The Israelites oppressed. CHAPTER VI. 1 The Israelites for their sin are uppressed by Midian. 31 Joash defendeth his son, and calleth him Jerubbaal. JUDGES, VI. (CHAP. 6.) a ch.2.19. ND a the children of Israel did b Hab.3.7. evil in the sight of the LORD: 1 was strong and the LORD delivered them into the hand ofb Midian seven years. c 1Sa. 13.6. 2 De.28.30. 2 And the hand of Midian 1 pre-d Lev.26.16. vailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens c 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 destroyedd the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza; and left no sustenance for Israel, neither 2 sheep, nor ox, nor ass. or, geat. e ch.7.12. Jer.46.23. ƒ Ho.5.15. g Ps.44.2,3. h 2Ki.17.35 39. i Heb.11.32. Gedeon. 4 cause it to flee. k ch.13.3. 5 For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as groshopperse for multitude; for both they and their camels were without number: and Ge.25.22. they entered into the land to de-m Ps.77.7-9. stroy it. 89.49. 6 And Israel was greatly impo-n verished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried f unto the LORD. 5 Heb. 11.32. my thou sand is the meanest, 7 And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD because of the Midian-o 18a.9.21. ites, 8 That the LORD sent 3 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 g them out from before you, and gave you their land; 10 And I said unto you, I am the LORD your God; fearh not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell but ye have not obeyed my voice. 11 T And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophirah, that pertained unto Joash the Abi-ezrite : and his son Gideoni threshed wheat by the wine-press, to 4 hide it from the Midianites. 12 And the angelk 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 p Ex.3. 12. 18.41.15,16. r ver.36.40. 2K1.20.8. Ps.86.17. Is. 7.11. s Ge.18.3,5. 6 or, meat offering. a kid of the goats. t Lev.9.24. IKI.18.38. 2Ch.7.1. u ch.13.22, 23. I's.6.5-8. v Ge.32.30. i. e. The send peace, or, and. Baal's altar destroyed. my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where m be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD into the hands of the Midianites. hath forsaken us, and delivered us 14 And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, n 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, 5 my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least o in my father's house. 16 And the LORD said unto him, p Surely I will be with thee, and q thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man. 17 And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then shewr me a sign that thou talkest with me. 18 Depart s not hence, 1 pray thee, until I come unto thee, and bring forth my 6 present, and set it before thee. And he said, I will tarry until thou come again. 19 And Gideon went in, and made ready 7 a kid, and unleavened cakes of an ephah of flour: the flesh he put into 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 T 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 t 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 u 1 have seen an angel of the LORD face to face. 23 And the LORD said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou v shalt not die. 24 Then Gideon built an alter there unto the LORD, and called it 8 Jehovah-shalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abíezrites. 25 T And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Take thy father's young bullock, even the second bullock 9 Joash defends his son. JUDGES, VII. of seven years old, and throw down] B. C. 1256. the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down w the grove that is by it: 26 And build an altar unto the LORD thy God upon the top of this 10 rock, in 11 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. w Deut.7.5. 10 strong 11 or, an manner. 12 i.e. Let x 1Sa. 12.11. Jerubbe- 29 And they said one to another, Who hath done this thing? And y ver.3. when they enquired and asked, they said Gideon the son of Joash z ch.3.10. hath done this thing. 13 clothed. 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 be- a Nu. 10.3. cause he hath cut down the grove that was by it. 31 And Joash said unto all that 14 called. Gideon's army. upon all the earth besides, then shal! 39 And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot agamst 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 e did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground. CHAPTER VII. 1, 7 Gideon's army of two and thirty thousand is brought to three hundred. Gideon and all the people that HEN Jerubbaal, a (who ∞ were with him, rose up early and pitched beside the well of Hårod : 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 b themselves against me saying, Mine own hand hath saved me. 3 Now, therefore, go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, stood against him, Will ye plead b Ex.4.1,&c. Whosoever c is fearful and afraid, 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. C 15.35.7. d Ge. 18.32. 32 Therefore on that day he called him 12 Jerubbaal, a saying, Let Baal plead against him, because he hath thrown down his altar. 33 T Then ally the Midianites, e Ps. 107.33, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east were gathered together, and went over, and pitched in the valley of Jezreel. 34 Butz the Spirit of the LORD, 13 came upon Gideon, and he blew a a trumpet; and Abi-ezer was 14 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 my hand, as thou hast said, 35. Is.50.2. (CHAP. 7.) a ch.6.32. b Deut.8. 17. 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; d 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 t dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by 1Cor. 1.29. himself, likewise every one tha 2Cor.4.7. boweth down upon his knees to drink. c Deut.20.8. d Ps.33.16. 37 Behold, I b will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dewe 1Sa. 14.6. be on the fleece only, and it be dry 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,e Gideon's stratagem. JUDGES, VIII. By the three hundred men that B. C. 1249. lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go f Ge.46,2,3, 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 f night, that the LORD said unto him, Arise, get thee down unto the host; for g 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 : g Jos.1.5,9. λ Ge.24. 14. i ver. 13-15. or, ranks k ch.6.5,33. .8.10. Ps. 118. 10-12, I 1Cor.1.27. 18 When I blow with a trumpet, and all that are with me, then blow ve the trumpets also on every side Oreb and Zeeb taken. of all the camp, and say, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon. 19 T So Gideon and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp, in the be ginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set m the watch: and they blew the trumpets, n and brake the pitchers o 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 p every man in his place round about the camp; and q'all the host ran, and cried, and fled. 22 And the three hundred blew r the trumpets, and the LCRD s set every man's sword against his t fellow, even throughout all the host and the host fled to Bethshittah 5 in Zererath, and to the 6 border of Abel-meholah, 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, u saying, Come down against the Midianites, and take before them the waters unto Beth-barah and Jordan. Then all the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and took the waters unto Bethbarah v and Jordan. 25 And they took w 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 VIII. 1 Gideon pacifieth the Ephraimites. 4 Succoth and Penuel refuse to relieve Gideon's army. AND the men a of Ephraim said unto him, 1 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 2 sharply. 2 And he said unto them, What what thing have I done now in comparison of is this thou you? Is not the gleaning of the hast done grapes of Ephraim better than the unto us? vintage of Abi-ezer? 2 strongly. 3 God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Öreh and Zeeb: and what was I able to Zebah and Zalmunna taken. JUDGES, VIII. do in comparison of you? Then B. C. 1249. their 3 anger was abated toward b him, when he had said that. 3 spirit. 4 T And Gideon came to Jordan, 6 T And the princes of Succoth said, d Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that ƒ Ge.32.30. we should give bread unto thine army? IKI. 12,25. Midian subdued and briers, and with them he 8 taught the men of Succoth. 17 And he beat down the n tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the city. 18 T Then said he unto Zebah and Zalmunna, What manner of men were they whom ye slew at Tabor?o And they answered, As thou art, so were they; each one 9 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 he feared, because he was yet a youth. 7 And Gideon said, Therefore g 1Ki.22.27.the youth drew not his sword: for when the LORD hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into mine hand, then e I will 4 tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers. 8 T And he went up thence to Penuel, ƒ and spake unto them likewise and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered him. h ver. 17. 5 or, 120,000 every one drawing a sword. iNu.32.35,42. k ch.18.27. 1Th.5,3. Z Ps.83.11. 9 And he spake also unto the men of Penuel, saying, When I come g again in peace, Ih will break down 6 terrified. this tower. 10 T Now Zebah and Zalmunna 7 writ. were in Karkor, and their hosts with them, about fifteen thousand m ver.6,7. men, all that were left of all the hosts of the children of the east: know. for there fell 5 an hundred and 8 made to twenty thousand men that drew sword. 11 T And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents, on the east of Nobahi and Jogbehah, and smote the host: for the host was secure.k 12 And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them, and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and 6 discomfited all the host. n ver.9. o ch.4.6. Ps.89.12. 9 according to the form. 10 or, orna 13 And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the P sun was up, ments like the moon. Is.3.18. 1Sam.8.7. 10.19. 12.12. 18.33.22. 63.19. 14 And caught a young man of the men of Succoth, and enquired of him and he 7 described unto him the princes of Succoth, and the g Ge.25.13. elders thereof, even threescore and seventeen men. 37.25,28. 11 or, sweet jewels. 15 And he came unto the men of Sucroth, and said, Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, with whom m yer ch.17.5. did upbraid me, saying, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalinunna now 8 ch.6.24. in thine hand, that we should give t Ps. 106.39. bread unto thy men that are weary? 16 And he took the elders of the u Deut.7.16. city, and thorns of the wilderness, 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 10 ornaments that were on their camels' necks. 22 T 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, 1 will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD p shall rule over you. 24 T And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that you would give me every man the ear-rings of his prey. (For they had golden ear-rings, because they were Ishmaelites.)g 25 And they answered, We will willingly give them. And they spread a garment, and did cast 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 seven hundred shekels of gold; beside ornaments, and 11 collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were about their camels' necks. 27 And Gideon mader an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: s and all Israel went thither at whoring after it, which thing became a u snare unto Gideon, and to his house. 28 T 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 I went and dwelt in his own house. Jerubbaal's son slain. JUDGES, IX. 30 And Gideon had v threescore] B. C. 1209. and ten sons 12 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 13 called Abimelech.w 32 T And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good a 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 y as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baal-berith z their god. 34 And the children of Israel re membered not a the LORD their God, who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side : 35 Neither b shewed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, namely, Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shewed unto Israel. CHAPTER IX. v ch.9.2,5. 12 going out of his thigh. 13 set. w ch.9.18. Ge.25.8. y ch.2.17,19. b ch.9.16-19. Jotham's parable. 7 T And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, g 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 ʼn 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, i wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go 4 to be promoted over the trees? 10 And the trees said to the fig(CHAP. 9.) tree, Come thou, and reign over us. 11 But the fig-tree said unto them, a ch.8.31. Should I forsake my sweetness, and what is my good fruit, and go to be progood? whe-moted over the trees? ther, &c. b ch.8.30. c Ge.29.14. 2 after. d ch.8.33. Abimelech, by conspiracy with the Shechemites, and murder of his e ch.11.3. brethren, is made king. 2Ch.13.7. Pr. 12.11. Acts 17.5. to his mother's brethren and com-f2Ki.11.1,2. muned with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying, or, oak. Jos.24.26. 2 Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, 1 Whether & Jos.8.33. is better for you, either that all the Jno.4.20. sons of Jerubbaal, which are b three-h 2Ki.14.9. score and ten persons, reign over i Ps. 104.15. you, or that one reign over you? remember also that I am your bone cup and and your flesh. down for 3 And his mother's brethren spake other trees. of him in the ears of all the men k Ps.31.6. of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined 2 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 Baal-berith, d wherewith Abimelech hired e vain and light persons, which followed him. Ec.10.19. 5 or, thistle. Is.30.2. Dan.4.12. m ver.20. Nu.21.28. Eze. 19.14. n Is.2.13. Eze.31.3. 5 And he went unto his father's house at Ophrah, and slew f his och. VII. brethren the sons of Jerubhaal, be6 cast. ing threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: notwithstanding P ver.5,6. yet Jotham the youngest son of ch.8.35. Jerubbaal was left; for he hid him-4 ch.8.31. self. r Is.8.6. Jam.4.16. 6 And all the men of Shechem Phi.3.3. gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went, and made Abi-s ver.15.56, melech king, by the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem. 57. 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 5 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 under my shadow; 7 and if not, let fire m come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars n 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 o fought for you, and 6 adventured his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian : 18 And yep 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 q son of his maid-servant, 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 r ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you: 20 But if not, let s 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. |