesfire: Have ye called us † to take that we have? in us. is it not fo? 16 And

us, or to