- Judges 1-11
- Chapter 1
- 1 Now 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?
2 And the LORD said, Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hand.
3 And 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.
4 And 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.
5 And they found Adonibezek in Bezek: and they fought against him, and they slew the
Canaanites and the Perizzites.
6 But Adonibezek fled; and they pursued after him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs
and his great toes.
7 And 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.
8 Now 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.
9 And 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.
10 And 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.
11 And from thence he went against the inhabitants of Debir: and the name of Debir before
was Kirjathsepher:
12 And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjathsepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah
my daughter to wife.
13 And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, took it: and he gave him Achsah
his daughter to wife.
14 And 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?
15 And 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.
16 And 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.
17 And 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.
18 Also Judah took Gaza with the coast thereof, and Askelon with the coast thereof, and
Ekron with the coast thereof.
19 And 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.
20 And they gave Hebron unto Caleb, as Moses said: and he expelled thence the three sons
of Anak.
21 And 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.
22 And the house of Joseph, they also went up against Bethel: and the LORD was with them.
23 And the house of Joseph sent to descry Bethel. (Now the name of the city before was
Luz.)
24 And the spies saw a man come forth out of the city, and they said unto him, Show us, we
pray thee, the entrance into the city, and we will show thee mercy.
25 And when he showed 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.
26 And 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.
27 Neither 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.
28 And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute,
and did not utterly drive them out.
29 Neither did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer; but the Canaanites
dwelt in Gezer among them.
30 Neither did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of
Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelt among them, and became tributaries.
31 Neither 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:
32 But the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: for they did
not drive them out.
33 Neither 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.
34 And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountain: for they would not
suffer them to come down to the valley:
35 But 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.
36 And the coast of the Amorites was from the going up to Akrabbim, from the rock, and
upward.
- Chapter 2
- 1 And 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.
2 And 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?
3 Wherefore 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.
4 And 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.
5 And they called the name of that place Bochim: and they sacrificed there unto the LORD.
6 And when Joshua had let the people go, the children of Israel went every man unto his
inheritance to possess the land.
7 And 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.
8 And Joshua, the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten
years old.
9 And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathheres, in the mount of
Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash.
10 And 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.
11 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim:
12 And 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.
13 And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.
14 And 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.
15 Whithersoever 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.
16 Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those
that spoiled them.
17 And 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.
18 And 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.
19 And 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.
20 And 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;
21 I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua
left when he died:
22 That 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.
23 Therefore the LORD left those nations, without driving them out hastily; neither
delivered he them into the hand of Joshua.
- Chapter 3
- 1 Now 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;
2 Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at
the least such as before knew nothing thereof;
3 Namely, 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.
4 And 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.
5 And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amorites, and
Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites:
6 And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons,
and served their gods.
7 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat the LORD their
God, and served Baalim and the groves.
8 Therefore 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.
9 And 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.
10 And 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.
11 And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died.
12 And 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.
13 And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek, and went and smote Israel,
and possessed the city of palm trees.
14 So the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years.
15 But 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.
16 But 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.
17 And he brought the present unto Eglon king of Moab: and Eglon was a very fat man.
18 And when he had made an end to offer the present, he sent away the people that bare the
present.
19 But 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.
20 And 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.
21 And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust
it into his belly:
22 And 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.
23 Then Ehud went forth through the porch, and shut the doors of the parlour upon him, and
locked them.
24 When 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.
25 And 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.
26 And Ehud escaped while they tarried, and passed beyond the quarries, and escaped unto
Seirath.
27 And 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.
28 And 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.
29 And they slew of Moab at that time about ten thousand men, all lusty, and all men of
valour; and there escaped not a man.
30 So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest fourscore
years.
31 And 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.
- Chapter 4
- 1 And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was
dead.
2 And 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.
3 And 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.
4 And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.
5 And 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.
6 And 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?
7 And 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.
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.
9 And 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.
10 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,
had severed himself from the Kenites, and pitched his tent unto the plain of Zaanaim,
which is by Kedesh.
12 And they showed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up to mount Tabor.
13 And 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.
14 And 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.
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.
16 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.
17 Howbeit 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.
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 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.
22 And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him,
Come, and I will show thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her tent,
behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples.
23 So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel.
24 And the hand of the children of Israel prospered, and prevailed against Jabin the king
of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.
- Chapter 5
- 1 Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying,
2 Praise ye the LORD for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly offered
themselves.
3 Hear, 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.
4 LORD, 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.
5 The mountains melted from before the LORD, even that Sinai from before the LORD God of
Israel.
6 In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were
unoccupied, and the travellers walked through byways.
7 The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah
arose, that I arose a mother in Israel.
8 They chose new gods; then was war in the gates: was there a shield or spear seen among
forty thousand in Israel?
9 My heart is toward the governors of Israel, that offered themselves willingly among the
people. Bless ye the LORD.
10 Speak, ye that ride on white asses, ye that sit in judgment, and walk by the way.
11 They 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.
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 mighty.
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 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.
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 Canaan in Taanach by the waters of
Megiddo; they took no gain of money.
20 They fought 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.
22 Then were the horsehoofs broken by the means of the prancings, the prancings of their
mighty ones.
23 Curse 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.
24 Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be, blessed shall she be
above women in the tent.
25 He 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 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.
27 At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay down: at her feet he bowed, he fell: where he
bowed, there he fell down dead.
28 The 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?
29 Her wise ladies answered her, yea, she returned answer to herself,
30 Have 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?
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.
- Chapter 6
- 1 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered
them into the hand of Midian seven years.
2 And 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.
3 And 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;
4 And 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.
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.
7 And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD because of the
Midianites,
8 That 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;
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 from 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 Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, 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.
13 And 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.
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?
15 And 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.
16 And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the
Midianites as one man.
17 And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then show me a sign that
thou talkest with me.
18 Depart 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.
19 And 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.
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 flesh and the unleavened cakes. - Then the angel of the LORD departed out of
his sight.
22 And 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.
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 Jehovahshalom: unto this
day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
25 And 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:
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 burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove
which thou shalt cut down.
27 Then 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.
28 And 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.
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 thrown 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 Abiezer was
gathered after him.
35 And 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.
36 And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said,
37 Behold, 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.
38 And 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.
39 And 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.
40 And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on
all the ground.
- Chapter 7
- 1 Then 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.
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.
5 So 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.
6 And 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.
7 And 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.
8 So 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.
9 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 thine 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 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.
12 And 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.
13 And 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.
14 And 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.
15 And 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.
16 And 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.
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 every side of all the camp, and say, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon.
19 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 Bethshittah in Zererath, and to
the border of Abelmeholah, unto Tabbath.
23 And the men of Israel gathered themselves together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher,
and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after the Midianites.
24 And 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.
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 winepress of Zeeb, and pursued Midian, and brought
the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side Jordan.
- Chapter 8
- 1 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.
2 And 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, he, and the three hundred men that were with
him, faint, yet pursuing them.
5 And 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.
6 And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand,
that we should give bread unto thine army?
7 And 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.
8 And 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.
9 And he spake also unto the men of Penuel, saying, When I come again in peace, I will
break down this tower.
10 Now 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.
11 And 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.
12 And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them, and took the two kings of
Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and discomfited all the host.
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 Succoth, and inquired of him: and he described
unto him the princes of Succoth, and the elders thereof, even threescore and seventeen
men.
15 And 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?
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 slew the men of the city.
18 Then 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.
19 And 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.
20 And 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.
21 Then 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.
22 Then 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.
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 ye would give me every
man the earrings 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 cast
therein every man the earrings of his prey.
26 And 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.
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.
29 And Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house.
30 And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten: for he had many wives.
31 And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son, whose name he called
Abimelech.
32 And 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.
33 And 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.
34 And 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:
35 Neither showed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, namely, Gideon, according to
all the goodness which he had showed unto Israel.
- Chapter 9
- 1 And 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,
2 Speak, 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.
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.
4 And 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.
5 And 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.
6 And 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.
7 And 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.
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.
11 But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and
go to be promoted over the trees?
12 Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us.
13 And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go
to be promoted over the trees?
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, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him
according to the deserving 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 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;)
19 If 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:
20 But 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.
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 Israel,
23 Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of
Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:
24 That 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.
25 And 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.
26 And Gaal the son 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 house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech.
28 And 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?
29 And 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.
30 And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger
was kindled.
31 And 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.
32 Now therefore up by night, thou and the people that is with thee, and lie in wait in
the field:
33 And 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.
34 And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid
wait against Shechem in four companies.
35 And 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.
36 And 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.
37 And 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.
38 Then 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.
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 overthrown and wounded,
even unto the entering of the gate.
41 And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul thrust 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 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.
44 And 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.
45 And 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.
46 And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that, they entered into an hold of
the house of the god Berith.
47 And it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered
together.
48 And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that were with him; and
Abimelech took an ax in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it, and
laid it on his shoulder, and said unto the people that were with him, - What ye have seen me
do, make haste, and do as I have done.
49 And 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.
50 Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.
51 But 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.
52 And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and went hard unto the door
of the tower to burn it with fire.
53 And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech's head, and all to brake
his skull.
54 Then 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.
55 And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto
his place.
56 Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying
his seventy brethren:
57 And 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.
- Chapter 10
- 1 And 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.
2 And he judged Israel twenty and three years, and died, and was buried in Shamir.
3 And after him arose Jair, a Gileadite, and judged Israel twenty and two years.
4 And 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.
5 And Jair died, and was buried in Camon.
6 And 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.
7 And 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.
8 And 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.
9 Moreover 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.
10 And 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.
11 And 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?
12 The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress you; and ye cried
to me, and I delivered you out of their hand.
13 Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more.
14 Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your
tribulation.
15 And 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.
16 And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the LORD: and his soul
was grieved for the misery of Israel.
17 Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in Gilead. And the
children of Israel assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpeh.
18 And 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.
- Chapter 11
- 1 Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour, and he was the son of an
harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah.
2 And 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.
3 Then Jephthah fled from his brethren, and dwelt in the land of Tob: and there were
gathered vain men to Jephthah, and went out with him.
4 And it came to pass in process of time, that the children of Ammon made war against
Israel.
5 And 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:
6 And they said unto Jephthah, Come, and be our captain, that we may fight with the
children of Ammon.
7 And 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?
8 And 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.
9 And 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?
10 And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, The LORD be witness between us, if we do
not so according to thy words.
11 Then 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.
12 And 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?
13 And 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.
14 And Jephthah sent messengers again unto the king of the children of Ammon:
15 And said unto him, Thus saith Jephthah, Israel took not away the land of Moab, nor the
land of the children of Ammon:
16 But when Israel came up from Egypt, and walked through the wilderness unto the Red sea,
and came to Kadesh;
17 Then 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.
18 Then 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.
19 And 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.
20 But Sihon trusted not Israel to pass through his coast: but Sihon gathered all his
people together, and pitched in Jahaz, and fought against Israel.
21 And 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.
22 And they possessed all the coasts of the Amorites, from Arnon even unto Jabbok, and
from the wilderness even unto Jordan.
23 So now the LORD God of Israel hath dispossessed the Amorites from before his people
Israel, and shouldest thou possess it?
24 Wilt 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.
25 And 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,
26 While 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?
27 Wherefore 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.
28 Howbeit the king of the children of Ammon hearkened not unto the words of Jephthah
which he sent him.
29 Then 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.
30 And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver
the children of Ammon into mine hands,
31 Then 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.
32 So Jephthah passed over unto the children of Ammon to fight against them; and the LORD
delivered them into his hands.
33 And 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.
34 And 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.
35 And 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.
36 And 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.
37 And 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.
38 And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months: and she went with her companions,
and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains.
39 And 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,
40 That the daughters of Israel went yearly to lament the daughter of Jephthah the
Gileadite four days in a year.
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