k but this once: Let me prove, thee, but this once with the let it now be dry only upon the nd upon all the ground let there

d God did so that night: for it upon the fleece only, and there on all the ground.

CHAP. VII. ns army. He is encouraged by eam, and the interpretation of ley-cake. 24 Oreb and Zeeb taken. Jerubbaal (who " Gideon) d all the people that were with fe up early, and pitched befide of Harod: fo that the hoft of anites were on the north-fide by the hill of Morch, in the

the LORD faid unto Gideon, ple that are with thee, are too r me to give the Midianites into nds, left Ifrael vaunt themselves me, faying, Mine own hand hath

2.

tent,, and retained thofe three hundred men: and the hoft of Midian was be neath him in the valley.

9 And it came to pafs the fame night, that the LORD faid unto him, A rife, get thee down unto the hoft, for I have delivered it into thine hand.

10 But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Phurah thy fervant down to the hoft.

11 And thou halt hear what they fay, and afterward fhall thine hands be ftrengthned to go down unto the host. Then went he down with Phurah his fervant, unto the outfide of the armed men that were in the hoft.

12 And the Midianites, and the A malekites, and all the children of the caft, lay along in the valley like graf hoppers for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the fand by the fea-fide for multitude,

13 And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow, and faid, Behold, I w therefore go to, proclaim in dreamed a dream, and lo, a cake of bar of the people, faying, Whofo- ley-bread tumbled into the hoft of Micarful and afraid, let him return dian, and came unto a tent, and finote art early from mount Gilead: it that it fell, and overturned it, that e returned of the people twenty the tent lay along. Othousand, and there remained fand.

14 And his fellow answered, and said, This nothing elfe fave the fword of Gideon the fon of Joafh, a man of Ifra el: for into his hand hath God deliver ed Midian, and all the hoft.

15 And it was fo, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, that he wor fhipped, and returned into the hoft of Ifrael, and faid, Arife, for the LORD hath delivered into your hand the hoft of Midian.

16 And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet in every mans hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers.

17 And he faid unto them, Look on me, and do likewife: and behold, when come to the outfide of the camp, it shall

I

aree hundred men· húroll the be that asĩ dos fo fhall ve dos

20

Gideons fratagem.

Chap. viii.

Zebah and Zalmunna taken. 19 So Gideon and the hundred men men that were with him, faint, yet pur that were with him, came unto the out- fuing them. fide of the camp, in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly fet 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 fword of the LORD, and of Gideon.

21 And they ftood every man in his place, round about the camp: and all the hoft ran, and cried, and fled.

22 And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD fet every mans fword against his fellow, even throughout all the hoft: and the hoft fled to Bethfhittah, in Zererath, and to the border of Abel-meholah, unto Tabbath.

23 And the men of Ifrael gathered themselves together out of Naphtali,and out of Afher, and out of all Manaffeh, and purfued after the Midianites.

5 And he faid 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.

6 And the princes of Succoth faid, Are the bands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we fhould give bread unto thine army?

7 And Gideon faid, Therefore when the LORD hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into mine hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness, and with briers.

8 And he went up thence to Penuel, and fpake unto them likewife: and the men of Penuel anfwered him, as the men of Succoth had anfwered him.

9 And he fpake alfo unto the men of Penuel, faying, When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower.

10 Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their hofts with them, about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of all the hofts of the children of the caft: for there fell an hundred and twenty thousand men that drew

24 And Gideon fent meffengers throughout all mount Ephraim, faying, Come down against the Midianites, and take before them the waters unto Beth-fword. barah and Jordan. Then all the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and took the waters unto Beth-barah and Jordan.

25 And they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb; and they flew Oreb upon the rock Oreb, and Zeeb they flew at the wine-prefs of Zeeb, and purfued Midian, and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb, to Gideon on the other fide Jordan.

CHAP. VIII. 2 The Ephraimites pacified. 10 Zebah and Zalmunna taken. 33 The Ifraelites idolatry and ingratitude.

A him, Why haft thou ferved us thus,

Nd the men of Ephraim faid unto

that thou calledft us not when thou wenteft to fight with the Midianites? And they did chide with him fharply.

2 And he faid 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 faid that.

4. And Gideon came to Jordan,and passed over, he, and the three hundred

3

11 ¶ And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents, on the caft of Nobah, and Jogbehah, and fmote the hoft: for the hoft was fecure.

12 And when Zebah and Zalmunna Aed, he pursued after them, and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and difcomfited all the hoft.

13 And Gideon the fon of Joafh returned from battle before the fun was up,

14 And caught a young man of the men of Succoth, and enquired of him: and he defcribed unto him the princes of Succoth, and the elders thereof, even threefcore and feventeen men.

15 And he came unto the men of Succoth, and faid, Behold, Zebah and Zalmunna, with whom ye did upbraid me, faying, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in chine hand, that we fhould give bread unto thy men that are weary?

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

17 And he beat down the tower of Penuel, and flew the men of the city. 18 Then faid he unto Zebah and Zalmunna, What manner of men were I

they

Gideons ephod.

Judges. His death. Abimelech made king. died in a good old age, and was buri d in the fepulchre of Joafh his father, in Ophrah of the Abi-ezrites.

they whom ye flew at Tabor? and they anfwered, As thou art, fo were they, each one refembled the children of a king.

19 And he faid, They were my brethren, even the fons of my mother: es the LORD liveth, if ye had faved them alive, I would not flay you.

20 And he faid unto Jether his firftborn, Up and flay them but the youth drew not his fword: for he feared, becaufe he was yet a a youth.

21 Then Zebah and Zalmunna faid, Rife thou, and fall upon us: for as the man is, fo is his ftrength. And Gideon arofe, and flew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took away the ornaments that were on their camels necks.

22 Then the men of Ifrael faid un-1 to Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy fon, and thy fens fon alfo : for thou haft delivered us from the hand of Midian.

23 And Gideon faid unto them, I will not rule over you, neither fhall my fon rule over you: the LORD fhall rule over you.

24 And Gideon faid unto them, I would defire a requeft of you, that you would give me every man the ear-rings of his prey: (for they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)

25 And they answered, We will willingly give them. And they spread a garment, and did caft therein, every man the ear-rings of his prey.

26 And the weight of the golden ear rings that he requested, was a thousand and feven hundred fbekels of gold, befide ornaments, and collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and befide the chains that were about their camels necks.

27 And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah; and all Ifrael went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a fnare unto Gideon, and to his houfe.

28 Thus was Midian fubdued be fore the children of Ifrael, so that they lifted up their heads no more: and the country was in quietness forty years in the days of Gideon.

29 And Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house.

30 And Gideon had threefcore and ten fons of his body begotten: for he had many wives.

31 And his concubine that was in Shechem, fhe alfo bare him a fon, whofe name he called Abimelech.

32 And Gideon the fon of Joafh

33 And it came to pass affoon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Ifrael turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baal-berich their god.

34 And the children of Ifrael remembred not the LORD their God, who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every fide:

35 Neither fhewed they kindness to the houfe of Jerubbaal, namely Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had fhewed unto Ifrael. CHAP. IX.

Abimelech is made king. 7 Fotham by parable rebuketh them, and foretelleth their ruine.

a

A

Nd Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem, unto his mothers brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family of the house of his mothers father, faying,

2 Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether is better for you, either that all the fons of Jerubbaal (which are threescore and ten perfons) reign over you, or that one reign over you remember alfo that I am your bone and your flesh.

3 And his mothers brethren fpake of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they faid, He is our brother.

4 And they gave him threescore and ten pieces of filver, out of the house of Baal-berich: wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light persons, which followed him.

5 And he went unto his fathers houfe at Ophrah, and flew his brethren the fons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten perfons, upon one ftone: notwithftanding, yet Jotham the youngeft fon of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself.

6 And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the houfe of Millo, and went,and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem.

7¶And when they told it to Jotham, he went and ftood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lift up his voice, and cried, and faid unto them, Hearken unto me, you men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you.

8 The trees went forth on a time to anoint

Fothams parable. Gaals

Chap. ix. confpiracy against Abimelech.

anoint a king over them, and they faid unto the olive-tree, Reign thou over us. 9 But the olive tree faid unto them, Should I leave my fatnefs, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?

10 And the trees faid to the fig-tree, Come thou, and reign over us.

11 But the fig-tree faid unto them, Should I forfake my fweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?

12 Then faid the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us.

13 And the vine faid unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?

14 Then faid all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us. 15 And the bramble faid unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your truft in my Thadow: 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 fincerely, in that ye have made! Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his houfe, and have done unto him according to the deferving of his hands:

17 (For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian :

18 And ye are rifen up against my fathers houfe this day, and have flain his fons, threescore and ten perfons, upon one ftone, and have made Abimelech the fon of his maid-fervant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother)

19 If ye then have d alt truly and fincerely with Jerubbaal and with his houfe this day, then rejoyce ye in Abimelech, and let him alfo rejoyce in you: 20 But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of She chem, and the houfe of Millo: and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech

21 And Jotham ran away and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.

22 When Abimelech had reigned three years over Ifrael,

23 Then God fent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem: and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech :

3

24 That the cruelty done to the threefcore and ten fons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother which flew them, and upon the men of Shechem which aided him in the killing of his brethren.

25 And the men of Shechem fet 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.

26 And Gaal the fon of Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to Shechem: and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him.

27 And they went out into the fields, and gathered their vineyards, and trode the grapes, and made merry, and went into the houfe of their god, and did eat and drink, and curfed Abimelech.

28 And Gaal the fon of Ebed faid, Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we fhould ferve him? is not be the fon of Jerubbaal, and Zebul his officer? ferve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: for why fhould we serve him?

29 And would to God this people were under my hand; then would I remove Abimelech. And he faid to Abime lech, Increase thine army,and come out.

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

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

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

33 And it shall be, that in the morn¬ ing, as foon as the fun is up, thou fhalt rife early, and fet upon the city: and behold, when he and the people that is with him come out against thee, then may ft thou do to them as thou shalt find occafion.

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

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

36 And when Gaal faw the people, he faid to Zebul, Behold, there come people down from the top of the me L 2

12

Judges.

tains. And Zebul said unto him, Thou down every man his bow, and followfecft the fhadow of the mountains as if ed Abimelech, and put them to the hold, they were men. and fet the hold on fire upon them: fo that all the men of the tower of Shechem died alfo, about a thousand men and women.

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

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

39 And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.

40 And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many were o-it with fire. verthrown and wounded, even unto the entring of the gate.

41 And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul thruft out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem.

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

43 And he took the people, and divi- 55 And when the men of Ifrael faw ded them into three companies, and laid that Abimelech was dead, they departwait in the field, and looked, and be-ed every man unto his place. hold, the people were come forth out of the city, and he rose up against them, and mote them.