Jael killeth Sisera

JUDGES

Deborah and Burak's song of Naphtali, and of the children of Zebuluneven I, will sing unto the LORD; I will sing And I will draw unto thee, to the river Ki-praise to the LORD God of Israel. shon, Sisera the captain of Jabin's ariny, with 4 LORD, when thou wentest out of Seir, when bis chariots and his multitude; and I will de-thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, the liver him into thy hand? earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped water.

8 And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go.

ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel.

5 The mountains melted from before the LORD, even that Sinai from before the LORDGod of Israel. 9 And she said, I will surely go with thee: In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the notwithstanding the journey that thou takest days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, shall not be for thine honour; for the LORD shall and the travellers walked through by-ways. sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And De- 7 The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they botah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh. 10 1 And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet and Deborah went up with him. 11 Now Heber the Kenite, which was of the children of Hobab the father-in-law of Moses, 9 My heart is toward the governors of Israel had severed himself from the Kenites, and pitch-that offered themselves willingly among the peoed his tent unto the plain of Zaanaim, which is ple: Bless ye the LORD. 10 Speak, ye that ride on white asses, ye that

by Kedesh.

8 They chose new gods; then was war in the gates: was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel?

12 And they shewed Sisera that Barak the son sit in judgment, and walk by the way.
of Abinoam was gone up to mount Tabor. 11 They that are delivered from the noise of
13 And Sisera gathered together all his chari-archers in the places of drawing water, there shall
ots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all they rehearse the righteous acts of the LORD,
the people that were with him, from Harosheth even the righteous acts toward the inhabitants
of the Gentiles unto the river of Kishon.
of his villages in Israel: then shall the people of

14 And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this the LORD go down to the gates.
is the day in which the LORD hath delivered
Sisera into thy hand is not the LORD gone out
before thee? So Barak went down from mount
Tabor, and ten thousand nien after him.

15 And the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet.

10 But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, unto Harosheth of the Gentiles and all the host of Sisera fell upon the edge of the sword; and there was not a man left.

12 Awake, awake, Deborah; awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam. 13 Then he made him that remaineth have dominion over the nobles among the people: the LORD made me have dominion over the nighty. 14 Out of Ephraim was there a root of them against Amalek; after thee, Benjamin, among thy people; out of Machir came down governors, and out of Zebulun they that handle the pen of the writer.

15 And the princes of Issachar were with Debo17 Howbeit, Sisera fled away on his feet to the rah; even Issachar, and also Barak: he was sent tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite: for on foot into the valley. For the divisions of there was peace between Jabin the king of Ha- Reuben there were great thoughts of heart. zor and the house of Heber the Kenite. 18 And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. And when he had turned in unto her Into the tent, she covered him with a mantle. 19 And he said unto her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him.

20 Again he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man doth come and inquire of thee, and say, Is there any man here? that thou shalt say, No.

21 Then Jael Ileber's wife took a nail of the tent, and took a 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.

16 Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart. 17 Gilead abode beyond Jordan: and why did Dan remain in ships? Asher continued on the sea-shore, and abode in his breaches. 18 Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field.

19 The kings came and fought, then fought the kings of Cangan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; t took no gain of money. 20 They toght from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera.

21 The river of Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. O my soul, thou hast trodden down strength.

29 Then were the horse-hoofs broken by the 92 And behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael means of the prancings, the prancings of their came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, mighty ones.

est.

and I will shew thee the man whom thou seek-23 Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the LORD, And when he came into her tent, behold, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples. they came not to the help of the LORD, to the 23 So God subdued on that day Jabin the king help of the LORD against the mighty. of Canaan before the children of Israel. 24 Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of 24 And the hand of the children of Israel pros-Ileber the Kenite be, blessed shall she be above pered, and prevailed against Jabin the king of women in the tent. Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.

T

✓ CHAP. V.

Song of Deborah and Barak..
HEN sang Deborah and Barak the son of
Abinoam on that day, saying,

25 Ile asked water, and she gave him milk; she brought forth butter in a lordly dish.

26 She put her hand to the nail, and her right band to the workmen's hammer; and with the hamuner she smote Sisera, she smote off his head, when she had pierced and stricken through his temples. 27 At lier feet he bowed, he fell, he lay down: at her feet he bowed, he fell: where he bowed,

2 Praise ye the LORD for the avenging of Israel,
when the people willingly offered themselves.
3 Ilear, O ye kings; give car, O ye princes; I,there he fell down dead.

Israelites rebuked by a prophet.

CHAP. VI.

Gideon sent to deliver them. 28 The mother of Sisera looked out at a win-grace in thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou dow, and cried through the lattice, Why is his talkest with me.

chariot so long in coming? why tarry the wheels 18 Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come of his chariots? junto tlice, and bring forth my present, and set it before thee. And he said, I will tarry until thou come again.

29 Her wise ladies answered her, yea, she returned answer to herself,

30 Have they not sped? have they not divided 19 And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid, the prey; to every man a damsel or two; to Si- and unleavened cakes of an ephah of ficur: the sera a prey of divers colours, a prey of divers flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a colours of needle-work, of divers colours of nee-pot, and brought it out unto hiin under the oak, dle-work on both sides, meet for the necks of and presented it. them that take the spoil?

31 So let all thine enemies perish, O LORD: but let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest forty years.

CHAP. VI.

Israel oppressed by Midian.

20 And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so. 21 Then the angel of the LORD put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the

ND the children of Israel did evil in the sight flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel

A of the Lox and the LORD delivered them of the LORD departed out of his sight.

into the hand of Midian seven years.

22 And when Gideon perceived that he was an

2 And the hand of Midian prevailed against Is-angel of the LORD, Gideon said, Alas, O Lord rael: and because of the Midianites the children GOD! for because I have seen an angel of the of Israel made them the dens which are in the LORD face to face. mountains, and caves, and strong holds. 3 And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the cast, even they came up against them:

23 And the LORD said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die. 24 Then Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovah-shalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abi-ezrites. And they encamped against them, and de- 25 And it came to pass the same night, that stroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come the LORD said unto him, Take thy father's young unto Gaza; and left no sustenance for Israel, bullock, even the second bullock of seven years neither sleep, nor ox, nor ass. old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it: 26 And build an altar unto the LORD thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burntsacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down.

5 For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; for both they and their camels were without number: and they entered into the land to destroy it.

6 And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the LORD.

27 Then Gidoon took ten men of his servants, and did as the LORD had said unto him: and so 7 And it came to pass, when the children of Isra- it was, because he feared his father's household, el cried unto the LORD because of the Midianites, and the men of the city, that he could not do it 8 That the LORD sent a prophet unto the chil- by day, that he did it by night.

dren of Israel, which said unto them, Thus saith 28 1 And when the men of the city arose early the LORD God of Israel, I brought you up from in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was cast Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of down, and the grove was cut down that was by bondage; it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built.

9 And I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drave them out froin before you, and gave you their land;

10 And I said unto you, I am the LORD your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not obeyed my voice. 11 And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abi-ezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the wine-press, to hide it from the Midianites.

12 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.

29 And they said one to another, Who hath done this thing? And when they inquired and asked, they said, Gideon the son of Joash hath done this thing.

30 Then the men of the city said unto Joash, Bring out thy son, that he may die: because he hath cast down the altar of Baal, and because he hath cut down the grove that was by it. 31 And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye plead for Baal? will ye save him? he that will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning: if he be a god, let him plead for himself, because one hath cast down his altar. 32 Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal plead against him, because he hath throw down his altar. 33 Then all the Midianites, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east were gathered together, and went over, and pitched in the valley of Jezreel 34 But the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abi-ezer was gathered after him.

13 And Gideon said unto him, O 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. 14 And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go In this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee? 35 And he sent messengers throughout all Ma 15 And he said unto him, O my Lord, wherewith nasseh; who also was gathered after him: and he shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in sent messengers unto Asher, and unto Zebulun, Manassel, and I am the least in my father's house. and untoNaphtali; and they came up to meet them. 16 And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will 36 And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites save Israel by my hand, as thou hast said, 37 Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the 17 And he said unto him, If now I have found floor: and if the dew be on the fleece only, and

as one man.

Gideon's fleece

JUDGES.

He is encouraged by a dream. it be dry upon all the earth besides, then shall of Joash, a man of Israel: for into his hand hath know that thou wilt save Israel by my hand, as God delivered Midian, and all the host. thou hast said.

15 ¶ And it was so, when Gideon heard the tell38 And it wasso: for he rose up early on the mor- ing of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, row, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed that he worshipped, and returned into the host the dew out of the fleece, a bowl-full of water. of Israel, and said, Arise; for the LORD hath 39 And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine an-delivered into your hand the host of Midian. ger be hot against me, and I will speak but this 16 And he divided the three hundred men into once: Let me prove, I pray thee, but this once three companies, and he put a trumpet in every with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the man's hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew. within the pitchers. 40 And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.

TH

CHAP. VII.

17 And he said unto them, Look on me, and do likewise: and behold, when I come to the outside of the camp, it shall be that as I do, so shall ye do. 18 When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow ye the trumpets also on

The Midianitish host put to flight. HEN Jerubbaal (who is Gideon) and all thejevery side of all the camp, and say, The sword people that were with him, rose up early and of the LORD, and of Gideon. 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.

2 And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.

3 Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand. 4 And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there; and it shall be that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go.

19 1 So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands. 20 And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon.

21 And they stood every man in his place round about the camp; and all the host ran, and cried, and fled.

22 And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every man's sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled to Beth-shittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abel-melolah, unto Tabbath. 23 And the men of Israel gathered themselves together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out 5 So he brought down the people unto the water: of all Manassch, and pursued after the Midianites. and the LORD said unto Gideon; Every one that 24 And Gideon sent messengers throughout lappeth of the water with his tongue as a dog lap-all mount Ephraim, saying, Come down against peth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every the Midianites, and take before them the waters one that boweth down upon his knees to drink. unto Beth-barali and Jordan. Then all the men of 6 And the number of them that lapped, putting Ephraim gathered themselves together, and took their hand to their mouth, were three hundred the waters unto Beth-barah and Jordan. men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water.

7 And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thy hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place. 8 So the people took victuals in their hand, and their trumpets: and he sent all the rest of Israel every inan unto his tent, and retained those three hundred men. And the host of Midian was beneath him in the valley.

91 And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Arise, get thee down unto the host; for I have delivered it into thy hand. 10 But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Phurah thy servant down to the host:

11 And thou shalt hear what they say; and afterward shall thy 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.

25 And they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb; and they slew Oreb upon the rock Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at the wine-press of Zeeb, and pursued Midian, and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side Jordan.

CHAP. VIII.

Zebah and Zalmunna taken.

AND the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus, that thou calledst us not when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites? and they did chide with him sharply. 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?

3 God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb and what was I able to do in comparison of you? Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that. 4 And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, 12 And the Midianites, and the Amalekites, and he, and the three hundred men that were with all the children of the east, lay along in the val-him, faint, yet pursuing them.

ley like grasshoppers for inultitude; and their 5 And he said unto the men of Succoth, Give, camels were without number, as the sand by the I pray you, loaves of bread unto the people that sea-side for multitude. follow me: for they be faint, and I am pursuing

13 And when Gideon was come, behold, there after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian. was a man that told a dream unto his fellow, 6 1 And the princes of Succoth said, Are the and said, Behold, I dreamed a dream, and lo, a hands of Zebali and Zalmunna now in thy hand, cake of barley-bread tumbled into the host of that we should give bread unto thine army? Midian, and came unto a tent, and smote it that 7 And Gideon said, Therefore when the LORD it fell, and overturned it that the tent lay along. hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into my 14 And his fellow answered, and said, This is hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of the wilderness and with briers.

Succoth and Penuel destroyed.

CHAP. IX.

Jotham's parable of the trees. 8 And he went up thence to Penuel, and spake un-jof his body begotten: for he had many wives. to them likewise: and the men of Penuel answer- 31 And his concubine that was in Shechem, she ed him as the men of Succoth had answered him. also bare him a son, whose name he called Abi9 And he spake also unto the men of Penuel, melech.

saying, When I come again in peace, I will break 32 ¶ And Gideon the son of Joash died in a down this tower. good old age, and was buried in the sepulchre of 10 1 Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abi-ezrites. and their hosts with them, about fifteen thousand 33 And it came to pass as soon as Gideon was men, all that were left of all the hosts of the chil- dead, that the children of Israel turned again, dren of the east for there fell a hundred and and went a whoring after Baalim, and made twenty thousand men that drew sword. Baal-berith their god.

11 And Gideon went up by the way of them 34 And the children of Israel remembered not that dwelt in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbe-the LORD their God, who had delivered them out hah, and sinote the host: for the host was secure. of the hands of all their enemies on every side: 12And when Zebah andZalmunna fled, he pursu- 35 Neither shewed they kindness to the house of ed after them, and took the two kings of Midian, Jerubbaal, namely, Gideon, according to all the Zebah and Zalmunna,and discomfited all the host. goodness which he had shewed unto Israel. 13 And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the sun was up,

14 And caught a young man of the men of Suc

CHAP. IX.
Abimelech's conspiracy.

coth, and inquired of him: and he described AND Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to

Shechen unto his mother's brethren, and unto him the princes of Succoth, and the elders communed with them, and with all the family thereof, even threescore and seventeen men. of the house of his mother's father, saying, 15 And he came unto the men of Succoth, and 2 Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men said, Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, with whom of Shechem, Whether is better for you, either ye did upbraid me, saying, Are the hands of Zebah that all the sons of Jerubbaal, which are threeand Zaimunna now in thy hand, that we should score and ten persons, reign over you, or that give bread unto thy men that are weary ? one reign over you? remember also that I am

16 And he took the elders of the city, and your bone and your flesh.
thorns of the wilderness, and briers, and with
them he taught the men of Succoth.

17 And he beat down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the city.

3 And his mother's brethren spake of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, He is our brother.

18 1 Then said he unto Zebah and Zalmunna, 4 And they gave him threescore and ten pieces What manner of men were they whom ye slew at of silver out of the house of Baal-berith, whereTabor? And they answered, As thou art, so were with Abimelech hired vain and light persons, they; each one resembled the children of a king. which followed him.

19 And he said, They were my brethren, even 5 And he went unto his father's house at Ophthe sons of my mother: as the LORD liveth, if rah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, ye had saved them alive, I would not slay you. being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: 20 And he said unto Jether his first-born, Up, and notwithstanding, yet Jotham the youngest son of slay them. But the youth drew not his sword: Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself. for he feared, because he was yet a youth. 6 And all the men of Shechem gathered together,

21 Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise thou, and all the house of Millo, and went and mado and fall upon us for as the man is, so is his Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that strength. And Gideon arose, and slew Zebah was in Shechem.

and Zalmunna, and took away the ornaments 7 1 And when they told it to Jotham, he went that were on their camels' necks. and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lift22 1 Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, ed up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechen, that God thy son's son also: for thou hast delivered us may hearken unto you. from the hand of Midian.

23 And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you.

24 And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that you would give me every man the ear-rings of his prey. (For they had golden ear-rings, because they were Ishmaelites.)

8 The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive-tree, Reign thou over us.

9 But the olive-tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees! 10 And the trees said to the fig-tree, Come thou, and reign over us.

25 And they answered, We will willingly give 11 But the fig-tree said unto them, Should I forthem. And they spread a garment, and did cast sake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go therein every man the ear-rings of his prey. to be promoted over the trees? 26 And the weight of the golden ear-rings that 12 Then said the trees unto the vine, Come he requested, was a thousand and seven hundred thou, and reign over us. shekels of gold; besides ornaments, and collars, 13 And the vine said unto them, Should I leave and purple raiment that was on the kings of Mi-my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go dian, and besides the chains that were about to be promoted over the trees? their camels' necks.

27 And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house. 28 Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted up their heads no more. And the country was in quietness forty years in the days of Gideon.

14 Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us.

15 And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.

16 Now therefore, if ye have done truly and sincerely, in that ye have made Abimelech king, 29 And Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his dwelt in his own house. house, and have done unto him according to the

30 And Gideon had threescore and ten sons deserving of his hands: