The Orthodox Pages

email: pater@christopherklitou.com

THE OLD TESTAMENT

SEPTUAGINT

GREEK / ENGLISH

JUDGES CHAPTERS 1-10

Homepage

  Back                                                        

ΚΡΙΤΑΙ

 
1

ΚΑΙ ἐγένετο μετὰ τὴν τελευτὴν ᾿Ιησοῦ καὶ ἐπηρώτων οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Ισραὴλ διὰ τοῦ Κυρίου λέγοντες· τίς ἀναβήσεται ἡμῖν πρὸς τοὺς Χαναναίους ἀφηγούμενος τοῦ πολεμῆσαι πρὸς αὐτούς;

2 καὶ εἶπε Κύριος· ᾿Ιούδας ἀναβήσεται. ἰδοὺ δέδωκα τὴν γῆν ἐν χειρὶ αὐτοῦ.

3 καὶ εἶπεν ᾿Ιούδας τῷ Συμεὼν ἀδελφῷ αὐτοῦ· ἀνάβηθι μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ ἐν τῷ κλήρῳ μου, καὶ παραταξώμεθα πρὸς τοὺς Χαναναίους, καὶ πορεύσομαι κἀγὼ μετὰ σοῦ ἐν τῷ κλήρῳ σου. καὶ ἐπορεύθη μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ Συμεών.

4 καὶ ἀνέβη ᾿Ιούδας, καὶ παρέδωκε Κύριος τὸν Χαναναῖον καὶ τὸν Φερεζαῖον εἰς τὰς χεῖρας αὐτῶν. καὶ ἔκοψαν αὐτοὺς ἐν Βεζὰκ εἰς δέκα χιλιάδας ἀνδρῶν.

5 καὶ κατέλαβον τὸν ᾿Αδωνιβεζὲκ ἐν τῇ Βεζὲκ καὶ παρετάξαντο πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ ἔκοψαν τὸν Χαναναῖον καὶ Φερεζαῖον.

6 καὶ ἔφυγεν ᾿Αδωνιβεζέκ, καὶ κατέδραμον ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐλάβοσαν αὐτὸν καὶ ἀπέκοψαν τὰ ἄκρα τῶν χειρῶν αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰ ἄκρα τῶ ποδῶν αὐτοῦ.

7 καὶ εἶπεν ᾿Αδωνιβεζέκ· ἑβδομήκοντα βασιλεῖς τὰ ἄκρα τῶν χειρῶν αὐτῶν καὶ τὰ ἄκρα τῶν ποδῶν αὐτῶν ἀποκεκομμένοι ἦσαν συλλέγοντες τὰ ὑποκάτω τῆς τραπέζης μου· καθὼς οὖν ἐποίησα, οὕτως ἀνταπέδωκέ μοι ὁ Θεός. καὶ ἄγουσιν αὐτὸν εἰς ῾Ιερουσαλήμ, καὶ ἀπέθανεν ἐκεῖ.

8 Καὶ ἐπολέμουν υἱοὶ ᾿Ιούδα τὴν ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ κα'Ι κατελάβοντο αὐτὴν καὶ ἐπάταξαν αὐτὴν ἐν στόματι ρομφαίας καὶ τὴν πόλιν ἐνέπρησαν ἐν πυρί.

9 καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα κατέβησαν οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Ιούδα πολεμῆσαι πρὸς τὸν Χαναναῖον τὸν κατοικοῦντα τὴν ὀρεινὴν καὶ τὸ νότιον καὶ τὴν πεδινήν.

10 καὶ ἐπορεύθη ᾿Ιούδας πρὸς τὸν Χαναναῖον τὸν κατοικοῦντα ἐν Χεβρών, καὶ ἐξῆλθε Χεβρὼν ἐξ ἐναντίας· καὶ τὸ ὄνομα ἦν Χεβρὼν τὸ πρότερον Καριαθαρβοκσεφέρ. καὶ ἐπάταξαν τὸν Σεσσὶ καὶ ᾿Αχιναὰν καὶ Θολμί, γεννήματα τοῦ ᾿Ενάκ.

11 καὶ ἀνέβησαν ἐκεῖθεν πρὸς τοὺς κατοικοῦντας Δαβίρ· τὸ δὲ ὄνομα τῆς Δαβὶρ ἦν ἔμπροσθεν Καριαθσεφάρ, Πόλις γραμμάτων.

12 καὶ εἶπε Χάλεβ· ὃς ἂν πατάξῃ τὴν Πόλιν τῶν γραμμάτων καὶ προκαταλάβηται αὐτήν, δώσω αὐτῷ τὴν ᾿Ασχὰ θυγατέρα μου εἰς γυναῖκα.

13 καὶ προκατελάβετο αὐτὴν Γοθονιὴλ υἱὸς Κενὲζ ἀδελφοῦ Χάλεβ ὁ νεώτερος, καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ Χάλεβ τὴν ᾿Ασχὰ θυγατέρα αὐτοῦ εἰς γυναῖκα.

14 καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῇ εἰσόδῳ αὐτῆς καὶ ἐπέσεισεν αὐτὴν Γοθονιὴλ τοῦ αἰτῆσαι παρὰ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτῆς ἀγρόν, καὶ ἐγόγγυζε καὶ ἔκραξεν ἀπὸ τοῦ ὑποζυγίου· εἰς γῆν νότου ἐκδέδοσαί με. καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ Χάλεβ· τί ἐστί σοι;

15 καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ᾿Ασχά· δὸς δή μοι εὐλογίαν, ὅτι εἰς γῆν νότου ἐκδέδοσαί με, καὶ δώσεις μοι λύτρωσιν ὕδατος. καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτῇ Χάλεβ κατὰ τὴν καρδίαν αὐτῆς λύτρωσιν μετεώρων καὶ λύτρωσιν ταπεινῶν.

16 Καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Ιοθὸρ τοῦ Κιναίου τοῦ γαμβροῦ Μωυσῆ ἀνέβησαν ἐκ πόλεως τῶν φοινίκων μετὰ τῶν υἱῶν ᾿Ιούδα εἰς τὴν ἔρημον τὴν οὖσαν ἐν τῷ νότῳ ᾿Ιούδα, ἥ ἐστιν ἐπὶ καταβάσεως ᾿Αράδ, καὶ κατῴκησαν μετὰ τοῦ λαοῦ.

17 καὶ ἐπορεύθη ᾿Ιούδας μετὰ Συμεὼν τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔκοψε τὸν Χαναναῖον τὸν κατοικοῦντα Σεφέκ· καὶ ἐξωλόθρευσεν αὐτούς, καὶ ἐκάλεσε τὸ ὄνομα τῆς πόλεως ᾿Ανάθεμα.

18 καὶ οὐκ ἐκληρονόμησεν ᾿Ιούδας τὴν Γάζαν οὐδὲ τὰ ὅρια αὐτῆς, οὐδὲ τὴν ᾿Ασκάλωνα ουδὲ τὰ ὅρια αὐτῆς, οὐδὲ τὴν ᾿Ακκαρὼν οὐδὲ τὰ ὅρια αὐτῆς, τὴν ῎Αζωτον οὐδὲ τὰ περισπόρια αὐτῆς.

19 καὶ ἦν Κύριος μετὰ ᾿Ιούδα καὶ ἐκληρονόμησε τὸ ὄρος, ὅτι οὐκ ἠδυνάσθησαν ἐξολοθρεῦσαι τοὺς κατοικοῦντας τὴν κοιλάδα, ὅτι Ρηχὰβ διεστείλατο αὐτοῖς.

20 καὶ ἔδωκαν τῷ Χάλεβ τὴν Χεβρών, καθὼς ἐλάλησε Μωυσῆς, καὶ ἐκληρονόμησεν ἐκεῖθεν τὰς τρεῖς πόλεις τῶν υἱῶν ᾿Ενάκ.

21 καὶ τὸν ᾿Ιεβουσαῖον τὸν κατοικοῦντα ἐν ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ οὐκ ἐκληρονόμησαν οἱ υἱοὶ Βενιαμίν, καὶ κατῴκησεν ὁ ᾿Ιεβουσαῖος μετὰ τῶν υἱῶν Βενιαμὶν ἐν ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης.

22 καὶ ἀνέβησαν οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Ιωσὴφ καί γε αὐτοὶ εἰς Βαιθήλ, καὶ Κύριος ἦν μετ᾿ αὐτῶν.

23 καὶ παρενέβαλον καὶ κατεσκέψαντο Βαιθήλ· τὸ δὲ ὄνομα τῆς πόλεως ἦν ἔμπροσθεν Λουζά.

24 καὶ εἶδον οἱ φυλάσσοντες, καὶ ἰδοὺ ἀνὴρ ἐξεπορεύετο ἐκ τῆς πόλεως· καὶ ἔλαβον αὐτὸν καὶ εἶπον αὐτῷ· δεῖξον ἡμῖν τῆς πόλεως τὴν εἴσοδον, καὶ ποιήσομεν μετὰ σοῦ ἔλεος.

25 καὶ ἔδειξεν αὐτοῖς τὴν εἴσοδον τῆς πόλεως, καὶ ἐπάταξαν τὴν πόλιν ἐν στόματι ρομφαίας, τὸν δὲ ἄνδρα καὶ τὴν συγγένειαν αὐτοῦ ἐξαπέστειλαν. 26 καὶ ἐπορεύθη ὁ ἀνὴρ εἰς γῆν Χεττὶν καὶ ᾠκοδόμησεν ἐκεῖ πόλιν καὶ ἐκάλεσε τὸ ὄνομα αὐτῆς Λουζά· τοῦτο ὄνομα αὐτῆς ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης.

27 καὶ οὐκ ἐξῇρε Μανασσῆ τὴν Βαιθσάν, ἥ ἐστι Σκυθῶν πόλις, οὐδὲ τὰς θυγατέρας αὐτῆς οὐδὲ τὰ περίοικα αὐτῆς οὐδὲ τὴν Θανὰκ οὐδὲ τὰς θυγατέρας αὐτῆς, οὐδὲ τοὺς κατοικοῦντας Δὼρ οὐδὲ τὰς θυγατέρας αὐτῆς, οὐδὲ τὸν κατοικοῦντα Βαλὰκ οὐδὲ τὰ περίοικα αὐτῆς οὐδὲ τὰς θυγατέρας αὐτῆς, οὐδὲ τοὺς κατοικοῦντας Μαγεδὼ οὐδὲ τὰ περίοικα αὐτῆς καὶ τὰς θυγατέρας αὐτῆς, οὐδὲ τοὺς κατοικοῦντας ᾿Ιεβλαὰμ οὐδὲ τὰ περίοικα αὐτῆς οὐδὲ τὰς θυγατέρας αὐτῆς· καὶ ἤρξατο ὁ Χαναναῖος κατοικεῖν ἐν τῇ γῇ ταύτῃ.

28 καὶ ἐγένετο ὅτε ἐνίσχυσεν ᾿Ισραήλ, καὶ ἐποίησε τὸν Χαναναῖον εἰς φόρον καὶ ἐξαίρων οὐκ ἐξῇρεν αὐτόν.

29 καὶ ᾿Εφραὶμ οὐκ ἐξῇρε τὸν Χαναναῖον τὸν κατοικοῦντα ἐν Γαζέρ· καὶ κατῴκησεν ὁ Χαναναῖος ἐν μέσῳ αὐτοῦ ἐν Γαζὲρ καὶ ἐγένετο εἰς φόρον.

30 καὶ Ζαβουλὼν οὐκ ἐξῇρε τοὺς κατοικοῦντας Κέδρων, οὐδὲ τοὺς κατοικοῦντας Δωμανά· καὶ κατῴκησεν ὁ Χαναναῖος ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῶν καὶ ἐγένετο αὐτῷ εἰς φόρον.

31 καὶ ᾿Ασὴρ οὐκ ἐξῇρε τοὺς κατοικοῦντας ᾿Ακχώ, καὶ ἐγένετο αὐτῷ εἰς φόρον, καὶ τοὺς κατοικοῦντας Δὼρ καὶ τοὺς κατοικοῦντας Σιδῶνα καὶ τοὺς κατοικοῦντας ᾿Ααλάφ, τὸν ᾿Ασχαζὶ καὶ τὸν Χελβὰ καὶ τὸν Ναΐ καὶ τὸν ᾿Ερεώ.

32 καὶ κατῴκησεν ὁ ᾿Ασὴρ ἐν μέσῳ τοῦ Χαναναίου τοῦ κατοικοῦντος τὴν γῆν, ὅτι οὐκ ἠδυνήθη ἐξᾶραι αὐτόν.

33 καὶ Νεφθαλὶ οὐκ ἐξῇρε τοὺς κατοικοῦντας Βαιθσαμὺς καὶ τοὺς κατοικοῦντας Βαιθανάθ, καὶ κατῴκησε Νεφθαλὶ ἐν μέσῳ τοῦ Χαναναίου τοῦ κατοικοῦντος τὴν γῆν· οἱ δὲ κατοικοῦντες Βαιθσαμὺς καὶ τὴν Βαιθενὲθ ἐγένοντο αὐτοῖς εἰς φόρον.

34 καὶ ἐξέθλιψεν ὁ ᾿Αμορραῖος τοὺς υἱοὺς Δὰν εἰς τὸ ὄρος, ὅτι οὐκ ἀφῆκαν αὐτὸν καταβῆναι εἰς τὴν κοιλάδα.

35 καὶ ἤρξατο ὁ ᾿Αμορραῖος κατοικεῖν ἐν τῷ ὄρει τῷ ὀστρακώδει, ἐν ᾧ αἱ ἄρκοι καὶ ἐν ᾧ αἱ ἀλώπεκες, ἐν τῷ Μυρσινῶνι καὶ ἐν Θαλαβίν· καὶ ἐβαρύνθη ἡ χεὶρ οἴκου ᾿Ιωσὴφ ἐπὶ τὸν ᾿Αμορραῖον, καὶ ἐγενήθη αὐτοῖς εἰς φόρον.

36 καὶ τὸ ὅριον τοῦ ᾿Αμορραίου ἀπὸ τῆς ἀναβάσεως ᾿Ακραβὶν ἀπὸ τῆς Πέτρας καὶ ἐπάνω.

2

ΚΑΙ ἀνέβη ἄγγελος Κυρίου ἀπὸ Γαλγὰλ ἐπὶ τὸν Κλαυθμῶνα καὶ ἐπὶ Βαιθὴλ καἱ ἐπὶ τὸν οἶκον ᾿Ισραὴλ καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτούς· τάδε λέγει Κύριος· ἀνεβίβασα ὑμᾶς ἐξ Αἰγύπτου καὶ εἰσήγαγον ὑμᾶς εἰς τὴν γῆν, ἣν ὤμοσα τοῖς πατράσιν ὑμῶν, καὶ εἶπα· οὐ διασκεδάσω τὴν διαθήκην μου τὴν μεθ᾿ ὑμῶν εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα·

2 καὶ ὑμεῖς οὐ διαθήσεσθε διαθήκην τοῖς ἐγκαθημένοις εἰς τὴν γῆν ταύτην, οὐδὲ τοῖς θεοῖς αὐτῶν προσκυνήσετε, ἀλλὰ τὰ γλυπτὰ αὐτῶν συντρίψετε, τὰ θυσιαστήρια αὐτῶν καθελεῖτε. καὶ οὐκ εἰσηκούσατε τῆς φωνῆς μου, ὅτι ταῦτα ἐποιήσατε.

3 κἀγὼ εἶπον· οὐ μὴ ἐξάρω αὐτοὺς ἐκ προσώπου ὑμῶν, καὶ ἔσονται ὑμῖν εἰς συνοχάς, καὶ οἱ θεοὶ αὐτῶν ἔσονται ὑμῖν εἰς σκάνδαλον.

4 καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ἐλάλησεν ὁ ἄγγελος Κυρίου τοὺς λόγους τούτους πρὸς πάντας υἱοὺς ᾿Ισραήλ, καὶ ἐπῇραν ὁ λαὸς τὴν φωνὴν αὐτῶν καὶ ἔκλαυσαν.

5 καὶ ἐπωνόμασαν τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ τόπου ἐκείνου, Κλαυθμῶνες· καὶ ἐθυσίασαν ἐκεῖ τῷ Κυρίῳ.

6 Καὶ ἐξαπέστειλεν ᾿Ιησοῦς τὸν λαόν, καὶ ἦλθεν ἀνὴρ εἰς τὴν κληρονομίαν αὐτοῦ κατακληρονομῆσαι τὴν γῆν.

7 καὶ ἐδούλευσεν ὁ λαὸς τῷ Κυρίῳ πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας ᾿Ιησοῦ καὶ πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας τῶν πρεσβυτέρων, ὅσοι ἐμακροημέρευσαν μετὰ ᾿Ιησοῦ, ὅσοι ἔγνωσαν πᾶν τὸ ἔργον Κυρίου τὸ μέγα, ὃ ἐποίησεν ἐν τῷ ᾿Ισραήλ.

8 καὶ ἐτελεύτησεν ᾿Ιησοῦς υἱὸς Ναυὴ δοῦλος Κυρίου, υἱὸς ἑκατὸν δέκα ἐτῶν.

9 καὶ ἔθαψαν αὐτὸν ἐν ὁρίῳ τῆς κληρονομίας αὐτοῦ ἐν Θαμναθαρές, ἐν ὄρει ᾿Εφραὶμ ἀπὸ βορρᾶ τοῦ ὄρους Γαάς.

10 καί γε πᾶσα ἡ γενεὰ ἐκείνη προσετέθησαν πρὸς τοὺς πατέρας αὐτῶν, καὶ ἀνέστη γενεὰ ἑτέρα μετ᾿ αὐτούς, οἳ οὐκ ἔγνωσαν τὸν Κύριον καί γε τὸ ἔργον, ὃ ἐποίησεν ἐν τῷ ᾿Ισραήλ.

11 Καὶ ἐποίησαν οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Ισραὴλ τὸ πονηρὸν ἐνώπιον Κυρίου καὶ ἐλάτρευσαν τοῖς Βααλίμ.

12 καὶ ἐγκατέλιπον τὸν Κύριον τὸν Θεὸν τῶν πατέρων αὐτῶν τὸν ἐξαγαγόντα αὐτοὺς ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν ὀπίσω θεῶν ἑτέρων ἀπὸ τῶν θεῶν τῶν ἐθνῶν τῶν περικύκλῳ αὐτῶν καί προσεκύνησαν αὐτοῖς καὶ παρώργισαν τὸν Κύριον

13 καὶ ἐγκατέλιπον αὐτὸν καὶ ἐλάτρευσαν τῷ Βάαλ καὶ ταῖς ᾿Αστάρταις.

14 καὶ ὠργίσθη θυμῷ Κύριος ἐν τῷ ᾿Ισραὴλ καὶ παρέδωκεν αὐτοὺς εἰς χεῖρας προνομευόντων, καὶ κατεπρονόμευσαν αὐτούς· καὶ ἀπέδοτο αὐτοὺς ἐν χερσὶ τῶν ἐχθρῶν αὐτῶν κυκλόθεν, καὶ οὐκ ἠδυνήθησαν ἔτι ἀντιστῆναι κατὰ πρόσωπον τῶν ἐχθρῶν αὐτῶν.

15 ἐν πᾶσιν, οἷς ἐπορεύοντο, καὶ χεὶρ Κυρίου ἦν ἐπ᾿ αὐτοὺς εἰς κακά, καθὼς ἐλάλησε Κύριος καὶ καθὼς ὤμοσε Κύριος αὐτοῖς, καὶ ἐξέθλιψεν αὐτοὺς σφόδρα.

16 καὶ ἤγειρε Κύριος κριτάς, καὶ ἔσωσεν αὐτοὺς Κύριος ἐκ χειρὸς τῶν προνομευόντων αὐτούς. καί γε τῶν κριτῶν οὐχ ὑπήκουσαν,

17 ὅτι ἐξεπόρνευσαν ὀπίσω θεῶν ἑτέρων καὶ προσεκύνησαν αὐτοῖς· καὶ ἐξέκλιναν ταχὺ ἐκ τῆς ὁδοῦ, ἧς ἐπορεύθησαν οἱ πατέρες αὐτῶν τοῦ εἰσακούειν τῶν λόγων Κυρίου, οὐκ ἐποίησαν οὕτως.

18 καὶ ὅτι ἤγειρε Κύριος αὐτοῖς κριτάς, καὶ ἦν Κύριος μετὰ τοῦ κριτοῦ καὶ ἔσωσεν αὐτοὺς ἐκ χειρὸς ἐχθρῶν αὐτῶν πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας τοῦ κριτοῦ, ὅτι παρεκλήθη Κύριος ἀπὸ τοῦ στεναγμοῦ αὐτῶν ἀπὸ προσώπου τῶν πολιορκούντων αὐτοὺς καί ἐκθλιβόντων αὐτούς.

19 καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ἀπέθνησκεν ὁ κριτής, καὶ ἀπέστρεψαν καὶ πάλιν διέφθειραν ὑπὲρ τοὺς πατέρας αὐτῶν πορεύεσθαι ὀπίσω θεῶν ἑτέρων, λατρεύειν αὐτοῖς καὶ προσκυνεῖν αὐτοῖς· οὐκ ἀπέρριψαν τὰ ἐπιτηδεύματα αὐτῶν, καὶ τὰς ὁδοὺς αὐτῶν τὰς σκληράς.

20 καὶ ὠργίσθη θυμῷ Κύριος ἐν τῷ ᾿Ισραὴλ καὶ εἶπεν· ἀνθ᾿ ὧν ὅσα ἐγκατέλιπον τὸ ἔθνος τοῦτο τὴν διαθήκην μου, ἣν ἐνετειλάμην τοῖς πατράσιν αὐτῶν, καὶ οὐκ εἰσήκουσαν τῆς φωνῆς μου,

21 καὶ ἐγὼ οὐ προσθήσω τοῦ ἐξᾶραι ἄνδρα ἐκ προσώπου αὐτῶν ἀπὸ τῶν ἐθνῶν, ὧν κατέλιπεν ᾿Ιησοῦς υἱὸς Ναυὴ ἐν τῇ γῇ

22 καὶ ἀφῆκε, τοῦ πειράσαι ἐν αὐτοῖς τὸν ᾿Ισραήλ, εἰ φυλάσσονται τὴν ὁδὸν Κυρίου πορεύεσθαι ἐν αὐτῇ, ὃν τρόπον ἐφύλαξαν οἱ πατέρες αὐτῶν, ἢ οὔ.

23 καὶ ἀφῆκε Κύριος τὰ ἔθνη ταῦτα τοῦ μὴ ἐξᾶραι αὐτὰ τὸ τάχος καὶ οὐ παρέδωκεν αὐτὰ ἐν χειρὶ ᾿Ιησοῦ.

3

ΚΑΙ ταῦτα τὰ ἔθνη, ἃ ἀφῆκε Κύριος αὐτὰ ὥστε πειράσαι ἐν αὐτοῖς τὸν ᾿Ισραήλ, πάντας τοὺς μή ἐγνωκότας τοὺς πολέμους Χαναάν.

2 πλὴν διὰ τὰς γενεὰς υἱῶν ᾿Ισραὴλ τοῦ διδάξαι αὐτοὺς πόλεμον, πλὴν οἱ ἔμπροσθεν αὐτῶν οὐκ ἔγνωσαν αὐτά·

3 τὰς πέντε σατραπείας τῶν ἀλλοφύλων καὶ πάντα τὸν Χαναναῖον καὶ τὸν Σιδώνιον καὶ τὸν Εὐαῖον τὸν κατοικοῦντα τὸν Λίβανον ἀπὸ τοῦ ὄρους τοῦ ᾿Αερμὼν ἕως Λαβωεμάθ.

4 καὶ ἐγένετο ὥστε πειράσαι ἐν αὐτοῖς τὸν ᾿Ισραήλ, γνῶναι εἰ ἀκούσονται τὰς ἐντολὰς Κυρίου, ἃς ἐνετείλατο τοῖς πατράσιν αὐτῶν ἐν χειρὶ Μωυσῆ.

5 καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Ισραὴλ κατῴκησαν ἐν μέσῳ τοῦ Χαναναίου καὶ τοῦ Χετταίου καὶ τοῦ ᾿Αμορραίου καὶ τοῦ Φερεζαίου καὶ τοῦ Εὐαίου καὶ τοῦ ᾿Ιεβουσαίου

6 καὶ ἔλαβον τὰς θυγατέρας αὐτῶν ἑαυτοῖς εἰς γυναῖκας καὶ τὰς θυγατέρας αὐτῶν ἔδωκαν τοῖς υἱοῖς αὐτῶν καὶ ἐλάτρευσαν τοῖς θεοῖς αὐτῶν.

7 Καὶ ἐποίησαν οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Ισραὴλ τὸ πονηρὸν ἐναντίον Κυρίου καὶ ἐπελάθοντο Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ αὐτῶν καὶ ἐλάτρευσαν τοῖς Βααλὶμ καὶ τοῖς ἄλσεσι.

8 καὶ ὠργίσθη θυμῷ Κύριος ἐν τῷ ᾿Ισραὴλ καὶ ἀπέδοτο αὐτοὺς ἐν χειρὶ Χουσαρσαθαὶμ βασιλέως Συρίας ποταμῶν. καὶ ἐδούλευσαν οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Ισραὴλ τῷ Χουσαρσαθαὶμ ἔτη ὀκτώ.

9 καὶ ἐκέκραξαν οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Ισραὴλ πρὸς Κύριον· καί ἤγειρε Κύριος σωτῆρα τῷ ᾿Ισραήλ, καὶ ἔσωσεν αὐτούς, τὸν Γοθονιὴλ υἱὸν Κενέζ ἀδελφοῦ Χάλεβ τὸν νεώτερον ὑπὲρ αὐτόν,

10 καὶ ἐγένετο ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸν πνεῦμα Κυρίου, καὶ ἔκρινε τὸν ᾿Ισραήλ. καὶ ἐξῆλθεν εἰς πόλεμον πρὸς Χουσαρσαθαίμ· καὶ παρέδωκε Κύριος ἐν χειρὶ αὐτοῦ τὸν Χουσαρσαθαὶμ βασιλέα Συρίας ποταμῶν, καὶ ἐκραταιώθη χεὶρ αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὸν Χουσαρσαθαίμ.

11 καὶ ἡσύχασεν ἡ γῆ ἔτη τεσσαράκοντα· καὶ ἀπέθανε Γοθονιὴλ υἱὸς Κενέζ.

12 Καὶ προσέθεντο οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Ισραὴλ ποιῆσαι τὸ πονηρὸν ἐνώπιον Κυρίου. καὶ ἐνίσχυσε Κύριος τὸν ᾿Εγλὼμ βασιλέα Μωὰβ ἐπὶ τὸν ᾿Ισραὴλ διὰ τὸ πεποιηκέναι αὐτούς τὸ πονηρὸν ἔναντι Κυρίου.

13 καὶ συνήγαγε πρὸς ἑαυτὸν πάντας τοὺς υἱοὺς ᾿Αμμὼν καὶ ᾿Αμαλὴκ καὶ ἐπορεύθη καὶ ἐπάταξε τὸν ᾿Ισραὴλ καὶ ἐκληρονόμησε τὴν πόλιν τῶν φοινίκων.

14 καὶ ἐδούλευσαν οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Ισραὴλ τῷ ᾿Εγλὼμ βασιλεῖ Μωὰβ ἔτη δεκαοκτώ.

15 καὶ ἐκέκραξαν οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Ισραὴλ πρὸς Κύριον· καὶ ἤγειρεν αὐτοῖς σωτῆρα τὸν ᾿Αὼδ υἱὸν Γηρὰ υἱὸν τοῦ ᾿Ιεμενί, ἄνδρα ἀμφοτεροδέξιον. καὶ ἐξαπέστειλαν οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Ισραὴλ δῶρα ἐν χειρὶ αὐτοῦ τῷ ᾿Εγλὼμ βασιλεῖ Μωάβ.

16 καὶ ἐποίησεν ἑαυτῷ ᾿Αὼδ μάχαιραν δίστομον, σπιθαμῆς τὸ μῆκος αὐτῆς, καὶ περιεζώσατο αὐτὴν ὑπὸ τὸν μανδύαν ἐπὶ τὸν μηρὸν αὐτοῦ τὸν δεξιόν.

17 καὶ ἐπορεύθη καὶ προσήνεγκε τὰ δῶρα τῷ ᾿Εγλὼμ βασιλεῖ Μωάβ· καὶ ᾿Εγλὼμ ἀνὴρ ἀστεῖος σφόδρα.

18 καὶ ἐγένετο ἡνίκα συνετέλεσεν ᾿Αὼδ προσφέρων τὰ δῶρα, καὶ ἐξαπέστειλε τοὺς φέροντας τὰ δῶρα·

19 καὶ αὐτὸς ὑπέστρεψεν ἀπὸ τῶν γλυπτῶν τῶν μετὰ τῆς Γαλγάλ. καὶ εἶπεν ᾿Αώδ· λόγος μοι κρύφιος πρός σε, βασιλεῦ. καὶ εἶπεν ᾿Εγλὼμ πρὸς αὐτόν· σιώπα· καὶ ἐξαπέστειλεν ἀφ᾿ ἑαυτοῦ πάντας τοὺς ἐφεστῶτας ἐπ᾿ αὐτόν.

20 καὶ ᾿Αὼδ εἰσῆλθε πρὸς αὐτόν, καὶ αὐτὸς ἐκάθητο ἐν τῷ ὑπερῴῳ τῷ θερινῷ τῷ ἑαυτοῦ μονώτατος. καὶ εἶπεν ᾿Αώδ· λόγος Θεοῦ μοι πρός σε, βασιλεῦ· καὶ ἐξανέστη ἀπὸ τοῦ θρόνου ᾿Εγλὼμ ἐγγὺς αὐτοῦ.

21 καὶ ἐγένετο ἅμα τῷ ἀναστῆναι αὐτὸν καὶ ἐξέτεινεν ᾿Αὼδ τὴν χεῖρα τὴν ἀριστερὰν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔλαβε τὴν μάχαιραν ἐπάνωθεν τοῦ μηροῦ αὐτοῦ τοῦ δεξιοῦ καὶ ἐνέπηξεν αὐτὴν ἐν τῇ κοιλίᾳ αὐτοῦ

22 καὶ ἐπεισήνεγκε καί γε τὴν λαβὴν ὀπίσω τῆς φλογός, καὶ ἐπέκλεισε τὸ στέαρ κατὰ τῆς φλογός, ὅτι οὐκ ἐξέσπασε τὴν μάχαιραν ἐκ τῆς κοιλίας αὐτοῦ.

23 καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ᾿Αὼδ τὴν προστάδα καὶ ἐξῆλθε τοὺς διατεταγμένους καὶ ἀπέκλεισε τὰς θύρας τοῦ ὑπερῴου κατ᾿ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐσφήνωσε·

24 καὶ αὐτὸς ἐξῆλθε. καὶ οἱ παῖδες αὐτοῦ εἰσῆλθον καὶ εἶδον καὶ ἰδοὺ αἱ θύραι τοῦ ὑπερῴου ἐσφηνωμέναι, καὶ εἶπαν· μή ποτε ἀποκενοῖ τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ ἐν τῷ ταμείῳ τῷ θερινῷ;

25 καὶ ὑπέμειναν ἕως ᾐσχύνοντο, καὶ ἰδοὺ οὐκ ἔστιν ὁ ἀνοίγων τὰς θύρας τοῦ ὑπερῴου· καὶ ἔλαβον τὴν κλεῖδα καὶ ἤνοιξαν, καὶ ἰδοὺ ὁ κύριος αὐτῶν πεπτωκὼς ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν τεθνηκώς.

26 καὶ ᾿Αὼδ διεσώθη ἕως ἐθορυβοῦντο, καὶ οὐκ ἦν ὁ προσνοῶν αὐτῷ· καὶ αὐτὸς παρῆλθε τὰ γλυπτὰ καὶ διεσώθη εἰς Σετειρωθά.

27 καὶ ἐγένετο ἡνίκα ἦλθεν ᾿Αὼδ εἰς γῆν ᾿Ισραήλ, καὶ ἐσάλπισεν ἐν κερατίνῃ ἐν τῷ ὄρει ᾿Εφραίμ· καὶ κατέβησαν σὺν αὐτῷ οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Ισραὴλ ἀπὸ τοῦ ὄρους, καὶ αὐτὸς ἔμπροσθεν αὐτῶν.

28 καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτούς· κατάβητε ὀπίσω μου, ὅτι παρέδωκε Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς τοὺς ἐχθροὺς ἡμῶν τὴν Μωὰβ ἐν χειρὶ ἡμῶν. καὶ κατέβησαν ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ καὶ προκατελάβοντο τὰς διαβάσεις τοῦ ᾿Ιορδάνου τῆς Μωάβ, καὶ οὐκ ἀφῆκεν ἄνδρα διαβῆναι.

29 καὶ ἐπάταξαν τὴν Μωὰβ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ὡσεὶ δέκα χιλιάδας ἀνδρῶν, πᾶν λιπαρὸν καὶ πάντα ἄνδρα δυνάμεως, καὶ οὐ διεσώθη ὁ ἀνήρ.

30 καὶ ἐνετράπη Μωὰβ ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ὑπὸ χεῖρα ᾿Ισραήλ, καὶ ἡσύχασεν ἡ γῆ ὀγδοήκοντα ἔτη, καὶ ἔκρινεν αὐτοὺς ᾿Αὼδ ἕως οὗ ἀπέθανε.

31 Καὶ μετ᾿ αὐτὸν ἀνέστη Σαμεγὰρ υἱὸς Δινὰχ καὶ ἐπάταξε τοὺς ἀλλοφύλους εἰς ἑξακοσίους ἄνδρας ἐν τῷ ἀροτρόποδι τῶν βοῶν· καὶ ἔσωσε καί γε αὐτὸς τὸν ᾿Ισραήλ.

4

ΚΑΙ προσέθεντο οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Ισραὴλ ποιῆσαι τὸ πονηρὸν ἐνώπιον Κυρίου· καὶ ᾿Αὼδ ἀπέθανε.

2 καὶ ἀπέδοτο τοὺς υἱοὺς ᾿Ισραὴλ Κύριος ἐν χειρὶ ᾿Ιαβὶν βασιλέως Χαναάν, ὃς ἐβασίλευσεν ἐν ᾿Ασώρ· καὶ ὁ ἄρχων τῆς δυνάμεως αὐτοῦ Σισάρα, καὶ αὐτὸς κατῴκει ἐν ᾿Αρισὼθ τῶν ἐθνῶν.

3 καὶ ἐκέκραξαν οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Ισραὴλ πρὸς Κύριον, ὅτι ἐννακόσια ἅρματα σιδηρᾶ ἦν αὐτῷ, καὶ αὐτὸς ἔθλιψε τὸν ᾿Ισραὴλ κατὰ κράτος εἴκοσιν ἔτη.

4 καὶ Δεββώρα γυνὴ προφῆτις γυνὴ Λαφιδώθ, αὕτη ἔκρινε τὸν ᾿Ισραὴλ ἐν τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ.

5 καὶ αὐτὴ ἐκάθητο ὑπὸ φοίνικα Δεββώρα ἀνὰ μέσον τῆς Ραμὰ καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον τῆς Βαιθὴλ ἐν τῷ ὄρει ᾿Εφραίμ, καὶ ἀνέβαινον πρὸς αὐτὴν οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Ισραὴλ εἰς κρίσιν.

6 καὶ ἀπέστειλε Δεββώρα καὶ ἐκάλεσε τὸν Βαρὰκ υἱὸν ᾿Αβινεὲμ ἐκ Κάδης Νεφθαλὶ καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτόν· οὐχὶ ἐνετείλατο Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ᾿Ισραήλ σοι καὶ ἀπελεύσῃ εἰς ὄρος Θαβὼρ καὶ λήψῃ μετὰ σεαυτοῦ δέκα χιλιάδας ἀνδρῶν ἐκ τῶν υἱῶν Νεφθαλὶ καὶ ἐκ τῶν υἱῶν Ζαβουλών;

7 καὶ ἐπάξω πρὸς σὲ εἰς τὸν χειμάρρουν Κισῶν τὸν Σισάρα ἄρχοντα τῆς δυνάμεως ᾿Ιαβὶν καὶ τὰ ἅρματα αὐτοῦ καὶ τὸ πλῆθος αὐτοῦ καὶ παραδώσω αὐτόν εἰς χεῖράς σου.

8 καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτὴν Βαράκ· ἐὰν πορευθῇς μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ, πορεύσομαι, καὶ ἐὰν μὴ πορευθῇς, οὐ πορεύσομαι· ὅτι οὐκ οἶδα τὴν ἡμέραν, ἐν ᾗ εὐοδοῖ Κύριος τὸν ἄγγελον μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ.

9 καὶ εἶπε· πορευομένη πορεύσομαι μετὰ σοῦ· πλὴν γίνωσκε ὅτι οὐκ ἔσται τὸ προτέρημά σου ἐπὶ τὴν ὁδόν, ἣν σὺ πορεύῃ, ὅτι ἐν χειρὶ γυναικὸς ἀποδώσεται Κύριος τὸν Σισάρα. καὶ ἀνέστη Δεββώρα καὶ ἐπορεύθη μετὰ τοῦ Βαρὰκ ἐκ Κάδης.

10 καὶ ἐβόησε Βαρὰκ τὸν Ζαβουλὼν καὶ τὸν Νεφθαλὶ ἐκ Κάδης, καὶ ἀνέβησαν κατὰ πόδας αὐτοῦ δέκα χιλιάδες ἀνδρῶν· καί ἀνέβη Δεββώρα μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ.

11 καὶ Χαβὲρ ὁ Κιναῖος ἐχωρίσθη ἀπὸ Καινᾶ ἀπὸ τῶν υἱῶν ᾿Ιωβὰβ γαμβροῦ Μωυσῆ καὶ ἔπηξε τὴν σκηνὴν αὐτοῦ ἕως δρυὸς πλεονεκτούντων, ἥ ἐστιν ἐχόμενα Κεδές.

12 καὶ ἀνηγγέλη Σισάρᾳ, ὅτι ἀνέβη Βαρὰκ υἱὸς ᾿Αβινεὲμ εἰς ὄρος Θαβώρ.

13 καὶ ἐκάλεσε Σισάρα πάντα τὰ ἅρματα αὐτοῦ ἐννακόσια ἅρματα σιδηρᾶ, καὶ πάντα τὸν λαὸν τὸν μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ ᾿Αρισὼθ τῶν ἐθνῶν εἰς τὸν χειμάρρουν Κισῶν.

14 καὶ εἶπε Δεββώρα πρὸς Βαράκ· ἀνάστηθι, ὅτι αὕτη ἡ ἡμέρα, ἐν ᾗ παρέδωκε Κύριος τὸν Σισάρα ἐν τῇ χειρί σου, ὅτι Κύριος ἐξελεύσεται ἔμπροσθέν σου. καὶ κατέβη Βαρὰκ κατὰ τὸ ὄρος Θαβὼρ καὶ δέκα χιλιάδες ἀνδρῶν ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ.

15 καὶ ἐξέστησε Κύριος τὸν Σισάρα καὶ πάντα τὰ ἅρματα αὐτοῦ καὶ πᾶσαν τὴν παρεμβολὴν αὐτοῦ ἐν στόματι ρομφαίας ἐνώπιον Βαράκ· καὶ κατέβη Σισάρα ἐπάνωθεν τοῦ ἅρματος αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔφυγε τοῖς ποσὶν αὐτοῦ.

16 καὶ Βαρὰκ διώκων ὀπίσω τῶν ἁρμάτων καὶ ὀπίσω τῆς παρεμβολῆς ἕως ᾿Αρισὼθ τῶν ἐθνῶν· καὶ ἔπεσε πᾶσα παρεμβολὴ Σισάρα ἐν στόματι ρομφαίας, οὐ κατελείφθη ἕως ἑνός.

17 καὶ Σισάρα ἔφυγε τοῖς ποσὶν αὐτοῦ εἰς σκηνὴν ᾿Ιαὴλ γυναικὸς Χαβὲρ ἑταίρου τοῦ Κιναίου, ὅτι εἰρήνη ἦν ἀναμέσον ᾿Ιαβὶν βασιλέως ᾿Ασὼρ καὶ ἀναμέσον τοῦ οἴκου Χαβὲρ τοῦ Κιναίου.

18 καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ᾿Ιαὴλ εἰς συνάντησιν Σισάρα καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· ἔκκλινον, κύριέ μου, ἔκλινον πρός με, μὴ φοβοῦ· καὶ ἐξέκλινε πρὸς αὐτὴν εἰς τὴν σκηνήν. καὶ περιέβαλεν αὐτὸν ἐπιβολαίῳ.

19 καὶ εἶπε Σισάρα πρὸς αὐτήν· πότισόν με δὴ μικρὸν ὕδωρ, ὅτι ἐδίψησα· καὶ ἤνοιξε τὸν ἀσκὸν τοῦ γάλακτος, καὶ ἐπότισεν αὐτὸν καὶ περιέβαλεν αὐτόν.

20 καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτὴν Σισάρα· στῆθι δὴ ἐπὶ τὴν θύραν τῆς σκηνῆς, καὶ ἔσται ἐὰν ἀνὴρ ἔλθῃ πρός σε καὶ ἐρωτήσῃ σε καὶ εἴπῃ· εἰ ἔστιν ὧδε ἀνήρ; καὶ ἐρεῖς· οὐκ ἔστι.

21 καὶ ἔλαβεν ᾿Ιαὴλ γυνὴ Χαβὲρ τὸν πάσσαλον τῆς σκηνῆς καὶ ἔθηκε τὴν σφῦραν ἐν τῇ χειρὶ αὐτῆς καὶ εἰσῆλθε πρὸς αὐτὸν ἐν κρυφῇ καὶ ἔπηξε τὸν πάσσαλον ἐν τῷ κροτάφῳ αὐτοῦ, καὶ διεξῆλθεν ἐν τῇ γῇ· καὶ αὐτὸς ἐξεστὼς ἐσκοτώθη καὶ ἀπέθανε.

22 καὶ ἰδοὺ Βαρὰκ διώκων τὸν Σισάρα, καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ᾿Ιαὴλ εἰς συνάντησιν αὐτῷ καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· δεῦρο καὶ δείξω σοι τὸν ἄνδρα, ὃν σὺ ζητεῖς. καὶ εἰσῆλθε πρὸς αὐτήν, καὶ ἰδοὺ Σισάρα ἐρριμμένος νεκρὸς καὶ ὁ πάσσαλος ἐν τῷ κροτάφῳ αὐτοῦ.

23 καὶ ἐτρόπωσεν ὁ Θεὸς τὸν ᾿Ιαβὶν βασιλέα Χαναὰν ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ἔμπροσθεν τῶν υἱῶν ᾿Ισραήλ.

24 καὶ ἐπορεύετο χεὶρ τῶν υἱῶν ᾿Ισραὴλ πορευομένη καὶ σκληρυνομένη ἐπὶ ᾿Ιαβὶν βασιλέα Χαναάν, ἕως οὗ ἐξωλόθρευσαν τὸν ᾿Ιαβὶν βασιλέα Χαναάν.

5

ΚΑΙ ἦσαν Δεββώρα καὶ Βαρὰκ υἱὸς ᾿Αβινεὲμ ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ λέγοντες·

2 ᾿Απεκαλύφθη ἀποκάλυμμα ἐν ᾿Ισραήλ· ἐν τῷ ἑκουσιασθῆναι λαόν, εὐλογεῖτε Κύριον.

3 ἀκούσατε, βασιλεῖς, καὶ ἐνωτίσασθε, σατράπαι· ἐγώ εἰμι τῷ Κυρίῳ, ἐγώ εἰμι, ἄσομαι, ψαλῶ τῷ Κυρίῳ τῷ Θεῷ ᾿Ισραήλ.

4 Κύριε, ἐν τῇ ἐξόδῳ σου ἐν Σηείρ, ἐν τῷ ἀπαίρειν σε ἐξ ἀγροῦ ᾿Εδώμ, γῆ ἐσείσθη καὶ ὁ οὐρανὸς ἔσταξε δρόσους, καὶ αἱ νεφέλαι ἔσταξαν ὕδωρ·

5 ὄρη ἐσαλεύθησαν ἀπὸ προσώπου Κυρίου ᾿Ελωΐ, τοῦτο Σινὰ ἀπὸ προσώπου Κυρίου Θεοῦ ᾿Ισραήλ.

6 ἐν ἡμέραις Σαμεγὰρ υἱοῦ ᾿Ανάθ, ἐν ἡμέραις ᾿Ιαὴλ ἐξέλιπον ὁδοὺς καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν ἀτραπούς, ἐπορεύθησαν ὁδοὺς διεστραμμένας·

7 ἐξέλιπον δυνατοὶ ἐν ᾿Ισραήλ, ἐξέλιπον, ἕως οὗ ἀνέστη Δεββώρα, ἕως οὗ ἀνέστη μήτηρ ἐν ᾿Ισραήλ.

8 ἐξελέξαντο θεοὺς καινούς· τότε ἐπολέμησαν πόλεις ἀρχόντων· θυρεὸς ἐὰν ὀφθῇ καὶ λόγχη ἐν τεσσαράκοντα χιλιάσιν ἐν ᾿Ισραήλ.

9 ἡ καρδία μου εἰς τὰ διατεταγμένα τῷ ᾿Ισραήλ· οἱ ἐκουσιαζόμενοι ἐν λαῷ εὐλογεῖτε Κύριον.

10 ἐπιβεβηκότες ἐπὶ ὄνου θηλείας μεσημβρίας, καθήμενοι ἐπὶ κριτηρίου καὶ πορευόμενοι ἐπὶ ὁδοὺς συνέδρων ἐφ᾿ ὁδῷ,

11 διηγεῖσθε ἀπὸ φωνῆς ἀνακρουομένων ἀνὰ μέσον ὑδρευομένων· ἐκεῖ δώσουσι δικαιοσύνας Κυρίῳ, δικαιοσύνας αὔξησον ἐν ᾿Ισραήλ. τότε κατέβη εἰς τὰς πόλεις λαὸς Κυρίου.

12 ἐξεγείρου, ἐξεγείρου, Δεββώρα. ἐξεγείρου, ἐξεγείρου, λάλησον ᾠδήν· ἀνάστα Βαράκ, καὶ αἰχμαλώτισον αἰχμαλωσίαν σου, υἱὸς ᾿Αβινεέμ.

13 τότε κατέβη κατάλειμμα τοῖς ἰσχυροῖς, λαὸς Κυρίου κατέβη αὐτῷ ἐν τοῖς κραταιοῖς.

14 ἐξ ἐμοῦ ᾿Εφραὶμ ἐξερρίζωσεν αὐτοὺς ἐν τῷ ᾿Αμαλήκ· ὀπίσω σου Βενιαμὶν ἐν τοῖς λαοῖς σου. ἐν ἐμοὶ Μαχὶρ κατέβησαν ἐξερευνῶντες καὶ ἀπὸ Ζαβουλὼν ἕλκοντες ἐν ράβδῳ διηγήσεως γραμματέως.

15 καὶ ἀρχηγοὶ ἐν ᾿Ισσάχαρ μετὰ Δεββώρας καὶ Βαράκ, οὕτω Βαρὰκ ἐν κοιλάσιν ἀπέστειλεν ἐν ποσὶν αὐτοῦ. εἰς τὰς μερίδας Ρουβὴν μεγάλοι ἐξικνούμενοι καρδίαν.

16 εἰς τί ἐκάθισαν ἀνὰ μέσον τῆς διγομίας τοῦ ἀκοῦσαι συρισμοῦ ἀγγέλων; εἰς διαιρέσεις Ρουβὴν μεγάλοι ἐξετασμοὶ καρδίας.

17 Γαλαὰδ ἐν τῷ πέραν τοῦ ᾿Ιορδάνου ἐσκήνωσε· καὶ Δὰν εἰς τί παροικεῖ πλοίοις; ᾿Ασὴρ ἐκάθισε παραλίαν θαλασσῶν καὶ ἐπὶ διεξόδοις αὐτοῦ σκηνώσει.

18 Ζαβουλὼν λαὸς ὠνείδισε ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ εἰς θάνατον καὶ Νεφθαλὶ ἐπὶ ὕψη ἀγροῦ.

19 ἦλθον αὐτῶν βασιλεῖς, παρετάξαντο, τότε ἐπολέμησαν βασιλεῖς Χαναὰν ἐν Θαναὰχ ἐπὶ ὕδατι Μαγεδδώ· δῶρον ἀργυρίου οὐκ ἔλαβον.

20 ἐξ οὐρανοῦ παρετάξαντο οἱ ἀστέρες, ἐκ τρίβων αὐτῶν παρετάξαντο μετὰ Σισάρα.

21 χειμάρρους Κισῶν ἐξέσυρεν αὐτούς, χειμάρρους ἀρχαίων, χειμάρρους Κισῶν· καταπατήσει αὐτὸν ψυχή μου δυνατή.

22 ὅτε ἐνεποδίσθησαν πτέρναι ἵππου, σπουδῇ ἔσπευσαν ἰσχυροὶ αὐτοῦ.

23 καταρᾶσθε Μηρώζ, εἶπεν ἄγγελος Κυρίου, καταρᾶσθε, ἐπικατάρατος πᾶς ὁ κατοικῶν αὐτήν, ὅτι οὐκ ἤλθοσαν εἰς βοήθειαν Κυρίου, εἰς βοήθειαν ἐν δυνατοῖς.

24 εὐλογηθείη ἐν γυναιξὶν ᾿Ιαὴλ γυνὴ Χαβὲρ τοῦ Κιναίου, ἀπὸ γυναικῶν ἐν σκηναῖς εὐλογηθείη.

25 ὕδωρ ᾔτησε, γάλα ἔδωκεν, ἐν λεκάνῃ ὑπερεχόντων προσήνεγκε βούτυρον.

26 χεῖρα αὐτῆς ἀριστερὰν εἰς πάσσαλον ἐξέτεινε καὶ δεξιὰν αὐτῆς εἰς σφῦραν κοπιώντων καὶ ἐσφυροκόπησε Σισάρα, διήλωσε κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐπάταξε, διήλωσε κρόταφον αὐτοῦ.

27 ἀνὰ μέσον τῶν ποδῶν αὐτῆς κατεκυλίσθη, ἔπεσε καὶ ἐκοιμήθη· ἀνὰ μέσον τῶν ποδῶν αὐτῆς κατακλιθεὶς ἔπεσε· καθὼς κατεκλίθη, ἐκεῖ ἔπεσεν ἐξοδευθείς.

28 διὰ τῆς θυρίδος παρέκυψε μήτηρ Σισάρα ἐκτὸς τοῦ τοξικοῦ, διότι ἠσχύνθη ἅρμα αὐτοῦ, διότι ἐχρόνισαν πόδες ἁρμάτων αὐτοῦ.

29 αἱ σοφαὶ ἄρχουσαι αὐτῆς ἀπεκρίθησαν πρὸς αὐτήν, καὶ αὐτὴ ἀπέστρεψε λόγους αὐτῆς ἑαυτῇ.

30 οὐχ εὑρήσουσιν αὐτὸν διαμερίζοντα σκῦλα; οἰκτίρμων οἰκτειρήσει εἰς κεφαλὴν ἀνδρός· σκῦλα βαμμάτων τῷ Σισάρᾳ, σκῦλα βαμμάτων ποικιλίας, βάμματα ποικιλτῶν αὐτά, τῷ τραχήλῳ αὐτοῦ σκῦλα.

31 οὕτως ἀπόλοιντο πάντες οἱ ἐχθροί σου, Κύριε· καὶ οἱ ἀγαπῶντες αὐτὸν ὡς ἔξοδος ἡλίου ἐν δυνάμει αὐτοῦ. Καὶ ἡσύχασεν ἡ γῆ τεσσαράκοντα ἔτη.

6

ΚΑΙ ἐποίησαν οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Ισραὴλ τὸ πονηρὸν ἐνώπιον Κυρίου, καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτοὺς Κύριος ἐν χειρὶ Μαδιὰμ ἑπτὰ ἔτη.

2 καὶ ἴσχυσε χεὶρ Μαδιὰμ ἐπὶ ᾿Ισραήλ· καὶ ἐποίησαν ἑαυτοῖς οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Ισραὴλ ἀπὸ προσώπου Μαδιὰμ τὰς τρυμαλιὰς τὰς ἐν τοῖς ὄρεσι καὶ τὰ σπήλαια καὶ τὰ κρεμαστά.

3 καὶ ἐγένετο ἐὰν ἔσπειραν οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Ισραήλ, καὶ ἀνέβαινον Μαδιὰμ καὶ ᾿Αμαλήκ, καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ ἀνατολῶν συνανέβαινον αὐτοῖς· καὶ παρενέβαλον εἰς αὐτοὺς

4 καὶ κατέφθειραν τοὺς καρποὺς αὐτῶν ἕως ἐλθεῖν εἰς Γάζαν καὶ οὐ κατελείποντο ὑπόστασιν ζωῆς ἐν τῇ γῇ ᾿Ισραὴλ οὐδὲ ἐν τοῖς ποιμνίοις ταῦρον καὶ ὄνον·

5 ὅτι αὐτοὶ καὶ αἱ κτήσεις αὐτῶν ἀνέβαινον καὶ αἱ σκηναὶ αὐτῶν παρεγίνοντο καθὼς ἀκρὶς εἰς πλῆθος, καὶ αὐτοῖς καὶ ταῖς καμήλοις αὐτῶν οὐκ ἦν ἀριθμός, καὶ ἤρχοντο εἰς τὴν γῆν ᾿Ισραὴλ καὶ διέφθειρον αὐτήν.

6 καὶ ἐπτώχευσεν ᾿Ισραὴλ σφόδρα ἀπὸ προσώπου Μαδιάμ,

7 καὶ ἐβόησαν υἱοὶ ᾿Ισραὴλ πρὸς Κύριον ἀπὸ προσώπου Μαδιάμ.

8 καὶ ἐξαπέστειλε Κύριος ἄνδρα προφήτην πρὸς τοὺς υἱοὺς ᾿Ισραήλ, καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· τάδε λέγει Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ᾿Ισραήλ· ἐγώ εἰμι ὃς ἀνήγαγον ὑμᾶς ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου καὶ ἐξήγαγον ὑμᾶς ἐξ οἴκου δουλείας ὑμῶν

9 καὶ ἐρρυσάμην ὑμᾶς ἐκ χειρὸς Αἰγύπτου καὶ ἐκ χειρὸς πάντων τῶν θλιβόντων ὑμᾶς καὶ ἐξέβαλον αὐτοὺς ἐκ προσώπου ὑμῶν καὶ ἔδωκα ὑμῖν τὴν γῆν αὐτῶν

10 καὶ εἶπα ὑμῖν· ἐγὼ Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ὑμῶν, οὐ φοβηθήσεσθε τοὺς θεοὺς τοῦ ᾿Αμορραίου, ἐν οἷς ὑμεῖς κάθησθε ἐν τῇ γῇ αὐτῶν· καὶ οὐκ εἰσηκούσατε τῆς φωνῆς μου.

11 Καὶ ἦλθεν ἄγγελος Κυρίου καὶ ἐκάθισεν ὑπὸ τὴν τερέμινθον τὴν ἐν ᾿Εφραθὰ τὴν ᾿Ιωὰς πατρὸς τοῦ ᾿Εσδρί, καὶ Γεδεὼν ὁ υἱὸς αὐτοῦ ραβδίζων σῖτον ἐν ληνῷ εἰς ἐκφυγεῖν ἀπὸ προσώπου τοῦ Μαδιάμ.

12 καὶ ὤφθη αὐτῷ ὁ ἄγγελος Κυρίου καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτόν· Κύριος μετὰ σοῦ, ἰσχυρὸς τῶν δυνάμεων.

13 καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτὸν Γεδεών· ἐν ἐμοί, Κύριέ μου, καὶ εἰ ἔστι Κύριος μεθ᾿ ἡμῶν, εἰς τί εὗρεν ἡμᾶς τὰ κακὰ ταῦτα; καὶ ποῦ ἐστι πάντα τὰ θαυμάσια αὐτοῦ, ἃ διηγήσαντο ἡμῖν οἱ πατέρες ἡμῶν λέγοντες, μὴ οὐχὶ ἐξ Αἰγύπτου ἀνήγαγεν ἡμᾶς Κύριος; καὶ νῦν ἐξέρριψεν ἡμᾶς καὶ ἔδωκεν ἡμᾶς ἐν χειρὶ Μαδιάμ.

14 καὶ ἐπέστρεψε πρὸς αὐτὸν ὁ ἄγγελος Κυρίου καὶ εἶπε· πορεύου ἐν τῇ ἰσχύϊ σου ταύτῃ καὶ σώσεις τὸν ᾿Ισραὴλ ἐκ χειρὸς Μαδιάμ· ἰδοὺ ἐξαπέστειλά σε.

15 καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτὸν Γεδεών· ἐν ἐμοί, Κύριέ μου, ἐν τίνι σώσω τὸν ᾿Ισραήλ; ἰδοὺ ἡ χιλιάς μου ἠσθένησεν ἐν Μανασσῇ, καὶ ἐγώ εἰμι μικρότερος ἐν οἴκῳ τοῦ πατρός μου.

16 καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτὸν ὁ ἄγγελος Κυρίου· Κύριος ἔσται μετὰ σοῦ, καὶ πατάξεις τὴν Μαδιὰμ ὡσεὶ ἄνδρα ἕνα.

17 καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτὸν Γεδεών· εἰ δὴ εὗρον ἔλεος ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς σου καὶ ποιήσεις μοι σήμερον πᾶν ὅ,τι ἐλάλησας μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ,

18 μὴ χωρισθῇς ἐντεῦθεν ἕως τοῦ ἐλθεῖν με πρός σε, καὶ ἐξοίσω τὴν θυσίαν καὶ θύσω ἐνώπιόν σου. καὶ εἶπεν· ἐγώ εἰμι, καθήσομαι ἕως τοῦ ἐπιστρέψαι σε.

19 καὶ Γεδεὼν εἰσῆλθε καὶ ἐποίησεν ἔριφον αἰγῶν καὶ οἰφὶ ἀλεύρου ἄζυμα καὶ τὰ κρέα ἔθηκεν ἐν τῷ κοφίνῳ καὶ τὸν ζωμὸν ἔβαλεν ἐν τῇ χύτρᾳ καὶ ἐξήνεγκεν αὐτὰ πρὸς αὐτὸν ὑπὸ τὴν τερέμινθον καὶ προσήγγισε.

20 καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτὸν ὁ ἄγγελος τοῦ Θεοῦ· λαβὲ τὰ κρέα καὶ τὰ ἄζυμα καὶ θὲς πρὸς τὴν πέτραν ἐκείνην καὶ τὸν ζωμὸν ἐχόμενα ἔκχεε· καὶ ἐποίησεν οὕτως.

21 καὶ ἐξέτεινεν ὁ ἄγγελος Κυρίου τὸ ἄκρον τῆς ράβδου τῆς ἐν τῇ χειρὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἥψατο τῶν κρεῶν καὶ τῶν ἀζύμων, καὶ ἀνέβη πῦρ ἐκ τῆς πέτρας καὶ κατέφαγε τὰ κρέα καὶ τοὺς ἀζύμους· καὶ ὁ ἄγγελος Κυρίου ἐπορεύθη ἀπ᾿ ὀφθαλμῶν αὐτοῦ.

22 καὶ εἶδε Γεδεὼν ὅτι ἄγγελος Κυρίου οὗτός ἐστι, καὶ εἶπε Γεδεών· ἆ ἆ, Κύριέ μου Κύριε, ὅτι εἶδον τὸν ἄγγελον Κυρίου πρόσωπον πρὸς πρόσωπον.

23 καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Κύριος· εἰρήνη σοι, μὴ φοβοῦ, οὐ μὴ ἀποθάνῃς.

24 καὶ ᾠκοδόμησεν ἐκεῖ Γεδεὼν θυσιαστήριον τῷ Κυρίῳ καὶ ἐπεκάλεσεν αὐτῷ Εἰρήνη Κυρίου ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης, ἔτι αὐτοῦ ὄντος ἐν ᾿Εφραθὰ πατρὸς τοῦ ᾿Εσδρί.

25 Καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῇ νυκτὶ ἐκείνῃ καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Κύριος· λαβὲ τὸν μόσχον τὸν ταῦρον, ὅς ἐστι τῷ πατρί σου, καὶ μόσχον δεύτερον ἑπταετῆ καὶ καθελεῖς τὸ θυσιαστήριον τοῦ Βάαλ ὅ ἐστι τῷ πατρί σου, καὶ τὸ ἄλσος τὸ ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸ ὀλοθρεύσεις.

26 καὶ οἰκοδομήσεις θυσιαστήριον τῷ Κυρίῳ τῷ Θεῷ σου ἐπὶ κορυφὴν τοῦ Μαουὲκ τούτου ἐν τῇ παρατάξει καὶ λήψῃ τὸν μόσχον τὸν δεύτερον καὶ ἀνοίσεις ὁλοκαυτώματα ἐν τοῖς ξύλοις τοῦ ἄλσους, οὗ ἐξολοθρεύσεις.

27 καὶ ἔλαβε Γεδεὼν δέκα ἄνδρας ἀπὸ τῶν δούλων ἑαυτοῦ καὶ ἐποίησεν ὃν τρόπον ἐλάλησε πρὸς αὐτὸν Κύριος· καὶ ἐγενήθη ὡς ἐφοβήθη τὸν οἶκον τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ καὶ τοὺς ἄνδρας τῆς πόλεως τοῦ ποιῆσαι ἡμέρας, καὶ ἐποίησε νυκτός.

28 καὶ ὤρθρισαν οἱ ἄνδρες τῆς πόλεως τὸ πρωΐ, καὶ ἰδοὺ καθῄρητο τὸ θυσιαστήριον τοῦ Βάαλ, καὶ τὸ ἄλσος τὸ ἐπ᾿ αὐτῷ ὠλόθρευτο· καὶ εἶδαν τὸν μόσχον τὸν δεύτερον, ὃν ἀνήνεγκεν ἐπὶ τὸ θυσιαστήριον τὸ ᾠκοδομημένον.

29 καὶ εἶπεν ἀνὴρ πρὸς τὸν πλησίον αὐτοῦ· τίς ἐποίησε τὸ ρῆμα τοῦτο; καὶ ἐπεζήτησαν καὶ ἠρεύνησαν καὶ ἔγνωσαν ὅτι Γεδεὼν υἱὸς ᾿Ιωὰς ἐποίησε τὸ ρῆμα τοῦτο.

30 καὶ εἶπαν οἱ ἄνδρες τῆς πόλεως πρὸς ᾿Ιωάς· ἐξένεγκε τὸν υἱόν σου καὶ ἀποθανέτω, ὅτι καθεῖλε τὸ θυσιαστήριον τοῦ Βάαλ καὶ ὅτι ὠλόθρευσε τὸ ἄλσος τὸ ἐπ᾿ αὐτῷ.

31 καὶ εἶπε Γεδεὼν υἱὸς ᾿Ιωὰς τοῖς ἀνδράσι πᾶσιν, οἳ ἐπανέστησαν αὐτῷ· μὴ ὑμεῖς νῦν δικάζεσθε ὑπὲρ τοῦ Βάαλ; ἢ ὑμεῖς σώσετε αὐτόν; ὃς ἐὰν δικάσηται αὐτῷ, θανατωθήτω ἕως πρωΐ· εἰ Θεός ἐστι, δικαζέσθω αὐτῷ, ὅτι καθεῖλε τὸ θυσιαστήριον αὐτοῦ.

32 καὶ ἐκάλεσεν αὐτὸ ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ῾Ιεροβάαλ λέγων· δικαζέσθω ἐν αὐτῷ ὁ Βάαλ, ὅτι καθῃρέθη τὸ θυσιαστήριον αὐτοῦ.

33 καὶ πᾶσα Μαδιὰμ καὶ ᾿Αμαλὴκ καὶ υἱοὶ ἀνατολῶν συνήχθησαν ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ καὶ παρενέβαλον ἐν τῇ κοιλάδι ᾿Ιεζραέλ.

34 καὶ πνεῦμα Κυρίου ἐνεδυνάμωσε τὸν Γεδεών, καὶ ἐσάλπισεν ἐν κερατίνῃ καὶ ἐφοβήθη ᾿Αβιέζερ ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ.

35 καὶ ἀγγέλους ἀπέστειλεν εἰς πάντα Μανασσῆ καὶ ἐν ᾿Ασὴρ καὶ ἐν Ζαβουλὼν καὶ ἐν Νεφθαλὶ καὶ ἀνέβη εἰς συνάντησιν αὐτῶν.

36 καὶ εἶπε Γεδεὼν πρὸς τὸν Θεόν· εἰ σύ σώζεις ἐν χειρί μου τὸν ᾿Ισραὴλ καθὼς ἐλάλησας,

37 ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ τίθημι τὸν πόκον τοῦ ἐρίου ἐν τῇ ἅλωνι· ἐὰν δρόσος γένηται ἐπὶ τὸν πόκον μόνον καὶ ἐπὶ πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν ξηρασία, γνώσομαι ὅτι σώσεις ἐν χειρί μου τὸν ᾿Ισραήλ, καθὼς ἐλάλησας.

38 καὶ ἐγένετο οὕτως· καὶ ὤρθρισε τῇ ἐπαύριον καὶ ἐξεπίασε τὸν πόκον, καὶ ἔσταξε δρόσος ἀπὸ τοῦ πόκου, πλήρης λεκάνη ὕδατος.

39 καὶ εἶπε Γεδεὼν πρὸς τὸν Θεόν· μὴ δὴ ὀργισθήτω ὁ θυμός σου ἐν ἐμοί, καὶ λαλήσω ἔτι ἅπαξ· πειράσω δὴ καί γε ἔτι ἅπαξ ἐν τῷ πόκῳ, καὶ γενέσθω ἡ ξηρασία ἐπὶ τὸν πόκον μόνον, καὶ ἐπὶ πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν γενηθήτω δρόσος.

40 καὶ ἐποίησεν ὁ Θεὸς οὕτως ἐν τῇ νυκτὶ ἐκείνῃ· καὶ ἐγένετο ξηρασία ἐπὶ τὸν πόκον μόνον, καὶ ἐπὶ πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν ἐγενήθη δρόσος.

7

ΚΑΙ ὤρθρισεν ῾Ιεροβάαλ (αὐτός ἐστι Γεδεὼν) καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ καὶ παρενέβαλον ἐπὶ πηγὴν ᾿Αράδ, καὶ παρεμβολὴ Μαδιὰμ ἦν αὐτῷ ἀπὸ βορρᾶ ἀπὸ Γαβαὰθ ᾿Αμωρὰ ἐν κοιλάδι.

2 καὶ εἶπε Κύριος πρὸς Γεδεών· πολὺς ὁ λαὸς ὁ μετὰ σοῦ, ὥστε μὴ παραδοῦναί με τὴν Μαδιὰμ ἐν χειρὶ αὐτῶν, μή ποτε καυχήσηται ᾿Ισραὴλ ἐπ᾿ ἐμὲ λέγων· ἡ χείρ μου ἔσωσέ με·

3 καὶ νῦν λάλησον δὴ ἐν ὠσὶ τοῦ λαοῦ λέγων· τίς ὁ φοβούμενος καὶ δειλός; ἐπιστρεφέτω καὶ ἐκχωρείτω ἀπὸ ὄρους Γαλαάδ. καὶ ἐπέστρεψεν ἀπὸ τοῦ λαοῦ εἴκοσι καὶ δύο χιλιάδες, καὶ δέκα χιλιάδες ὑπελείφθησαν.

4 καὶ εἶπε Κύριος πρὸς Γεδεών· ἔτι ὁ λαὸς πολύς ἐστι· κατένεγκον αὐτοὺς πρὸς τὸ ὕδωρ, καὶ ἐκκαθαρῶ σοι αὐτὸν ἐκεῖ· καὶ ἔσται ὃν ἐὰν εἴπω πρὸς σέ, οὗτος πορεύσεται σὺν σοί, αὐτὸς πορεύσεται σὺν σοί· καὶ πᾶς, ὃν ἐὰν εἴπω πρός σε· οὗτος οὐ πορεύσεται μετὰ σοῦ, αὐτὸς οὐ πορεύσεται μετὰ σοῦ.

5 καὶ κατήνεγκε τὸν λαὸν πρὸς τὸ ὕδωρ· καὶ εἶπε Κύριος πρὸς Γεδεών· πᾶς, ὃς ἂν λάψῃ τῇ γλώσσῃ αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τοῦ ὕδατος ὡς ἐὰν λάψῃ ὁ κύων, στήσεις αὐτὸν κατὰ μόνας, καὶ πᾶς, ὃς ἐὰν κλίνῃ ἐπὶ τὰ γόνατα αὐτοῦ πιεῖν.

6 καὶ ἐγένετο ὁ ἀριθμὸς τῶν λαψάντων ἐν χειρὶ αὐτῶν πρὸς τὸ στόμα αὐτῶν τριακόσιοι ἄνδρες, καὶ πᾶν τὸ κατάλοιπον τοῦ λαοῦ ἔκλιναν ἐπὶ τὰ γόνατα αὐτῶν πιεῖν ὕδωρ.

7 καὶ εἶπε Κύριος πρὸς Γεδεών· ἐν τοῖς τριακοσίοις ἀνδράσι τοῖς λάψασι σώσω ὑμᾶς καὶ δώσω τὴν Μαδιὰμ ἐν χειρί σου, καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς πορεύσονται ἀνὴρ εἰς τόν τόπον αὐτοῦ.

8 καὶ ἔλαβον τὸν ἐπισιτισμὸν τοῦ λαοῦ ἐν χειρὶ αὐτῶν καὶ τὰς κερατίνας αὐτῶν, καὶ τὸν πάντα ἄνδρα ᾿Ισραὴλ ἐξαπέστειλεν ἄνδρα εἰς σκηνὴν αὐτοῦ καὶ τοὺς τριακοσίους ἄνδρας κατίσχυσε. καὶ ἡ παρεμβολὴ Μαδιὰμ ἦσαν αὐτοῦ ὑποκάτω ἐν τῇ κοιλάδι.

9 καὶ ἐγενήθη ἐν τῇ νυκτὶ ἐκείνῃ καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτὸν Κύριος· ἀναστὰς κατάβηθι ἐν τῇ παρεμβολῇ, ὅτι παρέδωκα αὐτὴν ἐν τῇ χειρί σου·

10 καὶ εἰ φοβῇ σὺ καταβῆναι, κατάβηθι σὺ καὶ Φαρὰ τὸ παιδάριόν σου εἰς τὴν παρεμβολὴν

11 καὶ ἀκούσῃ, τί λαλήσουσι· καὶ μετὰ τοῦτο ἰσχύσουσιν αἱ χεῖρές σου, καταβήσῃ ἐν τῇ παρεμβολῇ. καὶ κατέβη αὐτὸς καὶ Φαρὰ τὸ παιδάριον αὐτοῦ πρὸς ἀρχὴν τῶν πεντήκοντα, οἳ ἦσαν ἐν τῇ παρεμβολῇ.

12 καὶ Μαδιὰμ καὶ ᾿Αμαλὴκ καὶ πάντες οἱ υἱοὶ ἀνατολῶν βεβλημένοι ἐν τῇ κοιλάδι ὡσεὶ ἀκρὶς εἰς πλῆθος, καὶ ταῖς καμήλοις αὐτῶν οὐκ ἦν ἀριθμός, ἀλλ᾿ ἦσαν ὡς ἡ ἄμμος ἡ ἐπὶ χείλους τῆς θαλάσσης εἰς πλῆθος.

13 καὶ ἦλθε Γεδεών, καὶ ἰδοὺ ἀνὴρ ἐξηγούμενος τῷ πλησίον αὐτοῦ ἐνύπνιον καὶ εἶπεν· ἰδοὺ ἐνυπνιασάμην ἐνύπνιον, καὶ ἰδοὺ μαγὶς ἄρτου κριθίνου στρεφομένη ἐν τῇ παρεμβολῇ Μαδιὰμ καὶ ἦλθεν ἕως τῆς σκηνῆς καὶ ἐπάταξεν αὐτήν, καὶ ἔπεσε, καὶ ἀνέστρεψεν αὐτὴν ἄνω, καὶ ἔπεσεν ἡ σκηνή.

14 καὶ ἀπεκρίθη ὁ πλησίον αὐτοῦ καὶ εἶπεν· οὐκ ἔστιν αὕτη εἰ μὴ ρομφαία Γεδεὼν υἱοῦ ᾿Ιωὰς ἀνδρὸς ᾿Ισραήλ· παρέδωκεν ὁ Θεὸς ἐν χειρὶ αὐτοῦ τὴν Μαδιὰμ καὶ πᾶσαν τὴν παρεμβολήν.

15 καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ἤκουσε Γεδεὼν τὴν ἐξήγησιν τοῦ ἐνυπνίου καὶ τὴν σύγκρισιν αὐτοῦ, καὶ προσεκύνησε Κυρίῳ καὶ ὑπέστρεψεν εἰς τὴν παρεμβολὴν ᾿Ισραὴλ καὶ εἶπεν· ἀνάστητε, ὅτι παρέδωκε Κύριος ἐν χειρὶ ἡμῶν τὴν παρεμβολὴν Μαδιάμ.

16 καὶ διεῖλε τοὺς τριακοσίους ἄνδρας εἰς τρεῖς ἀρχὰς καὶ ἔδωκε κερατίνας ἐν χειρὶ πάντων καὶ ὑδρίας κενὰς καὶ λαμπάδας ἐν ταῖς ὑδρίαις

17 καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτούς· ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ ὄψεσθε καὶ οὕτω ποιήσετε· καὶ ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ εἰσπορεύομαι ἐν ἀρχῇ τῆς παρεμβολῆς, καὶ ἔσται καθὼς ἂν ποιήσω, οὕτω ποιήσετε·

18 καὶ σαλπιῶ ἐν τῇ κερατίνῃ ἐγώ, καὶ πάντες μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ σαλπιεῖτε ἐν ταῖς κερατίναις κύκλῳ ὅλης τῆς παρεμβολῆς καὶ ἐρεῖτε· τῷ Κυρίῳ καὶ τῷ Γεδεών.

19 καὶ εἰσῆλθε Γεδεὼν καὶ οἱ ἑκατὸν ἄνδρες οἱ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἐν ἀρχῇ τῆς παρεμβολῆς ἐν ἀρχῇ τῆς φυλακῆς μέσης καὶ ἐγείροντες ἤγειραν τοὺς φυλάσσοντας καὶ ἐσάλπισαν ἐν ταῖς κερατίναις καὶ ἐξετίναξαν τὰς ὑδρίας τὰς ἐν ταῖς χερσὶν αὐτῶν.

20 καὶ ἐσάλπισαν αἱ τρεῖς ἀρχαὶ ἐν ταῖς κερατίναις καὶ συνέτριψαν τὰς ὑδρίας καὶ ἐκράτησαν ἐν χερσὶν ἀριστεραῖς αὐτῶν τὰς λαμπάδας καὶ ἐν χερσὶ δεξιαῖς αὐτῶν τὰς κερατίνας τοῦ σαλπίζειν καὶ ἀνέκραξαν· ρομφαία τῷ Κυρίῳ καὶ τῷ Γεδεών.

21 καὶ ἔστησεν ἀνὴρ ἐφ᾿ ἑαυτῷ κύκλῳ τῆς παρεμβολῆς, καὶ ἔδραμε πᾶσα ἡ παρεμβολὴ καὶ ἐσήμαναν καὶ ἔφυγον.

22 καὶ ἐσάλπισαν ἐν ταῖς τριακοσίαις κερατίναις, καὶ ἔθηκε Κύριος τὴν ρομφαίαν ἀνδρὸς ἐν τῷ πλησίον αὐτοῦ ἐν πάσῃ τῇ παρεμβολῇ,

23 καὶ ἔφυγεν ἡ παρεμβολὴ ἕως Βηθσεεδτὰ Γαραγαθὰ ἕως χείλους ᾿Αβωμεουλὰ ἐπὶ Ταβάθ. καὶ ἐβόησαν ἀνὴρ ᾿Ισραὴλ ἀπὸ Νεφθαλὶ καὶ ἀπὸ ᾿Ασὴρ καὶ ἀπὸ παντὸς Μανασσῆ καὶ ἐδίωξαν ὀπίσω Μαδιάμ.

24 καὶ ἀγγέλους ἐπέστειλε Γεδεὼν ἐν παντὶ ὄρει ᾿Εφραὶμ λέγων· κατάβητε εἰς συνάντησιν Μαδιὰμ καὶ καταλάβετε ἑαυτοῖς τὸ ὕδωρ ἕως Βαιθηρὰ καὶ τὸν ᾿Ιορδάνην· καὶ ἐβόησε πᾶς ἀνὴρ ᾿Εφραὶμ καὶ προκατελάβοντο τὸ ὕδωρ ἕως Βαιθηρὰ καὶ τὸν ᾿Ιορδάνην.

25 καὶ συνελάβοντο τοὺς ἄρχοντας Μαδιὰμ καὶ τὸν ᾿Ωρὴβ καὶ τὸν Ζὴβ καὶ ἀπέκτειναν τὸν ᾿Ωρὴβ ἐν Σοὺρ καὶ τὸν Ζὴβ ἀπέκτειναν ἐν ῾Ιακεφζήφ καὶ κατεδίωξαν Μαδιὰμ· καὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν ᾿Ωρὴβ καὶ Ζὴβ ἤνεγκαν πρὸς Γεδεὼν ἀπὸ πέραν τοῦ ᾿Ιορδάνου.

8

ΚΑΙ εἶπαν πρὸς Γεδεὼν ἀνὴρ ᾿Εφραίμ· τί τὸ ρῆμα τοῦτο ἐποίησας ἡμῖν τοῦ μὴ καλέσαι ἡμᾶς, ὅτε ἐπορεύθης παρατάξασθαι ἐν Μαδιάμ; καὶ διελέξαντο πρὸς αὐτὸν ἰσχυρῶς.

2 καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτούς· τί ἐποίησα νῦν καθὼς ὑμεῖς; ἢ οὐχὶ κρεῖσσον ἐπιφυλλὶς ᾿Εφραὶμ ἢ τρυγητὸς ᾿Αβιέζερ;

3 ἐν χειρὶ ὑμῶν παρέδωκε Κύριος τοὺς ἄρχοντας Μαδιάμ, τὸν ᾿Ωρὴβ καὶ τὸν Ζήβ· καὶ τί ἠδυνήθην ποιῆσαι ὡς ὑμεῖς; τότε ἀνέθη τὸ πνεῦμα αὐτῶν ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἐν τῷ λαλῆσαι αὐτὸν τὸν λόγον τοῦτον.

4 καὶ ἦλθε Γεδεὼν ἐπὶ τὸν ᾿Ιορδάνην, καὶ διέβη αὐτὸς καὶ οἱ τριακόσιοι ἄνδρες οἱ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ πεινῶντες καὶ διώκοντες.

5 καὶ εἶπε τοῖς ἀνδράσι Σοκχώθ· δότε δὴ ἄρτους εἰς τροφὴν τῷ λαῷ τούτῳ τῷ ἐν ποσί μου, ὅτι ἐκλείπουσι, καὶ ἰδοὺ ἐγώ εἰμι διώκων ὀπίσω τοῦ Ζεβεὲ καὶ Σελμανὰ βασιλέων Μαδιάμ.

6 καὶ εἶπον οἱ ἄρχοντες Σοκχώθ· μὴ χεὶρ Ζεβεὲ καὶ Σελμανὰ νῦν ἐν χειρί σου; οὐ δώσομεν τῇ δυνάμει σου ἄρτους;

7 καὶ εἶπε Γεδεών· διὰ τοῦτο ἐν τῷ δοῦναι Κύριον τὸν Ζεβεὲ καὶ τὸν Σελμανὰ ἐν χειρί μου, καὶ ἐγὼ ἀλοήσω τὰς σάρκας ὑμῶν ἐν ταῖς ἀκάνθαις τῆς ἐρήμου καὶ ἐν ταῖς Βαρκηνίμ.

8 καὶ ἀνέβη ἐκεῖθεν εἰς Φανουὴλ καὶ ἐλάλησε πρὸς αὐτοὺς ὡσαύτως, καὶ ἀπεκρίθησαν αὐτῷ οἱ ἄνδρες Φανουὴλ ὃν τρόπον ἀπεκρίθησαν ἄνδρες Σοκχώθ.

9 καὶ εἶπε Γεδεὼν πρὸς ἄνδρας Φανουήλ· ἐν ἐπιστροφῇ μου μετ᾿ εἰρήνης κατασκάψω τὸν πύργον τοῦτον.

10 καὶ Ζεβεὲ καὶ Σελμανὰ ἐν Καρκάρ, καὶ ἡ παρεμβολὴ αὐτῶν μετ᾿ αὐτῶν ὡσεὶ δεκαπέντε χιλιάδες, πάντες οἱ καταλελειμμένοι ἀπὸ πάσης παρεμβολῆς ἀλλοφύλων, καὶ οἱ πεπτωκότες ἑκατὸν εἴκοσι χιλιάδες ἀνδρῶν σπωμένων ρομφαίαν.

11 καὶ ἀνέβη Γεδεὼν ὁδὸν τῶν σκηνούντων ἐν σκηναῖς ἀπὸ ἀνατολῶν τῆς Ναβαὶ καὶ ᾿Ιεγεβάλ· καὶ ἐπάταξε τὴν παρεμβολήν, καὶ ἡ παρεμβολὴ ἦν πεποιθυῖα.

12 καὶ ἔφυγον Ζεβεὲ καὶ Σελμανά, καὶ ἐδίωξαν ὀπίσω αὐτῶν καὶ ἐκράτησε τοὺς δύο βασιλεῖς Μαδιάμ, τὸν Ζεβεὲ καὶ τὸν Σελμανά, καὶ πᾶσαν τὴν παρεμβολὴν ἐξέστησε.

13 καὶ ἐπέστρεψε Γεδεὼν υἱὸς ᾿Ιωὰς ἀπὸ τῆς παρατάξεως ἀπὸ ἐπάνωθεν τῆς παρατάξεως ᾿Αρές.

14 καὶ συνέλαβε παιδάριον ἀπὸ τῶν ἀνδρῶν Σοκχὼθ καὶ ἐπηρώτησεν αὐτόν, καὶ ἔγραψε πρὸς αὐτὸν ὀνόματα τῶν ἀρχόντων Σοκχὼθ καὶ τῶν πρεσβυτέρων αὐτῶν, ἑβδομήκοντα καὶ ἑπτὰ ἄνδρας.

15 καὶ παρεγένετο Γεδεὼν πρὸς τοὺς ἄρχοντας Σοκχὼθ καὶ εἶπεν· ἰδοὺ Ζεβεὲ καὶ Σελμανά, ἐν οἷς ὠνειδίσατέ με λέγοντες· μὴ χεὶρ Ζεβεὲ καὶ Σελμανὰ νῦν ἐν χειρί σου, ὅτι δώσομεν τοῖς ἀνδράσι σου τοῖς ἐκλείπουσιν ἄρτους;

16 καὶ ἔλαβε τοὺς πρεσβυτέρους τῆς πόλεως ἐν ταῖς ἀκάνθαις τῆς ἐρήμου καὶ ταῖς Βαρκηνὶμ καὶ ἠλόησεν ἐν αὐτοῖς τοὺς ἄνδρας τῆς πόλεως.

17 καὶ τὸν πύργον Φανουὴλ κατέσκαψε καὶ ἀπέκτεινε τοὺς ἄνδρας τῆς πόλεως.

18 καὶ εἶπε πρὸς Ζεβεὲ καὶ Σελμανά· ποῦ οἱ ἄνδρες, οὓς ἀπεκτείνατε ἐν Θαβώρ; καὶ εἶπαν· ὡς σύ, ὡς αὐτοὶ εἰς ὁμοίωμα υἱοῦ βασιλέως.

19 καὶ εἶπε Γεδεών· ἀδελφοί μου καὶ υἱοὶ τῆς μητρός μου ἦσαν· ζῇ Κύριος, εἰ ἐζωογονήκειτε αὐτούς, οὐκ ἂν ἀπέκτεινα ὑμᾶς.

20 καὶ εἶπεν ᾿Ιεθὲρ τῷ πρωτοτόκῳ αὐτοῦ· ἀναστὰς ἀπόκτεινον αὐτούς· καὶ οὐκ ἔσπασε τὸ παιδάριον τὴν ρομφαίαν αὐτοῦ, ὅτι ἐφοβήθη, ὅτι ἔτι νεώτερος ἦν.

21 καὶ εἶπε Ζεβεὲ καὶ Σελμανά· ἀνάστα σὺ καὶ συνάντησον ἡμῖν, ὅτι ὡς ἀνδρὸς ἡ δύναμίς σου. καὶ ἀνέστη Γεδεὼν καὶ ἀπέκτεινε τὸν Ζεβεὲ καὶ τὸν Σελμανὰ καὶ ἔλαβε τοὺς μηνίσκους τοὺς ἐν τοῖς τραχήλοις τῶν καμήλων αὐτῶν.

22 Καὶ εἶπον ἀνὴρ ᾿Ισραὴλ πρὸς Γεδεών· κύριε, ἄρξον ἡμῶν καὶ σὺ καὶ ὁ υἱός σου καὶ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ υἱοῦ σου, ὅτι σὺ ἔσωσας ἡμᾶς ἐκ χειρὸς Μαδιάμ.

23 καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτοὺς Γεδεών· οὐκ ἄρξω ἐγώ, καὶ οὐκ ἄρξει ὁ υἱός μου ἐν ὑμῖν· Κύριος ἄρξει ὑμῶν.

24 καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτοὺς Γεδεών· αἰτήσομαι παρ᾿ ὑμῶν αἴτημα καὶ δότε μοι ἀνὴρ ἐνώτιον ἐκ σκύλων αὐτοῦ· ὅτι ἐνώτια χρυσᾶ αὐτοῖς, ὅτι ἦσαν ᾿Ισμαηλῖται.

25 καὶ εἶπαν· διδόντες δώσομεν· καὶ ἀνέπτυξε τὸ ἱμάτιον αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἔβαλεν ἐκεῖ ἀνὴρ ἐνώτιον σκύλων αὐτοῦ.

26 καὶ ἐγένετο ὁ σταθμὸς τῶν ἐνωτίων τῶν χρυσῶν, ὧν ᾔτησε, χίλιοι καὶ ἑπτακόσιοι χρυσοῖ, πάρεξ τῶν μηνίσκων καὶ τῶν στραγγαλίδων καὶ τῶν ἱματίων καὶ πορφυρίδων τῶν ἐπὶ βασιλεῦσι Μαδιὰμ καὶ ἐκτὸς τῶν περιθεμάτων, ἃ ἦν ἐν τοῖς τραχήλοις τῶν καμήλων αὐτῶν.

27 καὶ ἐποίησεν αὐτὸ Γεδεὼν εἰς ᾿Εφὼδ καὶ ἔστησεν αὐτὸ ἐν πόλει αὐτοῦ ᾿Εφραθά· καὶ ἐξεπόρνευσε πᾶς ᾿Ισραὴλ ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ ἐκεῖ, καὶ ἐγένετο τῷ Γεδεὼν καὶ τῷ οἴκῳ αὐτοῦ εἰς σκῶλον.

28 καὶ συνεστάλη Μαδιὰμ ἐνώπιον υἱῶν ᾿Ισραὴλ καὶ οὐ προσέθηκαν ἆραι κεφαλὴν αὐτῶν. καὶ ἡσύχασεν ἡ γῆ τεσσαράκοντα ἔτη ἐν ἡμέραις Γεδεών.

29 καὶ ἐπορεύθη ῾Ιεροβάαλ υἱὸς ᾿Ιωὰς καὶ ἐκάθισεν ἐν οἴκῳ αὐτοῦ.

30 καὶ τῷ Γεδεὼν ἦσαν υἱοὶ ἑβδομήκοντα ἐκπορευόμενοι ἐκ μηρῶν αὐτοῦ, ὅτι γυναῖκες πολλαὶ ἦσαν αὐτῷ.

31 καὶ παλλακὴ αὐτοῦ ἦν ἐν Συχέμ· καὶ ἔτεκεν αὐτῷ καί γε αὐτὴ υἱόν, καὶ ἔθηκε τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ᾿Αβιμέλεχ.

32 καὶ ἀπέθανε Γεδεὼν υἱὸς ᾿Ιωὰς ἐν πόλει αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐτάφη ἐν τῷ τάφῳ ᾿Ιωὰς τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ ἐν ᾿Εφραθὰ ᾿Αβιεσδρί.

33 Καὶ ἐγενήθη ὡς ἀπέθανε Γεδεών, καὶ ἐπέστρεψαν οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Ισραὴλ καὶ ἐξεπόρνευσαν ὀπίσω τῶν Βααλὶμ καὶ ἔθηκαν ἑαυτοῖς τῷ Βάαλ διαθήκην τοῦ εἶναι αὐτοῖς αὐτὸν εἰς θεόν.

34 καὶ οὐκ ἐμνήσθησαν οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Ισραὴλ Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ τοῦ ρυσαμένου αὐτοὺς ἐκ χειρὸς πάντων τῶν θλιβόντων αὐτοὺς κυκλόθεν.

35 καὶ οὐκ ἐποίησαν ἔλεος μετὰ τοῦ οἴκου ῾Ιεροβάαλ (αὐτός ἐστι Γεδεών) κατὰ πάντα τὰ ἀγαθά, ἃ ἐποίησε μετὰ ᾿Ισραήλ.

9

ΚΑΙ ἐπορεύθη ᾿Αβιμέλεχ υἱὸς ῾Ιεροβάαλ εἰς Συχὲμ πρὸς ἀδελφοὺς μητρὸς αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐλάλησε πρὸς αὐτοὺς καὶ πρὸς πᾶσαν συγγένειαν οἴκου πατρὸς μητρὸς αὐτοῦ λέγων·

2 λαλήσατε δὴ ἐν τοῖς ὠσὶ πάντων τῶν ἀνδρῶν Συχέμ· τί τὸ ἀγαθὸν ὑμῖν, κυριεῦσαι ὑμῶν ἑβδομήκοντα ἄνδρας, πάντας υἱοὺς ῾Ιεροβάαλ, ἢ κυριεύειν ὑμῶν ἄνδρα ἕνα; καὶ μνήσθητε ὅτι ὀστοῦν ὑμῶν καὶ σὰρξ ὑμῶν εἰμι.

3 καὶ ἐλάλησαν περὶ αὐτοῦ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ τῆς μητρὸς αὐτοῦ ἐν τοῖς ὠσὶ πάντων τῶν ἀνδρῶν Συχὲμ πάντας τοὺς λόγους τούτους, καὶ ἔκλινεν ἡ καρδία αὐτῶν ὀπίσω ᾿Αβιμέλεχ, ὅτι εἶπαν· ἀδελφὸς ἡμῶν ἐστι.

4 καὶ ἔδωκαν αὐτῷ ἑβδομήκοντα ἀργυρίου ἐξ οἴκου Βααλβερίθ, καὶ ἐμισθώσατο ἑαυτῷ ᾿Αβιμέλεχ ἄνδρας κενοὺς καὶ δειλούς, καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ.

5 καὶ εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὸν οἶκον τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ εἰς ᾿Εφραθὰ καὶ ἀπέκτεινε τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς αὐτοῦ υἱοὺς ῾Ιεροβάαλ ἑβδομήκοντα ἄνδρας ἐπὶ λίθον ἕνα· καὶ κατελείφθη ᾿Ιωάθαμ υἱὸς ῾Ιεροβάαλ ὁ νεώτερος, ὅτι ἐκρύβη.

6 καὶ συνήχθησαν πάντες ἄνδρες Σικίμων καὶ πᾶς οἶκος Βηθμααλὼν καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν καὶ ἐβασίλευσαν τὸν ᾿Αβιμέλεχ πρὸς τῇ βαλάνῳ τῇ εὑρετῇ τῆς στάσεως τῆς ἐν Σικίμοις.

7 Καὶ ἀνηγγέλη τῷ ᾿Ιωάθαμ, καὶ ἐπορεύθη καὶ ἔστη ἐπὶ κορυφὴν ὄρους Γαριζὶν καὶ ἐπῇρε τὴν φωνὴν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔκλαυσε καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· ἀκούσατέ μου, ἄνδρες Σικίμων, καὶ ἀκούσεται ὑμῶν ὁ Θεός.

8 πορευόμενα ἐπορεύθη τὰ ξύλα τοῦ χρῖσαι ἐφ᾿ ἑαυτὰ βασιλέα καὶ εἶπον τῇ ἐλαίᾳ· βασίλευσον ἐφ᾿ ἡμῶν.

9 καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ἡ ἐλαία· μὴ ἀπολείψασα τὴν ποιότητά μου, ἐν ᾗ δοξάσουσι τὸν Θεὸν ἄνδρες, πορεύσομαι κινεῖσθαι ἐπὶ τῶν ξύλων;

10 καὶ εἶπαν τὰ ξύλα τῇ συκῇ· δεῦρο βασίλευσον ἐφ᾿ ἡμῶν.

11 καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ἡ συκῆ· μὴ ἀπολείψασα ἐγὼ τὴν γλυκύτητά μου καὶ τὰ γενήματά μου τὰ ἀγαθά, πορεύσομαι κινεῖσθαι ἐπὶ τῶν ξύλων;

12 καὶ εἶπαν τὰ ξύλα πρὸς τὴν ἄμπελον· δεῦρο βασίλευσον ἐφ᾿ ἡμῶν.

13 καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ἡ ἄμπελος· μὴ ἀπολείψασα τὸν οἶνόν μου τὸν εὐφραίνοντα Θεὸν καὶ ἀνθρώπους, πορεύσομαι κινεῖσθαι ἐπὶ τῶν ξύλων;

14 καὶ εἶπαν πάντα τὰ ξύλα τῇ ράμνῳ· δεῦρο σὺ βασίλευσον ἐφ᾿ ἡμῶν.

15 καὶ εἶπεν ἡ ράμνος πρὸς τὰ ξύλα· εἰ ἐν ἀληθείᾳ χρίετέ με ὑμεῖς τοῦ βασιλεύειν ἐφ᾿ ὑμᾶς, δεῦτε ὑπόστητε ἐν τῇ σκιᾷ μου· καὶ εἰ μή, ἐξέλθοι πῦρ ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ καὶ καταφάγοι τὰς κέδρους τοῦ Λιβάνου.

16 καὶ νῦν εἰ ἐν ἀληθείᾳ καὶ τελειότητι ἐποιήσατε καὶ ἐβασιλεύσατε τὸν ᾿Αβιμέλεχ, καὶ εἰ ἀγαθωσύνην ἐποιήσατε μετὰ ῾Ιεροβάαλ, καὶ μετὰ τοῦ οἴκου αὐτοῦ, καὶ εἰ ὡς ἀνταπόδοσις χειρὸς αὐτοῦ ἐποιήσατε αὐτῷ,

17 ὡς παρετάξατο ὁ πατήρ μου ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν καὶ ἐξέρριψε τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ἐξεναντίας καὶ ἐρρύσατο ὑμᾶς ἐκ χειρὸς Μαδιάμ,

18 καὶ ὑμεῖς ἐπανέστητε ἐπὶ τὸν οἶκον τοῦ πατρός μου σήμερον καὶ ἀπεκτείνατε τοὺς υἱοὺς αὐτοῦ ἑβδομήκοντα ἄνδρας ἐπὶ λίθον ἕνα, καὶ ἐβασιλεύσατε τὸν ᾿Αβιμέλεχ υἱὸν παιδίσκης αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τοὺς ἄνδρας Σικίμων, ὅτι ἀδελφὸς ὑμῶν ἐστι,

19 καὶ εἰ ἐν ἀληθείᾳ καὶ τελειότητι ἐποιήσατε μετὰ ῾Ιεροβάαλ καὶ μετὰ τοῦ οἴκου αὐτοῦ ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ταύτῃ, εὐφρανθείη τε ἐν ᾿Αβιμέλεχ, καὶ εὐφρανθείη καί γε αὐτὸς ἐφ᾿ ὑμῖν.

20 εἰ δὲ οὔ, ἐξέλθοι πῦρ ἀπὸ ᾿Αβιμέλεχ καὶ καταφάγοι τοὺς ἄνδρας Σικίμων καὶ τὸν οἶκον Βηθμααλὼν καὶ ἐξέλθοι πῦρ ἀπὸ ἀνδρῶν Σικίμων καὶ ἐκ τοῦ οἴκου Βηθμααλὼν καὶ καταφάγοι τὸν ᾿Αβιμέλεχ.

21 καὶ ἔφυγεν ᾿Ιωάθαμ καὶ ἀπέδρα καὶ ἐπορεύθη ἕως Βαιὴρ καὶ ᾤκησεν ἐκεῖ ἀπὸ προσώπου ᾿Αβιμέλεχ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ.

22 Καὶ ἦρξεν ᾿Αβιμέλεχ ἐπὶ ᾿Ισραὴλ τρία ἔτη.

23 καὶ ἐξαπέστειλεν ὁ Θεὸς πνεῦμα πονηρὸν ἀνὰ μέσον ᾿Αβιμέλεχ καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον τῶν ἀνδρῶν Σικίμων, καὶ ἠθέτησαν ἄνδρες Σικίμων ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ ᾿Αβιμέλεχ,

24 τοῦ ἐπαγαγεῖν τὴν ἀδικίαν τῶν ἑβδομήκοντα υἱῶν ῾Ιεροβάαλ καὶ τὰ αἵματα αὐτῶν τοῦ θεῖναι ἐπὶ ᾿Αβιμέλεχ τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτῶν, ὃς ἀπέκτεινεν αὐτούς, καὶ ἐπὶ ἄνδρας Σικίμων, ὅτι ἐνίσχυσαν τὰς χεῖρας αὐτοῦ ἀποκτεῖναι τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς αὐτοῦ.

25 καὶ ἔθηκαν αὐτῷ οἱ ἄνδρες Σικίμων ἐνεδρεύοντας ἐπὶ τὰς κεφαλὰς τῶν ὀρέων καὶ διήρπαζον πάντα, ὃς παρεπορεύετο ἐπ᾿ αὐτοὺς ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ· καὶ ἀπηγγέλη τῷ βασιλεῖ ᾿Αβιμέλεχ.

26 καὶ ἦλθε Γαὰλ υἱὸς ᾿Ιωβὴλ καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ παρῆλθον ἐν Σικίμοις, καὶ ἤλπισαν ἐν αὐτῷ οἱ ἄνδρες Σικίμων.

27 καὶ ἐξῆλθον εἰς ἀγρὸν καὶ ἐτρύγησαν τοὺς ἀμπελῶνας αὐτῶν καὶ ἐπάτησαν καὶ ἐποίησαν ᾿Ελλουλὶμ καὶ εἰσήνεγκαν εἰς οἶκον Θεοῦ αὐτῶν καὶ ἔφαγον καὶ ἔπιον καὶ κατηράσαντο τὸν ᾿Αβιμέλεχ.

28 καὶ εἶπε Γαὰλ υἱὸς ᾿Ιωβήλ· τίς ἐστιν ᾿Αβιμέλεχ καὶ τίς ἐστιν υἱὸς Συχέμ, ὅτι δουλεύσομεν αὐτῷ; οὐχ υἱὸς ῾Ιεροβάαλ, καὶ Ζεβοὺλ ἐπίσκοπος αὐτοῦ δοῦλος αὐτοῦ σὺν τοῖς ἀνδράσιν ᾿Εμμὼρ πατρὸς Συχέμ; καὶ τί ὅτι δουλεύσομεν αὐτῷ ἡμεῖς;

29 καὶ τίς δῴη τὸν λαὸν τοῦτον ἐν χειρί μου; καὶ μεταστήσω τὸν ᾿Αβιμέλεχ καὶ ἐρῶ πρὸς αὐτόν· πλήθυνον τὴν δύναμίν σου καὶ ἔξελθε.

30 καὶ ἤκουσε Ζεβοὺλ ἄρχων τῆς πόλεως τοὺς λόγους Γαὰλ υἱοῦ ᾿Ιωβὴλ καὶ ὠργίσθη θυμῷ αὐτός.

31 καὶ ἀπέστειλεν ἀγγέλους πρὸς ᾿Αβιμέλεχ ἐν κρυφῇ λέγων· ἰδοὺ Γαὰλ υἱὸς ᾿Ιωβὴλ καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτοῦ ἔρχονται εἰς Συχέμ, καὶ ἰδοὺ αὐτοὶ περικάθηνται τὴν πόλιν ἐπὶ σέ·

32 καὶ νῦν ἀνάστηθι νυκτός, σὺ καὶ ὁ λαὸς ὁ μετὰ σοῦ, καὶ ἐνέδρευσον ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ,

33 καὶ ἔσται τὸ πρωΐ ἅμα τῷ ἀνατεῖλαι τὸν ἥλιον, ὀρθριεῖς καὶ ἐκτενεῖς ἐπὶ τὴν πόλιν, καὶ ἰδοὺ αὐτὸς καὶ ὁ λαὸς ὁ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἐκπορεύονται πρὸς σέ, καὶ ποιήσεις αὐτῷ ὅσα ἂν εὕρῃ ἡ χείρ σου.

34 καὶ ἀνέστη ᾿Αβιμέλεχ καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ νυκτὸς καὶ ἐνήδρευσαν ἐπὶ Συχὲμ τέτρασιν ἀρχαῖς.

35 καὶ ἐξῆλθε Γαὰλ υἱὸς ᾿Ιωβὴλ καὶ ἔστη πρὸς τῇ θύρᾳ τῆς πύλης τῆς πόλεως, καὶ ἀνέστη ᾿Αβιμέλεχ καὶ ὁ λαὸς ὁ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τοῦ ἐνέδρου.

36 καὶ εἶδε Γαὰλ υἱὸς ᾿Ιωβὴλ τὸν λαὸν καὶ εἶπε πρὸς Ζεβούλ· ἰδοὺ λαὸς καταβαίνει ἀπὸ τῶν κεφαλῶν τῶν ὀρέων. καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτὸν Ζεβούλ· τὴν σκιὰν τῶν ὀρέων σὺ βλέπεις ὡς ἄνδρας.

37 καὶ προσέθετο ἔτι Γαὰλ τοῦ λαλῆσαι καὶ εἶπεν· ἰδοὺ λαὸς καταβαίνων κατὰ θάλασσαν ἀπὸ τοῦ ἐχόμενα ὀμφαλοῦ τῆς γῆς, καὶ ἀρχὴ ἑτέρα ἔρχεται δι᾿ ὁδοῦ ῾Ηλωνμαωνενίμ.

38 καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτὸν Ζεβούλ· καὶ ποῦ ἐστι τὸ στόμα σου ὡς ἐλάλησας, τίς ἐστιν ᾿Αβιμέλεχ, ὅτι δουλεύσομεν αὐτῷ; μὴ οὐχὶ οὗτος ὁ λαός, ὃν ἐξουδένωσας; ἔξελθε δὴ νῦν καὶ παράταξαι αὐτῷ.

39 καὶ ἐξῆλθε Γαὰλ ἐνώπιον ἀνδρῶν Συχὲμ καὶ παρετάξατο πρὸς ᾿Αβιμέλεχ.

40 καὶ ἐδίωξεν αὐτὸν ᾿Αβιμέλεχ, καὶ ἐφυγεν ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἔπεσον τραυματίαι πολλοὶ ἕως τῆς θύρας τῆς πύλης.

41 καὶ εἰσῆλθεν ᾿Αβιμέλεχ ἐν ᾿Αρημά· καὶ ἐξέβαλε Ζεβοὺλτὸν Γαὰλ καὶ τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς αὐτοῦ μὴ οἰκεῖν ἐν Συχέμ.

42 καὶ ἐγένετο τῇ ἐπαύριον καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ὁ λαὸς εἰς τὸν ἀγρόν, καὶ ἀνήγγειλε τῷ ᾿Αβιμέλεχ.

43 καὶ ἔλαβε τὸν λαόν, καὶ διεῖλεν αὐτοὺς εἰς τρεῖς ἀρχὰς καὶ ἐνήδρευσεν ἐν ἀγρῷ· καὶ εἶδε καὶ ἰδοὺ λαὸς ἐξῆλθεν ἐκ τῆς πόλεως, καὶ ἀνέστη ἐπ᾿ αὐτοὺς καὶ ἐπάταξεν αὐτούς.

44 καὶ ᾿Αβιμέλεχ καὶ οἱ ἀρχηγοὶ οἱ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἐξέτειναν καὶ ἔστησαν παρὰ τὴν θύραν τῆς πύλης τῆς πόλεως, καὶ αἱ δύο ἀρχαὶ ἐξέτειναν ἐπὶ πάντας τοὺς ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ καὶ ἐπάταξαν αὐτούς.

45 καὶ ᾿Αβιμέλεχ παρετάσσετο ἐν τῇ πόλει ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν ἐκείνην καὶ κατελάβετο τὴν πόλιν καὶ τὸν λαὸν τὸν ἐν αὐτῇ ἀπέκτεινε καὶ τὴν πόλιν καθεῖλε καὶ ἔσπειρεν αὐτὴν ἅλας.

46 καὶ ἤκουσαν πάντες οἱ ἄνδρες πύργων Συχὲμ καὶ ἦλθον εἰς συνέλευσιν Βαιθηλβερίθ.

47 καὶ ἀνηγγέλη τῷ ᾿Αβιμέλεχ ὅτι συνήχθησαν πάντες οἱ ἄνδρες πύργων Συχέμ.

48 καὶ ἀνέβη ᾿Αβιμέλεχ εἰς ὄρος ῾Ερμὼν καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς ὁ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἔλαβεν ᾿Αβιμέλεχ τὰς ἀξίνας ἐν τῇ χειρὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔκοψε κλάδον ξύλου καὶ ᾖρε καὶ ἔθηκεν ἐπὶ ὤμων αὐτοῦ καὶ εἶπε τῷ λαῷ τῷ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ· ὃ εἴδετέ με ποιοῦντα, ταχέως ποιήσατε ὡς ἐγώ.

49 καὶ ἔκοψαν καί γε ἀνὴρ κλάδον πᾶς ἀνὴρ καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν ὀπίσω ᾿Αβιμέλεχ καὶ ἐπέθηκαν ἐπὶ τὴν συνέλευσιν καὶ ἐνεπύρισαν ἐπ᾿ αὐτοὺς τὴν συνέλευσιν ἐν πυρί, καὶ ἀπέθανον καί γε πάντες οἱ ἄνδρες πύργου Σικίμων ὡσεὶ χίλιοι ἄνδρες καὶ γυναῖκες.

50 Καὶ ἐπορεύθη ᾿Αβιμέλεχ ἐκ Βαιθηλβερὶθ καὶ παρενέβαλεν ἐν Θήβης καὶ κατέλαβεν αὐτήν.

51 καὶ πύργος ἰσχυρὸς ἦν ἐν μέσῳ τῆς πόλεως, καὶ ἔφυγον ἐκεῖ πάντες οἱ ἄνδρες καὶ αἱ γυναῖκες τῆς πόλεως καὶ ἔκλεισαν ἔξωθεν αὐτῶν καὶ ἀνέβησαν ἐπὶ τὸ δῶμα τοῦ πύργου.

52 καὶ ἦλθεν ᾿Αβιμέλεχ ἕως τοῦ πύργου, καὶ παρετάξαντο αὐτῷ· καὶ ἤγγισεν ᾿Αβιμέλεχ ἕως τῆς θύρας τοῦ πύργου τοῦ ἐμπρῆσαι αὐτὸν ἐν πυρί.

53 καὶ ἔρριψε γυνὴ μία κλάσμα ἐπιμύλιον ἐπὶ κεφαλὴν ᾿Αβιμέλεχ καὶ ἔκλασε τὸ κρανίον αὐτοῦ.

54 καὶ ἐβόησε ταχὺ πρὸς τὸ παιδάριον τὸ αἷρον τὰ σκεύη αὐτοῦ καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· σπάσον τὴν ρομφαίαν μου καὶ θανάτωσόν με, μή ποτε εἴπωσι· γυνὴ ἀπέκτεινεν αὐτόν. καὶ ἐξεκέντησεν αὐτὸν τὸ παιδάριον αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀπέθανε.

55 καὶ εἶδεν ἀνὴρ ᾿Ισραὴλ ὅτι ἀπέθανεν ᾿Αβιμέλεχ, καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν ἀνὴρ εἰς τὸν τόπον αὐτοῦ.

56 καὶ ἐπέστρεψεν ὁ Θεὸς τὴν πονηρίαν ᾿Αβιμέλεχ, ἣν ἐποίησε τῷ πατρὶ αὐτοῦ ἀποκτεῖναι τοὺς ἑβδομήκοντα ἀδελφοὺς αὐτοῦ.

57 καὶ τὴν πᾶσαν πονηρίαν ἀνδρῶν Συχὲμ ἐπέστρεψεν ὁ Θεὸς εἰς κεφαλὴν αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐπῆλθεν ἐπ᾿ αὐτοὺς ἡ κατάρα ᾿Ιωάθαμ υἱοῦ ῾Ιεροβάαλ.

10

ΚΑΙ ἀνέστη μετὰ ᾿Αβιμέλεχ τοῦ σῶσαι τὸν ᾿Ισραὴλ Θωλὰ υἱὸς Φουά, υἱὸς πατραδέλφου αὐτοῦ, ἀνὴρ ᾿Ισσάχαρ, καὶ αὐτὸς ᾤκει ἐν Σαμὶρ ἐν ὄρει ᾿Εφραίμ.

2 καὶ ἔκρινε τὸν ᾿Ισραὴλ εἴκοσι τρία ἔτη καὶ ἀπέθανε καὶ ἐτάθη ἐν Σαμίρ.

3 Καὶ ἀνέστη μετ᾿ αὐτὸν ᾿Ιαΐρ ὁ Γαλαάδ, καὶ ἔκρινε τὸν ᾿Ισραὴλ εἴκοσι δύο ἔτη.

4 καὶ ἦσαν αὐτῷ τριάκοντα καὶ δύο υἱοὶ ἐπιβαίνοντες ἐπὶ τριάκοντα δύο πώλους· καὶ τριάκοντα δύο πόλεις αὐτοῖς, καὶ ἐκάλουν αὐτὰς ἐπαύλεις ᾿Ιαΐρ ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης ἐν γῇ Γαλαάδ.

5 καὶ ἀπέθανεν ᾿Ιαΐρ καὶ ἐτάφη ἐν Ραμνών.

6 Καὶ προσέθεντο οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Ισραὴλ τοῦ ποιῆσαι τὸ πονηρὸν ἐνώπιον Κυρίου καὶ ἐδούλευσαν τοῖς Βααλὶμ καὶ τοῖς ᾿Ασταρὼθ καὶ τοῖς θεοῖς ᾿Αρὰδ καὶ τοῖς θεοῖς Σιδῶνος καὶ τοῖς θεοῖς Μωὰβ καὶ τοῖς θεοῖς υἱῶν ᾿Αμμὼν καὶ τοῖς θεοῖς Φυλιστιΐμ καὶ ἐγκατέλιπον τὸν Κύριον καὶ οὐκ ἐδούλευσαν αὐτῷ.

7 καὶ ὠργίσθη θυμῷ Κύριος ἐν ᾿Ισραὴλ καὶ ἐπέδοτο αὐτοὺς ἐν χειρὶ Φυλιστιΐμ καὶ ἐν χειρὶ υἱῶν ᾿Αμμών.

8 καὶ ἔθλιψαν καὶ ἔθλασαν τοὺς υἱοὺς ᾿Ισραὴλ ἐν τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ ὀκτωκαίδεκα ἔτη, τοὺς πάντας υἱοὺς ᾿Ισραὴλ τοὺς ἐν τῷ πέραν τοῦ ᾿Ιορδάνου ἐν γῇ τοῦ ᾿Αμορρὶ τοῦ ἐν Γαλαάδ.

9 καὶ διέβησαν οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Αμμὼν τὸν ᾿Ιορδάνην παρατάξασθαι πρὸς ᾿Ιούδαν καὶ Βενιαμὶν καὶ πρὸς ᾿Εφραὶμ καὶ ἐθλίβη ᾿Ισραὴλ σφόδρα.

10 καὶ ἐβόησαν οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Ισραὴλ πρὸς Κύριον λέγοντες· ἡμάρτομέν σοι, ὅτι ἐγκατελίπομεν τὸν Θεὸν καὶ ἐδουλεύσαμεν τῷ Βααλίμ.

11 καὶ εἶπε Κύριος πρὸς τοὺς υἱοὺς ᾿Ισραήλ· μὴ οὐχὶ ἐξ Αἰγύπτου καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ ᾿Αμορραίου καὶ ἀπὸ υἱῶν ᾿Αμμὼν καὶ ἀπὸ Φυλιστιΐμ

12 καὶ Σιδωνίων καὶ ᾿Αμαλὴκ καὶ Μαδιάμ, οἳ ἔθλιψαν ὑμᾶς, καὶ ἐβοήσατε πρός με, καὶ ἔσωσα ὑμᾶς ἐκ χειρὸς αὐτῶν;

13 καὶ ὑμεῖς ἐγκατελίπετέ με καὶ ἐδουλεύσατε θεοῖς ἑτέροις· διὰ τοῦτο οὐ προσθήσω τοῦ σῶσαι ὑμᾶς.

14 πορεύεσθε καὶ βοήσατε πρὸς τοὺς θεούς, οὓς ἐξελέξασθε ἑαυτοῖς, καὶ αὐτοὶ σωσάτωσαν ὑμᾶς ἐν καιρῷ θλίψεως ὑμῶν.

15 καὶ εἶπαν οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Ισραὴλ πρὸς Κύριον· ἡμάρτομεν, ποίησον σὺ ἡμῖν κατὰ πᾶν τὸ ἀγαθὸν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς σου, πλὴν ἐξελοῦ ἡμᾶς ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ταύτῃ.

16 καὶ ἐξέκλιναν τοὺς θεοὺς τοὺς ἀλλοτρίους ἐκ μέσου αὐτῶν καὶ ἐδούλευσαν τῷ Κυρίῳ μόνῳ, καὶ ὠλιγώθη ἡ ψυχὴ αὐτοῦ ἐν κόπῳ ᾿Ισραήλ.

17 Καὶ ἀνέβησαν οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Αμμών, καὶ παρενέβαλον ἐν Γαλαάδ. καὶ συνήχθησαν οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Ισραὴλ καὶ παρενέβαλον ἐν τῇ σκοπιᾷ.

18 καὶ εἶπον ὁ λαὸς οἱ ἄρχοντες Γαλαάδ, ἀνὴρ πρὸς τὸν πλησίον αὐτοῦ· τίς ὁ ἀνήρ, ὅστις ἂν ἄρξεται παρατάξασθαι πρὸς υἱοὺς ᾿Αμμών; καὶ ἔσται εἰς ἄρχοντα πᾶσι τοῖς κατοικοῦσι Γαλαάδ.

 

JUDGES
 

1

And it came to pass after the death of Joshua, that the children of Israel enquired of the Lord, saying, Who shall go up for us first against the Chananites, to fight against them?

2 And the Lord said, Judas shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hand.

3 And Judas said to his brother Symeon, Come up with me into my lot, and let us array ourselves against the Chananites, and I also will go with thee into thy lot: and Symeon went with him.

4 And Judas went up; and the Lord delivered the Chananite and the Pherezite into their hands, and they smote them in Bezek to the number of ten thousand men.

5 And they overtook Adonibezek in Bezek, and fought against him; and they smote the Chananite and the Pherezite.

6 And Adonibezek fled, and they pursued after him, and took him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes.

7 And Adonibezek said, Seventy kings, having their thumbs and their great toes cut off, gathered their food under my table: as I therefore have done, so God has recompensed me: and they brought him to Jerusalem, and he died there.

8 And the children of Judas fought against Jerusalem, and took it, and smote with the edge of the sword, and they burnt the city with fire.

9 And afterwards the children of Judas went down to fight with the Chananite dwelling in the hill country, and the south, and the plain country.

10 And Judas went to the Chananite who dwelt in Chebron; and Chebron came out against him; [and the name of Chebron before was Cariatharbocsepher:] and they smote Sessi, and Achiman, and Tholmi, children of Enac.

11 And they went up thence to the inhabitants of Dabir; but the name of Dabir was before Cariathsepher, the city of Letters.

12 And Chaleb said, Whosoever shall smite the city of Letters, and shall first take it, I will give to him Ascha my daughter to wife.

13 And Gothoniel the younger son of Kenez the brother of Chaleb took it; and Chaleb gave him his daughter Ascha to wife.

14 And it came to pass as she went in, that Gothoniel urged her to ask a field of her father; and she murmured and cried from off her ass, Thou hast sent me forth into a south land: and Chaleb said to her, What is thy request?

15 And Ascha said to him, Give me, I pray thee, a blessing, for thou hast sent me forth into a south land, and thou shalt give me the ransom of water: and Chaleb gave her according to her heart the ransom of the upper springs and the ransom of the low springs.

16 And the children of Jothor the Kenite the father-in-law of Moses went up from the city of palm-trees with the children of Judas, to the wilderness that is in the south of Juda, which is at the descent of Arad, and they dwelt with the people.

17 And Judas went with Symeon his brother, and smote the Chananite that inhabited Sepheth, and they utterly destroyed them; and they called the name of the city Anathema.

18 But Judas did not inherit Gaza nor her coasts, nor Ascalon nor her coasts, nor Accaron nor her coasts, nor Azotus nor the lands around it.

19 And the Lord was with Judas, and he inherited the mountain; for they were not able to destroy the inhabitants of the valley, for Rechab prevented them.

20 And they gave Chebron to Chaleb, as Moses said; and thence he inherited the three cities of the children of Enac.

21 But the children of Benjamin did not take the inheritance of the Jebusite who dwelt in Jerusalem; and the Jebusite dwelt with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem until this day.

22 And the sons of Joseph, they also went up to Baethel; and the Lord was with them.

23 And they encamped and surveyed Baethel: and the name of the city before was Luza.

24 And the spies looked, and behold, a man went out of the city, and they took him; and they said to him, Shew us the way into the city, and we will deal mercifully with thee.

25 And he shewed them the way into the city; and they smote the city with the edge of the sword; but they let go the man and his family.

26 And the man went into the land of Chettin, and built there a city, and called the name of it Luza; this is its name until this day.

27 And Manasse did not drive out the inhabitants of Baethsan, which is a city of Scythians, nor her towns, nor her suburbs; nor Thanac, nor her towns; nor the inhabitants of Dor, nor her suburbs, nor her towns; nor the inhabitant of Balac, nor her suburbs, nor her towns; nor the inhabitants of Magedo, nor her suburbs, nor her towns; nor the inhabitants of Jeblaam, nor her suburbs, nor her towns; and the Chananite began to dwell in this land.

28 And it came to pass when Israel was strong, that he made the Chananite tributary, but did not utterly drive them out.

29 And Ephraim did not drive out the Chananite that dwelt in Gazer; and the Chananite dwelt in the midst of him in Gazer, and became tributary.

30 And Zabulon did not drive out the inhabitants of Kedron, nor the inhabitants of Domana: and the Chananite dwelt in the midst of them, and became tributary to them.

31 And Aser did not drive out the inhabitants of Accho, and that people became tributary to him, nor the inhabitants of Dor, nor the inhabitants of Sidon, nor the inhabitants of Dalaph, nor Aschazi, nor Chebda, nor Nai, nor Ereo.

32 And Aser dwelt in the midst of the Chananite who inhabited the land, for he could not drive him out.

33 And Nephthali did not drive out the inhabitants of Baethsamys, nor the inhabitants of Baethanach; and Nephthali dwelt in the midst of the Chananite who inhabited the land: but the inhabitants of Bethsamys and of Baetheneth became tributary to them.

34 And the Amorite drove out the children of Dan into the mountains, for they did not suffer them to come down into the valley.

35 And the Amorite began to dwell in the mountain of shells, in which are bears, and foxes, in Myrsinon, and in Thalabin; and the hand of the house of Joseph was heavy upon the Amorite, and he became tributary to them.

36 And the border of the Amorite was from the going up of Acrabin, from the rock and upwards.

2

And an angel of the Lord went up from Galgal to the place of weeping, and to Baethel, and to the house of Israel, and said to them, Thus says the Lord, I brought you up out of Egypt, and I brought you into the land which I sware to your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant that I have made with you.

2 And ye shall make no covenant with them that dwell in this land, neither shall ye worship their gods; but ye shall destroy their graven images, ye shall pull down their altars: but ye hearkened not to my voice, for ye did these things.

3 And I said, I will not drive them out from before you, but they shall be for a distress to you, and their gods shall be to you for an offence.

4 And it came to pass when the angel of the Lord spoke these words to all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept.

5 And they named the name of that place Weepings; and they sacrificed there to the Lord.

6 And Joshua dismissed the people, and they went every man to his inheritance, to inherit the land.

7 And the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that lived many days with Joshua, as many as knew all the great work of the Lord, what things he had wrought in Israel.

8 And Joshua the son of Naue, the servant of the Lord, died, a hundred and ten years old.

9 And they buried him in the border of his inheritance, in Thamnathares, in mount Ephraim, on the north of the mountain of Gaas.

10 And all that generation were laid to their fathers: and another generation rose up after them, who knew not the Lord, nor yet the work which he wrought in Israel.

11 And the children of Israel wrought evil before the Lord, and served Baalim.

12 And they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and walked after other gods, of the gods of the nations round about them; and they worshipped them. And they provoked the Lord,

13  and forsook him, and served Baal and the Astartes.

14 And the Lord was very angry with Israel; and he gave them into the hands of the spoilers, and they spoiled them; and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, and they could not any longer resist their enemies,

15 among whomsoever they went; and the hand of the Lord was against them for evil, as the Lord spoke, and as the Lord sware to them; and he greatly afflicted them.

16 And the Lord raised up judges, and the Lord save them out of the hands of them that spoiled them: and yet they hearkened not to the judges,

17 for they went a whoring after other gods, and worshipped them; and they turned quickly out of the way in which their fathers walked to hearken to the words of the Lord; they did not so.

18 And because the Lord raised them up judges, so the Lord was with the judge, and saved them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for the Lord was moved at their groaning by reason of them that besieged them and afflicted them.

19 And it came to pass when the judge died, that they went back, and again corrupted themselves worse than their fathers to go after other gods to serve them an to worship them: they abandoned not their devices nor their stubborn ways.

20 And the Lord was very angry with Israel, and said, Forasmuch as this nation has forsaken my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and has not hearkened to my voice,

21 therefore I will not any more cast out a man of the nations before their face, which Joshua the son of Naue left in the land. And the Lord left them,

22 to prove Israel with them, whether they would keep the way of the Lord, to walk in it, as their fathers kept it, or no.

23 So the Lord will leave these nations, so as not to cast them out suddenly; and he delivered them not into the hand of Joshua.

3

And these are the nations which the Lord left to prove Israel with them, all that had not known the wars of Chanaan.

2 Only for the sake of the generations of Israel, to teach them war, only the men before them knew them not.

3 The five lordships of the Phylistines, and every Chananite, and the Sidonian, and the Evite who dwelt in Libanus from the mount of Aermon to Laboemath.

4 And this was done in order to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would obey the commands of the Lord, which he charged their fathers by the hand of Moses.

5 And the children of Israel dwelt in the midst of the Chananite, and the Chettite, and the Amorite, and the Pherezite, and the Evite, and the Jebusite.

6 And they took their daughters for wives to themselves, and they 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 forgot the Lord their God, and served Baalim and the groves.

8 And the Lord was very angry with Israel, and sold them into the hand of Chusarsathaim king of Syria of the rivers: and the children of Israel served Chusarsathaim eight years.

9 And the children of Israel cried to the Lord; and the Lord raised up a saviour to Israel, and he saved them, Gothoniel the son of Kenez, the brother of Chaleb younger than himself.

10 And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he judged Israel; and he went out to war against Chusarsathaim: and the Lord delivered into his hand Chusarsathaim king of Syria of the rivers, and his hand prevailed against Chusarsathaim.

11 And the land was quiet forty years; and Gothoniel the son of Kenez died.

12 And the children of Israel continued to do evil before the Lord: and the Lord strengthened Eglom king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil before the Lord.

13 And he gathered to himself all the children of Ammon and Amalec, and went and smote Israel, and took possession of the city of Palm-trees.

14 And the children of Israel served Eglom the king of Moab eighteen years.

15 And the children of Israel cried to the Lord; and he raised up to them a saviour, Aod the son of Gera a son of Jemeni, a man who used both hands alike: and the children of Israel sent gifts by his hand to Eglom king of Moab.

16 And Aod made himself a dagger of two edges, of a span long, and he girded it under his cloak upon his right thigh.

17 And he went, and brought the presents to Eglom king of Moab, and Eglom was a very handsome man.

18 And it came to pass when Aod had made an end of offering his gifts, that he dismissed those that brought the gifts.

19 And he himself returned from the quarries that are by Galgal; and Aod said, I have a secret errand to thee, O king! and Eglom said to him, Be silent: and he sent away from his presence all who waited upon him.

20 And Aod went in to him; and he sat in his own upper summer chamber quite alone; and Aod said, I have a message from God to thee, O king: and Eglom rose up from his throne near him.

21 And it came to pass as he arose, that Aod stretched forth his left hand, and took the dagger off his right thigh, and plunged it into his belly;

22 and drove in also the haft after the blade, and the fat closed in upon the blade, for he drew not out the dagger from his belly.

23 And Aod went out to the porch, and passed out by the appointed guards, and shut the doors of the chamber upon him, and locked them.

24 And he went out: and Eglom’s servants came, and saw, and behold, the doors of the upper chamber were locked; and they said, Does he not uncover his feet in the summer-chamber?

25 And they waited till they were ashamed, and, behold, there was no one that opened the doors of the upper chamber; and they took the key, and opened them; and, behold, their lord was fallen down dead upon the earth.

26 And Aod escaped while they were in a tumult, and no one paid attention to him; and he passed the quarries, and escaped to Setirotha.

27 And it came to pass when Aod came into the land of Israel, that he blew the horn in mount Ephraim, and the children of Israel came down with him from the mountain, and he was before them.

28 And he said to them, Come down after me, for the Lord God has delivered our enemies, even Moab, into our hand; and they went down after him, and seized on the fords of Jordan before Moab, and he did not suffer a man to pass over.

29 And they smote Moab on that day about ten thousand men, every lusty person and every mighty man; and not a man escaped.

30 So Moab was humbled in that day under the hand of Israel, and the land had rest eighty years; and Aod judged them till he died.

31 And after him rose up Samegar the son of Dinach, and smote the Philistines to the number of six hundred men with a ploughshare such as is drawn by oxen; and he too delivered Israel.

4

And the children of Israel continued to do evil against the Lord; and Aod was dead.

2 And the Lord sold the children of Israel into the hand of Jabin king of Chanaan, who ruled in Asor; and the chief of his host was Sisara, and he dwelt in Arisoth of the Gentiles.

3 And the children of Israel cried to the Lord, because he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and he mightily oppressed Israel twenty years.

4 And Debbora, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, —she judged Israel at that time.

5 And she sat under the palm-tree of Debbora between Rama and Baethel in mount Ephraim; and the children of Israel went up to her for judgment.

6 And Debbora sent and called Barac the son of Abineem out of Cades Nephthali, and she said to him, Has not the Lord God of Israel commanded thee? and thou shalt depart to mount Thabor, and shalt take with thyself ten thousand men of the sons of Nephthali and of the sons of Zabulon.

7 And I will bring to thee to the torrent of Kison Sisara the captain of the host of Jabin, and his chariots, and his multitude, and I will deliver them into thine hands.

8 And Barac said to her, If thou wilt go with me, I will go; and if thou wilt not go, I will not go; for I know not the day on which the Lord prospers his messenger with me.

9 And she said, I will surely go with thee; but know that thy honour shall not attend on the expedition on which thou goest, for the Lord shall sell Sisara into the hands of a women: and Debbora arose, and went with Barac out of Cades.

10 And Barac called Zabulon and Nephthali out of Cades, and there went up at his feet ten thousand men, and Debbora went up with him.

11 And Chaber the Kenite had removed from Caina, from the sons of Jobab the father-in-law of Moses, and pitched his tent by the oak of the covetous ones, which is near Kedes.

12 And it was told Sisara that Barac the son of Abineem was gone up to mount Thabor.

13 And Sisara summoned all his chariots, nine hundred chariots of iron and all the people with him, from Arisoth of the Gentiles to the brook of Kison.

14 And Debbora said to Barac, Rise up, for this is the day on which the Lord has delivered Sisara into thy hand, for the Lord shall go forth before thee: and Barac went down from mount Thabor, and ten thousand men after him.

15 And the Lord discomfited Sisara, and all his chariots, and all his army, with the edge of the sword before Barac: and Sisara descended from off his chariot, and fled on his feet.

16 And Barac pursued after the chariots and after the army, into Arisoth of the Gentiles; and the whole army of Sisara fell by the edge of the sword, there was not one left.

17 And Sisara fled on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Chaber the Kenite his friend: for there was peace between Jabin king of Asor and the house of Chaber the Kenite.

18 And Jael went, out to meet Sisara, and said to him, Turn aside, my lord, turn aside to me, fear not: and he turned aside to her into the tent; and she covered him with a mantle.

19 And Sisara said to 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 to drink, and covered him.

20 And Sisara said to her, Stand now by the door of the tent, and it shall come to pass if any man come to thee, and ask of thee, and say, Is there any man here? then thou shalt say, There is not.

21 And Jael the wife of Chaber took a pin of the tent, and took a hammer in her hand, and went secretly to him, and fastened the pin in his temple, and it went through to the earth, and he fainted away, and darkness fell upon him and he died.

22 And, behold, Barac was pursuing Sisara: and Jael went out to meet him, and he said to him, Come, and I will shew thee the man whom thou seekest: and he went in to her; and, behold, Sisara was fallen dead, and the pin was in his temple.

23 So God routed Jabin king of Chanaan in that day before the children of Israel.

24 And the hand of the children of Israel prevailed more and more against Jabin king of Chanaan, until they utterly destroyed Jabin king of Chanaan.

 
5

And Debbora and Barac son of Abineem sang in that day, saying,

2 A revelation was made in Israel when the people were made willing: Praise ye the Lord.

3 Hear, ye kings, and hearken, rulers: I will sing, it is I who will sing to the Lord, it is I, I will sing a psalm to the Lord the god of Israel.

4 O Lord, in thy going forth on Seir, when thou wentest forth out of the land of Edom, the earth quaked and the heaven dropped dews, and the clouds dropped water.

5 The mountains were shaken before the face of the Lord Eloi, this Sina before the face of the Lord God of Israel.

6 In the days of Samegar son of Anath, in the days of Jael, they deserted the ways, and went in by-ways; they went in crooked paths.

7 The mighty men in Israel failed, they failed until Debbora arose, until she arose a mother in Israel.

8 They chose new gods; then the cities of rulers fought; there was not a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel.

9 My heart inclines to the orders given in Israel; ye that are willing among the people, bless the Lord.

10 Ye that mount a she-ass at noon-day, ye that sit on the judgment-seat, and walk by the roads of them that sit in judgment by the way; declare

11 ye that are delivered from the noise of disturbers among the drawers of water; there shall they relate righteous acts: O Lord, increase righteous acts in Israel: then the people of the Lord went down to the cities.

12 Awake, awake, Debbora; awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barac, and lead thy captivity captive, son of Abineem.

13 Then went down the remnant to the strong, the people of the Lord went down for him among the mighty ones from me.

14 Ephraim rooted them out in Amalec, behind thee was Benjamin among thy people: the inhabitants of Machir came down with me searching out the enemy, and from Zabulon came they that draw with the scribe’s pen of record.

15 And princess in Issachar were with Debbora and Barac, thus she sent Barac on his feet in the valleys into the portions of Ruben; great pangs reached to the heart.

16 Why did they sit between the sheep-folds to hear the bleating of flocks for the divisions of Ruben? there were great searchings of heart.

17 Galaad is on the other side of Jordan where he pitched his tents; and why does Dan remain in ships? Aser sat down on the sea-coasts, and he will tabernacle at his ports.

18 The people Zabulon exposed their soul to death, and Nephthali came to the high places of their land.

19 Kings set themselves in array, then the kings of Chanaan fought in Thanaach at the water of Mageddo; they took no gift of money.

20 The stars from heaven set themselves in array, they set themselves to fight with Sisara out of their paths.

21 The brook of Kison swept them away, the ancient brook, the brook Kison: my mighty soul will trample him down.

22 When the hoofs of the horse were entangled, his mighty ones earnestly hasted

23 to curse Meroz: Curse ye it, said the angel of the Lord; cursed is every one that dwells in it, because they came not to the help of the Lord, to his help among the mighty.

24 Blessed among women be Jael wife of Chaber the Kenite; let her be blessed above women in tents.

25 He asked for water, she gave him milk in a dish; she brought butter of princes.

26 She stretched forth her left hand to the nail, and her right to the hand workman’s hammer, and she smote Sisara with it, she nailed through his head and smote him; she nailed through his temples.

27 He rolled down between her feet; he fell and lay between her feet; he bowed and fell: where he bowed, there he fell dead.

28 The mother of Sisara looked down through the window out of the loophole, saying, Why was his chariot ashamed? why did the wheels of his chariots tarry?

29 Her wise ladies answered her, and she returned answers to herself, saying,

30 Will they not find him dividing the spoil? he will surely be gracious to every man: there are spoils of dyed garments for Sisara, spoils of various dyed garments, dyed embroidered garments, they are the spoils for his neck.

31 Thus let all thine enemies perish, O Lord: and they that love him shall be as the going forth of the sun in his strength. And the land had rest forty years.

6

And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord gave them into the hand of Madiam seven years.

2 And the hand of Madiam prevailed against Israel: and the children of Israel made for themselves because of Madiam the caves in the mountains, and the dens, and the holes in the rocks.

3 And it came to pass when the children of Israel sowed, that Madiam and Amalec went up, and the children of the east went up together with them.

4 And they encamped against them, and destroyed their fruits until they came to Gaza; and they left not the support of life in the land of Israel, not even ox or ass among the herds.

5 For they and their stock came up, and their tents were with them, as the locust in multitude, and there was no number to them and their camels; and they came to the land of Israel, and laid it waste.

6 And Israel was greatly impoverished because of Madiam.

 7 And the children of Israel cried to the Lord because of Madiam.

8 And the Lord sent a prophet to the children of Israel; and he said to them, Thus says the Lord God of Israel, I am he that brought you up out of the land of Egypt, and I brought you up out of the house of your bondage.

9 And I delivered you out of the hand of Egypt, and out of the hand of all that afflicted you, and I cast them out before you; and I gave you their land.

10 And I said to you, I am the Lord your God: ye shall not fear the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell; but ye hearkened not to my voice.

11 And an angel of the Lord came, and sat down under the fir tree, which was in Ephratha in the land of Joas father of Esdri; and Gedeon his son was threshing wheat in a wine-press in order to escape from the face of Madiam.

12 And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, The Lord is with thee, thou mighty in strength.

13 And Gedeon said to him, Be gracious with me, my Lord: but if the Lord is with us, why have these evils found us? and where are all his miracles, which our fathers have related to us, saying, Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt? and now he has cast us out, and given us into the hand of Madiam.

14 And the angel of the Lord turned to him, and said, Go in this thy strength, and thou shalt save Israel out of the hand of Madiam: behold, I have sent thee.

15 And Gedeon said to him, Be gracious with me, my Lord: whereby shall I save Israel? behold, my thousand is weakened in Manasse, and I am the least in my father’s house.

16 And the angel of the Lord said to him, The Lord shall be with thee, and thou shalt smite Madiam as one man.

17 And Gedeon said to him, If now I have found mercy in thine eyes, and thou wilt do this day for me all that thou hast spoken of with me,

18 depart not hence until I come to thee, and I will bring forth an offering and offer it before thee: and he said, I will remain until thou return.

19 And Gedeon went in, and prepared a kid of the goats, and an ephah of fine flour unleavened; and he put the flesh in the basket, and poured the broth into the pot, and brought them forth to him under the turpentine tree, and drew nigh.

20 And the angel of God said to him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and put them on that rock, and pour out the broth close by: and he did so.

21 And the angel of the Lord stretched out the end of the rod that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened bread; and fire came up out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened bread, and the angel of the Lord vanished from his sight.

22 And Gedeon saw that he was an angel of the Lord; and Gedeon said, Ah, ah, Lord my God! for I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face.

23 And the Lord said to him, Peace be to thee, fear not, thou shalt not die.

24 And Gedeon built there an altar to the Lord, and called it The peace of the Lord, until this day, as it is still in Ephratha of the father of Esdri.

25 And it came to pass in that night, that the Lord said to him, Take the young bullock which thy father has, even the second bullock of seven years old, and thou shalt destroy the altar of Baal which thy father has, and the grove which is by it thou shalt destroy.

26 And thou shalt build an altar to the Lord thy God on the top of this Maozi in the ordering it, and thou shalt take the second bullock, and shalt offer up whole-burnt-offerings with the wood of the grove, which thou shalt destroy.

27 And Gedeon took ten men of his servants, and did as the Lord spoke to him: and it came to pass, as he feared the house of his father and the men of the city if he should do it by day, that he did it by night.

28 And the men of the city rose up early in the morning; and behold, the altar of Baal had been demolished, and the grove by it had been destroyed; and they saw the second bullock, which Gedeon offered on the altar that had been built.

29 And a man said to his neighbour, Who has done this thing? and they enquired and searched, and learnt that Gedeon the son of Joas had done this thing.

30 And the men of the city said to Joas, Bring out thy son, and let him die, because he has destroyed the altar of Baal, and because he has destroyed the grove that is by it.

31 And Gedeon the son of Joas said to all the men who rose up against him, Do ye now plead for Baal, or will ye save him? whoever will plead for him, let him be slain this morning: if he be a god let him plead for himself, because one has thrown down his altar.

32 And he called it in that day Jerobaal, saying, Let Baal plead thereby, because his altar has been thrown down.

33 And all Madiam, and Amalek, and the sons of the east gathered themselves together, and encamped in the valley of Jezrael.

34 And the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gedeon, and he blew with the horn, and Abiezer came to help after him.

35 And Gedeon sent messengers into all Manasse, and into Aser, and into Zabulon, and into Nephthali; and he went up to meet them.

36 And Gedeon said to God, If thou wilt save Israel by my hand, as thou hast said,

37 behold, I put the fleece of wool in the threshing-floor: if there be dew on the fleece only, and drought on all the ground, I shall know that thou wilt save Israel by my hand, as thou hast said.

38 And it was so: and he rose up early in the morning, and wrung the fleece, and dew dropped from the fleece, a bowl full of water.

39 And Gedeon said to God, Let not, I pray thee, thine anger be kindled with me, and I will speak yet once; I will even yet make one trial more with the fleece: let now the drought be upon the fleece only, and let there be dew on all the ground.

40 And God did so in that night; and there was drought on the fleece only, and on all the ground there was dew.

7

And Jerobaal rose early, the same is Gedeon, and all the people with him, and encamped at the fountain of Arad; and the camp of Madiam was to the north of him, reaching from Gabaathamorai, in the valley.

2 And the Lord said to Gedeon, The people with thee are many, so that I may not deliver Madiam into their hand, lest at any time Israel boast against me, saying, My hand has saved me.

3 And now speak in the ears of the people, saying, Who is afraid and fearful? let him turn and depart from mount Galaad: and there returned of the people twenty-two thousand, and ten thousand were left.

4 And the Lord said to Gedeon, The people is yet numerous; bring them down to the water, and I will purge them there for thee: and it shall come to pass that of whomsoever I shall say to thee, This one shall go with thee, even he shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I shall say to thee, This one shall not go with thee, even he shall not go with thee.

5 And he brought the people down to the water; and the Lord said to Gedeon, Whosoever shall lap of the water with his tongue as if a dog should lap, thou shalt set him apart, and also whosoever shall bow down upon his knees to drink.

6 And the number of those that lapped with their hand to their mouth was three hundred men; and all the rest of the people bowed upon their knees to drink water.

7 And the Lord said to Gedeon, I will save you by the three hundred men that lapped, and I will give Madiam into thy hand; and all the rest of the people shall go every one to his place.

8 And they took the provision of the people in their hand, and their horns; and he sent away every man of Israel each to his tent, and he strengthened the three hundred; and the army of Madiam were beneath him in the valley.

9 And it came to pass in that night that the Lord said to him, Arise, go down into the camp, for I have delivered it into thy hand.

10 And if thou art afraid to go down, go down thou and thy servant Phara into the camp.

11 And thou shalt hear what they shall say, and afterwards thy hands shall be strong, and thou shalt go down into the camp: and he went down and Phara his servant to the extremity of the companies of fifty, which were in the camp.

12 And Madiam and Amalec and all the children of the east were scattered in the valley, as the locust for multitude; and there was no number to their camels, but they were as the sand on the seashore for multitude.

13 And Gedeon came, and behold a man was relating to his neighbour a dream, and he said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream, and behold, a cake of barley bread rolling into the camp of Madiam, and it came as far as a tent, and smote it, and it fell, and it turned it up, and the tent fell.

14 And his neighbour answered and said, This is none other than the sword of Gedeon, son of Joas, a man of Israel: God has delivered Madiam and all the host into his hand.

15 And it came to pass when Gedeon heard the account of the dream and the interpretation of it, that he worshipped the Lord, and returned to the camp of Israel, and said, Rise, for the Lord has delivered the camp of Madiam into our hand.

16 And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and put horns in the hands of all, and empty pitchers, and torches in the pitchers:

17 and he said to them, Ye shall look at me, and so shall ye do; and behold, I will go into the beginning of the host, and it shall come to pass that as I do, so shall ye do.

18 And I will sound with the horn, and all ye with me shall sound with the horn round about the whole camp, and ye shall say, For the Lord and Gedeon.

19 And Gedeon and the hundred men that were with him came to the extremity of the army in the beginning of the middle watch; and they completely roused the guards, and sounded with the horns, and they broke the pitchers that were in their hands,

20 and the three companies sounded with the horns, and broke the pitchers, and held the torches in their left hands, and in their right hands their horns to sound with; and they cried out, A sword for the Lord and for Gedeon.

21 And every man stood in his place round about the host; and all the host ran, and sounded an alarm, and fled.

22 And they sounded with the three hundred horns; and the Lord set every man’s sword in all the host against his neighbour.

23 And the host fled as far as Bethseed Tagaragatha Abel-meula to Tabath; and the men of Israel from Nephthali, and from Aser, and from all Manasse, came to help, and followed after Madiam.

24 And Gedeon sent messengers into all mount Ephraim, saying, Come down to meet Madiam, and take to yourselves the water as far as Baethera and Jordan: and every man of Ephraim cried out, and they took the water before hand unto Baethera and Jordan.

25 And they took the princess of Madiam, even Oreb and Zeb; and they slew Oreb in Sur Oreb, and they slew Zeb in Jakephzeph; and they pursued Madiam, and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeb to Gedeon from beyond Jordan.

 
8

And the men of Ephraim said to Gedeon, What is this that thou hast done to us, in that thou didst not call us when thou wentest to fight with Madiam? and they chode with him sharply.

2 And he said to them, What have I now done in comparison of you? is not the gleaning of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?

3 The Lord has delivered into your hand the princes of Madiam, Oreb and Zeb; and what could I do in comparison of you? Then was their spirit calmed toward him, when he spoke this word.

4 And Gedeon came to Jordan, and went over, himself and the three hundred with him, hungry, yet pursuing.

5 And he said to the men of Socchoth, Give, I pray you, bread to feed this people that follow me; because they are faint, and behold, I am following after Zebee and Salmana, kings of Madiam.

6 And the princes of Socchoth said, Are the hands of Zebee and Salmana now in thy hand, that we should give bread to thy host?

7 And Gedeon said, Therefore when the Lord gives Zebee and Salmana into my hand, then will I tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness, and the Barkenim.

8 And he went up thence to Phanuel, and spoke to them likewise: and the men of Phanuel answered him as the men of Socchoth had answered him.

9 And Gedeon said to the men of Phanuel, When I return in peace, I will break down this tower.

10 And Zebee and Salmana were in Carcar, and their host was with them, about fifteen thousand, all that were left of all the host of the aliens; and they that fell were a hundred and twenty thousand men that drew the sword.

11 And Gedeon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents, eastward of Nabai and Jegebal; and he smote the host, and the host was secure.

12 And Zebee and Salmana fled; and he pursued after them, and took the two kings of Madiam, Zebee and Salmana, and discomfited all the army.

13 And Gedeon the son of Joas returned from the battle, down from the battle of Ares.

14 And he took prisoner a young lad of the men of Socchoth, and questioned him; and he wrote to him the names of the princes of Socchoth and of their elders, seventy-seven men.

15 And Gedeon came to the princes of Socchoth, and said, Behold Zebee and Salmana, about whom ye reproached me, saying, Are the hands of Zebee and Salmana now in thy hand, that we should give bread to thy men that are faint?

16 And he took the elders of the city with the thorns of the wilderness and the Barkenim, and with them he tore the men of the city.

17 And he overthrew the tower of Phanuel, and slew the men of the city.

18 And he said to Zebee and Salmana, Where are the men whom ye slew in Thabor? and they said, As thou, so were they, according to the likeness of the son of a king.

19 And Gedeon said, They were my brethren and the sons of my mother: as the Lord lives, if ye had preserved them alive, I would not have slain you.

20 And he said to Jether his first-born, Rise and slay them; but the lad drew not his sword, for he was afraid, for he was yet very young.

21 And Zebee and Salmana said, Rise thou and fall upon us, for thy power is as that of a man; and Gedeon arose, and slew Zebee and Salmana: and he took the round ornaments that were on the necks of their camels.

22 And the men of Israel said to Gedeon, Rule, my lord, over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son; for thou hast saved us out of the hand of Madiam.

23 And Gedeon said to them, I will not rule, and my son shall not rule among you; the Lord shall rule over you.

24 And Gedeon said to them, I will make a request of you, and do ye give me every man an earring out of his spoils: for they had golden earrings, for they were Ismaelites.

25 And they said, We will certainly give them: and he opened his garment, and each man cast therein an earring of his spoils.

26 And the weight of the golden earrings which he asked, was a thousand and seven hundred pieces of gold, besides the crescents, and the chains, and the garments, and the purple cloths that were on the kings of Madiam, and besides the chains that were on the necks of their camels.

27 And Gedeon made an ephod of it, an set it in his city in Ephratha; and all Israel went thither a whoring after it, and it became a stumbling-block to Gedeon and his house.

28 And Madiam, was straitened before the children of Israel, and they did not lift up their head any more; and the land had rest forty years in the days of Gedeon.

29 And Jerobaal the son of Joas went and sat in his house.

30 And Gedeon had seventy sons begotten of his body, for he had many wives.

31 And his concubine was in Sychem, and she also bore him a son, and gave him the name Abimelech.

32 And Gedeon son of Joas died in his city, and he was buried in the sepulchre of Joas his father in Ephratha of Abi-Esdri.

33 And it came to pass when Gedeon was dead, that the children of Israel turned, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made for themselves a covenant with Baal that he should be their god.

34 And the children of Israel remembered not the Lord their God who had delivered them out of the hand of all that afflicted them round about.

35 And they did not deal mercifully with the house of Jerobaal, (the same is Gedeon) according to all the good which he did to Israel.

9

And Abimelech son of Jerobaal went to Sychem to his mother’s brethren; and he spoke to them and to all the kindred of the house of his mother’s father, saying,

2 Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Sychem, saying, Which is better for you, that seventy men, even all the sons of Jerobaal, should reign over you, or that one man should reign over you? and remember that I am your bone and your flesh.

3 And his mother’s brethren spoke concerning him in the ears of all the men of Sychem all these words; and their heart turned after Abimelech, for they said, He is our brother.

4 And they gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baalberith; and Abimelech hired for himself vain and cowardly men, and they went after him.

5 And he went to the house of his father to Ephratha, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerobaal, seventy men upon one stone; but Joatham the youngest son of Jerobaal was left, for he hid himself.

6 And all the men of Sicima, and all the house of Bethmaalo, were gathered together, and they went and made Abimelech king by the oak of Sedition, which was at Sicima.

7 And it was reported to Joatham, and he went and stood on the top of mount Garizin, and lifted up his voice, and wept, and said to them, Hear me, ye men of Sicima, and God shall hear you.

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

9 But the olives said to them, Shall I leave my fatness, with which men shall glorify God, and go to be promoted over the trees?

10 And the trees said to the fig-tree, Come, reign over us.

11 But the fig-tree said to them, Shall I leave my sweetness an my good fruits, and go to be promoted over the trees?

12 And the trees said to the vine, Come, reign over us.

13 And the vine said to them, Shall I leave my wine that cheers God and men, and go to be promoted over the trees?

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

15 And the bramble said to the trees, If ye in truth anoint me to reign over you, come, stand under my shadow; and if not, let fire come out from me and devour the cedars of Libanus.

16 And now, if ye have done it in truth and integrity, and have made Abimelech king, and if ye have wrought well with Jerobaal, and with his house, and if ye have done to him according to the reward of his hand,

17 as my father fought for you, and put his life in jeopardy, and delivered you out of the hand of Madiam;

18 and ye are risen up this day against the house of my father, and have slain his sons, being seventy men, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech the son of his bondwoman king over the men of Sicima, because he is your brother:

19 if then ye have done truly and faithfully with Jerobaal, and with his house this day, rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice over you:

20 but if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Sicima, and the house of Bethmaalo; and let fire come out from the men of Sicima and from the house of Bethmaalo, and devour Abimelech.

21 And Joatham fled, and ran away, and went as far as Baeer, and dwelt there out of the way of his brother Abimelech.

22 And Abimelech reigned over Israel three years.

23 And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Sicima; and the men of Sicima dealt treacherously with the house of Abimelech:

24 to bring the injury done to the seventy sons of Jerobaal, and to lay their blood upon their brother Abimelech, who slew them, and upon the men of Sicima, because they strengthened his hands to slay his brethren.

25 And the men of Sicima set liers in wait against him on the top of the mountains, and robbed every one who passed by them on the way; and it was reported to the king Abimelech.

26 And Gaal son of Jobel came, and his brethren, and passed by Sicima, and the men of Sicima trusted in him.

27 And they went out into the field, and gathered their grapes, and trod them, and made merry; and they brought the grapes into the house of their god, and ate and drank, and cursed Abimelech.

28 And Gaal the son of Jobel said, Who is Abimelech, and who is the son of Sychem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerobaal, and is not Zebul his steward, his servant with the son of Emmor the father of Sychem? and why should we serve him?

29 And would that this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech, and I would say to him, Multiply thy host, and come out.

30 And Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Jobel, and he was very angry.

31 And he sent messengers to Abimelech secretly, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Jobel and his brethren are come to Sychem; and behold, they have besieged the city against thee.

32 And now rise up by night, thou and the people with thee, and lay wait in the field.

33 And it shall come to pass in the morning at sunrising, thou shalt rise up early and draw toward the city; and behold, he and the people with him will come forth against thee, and thou shalt do to him according to thy power.

34 And Abimelech and all the people with him rose up by night, and formed an ambuscade against Sychem in four companies.

35 And Gaal the son of Jobel went forth, and stood by the door of the gate of the city: and Abimelech and the people with him rose up from the ambuscade.

36 And Gaal the son of Jobel saw the people, and said to Zebul, Behold, a people comes down from the top of the mountains: and Zebul said to him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as men.

37 And Gaal continued to speak and said, Behold, a people comes down westward from the part bordering on the middle of the land, and another company comes by the way of Helon Maonenim.

38 And Zebul said to him, And where is thy mouth as thou spokest, Who is Abimelech that we should serve him? Is not this the people whom thou despisedst? go forth now, and set the battle in array against him.

39 And Gaal went forth before the men of Sychem, and set the battle in array against Abimelech.

40 And Abimelech pursued him, and he fled from before him; and many fell down slain as far as the door of the gate.

41 And Abimelech entered into Arema, and Zebul cast out Gaal and his brethren, so that they should not dwell in Sychem.

42 And it came to pass on the second day that the people went out into the field, and one brought word to Abimelech.

43 And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and formed an ambush in the field; and he looked, and, behold, the people went forth out of the city, and he rose up against them, and smote them.

44 And Abimelech and the chiefs of companies that were with him rushed forward, and stood by the door of the gate of the city; and the two other companies rushed forward upon all that were in the field, and smote them.

45 And Abimelech fought against the city all that day, and took the city, and slew the people that were in it, and destroyed the city, and sowed it with salt.

46 And all the men of the tower of Sychem heard, and came to the gathering of Baethel-berith.

47 And it was reported to Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Sychem were gathered together.

48 And Abimelech went up to the mount of Selmon, and all the people that were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a branch of a tree, and took it, and laid it on his shoulders; and said to the people that were with him, What ye see me doing, do quickly as I.

49 And they cut down likewise even every man a branch, and went after Abimelech, and laid them against the place of gathering, and burnt the place of gathering over them with fire; and they died, even all the men of the tower of Sicima, about a thousand men and women.

50 And Abimelech went out of Baethel-berith, and encamped against Thebes, and took it.

51 And there was a strong tower in the midst of the city; and thither all the men and the women of the city fled, and shut the door without them, and went up on the roof of the tower.

52 And Abimelech drew near to the tower, and they besieged it; and Abimelech drew near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire.

53 And a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon the head of Abimelech, and broke his skull.

54 And he cried out quickly to the young man his armour-bearer, and said to him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, lest at any time they should say, A woman slew him: and his young man thrust him through and he died.

55 And the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead; and they went each to his place.

56 So God requited the wickedness of Abimelech, which he wrought against his father, in slaying his seventy brethren.

57 And all the wickedness of the men of Sychem God requited upon their head; and the curse of Joatham the son of Jerobaal came upon them.

 
10

And after Abimelech Thola the son of Phua rose up to save Israel, being the son of his father’s brother, a man of Issachar; and he dwelt in Samir in mount Ephraim.

2 And he judged Israel twenty-three years, and died, and was buried in Samir.

3 And after him arose Jair of Galaad, and he judged Israel twenty-two years.

4 And he had thirty-two sons riding on thirty-two colts, and they had thirty-two cities; and they called them Jair’s towns until this day in the land of Galaad.

5 And Jair died, and was buried in Rhamnon.

6 And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord, and served Baalim, and Astaroth, and the gods of Aram, and the gods of Sidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Phylistines; and they forsook the Lord, and did not serve him.

7 And the Lord was very angry with Israel, and sold them into the hands of the Phylistines, and into the hand of the children of Ammon.

8 And they afflicted and bruised the children of Israel at that time eighteen years, all the children of Israel beyond Jordan in the land of the Amorite in Galaad.

9 And the children of Ammon went over Jordan to fight with Juda, and Benjamin, and with Ephraim; and the children of Israel were greatly afflicted.

10 And the children of Israel cried to the Lord, saying, We have sinned against thee, because we have forsaken God, and served Baalim.

11 And the Lord said to the children of Israel, Did I not save you from Egypt and from the Amorite, and from the children of Ammon, and from the Phylistines,

12 and from the Sidonians, and Amalec, and Madiam, who afflicted you? and ye cried to me, and I saved you out of their hand?

13 Yet ye forsook me and served other gods; therefore I will not save you any more.

14 Go, and cry to the gods whom ye have chosen to yourselves, and let them save you in the time of your affliction.

15 And the children of Israel said to the Lord, We have sinned: do thou to us according to all that is good in thine eyes; only deliver us this day.

16 And they put away the strange gods from the midst of them, and served the Lord only, and his soul was pained for the trouble of Israel.

17 And the children of Ammon went up, and encamped in Galaad; and the children of Israel were gathered together and encamped on the hill.

18 And the people the princes of Galaad said every man to his neighbour, Who is he that shall begin to fight against the children of Ammon? he shall even be head over all that dwell in Galaad.
 

next ►►►