1Judah Fights, the Tribes Fall Short
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1Now 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?
1After Joshua died, the people of Israel asked the LORD, "Who should go up first for us to fight against the Canaanites?"
2And the LORD said, Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hand.
2The LORD answered, "Judah will go up. Look, I have handed the land over to him."
3And 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.
3Then Judah said to his brother Simeon, "Come up with me into the land assigned to me, and let us fight the Canaanites together. Afterward I will go with you into your land." So Simeon went with him.
4And 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.
4Judah went up, and the LORD handed the Canaanites and the Perizzites over to them, and at Bezek they struck down ten thousand men.
5And they found Adonibezek in Bezek: and they fought against him, and they slew the Canaanites and the Perizzites.
5At Bezek they came upon Adoni-bezek, fought him, and defeated the Canaanites and the Perizzites.
6But Adonibezek fled; and they pursued after him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes.
6Adoni-bezek ran away, but they chased him, caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his big toes.
7And 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.
7Adoni-bezek said, "Seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off used to gather scraps under my table. God has paid me back for what I did." They brought him to Jerusalem, and there he died.
8Now 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.
8The men of Judah had fought against Jerusalem and captured it; they struck it down with the sword and set the city on fire.
9And 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.
9After that the men of Judah went down to fight the Canaanites who lived in the hill country, in the south, and in the lowlands.
10And 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.
10Judah marched against the Canaanites living in Hebron (Hebron used to be called Kiriath-arba), and they killed Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai.
11And from thence he went against the inhabitants of Debir: and the name of Debir before was Kirjathsepher:
11From there they marched against the people of Debir. (Debir used to be called Kiriath-sepher.)
12And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjathsepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.
12Caleb said, "Whoever attacks Kiriath-sepher and captures it, I will give him my daughter Achsah as his wife."
13And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.
13Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, captured it, so Caleb gave him his daughter Achsah as his wife.
14And 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?
14When she came to him, she urged him to ask her father for a field. As she got down from her donkey, Caleb asked her, "What do you want?"
15And 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.
15She said to him, "Give me a gift. Since you have given me land in the dry south, give me springs of water too." So Caleb gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.
16And 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.
16The descendants of the Kenite, Moses' father-in-law, went up with the men of Judah from the City of Palms into the wilderness of Judah, which lies in the south near Arad, and they went and settled among the people there.
17And 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.
17Judah went with his brother Simeon, and they defeated the Canaanites living in Zephath and destroyed the city completely. So the city was named Hormah.
18Also Judah took Gaza with the coast thereof, and Askelon with the coast thereof, and Ekron with the coast thereof.
18Judah also captured Gaza with its territory, Ashkelon with its territory, and Ekron with its territory.
19And 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.
19The LORD was with Judah, and he drove out the people of the hill country, but he could not drive out the people of the valley, because they had iron chariots.
20And they gave Hebron unto Caleb, as Moses said: and he expelled thence the three sons of Anak.
20They gave Hebron to Caleb, just as Moses had said, and he drove out the three sons of Anak from there.
21And 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.
21The people of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem, so the Jebusites live in Jerusalem with the people of Benjamin to this day.
22And the house of Joseph, they also went up against Bethel: and the LORD was with them.
22The house of Joseph also went up, against Bethel, and the LORD was with them.
23And the house of Joseph sent to descry Bethel. (Now the name of the city before was Luz.)
23The house of Joseph sent men to scout out Bethel. (The city used to be called Luz.)
24And 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.
24The scouts saw a man coming out of the city and said to him, "Please show us the way into the city, and we will treat you kindly."
25And 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.
25When he showed them the way in, they struck the city down with the sword, but they let the man and his whole family go free.
26And 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.
26The man went to the land of the Hittites, built a city, and named it Luz, and that is its name to this day.
27Neither 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.
27Manasseh did not drive out the people of Beth-shean and its villages, nor Taanach and its villages, nor the people of Dor and its villages, nor the people of Ibleam and its villages, nor the people of Megiddo and its villages; the Canaanites were determined to stay in that land.
28And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out.
28When Israel grew strong, they forced the Canaanites to work for them, but they never drove them out completely.
29Neither did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them.
29Ephraim did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so the Canaanites lived in Gezer among them.
30Neither did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelt among them, and became tributaries.
30Zebulun did not drive out the people of Kitron or the people of Nahalol, so the Canaanites lived among them and were put to forced labor.
31Neither 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:
31Asher did not drive out the people of Acco, or the people of Sidon, or of Ahlab, Achzib, Helbah, Aphik, or Rehob.
32But the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: for they did not drive them out.
32So the people of Asher lived among the Canaanites, the people of the land, because they did not drive them out.
33Neither 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.
33Naphtali did not drive out the people of Beth-shemesh or the people of Beth-anath, but lived among the Canaanites, the people of the land; still, the people of Beth-shemesh and Beth-anath were put to forced labor for them.
34And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountain: for they would not suffer them to come down to the valley:
34The Amorites pushed the people of Dan back into the hill country and would not let them come down into the valley.
35But 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.
35The Amorites were determined to stay on Mount Heres, in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim, but the house of Joseph grew stronger than they were, and they were put to forced labor.
36And the coast of the Amorites was from the going up to Akrabbim, from the rock, and upward.
36The border of the Amorites ran from the Scorpion Pass, from the rock, and on upward.
2Bochim and the Cycle of Judges
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1And 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.
1The angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim and said, "I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land I swore to give your ancestors. I said, 'I will never break my covenant with you.
2And 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?
2And you must make no treaty with the people of this land; you must tear down their altars.' But you have not obeyed my voice. Why have you done this?
3Wherefore 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.
3So now I tell you, I will not drive them out ahead of you. They will be thorns in your sides, and their gods will be a trap for you."
4And 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.
4When the angel of the LORD had said these words to all the people of Israel, the people lifted up their voices and wept.
5And they called the name of that place Bochim: and they sacrificed there unto the LORD.
5They named that place Bochim, and they offered sacrifices there to the LORD.
6And when Joshua had let the people go, the children of Israel went every man unto his inheritance to possess the land.
6When Joshua had sent the people away, the Israelites had each gone to their own inheritance to take possession of the land.
7And 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.
7The people served the LORD all of Joshua's life, and all the lives of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great things the LORD had done for Israel.
8And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old.
8Then Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died at the age of one hundred and ten.
9And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathheres, in the mount of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash.
9They buried him within the land he had inherited, at Timnath-heres in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.
10And 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.
10That whole generation was gathered to their ancestors, and another generation grew up after them who did not know the LORD or the things he had done for Israel.
11And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim:
11The people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals.
12And 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.
12They abandoned the LORD, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, the gods of the peoples around them; they bowed down to them and made the LORD angry.
13And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.
13They abandoned the LORD and served Baal and the Ashtaroth.
14And 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.
14The LORD burned with anger against Israel. He handed them over to raiders who plundered them, and he sold them into the hands of the enemies around them, so that they could no longer stand up to their enemies.
15Whithersoever 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.
15Whenever they went out to fight, the hand of the LORD was against them to bring them harm, just as the LORD had said and had sworn to them, and they were in deep distress.
16Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them.
16Even so, the LORD raised up judges who rescued them from the hands of those who plundered them.
17And 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.
17But they would not listen to their judges either. They were unfaithful, chasing after other gods and bowing down to them. They quickly turned away from the path their ancestors had walked in obeying the LORD's commands; they did not do as their ancestors had done.
18And 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.
18Whenever the LORD raised up a judge for them, the LORD was with that judge and rescued them from their enemies as long as the judge lived, for the LORD was moved to pity by their groaning under those who oppressed and mistreated them.
19And 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.
19But when the judge died, they went back to their old ways and became even more corrupt than their ancestors, following other gods, serving them, and bowing down to them. They would not give up their practices or their stubborn ways.
20And 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;
20So the LORD burned with anger against Israel and said, "Because this people has broken the covenant I commanded their ancestors to keep, and has not listened to my voice,
21I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died:
21I will no longer drive out ahead of them any of the nations Joshua left behind when he died.
22That 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.
22I will use them to test Israel, to see whether or not they will keep to the way of the LORD and walk in it, as their ancestors did."
23Therefore the LORD left those nations, without driving them out hastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua.
23So the LORD let those nations stay and did not drive them out quickly; he had not handed them over to Joshua either.
3Othniel, Ehud, and Shamgar
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1Now 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;
1These are the nations the LORD left in place to test Israel, that is, all the Israelites who had not known any of the wars in Canaan.
2Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof;
2He did this only so that the new generations of Israelites would learn what war was like, at least those who had not known it before.
3Namely, 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.
3They were the five rulers of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who lived in the Lebanon mountains from Mount Baal-hermon to the entrance of Hamath.
4And 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.
4They were left to test Israel, to find out whether Israel would obey the commands the LORD had given their ancestors through Moses.
5And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amorites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites:
5So the people of Israel lived among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.
6And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods.
6They took their daughters as wives, gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods.
7And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves.
7The people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD. They forgot the LORD their God and served the Baals and the Asherah poles.
8Therefore 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.
8So the LORD burned with anger against Israel and sold them into the hands of Cushan-rishathaim, king of Mesopotamia, and the people of Israel served Cushan-rishathaim for eight years.
9And 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.
9When the people of Israel cried out to the LORD, the LORD raised up a rescuer for them who saved them: Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother.
10And 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.
10The Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel and went out to war. The LORD handed Cushan-rishathaim, king of Mesopotamia, over to him, and he overpowered Cushan-rishathaim.
11And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died.
11Then the land had peace for forty years. And Othniel son of Kenaz died.
12And 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.
12The people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and because they had done this evil, the LORD gave Eglon, king of Moab, power over Israel.
13And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek, and went and smote Israel, and possessed the city of palm trees.
13Eglon gathered the Ammonites and the Amalekites to join him, and he went and defeated Israel and took possession of the City of Palms.
14So the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years.
14So the people of Israel served Eglon, king of Moab, for eighteen years.
15But 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.
15But when the people of Israel cried out to the LORD, the LORD raised up a rescuer for them, Ehud son of Gera, a Benjaminite, who was left-handed. The people of Israel sent him to deliver their payment to Eglon, king of Moab.
16But 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.
16Ehud made himself a double-edged dagger about eighteen inches long and strapped it under his clothes on his right thigh.
17And he brought the present unto Eglon king of Moab: and Eglon was a very fat man.
17He presented the payment to Eglon, king of Moab. Now Eglon was a very fat man.
18And when he had made an end to offer the present, he sent away the people that bare the present.
18When Ehud had finished presenting the payment, he sent away the men who had carried it.
19But 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.
19But he himself turned back at the carved stones near Gilgal and said, "I have a secret message for you, O king." The king said, "Silence!" and all his attendants left him.
20And 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.
20Ehud came up to him as he sat alone in his cool upstairs room, and Ehud said, "I have a message from God for you." The king rose from his seat.
21And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly:
21Ehud reached with his left hand, drew the dagger from his right thigh, and drove it into the king's belly.
22And 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.
22Even the handle went in after the blade, and the fat closed over the blade, because he did not pull the dagger out of his belly; and the king's bowels emptied.
23Then Ehud went forth through the porch, and shut the doors of the parlour upon him, and locked them.
23Then Ehud went out through the porch, shut the doors of the upstairs room behind him, and locked them.
24When 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.
24After he had gone, the servants came and found the doors of the upstairs room locked. They said, "He must be relieving himself in the cool inner room."
25And 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.
25They waited until they were embarrassed, but he still did not open the doors of the room. So they took a key and opened them, and there was their master, fallen dead on the floor.
26And Ehud escaped while they tarried, and passed beyond the quarries, and escaped unto Seirath.
26While they were waiting, Ehud escaped. He passed the carved stones and got away to Seirah.
27And 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.
27When he arrived, he blew a trumpet in the hill country of Ephraim, and the people of Israel came down from the hills with him, and he led the way.
28And 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.
28He said to them, "Follow me, for the LORD has handed your enemies the Moabites over to you." So they followed him down and seized the crossings of the Jordan that led to Moab, and they let no one cross over.
29And they slew of Moab at that time about ten thousand men, all lusty, and all men of valour; and there escaped not a man.
29At that time they struck down about ten thousand Moabites, all strong and able fighters, and not one escaped.
30So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest fourscore years.
30So Moab was brought under Israel's power that day, and the land had peace for eighty years.
31And 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.
31After Ehud came Shamgar son of Anath, who struck down six hundred Philistines with an ox goad. He too rescued Israel.
4Deborah, Barak, and Jael
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was dead.
1After Ehud died, the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD.
2And 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.
2So the LORD sold them into the hands of Jabin, a king of Canaan who reigned in Hazor. The commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth of the Gentiles.
3And 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.
3The people of Israel cried out to the LORD, because Jabin had nine hundred iron chariots and had cruelly oppressed the people of Israel for twenty years.
4And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.
4Now Deborah, a prophetess and the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time.
5And 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.
5She would sit under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the people of Israel came up to her to have their disputes settled.
6And 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?
6She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, "Hasn't the LORD, the God of Israel, commanded you: 'Go and gather your forces at Mount Tabor, and take ten thousand men from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun with you?
7And 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.
7I will draw Sisera, the commander of Jabin's army, out to the Kishon River with his chariots and his troops, and I will hand him over to you.'"
8And 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.
8Barak said to her, "If you go with me, I will go. But if you will not go with me, I will not go."
9And 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.
9She said, "I will certainly go with you. But the road you are taking will bring you no honor, for the LORD will sell Sisera into the hands of a woman." Then Deborah got up and went with Barak to Kedesh.
10And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with him.
10Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali together at Kedesh, and ten thousand men followed him up; Deborah went up with him too.
11Now 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.
11Now Heber the Kenite, a descendant of Hobab, Moses' father-in-law, had separated from the other Kenites and pitched his tent by the great tree at Zaanannim, near Kedesh.
12And they shewed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up to mount Tabor.
12Sisera was told that Barak son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor.
13And 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.
13So Sisera called out all his chariots, nine hundred iron chariots, and all his troops, from Harosheth of the Gentiles to the Kishon River.
14And 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.
14Then Deborah said to Barak, "Get up! This is the day the LORD has handed Sisera over to you. Hasn't the LORD gone out ahead of you?" So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men behind him.
15And 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.
15The LORD threw Sisera, all his chariots, and all his army into panic before Barak's sword, so that Sisera climbed down from his chariot and fled on foot.
16But 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.
16Barak chased the chariots and the army all the way to Harosheth of the Gentiles, and Sisera's whole army fell by the sword; not a single man was left.
17Howbeit 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.
17But Sisera fled on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, because there was peace between Jabin, the king of Hazor, and the family of Heber the Kenite.
18And 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.
18Jael went out to meet Sisera and said to him, "Come in, my lord, come in to me. Don't be afraid." So he went into her tent, and she covered him with a blanket.
19And 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.
19He said to her, "Please give me a little water to drink; I am thirsty." She opened a skin of milk, gave him a drink, and covered him again.
20Again 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.
20Then he said to her, "Stand at the door of the tent, and if anyone comes and asks you, 'Is there a man here?' say no."
21Then 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.
21But Jael, Heber's wife, took a tent peg, picked up a hammer, and crept up to him quietly. She drove the peg through his temple and into the ground, for he was fast asleep from exhaustion. And so he died.
22And, 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.
22Just then Barak came by, chasing Sisera, and Jael went out to meet him and said, "Come, I will show you the man you are looking for." He went into her tent, and there lay Sisera, dead, with the tent peg through his temple.
23So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel.
23So on that day God brought Jabin, the king of Canaan, down before the people of Israel.
24And the hand of the children of Israel prospered, and prevailed against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.
24And the hand of the people of Israel pressed harder and harder against Jabin, the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed him.
5The Song of Deborah
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying,
1On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song:
2Praise ye the LORD for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly offered themselves.
2"Praise the LORD for the avenging of Israel, when the people offered themselves willingly.
3Hear, 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.
3Hear this, you kings! Listen, you princes! I, yes I, will sing to the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD, the God of Israel.
4LORD, 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.
4LORD, when you went out from Seir, when you marched from the fields of Edom, the earth shook, the heavens poured, and the clouds poured down water.
5The mountains melted from before the LORD, even that Sinai from before the LORD God of Israel.
5The mountains melted before the LORD, even Sinai before the LORD, the God of Israel.
6In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, and the travellers walked through byways.
6In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the main roads were empty, and travelers kept to the winding back paths.
7The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel.
7Village life came to an end, it ended in Israel, until I, Deborah, arose, until I arose as a mother in Israel.
8They chose new gods; then was war in the gates: was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel?
8They chose new gods; then war came to the city gates. Was even a shield or a spear to be seen among forty thousand in Israel?
9My heart is toward the governors of Israel, that offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless ye the LORD.
9My heart goes out to the leaders of Israel, who offered themselves willingly among the people. Praise the LORD!
10Speak, ye that ride on white asses, ye that sit in judgment, and walk by the way.
10Tell of it, you who ride on white donkeys, you who sit on fine saddle blankets, and you who walk along the road.
11They 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.
11Far from the noise of the archers, at the watering places, there they will recount the righteous acts of the LORD, the righteous acts done for his villagers in Israel. Then the people of the LORD went down to the gates.
12Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam.
12Wake up, wake up, Deborah! Wake up, wake up, and sing a song! Arise, Barak, and lead your captives away, son of Abinoam!
13Then he made him that remaineth have dominion over the nobles among the people: the LORD made me have dominion over the mighty.
13Then those who were left came down against the nobles; the people of the LORD came down for me against the mighty.
14Out 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.
14From Ephraim came those rooted in Amalek; behind you came Benjamin with your people. From Machir commanders came down, and from Zebulun those who carry a commander's staff.
15And 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.
15The princes of Issachar were with Deborah; Issachar stood with Barak, rushing on foot into the valley. But among the clans of Reuben there was much searching of heart.
16Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.
16Why did you stay among the sheepfolds, listening to the shepherds whistling for the flocks? Among the clans of Reuben there was much searching of heart.
17Gilead abode beyond Jordan: and why did Dan remain in ships? Asher continued on the sea shore, and abode in his breaches.
17Gilead stayed on the far side of the Jordan. And Dan, why did you linger by the ships? Asher sat still on the seacoast and stayed in his harbors.
18Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field.
18But Zebulun risked their lives to the point of death, and Naphtali too, on the heights of the battlefield.
19The kings came and fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no gain of money.
19Kings came and fought; then the kings of Canaan fought at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo, but they carried off no silver as plunder.
20They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera.
20From the heavens the stars fought; from their courses they fought against Sisera.
21The river of Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. O my soul, thou hast trodden down strength.
21The Kishon River swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. March on, my soul, with strength!
22Then were the horsehoofs broken by the means of the pransings, the pransings of their mighty ones.
22Then the horses' hooves pounded, galloping, galloping went his mighty steeds.
23Curse 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.
23'Curse Meroz,' said the angel of the LORD, 'curse its people bitterly, because they did not come to help the LORD, to help the LORD against the mighty.'
24Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be, blessed shall she be above women in the tent.
24Most blessed of women is Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite; of all women who live in tents, she is most blessed.
25He asked water, and she gave him milk; she brought forth butter in a lordly dish.
25He asked for water, and she gave him milk; in a bowl fit for a lord she brought him curds.
26She 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.
26She reached her hand for the tent peg, her right hand for the workman's hammer. She struck Sisera, she crushed his head; she shattered and pierced his temple.
27At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay down: at her feet he bowed, he fell: where he bowed, there he fell down dead.
27At her feet he sank, he fell, he lay still; at her feet he sank, he fell; where he sank, there he fell, dead.
28The 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?
28Through the window the mother of Sisera looked out; through the lattice she cried, 'Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why are the hoofbeats of his chariots so slow?'
29Her wise ladies answered her, yea, she returned answer to herself,
29The wisest of her ladies answer her; indeed, she keeps telling herself,
30Have 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?
30'Surely they are finding and dividing the plunder: a girl or two for every man; colored cloth as plunder for Sisera, plunder of colored, embroidered cloth, richly embroidered cloth for the necks of the plunderers.'
31So 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.
31So may all your enemies perish, O LORD! But may those who love him be like the sun rising in its strength." And the land had peace for forty years.
6Gideon Called at the Winepress
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.
1The people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD handed them over to Midian for seven years.
2And 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.
2Midian's power weighed heavily on Israel, and because of the Midianites the people of Israel made themselves hiding places in the mountains, along with caves and strongholds.
3And 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;
3Whenever Israel had planted their crops, the Midianites came up, along with the Amalekites and the people of the east, and marched against them.
4And 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.
4They camped against them and ruined the produce of the land as far as Gaza, leaving nothing for Israel to live on, not a sheep, an ox, or a donkey.
5For 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.
5For they came up with their livestock and their tents, as thick as a swarm of locusts; they and their camels were too many to count, and they entered the land to lay it waste.
6And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the LORD.
6Israel was brought very low because of the Midianites, and the people of Israel cried out to the LORD.
7And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD because of the Midianites,
7When the people of Israel cried out to the LORD because of the Midianites,
8That 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;
8the LORD sent a prophet to the people of Israel, who said to them, "This is what the LORD God of Israel says: I brought you up from Egypt and led you out of the house of slavery.
9And 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;
9I rescued you from the power of the Egyptians and from the power of everyone who oppressed you; I drove them out ahead of you and gave you their land.
10And 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.
10And I said to you, 'I am the LORD your God; do not fear the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live.' But you have not listened to my voice."
11And 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.
11Then the angel of the LORD came and sat under the oak at Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon was threshing wheat in the winepress to keep it hidden from the Midianites.
12And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.
12The angel of the LORD appeared to him and said, "The LORD is with you, you mighty warrior."
13And 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.
13Gideon said to him, "Oh, my lord, if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about, saying, 'Did the LORD not bring us up from Egypt?' But now the LORD has abandoned us and handed us over to the Midianites."
14And 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?
14The LORD looked at him and said, "Go in this strength of yours, and you will save Israel from the power of the Midianites. Am I not the one sending you?"
15And 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.
15He said to him, "Oh, my Lord, how can I save Israel? Look, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least important in my father's house."
16And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.
16The LORD said to him, "I will surely be with you, and you will strike down the Midianites as if they were a single man."
17And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me.
17He said to him, "If I have found favor in your eyes, then give me a sign that it is really you speaking with me.
18Depart 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.
18Please do not leave this place until I come back to you and bring out my offering and set it before you." And he said, "I will stay until you return."
19And 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.
19Gideon went in and prepared a young goat and unleavened bread from an ephah of flour. He put the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot, brought them out to him under the oak, and offered them.
20And 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.
20The angel of God said to him, "Take the meat and the unleavened bread, set them on this rock, and pour out the broth." And he did so.
21Then 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.
21Then the angel of the LORD reached out the tip of the staff in his hand and touched the meat and the unleavened bread, and fire rose up from the rock and burned up the meat and the bread. Then the angel of the LORD vanished from his sight.
22And 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.
22When Gideon realized that it had been the angel of the LORD, he said, "Alas, O LORD God! For I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face."
23And the LORD said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die.
23But the LORD said to him, "Peace be with you. Do not be afraid; you will not die."
24Then Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovahshalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
24So Gideon built an altar there to the LORD and named it Jehovah-shalom. It still stands to this day in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
25And 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:
25That same night the LORD said to him, "Take your father's young bull, the second bull, seven years old, and tear down the altar of Baal that belongs to your father, and cut down the sacred pole beside it.
26And 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.
26Then build an altar to the LORD your God on top of this rock, laid out in the proper way, and take the second bull and offer it as a burnt sacrifice, using the wood of the sacred pole you cut down."
27Then 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.
27So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as the LORD had told him. But because he was afraid of his father's household and the men of the town, he could not do it by day, so he did it at night.
28And 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.
28When the men of the town got up early in the morning, there was the altar of Baal torn down, the sacred pole beside it cut down, and the second bull offered on the altar that had been built.
29And 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.
29They said to one another, "Who has done this?" And after they searched and asked around, they said, "Gideon son of Joash did this."
30Then 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.
30Then the men of the town said to Joash, "Bring out your son so that he can die, because he tore down the altar of Baal and cut down the sacred pole beside it."
31And 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.
31But Joash said to all who stood against him, "Will you argue Baal's case? Will you rescue him? Whoever argues for him will be put to death before the morning is over. If he is a god, let him argue his own case, since someone has torn down his altar."
32Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal plead against him, because he hath thrown down his altar.
32So that day he called Gideon Jerubbaal, saying, "Let Baal take up his own case against him, because he has torn down his altar."
33Then 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.
33Then all the Midianites, the Amalekites and the people of the east gathered together, crossed over, and camped in the valley of Jezreel.
34But the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered after him.
34But the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet, and the clan of Abiezer gathered to follow him.
35And 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.
35He sent messengers throughout all Manasseh, and they too gathered to follow him. He also sent messengers to Asher, Zebulun and Naphtali, and they came up to join them.
36And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said,
36Gideon said to God, "If you are going to save Israel by my hand, as you have said,
37Behold, 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.
37look, I am placing a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece alone and the ground all around is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said."
38And 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.
38And that is what happened. He got up early the next morning, squeezed the fleece together, and wrung enough dew out of it to fill a bowl with water.
39And 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.
39Then Gideon said to God, "Do not let your anger burn against me; let me speak just once more. Please let me test with the fleece only one more time. This time let the fleece alone be dry, and let there be dew on all the ground."
40And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.
40And God did so that night. The fleece alone was dry, and there was dew on all the ground.
7Gideon's Three Hundred
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1Then 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.
1Then Jerubbaal, that is, Gideon, and all the people with him got up early and camped beside the spring of Harod, so that the Midianite camp lay north of them, by the hill of Moreh in the valley.
2And 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.
2The LORD said to Gideon, "The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands. Israel would boast against me and say, 'My own hand has saved me.'
3Now 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.
3So now announce to the people, 'Whoever is frightened and afraid may turn back and leave Mount Gilead early.'" Twenty-two thousand of the people went home, and ten thousand remained.
4And 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.
4The LORD said to Gideon, "There are still too many people. Bring them down to the water, and I will sift them for you there. When I say to you, 'This one shall go with you,' he shall go; and when I say to you, 'This one shall not go with you,' he shall not go."
5So 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.
5So he brought the people down to the water, and the LORD said to Gideon, "Everyone who laps the water with his tongue the way a dog laps, set him to one side; and do the same with everyone who kneels down to drink."
6And 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.
6The number of those who lapped, lifting their hands to their mouths, was three hundred men; all the rest of the people knelt down to drink water.
7And 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.
7The LORD said to Gideon, "With the three hundred men who lapped I will save you and hand the Midianites over to you. Let all the other people go home, each man to his own place."
8So 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.
8So the people took provisions and their trumpets in their hands, and he sent the rest of Israel home, each man to his tent, but kept the three hundred men. The camp of Midian lay below him in the valley.
9And 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.
9That same night the LORD said to him, "Get up and go down against the camp, for I have handed it over to you.
10But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Phurah thy servant down to the host:
10But if you are afraid to go down, take your servant Purah and go down to the camp,
11And 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.
11and listen to what they are saying. After that your hands will be strengthened to go down against the camp." So he and his servant Purah went down to the edge of the armed men in the camp.
12And 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.
12The Midianites, the Amalekites and all the people of the east lay spread across the valley as thick as locusts, and their camels were beyond counting, as many as the sand on the seashore.
13And 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.
13When Gideon arrived, a man was telling his companion a dream. He said, "Listen, I had a dream. A loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the camp of Midian, hit a tent so hard that it fell, and turned it upside down, and the tent lay flat."
14And 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.
14His companion answered, "This can be nothing else than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, a man of Israel. God has handed Midian and the whole camp over to him."
15And 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.
15When Gideon heard the dream told and its meaning explained, he bowed in worship. Then he returned to the camp of Israel and said, "Get up! The LORD has handed the camp of Midian over to you."
16And 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.
16He divided the three hundred men into three companies and put a trumpet in every man's hand, along with empty jars with torches inside the jars.
17And 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.
17He told them, "Watch me and do the same. When I reach the edge of the camp, do exactly what I do.
18When 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.
18When I and everyone with me blow our trumpets, then you blow your trumpets too, all around the whole camp, and shout, 'The sword of the LORD and of Gideon!'"
19So 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.
19So Gideon and the hundred men with him came to the edge of the camp at the start of the middle watch, just after the guard had been changed. They blew the trumpets and smashed the jars in their hands.
20And 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.
20All three companies blew the trumpets and broke the jars. They held the torches in their left hands and the trumpets in their right hands to blow, and they shouted, "The sword of the LORD and of Gideon!"
21And they stood every man in his place round about the camp; and all the host ran, and cried, and fled.
21Each man stood in his place all around the camp, and the whole army ran, shouting as they fled.
22And 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.
22While the three hundred blew the trumpets, the LORD turned every man's sword against his companion throughout the whole camp, and the army fled to Beth-shittah toward Zererath, as far as the border of Abel-meholah near Tabbath.
23And the men of Israel gathered themselves together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after the Midianites.
23The men of Israel were called out from Naphtali, Asher and all Manasseh, and they chased after the Midianites.
24And 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.
24Gideon sent messengers through all the hill country of Ephraim, saying, "Come down against the Midianites and seize the waters ahead of them as far as Beth-barah, and the Jordan." So all the men of Ephraim gathered and seized the waters as far as Beth-barah, and the Jordan.
25And 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.
25They captured two Midianite princes, Oreb and Zeeb. They killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb and Zeeb at the winepress of Zeeb, and they kept chasing Midian and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side of the Jordan.
8Gideon's Pursuit and the Golden Ephod
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1And 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.
1The men of Ephraim said to him, "Why have you treated us this way? Why did you not call us when you went to fight the Midianites?" And they argued with him fiercely.
2And 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?
2He answered them, "What have I really done compared with you? Are not the leftover grapes of Ephraim better than the whole harvest of Abiezer?
3God 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.
3God has handed over to you the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. What was I able to do compared with you?" When he said that, their anger toward him died down.
4And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them.
4Gideon came to the Jordan and crossed over, he and the three hundred men with him, worn out but still in pursuit.
5And 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.
5He said to the men of Succoth, "Please give some loaves of bread to the men following me, for they are worn out, and I am chasing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian."
6And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thine army?
6But the leaders of Succoth said, "Do you already have Zebah and Zalmunna in your grip, that we should give bread to your army?"
7And 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.
7Gideon said, "Very well. When the LORD has handed Zebah and Zalmunna over to me, I will tear your flesh with desert thorns and briers."
8And 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.
8From there he went up to Penuel and asked the same of them, and the men of Penuel answered him just as the men of Succoth had.
9And he spake also unto the men of Penuel, saying, When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower.
9So he said to the men of Penuel, "When I come back in peace, I will tear down this tower."
10Now 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.
10Now Zebah and Zalmunna were at Karkor with their armies, about fifteen thousand men, all that remained of the whole army of the people of the east, for a hundred and twenty thousand swordsmen had already fallen.
11And 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.
11Gideon went up by the route of the tent dwellers, east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and attacked the army while it felt safe.
12And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them, and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and discomfited all the host.
12When Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he chased them and captured the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and threw the whole army into panic.
13And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the sun was up,
13Then Gideon son of Joash returned from the battle before the sun was up,
14And 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.
14and he caught a young man from Succoth and questioned him. The young man listed for him the leaders and elders of Succoth, seventy-seven men.
15And 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?
15Then he came to the men of Succoth and said, "Here are Zebah and Zalmunna, about whom you taunted me, saying, 'Do you already have Zebah and Zalmunna in your grip, that we should give bread to your weary men?'"
16And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth.
16He took the elders of the city, and with desert thorns and briers he taught the men of Succoth a lesson.
17And he beat down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the city.
17He also tore down the tower of Penuel and killed the men of the city.
18Then 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.
18Then he said to Zebah and Zalmunna, "What kind of men were those you killed at Tabor?" They answered, "They were like you; every one of them looked like the son of a king."
19And 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.
19He said, "They were my brothers, my own mother's sons. As surely as the LORD lives, if you had spared their lives, I would not kill you."
20And 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.
20Then he said to Jether, his firstborn, "Get up and kill them." But the boy did not draw his sword, because he was afraid, for he was still only a boy.
21Then 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.
21Zebah and Zalmunna said, "Get up and do it yourself, for a man's strength matches the man." So Gideon got up and killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and he took the ornaments from their camels' necks.
22Then 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.
22Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, "Rule over us, you and your son and your grandson too, for you have saved us from the power of Midian."
23And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you.
23But Gideon said to them, "I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you. The LORD will rule over you."
24And 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.)
24Then Gideon said to them, "I do have one request: that each of you give me the earrings from his share of the spoils." (The enemy wore gold earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)
25And they answered, We will willingly give them. And they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings of his prey.
25They answered, "We will gladly give them." So they spread out a cloak, and each man threw in the earrings from his spoils.
26And 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.
26The weight of the gold earrings he asked for came to seventeen hundred shekels of gold, not counting the ornaments, the pendants and the purple robes worn by the kings of Midian, or the chains around their camels' necks.
27And 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.
27Gideon made the gold into an ephod and set it up in his town, Ophrah, and all Israel chased after it there like an unfaithful lover, and it became a trap for Gideon and his family.
28Thus 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.
28So Midian was humbled before the people of Israel and never raised its head again. And the land had peace for forty years in Gideon's lifetime.
29And Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house.
29Jerubbaal son of Joash went back and lived in his own house.
30And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten: for he had many wives.
30Gideon had seventy sons of his own, for he had many wives.
31And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son, whose name he called Abimelech.
31His concubine, who lived in Shechem, also bore him a son, and he named him Abimelech.
32And 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.
32Gideon son of Joash died at a ripe old age and was buried in the tomb of his father Joash, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
33And 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.
33As soon as Gideon was dead, the people of Israel turned away again and went chasing after the Baals like an unfaithful lover, and they made Baal-berith their god.
34And 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:
34The people of Israel did not remember the LORD their God, who had rescued them from the hands of all their enemies on every side,
35Neither shewed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, namely, Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shewed unto Israel.
35nor did they show any kindness to the family of Jerubbaal, that is, Gideon, in return for all the good he had done for Israel.
9Abimelech and Jotham's Fable
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1And 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,
1Abimelech son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem, to his mother's brothers, and spoke with them and with the whole clan of his mother's father's house. He said,
2Speak, 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.
2"Please ask all the leading men of Shechem, 'Which is better for you: to have all seventy of Jerubbaal's sons rule over you, or to have one man rule over you?' And remember that I am your own flesh and blood."
3And 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.
3His mother's brothers repeated all these words to all the leading men of Shechem on his behalf, and their hearts leaned toward following Abimelech, for they said, "He is our brother."
4And 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.
4They gave him seventy pieces of silver from the temple of Baal-berith, and with it Abimelech hired worthless, reckless men, who followed him.
5And 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.
5He went to his father's house at Ophrah and killed his brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, on a single stone. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, survived, because he had hidden himself.
6And 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.
6Then all the leading men of Shechem and all the house of Millo gathered together and went and made Abimelech king on the plain by the pillar in Shechem.
7And 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.
7When Jotham was told about it, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim, raised his voice, and called out to them, "Listen to me, men of Shechem, so that God may listen to you.
8The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.
8One day the trees went out to anoint a king over themselves. They said to the olive tree, 'Reign over us.'
9But 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?
9But the olive tree answered, 'Should I give up my rich oil, by which God and people are honored, to go and sway over the trees?'
10And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us.
10Then the trees said to the fig tree, 'Come and reign over us.'
11But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?
11But the fig tree answered, 'Should I give up my sweetness and my good fruit to go and sway over the trees?'
12Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us.
12Then the trees said to the vine, 'Come and reign over us.'
13And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?
13But the vine answered, 'Should I give up my wine, which cheers God and people, to go and sway over the trees?'
14Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us.
14Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, 'Come and reign over us.'
15And 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.
15And the thornbush said to the trees, 'If you truly mean to anoint me king over you, then come and take shelter in my shade. But if not, let fire come out of the thornbush and burn up the cedars of Lebanon.'
16Now 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;
16"Now then, have you acted honestly and sincerely in making Abimelech king? Have you dealt well with Jerubbaal and his family, and treated him as his deeds deserved?
17(For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian:
17For my father fought for you and risked his life to rescue you from the power of Midian,
18And 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;)
18but today you have risen up against my father's family and killed his sons, seventy men, on a single stone, and made Abimelech, the son of his slave woman, king over the men of Shechem because he is your brother.
19If 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:
19If you have acted honestly and sincerely toward Jerubbaal and his family today, then may you find joy in Abimelech, and may he find joy in you.
20But 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.
20But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech and burn up the men of Shechem and the house of Millo, and let fire come out from the men of Shechem and the house of Millo and burn up Abimelech."
21And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
21Then Jotham ran away and escaped to Beer, and he lived there because he was afraid of his brother Abimelech.
22When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel,
22After Abimelech had ruled over Israel for three years,
23Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:
23God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem, and the men of Shechem betrayed Abimelech.
24That 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.
24This happened so that the crime against the seventy sons of Jerubbaal would be repaid, and their blood would fall on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the men of Shechem, who helped him kill his brothers.
25And 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.
25The men of Shechem set ambushes against him on the hilltops, and they robbed everyone who passed by them on the road. And Abimelech was told about it.
26And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to Shechem: and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him.
26Then Gaal son of Ebed came with his brothers and moved into Shechem, and the men of Shechem put their trust in him.
27And 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.
27They went out into the fields, gathered grapes from their vineyards and trod them, and held a festival. They went into the temple of their god, ate and drank, and cursed Abimelech.
28And 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?
28Gaal son of Ebed said, "Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal, and is Zebul not his deputy? Serve the men of Hamor, the father of Shechem! Why should we serve Abimelech?
29And 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.
29If only this people were under my command, then I would get rid of Abimelech!" And he said to Abimelech, "Build up your army and come out!"
30And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.
30When Zebul, the governor of the city, heard what Gaal son of Ebed had said, he burned with anger.
31And 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.
31He secretly sent messengers to Abimelech, saying, "Look, Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem, and they are stirring the city up against you.
32Now therefore up by night, thou and the people that is with thee, and lie in wait in the field:
32So get up tonight, you and the people with you, and lie in wait in the field.
33And 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.
33In the morning, as soon as the sun is up, get up early and attack the city. When he and the people with him come out against you, do to them whatever the moment allows."
34And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.
34So Abimelech and all the people with him got up by night and lay in wait against Shechem in four companies.
35And 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.
35Gaal son of Ebed went out and stood at the entrance of the city gate, and Abimelech and the people with him rose up from their hiding places.
36And 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.
36When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, "Look, people are coming down from the hilltops!" Zebul answered him, "You are seeing the shadows of the hills as if they were men."
37And 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.
37Gaal spoke again: "Look, people are coming down from the center of the land, and another company is coming along by the plain of Meonenim."
38Then 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.
38Then Zebul said to him, "Where is your big talk now? You said, 'Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him?' Are these not the people you scorned? Go out now and fight them!"
39And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.
39So Gaal went out at the head of the men of Shechem and fought Abimelech.
40And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many were overthrown and wounded, even unto the entering of the gate.
40Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many fell wounded all the way to the entrance of the gate.
41And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem.
41Abimelech stayed at Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers out so that they could no longer live in Shechem.
42And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.
42The next day the people went out into the fields, and Abimelech was told.
43And 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.
43He took his men, divided them into three companies, and lay in wait in the fields. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he rose up against them and struck them down.
44And 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.
44Abimelech and the company with him rushed forward and took up position at the entrance of the city gate, while the other two companies charged all the people in the fields and killed them.
45And 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.
45Abimelech fought against the city all that day. He captured it, killed the people in it, tore the city down, and scattered salt over it.
46And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that, they entered into an hold of the house of the god Berith.
46When all the men in the tower of Shechem heard of it, they went into the stronghold of the temple of the god Berith.
47And it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.
47Abimelech was told that all the men of the tower of Shechem had gathered there.
48And 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.
48So Abimelech and all the people with him went up Mount Zalmon. Abimelech took an axe in his hand, cut a branch from the trees, lifted it onto his shoulder, and said to the people with him, "Hurry and do what you have seen me do."
49And 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.
49So each man cut his own branch and followed Abimelech. They piled the branches against the stronghold and set it on fire over them, so that all the people of the tower of Shechem died too, about a thousand men and women.
50Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.
50Then Abimelech went to Thebez, camped against Thebez, and captured it.
51But 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.
51But there was a strong tower inside the city, and all the men and women, everyone in the city, fled there. They shut themselves in and climbed up to the roof of the tower.
52And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
52Abimelech came to the tower and attacked it, and he pushed right up to the door of the tower to set it on fire.
53And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech’s head, and all to brake his skull.
53But a woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech's head and cracked his skull.
54Then 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 woman slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.
54He quickly called to the young man who carried his armor and said, "Draw your sword and kill me, so that no one can say of me, 'A woman killed him.'" So his young servant ran him through, and he died.
55And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place.
55When the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they all went home, each man to his own place.
56Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren:
56So God repaid the wickedness Abimelech had done to his father in killing his seventy brothers,
57And 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.
57and God brought all the evil of the men of Shechem back on their own heads. The curse of Jotham son of Jerubbaal came upon them.
10Tola, Jair, and Israel's Cry for Help
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1And 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.
1After Abimelech, Tola son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man from the tribe of Issachar, rose up to rescue Israel. He lived in Shamir in the hill country of Ephraim.
2And he judged Israel twenty and three years, and died, and was buried in Shamir.
2He led Israel as judge for twenty-three years; then he died and was buried in Shamir.
3And after him arose Jair, a Gileadite, and judged Israel twenty and two years.
3After him came Jair from Gilead, who led Israel as judge for twenty-two years.
4And 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.
4He had thirty sons who rode on thirty young donkeys, and they had thirty towns in the land of Gilead, which are still called Havoth-jair to this day.
5And Jair died, and was buried in Camon.
5Jair died and was buried in Camon.
6And 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.
6Then the people of Israel again did what was evil in the eyes of the LORD. They served the Baals and the Ashtaroth, the gods of Syria, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites, and the gods of the Philistines. They abandoned the LORD and did not serve him.
7And 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.
7So the LORD's anger burned against Israel, and he sold them into the hands of the Philistines and the Ammonites.
8And 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.
8That year they crushed and oppressed the people of Israel, and for eighteen years they did the same to all the Israelites who lived east of the Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead.
9Moreover 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.
9The Ammonites even crossed the Jordan to fight against Judah, Benjamin, and the family of Ephraim, so that Israel was in terrible distress.
10And 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.
10Then the people of Israel cried out to the LORD, "We have sinned against you, because we have abandoned our God and served the Baals."
11And 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?
11The LORD answered the people of Israel, "Did I not rescue you from the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, and the Philistines?
12The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress you; and ye cried to me, and I delivered you out of their hand.
12The Sidonians, the Amalekites, and the Maonites oppressed you too, and when you cried out to me, I rescued you from their hands.
13Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more.
13Yet you have abandoned me and served other gods. So I will not rescue you anymore.
14Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation.
14Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them rescue you in your time of trouble."
15And 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.
15But the people of Israel said to the LORD, "We have sinned. Do to us whatever seems right to you; only please rescue us today."
16And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.
16Then they got rid of the foreign gods among them and served the LORD, and he could no longer bear to see Israel suffer.
17Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpeh.
17Now the Ammonites gathered together and set up camp in Gilead, and the people of Israel assembled and set up camp at Mizpah.
18And 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.
18The people and the leaders of Gilead said to one another, "Who will be the man to lead the attack against the Ammonites? He will become head over everyone who lives in Gilead."
11Jephthah's Vow
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour, and he was the son of an harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah.
1Now Jephthah of Gilead was a mighty warrior, but he was the son of a prostitute. Gilead was his father.
2And 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.
2Gilead's wife also bore him sons, and when her sons grew up they drove Jephthah out. "You will get no inheritance in our father's house," they told him, "because you are the son of another woman."
3Then 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.
3So Jephthah fled from his brothers and settled in the land of Tob, where a band of worthless men gathered around him and went raiding with him.
4And it came to pass in process of time, that the children of Ammon made war against Israel.
4Some time later, the Ammonites went to war against Israel.
5And 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:
5When the Ammonites attacked Israel, the elders of Gilead went to bring Jephthah back from the land of Tob.
6And they said unto Jephthah, Come, and be our captain, that we may fight with the children of Ammon.
6"Come and be our commander," they said to Jephthah, "so we can fight the Ammonites."
7And 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?
7But Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, "Didn't you hate me and drive me out of my father's house? Why come to me now, when you are in trouble?"
8And 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.
8The elders of Gilead answered Jephthah, "That is exactly why we have come back to you now. Come with us and fight the Ammonites, and you will be head over everyone who lives in Gilead."
9And 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?
9Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, "If you take me home to fight the Ammonites, and the LORD hands them over to me, will I really be your head?"
10And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, The LORD be witness between us, if we do not so according to thy words.
10The elders of Gilead replied to Jephthah, "The LORD is our witness; we will do exactly as you say."
11Then 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.
11So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him their head and commander. And Jephthah repeated all his terms before the LORD at Mizpah.
12And 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?
12Then Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the Ammonites, asking, "What do you have against me, that you have come to attack my land?"
13And 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.
13The king of the Ammonites answered Jephthah's messengers, "When Israel came up out of Egypt, they took my land, from the Arnon to the Jabbok and all the way to the Jordan. Now give those lands back peacefully."
14And Jephthah sent messengers again unto the king of the children of Ammon:
14Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the Ammonites again,
15And said unto him, Thus saith Jephthah, Israel took not away the land of Moab, nor the land of the children of Ammon:
15and said to him, "This is what Jephthah says: Israel did not take the land of Moab or the land of the Ammonites.
16But when Israel came up from Egypt, and walked through the wilderness unto the Red sea, and came to Kadesh;
16When Israel came up from Egypt, they traveled through the wilderness to the Red Sea and came to Kadesh.
17Then 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.
17Then Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, 'Please let us pass through your land.' But the king of Edom would not listen. They sent the same request to the king of Moab, but he refused too. So Israel stayed at Kadesh.
18Then 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.
18Then they traveled through the wilderness, went around the land of Edom and the land of Moab, and came along the east side of the land of Moab. They camped on the far side of the Arnon but did not enter Moab's territory, because the Arnon was Moab's border.
19And 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.
19Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, the king of Heshbon, and said to him, 'Please let us pass through your land to our own place.'
20But Sihon trusted not Israel to pass through his coast: but Sihon gathered all his people together, and pitched in Jahaz, and fought against Israel.
20But Sihon did not trust Israel to pass through his territory. He gathered all his people, camped at Jahaz, and fought against Israel.
21And 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.
21And the LORD, the God of Israel, handed Sihon and all his people over to Israel, and they defeated them. So Israel took possession of all the land of the Amorites who lived in that country.
22And they possessed all the coasts of the Amorites, from Arnon even unto Jabbok, and from the wilderness even unto Jordan.
22They took possession of all the Amorite territory, from the Arnon to the Jabbok and from the wilderness to the Jordan.
23So now the LORD God of Israel hath dispossessed the Amorites from before his people Israel, and shouldest thou possess it?
23So now that the LORD, the God of Israel, has driven the Amorites out ahead of his people Israel, should you take possession of it?
24Wilt 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.
24Don't you take whatever your god Chemosh gives you to possess? In the same way, we will possess whatever the LORD our God drives out ahead of us.
25And 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,
25Are you any better than Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever quarrel with Israel, or ever fight against them,
26While 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?
26during the three hundred years that Israel lived in Heshbon and its villages, in Aroer and its villages, and in all the towns along the Arnon? Why didn't you take them back in all that time?
27Wherefore 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.
27I have done you no wrong, but you are wronging me by making war on me. Let the LORD, the Judge, decide today between the people of Israel and the people of Ammon."
28Howbeit the king of the children of Ammon hearkened not unto the words of Jephthah which he sent him.
28But the king of the Ammonites paid no attention to the message Jephthah sent him.
29Then 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.
29Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah. He passed through Gilead and Manasseh, went on through Mizpah of Gilead, and from Mizpah of Gilead he advanced against the Ammonites.
30And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands,
30And Jephthah made a vow to the LORD. He said, "If you will truly hand the Ammonites over to me,
31Then 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.
31then whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me when I return safely from the Ammonites will belong to the LORD, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering."
32So Jephthah passed over unto the children of Ammon to fight against them; and the LORD delivered them into his hands.
32So Jephthah crossed over to fight the Ammonites, and the LORD handed them over to him.
33And 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.
33He struck them down from Aroer all the way to Minnith, twenty towns in all, and as far as the meadow of the vineyards, with a very great slaughter. So the Ammonites were brought low before the people of Israel.
34And 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.
34When Jephthah came home to Mizpah, there was his daughter, coming out to meet him with tambourines and dancing. She was his only child; besides her he had neither son nor daughter.
35And 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.
35When he saw her, he tore his clothes and cried, "Oh, my daughter! You have brought me to my knees; you are the cause of my grief. For I have given my word to the LORD, and I cannot take it back."
36And 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.
36She said to him, "My father, if you have given your word to the LORD, do to me what you promised, since the LORD has given you vengeance on your enemies, the Ammonites."
37And 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.
37Then she said to her father, "Let me have this one thing: leave me alone for two months, so that I and my friends may wander the hills and weep because I will never marry."
38And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months: and she went with her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains.
38"Go," he said, and he sent her away for two months. She went with her friends and wept on the hills because she would never marry.
39And 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,
39At the end of the two months she returned to her father, and he did to her what he had vowed. She had never been with a man. And it became a custom in Israel
40That the daughters of Israel went yearly to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year.
40that every year the young women of Israel go out for four days to mourn the daughter of Jephthah of Gilead.
12Shibboleth and the Fords of Jordan
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1And 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.
1The men of Ephraim gathered their forces, crossed over toward the north, and said to Jephthah, "Why did you go to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We are going to burn your house down over your head."
2And 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.
2Jephthah answered them, "My people and I were locked in a hard fight with the Ammonites, and when I called you, you did not rescue me from their hands.
3And 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?
3When I saw that you would not help, I took my life in my hands and crossed over to fight the Ammonites, and the LORD handed them over to me. So why have you come up against me today to fight me?"
4Then 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.
4Then Jephthah gathered all the men of Gilead and fought Ephraim. The men of Gilead struck Ephraim down, because the Ephraimites had said, "You Gileadites are nothing but runaways from Ephraim, living among Ephraim and Manasseh."
5And 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;
5The Gileadites seized the crossings of the Jordan ahead of the Ephraimites. Whenever an Ephraimite who had escaped said, "Let me cross," the men of Gilead would ask him, "Are you an Ephraimite?" If he said, "No,"
6Then 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.
6they would tell him, "Then say 'Shibboleth.'" He would say "Sibboleth," because he could not pronounce it correctly. Then they would seize him and kill him at the crossings of the Jordan. Forty-two thousand Ephraimites died at that time.
7And Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then died Jephthah the Gileadite, and was buried in one of the cities of Gilead.
7Jephthah led Israel as judge for six years. Then Jephthah of Gilead died and was buried in one of the towns of Gilead.
8And after him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel.
8After him, Ibzan of Bethlehem led Israel as judge.
9And 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.
9He had thirty sons and thirty daughters. He gave his daughters in marriage to families outside his clan and brought in thirty young women from outside for his sons. He led Israel as judge for seven years.
10Then died Ibzan, and was buried at Bethlehem.
10Then Ibzan died and was buried at Bethlehem.
11And after him Elon, a Zebulonite, judged Israel; and he judged Israel ten years.
11After him, Elon from the tribe of Zebulun led Israel as judge, and he judged Israel for ten years.
12And Elon the Zebulonite died, and was buried in Aijalon in the country of Zebulun.
12Then Elon the Zebulunite died and was buried at Aijalon in the land of Zebulun.
13And after him Abdon the son of Hillel, a Pirathonite, judged Israel.
13After him, Abdon son of Hillel, from Pirathon, led Israel as judge.
14And he had forty sons and thirty nephews, that rode on threescore and ten ass colts: and he judged Israel eight years.
14He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy young donkeys. He led Israel as judge for eight years.
15And Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died, and was buried in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the mount of the Amalekites.
15Then Abdon son of Hillel, from Pirathon, died and was buried at Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites.
13The Angel Announces Samson's Birth
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1And 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.
1Again the people of Israel did what was evil in the eyes of the LORD, so the LORD handed them over to the Philistines for forty years.
2And 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.
2There was a certain man from Zorah, of the clan of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. His wife was unable to have children and had borne none.
3And 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.
3The angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, "Listen: you have been unable to have children and have borne none, but you are going to conceive and give birth to a son.
4Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing:
4So be careful now: drink no wine or strong drink, and do not eat anything unclean,
5For, 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.
5for you will conceive and give birth to a son. No razor is ever to touch his head, because the boy is to be a Nazirite, set apart to God from the womb, and he will begin to rescue Israel from the hands of the Philistines."
6Then 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:
6The woman went and told her husband. "A man of God came to me," she said, "and he looked like an angel of God, very awesome. I did not ask him where he came from, and he did not tell me his name.
7But 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.
7But he said to me, 'You are going to conceive and give birth to a son. So drink no wine or strong drink and do not eat anything unclean, because the boy is to be a Nazirite, set apart to God from the womb until the day he dies.'"
8Then 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.
8Then Manoah prayed to the LORD: "O Lord, please let the man of God you sent come to us again and teach us what we should do for the boy who is to be born."
9And 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.
9God listened to Manoah's prayer, and the angel of God came again to the woman while she was sitting in the field. But her husband Manoah was not with her.
10And 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.
10The woman hurried and ran to tell her husband. "Look," she said to him, "the man who came to me the other day has appeared to me again."
11And 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.
11Manoah got up and followed his wife. When he came to the man, he asked him, "Are you the man who spoke to my wife?" "I am," he said.
12And Manoah said, Now let thy words come to pass. How shall we order the child, and how shall we do unto him?
12Manoah said, "When your words come true, how should we raise the boy, and what should we do for him?"
13And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Of all that I said unto the woman let her beware.
13The angel of the LORD said to Manoah, "Your wife must be careful about everything I told her.
14She 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.
14She must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, and she must not drink wine or strong drink or eat anything unclean. She must keep everything I commanded her."
15And 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.
15Manoah said to the angel of the LORD, "Please let us keep you here while we prepare a young goat for you."
16And 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.
16The angel of the LORD replied to Manoah, "Even if you keep me here, I will not eat your food. But if you want to prepare a burnt offering, offer it to the LORD." (Manoah did not know that he was the angel of the LORD.)
17And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, What is thy name, that when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee honour?
17Then Manoah asked the angel of the LORD, "What is your name, so that we can honor you when your words come true?"
18And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret?
18The angel of the LORD said to him, "Why do you ask my name? It is beyond understanding."
19So 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.
19So Manoah took a young goat and a grain offering and offered them on a rock to the LORD. And the angel did an amazing thing while Manoah and his wife watched.
20For 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.
20As the flame rose up from the altar toward heaven, the angel of the LORD went up in the flame of the altar. When Manoah and his wife saw it, they fell face down on the ground.
21But 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.
21The angel of the LORD did not appear to Manoah and his wife again. Then Manoah realized that he had been the angel of the LORD.
22And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God.
22"We are certain to die," Manoah said to his wife, "because we have seen God."
23But 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.
23But his wife answered him, "If the LORD had wanted to kill us, he would not have accepted a burnt offering and a grain offering from our hands, and he would not have shown us all these things or told us such things as these right now."
24And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the LORD blessed him.
24The woman gave birth to a son and named him Samson. The boy grew, and the LORD blessed him.
25And the Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.
25And the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him at times in the camp of Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.
14Samson's Riddle at the Timnath Wedding
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines.
1Samson went down to Timnah, and there he saw a young Philistine woman.
2And 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.
2He went back up and told his father and mother, "I have seen a Philistine woman in Timnah. Now get her for me as my wife."
3Then 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.
3His father and mother said to him, "Isn't there a single woman among your relatives or among all our people, that you have to go and take a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?" But Samson said to his father, "Get her for me. She is the right one for me."
4But 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.
4His father and mother did not know that this was from the LORD, who was looking for a chance to act against the Philistines; for at that time the Philistines ruled over Israel.
5Then 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.
5So Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother. As they came to the vineyards of Timnah, suddenly a young lion came roaring at him.
6And 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.
6The Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon him, and he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as easily as he might have torn a young goat. But he did not tell his father or mother what he had done.
7And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well.
7Then he went down and talked with the woman, and Samson liked her very much.
8And 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.
8Some time later he went back to marry her, and he turned aside to look at the lion's carcass. There in the carcass was a swarm of bees and some honey.
9And 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.
9He scooped the honey out with his hands and ate it as he walked along. When he came to his father and mother, he gave them some, and they ate it too. But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey from the lion's carcass.
10So his father went down unto the woman: and Samson made there a feast; for so used the young men to do.
10His father went down to see the woman, and Samson held a feast there, as young men usually did.
11And it came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him.
11When the people saw him, they brought thirty companions to keep him company.
12And 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:
12Samson said to them, "Let me tell you a riddle. If you can solve it and explain it to me within the seven days of the feast, I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes.
13But 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.
13But if you cannot explain it to me, then you must give me thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes." They said to him, "Tell us your riddle; we want to hear it."
14And 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.
14So he said to them, "Out of the eater came something to eat; out of the strong came something sweet." For three days they could not solve the riddle.
15And 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?
15On the seventh day they said to Samson's wife, "Coax your husband into explaining the riddle to us, or we will burn you and your father's house to the ground. Did you invite us here to rob us? Isn't that so?"
16And 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?
16So Samson's wife cried in front of him and said, "You just hate me! You don't love me at all. You have told a riddle to my people, and you haven't explained it to me." He said to her, "Look, I haven't even told my father or mother. Why should I tell you?"
17And 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.
17She cried in front of him for the rest of the seven days of the feast, and on the seventh day he finally told her, because she kept pressing him so hard. Then she explained the riddle to her people.
18And 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.
18Before sunset on the seventh day, the men of the town said to him, "What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?" He answered them, "If you had not plowed with my heifer, you would not have solved my riddle."
19And 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.
19Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon him. He went down to Ashkelon, killed thirty of their men, took what they were wearing, and gave the sets of clothes to those who had explained the riddle. Burning with anger, he went back up to his father's house.
20But Samson’s wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his friend.
20And Samson's wife was given to the companion who had served as his best man.
15Foxes, Fire, and the Jawbone at Lehi
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1But 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.
1Some time later, during the wheat harvest, Samson went to visit his wife, bringing a young goat. He said, "I am going in to my wife in her room." But her father would not let him go in.
2And 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.
2Her father said, "I was sure you hated her, so I gave her to your companion. Isn't her younger sister more beautiful than she is? Please take her instead."
3And Samson said concerning them, Now shall I be more blameless than the Philistines, though I do them a displeasure.
3Samson said to them, "This time no one can blame me when I do the Philistines harm."
4And 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.
4So Samson went out and caught three hundred foxes. He took torches, tied the foxes tail to tail, and fastened a torch between each pair of tails.
5And 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.
5Then he lit the torches and let the foxes loose in the Philistines' standing grain. He burned up the bundled sheaves and the standing grain, along with the vineyards and olive groves.
6Then 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.
6"Who did this?" the Philistines asked. "Samson, the son-in-law of the man from Timnah," came the answer, "because his wife was taken and given to his companion." So the Philistines went up and burned her and her father to death.
7And Samson said unto them, Though ye have done this, yet will I be avenged of you, and after that I will cease.
7Samson said to them, "Since you have acted like this, I will not stop until I have taken my revenge on you."
8And he smote them hip and thigh with a great slaughter: and he went down and dwelt in the top of the rock Etam.
8He attacked them savagely and killed many of them. Then he went down and stayed at the top of the rock of Etam.
9Then the Philistines went up, and pitched in Judah, and spread themselves in Lehi.
9Then the Philistines went up, camped in Judah, and spread out around Lehi.
10And the men of Judah said, Why are ye come up against us? And they answered, To bind Samson are we come up, to do to him as he hath done to us.
10The men of Judah asked, "Why have you come up against us?" They answered, "We have come to tie up Samson and do to him what he did to us."
11Then three thousand men of Judah went to the top of the rock Etam, and said to Samson, Knowest thou not that the Philistines are rulers over us? what is this that thou hast done unto us? And he said unto them, As they did unto me, so have I done unto them.
11Then three thousand men of Judah went to the top of the rock of Etam and said to Samson, "Don't you know the Philistines rule over us? What have you done to us?" He answered them, "I only did to them what they did to me."
12And they said unto him, We are come down to bind thee, that we may deliver thee into the hand of the Philistines. And Samson said unto them, Swear unto me, that ye will not fall upon me yourselves.
12They said to him, "We have come down to tie you up and hand you over to the Philistines." Samson said to them, "Swear to me that you will not attack me yourselves."
13And they spake unto him, saying, No; but we will bind thee fast, and deliver thee into their hand: but surely we will not kill thee. And they bound him with two new cords, and brought him up from the rock.
13"No," they said, "we will only tie you up securely and hand you over to them; we will certainly not kill you." So they tied him with two new ropes and led him up from the rock.
14And when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him: and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands.
14When he arrived at Lehi, the Philistines came shouting to meet him. Then the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon him. The ropes on his arms became like flax that has burned in a fire, and the bonds dropped from his hands.
15And he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand men therewith.
15He found the fresh jawbone of a donkey, reached out and grabbed it, and struck down a thousand men with it.
16And Samson said, With the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps, with the jaw of an ass have I slain a thousand men.
16Then Samson said, "With a donkey's jawbone I have piled them in heaps; with a donkey's jawbone I have struck down a thousand men."
17And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking, that he cast away the jawbone out of his hand, and called that place Ramathlehi.
17When he had finished speaking, he threw the jawbone away, and he named that place Ramath-lehi.
18And he was sore athirst, and called on the LORD, and said, Thou hast given this great deliverance into the hand of thy servant: and now shall I die for thirst, and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised?
18Then he was terribly thirsty, and he called out to the LORD, "You have given this great victory into the hands of your servant. Must I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?"
19But God clave an hollow place that was in the jaw, and there came water thereout; and when he had drunk, his spirit came again, and he revived: wherefore he called the name thereof Enhakkore, which is in Lehi unto this day.
19So God split open the hollow place in the jaw, and water came out of it. When he drank, his strength returned and he revived. That is why the spring was named En-hakkore, and it is still at Lehi to this day.
20And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years.
20Samson led Israel as judge for twenty years during the days of the Philistines.
16Delilah and the House of Dagon
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there an harlot, and went in unto her.
1Then Samson went to Gaza, where he saw a prostitute and went in to spend the night with her.
2And it was told the Gazites, saying, Samson is come hither. And they compassed him in, and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city, and were quiet all the night, saying, In the morning, when it is day, we shall kill him.
2The people of Gaza were told, "Samson has come here." So they surrounded the place and lay in wait for him all night at the city gate. They kept quiet the whole night, saying, "In the morning, when it gets light, we will kill him."
3And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight, and took the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and went away with them, bar and all, and put them upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of an hill that is before Hebron.
3But Samson lay there only until midnight. Then he got up in the middle of the night, took hold of the doors of the city gate along with the two posts, and tore them loose, bar and all. He hoisted them onto his shoulders and carried them up to the top of the hill that faces Hebron.
4And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.
4Some time later he fell in love with a woman in the valley of Sorek whose name was Delilah.
5And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him: and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver.
5The rulers of the Philistines came to her and said, "Coax him and find out where his great strength comes from, and how we could overpower him so we can tie him up and subdue him. Each one of us will give you eleven hundred pieces of silver."
6And Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray thee, wherein thy great strength lieth, and wherewith thou mightest be bound to afflict thee.
6So Delilah said to Samson, "Please tell me where your great strength comes from, and what could be used to tie you up and hold you down."
7And Samson said unto her, If they bind me with seven green withs that were never dried, then shall I be weak, and be as another man.
7Samson answered her, "If they tie me up with seven fresh bowstrings that have never been dried, I will become weak and be like any other man."
8Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven green withs which had not been dried, and she bound him with them.
8Then the Philistine rulers brought her seven fresh bowstrings that had not been dried, and she tied him up with them.
9Now there were men lying in wait, abiding with her in the chamber. And she said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he brake the withs, as a thread of tow is broken when it toucheth the fire. So his strength was not known.
9Men were hiding in the room, waiting with her. She said to him, "Samson, the Philistines are on you!" But he snapped the bowstrings the way a strand of flax breaks when it touches a flame. So the secret of his strength was still unknown.
10And Delilah said unto Samson, Behold, thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: now tell me, I pray thee, wherewith thou mightest be bound.
10Delilah said to Samson, "Look, you have made a fool of me and told me lies. Now please tell me what could be used to tie you up."
11And he said unto her, If they bind me fast with new ropes that never were occupied, then shall I be weak, and be as another man.
11He said to her, "If they tie me up tightly with new ropes that have never been used, I will become weak and be like any other man."
12Delilah therefore took new ropes, and bound him therewith, and said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And there were liers in wait abiding in the chamber. And he brake them from off his arms like a thread.
12So Delilah took new ropes and tied him up with them, and she said to him, "Samson, the Philistines are on you!" Men were hiding in the room, waiting. But he snapped the ropes off his arms like thread.
13And Delilah said unto Samson, Hitherto thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: tell me wherewith thou mightest be bound. And he said unto her, If thou weavest the seven locks of my head with the web.
13Delilah said to Samson, "Up to now you have made a fool of me and told me lies. Tell me what could be used to tie you up." He said to her, "If you weave the seven braids of my hair into the cloth on the loom."
14And she fastened it with the pin, and said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awaked out of his sleep, and went away with the pin of the beam, and with the web.
14So she wove them in and fastened them with the pin, and said to him, "Samson, the Philistines are on you!" But he woke from his sleep and walked off with the loom pin and the cloth as well.
15And she said unto him, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me? thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth.
15Then she said to him, "How can you say 'I love you' when your heart is not with me? Three times now you have made a fool of me, and you have not told me where your great strength comes from."
16And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death;
16Day after day she kept pestering him with her words and pressing him, until he was worn down almost to death.
17That he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother’s womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.
17So he told her everything in his heart. "No razor has ever touched my head," he said, "because I have been a Nazirite set apart to God from the day I was born. If my head is shaved, my strength will leave me, and I will become weak and be like any other man."
18And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come up this once, for he hath shewed me all his heart. Then the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and brought money in their hand.
18When Delilah saw that he had told her everything in his heart, she sent word to the Philistine rulers: "Come up one more time, for he has told me everything." So the Philistine rulers came up to her, bringing the money with them.
19And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him.
19She lulled him to sleep on her lap. Then she called for a man and had him shave off the seven braids of Samson's hair. So she began to bring him down, and his strength left him.
20And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him.
20Then she said, "Samson, the Philistines are on you!" He woke from his sleep and thought, "I will go out as I have before and shake myself free." But he did not know that the LORD had left him.
21But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house.
21The Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes. They took him down to Gaza, bound him with bronze chains, and set him to grinding grain in the prison.
22Howbeit the hair of his head began to grow again after he was shaven.
22But the hair on his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.
23Then the lords of the Philistines gathered them together for to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice: for they said, Our god hath delivered Samson our enemy into our hand.
23Now the Philistine rulers gathered to offer a great sacrifice to their god Dagon and to celebrate, for they said, "Our god has handed Samson our enemy over to us."
24And when the people saw him, they praised their god: for they said, Our god hath delivered into our hands our enemy, and the destroyer of our country, which slew many of us.
24When the people saw him, they praised their god, saying, "Our god has handed over to us our enemy, the one who ruined our land and killed so many of us."
25And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison house; and he made them sport: and they set him between the pillars.
25When their hearts were merry with wine, they said, "Bring Samson out to entertain us." So they brought Samson out of the prison, and he performed for them. They stood him between the pillars.
26And Samson said unto the lad that held him by the hand, Suffer me that I may feel the pillars whereupon the house standeth, that I may lean upon them.
26Samson said to the boy who was leading him by the hand, "Let me feel the pillars that hold up the building, so I can lean against them."
27Now the house was full of men and women; and all the lords of the Philistines were there; and there were upon the roof about three thousand men and women, that beheld while Samson made sport.
27Now the building was packed with men and women, and all the Philistine rulers were there. On the roof were about three thousand more men and women watching Samson perform.
28And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord God, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.
28Then Samson called out to the LORD, "O Lord God, please remember me. Please give me strength just this one more time, O God, so that with one blow I can pay the Philistines back for my two eyes."
29And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left.
29Samson took hold of the two central pillars that held up the building and braced himself against them, his right hand on one and his left hand on the other.
30And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life.
30Then Samson said, "Let me die with the Philistines!" He pushed with all his might, and the building came crashing down on the rulers and on all the people inside. So the people he killed as he died were more than all he had killed during his life.
31Then his brethren and all the house of his father came down, and took him, and brought him up, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the buryingplace of Manoah his father. And he judged Israel twenty years.
31Then his brothers and his whole family came down, carried him back, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of his father Manoah. He had led Israel as judge for twenty years.
17Micah's Idols and His Hired Levite
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1And there was a man of mount Ephraim, whose name was Micah.
1There was a man from the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Micah.
2And he said unto his mother, The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from thee, about which thou cursedst, and spakest of also in mine ears, behold, the silver is with me; I took it. And his mother said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my son.
2He said to his mother, "The eleven hundred pieces of silver that were taken from you, the ones you spoke a curse over in my hearing, well, I have the silver. I took it." His mother said, "May the LORD bless you, my son!"
3And when he had restored the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, his mother said, I had wholly dedicated the silver unto the LORD from my hand for my son, to make a graven image and a molten image: now therefore I will restore it unto thee.
3When he gave the eleven hundred pieces of silver back to his mother, she said, "I solemnly set this silver apart to the LORD from my own hand for my son, to make a carved image and a metal image. So now I will give it back to you."
4Yet he restored the money unto his mother; and his mother took two hundred shekels of silver, and gave them to the founder, who made thereof a graven image and a molten image: and they were in the house of Micah.
4But he returned the money to his mother, and she took two hundred pieces of silver and gave them to a silversmith, who made them into a carved image and a metal image. They were kept in Micah's house.
5And the man Micah had an house of gods, and made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.
5This man Micah had a shrine of his own. He made a priestly vest and household idols, and he installed one of his sons to serve as his priest.
6In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
6In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did whatever seemed right in his own eyes.
7And there was a young man out of Bethlehemjudah of the family of Judah, who was a Levite, and he sojourned there.
7Now there was a young man from Bethlehem in Judah, from the clan of Judah, who was a Levite and was living there as an outsider.
8And the man departed out of the city from Bethlehemjudah to sojourn where he could find a place: and he came to mount Ephraim to the house of Micah, as he journeyed.
8The man left the town of Bethlehem in Judah to find somewhere else to live. As he traveled, he came to the hill country of Ephraim, to Micah's house.
9And Micah said unto him, Whence comest thou? And he said unto him, I am a Levite of Bethlehemjudah, and I go to sojourn where I may find a place.
9Micah asked him, "Where have you come from?" He answered, "I am a Levite from Bethlehem in Judah, and I am looking for a place to settle."
10And Micah said unto him, Dwell with me, and be unto me a father and a priest, and I will give thee ten shekels of silver by the year, and a suit of apparel, and thy victuals. So the Levite went in.
10Micah said to him, "Stay with me and be my father and priest, and I will give you ten pieces of silver a year, plus a set of clothes and your food." So the Levite went in.
11And the Levite was content to dwell with the man; and the young man was unto him as one of his sons.
11The Levite agreed to live with the man, and the young man became like one of his own sons to him.
12And Micah consecrated the Levite; and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah.
12Micah installed the Levite as his priest, and the young man served him in Micah's house.
13Then said Micah, Now know I that the LORD will do me good, seeing I have a Levite to my priest.
13Then Micah said, "Now I know the LORD will be good to me, because I have a Levite as my priest."
18The Danites Take Micah's Priest and Laish
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1In those days there was no king in Israel: and in those days the tribe of the Danites sought them an inheritance to dwell in; for unto that day all their inheritance had not fallen unto them among the tribes of Israel.
1In those days there was no king in Israel. And in those days the tribe of Dan was looking for a territory of its own to settle in, because up to that time it had not received its share of land among the tribes of Israel.
2And the children of Dan sent of their family five men from their coasts, men of valour, from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land, and to search it; and they said unto them, Go, search the land: who when they came to mount Ephraim, to the house of Micah, they lodged there.
2So the people of Dan sent out five men from their whole clan, capable fighters from Zorah and Eshtaol, to scout out the land and explore it. They told them, "Go and explore the land." The men came to the hill country of Ephraim, to Micah's house, and spent the night there.
3When they were by the house of Micah, they knew the voice of the young man the Levite: and they turned in thither, and said unto him, Who brought thee hither? and what makest thou in this place? and what hast thou here?
3While they were near Micah's house, they recognized the voice of the young Levite, so they turned aside and asked him, "Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? What do you have here?"
4And he said unto them, Thus and thus dealeth Micah with me, and hath hired me, and I am his priest.
4He told them what Micah had done for him and said, "He has hired me, and I am his priest."
5And they said unto him, Ask counsel, we pray thee, of God, that we may know whether our way which we go shall be prosperous.
5Then they said to him, "Please ask God whether the journey we are on will succeed."
6And the priest said unto them, Go in peace: before the LORD is your way wherein ye go.
6The priest answered them, "Go in peace. The LORD is watching over the road you travel."
7Then the five men departed, and came to Laish, and saw the people that were therein, how they dwelt careless, after the manner of the Zidonians, quiet and secure; and there was no magistrate in the land, that might put them to shame in any thing; and they were far from the Zidonians, and had no business with any man.
7So the five men went on and came to Laish. They saw that the people there lived without a care, in the manner of the Sidonians, quiet and unsuspecting. There was no ruler in the land to bring trouble on them for anything. They were far from the Sidonians and had no dealings with anyone.
8And they came unto their brethren to Zorah and Eshtaol: and their brethren said unto them, What say ye?
8When the men returned to their relatives at Zorah and Eshtaol, their relatives asked them, "What do you have to report?"
9And they said, Arise, that we may go up against them: for we have seen the land, and, behold, it is very good: and are ye still? be not slothful to go, and to enter to possess the land.
9They said, "Come on, let's go up and attack them! We have seen the land, and it is very good. Why are you just sitting there? Don't hesitate to go and take possession of the land.
10When ye go, ye shall come unto a people secure, and to a large land: for God hath given it into your hands; a place where there is no want of any thing that is in the earth.
10When you get there, you will find an unsuspecting people and a wide-open land. God has put it into your hands, a place that lacks nothing the earth can offer."
11And there went from thence of the family of the Danites, out of Zorah and out of Eshtaol, six hundred men appointed with weapons of war.
11So six hundred men from the clan of Dan, armed for battle, set out from Zorah and Eshtaol.
12And they went up, and pitched in Kirjathjearim, in Judah: wherefore they called that place Mahanehdan unto this day: behold, it is behind Kirjathjearim.
12They went up and camped at Kiriath-jearim in Judah. That is why the place west of Kiriath-jearim is called Mahaneh-dan to this day.
13And they passed thence unto mount Ephraim, and came unto the house of Micah.
13From there they went on to the hill country of Ephraim and came to Micah's house.
14Then answered the five men that went to spy out the country of Laish, and said unto their brethren, Do ye know that there is in these houses an ephod, and teraphim, and a graven image, and a molten image? now therefore consider what ye have to do.
14Then the five men who had scouted the land around Laish said to their relatives, "Do you know that in these houses there is a priestly vest, household idols, a carved image, and a metal image? Now think about what you should do."
15And they turned thitherward, and came to the house of the young man the Levite, even unto the house of Micah, and saluted him.
15So they turned aside there and went to the house of the young Levite at Micah's home and greeted him.
16And the six hundred men appointed with their weapons of war, which were of the children of Dan, stood by the entering of the gate.
16The six hundred men of Dan, armed for battle, stood at the entrance of the gate.
17And the five men that went to spy out the land went up, and came in thither, and took the graven image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image: and the priest stood in the entering of the gate with the six hundred men that were appointed with weapons of war.
17The five men who had scouted the land went inside and took the carved image, the priestly vest, the household idols, and the metal image, while the priest stood at the gate entrance with the six hundred armed men.
18And these went into Micah’s house, and fetched the carved image, the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image. Then said the priest unto them, What do ye?
18When these men went into Micah's house and took the carved image, the priestly vest, the household idols, and the metal image, the priest said to them, "What are you doing?"
19And they said unto him, Hold thy peace, lay thine hand upon thy mouth, and go with us, and be to us a father and a priest: is it better for thee to be a priest unto the house of one man, or that thou be a priest unto a tribe and a family in Israel?
19They answered him, "Be quiet! Put your hand over your mouth and come with us, and be our father and priest. Isn't it better to be priest for a whole tribe and clan in Israel than for just one man's household?"
20And the priest’s heart was glad, and he took the ephod, and the teraphim, and the graven image, and went in the midst of the people.
20The priest was delighted. He took the priestly vest, the household idols, and the carved image and went along in the middle of the group.
21So they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the cattle and the carriage before them.
21So they turned and went on their way, putting their children, their livestock, and their belongings out in front of them.
22And when they were a good way from the house of Micah, the men that were in the houses near to Micah’s house were gathered together, and overtook the children of Dan.
22When they had gone some distance from Micah's house, the men who lived near Micah's house gathered together and caught up with the people of Dan.
23And they cried unto the children of Dan. And they turned their faces, and said unto Micah, What aileth thee, that thou comest with such a company?
23They shouted after the people of Dan, who turned around and said to Micah, "What is the matter with you, that you have come out with such a crowd?"
24And he said, Ye have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest, and ye are gone away: and what have I more? and what is this that ye say unto me, What aileth thee?
24He answered, "You took the gods I made, and my priest, and walked away. What do I have left? How can you ask me, 'What is the matter with you?'"
25And the children of Dan said unto him, Let not thy voice be heard among us, lest angry fellows run upon thee, and thou lose thy life, with the lives of thy household.
25The people of Dan said to him, "Don't let us hear another word from you, or some hot-tempered men might attack you, and you and your family would lose your lives."
26And the children of Dan went their way: and when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back unto his house.
26Then the people of Dan went on their way. Micah saw that they were too strong for him, so he turned around and went back home.
27And they took the things which Micah had made, and the priest which he had, and came unto Laish, unto a people that were at quiet and secure: and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and burnt the city with fire.
27So they took what Micah had made, along with his priest, and came to Laish, to a people who were quiet and unsuspecting. They struck them down with the sword and burned the city to the ground.
28And there was no deliverer, because it was far from Zidon, and they had no business with any man; and it was in the valley that lieth by Bethrehob. And they built a city, and dwelt therein.
28There was no one to rescue them, because the city was far from Sidon and they had no dealings with anyone. It lay in the valley near Beth-rehob. The people of Dan rebuilt the city and settled there.
29And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born unto Israel: howbeit the name of the city was Laish at the first.
29They named the city Dan, after their ancestor Dan, who was born to Israel, though the city's name had been Laish before.
30And the children of Dan set up the graven image: and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land.
30There the people of Dan set up the carved image for themselves, and Jonathan son of Gershom, son of Manasseh, and his sons served as priests for the tribe of Dan until the day the land was taken into captivity.
31And they set them up Micah’s graven image, which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.
31So they kept the carved image Micah had made set up for themselves the whole time the house of God was in Shiloh.
19The Levite's Concubine at Gibeah
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the side of mount Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Bethlehemjudah.
1In those days, when there was no king in Israel, a certain Levite was living in a remote part of the hill country of Ephraim. He took a woman from Bethlehem in Judah to be his concubine.
2And his concubine played the whore against him, and went away from him unto her father’s house to Bethlehemjudah, and was there four whole months.
2But his concubine was unfaithful to him. She left him and went back to her father's house in Bethlehem in Judah, and she stayed there four whole months.
3And her husband arose, and went after her, to speak friendly unto her, and to bring her again, having his servant with him, and a couple of asses: and she brought him into her father’s house: and when the father of the damsel saw him, he rejoiced to meet him.
3Then her husband set out after her to speak kindly to her and bring her back. He took his servant and a pair of donkeys with him. She brought him into her father's house, and when the young woman's father saw him, he welcomed him gladly.
4And his father in law, the damsel’s father, retained him; and he abode with him three days: so they did eat and drink, and lodged there.
4His father-in-law, the young woman's father, kept him there, and he stayed with him three days. They ate and drank and spent the nights there.
5And it came to pass on the fourth day, when they arose early in the morning, that he rose up to depart: and the damsel’s father said unto his son in law, Comfort thine heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward go your way.
5On the fourth day they got up early in the morning, and the Levite prepared to leave. But the young woman's father said to his son-in-law, "Have a bite of bread to keep up your strength, and then you can go."
6And they sat down, and did eat and drink both of them together: for the damsel’s father had said unto the man, Be content, I pray thee, and tarry all night, and let thine heart be merry.
6So the two of them sat down and ate and drank together. Then the young woman's father said to the man, "Please agree to stay the night and enjoy yourself."
7And when the man rose up to depart, his father in law urged him: therefore he lodged there again.
7When the man got up to leave, his father-in-law pressed him, so he stayed there another night.
8And he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart: and the damsel’s father said, Comfort thine heart, I pray thee. And they tarried until afternoon, and they did eat both of them.
8On the fifth day he got up early in the morning to leave, but the young woman's father said, "Please refresh yourself first." So they lingered until afternoon, and the two of them ate together.
9And when the man rose up to depart, he, and his concubine, and his servant, his father in law, the damsel’s father, said unto him, Behold, now the day draweth toward evening, I pray you tarry all night: behold, the day groweth to an end, lodge here, that thine heart may be merry; and to morrow get you early on your way, that thou mayest go home.
9Then the man got up to leave with his concubine and his servant, but his father-in-law, the young woman's father, said to him, "Look, the day is drawing toward evening. Please stay the night. See, the day is nearly over. Spend the night here and enjoy yourself. Tomorrow you can get up early and be on your way home."
10But the man would not tarry that night, but he rose up and departed, and came over against Jebus, which is Jerusalem; and there were with him two asses saddled, his concubine also was with him.
10But the man would not stay another night. He got up and left, and he came to a spot across from Jebus, which is Jerusalem, with his two saddled donkeys and his concubine.
11And when they were by Jebus, the day was far spent; and the servant said unto his master, Come, I pray thee, and let us turn in into this city of the Jebusites, and lodge in it.
11When they were near Jebus, the day was almost gone, and the servant said to his master, "Come, let's turn in to this city of the Jebusites and spend the night there."
12And his master said unto him, We will not turn aside hither into the city of a stranger, that is not of the children of Israel; we will pass over to Gibeah.
12But his master said to him, "We will not turn in to a city of foreigners who are not Israelites. We will go on to Gibeah."
13And he said unto his servant, Come, and let us draw near to one of these places to lodge all night, in Gibeah, or in Ramah.
13And he said to his servant, "Come, let's try to reach one of those places and spend the night in Gibeah or Ramah."
14And they passed on and went their way; and the sun went down upon them when they were by Gibeah, which belongeth to Benjamin.
14So they went on their way, and the sun set as they came near Gibeah, which belongs to Benjamin.
15And they turned aside thither, to go in and to lodge in Gibeah: and when he went in, he sat him down in a street of the city: for there was no man that took them into his house to lodging.
15They turned in there to spend the night in Gibeah. The Levite went and sat down in the town square, but no one took them into his house for the night.
16And, behold, there came an old man from his work out of the field at even, which was also of mount Ephraim; and he sojourned in Gibeah: but the men of the place were Benjamites.
16That evening an old man came in from his work in the fields. He was from the hill country of Ephraim and was living in Gibeah as an outsider, for the men of the place were Benjamites.
17And when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw a wayfaring man in the street of the city: and the old man said, Whither goest thou? and whence comest thou?
17When he looked up and saw the traveler in the town square, the old man asked, "Where are you going, and where have you come from?"
18And he said unto him, We are passing from Bethlehemjudah toward the side of mount Ephraim; from thence am I: and I went to Bethlehemjudah, but I am now going to the house of the LORD; and there is no man that receiveth me to house.
18The Levite answered, "We are traveling from Bethlehem in Judah to a remote part of the hill country of Ephraim, where I am from. I went to Bethlehem in Judah, and now I am going to the house of the LORD, but no one has taken me into his home.
19Yet there is both straw and provender for our asses; and there is bread and wine also for me, and for thy handmaid, and for the young man which is with thy servants: there is no want of any thing.
19We have straw and feed for our donkeys, and bread and wine for me, for your servant girl, and for the young man who is with us. We don't need anything."
20And the old man said, Peace be with thee; howsoever let all thy wants lie upon me; only lodge not in the street.
20The old man said, "Peace be with you. Let me take care of everything you need. Just don't spend the night in the square."
21So he brought him into his house, and gave provender unto the asses: and they washed their feet, and did eat and drink.
21So he brought him into his house and fed the donkeys. They washed their feet and had something to eat and drink.
22Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about, and beat at the door, and spake to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man that came into thine house, that we may know him.
22While they were enjoying themselves, some worthless men of the city surrounded the house and pounded on the door. They called out to the old man who owned the house, "Bring out the man who came to your house so we can have sex with him."
23And the man, the master of the house, went out unto them, and said unto them, Nay, my brethren, nay, I pray you, do not so wickedly; seeing that this man is come into mine house, do not this folly.
23The owner of the house went out to them and said, "No, my brothers, please don't do such an evil thing. This man is a guest in my house. Don't do anything so disgraceful.
24Behold, here is my daughter a maiden, and his concubine; them I will bring out now, and humble ye them, and do with them what seemeth good unto you: but unto this man do not so vile a thing.
24Look, here is my daughter, who is a virgin, and the man's concubine. I will bring them out to you now. Abuse them and do whatever you want with them, but don't do such a shameful thing to this man."
25But the men would not hearken to him: so the man took his concubine, and brought her forth unto them; and they knew her, and abused her all the night until the morning: and when the day began to spring, they let her go.
25But the men would not listen to him. So the Levite took his concubine and put her outside to them, and they raped her and abused her all night until morning. As dawn was breaking, they let her go.
26Then came the woman in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of the man’s house where her lord was, till it was light.
26At daybreak the woman came back and collapsed at the door of the house where her master was staying, and she lay there until it was light.
27And her lord rose up in the morning, and opened the doors of the house, and went out to go his way: and, behold, the woman his concubine was fallen down at the door of the house, and her hands were upon the threshold.
27When her master got up in the morning, he opened the doors of the house and stepped out to continue his journey, and there was his concubine, fallen at the doorway of the house, her hands on the threshold.
28And he said unto her, Up, and let us be going. But none answered. Then the man took her up upon an ass, and the man rose up, and gat him unto his place.
28He said to her, "Get up, let's go." But there was no answer. Then the man lifted her onto his donkey and set out for home.
29And when he was come into his house, he took a knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her, together with her bones, into twelve pieces, and sent her into all the coasts of Israel.
29When he reached his house, he took a knife, took hold of his concubine, and cut her body, limb by limb, into twelve pieces, and he sent them throughout the whole territory of Israel.
30And it was so, that all that saw it said, There was no such deed done nor seen from the day that the children of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt unto this day: consider of it, take advice, and speak your minds.
30Everyone who saw it said, "Nothing like this has ever been done or seen from the day the Israelites came up out of the land of Egypt until now. Think about it, talk it over, and tell us what to do."
20Israel's War Against Benjamin
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was gathered together as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, unto the LORD in Mizpeh.
1Then all the Israelites came out, and the whole community gathered as one, from Dan to Beersheba and from the land of Gilead, before the LORD at Mizpah.
2And the chief of all the people, even of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen that drew sword.
2The leaders of all the people, from every tribe of Israel, took their places in the assembly of God's people: four hundred thousand foot soldiers armed with swords.
3(Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mizpeh.) Then said the children of Israel, Tell us, how was this wickedness?
3(The Benjamites heard that the Israelites had gone up to Mizpah.) Then the Israelites said, "Tell us how this terrible thing happened."
4And the Levite, the husband of the woman that was slain, answered and said, I came into Gibeah that belongeth to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge.
4So the Levite, the husband of the murdered woman, answered, "I came with my concubine to Gibeah in Benjamin to spend the night.
5And the men of Gibeah rose against me, and beset the house round about upon me by night, and thought to have slain me: and my concubine have they forced, that she is dead.
5During the night the men of Gibeah came after me and surrounded the house, intending to kill me. They raped my concubine, and she died.
6And I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel: for they have committed lewdness and folly in Israel.
6I took my concubine, cut her into pieces, and sent them throughout the whole land of Israel's inheritance, because they have done something vile and disgraceful in Israel.
7Behold, ye are all children of Israel; give here your advice and counsel.
7Now, all of you Israelites, speak up and give your decision here and now."
8And all the people arose as one man, saying, We will not any of us go to his tent, neither will we any of us turn into his house.
8All the people rose up as one and said, "Not one of us will go home to his tent, and not one of us will go back to his house.
9But now this shall be the thing which we will do to Gibeah; we will go up by lot against it;
9This is what we will do to Gibeah: we will go up against it as the lot decides.
10And we will take ten men of an hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and an hundred of a thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand, to fetch victual for the people, that they may do, when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, according to all the folly that they have wrought in Israel.
10We will take ten men out of every hundred from all the tribes of Israel, a hundred out of every thousand, and a thousand out of every ten thousand, to gather supplies for the army, so that when the army comes to Gibeah in Benjamin, it can repay them for all the disgrace they have brought on Israel."
11So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together as one man.
11So all the men of Israel gathered against the city, united as one man.
12And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, What wickedness is this that is done among you?
12The tribes of Israel sent men throughout the whole tribe of Benjamin, saying, "What is this terrible crime that has been committed among you?
13Now therefore deliver us the men, the children of Belial, which are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel. But the children of Benjamin would not hearken to the voice of their brethren the children of Israel:
13Now hand over those worthless men of Gibeah so we can put them to death and purge the evil from Israel." But the Benjamites would not listen to their fellow Israelites.
14But the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together out of the cities unto Gibeah, to go out to battle against the children of Israel.
14Instead, the Benjamites came together from their towns to Gibeah to go out and fight against the Israelites.
15And the children of Benjamin were numbered at that time out of the cities twenty and six thousand men that drew sword, beside the inhabitants of Gibeah, which were numbered seven hundred chosen men.
15That day the Benjamites mustered twenty-six thousand swordsmen from their towns, in addition to the people of Gibeah, who numbered seven hundred picked men.
16Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men lefthanded; every one could sling stones at an hair breadth, and not miss.
16Among all these troops were seven hundred picked men who were left-handed, and every one of them could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.
17And the men of Israel, beside Benjamin, were numbered four hundred thousand men that drew sword: all these were men of war.
17The men of Israel, not counting Benjamin, mustered four hundred thousand swordsmen, all of them seasoned fighters.
18And the children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of God, and asked counsel of God, and said, Which of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And the LORD said, Judah shall go up first.
18The Israelites went up to Bethel and asked God, "Which of us should go up first to fight the Benjamites?" The LORD answered, "Judah will go first."
19And the children of Israel rose up in the morning, and encamped against Gibeah.
19So the Israelites got up in the morning and set up camp near Gibeah.
20And the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin; and the men of Israel put themselves in array to fight against them at Gibeah.
20The men of Israel marched out to fight Benjamin and took up battle positions against them at Gibeah.
21And the children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah, and destroyed down to the ground of the Israelites that day twenty and two thousand men.
21But the Benjamites came out of Gibeah and cut down twenty-two thousand Israelites on the field that day.
22And the people the men of Israel encouraged themselves, and set their battle again in array in the place where they put themselves in array the first day.
22Still, the men of Israel took courage and again lined up for battle in the same place where they had lined up the first day.
23(And the children of Israel went up and wept before the LORD until even, and asked counsel of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up again to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother? And the LORD said, Go up against him.)
23(The Israelites had gone up and wept before the LORD until evening, and they had asked the LORD, "Should we go up again to fight our brothers the Benjamites?" And the LORD had said, "Go up against them.")
24And the children of Israel came near against the children of Benjamin the second day.
24So the Israelites advanced against the Benjamites on the second day.
25And Benjamin went forth against them out of Gibeah the second day, and destroyed down to the ground of the children of Israel again eighteen thousand men; all these drew the sword.
25And Benjamin came out of Gibeah to meet them on the second day and cut down another eighteen thousand Israelites, all of them swordsmen.
26Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
26Then all the Israelites, the whole army, went up to Bethel. There they wept and sat before the LORD, fasting that day until evening, and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
27And the children of Israel enquired of the LORD, (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,
27And the Israelites asked the LORD (for in those days the ark of the covenant of God was there,
28And Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days,) saying, Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease? And the LORD said, Go up; for to morrow I will deliver them into thine hand.
28and Phinehas son of Eleazar, son of Aaron, served before it in those days), "Should we go out again to fight our brothers the Benjamites, or should we stop?" The LORD answered, "Go up, for tomorrow I will hand them over to you."
29And Israel set liers in wait round about Gibeah.
29Then Israel set men in ambush all around Gibeah.
30And the children of Israel went up against the children of Benjamin on the third day, and put themselves in array against Gibeah, as at other times.
30On the third day the Israelites went up against the Benjamites and took up positions against Gibeah as they had before.
31And the children of Benjamin went out against the people, and were drawn away from the city; and they began to smite of the people, and kill, as at other times, in the highways, of which one goeth up to the house of God, and the other to Gibeah in the field, about thirty men of Israel.
31The Benjamites came out to meet the army and were drawn away from the city. They began striking down the army and killing men as before, about thirty Israelites, on the roads, one of which leads up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah, out in the open country.
32And the children of Benjamin said, They are smitten down before us, as at the first. But the children of Israel said, Let us flee, and draw them from the city unto the highways.
32The Benjamites said, "We are beating them, just like the first time." But the Israelites had said, "Let's retreat and draw them away from the city onto the roads."
33And all the men of Israel rose up out of their place, and put themselves in array at Baaltamar: and the liers in wait of Israel came forth out of their places, even out of the meadows of Gibeah.
33Then all the men of Israel rose from their positions and lined up at Baal-tamar, while the Israelites in ambush charged out of their hiding places in the open fields around Gibeah.
34And there came against Gibeah ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and the battle was sore: but they knew not that evil was near them.
34Ten thousand picked men from all Israel came against Gibeah, and the fighting was fierce. But the Benjamites did not realize that disaster was closing in on them.
35And the LORD smote Benjamin before Israel: and the children of Israel destroyed of the Benjamites that day twenty and five thousand and an hundred men: all these drew the sword.
35The LORD defeated Benjamin before Israel, and that day the Israelites struck down twenty-five thousand one hundred Benjamites, all of them swordsmen.
36So the children of Benjamin saw that they were smitten: for the men of Israel gave place to the Benjamites, because they trusted unto the liers in wait which they had set beside Gibeah.
36Then the Benjamites saw that they were beaten. Now the men of Israel had given ground to Benjamin because they were counting on the ambush they had set near Gibeah.
37And the liers in wait hasted, and rushed upon Gibeah; and the liers in wait drew themselves along, and smote all the city with the edge of the sword.
37The men in ambush rushed quickly into Gibeah; they spread out through the city and put everyone in it to the sword.
38Now there was an appointed sign between the men of Israel and the liers in wait, that they should make a great flame with smoke rise up out of the city.
38The men of Israel had arranged a signal with the men in ambush: they were to send up a great column of smoke from the city.
39And when the men of Israel retired in the battle, Benjamin began to smite and kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons: for they said, Surely they are smitten down before us, as in the first battle.
39So when the men of Israel turned back in the battle, Benjamin had begun to strike down about thirty Israelites, and they said, "Surely we are beating them, just as in the first battle."
40But when the flame began to arise up out of the city with a pillar of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them, and, behold, the flame of the city ascended up to heaven.
40But when the column of smoke began to rise from the city, the Benjamites looked behind them, and there was the whole city going up in smoke to the sky.
41And when the men of Israel turned again, the men of Benjamin were amazed: for they saw that evil was come upon them.
41Then the men of Israel turned around, and the men of Benjamin were terrified, for they saw that disaster had come upon them.
42Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel unto the way of the wilderness; but the battle overtook them; and them which came out of the cities they destroyed in the midst of them.
42So they fled before the men of Israel toward the wilderness, but the battle caught up with them, and the Israelites coming out of the towns cut them down in their midst.
43Thus they inclosed the Benjamites round about, and chased them, and trode them down with ease over against Gibeah toward the sunrising.
43They surrounded the Benjamites, chased them, and easily trampled them down opposite Gibeah, on the east side.
44And there fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men; all these were men of valour.
44Eighteen thousand Benjamites fell, all of them brave fighters.
45And they turned and fled toward the wilderness unto the rock of Rimmon: and they gleaned of them in the highways five thousand men; and pursued hard after them unto Gidom, and slew two thousand men of them.
45The rest turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, but the Israelites picked off five thousand of them on the roads. They kept up the pursuit as far as Gidom and killed two thousand more.
46So that all which fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and five thousand men that drew the sword; all these were men of valour.
46So the total number of Benjamites who fell that day was twenty-five thousand swordsmen, all of them brave fighters.
47But six hundred men turned and fled to the wilderness unto the rock Rimmon, and abode in the rock Rimmon four months.
47But six hundred men turned and fled into the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, and they stayed at the rock of Rimmon for four months.
48And the men of Israel turned again upon the children of Benjamin, and smote them with the edge of the sword, as well the men of every city, as the beast, and all that came to hand: also they set on fire all the cities that they came to.
48The men of Israel then went back against the rest of Benjamin and put them to the sword, the people of every town and the animals and everything else they found. They also set fire to every town they came to.
21Wives for the Survivors of Benjamin
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpeh, saying, There shall not any of us give his daughter unto Benjamin to wife.
1Now the men of Israel had sworn an oath at Mizpah, saying, "Not one of us will give his daughter to a Benjamite as a wife."
2And the people came to the house of God, and abode there till even before God, and lifted up their voices, and wept sore;
2And the people came to the house of God and stayed there before God until evening, and they lifted up their voices and wept bitterly.
3And said, O LORD God of Israel, why is this come to pass in Israel, that there should be to day one tribe lacking in Israel?
3They said, "O LORD God of Israel, why has this happened in Israel, that today one tribe should be missing from Israel?"
4And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people rose early, and built there an altar, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.
4The next day the people got up early and built an altar there, and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.
5And the children of Israel said, Who is there among all the tribes of Israel 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, saying, He shall surely be put to death.
5Then the children of Israel said, "Who among all the tribes of Israel did not come up with the assembly to the LORD?" For they had sworn a solemn oath about anyone who did not come up to the LORD at Mizpah, saying, "He must surely be put to death."
6And the children of Israel repented them for Benjamin their brother, and said, There is one tribe cut off from Israel this day.
6And the children of Israel felt sorrow for their brother Benjamin, and said, "Today one tribe has been cut off from Israel.
7How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing we have sworn by the LORD that we will not give them of our daughters to wives?
7What can we do to find wives for the ones who are left, since we have sworn by the LORD that we will not give them any of our daughters as wives?"
8And they said, What one is there of the tribes of Israel that came not up to Mizpeh to the LORD? And, behold, there came none to the camp from Jabeshgilead to the assembly.
8Then they asked, "Which one of the tribes of Israel did not come up to the LORD at Mizpah?" And they found that no one had come to the camp from Jabesh Gilead to join the assembly.
9For the people were numbered, and, behold, there were none of the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead there.
9For when the people were counted, not one of the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead was there.
10And the congregation sent thither twelve thousand men of the valiantest, and commanded them, saying, Go and smite the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead with the edge of the sword, with the women and the children.
10So the assembly sent twelve thousand of their bravest men there, and gave them orders, saying, "Go and strike down the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead with the edge of the sword, along with the women and the children.
11And this is the thing that ye shall do, Ye shall utterly destroy every male, and every woman that hath lain by man.
11This is what you are to do: completely destroy every male, and every woman who has slept with a man."
12And they found among the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead four hundred young virgins, that had known no man by lying with any male: and they brought them unto the camp to Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.
12Among the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead they found four hundred young women who were virgins and had never slept with a man, and they brought them to the camp at Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.
13And the whole congregation sent some to speak to the children of Benjamin that were in the rock Rimmon, and to call peaceably unto them.
13Then the whole assembly sent word to the children of Benjamin who were at the rock of Rimmon, and offered them peace.
14And Benjamin came again at that time; and they gave them wives which they had saved alive of the women of Jabeshgilead: and yet so they sufficed them not.
14So Benjamin came back at that time, and they gave them the women of Jabesh Gilead whom they had kept alive to be their wives; but even so, there were not enough for them.
15And the people repented them for Benjamin, because that the LORD had made a breach in the tribes of Israel.
15And the people felt sorrow for Benjamin, because the LORD had made a gap in the tribes of Israel.
16Then the elders of the congregation said, How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?
16Then the elders of the assembly said, "What can we do to find wives for the ones who are left, since the women of Benjamin have been destroyed?"
17And they said, There must be an inheritance for them that be escaped of Benjamin, that a tribe be not destroyed out of Israel.
17And they said, "There must be an inheritance for the survivors of Benjamin, so that a tribe is not wiped out of Israel.
18Howbeit we may not give them wives of our daughters: for the children of Israel have sworn, saying, Cursed be he that giveth a wife to Benjamin.
18But we cannot give them our daughters as wives, for the children of Israel have sworn, saying, 'Cursed is anyone who gives a wife to Benjamin.'"
19Then they said, Behold, there is a feast of the LORD in Shiloh yearly in a place which is on the north side of Bethel, on the east side of the highway that goeth up from Bethel to Shechem, and on the south of Lebonah.
19Then they said, "Look, there is a yearly feast of the LORD at Shiloh, in a place north of Bethel, east of the road that goes up from Bethel to Shechem, and south of Lebonah."
20Therefore they commanded the children of Benjamin, saying, Go and lie in wait in the vineyards;
20So they gave the children of Benjamin these instructions: "Go and hide in the vineyards and wait.
21And see, and, behold, if the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in dances, then come ye out of the vineyards, and catch you every man his wife of the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin.
21Keep watch, and when the daughters of Shiloh come out to join in the dancing, come out of the vineyards, and each of you grab a wife for himself from the daughters of Shiloh, and go back to the land of Benjamin.
22And it shall be, when their fathers or their brethren come unto us to complain, that we will say unto them, Be favourable unto them for our sakes: because we reserved not to each man his wife in the war: for ye did not give unto them at this time, that ye should be guilty.
22And when their fathers or their brothers come to us to complain, we will say to them, 'Be kind to them for our sakes, because we did not secure a wife for each man in the war; and since you did not give your daughters to them yourselves, you are not guilty.'"
23And the children of Benjamin did so, 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.
23The children of Benjamin did so. Each man took a wife from the dancers he caught, as many as they needed, and they went back to their inheritance, rebuilt their towns, and lived in them.
24And the children of Israel 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.
24At that time the children of Israel left that place, each man to his own tribe and family, and each one went out from there to his own inheritance.
25In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
25In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did whatever seemed right in his own eyes.