CHAPTER I.

1 The acts of Judah and Simeon. 4 Adoni-bezek justly requited. 8 Jerusalem taken. 10 Hebron taken. Il Othniel hath Achsah to wife for tak ing of Debir. 16 The Kenites dwell in Judah, 17 Hormah, Gaza, Askelon and Ekron taken. 21 The acts of Benjamin. 22 Of the house of Joseph, who take Beth-el. 30 Of Zebulun. 31 Of Asher. 23 Of Naphtali. 34 Öƒ Dan.

NOW

OW after the death of Joshua it came to pass, that the children of Israel a 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 Adoni-bezek in Bezek: and they fought against him, and they slew the Canaanites and the Perizzites.

6 But Adoni-bezek fled; and they pursued after him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes.

7 And Adoni-bezek 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 h Kirjath-arba: and they slew Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai.

11 i And from thence he went against the inhabitants of Debir: and the name of Debir before was Kirjath-sepher:

12 & And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjath-sepher, 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 9 Arad; "and they went and dwelt among the people.

B. C. 1444.

n Gen. 33. 11.

about 1425. och. 4. 11, 17.

1 Sam. 15. 6. 1 Chr. 2, 55. Jer. 35. 2.

p Deut. 31. 3. 17 And Judah went with Simeon his broth-q Num. 21. 1. er, and they slew the Canaanites that inhabited Zephath, and utterly destroyed it. And the name of the city was called Hor

mah.

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.

202 And they gave Hebron unto Caleb, as Moses said: and he expelled thence the three sons of Anak.

21 a And the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin inJerusalem unto this day. 22 And the house of Joseph, they also went up against Beth-el: band the LORD was with them.

23 And the house of Joseph sent to descry Beth-el. Now the name of the city before was dLuz.

|

Num. 10.32.

s ver. 3.

t Num. 21. 3. Josh. 19. 4.

u Josh. 11. 22.

27 Neither did Manasseh drive out the ƒ Josh. 17. 11, inhabitants of Beth-shean and her towns, 12, 13. 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.

g Josh, 16. 10. 1 Kin. 9. 16.

Israel rebuked at Bochim.

B. C. about 1425.

h Josh. 19. 15. i Josh. 19. 2130.

& Ps. 106. 34, 35.

I Josh. 19. 38.

m ver, 32,

n ver. 30.

o Josh. 19. 42. † Heb. was heavy. p Num. 34. 4. Josh, 15. 3.

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 Beth-shemesh, nor the inhabitants of Beth-anath; but he "dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: nevertheless, the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and of Beth-anath "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 ||Or, Maaleh- | Pfrom the going up to Akrabbim, from the akrabbim. rock, and upward.

Or.

messenger. a ver, 5.

6 Gen. 17. 7.

c Deut. 7, 2. d Deut. 12. 3. e ver. 20.

Ps. 106, 34.

fJosh, 23. 13. g ch. 3. 6.

h Ex. 23, 33. & 34. 12. Deut. 7. 16. Ps. 106. 36.

That is,
Weepers.

about 1444. i Josh, 22.6.&

24. 28.

Josh. 24.31. + Heb. prolonged days after

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; dye 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 fas 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 i 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 foutlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD, that he did for Israel.

God's pity towards them.

land of Egypt, and followed 2 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

B. C. about 1406.

7 Deut. 6. 14. > Ex. 20. 5. s ch. 3. 7. & 10. 6.

P3. 106, 36.

t ch. 3. 8. P3. 106. 40, 41, 42.

u 2 Kin.17.20.

he sold them into the hands of their cnemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies. 15 Whithersoever they went out, the hand | ≈ ch. 3. 8. & 4. 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: dfor it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them

20 And the anger of the LORD was hot | fver. 14. against Israel; and he said, Because that this people hath transgressed my covenant | g Josh. 23. 16. which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice;

21 hI also will not henceforth drive outh Josh. 23. 13. any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died:

22 That through them I may prove Isracl, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not.

i ch. 3. 1, 4. k Deut. 8. 2, 16. & 13. 3.

23 Therefore the LORD "left those nations,||| Or, suffered, without driving them out hastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua.

CHAPTER III.

1 The nations which were left to prove Israel. 6 By communion with them they commit idolatry. 8 Othniel delivereth them from Chushan-rishathaim. 12 Ehud from Eglon. 31 Shamgar from the Philistines.

these are "the nations which the

(Josh, 24. 29. about 1426. m Joshi, 24,30. n Josh, 19. 50. &21.30, Timnath-serah. o Ex. 5. 2.

1 Sam. 2. 12. 1 Chr. 28. 9. Jer. 9. 3. & 22. 16. Gal, 4 8. 2 Thess. 1. 8. Tit. 1. 16.

about 1406. p Deut. 31.16.

of the LORD, died, being a hundred and ten years old.

9 And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in "Timnath-heres, 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

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;

a ch. 2. 21, 22.

3 Namely, b five lords of the Philistines, 6 Josh. 13. 3. and all the Canaanites, and the Sidonians, and the Hivites that dwelt in mount Lebanon, from mount Baal-hermon unto the entering in of Hamath.

4 And they were to prove Israel by them, c ch. 2. 22. to know whether they would hearken unto the commandments of the LORD, which he

Ehud killeth Eglon.

B. C. about 1406.

d Ps. 106. 35.

e Ex. 34. 16. Deut. 7. 3.

about 1406. fch; 2. 11. g ch. 2. 13. / Ex. 34. 13. Deut. 16, 21. ch. 6. 25. about 1402. ich. 2. 14. & Hab. 3. 7. † Heb. Aramnaharaim.

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 A the groves.

8 Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of & Chushan-rishathaim king of + Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Chushan-rishathaim eight years. 9 And when the children of Israel (cried unto the LORD, the LORD "raised up & + deliverer to the children of Israel, who de&livered them, even "Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother.

I ver. 15.& ch. 4.3. & 6.7. 10. 10.

1 Sam. 12.10. Neli. 9. 27. Ps. 22. 5. & 106.44.& 107. 13, 19.

m ch. 2. 16. † Heb.

saviour. about 1394. n ch. 1. 13.

o See Num. 27. 18.

ch. 6.34.& 11. 29.& 13.25. & 14. 6, 19.

10 And the Spirit of the LORD † came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war and the LORD delivered Chushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushan-rishathaim.

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 1 Sam. 11.6. of Ammon and "Amalek, and went and

2 Chr. 15. 1.

† Heb. was.

+ Heb. Aram.

pch. 2. 19.

about 1354.

q 1 Sam. 12, 9. rch. 5. 14.

s ch. 1.-16.

t Deut. 28. 48. about 1336.

u ver. 9,
Ps. 78.31.
Or, the son
of Gemini.
Heb. shut of
right

his
hand,
ch. 20. 16.

x Josh. 4. 20.

|| Or, graven images.

Israel oppressed by Jabın.

doors of the parlour were locked, they said, Surely he covereth his feet in his summer chamber.

B. C. about 1336.

easement,

25 And they tarried till they were ashamed: || Or, doeth his 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.

1 Sam. 24. 3. ych. 5. 14. & 6. 31.

1 Sam. 13. 3.

26 And Ehud escaped while they tarried, and passed beyond the quarries, and escaped Josh. 17. 15. unto Seirath.

ch.7,24. & 17. 1. & 19. 1.

27 And it came to pass, when he was come, that he blew a trumpet in the mountain ach. 7. 9, 15. 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.

с

1 Sam. 17.47. b Josh. 2. 7. ch. 12. 5.

+ Heb. fat. cver. 11.

dch. 5. 6, 8. 1 Sam. 13.19, 22.

It seems to concern on

ly the country next to the Philistines.

50.

30 So Moab was subdued that day under el Sam. 17.47, the hand of Israel. And the land had rest fourscore years.

31

And after him was dShamgar the son of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an oxgoad: fand he also delivered Israel.

fch. 2. 16. 9 So part is called Israel, ch. 4. 1,3,&c. & 10. 7, 17. & 11. 4, &c.

1 Sam. 4. 1.

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 + Heb. a par-sitting in a summer parlour, which he had lour of cool- for himself alone: and Ehud said, I have a ing: See Am. message from God unto thee. And he arose 3. 15. out of his seat.

Or, it came out at the fundument.

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 looked them.

24 When he was gone out, his servants came; and when they saw that, behold, the

6 And she sent and called i Barak the son of Abinoam out kof Kedesh-naphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of & Josh. 19.37. 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 :i 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 Pat his feet: and Deborah went up with him.

/ Ex. 14. 4. # eh. 5. 21. 1 Kin. 18.40. Ps. 83. 9, 10.

n ch. 2. 14.

a ch. 5. 18. p See Ex.11.8. 1 Kin. 20. 10.

Jael killeth Sisera.

B. C. about 1296.

gch. 1. 16. r Num. 10.29.

8 ver. 6.

† Heb.

gathered by cry, or, proc

lamation.

t Deut. 9. 3.

11 Now Heber 7the Kenite, which was of the children of "Hobab the father in law of Moses, had severed himself from the Ken- | ites, and pitched his tent unto the plain of Zaanaim, which is by Kedesh.

12 And they shewed 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: tis not the 2 Sam. 5. 24. LORD gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him.

Ps. 68. 7.

Is. 52. 12.

u Ps. 83. 9, 10. See Josh, 10. 10.

† Heb.

unto one.

|| Or, rug, or, blanket.

a ch. 5. 25.

ych. 5. 26. †Heb. put.

z Ps. 18. 47.

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 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.

22 And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, and I will shew thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples.

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 9 The mountains tmelted from before the LORD, even that Sinai from before the LORD God of Israel.

B. C. about 1296.

e Deut. 33. 2. Pa. 68. 7. 2Sam. 22. 8. Ps. 68.8. Is. 61. 3. Hab. 3. 3, 10.

6 In the days of iShamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, and the travellers walkedet, . 11. 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 7 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 shail the people of the LORD go down to the gates.

12

u Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of 11. 105, 2. &

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, Benja min, among thy people; out of 6 Machir came down governors, and out of Zebulun they that handle the pen of the writer.

"For

15 And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; even Issachar, and also ‘Barak: he was sent on + foot into the valley. the divisions of Reuben there were great + thoughts of heart.

16 Why abodest thou damong 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? ƒ Asher continued on the seashore, 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.

145.5. rch. 10. 4. & 12. 14.

s Ps. 107, 32. Heb. rightcousnesses of the LORD. t1 Sam. 12. 7. Ps. 145. 7.

u Ps. 57. 8. x Ps. 68. 18. y Ps. 49. 14.

19 The kings came and fought; then fought | | Or, In. the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; hthey took no gain of money.

+

0 my

20 i 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. 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.

f Josh. 19. 29, 31.

|| Or, port. [[ Or, creeks. g ch. 4. 10.

+ Heb.exposed to reproach. hch, 4. 16.

Ps. 44. 12. See ver. 30. iSee Josh. 10. 11.

Ps. 77. 17,18. A ch. 4. 15. + Heb. paths.

24 Blessed above women shall Jael the / ch. 4. 7. [Or, tramplings, or, plungings. m ch. 21.9, 10. “Neh. 3. 5. n 1 Sam. 17. 47. & 18. 17. & 25. 28. o ch, 4. 17.

The Midianites oppress Israel.

Gideon sent to deliver them.

rites, 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 m Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.

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 VI.

1 The Israelites for their sin are oppressed by Midian. 8 A prophet rebuketh them. 11 An angel sendeth Gideon for their deliverance. 17 Gideon's present is consumed with fire. 25 Gideon destroyeth Baal's altar, and offereth a sacrifice upon the altar Jehovah-shalom. 28 Joash defendeth his son, and calleth him Jerubbaal. 33 Gideon's army. 36 Gideon's signs,

"AN

ND the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them into the hand bof 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 fdestroyed 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 h 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 ta 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 idrave 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 Amo

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: thave not I sent thee?

15 And he said unto him, O 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 shew me a sign that thou talkest with me.

18 2 Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I | y Ex. 4. 1-8. 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 t 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 e pour out the broth. And he did so.

2 Kin. 20. 8.
Ps. 86. 17.
Is. 7. 11.

z Gen. 18. 3,5. ch. 13. 15.

Or, meat offering.

a Gen. 18. 6,7,

8.

Heb. a kid of the goats.

b ch. 13. 19. c See 1 Kings 18. 33, 34.

d Lev. 9. 24. 1 Kin. 18. 38. 2 Chr. 7. 1.

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 d 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 heech. 13. 21. was an angel of the LORD, Gideon said, Alas, O Lord GOD! ffor 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 Jehovah-shalom: unto this day it is yet hin Ophrah of the Abi-ezrites.

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 frock, 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.