Category: Judges

Judah’s Leadership against the Canaanites

1 After the death of Joshua,the Israelites inquired of theLord,“Who will be the first to fight for us against the Canaanites? ”

2 TheLordanswered, “Judahis to go.I have handed the land over to him.”

3 Judah said to his brother Simeon, “Come with me to my territory, and let us fight against the Canaanites. I will also go with you to your territory.” So Simeon went with him.

4 When Judah attacked, theLordhanded the Canaanites and Perizzitesover to them. They struck down 10,000 men in Bezek.

5 They found Adoni-bezek in Bezek, fought against him, and struck down the Canaanites and Perizzites.

6 When Adoni-bezek fled, they pursued him, seized him, and cut off his thumbs and big toes.

7 Adoni-bezek said, “Seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off used to pick up scrapsunder my table. God has repaid me for what I have done.” They brought him to Jerusalem, and he died there.

8 The men of Judah fought against Jerusalem and captured it. They put the city to the sword and set it on fire.

9 Afterward, the men of Judah marched down to fight against the Canaanites who were living in the hill country, the Negev, and the Judean foothills.

10 Judah also marched against the Canaanites who were living in Hebron(Hebron was formerly named Kiriath-arba). They struck down Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai.

11 From there they marched against the residents of Debir(Debir was formerly named Kiriath-sepher).

12 Calebsaid, “Whoever strikes down and captures Kiriath-sepher, I will give my daughter Achsahto him as a wife.”

13 So Othnielson of Kenaz, Caleb’s youngest brother, captured it, and Caleb gave his daughter Achsah to him as his wife.

14 When she arrived, she persuaded Othnielto ask her father for a field. As she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her,“What do you want? ”

15 She answered him, “Give me a blessing. Since you have given me land in the Negev,give me springs of water also.” So Caleb gave her both the upper and lower springs.

16 The descendants of the Kenite, Moses’ father-in-law,had gone up with the men of Judah from the City of Palmsto the Wilderness of Judah, which was in the Negev of Arad.They went to live among the people.

17 Judah went with his brother Simeon, struck the Canaanites who were living in Zephath, and completely destroyed the town. So they named the town Hormah.

18 Judah captured Gaza and its territory, Ashkelon and its territory, and Ekron and its territory.

19 TheLordwas withJudah and enabled them to take possession of the hill country, but they could not drive outthe people who were living in the valley because those people had iron chariots.

20 Judah gave Hebron to Caleb, just as Moses had promised.Then Caleb drove out the three sons of Anakwho lived there.

Benjamin’s Failure

21 At the same time the Benjaminites did not drive out the Jebusites who were living in Jerusalem. The Jebusites have lived among the Benjaminites in Jerusalem to this day.

Success of the House of Joseph

22 The house of Joseph also attacked Bethel, and theLordwas withthem.

23 They sent spies to Bethel (the town was formerly named Luz).

24 The spies saw a man coming out of the town and said to him, “Please show us how to get into town, and we will treat you well.”

25 When he showed them the way into the town, they put the town to the sword but released the man and his entire family.

26 Then the man went to the land of the Hittites, built a town, and named it Luz. That is its name to this day.

Failure of the Other Tribes

27 At that time Manasseh failed to take possession of Beth-sheanand its villages,or Taanachand its villages, or the residents of Dorand its villages, or the residents of Ibleamand its villages, or the residents of Megiddoand its villages; the Canaanites refused to leavethis land.

28 When Israel became stronger, they made the Canaanites serve as forced labor but never drove them out completely.

29 At that time Ephraim failed to drive out the Canaanites who were living in Gezer, so the Canaanites have lived among them in Gezer.

30 Zebulun failed to drive out the residents of Kitron or the residents of Nahalol,so the Canaanites lived among them and served as forced labor.

31 Asher failed to drive out the residents of Accoor of Sidon, or Ahlab, Achzib, Helbah, Aphik, or Rehob.

32 The Asherites lived among the Canaanites who were living in the land, because they failed to drive them out.

33 Naphtali did not drive out the residents of Beth-shemesh or the residents of Beth-anath. They lived among the Canaanites who were living in the land, but the residents of Beth-shemesh and Beth-anath served as their forced labor.

34 The Amoritesforced the Danites into the hill country and did not allow them to go down into the valley.

35 The Amorites refused to leaveHar-heres, Aijalon,and Shaalbim. When the house of Joseph got the upper hand,the Amoriteswere made to serve as forced labor.

36 The territory of the Amorites extended from the Ascent of Akrabbim,that is from Selaupward.

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Pattern of Sin and Judgment

1 The Angel of theLordwent up from Gilgal to Bochimand said, “I brought you out of Egypt and led you into the landI had promised to your fathers.I also said: I will never break My covenant with you.

2 You are not to make a covenantwith the people who are living in this land, and you are to tear down their altars.But you have not obeyed Me. What is this you have done?

3 Therefore, I now say: I will not drive out these people before you.They will be thornsin your sides,and their gods will be a trap for you.”

4 When the Angel of theLordhad spoken these words to all the Israelites, the people wept loudly.

5 So they named that place Bochimand offered sacrifices there to theLord.

Joshua’s Death

6 Joshua sent the people away, and the Israelites went to take possession of the land, each to his own inheritance.

7 The people worshiped theLordthroughout Joshua’s lifetime and during the lifetimes of the elders who outlivedJoshua. They had seen all theLord’s great worksHe had done for Israel.

8 Joshua son of Nun, the servant of theLord, died at the age of 110.

9 They buried him in the territory of his inheritance, in Timnath-heres, in the hill country of Ephraim,north of Mount Gaash.

10 That whole generation was also gathered to their ancestors. After them another generation rose up who did not know theLordor the works He had done for Israel.

11 The Israelites did what was evil in theLord’s sight.They worshiped the Baals

12 and abandoned theLord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of Egypt. They went after other gods from the surrounding peoplesand bowed down to them. They infuriated theLord,

13 for they abandoned Him and worshiped Baal and the Ashtoreths.

14 TheLord’s anger burned against Israel, and He handed them over to marauders who raided them. He soldthem tothe enemies around them, and they could no longer resist their enemies.

15 Whenever the Israelites went out, theLordwas against themand brought disaster on them, just as He had promised and sworn to them.So they suffered greatly.

16 TheLordraised upjudges, who saved them from the power of their marauders,

17 but they did not listen to their judges. Instead, they prostitutedthemselves with other gods, bowing down to them. They quickly turned from the wayof their fathers, who had walked in obedience to theLord’s commands. They did not do as their fathers did.

18 Whenever theLordraised up a judge for the Israelites, theLordwas withhim and saved the people from the power of their enemies while the judge was still alive.TheLordwas moved to pity whenever they groaned because of those who were oppressing and afflicting them.

19 Whenever the judge died, the Israelites would act even more corruptlythan their fathers, going after other gods to worship and bow down to them. They did not turn from their evil practices or their obstinateways.

20 TheLord’s anger burned against Israel, and He declared, “Because this nation has violated My covenantthat I made with their fathersand disobeyed Me,

21 I will no longer drive out before them any of the nations Joshua leftwhen he died.

22 I did this to test Israel and to see whether they would keep theLord’s wayby walking in it, as their fathers had.”

23 TheLordleft these nations and did not drive them out immediately. He did not hand them over to Joshua.

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The Lord Tests Israel

1 These are the nations theLordleft in order to test Israel, since the Israelites had fought none of these inany of the wars with Canaan.

2 This was to teach the future generations of the Israelites how to fight in battle, especially those who had not fought before.

3 These nations included: the five rulersof the Philistinesand all of the Canaanites, the Sidonians,and the Hiviteswho lived in the Lebanese mountainsfrom Mount Baal-hermon as far as the entrance to Hamath.

4 TheLordleft them to test Israel, to determine if they would keep theLord’s commands He had given their fathers throughMoses.

5 But they settled among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.

6 The Israelites took their daughters as wives for themselves, gave their own daughters to their sons, and worshiped their gods.

Othniel, the First Judge

7 The Israelites did what was evil in theLord’s sight; they forgot theLordtheir Godand worshiped the Baals and the Asherahs.

8 TheLord’s anger burned against Israel, and He sold them toCushan-rishathaimking of Aram-naharaim,and the Israelites served him eight years.

9 The Israelites cried out to theLord.So theLordraised up Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s youngest brother,as a delivererto save the Israelites.

10 The Spirit of theLordcame on him, and he judged Israel. Othniel went out to battle, and theLordhanded over Cushan-rishathaim king of Aram to him, so that Othniel overpowered him.

11 Then the land was peaceful40 years, and Othniel son of Kenaz died.

Ehud

12 The Israelites again did what was evil in theLord’s sight. He gave Eglon king of Moabpower over Israel, because they had done what was evil in theLord’s sight.

13 After Eglon convinced the Ammonites and the Amalekites to join forces with him, he attacked and defeated Israel and took possession of the City of Palms.

14 The Israelites served Eglon king of Moab 18 years.

15 Then the Israelites cried out to theLord, and He raised up Ehud son of Gera, a left-handedBenjaminite,as a deliverer for them. The Israelites sent him to Eglon king of Moab with tributemoney.

16 Ehud made himself a double-edged sword 18 inches long.He strapped it to his right thigh under his clothes

17 and brought the tribute to Eglon king of Moab, who was an extremely fat man.

18 When Ehud had finished presenting the tribute, he dismissed the people who had carried it.

19 At the carved images near Gilgal he returned and said, “King Eglon, I have a secret message for you.” The king called for silence, and all his attendants left him.

20 Then Ehud approached him while he was sitting alone in his room upstairs where it was cool. Ehud said, “I have a word from God for you,” and the king stood up from his throne.

21 Ehudreached with his left hand, took the sword from his right thigh, and plunged it into Eglon’s belly.

22 Even the handle went in after the blade, and Eglon’s fat closed in over it, so that Ehud did not withdraw the sword from his belly. And Eglon’s insides came out.

23 Ehud escaped by way of the porch, closing and locking the doors of the upstairs room behind him.

24 Ehud was gone when Eglon’s servants came in. They looked and found the doors of the upstairs room locked and thought he was relieving himselfin the cool room.

25 The servants waited until they became worried and saw that he had still not opened the doors of the upstairs room. So they took the key and opened the doors — and there was their lord lying dead on the floor!

26 Ehud escaped while the servants waited. He crossed over the Jordan near the carved images and reached Seirah.

27 After he arrived, he sounded the ram’s horn throughout the hill country of Ephraim. The Israelites came down with him from the hill country, and he became their leader.

28 He told them, “Follow me, because theLordhas handed over your enemies, the Moabites, to you.” So they followed him, captured the fords of the Jordan leading to Moab, and did not allow anyone to cross over.

29 At that time they struck down about 10,000 Moabites, all strong and able-bodied men. Not one of them escaped.

30 Moab became subject to Israel that day, and the land was peaceful 80 years.

Shamgar

31 After Ehud, Shamgar son of Anath became judge. He delivered Israel by striking down 600 Philistines with an oxgoad.

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Deborah and Barak

1 The Israelites again did what was evil in the sight of theLordafter Ehud had died.

2 So theLordsold them into the hand of Jabinking of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor.The commander of his forces was Siserawho lived in Harosheth of the Nations.

3 Then the Israelites cried outto theLord, because Jabin had 900 iron chariots, and he harshly oppressed them 20 years.

4 Deborah, a woman who was a prophetessand the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time.

5 It was her custom to sit under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went up to her for judgment.

6 She summoned Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, “Hasn’t theLord, the God of Israel,commanded you: ‘Go, deploy the troops on Mount Tabor,and take with you 10,000 men from the Naphtalitesand Zebulunites?

7 Then I will lure Sisera commander of Jabin’s forces, his chariots, and his army at the Wadi Kishonto fight against you, and I will hand him over to you.’ ”

8 Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, I will go. But if you will not go with me, I will not go.”

9 “I will go with you,” she said, “but you will receive no honor on the road you are about to take, because theLordwill sell Sisera into a woman’s hand.” So Deborah got up and went with Barak to Kedesh.

10 Barak summoned Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; 10,000 men followed him, and Deborah also went with him.

11 Now Heber the Kenite had moved away from the Kenites, the sons of Hobab,Moses’ father-in-law,and pitched his tent beside the oak tree of Zaanannim,which was near Kedesh.

12 It was reported to Sisera that Barak son of Abinoam had gone up Mount Tabor.

13 Sisera summoned all his 900 iron chariots and all the people who were with him from Harosheth of the Nationsto the Wadi Kishon.

14 Then Deborah said to Barak, “Move on, for this is the day theLordhas handed Sisera over to you. Hasn’t theLordgone before you? ” So Barak came down from Mount Tabor with 10,000 men following him.

15 TheLordthrew Sisera, all his charioteers, and all his army into confusionwith the sword before Barak. Sisera left his chariot and fled on foot.

16 Barak pursued the chariots and the army as far as Harosheth of the Nations,and the whole army of Sisera fell by the sword; not a single man was left.

17 Meanwhile, Sisera had fled on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, because there was peace between Jabin king of Hazor and the family of Heber the Kenite.

18 Jael went out to greet Sisera and said to him, “Come in, my lord. Come in with me. Don’t be afraid.” So he went into her tent, and she covered him with a rug.

19 He said to her, “Please give me a little water to drink for I am thirsty.” She opened a container of milk, gave him a drink, and covered him again.

20 Then he said to her, “Stand at the entrance to the tent. If a man comes and asks you, ‘Is there a man here? ’ say, ‘No.’ ”

21 While he was sleeping from exhaustion, Heber’s wife Jael took a tent peg, grabbed a hammer, and went silently to Sisera. She hammered the peg into his temple and drove it into the ground, and he died.

22 When Barak arrived in pursuit of Sisera, Jael went out to greet him and said to him, “Come and I will show you the man you are looking for.” So he went in with her, and there was Sisera lying dead with a tent peg through his temple!

23 That day God subdued Jabin king of Canaan before the Israelites.

24 The power of the Israelites continued to increase against Jabin king of Canaan until they destroyed him.

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Deborah’s Song

1 On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang:

2 When the leaders leadin Israel,

when the people volunteer,

praise theLord.

3 Listen, kings! Pay attention, princes!

I will sing to theLord;

I will sing praise to theLordGod of Israel.

4 Lord, when You came from Seir,

when You marched from the fields of Edom,

the earth trembled,

the heavens pouredrain,

and the clouds poured water.

5 The mountains melted before theLord,

even Sinaibefore theLord, the God of Israel.

6 In the days of Shamgarson of Anath,

in the days of Jael,

the main ways were deserted

because travelers kept to the side roads.

7 Villages were deserted,

they were deserted in Israel,

until I, Deborah,arose,

a mother in Israel.

8 Israel chose new gods,

then war was in the gates.

Not a shield or spear was seen

among 40,000 in Israel.

9 My heart is with the leaders of Israel,

with the volunteers of the people.

Praise theLord!

10 You who ride on whitedonkeys,

who sit on saddle blankets,

and who travel on the road, give praise!

11 Let them tell the righteous actsof theLord,

the righteous deeds of His warriors in Israel,

with the voices of the singers at the watering places.

Then theLord’s people went down to the gates.

12 “Awake! Awake, Deborah!

Awake! Awake, sing a song!

Arise, Barak,

and take hold of your captives,

son of Abinoam! ”

13 The survivorscame down to the nobles;

theLord’s people came down to mewith the warriors.

14 Those with their roots in Amalekcame from Ephraim;

Benjamin came with your people after you.

The leaders came down from Machir,

and those who carry a marshal’s staff came from Zebulun.

15 The princes of Issachar were with Deborah;

Issachar was with Barak.

They set out at his heelsin the valley.

There was great searchingof heart

among the clans of Reuben.

16 Why did you sit among the sheepfolds

listening to the playing of pipes for the flocks?

There was great searching of heart

among the clans of Reuben.

17 Gileadremained beyond the Jordan.

Dan, why did you linger at the ships?

Asher remained at the seashore

and stayed in his harbors.

18 Zebulun was a people risking their lives,

Naphtali also, on the heights of the battlefield.

19 Kings came and fought.

Then the kings of Canaan fought

at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo,

but they took no spoil of silver.

20 The stars fought from the heavens;

the stars fought with Sisera from their courses.

21 The river Kishon swept them away,

the ancient river, the river Kishon.

March on, my soul, in strength!

22 The horses’ hooves then hammered —

the galloping, galloping of hisstallions.

23 “Curse Meroz,” says the Angel of theLord,

“Bitterly curse her inhabitants,

for they did not come to help theLord,

to help theLordagainst the mighty warriors.”

24 Jael is most blessed of women,

the wife of Heber the Kenite;

she is most blessed among tent-dwelling women.

25 He asked for water; she gave him milk.

She brought him curdled milkin a majestic bowl.

26 She reached for a tent peg,

her right hand, for a workman’s mallet.

Then she hammered Sisera —

she crushed his head;

she shattered and pierced his temple.

27 He collapsed, he fell, he lay down ather feet;

he collapsed, he fell at her feet;

where he collapsed, there he fell — dead.

28 Sisera’s mother looked through the window;

she peered through the lattice, crying out:

“Why is his chariot so long in coming?

Why don’t I hear the hoofbeats of his horses? ”

29 Her wisest princesses answer her;

she even answers herself:

30 “Are they not finding and dividing the spoil —

a girl or two for each warrior,

the spoil of colored garments for Sisera,

the spoil of an embroidered garment or two for my neck? ”

31 Lord, may all your enemies perish as Sisera did.

But may those who love Him

be like the rising of the sun in its strength.

And the land was peaceful 40 years.

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Midian Oppresses Israel

1 The Israelites did what was evil in the sight of theLord.So theLordhandedthem over to Midian seven years,

2 and they oppressed Israel.Because of Midian, the Israelites made hiding placesfor themselves in the mountains, caves, and strongholds.

3 Whenever the Israelites planted crops, the Midianites, Amalekites, and the Qedemitescame and attacked them.

4 They encamped against them and destroyed the produce of the land, even as far as Gaza. They left nothing for Israel to eat, as well as no sheep, ox or donkey.

5 For the Midianites came with their cattle and their tents like a great swarm of locusts.They and their camels were without number, and they entered the land to waste it.

6 So Israel became poverty-stricken because of Midian, and the Israelites cried out to theLord.

7 When the Israelites cried out to Him because of Midian,

8 theLordsent a prophetto them. He said to them, “This is what theLordGod of Israel says: ‘I brought you out of Egypt and out of the place of slavery.

9 I delivered you from the power of Egypt and the power of all who oppressedyou. I drove them out before you and gave you their land.

10 I said to you: I am Yahweh your God. Do not fear the gods of the Amorites whose land you live in.But you did not obey Me.’ ”

The Lord Calls Gideon

11 The Angelof theLordcame, and Hesat under the oak that was in Ophrah,which belonged to Joash, the Abiezrite. His son Gideon was threshing wheat in the wine vat in order to hide it from the Midianites.

12 Then the Angel of theLordappeared to him and said: “TheLordis with you, mighty warrior.”

13 Gideon said to Him, “Please Sir,if theLordis with us, why has all this happened?And where are all His wonders that our fathers told us about? They said, ‘Hasn’t theLordbrought us out of Egypt? ’ But now theLordhas abandoned us and handed us over to Midian.”

14 TheLordturned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and deliver Israel from the power of Midian. Am I not sending you? ”

15 He said to Him, “Please, Lord, how can I deliver Israel? Look, my family is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father’s house.”

16 “But I will be with you,”theLordsaid to him. “You will strike Midian down as if it were one man.”

17 Then he said to Him, “If I have found favor in Your sight,give me a signthat You are speaking with me.

18 Please do not leave this place until I return to You. Let me bring my gift and set it before You.”

And He said, “I will stay until you return.”

19 So Gideon went and prepared a young goat and unleavened bread from a half bushelof flour. He placed the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot. He brought them out and offered them to Him under the oak.

20 The Angel of Godsaid to him, “Take the meat with the unleavened bread, put it on this stone, and pour the broth on it.” And he did so.

21 The Angel of theLordextended the tip of the staff that was in His hand and touched the meat and the unleavened bread. Fire came up from the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened bread. Then the Angel of theLordvanished from his sight.

22 When Gideon realized that He was the Angel of theLord, he said, “Oh no, LordGod!I have seen the Angel of theLordface to face! ”

23 But theLordsaid to him, “Peace to you. Don’t be afraid, for you will not die.”

24 So Gideon built an altar to theLordthere and called it Yahweh Shalom.It is in Ophrah of the Abiezrites until today.

Gideon Tears Down a Baal Altar

25 On that very night theLordsaid to him, “Take your father’s young bull and a second bull seven years old. Then tear down the altar of Baalthat belongs to your father and cut down the Asherah pole beside it.

26 Build a well-constructed altar to theLordyour God on the top of this rock.Take the second bull and offer it as a burnt offering with the wood of the Asherah pole you cut down.”

27 So Gideon took 10 of his male servants and did as theLordhad told him. But because he was too afraid of his father’s household and the men of the city to do it in the daytime, he did it at night.

28 When the men of the city got up in the morning, they found Baal’s altar torn down, the Asherah pole beside it cut down, and the second bull offered up on the altar that had been built.

29 They said to each other, “Who did this? ” After they made a thorough investigation, they said, “Gideon son of Joash did it.”

30 Then the men of the city said to Joash, “Bring out your son. He must die, because he tore down Baal’s altar and cut down the Asherah pole beside it.”

31 But Joash said to all who stood against him, “Would you plead Baal’s case for him? Would you save him? Whoever pleads his case will be put to death by morning! If he is a god, let him plead his own case because someone tore down his altar.”

32 That day, Gideon’s father called him Jerubbaal, saying, “Let Baal plead his case with him,” because he tore down his altar.

The Sign of the Fleece

33 All the Midianites, Amalekites, and Qedemites gathered together, crossed over the Jordan, and camped in the Valley of Jezreel.

34 The Spirit of theLordtook control ofGideon,and he blew the ram’s horn and the Abiezrites rallied behind him.

35 He sent messengers throughout all of Manasseh, who rallied behind him. He also sent messengers throughout Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, who also came to meet him.

36 Then Gideon said to God, “If You will deliver Israel by my hand, as You said,

37 I will put a fleece of wool here on the threshing floor. If dew is only on the fleece, and all the ground is dry, I will know that You will deliver Israel by my strength, as You said.”

38 And that is what happened. When he got up early in the morning, he squeezed the fleece and wrung dew out of it, filling a bowl with water.

39 Gideon then said to God, “Don’t be angry with me; let me speak one more time. Please allow me to make one more test with the fleece. Let it remain dry, and the dew be all over the ground.”

40 That night God did as Gideon requested: only the fleece was dry, and dew was all over the ground.

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God Selects Gideon’s Army

1 Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) and everyone who was with him, got up early and camped beside the spring of Harod. The camp of Midian was north of them, below the hill of Moreh, in the valley.

2 TheLordsaid to Gideon, “You have too many people for Me to hand the Midianites over to you,or else Israel might brag:‘I did it myself.’

3 Now announce in the presence of the people: ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’ ”So 22,000 of the people turned back, but 10,000 remained.

4 Then theLordsaid to Gideon, “There are still too many people. Take them down to the water, and I will test them for you there. If I say to you, ‘This one can go with you,’ he can go. But if I say about anyone, ‘This one cannot go with you,’ he cannot go.”

5 So he brought the people down to the water, and theLordsaid to Gideon, “Separate everyone who laps water with his tongue like a dog. Do the same with everyone who kneels to drink.”

6 The number of those who lapped with their hands to their mouths was 300 men, and all the rest of the people knelt to drink water.

7 TheLordsaid to Gideon, “I will deliver youwith the 300 men who lapped and hand the Midianites over to you. But everyone else is to go home.”

8 So Gideon sent all the Israelites to their tents but kept the 300, who tookthe people’s provisions and their trumpets. The camp of Midian was below him in the valley.

Gideon Spies on the Midianite Camp

9 That night theLordsaid to him, “Get up and go into the camp, for I have given it into your hand.

10 But if you are afraid to go to the camp, go with Purah your servant.

11 Listen to what they say, and then you will be strengthened to go to the camp.” So he went with Purah his servant to the outpost of the troopswho were in the camp.

12 Now the Midianites, Amalekites, and all the Qedemites had settled down in the valley like a swarm of locusts, and their camels were as innumerable as the sand on the seashore.

13 When Gideon arrived, there was a man telling his friend about a dream. He said, “Listen, I had a dream:a loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp, struck a tent, and it fell. The loaf turned the tent upside down so that it collapsed.”

14 His friend answered: “This is nothing less than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has handed the entire Midianite camp over to him.”

Gideon Attacks the Midianites

15 When Gideon heard the account of the dream and its interpretation, he bowed in worship. He returned to Israel’s camp and said, “Get up, for theLordhas handed the Midianite camp over to you.”

16 Then he divided the 300 men into three companies and gave each of the men a trumpet in one hand and an empty pitcher with a torch inside it in the other.

17 “Watch me,” he said,“and do the same. When I come to the outpost of the camp, do as I do.

18 When I and everyone with me blow our trumpets, you are also to blow your trumpets all around the camp. Then you will say, ‘For Yahweh and for Gideon! ’ ”

19 Gideon and the 100 men who were with him went to the outpost of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch after the sentries had been stationed. They blew their trumpets and broke the pitchers that were in their hands.

20 The three companies blew their trumpets and shattered their pitchers. They held their torches in their left hands, their trumpetsin their right hands, and shouted, “A sword for Yahweh and for Gideon! ”

21 Each Israelite took his position around the camp, and the entire Midianite army fled, and cried out as they ran.

22 When Gideon’s men blew their 300 trumpets, theLordset the swords of each man in the army against each other.They fled to Beth-shittah in the direction of Zererah as far as the border of Abel-meholahnear Tabbath.

23 Then the men of Israel were called from Naphtali, Asher, and Manasseh, and they pursued the Midianites.

The Men of Ephraim Join the Battle

24 Gideon sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim with this message: “Come down to intercept the Midianites and take control of the watercourses ahead of them as far as Beth-barah and the Jordan.” So all the men of Ephraimwere called out, and they took control of the watercourses as far as Beth-barah and the Jordan.

25 They captured Oreb and Zeeb, the two princes of Midian; they killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb and Zeeb at the winepress of Zeeb, while they were pursuing the Midianites. They brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon across the Jordan.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/JDG/7-02db9198cc5e1c0596c4242f03c9b9ee.mp3?version_id=72—

1 The men of Ephraim said to him, “Why have you done this to us, not calling us when you went to fight against the Midianites? ” And they argued with him violently.

2 So he said to them, “What have I done now compared to you? Is not the gleaningof Ephraim better than the vintageof Abiezer?

3 God handed over to you Oreb and Zeeb, the two princes of Midian. What was I able to do compared to you? ” When he said this, their anger against him subsided.

Gideon Pursues the Kings of Midian

4 Gideon and the 300 men came to the Jordan and crossed it. They were exhausted but still in pursuit.

5 He said to the men of Succoth,“Please give some loaves of bread to the people who are following me,because they are exhausted, for I am pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.”

6 But the princes of Succoth asked, “AreZebah and Zalmunna now in your hands that we should give bread to your army? ”

7 Gideon replied, “Very well, when theLordhas handed Zebah and Zalmunna over to me, I will trampleyour flesh on thorns and briers from the wilderness! ”

8 He went from there to Penuel and asked the same thing from them. The men of Penuelanswered just as the men of Succoth had answered.

9 He also told the men of Penuel, “When I return in peace, I will tear down this tower! ”

10 Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and with them was their army of about 15,000 men, who were all those left of the entire army of the Qedemites. Those who had been killed were 120,000 warriors.

11 Gideon traveled on the caravan routeeast of Nobahand Jogbehah and attacked their army while the army was unsuspecting.

12 Zebah and Zalmunna fled, and he pursued them. He captured these two kings of Midian and routed the entire army.

13 Gideon son of Joash returned from the battle by the Ascent of Heres.

14 He captured a youth from the men of Succoth and interrogated him. The youth wrote down for him the names of the 77 princes and elders of Succoth.

15 Then he went to the men of Succoth and said, “Here are Zebah and Zalmunna. You taunted me about them, saying, ‘AreZebah and Zalmunna now in your power that we should give bread to your exhausted men? ’ ”

16 So he took the elders of the city, and he took some thorns and briers from the wilderness, and he disciplined the men of Succoth with them.

17 He also tore down the tower of Penuel and killed the men of the city.

18 He asked Zebah and Zalmunna, “What kind of men did you kill at Tabor? ”

“They were like you,” they said. “Each resembled the son of a king.”

19 So he said, “They were my brothers, the sons of my mother! As theLordlives, if you had let them live, I would not kill you.”

20 Then he said to Jether, his firstborn, “Get up and kill them.” The youth did not draw his sword, for he was afraid because he was still a youth.

21 Zebah and Zalmunna said, “Get up and kill us yourself, for a man is judged by his strength.” So Gideon got up, killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and took the crescent ornaments that were on the necks of their camels.

Gideon’s Legacy

22 Then the Israelites said to Gideon, “Rule over us,you as well as your sons and your grandsons, for you delivered us from the power of Midian.”

23 But Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you; theLordwill rule over you.”

24 Then he said to them, “Let me make a request of you: Everyone give me an earring from his plunder.” Now the enemy had gold earrings because they were Ishmaelites.

25 They said, “We agree to give them.” So they spread out a mantle, and everyone threw an earring from his plunder on it.

26 The weight of the gold earrings he requested was about 43 poundsof gold, in addition to the crescent ornaments and ear pendants, the purple garments on the kings of Midian, and the chains on the necks of their camels.

27 Gideon made an ephodfrom all this and put it in Ophrah, his hometown. Then all Israel prostituted themselves with it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his household.

28 So Midian was subdued before the Israelites, and they were no longer a threat.The land was peaceful 40 yearsduring the days of Gideon.

29 Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) son of Joash went back to live at his house.

30 Gideon had 70 sons, his own offspring, since he had many wives.

31 His concubine who was in Shechemalso bore him a son, and he named him Abimelech.

32 Then Gideon son of Joash died at a ripe old age and was buried in the tomb of his father Joash in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

33 When Gideon died, the Israelites turned and prostitutedthemselves with the Baals and made Baal-beriththeir god.

34 The Israelites did not remember theLordtheir Godwho had delivered them from the power of the enemies around them.

35 They did not show kindnessto the house of Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) for all the good he had done for Israel.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/JDG/8-e7b1805be144d5e0c7debbef5c33ea84.mp3?version_id=72—

Abimelech Becomes King

1 Abimelech son of Jerubbaal went to his mother’s brothers at Shechem and spoke to them and to all his maternal grandfather’s clan, saying,

2 “Please speak in the presence of all the lords of Shechem, ‘Is it better for you that 70 men, all the sons of Jerubbaal,rule over you or that one man rule over you? ’ Remember that I am your own flesh and blood.”

3 His mother’s relatives spoke all these words about him in the presence of all the lords of Shechem, and they were favorable to Abimelech, for they said, “He is our brother.”

4 So they gave him 70 pieces of silver from the temple of Baal-berith.Abimelech hired worthless and reckless men with this money, and they followed him.

5 He went to his father’s house in Ophrah and killed his 70 brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal, on top of a large stone. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, survived, because he hid himself.

6 Then all the lords of Shechem and of Beth-millo gathered together and proceeded to make Abimelech king at the oak of the pillar in Shechem.

Jotham’s Parable

7 When they told Jotham, he climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim,raised his voice, and called to them:

Listen to me, lords of Shechem,

and may God listen to you:

8 The trees set out

to anoint a king over themselves.

They said to the olive tree, “Reign over us.”

9 But the olive tree said to them,

“Should I stop giving my oil

that honors both God and man,

and ruleover the trees? ”

10 Then the trees said to the fig tree,

“Come and reign over us.”

11 But the fig tree said to them,

“Should I stop giving

my sweetness and my good fruit,

and ruleover trees? ”

12 Later, the trees said to the grapevine,

“Come and reign over us.”

13 But the grapevine said to them,

“Should I stop giving my wine

that cheers both God and man,

and ruleover trees? ”

14 Finally, all the trees said to the bramble,

“Come and reign over us.”

15 The bramble said to the trees,

“If you really are anointing me

as king over you,

come and find refuge in my shade.

But if not,

may fire come out from the bramble

and consume the cedars of Lebanon.”

16 “Now if you have acted faithfullyand honestlyin making Abimelech king, if you have done well by Jerubbaal and his family, and if you have rewarded him appropriately for what he did —

17 for my father fought for you, risked his life, and delivered you from the hand of Midian,

18 and now you have attacked my father’s house today, killed his 70 sons on top of a large stone, and made Abimelech, the son of his slave, king over the lords of Shechem ‘because he is your brother’ —

19 if then you have acted faithfully and honestly with Jerubbaal and his house this day, rejoice in Abimelech and may he also rejoice in you.

20 But if not, may fire come from Abimelech and consume the lords of Shechem and Beth-millo, and may fire come from the lords of Shechem and Beth-millo and consume Abimelech.”

21 Then Jotham fled, escaping to Beer, and lived there because of his brother Abimelech.

Abimelech’s Punishment

22 When Abimelech had ruled over Israel three years,

23 God sent an evil spiritbetween Abimelech and the lords of Shechem. They treated Abimelech deceitfully,

24 so that the crime against the 70 sons of Jerubbaal might come to justice and their blood would be avenged on their brother Abimelech, who killed them, and on the lords of Shechem, who had helped him kill his brothers.

25 The lords of Shechem rebelled against him by putting people on the tops of the mountains to ambushand rob everyone who passed by them on the road. So this was reported to Abimelech.

26 Gaal son of Ebed came with his brothers and crossed into Shechem, and the lords of Shechem trusted him.

27 So they went out to the countryside and harvested grapes from their vineyards. They trampled the grapes and held a celebration.Then they went to the house of their god, and as they ate and drank, they cursed Abimelech.

28 Gaal son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech and who is Shechem that we should serve him? Isn’t he the son of Jerubbaal, and isn’t Zebul his officer? You are to serve the men of Hamor, the father of Shechem.Why should we serve Abimelech?

29 If only these people were in my power, I would remove Abimelech.” So he saidto Abimelech, “Gather your army and come out.”

30 When Zebul, the ruler of the city, heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, he was angry.

31 So he sent messengers secretly to Abimelech, saying, “Look, Gaal son of Ebed, with his brothers, have come to Shechem and are turning the city against you.

32 Now tonight, you and the people with you are to come wait in ambush in the countryside.

33 Then get up early, and at sunrise charge the city. When he and the people who are with him come out against you, do to him whatever you can.”

34 So Abimelech and all the people with him got up at night and waited in ambush for Shechem in four units.

35 Gaal son of Ebed went out and stood at the entrance of the city gate. Then Abimelech and the people who were with him got up from their ambush.

36 When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, “Look, people are coming down from the mountaintops! ” But Zebul said to him, “The shadows of the mountains look like men to you.”

37 Then Gaal spoke again, “Look, people are coming down from the central part of the land,and one unit is coming from the direction of the Diviners’ Oak.”

38 Zebul replied,“Where is your mouthing off now? You said, ‘Who is Abimelech that we should serve him? ’ Aren’t these the people you despised? Now go and fight them! ”

39 So Gaal went out leading the lords of Shechem and fought against Abimelech,

40 but Abimelech pursued him, and Gaal fled before him. Many wounded diedas far as the entrance of the gate.

41 Abimelech stayed in Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers from Shechem.

42 The next day when the people went into the countryside, this was reported to Abimelech.

43 He took the people, divided them into three companies, and waited in ambush in the countryside. He looked, and the people were coming out of the city, so he arose against them and struck them down.

44 Then Abimelech and the units that were with him rushed forward and took their stand at the entrance of the city gate. The other two units rushed against all who were in the countryside and struck them down.

45 So Abimelech fought against the city that entire day, captured it, and killed the people who were in it. Then he tore down the city and sowed it with salt.

46 When all the lords of the Tower of Shechem heard, they entered the inner chamberof the temple of El-berith.

47 Then it was reported to Abimelech that all the lords of the Tower of Shechem had gathered together.

48 So Abimelech and all the people who were with him went up to Mount Zalmon. Abimelech took his ax in his hand and cut a branch from the trees. He picked up the branch, put it on his shoulder, and said to the people who were with him, “Hurry and do what you have seen me do.”

49 Each person also cut his own branch and followed Abimelech. They put the branches against the inner chamber and set it on fire around the people, and all the people in the Tower of Shechem died — about 1,000 men and women.

50 Abimelech went to Thebez,camped against it, and captured it.

51 There was a strong tower inside the city,and all the men, women, and lords of the city fled there. They locked themselves in and went up to the roof of the tower.

52 When Abimelech came to attack the tower, he approached its entrance to set it on fire.

53 But a woman threw the upper portion of a millstone on Abimelech’s head and fractured his skull.

54 He quickly called his armor-bearer and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, or they’ll say about me, ‘A woman killed him.’ ” So his armor-bearer thrust him through, and he died.

55 When the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they all went home.

56 In this way, God turned back on Abimelech the evil that he had done against his father, by killing his 70 brothers.

57 And God also returned all the evil of the men of Shechem on their heads.So the curse of Jotham son of Jerubbaal came on them.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/JDG/9-187fd7a9ec9ba2665ce9f30e74fe8592.mp3?version_id=72—

Tola and Jair

1 After Abimelech, Tola son of Puah, son of Dodo became judge and began to deliver Israel. He was from Issachar and lived in Shamir in the hill country of Ephraim.

2 Tola judged Israel 23 years and when he died, was buried in Shamir.

3 After him came Jair the Gileadite,who judged Israel 22 years.

4 He had 30 sons who rode on 30 donkeys. They had 30 townsin Gilead, which are called Jair’s Villagesto this day.

5 When Jair died, he was buried in Kamon.

Israel’s Rebellion and Repentance

6 Then the Israelites again did what was evil in the sight of theLord.They worshiped the Baals and the Ashtoreths, the gods of Aram, Sidon, and Moab, and the gods of the Ammonites and the Philistines.They abandoned Yahweh and did not worship Him.

7 So theLord’s anger burned against Israel, and He sold them tothe Philistines and the Ammonites.

8 They shattered and crushed the Israelites that year, and for 18 years they did the same to all the Israelites who were on the other side of the Jordanin the land of the Amoritesin Gilead.

9 The Ammonites also crossed the Jordan to fight against Judah, Benjamin, and the house of Ephraim. Israel was greatly oppressed,

10 so they cried out to theLord, saying, “We have sinned against You.We have abandoned our God and worshiped the Baals.”

11 TheLordsaid to the Israelites, “When the Egyptians,Amorites, Ammonites, Philistines,

12 Sidonians, Amalekites, and Maonitesoppressed you, and you cried out to Me, did I not deliver you from their power?

13 But you have abandoned Me and worshiped other gods. Therefore, I will not deliver you again.

14 Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen.Let them deliver you in the time of your oppression.”

15 But the Israelites said, “We have sinned. Deal with us as You see fit;only deliver ustoday! ”

16 So they got rid of the foreign godsamong them and worshiped theLord,and He became wearyof Israel’s misery.

17 The Ammonites were called together, and they camped in Gilead. So the Israelites assembled and camped at Mizpah.

18 The rulersof Gilead said to one another, “Which man will lead the fight against the Ammonites? He will be the leader of all the inhabitants of Gilead.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/JDG/10-b7853a2ffa5cdc9119598eb85e549668.mp3?version_id=72—