# verses

text:
“These shall stand <f>[9†]</f>on Mount Gerizim to bless the people, when you have crossed over the Jordan: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin;


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and <f>[10†]</f>these shall stand on Mount Ebal to curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.


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<f>[12†]</f>‘Cursed <i>is</i> the one who makes a carved or molded image, an abomination to the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and sets <i>it</i> up in secret.’ <pb/> <f>[13†]</f>“And all the people shall answer and say, ‘Amen!’


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<pb/> <f>[14†]</f>‘Cursed <i>is</i> the one who treats his father or his mother with contempt.’ <pb/>“And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’


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<pb/> <f>[15†]</f>‘Cursed <i>is</i> the one who moves his neighbor’s landmark.’ <pb/>“And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’


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<pb/> <f>[16†]</f>‘Cursed <i>is</i> the one who makes the blind to wander off the road.’ <pb/>“And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’


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<pb/> <f>[17†]</f>‘Cursed <i>is</i> the one who perverts the justice due the stranger, the fatherless, and widow.’ <pb/>“And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’


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<pb/> <f>[18†]</f>‘Cursed <i>is</i> the one who lies with his father’s wife, because he has uncovered his father’s bed.’ <pb/>“And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’


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<pb/> <f>[19†]</f>‘Cursed <i>is</i> the one who lies with any kind of animal.’ <pb/>“And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’


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<pb/> <f>[20†]</f>‘Cursed <i>is</i> the one who lies with his sister, the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother.’ <pb/>“And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’


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<pb/> <f>[21†]</f>‘Cursed <i>is</i> the one who lies with his mother-in-law.’ <pb/>“And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’


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<pb/> <f>[22†]</f>‘Cursed <i>is</i> the one who attacks his neighbor secretly.’ <pb/>“And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’


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<pb/> <f>[23†]</f>‘Cursed <i>is</i> the one who takes a bribe to slay an innocent person.’ <pb/>“And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’


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<pb/> <f>[24†]</f>‘Cursed <i>is</i> the one who does not confirm <i>all</i> the words of this law by observing them.’ <pb/>“And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’


text:
<pb/>“Now it shall come to pass, <f>[1†]</f>if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God <f>[2†]</f>will set you high above all nations of the earth.


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And all these blessings shall come upon you and <f>[3†]</f>overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God:


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<pb/> <f>[4†]</f>“Blessed <i>shall</i> you <i>be</i> in the city, and blessed <i>shall</i> you <i>be</i> <f>[5†]</f>in the country.


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<pb/>“Blessed <i>shall</i> <i>be</i> <f>[6†]</f>the fruit of your body, the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks.


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<pb/> <f>[7†]</f>“Blessed <i>shall</i> you <i>be</i> when you come in, and blessed <i>shall</i> you <i>be</i> when you go out.


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<pb/>“The LORD <f>[8†]</f>will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways.


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<pb/>“The LORD will <f>[9†]</f>command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you <f>[10†]</f>set your hand, and He will bless you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you.


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<pb/> <f>[11†]</f>“The LORD will establish you as a holy people to Himself, just as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in His ways.


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Then all peoples of the earth shall see that you are <f>[12†]</f>called by the name of the LORD, and they shall be <f>[13†]</f>afraid of you.


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And <f>[14†]</f>the LORD will grant you plenty of goods, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your ground, in the land of which the LORD swore to your fathers to give you.


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The LORD will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, <f>[15†]</f>to give the rain to your land in its season, and <f>[16†]</f>to bless all the work of your hand. <f>[17†]</f>You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.


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And the LORD will make <f>[18†]</f>you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe <i>them.</i>


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<f>[19†]</f>So you shall not turn aside from any of the words which I command you this day, <i>to</i> the right or the left, to go after other gods to serve them.


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<pb/>“But it shall come to pass, <f>[20†]</f>if you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you:


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<pb/>“Cursed <i>shall</i> you <i>be</i> in the city, and cursed <i>shall</i> you <i>be</i> in the country.


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<pb/>“Cursed <i>shall</i> <i>be</i> the fruit of your body and the produce of your land, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks.


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<pb/>“Cursed <i>shall</i> you <i>be</i> when you come in, and cursed <i>shall</i> you <i>be</i> when you go out.


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<pb/>“The LORD will send on you <f>[21†]</f>cursing, <f>[22†]</f>confusion, and <f>[23†]</f>rebuke in all that you set your hand to do, until you are destroyed and until you perish quickly, because of the wickedness of your doings in which you have forsaken Me.


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The LORD will make the plague cling to you until He has consumed you from the land which you are going to possess.


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<f>[24†]</f>The LORD will strike you with consumption, with fever, with inflammation, with severe burning fever, with the sword, with <f>[25†]</f>scorching, and with mildew; they shall pursue you until you perish.


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And <f>[26†]</f>your heavens which <i>are</i> over your head shall be bronze, and the earth which is under you <i>shall</i> <i>be</i> iron.


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The LORD will change the rain of your land to powder and dust; from the heaven it shall come down on you until you are destroyed.


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<pb/> <f>[27†]</f>“The LORD will cause you to be defeated before your enemies; you shall go out one way against them and flee seven ways before them; and you shall become troublesome to all the kingdoms of the earth.


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<f>[28†]</f>Your carcasses shall be food for all the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and no one shall frighten <i>them</i> away.


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The LORD will strike you with <f>[29†]</f>the boils of Egypt, with <f>[30†]</f>tumors, with the scab, and with the itch, from which you cannot be healed.


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And you shall <f>[32†]</f>grope at noonday, as a blind man gropes in darkness; you shall not prosper in your ways; you shall be only oppressed and plundered continually, and no one shall save <i>you.</i>


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<pb/> <f>[33†]</f>“You shall betroth a wife, but another man shall lie with her; <f>[34†]</f>you shall build a house, but <f>[35†]</f>you shall not dwell in it; you shall plant a vineyard, but shall not gather its grapes.


text:
Your ox <i>shall</i> <i>be</i> slaughtered before your eyes, but you shall not eat of it; your donkey <i>shall</i> <i>be</i> violently taken away from before you, and shall not be restored to you; your sheep <i>shall</i> <i>be</i> given to your enemies, and you shall have no one to rescue <i>them.</i>


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Your sons and your daughters <i>shall</i> <i>be</i> given to <f>[36†]</f>another people, and your eyes shall look and <f>[37†]</f>fail <i>with</i> <i>longing</i> for them all day long; and <i>there</i> <i>shall</i> <i>be</i> no strength in your <f>[38†]</f>hand.


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A nation whom you have not known shall eat <f>[39†]</f>the fruit of your land and the produce of your labor, and you shall be only oppressed and crushed continually.


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The LORD will strike you in the knees and on the legs with severe boils which cannot be healed, and from the sole of your foot to the top of your head.


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<pb/>“The LORD will <f>[40†]</f>bring you and the king whom you set over you to a nation which neither you nor your fathers have known, and <f>[41†]</f>there you shall serve other gods—wood and stone.


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And you shall become <f>[42†]</f>an astonishment, a proverb, <f>[43†]</f>and a byword among all nations where the LORD will drive you.


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<pb/> <f>[44†]</f>“You shall carry much seed out to the field but gather little in, for <f>[45†]</f>the locust shall consume it.


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You shall plant vineyards and tend <i>them,</i> but you shall neither drink <i>of</i> the <f>[46†]</f>wine nor gather the <i>grapes;</i> for the worms shall eat them.


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You shall have olive trees throughout all your territory, but you shall not anoint <i>yourself</i> with the oil; for your olives shall drop off.


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You shall beget sons and daughters, but they shall not be yours; for <f>[47†]</f>they shall go into captivity.


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<pb/>“The alien who <i>is</i> among you shall rise higher and higher above you, and you shall come down lower and lower.


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He shall lend to you, but you shall not lend to him; he shall be the head, and you shall be the tail.


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<pb/>“Moreover all these curses shall come upon you and pursue and overtake you, until you are destroyed, because you did not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which He commanded you.


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<pb/> <f>[49†]</f>“Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joy and gladness of heart, <f>[50†]</f>for the abundance of everything,


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therefore you shall serve your enemies, whom the LORD will send against you, in <f>[51†]</f>hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and in need of everything; and He <f>[52†]</f>will put a yoke of iron on your neck until He has destroyed you.


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<f>[53†]</f>The LORD will bring a nation against you from afar, from the end of the earth, <f>[54†]</f><i>as</i> <i>swift</i> as the eagle flies, a nation whose language you will not understand,


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a nation of fierce countenance, <f>[55†]</f>which does not respect the elderly nor show favor to the young.


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And they shall eat the increase of your livestock and the produce of your land, until you are destroyed; they shall not leave you grain or new wine or oil, <i>or</i> the increase of your cattle or the offspring of your flocks, until they have destroyed you.


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<pb/>“They shall <f>[56†]</f>besiege you at all your gates until your high and fortified walls, in which you trust, come down throughout all your land; and they shall besiege you at all your gates throughout all your land which the LORD your God has given you.


text:
<f>[57†]</f>You shall eat the fruit of your own body, the flesh of your sons and your daughters whom the LORD your God has given you, in the siege and desperate straits in which your enemy shall distress you.


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The sensitive and very refined man among you <f>[58†]</f>will be hostile toward his brother, toward <f>[59†]</f>the wife of his bosom, and toward the rest of his children whom he leaves behind,


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so that he will not give any of them the flesh of his children whom he will eat, because he has nothing left in the siege and desperate straits in which your enemy shall distress you at all your gates.


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The tender and delicate woman among you, who would not venture to set the sole of her foot on the ground because of her delicateness and sensitivity, will refuse to the husband of her bosom, and to her son and her daughter,


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her placenta which comes out <f>[60†]</f>from between her feet and her children whom she bears; for she will eat them secretly for lack of everything in the siege and desperate straits in which your enemy shall distress you at all your gates.


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<pb/>“If you do not carefully observe all the words of this law that are written in this book, that you may fear <f>[61†]</f>this glorious and awesome name, THE LORD YOUR GOD,


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then the LORD will bring upon you and your descendants <f>[62†]</f>extraordinary plagues—great and prolonged plagues—and serious and prolonged sicknesses.


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Moreover He will bring back on you all <f>[63†]</f>the diseases of Egypt, of which you were afraid, and they shall cling to you.


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Also every sickness and every plague, which <i>is</i> not written in this Book of the Law, will the LORD bring upon you until you are destroyed.


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You <f>[64†]</f>shall be left few in number, whereas you were <f>[65†]</f>as the stars of heaven in multitude, because you would not obey the voice of the LORD your God.


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And it shall be, <i>that</i> just as the LORD <f>[66†]</f>rejoiced over you to do you good and multiply you, so the LORD <f>[67†]</f>will rejoice over you to destroy you and bring you to nothing; and you shall be <f>[68†]</f>plucked from off the land which you go to possess.


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<pb/>“Then the LORD <f>[69†]</f>will scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the other, and <f>[70†]</f>there you shall serve other gods, which neither you nor your fathers have known—wood and stone.


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And <f>[71†]</f>among those nations you shall find no rest, nor shall the sole of your foot have a resting place; <f>[72†]</f>but there the LORD will give you a trembling heart, failing eyes, and <f>[73†]</f>anguish of soul.


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Your life shall hang in doubt before you; you shall fear day and night, and have no assurance of life.


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<f>[74†]</f>In the morning you shall say, ‘Oh, that it were evening!’ And at evening you shall say, ‘Oh, that it were morning!’ because of the fear which terrifies your heart, and <f>[75†]</f>because of the sight which your eyes see.


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<pb/>“And the LORD <f>[76†]</f>will take you back to Egypt in ships, by the way of which I said to you, <f>[77†]</f>‘You shall never see it again.’ And there you shall be offered for sale to your enemies as male and female slaves, but no one will buy <i>you.</i>”


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<pb/>These <i>are</i> the words of the <f>[1†]</f>covenant which the LORD commanded Moses to make with the children of Israel in the land of Moab, besides the covenant which He made with them in Horeb.


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<pb/>Now Moses called all Israel and said to them: <f>[2†]</f>“You have seen all that the LORD did before your eyes in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land—


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Yet <f>[4†]</f>the LORD has not given you a heart to perceive and eyes to see and ears to hear, to this <i>very</i> day.


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<f>[5†]</f>And I have led you forty years in the wilderness. <f>[6†]</f>Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn out on your feet.


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<f>[7†]</f>You have not eaten bread, nor have you drunk wine or <i>similar</i> drink, that you may know that I <i>am</i> the LORD your God.


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And when you came to this place, <f>[8†]</f>Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan came out against us to battle, and we conquered them.


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We took their land and <f>[9†]</f>gave it as an inheritance to the Reubenites, to the Gadites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh.


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Therefore <f>[10†]</f>keep the words of this covenant, and do them, that you may <f>[11†]</f>prosper in all that you do.


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<pb/>“All of you stand today before the LORD your God: your leaders and your tribes and your elders and your officers, all the men of Israel,


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your little ones and your wives—also the stranger who <i>is</i> in your camp, from <f>[12†]</f>the one who cuts your wood to the one who draws your water—


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that you may enter into covenant with the LORD your God, and <f>[13†]</f>into His oath, which the LORD your God makes with you today,


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that He may <f>[14†]</f>establish you today as a people for Himself, and <i>that</i> He may be God to you, <f>[15†]</f>just as He has spoken to you, and <f>[16†]</f>just as He has sworn to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.


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but with <i>him</i> who stands here with us today before the LORD our God, <f>[18†]</f>as well as with <i>him</i> who <i>is</i> not here with us today


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(for you know that we dwelt in the land of Egypt and that we came through the nations which you passed by,


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and you saw their abominations and their idols which <i>were</i> among them—wood and stone and silver and gold);


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so that there may not be among you man or woman or family or tribe, <f>[19†]</f>whose heart turns away today from the LORD our God, to go <i>and</i> serve the gods of these nations, <f>[20†]</f>and that there may not be among you a root bearing <f>[21†]</f>bitterness or wormwood;


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and so it may not happen, when he hears the words of this curse, that he blesses himself in his heart, saying, ‘I shall have peace, even though I follow the <f>[22†]</f>dictates of my heart’— <f>[23†]</f>as though the drunkard could be included with the sober.


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<pb/> <f>[24†]</f>“The LORD would not spare him; for then <f>[25†]</f>the anger of the LORD and <f>[26†]</f>His jealousy would burn against that man, and every curse that is written in this book would settle on him, and the LORD <f>[27†]</f>would blot out his name from under heaven.


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And the LORD <f>[28†]</f>would separate him from all the tribes of Israel for adversity, according to all the curses of the covenant that are written in this Book of the <f>[29†]</f>Law,


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so that the coming generation of your children who rise up after you, and the foreigner who comes from a far land, would say, when they <f>[30†]</f>see the plagues of that land and the sicknesses which the LORD has laid on it:


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<pb/>‘The whole land <i>is</i> brimstone, <f>[31†]</f>salt, and burning; it is not sown, nor does it bear, nor does any grass grow there, <f>[32†]</f>like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, which the LORD overthrew in His anger and His wrath.’


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“All nations would say, <f>[33†]</f>‘Why has the LORD done so to this land? What does the heat of this great anger mean?’


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Then <i>people</i> would say: ‘Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD God of their fathers, which He made with them when He brought them out of the land of Egypt;


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for they went and served other gods and worshiped them, gods that they did not know and that He had not given to them.


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Then the anger of the LORD was aroused against this land, <f>[34†]</f>to bring on it every curse that is written in this book.


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And the LORD <f>[35†]</f>uprooted them from their land in anger, in wrath, and in great indignation, and cast them into another land, as <i>it</i> <i>is</i> this day.’


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<pb/>“The secret <i>things</i> <i>belong</i> to the LORD our God, but those <i>things</i> <i>which</i> <i>are</i> revealed <i>belong</i> to us and to our children forever, that <i>we</i> may do all the words of this law.


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<pb/>“Now <f>[1†]</f>it shall come to pass, when <f>[2†]</f>all these things come upon you, the blessing and the <f>[3†]</f>curse which I have set before you, and <f>[4†]</f>you call <i>them</i> to mind among all the nations where the LORD your God drives you,


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and you <f>[5†]</f>return to the LORD your God and obey His voice, according to all that I command you today, you and your children, with all your heart and with all your soul,


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<f>[6†]</f>that the LORD your God will bring you back from captivity, and have compassion on you, and <f>[7†]</f>gather you again from all the nations where the LORD your God has scattered you.


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<f>[8†]</f>If <i>any</i> of you are driven out to the farthest <i>parts</i> under heaven, from there the LORD your God will gather you, and from there He will bring you.


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Then the LORD your God will bring you to the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it. He will prosper you and multiply you more than your fathers.


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And <f>[9†]</f>the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.


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<pb/>“Also the LORD your God will put all these <f>[10†]</f>curses on your enemies and on those who hate you, who persecuted you.


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And you will <f>[11†]</f>again obey the voice of the LORD and do all His commandments which I command you today.


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<f>[12†]</f>The LORD your God will make you abound in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your land for good. For the LORD will again <f>[13†]</f>rejoice over you for good as He rejoiced over your fathers,


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if you obey the voice of the LORD your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this Book of the Law, <i>and</i> if you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.


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<pb/>“For this commandment which I command you today <f>[14†]</f><i>is</i> not <i>too</i> mysterious for you, nor <i>is</i> it far off.


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<f>[15†]</f>It <i>is</i> not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend into heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’


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Nor <i>is</i> it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’


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But the word <i>is</i> very near you, <f>[16†]</f>in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.


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in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the LORD your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess.


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But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them,


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<f>[18†]</f>I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong <i>your</i> days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess.


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<f>[19†]</f>I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, <i>that</i> <f>[20†]</f>I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;


text:
that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He <i>is</i> your <f>[21†]</f>life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”


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And he said to them: “I <f>[1†]</f><i>am</i> one hundred and twenty years old today. I can no longer <f>[2†]</f>go out and come in. Also the LORD has said to me, <f>[3†]</f>‘You shall not cross over this Jordan.’


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The LORD your God <f>[4†]</f>Himself crosses over before you; He will destroy these nations from before you, and you shall dispossess them. <f>[5†]</f>Joshua himself crosses over before you, just <f>[6†]</f>as the LORD has said.


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<f>[7†]</f>And the LORD will do to them <f>[8†]</f>as He did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites and their land, when He destroyed them.


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<f>[9†]</f>The LORD will give them over to you, that you may do to them according to every commandment which I have commanded you.


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<f>[10†]</f>Be strong and of good courage, <f>[11†]</f>do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, <f>[12†]</f>He <i>is</i> the One who goes with you. <f>[13†]</f>He will not leave you nor forsake you.”


text:
<pb/>Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, <f>[14†]</f>“Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it.


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And the LORD, <f>[15†]</f>He <i>is</i> the One who goes before you. <f>[16†]</f>He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”


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<pb/>So Moses wrote this law <f>[17†]</f>and delivered it to the priests, the sons of Levi, <f>[18†]</f>who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and to all the elders of Israel.


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And Moses commanded them, saying: “At the end of <i>every</i> seven years, at the appointed time in the <f>[19†]</f>year of release, <f>[20†]</f>at the Feast of Tabernacles,


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when all Israel comes to <f>[21†]</f>appear before the LORD your God in the <f>[22†]</f>place which He chooses, <f>[23†]</f>you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing.


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<f>[24†]</f>Gather the people together, men and women and little ones, and the stranger who <i>is</i> within your gates, that they may hear and that they may learn to fear the LORD your God and carefully observe all the words of this law,


text:
and <i>that</i> their children, <f>[25†]</f>who have not known it, <f>[26†]</f>may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God as long as you live in the land which you cross the Jordan to possess.”


text:
<pb/>Then the LORD said to Moses, <f>[27†]</f>“Behold, the days approach when you must die; call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tabernacle of meeting, that <f>[28†]</f>I may inaugurate him.” <pb/>So Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves in the tabernacle of meeting.


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Now <f>[29†]</f>the LORD appeared at the tabernacle in a pillar of cloud, and the pillar of cloud stood above the door of the tabernacle.


text:
<pb/>And the LORD said to Moses: “Behold, you will rest with your fathers; and this people will <f>[30†]</f>rise and <f>[31†]</f>play the harlot with the gods of the foreigners of the land, where they go <i>to</i> <i>be</i> among them, and they will <f>[32†]</f>forsake Me and <f>[33†]</f>break My covenant which I have made with them.


text:
Then My anger shall be <f>[34†]</f>aroused against them in that day, and <f>[35†]</f>I will forsake them, and I will <f>[36†]</f>hide My face from them, and they shall be devoured. And many evils and troubles shall befall them, so that they will say in that day, <f>[37†]</f>‘Have not these evils come upon us because our God <i>is</i> <f>[38†]</f>not among us?’


text:
And <f>[39†]</f>I will surely hide My face in that day because of all the evil which they have done, in that they have turned to other gods.


text:
<pb/>“Now therefore, write down this song for yourselves, and teach it to the children of Israel; put it in their mouths, that this song may be <f>[40†]</f>a witness for Me against the children of Israel.


text:
When I have brought them to the land flowing with milk and honey, of which I swore to their fathers, and they have eaten and filled themselves <f>[41†]</f>and grown fat, <f>[42†]</f>then they will turn to other gods and serve them; and they will provoke Me and break My covenant.


text:
Then it shall be, <f>[43†]</f>when many evils and troubles have come upon them, that this song will testify against them as a witness; for it will not be forgotten in the mouths of their descendants, for <f>[44†]</f>I know the inclination <f>[45†]</f>of their behavior today, even before I have brought them to the land of which I swore <i>to</i> <i>give</i> <i>them.</i>”


text:
<f>[46†]</f>Then He inaugurated Joshua the son of Nun, and said, <f>[47†]</f>“Be strong and of good courage; for you shall bring the children of Israel into the land of which I swore to them, and I will be with you.”


text:
<pb/>So it was, when Moses had completed writing the words of this law in a book, when they were finished,


text:
“Take this Book of the Law, <f>[48†]</f>and put it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there <f>[49†]</f>as a witness against you;


text:
<f>[50†]</f>for I know your rebellion and your <f>[51†]</f>stiff neck. <i>If</i> today, while I am yet alive with you, you have been rebellious against the LORD, then how much more after my death?


text:
Gather to me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their hearing <f>[52†]</f>and call heaven and earth to witness against them.


text:
For I know that after my death you will <f>[53†]</f>become utterly corrupt, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you. And <f>[54†]</f>evil will befall you <f>[55†]</f>in the latter days, because you will do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him to anger through the work of your hands.”


text:
<pb/>Then Moses spoke in the hearing of all the assembly of Israel the words of this song until they were ended:


text:
<pb/><t>“Give <f>[1†]</f>ear, O heavens, and I will speak; </t><t>And hear, O <f>[2†]</f>earth, the words of my mouth.</t>


text:
<t>Let <f>[3†]</f>my teaching drop as the rain, </t><t>My speech distill as the dew, </t><t> <f>[4†]</f>As raindrops on the tender herb, </t><t>And as showers on the grass.</t>


text:
<t>For I proclaim the <f>[5†]</f>name of the LORD: </t><t> <f>[6†]</f>Ascribe greatness to our God.</t>


text:
<t><i>He</i> <i>is</i> <f>[7†]</f>the Rock, <f>[8†]</f>His work <i>is</i> perfect; </t><t>For all His ways <i>are</i> justice, </t><t> <f>[9†]</f>A God of truth and <f>[10†]</f>without injustice; </t><t>Righteous and upright <i>is</i> He.</t>


text:
<t>“They <f>[11†]</f> have corrupted themselves; </t><t><i>They</i> <i>are</i> not His children, </t><t>Because of their blemish: </t><t>A <f>[12†]</f>perverse and crooked generation.</t>


text:
<t>Do you thus <f>[13†]</f>deal with the LORD, </t><t>O foolish and unwise people? </t><t><i>Is</i> He not <f>[14†]</f>your Father, <i>who</i> <f>[15†]</f>bought you? </t><t>Has He not <f>[16†]</f>made you and established you?</t>


text:
<t>“Remember <f>[17†]</f> the days of old, </t><t>Consider the years of many generations. </t><t> <f>[18†]</f>Ask your father, and he will show you; </t><t>Your elders, and they will tell you:</t>


text:
<t>When the Most High <f>[19†]</f>divided their inheritance to the nations, </t><t>When He <f>[20†]</f>separated the sons of Adam, </t><t>He set the boundaries of the peoples </t><t>According to the number of the children of Israel.</t>


text:
<t>For <f>[21†]</f>the LORD’s portion <i>is</i> His people; </t><t>Jacob <i>is</i> the place of His inheritance.</t>


text:
<t>“He found him <f>[22†]</f>in a desert land </t><t>And in the wasteland, a howling wilderness; </t><t>He encircled him, He instructed him, </t><t>He <f>[23†]</f>kept him as the apple of His eye.</t>


text:
<t> <f>[24†]</f>As an eagle stirs up its nest, </t><t>Hovers over its young, </t><t>Spreading out its wings, taking them up, </t><t>Carrying them on its wings,</t>


text:
<t><i>So</i> the LORD alone led him, </t><t>And <i>there</i> <i>was</i> no foreign god with him.</t>


text:
<t>“He <f>[25†]</f> made him ride in the heights of the earth, </t><t>That he might eat the produce of the fields; </t><t>He made him draw honey from the rock, </t><t>And oil from the flinty rock;</t>


text:
<t>Curds from the cattle, and milk of the flock, </t><t> <f>[26†]</f>With fat of lambs; </t><t>And rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, </t><t>With the choicest wheat; </t><t>And you drank wine, the <f>[27†]</f>blood of the grapes.</t>


text:
<t>“But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked; </t><t> <f>[28†]</f>You grew fat, you grew thick, </t><t>You are obese! </t><t>Then he <f>[29†]</f>forsook God <i>who</i> <f>[30†]</f>made him, </t><t>And scornfully esteemed the <f>[31†]</f>Rock of his salvation.</t>


text:
<t> <f>[32†]</f>They provoked Him to jealousy with foreign <i>gods;</i> </t><t>With abominations they provoked Him to anger.</t>


text:
<t> <f>[33†]</f>They sacrificed to demons, not to God, </t><t><i>To</i> <i>gods</i> they did not know, </t><t>To new <i>gods,</i> new arrivals </t><t>That your fathers did not fear.</t>


text:
<t> <f>[34†]</f>Of the Rock <i>who</i> begot you, you are unmindful, </t><t>And have <f>[35†]</f>forgotten the God who fathered you.</t>


text:
<t>“And <f>[36†]</f> when the LORD saw <i>it,</i> He spurned <i>them,</i> </t><t>Because of the provocation of His sons and His daughters.</t>


text:
<t>And He said: ‘I will hide My face from them, </t><t>I will see what their end <i>will</i> <i>be,</i> </t><t>For they <i>are</i> a perverse generation, </t><t> <f>[37†]</f>Children in whom <i>is</i> no faith.</t>


text:
<t> <f>[38†]</f>They have provoked Me to jealousy by <i>what</i> is not God; </t><t>They have moved Me to anger <f>[39†]</f>by their foolish idols. </t><t>But <f>[40†]</f>I will provoke them to jealousy by <i>those</i> <i>who</i> <i>are</i> not a nation; </t><t>I will move them to anger by a foolish nation.</t>


text:
<t>For <f>[41†]</f>a fire is kindled in My anger, </t><t>And shall burn to the lowest hell; </t><t>It shall consume the earth with her increase, </t><t>And set on fire the foundations of the mountains.</t>


text:
<t>‘I will <f>[42†]</f>heap disasters on them; </t><t> <f>[43†]</f>I will spend My arrows on them.</t>


text:
<t><i>They</i> <i>shall</i> <i>be</i> wasted with hunger, </t><t>Devoured by pestilence and bitter destruction; </t><t>I will also send against them the <f>[44†]</f>teeth of beasts, </t><t>With the poison of serpents of the dust.</t>


text:
<t>The sword shall destroy outside; </t><t><i>There</i> <i>shall</i> <i>be</i> terror within </t><t>For the young man and virgin, </t><t>The nursing child with the man of gray hairs.</t>


text:
<t> <f>[45†]</f>I would have said, “I will dash them in pieces, </t><t>I will make the memory of them to cease from among men,”</t>


text:
<t>Had I not feared the wrath of the enemy, </t><t>Lest their adversaries should misunderstand, </t><t>Lest they should say, <f>[46†]</f>“Our hand <i>is</i> high; </t><t>And it is not the LORD who has done all this.” ’</t>


text:
<t>“For they <i>are</i> a nation void of counsel, </t><t>Nor <i>is</i> <i>there</i> <i>any</i> understanding in them.</t>


text:
<t> <f>[47†]</f>Oh, that they were wise, <i>that</i> they understood this, </t><t><i>That</i> they would consider their <f>[48†]</f>latter end!</t>


text:
<t>How could one chase a thousand, </t><t>And two put ten thousand to flight, </t><t>Unless their Rock <f>[49†]</f>had sold them, </t><t>And the LORD had surrendered them?</t>


text:
<t>For their rock <i>is</i> not like our Rock, </t><t> <f>[50†]</f>Even our enemies themselves <i>being</i> judges.</t>


text:
<t>For <f>[51†]</f>their vine <i>is</i> of the vine of Sodom </t><t>And of the fields of Gomorrah; </t><t>Their grapes <i>are</i> grapes of gall, </t><t>Their clusters <i>are</i> bitter.</t>


text:
<t>Their wine <i>is</i> <f>[52†]</f>the poison of serpents, </t><t>And the cruel <f>[53†]</f>venom of cobras.</t>


text:
<t>‘<i>Is</i> this not <f>[54†]</f>laid up in store with Me, </t><t>Sealed up among My treasures?</t>


text:
<t> <f>[55†]</f>Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; </t><t>Their foot shall slip in <i>due</i> time; </t><t> <f>[56†]</f>For the day of their calamity <i>is</i> at hand, </t><t>And the things to come hasten upon them.’</t>


text:
<t>“For <f>[57†]</f> the LORD will judge His people </t><t> <f>[58†]</f>And have compassion on His servants, </t><t>When He sees that <i>their</i> power is gone, </t><t>And <f>[59†]</f><i>there</i> <i>is</i> no one <i>remaining,</i> bond or free.</t>


text:
<t>He will say: <f>[60†]</f>‘Where <i>are</i> their gods, </t><t>The rock in which they sought refuge?</t>


text:
<t>Who ate the fat of their sacrifices, </t><t><i>And</i> drank the wine of their drink offering? </t><t>Let them rise and help you, </t><t><i>And</i> be your refuge.</t>


text:
<t>‘Now see that <f>[61†]</f>I, <i>even</i> I, <i>am</i> He, </t><t>And <f>[62†]</f><i>there</i> <i>is</i> no God besides Me; </t><t> <f>[63†]</f>I kill and I make alive; </t><t>I wound and I heal; </t><t>Nor <i>is</i> <i>there</i> <i>any</i> who can deliver from My hand.</t>


text:
<t> <f>[64†]</f>If I whet My glittering sword, </t><t>And My hand takes hold on judgment, </t><t>I will render vengeance to My enemies, </t><t>And repay those who hate Me.</t>


text:
<t>I will make My arrows drunk with blood, </t><t>And My sword shall devour flesh, </t><t>With the blood of the slain and the captives, </t><t>From the heads of the leaders of the enemy.” ’</t>


text:
<t>“Rejoice, <f>[65†]</f> O Gentiles, <i>with</i> His people; </t><t>For He will <f>[66†]</f>avenge the blood of His servants, </t><t>And render vengeance to His adversaries; </t><t>He <f>[67†]</f>will provide atonement for His land <i>and</i> His people.”</t>


text:
<pb/>So Moses came with Joshua the son of Nun and spoke all the words of this song in the hearing of the people.


text:
and he said to them: <f>[68†]</f>“Set your hearts on all the words which I testify among you today, which you shall command your <f>[69†]</f>children to be careful to observe—all the words of this law.


text:
For it <i>is</i> not a futile thing for you, because it <i>is</i> your <f>[70†]</f>life, and by this word you shall prolong <i>your</i> days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to possess.”


text:
<f>[71†]</f>“Go up this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which <i>is</i> in the land of Moab, across from Jericho; view the land of Canaan, which I give to the children of Israel as a possession;


text:
and die on the mountain which you ascend, and be gathered to your people, just as <f>[72†]</f>Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people;


text:
because <f>[73†]</f>you trespassed against Me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah Kadesh, in the Wilderness of Zin, because you <f>[74†]</f>did not hallow Me in the midst of the children of Israel.


text:
<f>[75†]</f>Yet you shall see the land before <i>you,</i> though you shall not go there, into the land which I am giving to the children of Israel.”


text:
<pb/>Now this <i>is</i> <f>[1†]</f>the blessing with which Moses <f>[2†]</f>the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death.


text:
And he said: <pb/><t> <f>[3†]</f>“The LORD came from Sinai, </t><t>And dawned on them from <f>[4†]</f>Seir; </t><t>He shone forth from <f>[5†]</f>Mount Paran, </t><t>And He came with <f>[6†]</f>ten thousands of saints; </t><t>From His right hand </t><t><i>Came</i> a fiery law for them.</t>


text:
<t>Yes, <f>[7†]</f>He loves the people; </t><t> <f>[8†]</f>All His saints <i>are</i> in Your hand; </t><t>They <f>[9†]</f>sit down at Your feet; </t><t><i>Everyone</i> <f>[10†]</f>receives Your words.</t>


text:
<t> <f>[11†]</f>Moses commanded a law for us, </t><t> <f>[12†]</f>A heritage of the congregation of Jacob.</t>


text:
<t>And He was <f>[13†]</f>King in <f>[14†]</f>Jeshurun, </t><t>When the leaders of the people were gathered, </t><t>All the tribes of Israel together.</t>


text:
<pb/>And this he said of <f>[16†]</f>Judah: <pb/><t>“Hear, LORD, the voice of Judah, </t><t>And bring him to his people; </t><t> <f>[17†]</f>Let his hands be sufficient for him, </t><t>And may You be <f>[18†]</f>a help against his enemies.”</t>


text:
<pb/>And of <f>[19†]</f>Levi he said: <pb/><t> <f>[20†]</f>“<i>Let</i> Your Thummim and Your Urim <i>be</i> with Your holy one, </t><t> <f>[21†]</f>Whom You tested at Massah, </t><t>And with whom You contended at the waters of Meribah,</t>


text:
<t> <f>[22†]</f>Who says of his father and mother, </t><t>‘I have not <f>[23†]</f>seen them’; </t><t> <f>[24†]</f>Nor did he acknowledge his brothers, </t><t>Or know his own children; </t><t>For <f>[25†]</f>they have observed Your word </t><t>And kept Your covenant.</t>


text:
<t> <f>[26†]</f>They shall teach Jacob Your judgments, </t><t>And Israel Your law. </t><t>They shall put incense before You, </t><t> <f>[27†]</f>And a whole burnt sacrifice on Your altar.</t>


text:
<t>Bless his substance, LORD, </t><t>And <f>[28†]</f>accept the work of his hands; </t><t>Strike the loins of those who rise against him, </t><t>And of those who hate him, that they rise not again.”</t>


text:
<pb/>Of Benjamin he said: <pb/><t>“The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety by Him, </t><t><i>Who</i> shelters him all the day long; </t><t>And he shall dwell between His shoulders.”</t>


text:
<pb/>And of Joseph he said: <pb/><t> <f>[29†]</f>“Blessed of the LORD <i>is</i> his land, </t><t>With the precious things of heaven, with the <f>[30†]</f>dew, </t><t>And the deep lying beneath,</t>


text:
<t>With the best things of <f>[31†]</f>the ancient mountains, </t><t>With the precious things <f>[32†]</f>of the everlasting hills,</t>


text:
<t>With the precious things of the earth and its fullness, </t><t>And the favor of <f>[33†]</f>Him who dwelt in the bush. </t><t>Let <i>the</i> <i>blessing</i> come <f>[34†]</f>‘on the head of Joseph, </t><t>And on the crown of the head of him <i>who</i> <i>was</i> separate from his brothers.’</t>


text:
<t>His glory <i>is</i> <i>like</i> a <f>[35†]</f>firstborn bull, </t><t>And his horns <i>like</i> the <f>[36†]</f>horns of the wild ox; </t><t>Together with them </t><t> <f>[37†]</f>He shall push the peoples </t><t>To the ends of the earth; </t><t> <f>[38†]</f>They <i>are</i> the ten thousands of Ephraim, </t><t>And they <i>are</i> the thousands of Manasseh.”</t>


text:
<pb/>And of Zebulun he said: <pb/><t> <f>[39†]</f>“Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out, </t><t>And Issachar in your tents!</t>


text:
<t>They shall <f>[40†]</f>call the peoples <i>to</i> the mountain; </t><t>There <f>[41†]</f>they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness; </t><t>For they shall partake <i>of</i> the abundance of the seas </t><t>And <i>of</i> treasures hidden in the sand.”</t>


text:
<pb/>And of Gad he said: <pb/><t>“Blessed <i>is</i> he who <f>[42†]</f>enlarges Gad; </t><t>He dwells as a lion, </t><t>And tears the arm and the crown of his head.</t>


text:
<t> <f>[43†]</f>He provided the first <i>part</i> for himself, </t><t>Because a lawgiver’s portion was reserved there. </t><t> <f>[44†]</f>He came <i>with</i> the heads of the people; </t><t>He administered the justice of the LORD, </t><t>And His judgments with Israel.”</t>


text:
<pb/>And of Dan he said: <pb/><t>“Dan <i>is</i> a lion’s whelp; </t><t> <f>[45†]</f>He shall leap from Bashan.”</t>


text:
<pb/>And of Naphtali he said: <pb/><t>“O Naphtali, <f>[46†]</f>satisfied with favor, </t><t>And full of the blessing of the LORD, </t><t> <f>[47†]</f>Possess the west and the south.”</t>


text:
<pb/>And of Asher he said: <pb/><t> <f>[48†]</f>“Asher <i>is</i> most blessed of sons; </t><t>Let him be favored by his brothers, </t><t>And let him <f>[49†]</f>dip his foot in oil.</t>


text:
<t>Your sandals <i>shall</i> <i>be</i> <f>[50†]</f>iron and bronze; </t><t>As your days, <i>so</i> <i>shall</i> your strength <i>be.</i></t>


text:
<t>“<i>There</i> <i>is</i> <f>[51†]</f>no one like the God of <f>[52†]</f>Jeshurun, </t><t> <f>[53†]</f><i>Who</i> rides the heavens to help you, </t><t>And in His excellency on the clouds.</t>


text:
<t>The eternal God <i>is</i> <i>your</i> <f>[54†]</f>refuge, </t><t>And underneath <i>are</i> the everlasting arms; </t><t> <f>[55†]</f>He will thrust out the enemy from before you, </t><t>And will say, ‘Destroy!’</t>


text:
<t>Then <f>[56†]</f>Israel shall dwell in safety, </t><t> <f>[57†]</f>The fountain of Jacob <f>[58†]</f>alone, </t><t>In a land of grain and new wine; </t><t>His <f>[59†]</f>heavens shall also drop dew.</t>


text:
<t> <f>[60†]</f>Happy <i>are</i> you, O Israel! </t><t> <f>[61†]</f>Who <i>is</i> like you, a people saved by the LORD, </t><t> <f>[62†]</f>The shield of your help </t><t>And the sword of your majesty! </t><t>Your enemies <f>[63†]</f>shall submit to you, </t><t>And <f>[64†]</f>you shall tread down their high places.”</t>


text:
<pb/>Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to <f>[1†]</f>Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is across from Jericho. And the LORD showed him all the land of Gilead as far as Dan,


text:
the South, and the plain of the Valley of Jericho, <f>[2†]</f>the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar.


text:
Then the LORD said to him, <f>[3†]</f>“This <i>is</i> the land of which I swore to give Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ <f>[4†]</f>I have caused you to see <i>it</i> with your eyes, but you shall not cross over there.”


text:
<pb/> <f>[5†]</f>So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD.


text:
And He buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth Peor; but <f>[6†]</f>no one knows his grave to this day.


text:
<f>[7†]</f>Moses <i>was</i> one hundred and twenty years old when he died. <f>[8†]</f>His eyes were not dim nor his natural vigor diminished.


text:
And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab <f>[9†]</f>thirty days. So the days of weeping <i>and</i> mourning for Moses ended.


text:
<pb/>Now Joshua the son of Nun was full of the <f>[10†]</f>spirit of wisdom, for <f>[11†]</f>Moses had laid his hands on him; so the children of Israel heeded him, and did as the LORD had commanded Moses.


text:
<pb/>But since then there <f>[12†]</f>has not arisen in Israel a prophet like Moses, <f>[13†]</f>whom the LORD knew face to face,


text:
in all <f>[14†]</f>the signs and wonders which the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt, before Pharaoh, before all his servants, and in all his land,


text:
and by all that mighty power and all the great terror which Moses performed in the sight of all Israel.


text:
<pb/>After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, it came to pass that the LORD spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ <f>[1†]</f>assistant, saying:


text:
<f>[2†]</f>“Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel.


text:
<f>[3†]</f>Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses.


text:
<f>[4†]</f>From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory.


text:
<f>[5†]</f>No man shall <i>be</i> <i>able</i> <i>to</i> stand before you all the days of your life; <f>[6†]</f>as I was with Moses, <i>so</i> <f>[7†]</f>I will be with you. <f>[8†]</f>I will not leave you nor forsake you.


text:
<f>[9†]</f>Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.


text:
Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law <f>[10†]</f>which Moses My servant commanded you; <f>[11†]</f>do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.


text:
<f>[12†]</f>This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but <f>[13†]</f>you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.


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<f>[14†]</f>Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; <f>[15†]</f>do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God <i>is</i> with you wherever you go.”


text:
“Pass through the camp and command the people, saying, ‘Prepare provisions for yourselves, for <f>[16†]</f>within three days you will cross over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God is giving you to possess.’ ”


text:
“Remember <f>[17†]</f>the word which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, ‘The LORD your God is giving you rest and is giving you this land.’


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Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock shall remain in the land which Moses gave you on this side of the Jordan. But you shall pass before your brethren armed, all your mighty men of valor, and help them,


text:
until the LORD has given your brethren rest, as He <i>gave</i> you, and they also have taken possession of the land which the LORD your God is giving them. <f>[18†]</f>Then you shall return to the land of your possession and enjoy it, which Moses the LORD’s servant gave you on this side of the Jordan toward the sunrise.”


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<pb/>So they answered Joshua, saying, “All that you command us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.


text:
Just as we heeded Moses in all things, so we will heed you. Only the LORD your God <f>[19†]</f>be with you, as He was with Moses.


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Whoever rebels against your command and does not heed your words, in all that you command him, shall be put to death. Only be strong and of good courage.”


text:
<pb/>Now Joshua the son of Nun sent out two men <f>[1†]</f>from Acacia Grove to spy secretly, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” So they went, and <f>[2†]</f>came to the house of a harlot named <f>[3†]</f>Rahab, and lodged there.


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And <f>[4†]</f>it was told the king of Jericho, saying, “Behold, men have come here tonight from the children of Israel to search out the country.”


text:
<pb/>So the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to search out all the country.”


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<pb/> <f>[5†]</f>Then the woman took the two men and hid them. So she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they <i>were</i> from.


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And it happened as the gate was being shut, when it was dark, that the men went out. Where the men went I do not know; pursue them quickly, for you may overtake them.”


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(But <f>[6†]</f>she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order on the roof.)


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Then the men pursued them by the road to the Jordan, to the fords. And as soon as those who pursued them had gone out, they shut the gate.


text:
and said to the men: <f>[7†]</f>“I know that the LORD has given you the land, that <f>[8†]</f>the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land <f>[9†]</f>are fainthearted because of you.


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For we have heard how the LORD <f>[10†]</f>dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and <f>[11†]</f>what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who <i>were</i> on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you <f>[12†]</f>utterly destroyed.


text:
And as soon as we <f>[13†]</f>heard <i>these</i> <i>things,</i> <f>[14†]</f>our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for <f>[15†]</f>the LORD your God, He <i>is</i> God in heaven above and on earth beneath.


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Now therefore, I beg you, <f>[16†]</f>swear to me by the LORD, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to <f>[17†]</f>my father’s house, and <f>[18†]</f>give me a true token,


text:
and <f>[19†]</f>spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.”


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<pb/>So the men answered her, “Our lives for yours, if none of you tell this business of ours. And it shall be, when the LORD has given us the land, that <f>[20†]</f>we will deal kindly and truly with you.”


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<pb/>Then she <f>[21†]</f>let them down by a rope through the window, for her house <i>was</i> on the city wall; she dwelt on the wall.


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And she said to them, “Get to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you. Hide there three days, until the pursuers have returned. Afterward you may go your way.”


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<pb/>So the men said to her: “We <i>will</i> <i>be</i> <f>[22†]</f>blameless of this oath of yours which you have made us swear,


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<f>[23†]</f>unless, <i>when</i> we come into the land, you bind this line of scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, <f>[24†]</f>and unless you bring your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your father’s household to your own home.


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So it shall be <i>that</i> whoever goes outside the doors of your house into the street, his blood <i>shall</i> <i>be</i> on his own head, and we <i>will</i> <i>be</i> guiltless. And whoever is with you in the house, <f>[25†]</f>his blood <i>shall</i> <i>be</i> on our head if a hand is laid on him.


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And if you tell this business of ours, then we will be free from your oath which you made us swear.”


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<pb/>Then she said, “According to your words, so <i>be</i> it.” And she sent them away, and they departed. And she bound the scarlet cord in the window.


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<pb/>They departed and went to the mountain, and stayed there three days until the pursuers returned. The pursuers sought <i>them</i> all along the way, but did not find <i>them.</i>


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So the two men returned, descended from the mountain, and crossed over; and they came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all that had befallen them.


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And they said to Joshua, “Truly <f>[26†]</f>the LORD has delivered all the land into our hands, for indeed all the inhabitants of the country are fainthearted because of us.”


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<pb/>Then Joshua rose early in the morning; and they set out <f>[1†]</f>from Acacia Grove and came to the Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they crossed over.


text:
and they commanded the people, saying, <f>[3†]</f>“When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, <f>[4†]</f>and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it.


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<f>[5†]</f>Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed <i>this</i> way before.”


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<pb/>And Joshua said to the people, <f>[6†]</f>“Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.”


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Then Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, <f>[7†]</f>“Take up the ark of the covenant and cross over before the people.” <pb/>So they took up the ark of the covenant and went before the people.


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<pb/>And the LORD said to Joshua, “This day I will begin to <f>[8†]</f>exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, <f>[9†]</f>as I was with Moses, <i>so</i> I will be with you.


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You shall command <f>[10†]</f>the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, saying, ‘When you have come to the edge of the water of the Jordan, <f>[11†]</f>you shall stand in the Jordan.’ ”


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<pb/>So Joshua said to the children of Israel, “Come here, and hear the words of the LORD your God.”


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And Joshua said, “By this you shall know that <f>[12†]</f>the living God <i>is</i> among you, and <i>that</i> He will without fail <f>[13†]</f>drive out from before you the <f>[14†]</f>Canaanites and the Hittites and the Hivites and the Perizzites and the Girgashites and the Amorites and the Jebusites:


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Behold, the ark of the covenant of <f>[15†]</f>the Lord of all the earth is crossing over before you into the Jordan.


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Now therefore, <f>[16†]</f>take for yourselves twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one man from every tribe.


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And it shall come to pass, <f>[17†]</f>as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of the LORD, <f>[18†]</f>the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, <i>that</i> the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off, the waters that come down from upstream, and they <f>[19†]</f>shall stand as a heap.”


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<pb/>So it was, when the people set out from their camp to cross over the Jordan, with the priests bearing the <f>[20†]</f>ark of the covenant before the people,


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and as those who bore the ark came to the Jordan, and <f>[21†]</f>the feet of the priests who bore the ark dipped in the edge of the water (for the <f>[22†]</f>Jordan overflows all its banks <f>[23†]</f>during the whole time of harvest),


text:
that the waters which came down from upstream stood <i>still, and</i> rose in a heap very far away at Adam, the city that <i>is</i> beside <f>[24†]</f>Zaretan. So the waters that went down <f>[25†]</f>into the Sea of the Arabah, <f>[26†]</f>the Salt Sea, failed, <i>and</i> were cut off; and the people crossed over opposite Jericho.


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Then the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan; <f>[27†]</f>and all Israel crossed over on dry ground, until all the people had crossed completely over the Jordan.


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<pb/>And it came to pass, when all the people had completely crossed <f>[1†]</f>over the Jordan, that the LORD spoke to Joshua, saying:


text:
and command them, saying, ‘Take for yourselves twelve stones from here, out of the midst of the Jordan, from the place where <f>[3†]</f>the priests’ feet stood firm. You shall carry them over with you and leave them in <f>[4†]</f>the lodging place where you lodge tonight.’ ”


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<pb/>Then Joshua called the twelve men whom he had appointed from the children of Israel, one man from every tribe;


text:
and Joshua said to them: “Cross over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of the Jordan, and each one of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel,


text:
that this may be <f>[5†]</f>a sign among you <f>[6†]</f>when your children ask in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stones <i>mean</i> to you?’


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Then you shall answer them that <f>[7†]</f>the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for <f>[8†]</f>a memorial to the children of Israel forever.”


text:
<pb/>And the children of Israel did so, just as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones from the midst of the Jordan, as the LORD had spoken to Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with them to the place where they lodged, and laid them down there.


text:
Then Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests who bore the ark of the covenant stood; and they are there to this day.


text:
<pb/>So the priests who bore the ark stood in the midst of the Jordan until everything was finished that the LORD had commanded Joshua to speak to the people, according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua; and the people hurried and crossed over.


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Then it came to pass, when all the people had completely crossed over, that the <f>[9†]</f>ark of the LORD and the priests crossed over in the presence of the people.


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And <f>[10†]</f>the men of Reuben, the men of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh crossed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses had spoken to them.


text:
About forty thousand prepared for war crossed over before the LORD for battle, to the plains of Jericho.


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On that day the LORD <f>[11†]</f>exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they had feared Moses, all the days of his life.


text:
And it came to pass, when the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD had come from the midst of the Jordan, <i>and</i> the soles of the priests’ feet touched the dry land, that the waters of the Jordan returned to their place <f>[13†]</f>and overflowed all its banks as before.


text:
<pb/>Now the people came up from the Jordan on the tenth <i>day</i> of the first month, and they camped <f>[14†]</f>in Gilgal on the east border of Jericho.


text:
Then he spoke to the children of Israel, saying: <f>[16†]</f>“When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What <i>are</i> these stones?’


text:
then you shall let your children know, saying, <f>[17†]</f>‘Israel crossed over this Jordan on <f>[18†]</f>dry land’;


text:
for the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, <f>[19†]</f>which He dried up before us until we had crossed over,


text:
<f>[20†]</f>that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the LORD, that it <i>is</i> <f>[21†]</f>mighty, that you may <f>[22†]</f>fear the LORD your God forever.”


text:
<pb/>So it was, when all the kings of the Amorites who <i>were</i> on the west side of the Jordan, and all the kings of the Canaanites <f>[1†]</f>who <i>were</i> by the sea, <f>[2†]</f>heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan from before the children of Israel until we had crossed over, that their heart melted; <f>[3†]</f>and there was no spirit in them any longer because of the children of Israel.


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<pb/>At that time the LORD said to Joshua, “Make <f>[4†]</f>flint knives for yourself, and circumcise the sons of Israel again the second time.”


text:
So Joshua made flint knives for himself, and circumcised the sons of Israel at the hill of the foreskins.


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And this <i>is</i> the reason why Joshua circumcised them: <f>[5†]</f>All the people who came out of Egypt <i>who</i> <i>were</i> males, all the men of war, had died in the wilderness on the way, after they had come out of Egypt.


text:
For all the people who came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the wilderness, on the way as they came out of Egypt, had not been circumcised.


text:
For the children of Israel walked <f>[6†]</f>forty years in the wilderness, till all the people <i>who</i> <i>were</i> men of war, who came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they did not obey the voice of the LORD—to whom the LORD swore that <f>[7†]</f>He would not show them the land which the LORD had sworn to their fathers that He would give us, <f>[8†]</f>“a land flowing with milk and honey.”


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Then Joshua circumcised <f>[9†]</f>their sons <i>whom</i> He raised up in their place; for they were uncircumcised, because they had not been circumcised on the way.


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<pb/>So it was, when they had finished circumcising all the people, that they stayed in their places in the camp <f>[10†]</f>till they were healed.


text:
Then the LORD said to Joshua, “This day I have rolled away <f>[11†]</f>the reproach of Egypt from you.” Therefore the name of the place is called <f>[12†]</f>Gilgal to this day.


text:
<pb/>Now the children of Israel camped in Gilgal, and kept the Passover <f>[13†]</f>on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight on the plains of Jericho.


text:
And they ate of the produce of the land on the day after the Passover, unleavened bread and parched grain, on the very same day.


text:
Then <f>[14†]</f>the manna ceased on the day after they had eaten the produce of the land; and the children of Israel no longer had manna, but they ate the food of the land of Canaan that year.


text:
<pb/>And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, <f>[15†]</f>a Man stood opposite him <f>[16†]</f>with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, “<i>Are</i> You for us or for our adversaries?”


text:
<pb/>So He said, “No, but <i>as</i> Commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.” <pb/>And Joshua <f>[17†]</f>fell on his face to the earth and <f>[18†]</f>worshiped, and said to Him, “What does my Lord say to His servant?”


text:
<pb/>Then the Commander of the LORD’s army said to Joshua, <f>[19†]</f>“Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand <i>is</i> holy.” And Joshua did so.


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<pb/>Now <f>[1†]</f>Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in.


text:
And the LORD said to Joshua: “See! <f>[2†]</f>I have given Jericho into your hand, its <f>[3†]</f>king, <i>and</i> the mighty men of valor.


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You shall march around the city, all <i>you</i> men of war; you shall go all around the city once. This you shall do six days.


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And seven priests shall bear seven <f>[4†]</f>trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. But the seventh day you shall march around the city <f>[5†]</f>seven times, and <f>[6†]</f>the priests shall blow the trumpets.


text:
It shall come to pass, when they make a long <i>blast</i> with the ram’s horn, <i>and</i> when you hear the sound of the trumpet, that all the people shall shout with a great shout; then the wall of the city will fall down flat. And the people shall go up every man straight before him.”


text:
<pb/>Then Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the LORD.”


text:
And he said to the people, “Proceed, and march around the city, and let him who is armed advance before the ark of the LORD.”


text:
<pb/>So it was, when Joshua had spoken to the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the LORD advanced and blew the trumpets, and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them.


text:
The armed men went before the priests who blew the trumpets, <f>[7†]</f>and the rear guard came after the ark, while <i>the</i> <i>priests</i> continued blowing the trumpets.


text:
Now Joshua had commanded the people, saying, “You shall not shout or make any noise with your voice, nor shall a word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I say to you, ‘Shout!’ Then you shall shout.”


text:
So he had <f>[8†]</f>the ark of the LORD circle the city, going around <i>it</i> once. Then they came into the camp and lodged in the camp.


text:
Then seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the LORD went on continually and blew with the trumpets. And the armed men went before them. But the rear guard came after the ark of the LORD, while <i>the</i> <i>priests</i> continued blowing the trumpets.


text:
And the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. So they did six days.


text:
<pb/>But it came to pass on the seventh day that they rose early, about the dawning of the day, and marched around the city seven times in the same manner. On that day only they marched around the city seven times.


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And the seventh time it happened, when the priests blew the trumpets, that Joshua said to the people: “Shout, for the LORD has given you the city!


text:
Now the city shall be <f>[10†]</f>doomed by the LORD to destruction, it and all who <i>are</i> in it. Only <f>[11†]</f>Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all who <i>are</i> with her in the house, because <f>[12†]</f>she hid the messengers that we sent.


text:
And you, <f>[13†]</f>by all means abstain from the accursed things, lest you become accursed when you take of the accursed things, and make the camp of Israel a curse, <f>[14†]</f>and trouble it.


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But all the silver and gold, and vessels of bronze and iron, <i>are</i> consecrated to the LORD; they shall come into the treasury of the LORD.”


text:
<pb/>So the people shouted when <i>the</i> <i>priests</i> blew the trumpets. And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that <f>[15†]</f>the wall fell down flat. Then the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.


text:
And they <f>[16†]</f>utterly destroyed all that <i>was</i> in the city, both man and woman, young and old, ox and sheep and donkey, with the edge of the sword.


text:
<pb/>But Joshua had said to the two men who had spied out the country, “Go into the harlot’s house, and from there bring out the woman and all that she has, <f>[17†]</f>as you swore to her.”


text:
And the young men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab, <f>[18†]</f>her father, her mother, her brothers, and all that she had. So they brought out all her relatives and left them outside the camp of Israel.


text:
But they burned the city and all that <i>was</i> in it with fire. Only the silver and gold, and the vessels of bronze and iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD.


text:
And Joshua spared Rahab the harlot, her father’s household, and all that she had. So <f>[19†]</f>she dwells in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.


text:
<pb/>Then Joshua charged <i>them</i> at that time, saying, <f>[20†]</f>“Cursed <i>be</i> the man before the LORD who rises up and builds this city Jericho; he shall lay its foundation with his firstborn, and with his youngest he shall set up its gates.”


text:
<pb/>But the children of Israel committed a <f>[1†]</f>trespass regarding the <f>[2†]</f>accursed things, for <f>[3†]</f>Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed things; so the anger of the LORD burned against the children of Israel.


text:
<pb/>Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which <i>is</i> beside Beth Aven, on the east side of Bethel, and spoke to them, saying, “Go up and spy out the country.” So the men went up and spied out Ai.


text:
And they returned to Joshua and said to him, “Do not let all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai. Do not weary all the people there, for <i>the</i> <i>people</i> <i>of</i> <i>Ai</i> <i>are</i> few.”


text:
So about three thousand men went up there from the people, <f>[4†]</f>but they fled before the men of Ai.


text:
And the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six men, for they chased them <i>from</i> before the gate as far as Shebarim, and struck them down on the descent; therefore <f>[5†]</f>the hearts of the people melted and became like water.


text:
<pb/>Then Joshua <f>[6†]</f>tore his clothes, and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the LORD until evening, he and the elders of Israel; and they <f>[7†]</f>put dust on their heads.


text:
And Joshua said, “Alas, Lord GOD, <f>[8†]</f>why have You brought this people over the Jordan at all—to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? Oh, that we had been content, and dwelt on the other side of the Jordan!


text:
For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear <i>it,</i> and surround us, and <f>[9†]</f>cut off our name from the earth. Then <f>[10†]</f>what will You do for Your great name?”


text:
Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. <f>[11†]</f>For they have even taken some of the accursed things, and have both stolen and <f>[12†]</f>deceived; and they have also put <i>it</i> among their own stuff.


text:
<f>[13†]</f>Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, <i>but</i> turned <i>their</i> backs before their enemies, because <f>[14†]</f>they have become doomed to destruction. Neither will I be with you anymore, unless you destroy the accursed from among you.


text:
Get up, <f>[15†]</f>sanctify the people, and say, <f>[16†]</f>‘Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow, because thus says the LORD God of Israel: “<i>There</i> <i>is</i> an accursed thing in your midst, O Israel; you cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the accursed thing from among you.”


text:
In the morning therefore you shall be brought according to your tribes. And it shall be <i>that</i> the tribe which <f>[17†]</f>the LORD takes shall come according to families; and the family which the LORD takes shall come by households; and the household which the LORD takes shall come man by man.


text:
<f>[18†]</f>Then it shall be <i>that</i> he who is taken with the accursed thing shall be burned with fire, he and all that he has, because he has <f>[19†]</f>transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and because he <f>[20†]</f>has done a disgraceful thing in Israel.’ ”


text:
<pb/>So Joshua rose early in the morning and brought Israel by their tribes, and the tribe of Judah was taken.


text:
He brought the clan of Judah, and he took the family of the Zarhites; and he brought the family of the Zarhites man by man, and Zabdi was taken.


text:
Then he brought his household man by man, and Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, <f>[21†]</f>was taken.


text:
<pb/>Now Joshua said to Achan, “My son, I beg you, <f>[22†]</f>give glory to the LORD God of Israel, <f>[23†]</f>and make confession to Him, and <f>[24†]</f>tell me now what you have done; do not hide <i>it</i> from me.”


text:
<pb/>And Achan answered Joshua and said, “Indeed <f>[25†]</f>I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and this is what I have done:


text:
When I saw among the spoils a beautiful Babylonian garment, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. And there they are, hidden in the earth in the midst of my tent, with the silver under it.”


text:
<pb/>So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent; and there it was, hidden in his tent, with the silver under it.


text:
And they took them from the midst of the tent, brought them to Joshua and to all the children of Israel, and laid them out before the LORD.


text:
Then Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, the silver, the garment, the wedge of gold, his sons, his daughters, his oxen, his donkeys, his sheep, his tent, and <f>[26†]</f>all that he had, and they brought them to <f>[27†]</f>the Valley of Achor.


text:
And Joshua said, <f>[28†]</f>“Why have you troubled us? The LORD will trouble you this day.” <f>[29†]</f>So all Israel stoned him with stones; and they burned them with fire after they had stoned them with stones.


text:
<pb/>Then they <f>[30†]</f>raised over him a great heap of stones, still there to this day. So <f>[31†]</f>the LORD turned from the fierceness of His anger. Therefore the name of that place has been called <f>[32†]</f>the Valley of Achor to this day.


text:
<pb/>Now the LORD said to Joshua: <f>[1†]</f>“Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; take all the people of war with you, and arise, go up to Ai. See, <f>[2†]</f>I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land.


text:
And you shall do to Ai and its king as you did to <f>[3†]</f>Jericho and its king. Only <f>[4†]</f>its spoil and its cattle you shall take as booty for yourselves. Lay an ambush for the city behind it.”


text:
<pb/>So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up against Ai; and Joshua chose thirty thousand mighty men of valor and sent them away by night.


text:
And he commanded them, saying: “Behold, <f>[5†]</f>you shall lie in ambush against the city, behind the city. Do not go very far from the city, but all of you be ready.


text:
Then I and all the people who <i>are</i> with me will approach the city; and it will come about, when they come out against us as at the first, that <f>[6†]</f>we shall flee before them.


text:
For they will come out after us till we have drawn them from the city, for they will say, ‘<i>They</i> <i>are</i> fleeing before us as at the first.’ Therefore we will flee before them.


text:
Then you shall rise from the ambush and seize the city, for the LORD your God will deliver it into your hand.


text:
And it will be, when you have taken the city, <i>that</i> you shall set the city on fire. According to the commandment of the LORD you shall do. <f>[7†]</f>See, I have commanded you.”


text:
<pb/>Joshua therefore sent them out; and they went to lie in ambush, and stayed between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai; but Joshua lodged that night among the people.


text:
Then Joshua rose up early in the morning and mustered the people, and went up, he and the elders of Israel, before the people to Ai.


text:
<f>[8†]</f>And all the people of war who <i>were</i> with him went up and drew near; and they came before the city and camped on the north side of Ai. Now a valley <i>lay</i> between them and Ai.


text:
So he took about five thousand men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city.


text:
And when they had set the people, all the army that <i>was</i> on the north of the city, and its rear guard on the west of the city, Joshua went that night into the midst of the valley.


text:
<pb/>Now it happened, when the king of Ai saw <i>it,</i> that the men of the city hurried and rose early and went out against Israel to battle, he and all his people, at an appointed place before the plain. But he <f>[9†]</f>did not know that <i>there</i> <i>was</i> an ambush against him behind the city.


text:
And Joshua and all Israel <f>[10†]</f>made as if they were beaten before them, and fled by the way of the wilderness.


text:
So all the people who <i>were</i> in Ai were called together to pursue them. And they pursued Joshua and were drawn away from the city.


text:
There was not a man left in Ai or Bethel who did not go out after Israel. So they left the city open and pursued Israel.


text:
<pb/>Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Stretch out the spear that <i>is</i> in your hand toward Ai, for I will give it into your hand.” And Joshua stretched out the spear that <i>was</i> in his hand toward the city.


text:
So <i>those</i> <i>in</i> ambush arose quickly out of their place; they ran as soon as he had stretched out his hand, and they entered the city and took it, and hurried to set the city on fire.


text:
And when the men of Ai looked behind them, they saw, and behold, the smoke of the city ascended to heaven. So they had no power to flee this way or that way, and the people who had fled to the wilderness turned back on the pursuers.


text:
<pb/>Now when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city and that the smoke of the city ascended, they turned back and struck down the men of Ai.


text:
Then the others came out of the city against them; so they were <i>caught</i> in the midst of Israel, some on this side and some on that side. And they struck them down, so that they <f>[11†]</f>let none of them remain or escape.


text:
<pb/>And it came to pass when Israel had made an end of slaying all the inhabitants of Ai in the field, in the wilderness where they pursued them, and when they all had fallen by the edge of the sword until they were consumed, that all the Israelites returned to Ai and struck it with the edge of the sword.


text:
So it was <i>that</i> all who fell that day, both men and women, <i>were</i> twelve thousand—all the people of Ai.


text:
For Joshua did not draw back his hand, with which he stretched out the spear, until he had <f>[12†]</f>utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.


text:
<f>[13†]</f>Only the livestock and the spoil of that city Israel took as booty for themselves, according to the word of the LORD which He had <f>[14†]</f>commanded Joshua.


text:
<f>[16†]</f>And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until evening. <f>[17†]</f>And as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded that they should take his corpse down from the tree, cast it at the entrance of the gate of the city, and <f>[18†]</f>raise over it a great heap of stones <i>that</i> <i>remains</i> to this day.


text:
as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the Book of the Law of Moses: <f>[20†]</f>“an altar of whole stones over which no man has wielded an iron <i>tool.</i>” And <f>[21†]</f>they offered on it burnt offerings to the LORD, and sacrificed peace offerings.


text:
And there, in the presence of the children of Israel, <f>[22†]</f>he wrote on the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he had written.


text:
Then all Israel, with their elders and officers and judges, stood on either side of the ark before the priests, the Levites, <f>[23†]</f>who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD, <f>[24†]</f>the stranger as well as he who was born among them. Half of them <i>were</i> in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, <f>[25†]</f>as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel.


text:
And afterward <f>[26†]</f>he read all the words of the law, <f>[27†]</f>the blessings and the cursings, according to all that is written in the <f>[28†]</f>Book of the Law.


text:
There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded which Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel, <f>[29†]</f>with the women, the little ones, <f>[30†]</f>and the strangers who were living among them.


text:
<pb/>And it came to pass when <f>[1†]</f>all the kings who <i>were</i> on this side of the Jordan, in the hills and in the lowland and in all the coasts of <f>[2†]</f>the Great Sea toward Lebanon— <f>[3†]</f>the Hittite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite—heard <i>about</i> <i>it,</i>


text:
<pb/>But when the inhabitants of <f>[5†]</f>Gibeon <f>[6†]</f>heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,


text:
they worked craftily, and went and pretended to be ambassadors. And they took old sacks on their donkeys, old wineskins torn and mended,


text:
old and patched sandals on their feet, and old garments on themselves; and all the bread of their provision was dry <i>and</i> moldy.


text:
And they went to Joshua, <f>[7†]</f>to the camp at Gilgal, and said to him and to the men of Israel, “We have come from a far country; now therefore, make a covenant with us.”


text:
<pb/>Then the men of Israel said to the <f>[8†]</f>Hivites, “Perhaps you dwell among us; so <f>[9†]</f>how can we make a covenant with you?”


text:
<pb/>But they said to Joshua, <f>[10†]</f>“We <i>are</i> your servants.” <pb/>And Joshua said to them, “Who <i>are</i> you, and where do you come from?”


text:
<pb/>So they said to him: <f>[11†]</f>“From a very far country your servants have come, because of the name of the LORD your God; for we have <f>[12†]</f>heard of His fame, and all that He did in Egypt,


text:
and <f>[13†]</f>all that He did to the two kings of the Amorites who <i>were</i> beyond the Jordan—to Sihon king of Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who was at Ashtaroth.


text:
Therefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying, ‘Take provisions with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say to them, “We <i>are</i> your servants; now therefore, make a covenant with us.” ’


text:
This bread of ours we took hot <i>for</i> our provision from our houses on the day we departed to come to you. But now look, it is dry and moldy.


text:
And these wineskins which we filled <i>were</i> new, and see, they are torn; and these our garments and our sandals have become old because of the very long journey.”


text:
<pb/>Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions; <f>[14†]</f>but they did not ask counsel of the LORD.


text:
So Joshua <f>[15†]</f>made peace with them, and made a covenant with them to let them live; and the rulers of the congregation swore to them.


text:
<pb/>And it happened at the end of three days, after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they <i>were</i> their neighbors who dwelt near them.


text:
Then the children of Israel journeyed and came to their cities on the third day. Now their cities <i>were</i> <f>[16†]</f>Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kirjath Jearim.


text:
But the children of Israel did not attack them, <f>[17†]</f>because the rulers of the congregation had sworn to them by the LORD God of Israel. And all the congregation complained against the rulers.


text:
<pb/>Then all the rulers said to all the congregation, “We have sworn to them by the LORD God of Israel; now therefore, we may not touch them.


text:
This we will do to them: We will let them live, lest <f>[18†]</f>wrath be upon us because of the oath which we swore to them.”


text:
And the rulers said to them, “Let them live, but let them be <f>[19†]</f>woodcutters and water carriers for all the congregation, as the rulers had <f>[20†]</f>promised them.”


text:
<pb/>Then Joshua called for them, and he spoke to them, saying, “Why have you deceived us, saying, <f>[21†]</f>‘We <i>are</i> very far from you,’ when <f>[22†]</f>you dwell near us?


text:
Now therefore, you <i>are</i> <f>[23†]</f>cursed, and none of you shall be freed from being slaves—woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”


text:
<pb/>So they answered Joshua and said, “Because your servants were clearly told that the LORD your God <f>[24†]</f>commanded His servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you; therefore <f>[25†]</f>we were very much afraid for our lives because of you, and have done this thing.


text:
And now, here we are, <f>[26†]</f>in your hands; do with us as it seems good and right to do to us.”


text:
So he did to them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, so that they did not kill them.


text:
And that day Joshua made them <f>[27†]</f>woodcutters and water carriers for the congregation and for the altar of the LORD, <f>[28†]</f>in the place which He would choose, even to this day.


text:
<pb/>Now it came to pass when Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem <f>[1†]</f>heard how Joshua had taken <f>[2†]</f>Ai and had utterly destroyed it— <f>[3†]</f>as he had done to Jericho and its king, so he had done to <f>[4†]</f>Ai and its king—and <f>[5†]</f>how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were among them,


text:
that they <f>[6†]</f>feared greatly, because Gibeon <i>was</i> a great city, like one of the royal cities, and because it <i>was</i> greater than Ai, and all its men <i>were</i> mighty.


text:
Therefore Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem sent to Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish, and Debir king of Eglon, saying,


text:
“Come up to me and help me, that we may attack Gibeon, for <f>[7†]</f>it has made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel.”


text:
Therefore the five kings of the <f>[8†]</f>Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, <i>and</i> the king of Eglon, <f>[9†]</f>gathered together and went up, they and all their armies, and camped before Gibeon and made war against it.


text:
<pb/>And the men of Gibeon sent to Joshua at the camp <f>[10†]</f>at Gilgal, saying, “Do not forsake your servants; come up to us quickly, save us and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites who dwell in the mountains have gathered together against us.”


text:
<pb/>So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he and <f>[11†]</f>all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valor.


text:
And the LORD said to Joshua, <f>[12†]</f>“Do not fear them, for I have delivered them into your hand; <f>[13†]</f>not a man of them shall <f>[14†]</f>stand before you.”


text:
So the LORD <f>[15†]</f>routed them before Israel, killed them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, chased them along the road that goes <f>[16†]</f>to Beth Horon, and struck them down as far as <f>[17†]</f>Azekah and Makkedah.


text:
And it happened, as they fled before Israel <i>and</i> were on the descent of Beth Horon, <f>[18†]</f>that the LORD cast down large hailstones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. <i>There</i> <i>were</i> more who died from the hailstones than the children of Israel killed with the sword.


text:
<pb/>Then Joshua spoke to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel: <pb/><t> <f>[19†]</f>“Sun, stand still over Gibeon; </t><t>And Moon, in the Valley of <f>[20†]</f>Aijalon.”</t>


text:
<t>So the sun stood still, </t><t>And the moon stopped, </t><t>Till the people had revenge </t><t>Upon their enemies. </t> <pb/> <f>[21†]</f><i>Is</i> this not written in the Book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and did not hasten to go <i>down</i> for about a whole day.


text:
And there has been <f>[22†]</f>no day like that, before it or after it, that the LORD heeded the voice of a man; for <f>[23†]</f>the LORD fought for Israel.


text:
<pb/>So Joshua said, “Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave, and set men by it to guard them.


text:
And do not stay <i>there</i> yourselves, <i>but</i> pursue your enemies, and attack their rear <i>guard.</i> Do not allow them to enter their cities, for the LORD your God has delivered them into your hand.”


text:
Then it happened, while Joshua and the children of Israel made an end of slaying them with a very great slaughter, till they had finished, that those who escaped entered fortified cities.


text:
And all the people returned to the camp, to Joshua at Makkedah, in peace. <pb/> <f>[25†]</f>No one moved his tongue against any of the children of Israel.


text:
<pb/>Then Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave, and bring out those five kings to me from the cave.”


text:
And they did so, and brought out those five kings to him from the cave: the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, <i>and</i> the king of Eglon.


text:
<pb/>So it was, when they brought out those kings to Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said to the captains of the men of war who went with him, “Come near, put your feet on the necks of these kings.” And they drew near and <f>[26†]</f>put their feet on their necks.


text:
Then Joshua said to them, <f>[27†]</f>“Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; be strong and of good courage, for <f>[28†]</f>thus the LORD will do to all your enemies against whom you fight.”


text:
And afterward Joshua struck them and killed them, and hanged them on five trees; and they <f>[29†]</f>were hanging on the trees until evening.


text:
So it was at the time of the going down of the sun <i>that</i> Joshua commanded, and they <f>[30†]</f>took them down from the trees, cast them into the cave where they had been hidden, and laid large stones against the cave’s mouth, <i>which</i> <i>remain</i> until this very day.


text:
<pb/>On that day Joshua took Makkedah, and struck it and its king with the edge of the sword. He utterly <f>[31†]</f>destroyed them—all the people who <i>were</i> in it. He let none remain. He also did to the king of Makkedah <f>[32†]</f>as he had done to the king of Jericho.


text:
<pb/>Then Joshua passed from Makkedah, and all Israel with him, to <f>[33†]</f>Libnah; and they fought against Libnah.


text:
And the LORD also delivered it and its king into the hand of Israel; he struck it and all the people who <i>were</i> in it with the edge of the sword. He let none remain in it, but did to its king as he had done to the king of Jericho.


text:
<pb/>Then Joshua passed from Libnah, and all Israel with him, to Lachish; and they encamped against it and fought against it.


text:
And the LORD delivered Lachish into the hand of Israel, who took it on the second day, and struck it and all the people who <i>were</i> in it with the edge of the sword, according to all that he had done to Libnah.


text:
Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish; and Joshua struck him and his people, until he left him none remaining.


text:
<pb/>From Lachish Joshua passed to Eglon, and all Israel with him; and they encamped against it and fought against it.


text:
They took it on that day and struck it with the edge of the sword; all the people who <i>were</i> in it he utterly destroyed that day, according to all that he had done to Lachish.


text:
<pb/>So Joshua went up from Eglon, and all Israel with him, to <f>[34†]</f>Hebron; and they fought against it.


text:
And they took it and struck it with the edge of the sword—its king, all its cities, and all the people who <i>were</i> in it; he left none remaining, according to all that he had done to Eglon, but utterly destroyed it and all the people who <i>were</i> in it.


text:
<pb/>Then Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to <f>[35†]</f>Debir; and they fought against it.


text:
And he took it and its king and all its cities; they struck them with the edge of the sword and utterly destroyed all the people who <i>were</i> in it. He left none remaining; as he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir and its king, as he had done also to Libnah and its king.


text:
<pb/>So Joshua conquered all the land: the <f>[36†]</f>mountain country and the South and the lowland and the wilderness slopes, and <f>[37†]</f>all their kings; he left none remaining, but <f>[38†]</f>utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the LORD God of Israel had commanded.


text:
And Joshua conquered them from <f>[39†]</f>Kadesh Barnea as far as <f>[40†]</f>Gaza, <f>[41†]</f>and all the country of Goshen, even as far as Gibeon.


text:
All these kings and their land Joshua took at one time, <f>[42†]</f>because the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel.


text:
<pb/>And it came to pass, when Jabin king of Hazor heard <i>these</i> <i>things,</i> that he <f>[1†]</f>sent to Jobab king of Madon, to the king <f>[2†]</f>of Shimron, to the king of Achshaph,


text:
and to the kings who <i>were</i> from the north, in the mountains, in the plain south of <f>[3†]</f>Chinneroth, in the lowland, and in the heights <f>[4†]</f>of Dor on the west,


text:
to the Canaanites in the east and in the west, the <f>[5†]</f>Amorite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Jebusite in the mountains, <f>[6†]</f>and the Hivite below <f>[7†]</f>Hermon <f>[8†]</f>in the land of Mizpah.


text:
So they went out, they and all their armies with them, <i>as</i> many people <f>[9†]</f><i>as</i> the sand that <i>is</i> on the seashore in multitude, with very many horses and chariots.


text:
And when all these kings had met together, they came and camped together at the waters of Merom to fight against Israel.


text:
<pb/>But the LORD said to Joshua, <f>[10†]</f>“Do not be afraid because of them, for tomorrow about this time I will deliver all of them slain before Israel. You shall <f>[11†]</f>hamstring their horses and burn their chariots with fire.”


text:
So Joshua and all the people of war with him came against them suddenly by the waters of Merom, and they attacked them.


text:
And the LORD delivered them into the hand of Israel, who defeated them and chased them to Greater <f>[12†]</f>Sidon, to the Brook <f>[13†]</f>Misrephoth, and to the Valley of Mizpah eastward; they attacked them until they left none of them remaining.


text:
So Joshua did to them as the LORD had told him: he hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots with fire.


text:
<pb/>Joshua turned back at that time and took Hazor, and struck its king with the sword; for Hazor was formerly the head of all those kingdoms.


text:
And they struck all the people who <i>were</i> in it with the edge of the sword, <f>[14†]</f>utterly destroying <i>them.</i> There was none left <f>[15†]</f>breathing. Then he burned Hazor with fire.


text:
<pb/>So all the cities of those kings, and all their kings, Joshua took and struck with the edge of the sword. He utterly destroyed them, <f>[16†]</f>as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded.


text:
But <i>as</i> <i>for</i> the cities that stood on their mounds, Israel burned none of them, except Hazor only, <i>which</i> Joshua burned.


text:
And all the <f>[17†]</f>spoil of these cities and the livestock, the children of Israel took as booty for themselves; but they struck every man with the edge of the sword until they had destroyed them, and they left none breathing.


text:
<f>[18†]</f>As the LORD had commanded Moses his servant, so <f>[19†]</f>Moses commanded Joshua, and <f>[20†]</f>so Joshua did. He left nothing undone of all that the LORD had commanded Moses.


text:
<pb/>Thus Joshua took all this land: <f>[21†]</f>the mountain country, all the South, <f>[22†]</f>all the land of Goshen, the lowland, and the Jordan plain—the mountains of Israel and its lowlands,


text:
<f>[23†]</f>from Mount Halak and the ascent to Seir, even as far as Baal Gad in the Valley of Lebanon below Mount Hermon. He captured <f>[24†]</f>all their kings, and struck them down and killed them.


text:
There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel, except <f>[25†]</f>the Hivites, the inhabitants of Gibeon. All <i>the</i> <i>others</i> they took in battle.


text:
For <f>[26†]</f>it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that He might utterly destroy them, <i>and</i> that they might receive no mercy, but that He might destroy them, <f>[27†]</f>as the LORD had commanded Moses.


text:
<pb/>And at that time Joshua came and cut off <f>[28†]</f>the Anakim from the mountains: from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, from all the mountains of Judah, and from all the mountains of Israel; Joshua utterly destroyed them with their cities.


text:
None of the Anakim were left in the land of the children of Israel; they remained only <f>[29†]</f>in Gaza, in Gath, <f>[30†]</f>and in Ashdod.


text:
<pb/>So Joshua took the whole land, <f>[31†]</f>according to all that the LORD had said to Moses; and Joshua gave it as an inheritance to Israel <f>[32†]</f>according to their divisions by their tribes. Then the land <f>[33†]</f>rested from war.


text:
<pb/>These <i>are</i> the kings of the land whom the children of Israel defeated, and whose land they possessed on the other side of the Jordan toward the rising of the sun, <f>[1†]</f>from the River Arnon <f>[2†]</f>to Mount Hermon, and all the eastern Jordan plain:


text:
<i>One</i> <i>king</i> <i>was</i> <f>[3†]</f>Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon <i>and</i> ruled half of Gilead, from Aroer, which is on the bank of the River Arnon, from the middle of that river, even as far as the River Jabbok, <i>which</i> <i>is</i> the border of the Ammonites,


text:
and <f>[4†]</f>the eastern Jordan plain from the Sea of Chinneroth as far as the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea), <f>[5†]</f>the road to Beth Jeshimoth, and southward below <f>[6†]</f>the slopes of Pisgah.


text:
<i>The</i> <i>other</i> <i>king</i> <i>was</i> <f>[7†]</f>Og king of Bashan and his territory, <i>who</i> <i>was</i> of <f>[8†]</f>the remnant of the giants, <f>[9†]</f>who dwelt at Ashtaroth and at Edrei,


text:
and reigned over <f>[10†]</f>Mount Hermon, <f>[11†]</f>over Salcah, over all Bashan, <f>[12†]</f>as far as the border of the Geshurites and the Maachathites, and over half of Gilead <i>to</i> the border of Sihon king of Heshbon.


text:
<pb/> <f>[13†]</f>These Moses the servant of the LORD and the children of Israel had conquered; and <f>[14†]</f>Moses the servant of the LORD had given it <i>as</i> a possession to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh.


text:
<pb/>And these <i>are</i> the kings of the country <f>[15†]</f>which Joshua and the children of Israel conquered on this side of the Jordan, on the west, from Baal Gad in the Valley of Lebanon as far as Mount Halak and the ascent to <f>[16†]</f>Seir, which Joshua <f>[17†]</f>gave to the tribes of Israel <i>as</i> a possession according to their divisions,


text:
<f>[18†]</f>in the mountain country, in the lowlands, in the <i>Jordan</i> plain, in the slopes, in the wilderness, and in the South— <f>[19†]</f>the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites:


text:
<f>[20†]</f>the king of Jericho, one; <f>[21†]</f>the king of Ai, which <i>is</i> beside Bethel, one;


text:
the king of Dor in the <f>[32†]</f>heights of Dor, one; the king of <f>[33†]</f>the people of Gilgal, one;


text:
<pb/>Now Joshua <f>[1†]</f>was old, advanced in years. And the LORD said to him: “You are old, advanced in years, and there remains very much land yet to be possessed.


text:
<f>[2†]</f>This is the land that yet remains: <f>[3†]</f>all the territory of the Philistines and all <f>[4†]</f><i>that</i> <i>of</i> the Geshurites,


text:
<f>[5†]</f>from Sihor, which <i>is</i> east of Egypt, as far as the border of Ekron northward (<i>which</i> is counted as Canaanite); the <f>[6†]</f>five lords of the Philistines—the Gazites, the Ashdodites, the Ashkelonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also <f>[7†]</f>the Avites;


text:
from the south, all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that belongs to the Sidonians <f>[8†]</f>as far as Aphek, to the border of <f>[9†]</f>the Amorites;


text:
the land of <f>[10†]</f>the Gebalites, and all Lebanon, toward the sunrise, <f>[11†]</f>from Baal Gad below Mount Hermon as far as the entrance to Hamath;


text:
all the inhabitants of the mountains from Lebanon as far as <f>[12†]</f>the Brook Misrephoth, <i>and</i> all the Sidonians—them <f>[13†]</f>I will drive out from before the children of Israel; only <f>[14†]</f>divide it by lot to Israel as an inheritance, as I have commanded you.


text:
Now therefore, divide this land as an inheritance to the nine tribes and half the tribe of Manasseh.”


text:
<pb/>With the other half-tribe the Reubenites and the Gadites received their inheritance, <f>[15†]</f>which Moses had given them, <f>[16†]</f>beyond the Jordan eastward, as Moses the servant of the LORD had given them:


text:
from Aroer which <i>is</i> on the bank of the River Arnon, and the town that <i>is</i> in the midst of the ravine, <f>[17†]</f>and all the plain of Medeba as far as Dibon;


text:
<f>[18†]</f>all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, as far as the border of the children of Ammon;


text:
<f>[19†]</f>Gilead, and the border of the Geshurites and Maachathites, all Mount Hermon, and all Bashan as far as Salcah;


text:
all the kingdom of Og in Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth and Edrei, who remained of <f>[20†]</f>the remnant of the giants; <f>[21†]</f>for Moses had defeated and cast out these.


text:
<pb/>Nevertheless the children of Israel <f>[22†]</f>did not drive out the Geshurites or the Maachathites, but the Geshurites and the Maachathites dwell among the Israelites until this day.


text:
<pb/> <f>[23†]</f>Only to the tribe of Levi he had given no inheritance; the sacrifices of the LORD God of Israel made by fire <i>are</i> their inheritance, <f>[24†]</f>as He said to them.


text:
<pb/> <f>[25†]</f>And Moses had given to the tribe of the children of Reuben <i>an</i> <i>inheritance</i> according to their families.


text:
Their territory was <f>[26†]</f>from Aroer, which <i>is</i> on the bank of the River Arnon, <f>[27†]</f>and the city that <i>is</i> in the midst of the ravine, <f>[28†]</f>and all the plain by Medeba;


text:
<f>[29†]</f>Heshbon and all its cities that <i>are</i> in the plain: Dibon, Bamoth Baal, Beth Baal Meon,


text:
<f>[34†]</f>all the cities of the plain and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, <f>[35†]</f>whom Moses had struck <f>[36†]</f>with the princes of Midian: Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, who <i>were</i> princes of Sihon dwelling in the country.


text:
The children of Israel also killed with the sword <f>[37†]</f>Balaam the son of Beor, the soothsayer, among those who were killed by them.


text:
And the border of the children of Reuben was the bank of the Jordan. This <i>was</i> the inheritance of the children of Reuben according to their families, the cities and their villages.


text:
<pb/> <f>[38†]</f>Moses also had given <i>an</i> <i>inheritance</i> to the tribe of Gad, to the children of Gad according to their families.


text:
<f>[39†]</f>Their territory was Jazer, and all the cities of Gilead, <f>[40†]</f>and half the land of the Ammonites as far as Aroer, which <i>is</i> before <f>[41†]</f>Rabbah,


text:
and in the valley <f>[42†]</f>Beth Haram, Beth Nimrah, <f>[43†]</f>Succoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon, with the Jordan as <i>its</i> border, as far as the edge <f>[44†]</f>of the Sea of Chinnereth, on the other side of the Jordan eastward.


text:
This <i>is</i> the inheritance of the children of Gad according to their families, the cities and their villages.


text:
<pb/> <f>[45†]</f>Moses also had given <i>an</i> <i>inheritance</i> to half the tribe of Manasseh; it was for half the tribe of the children of Manasseh according to their families:


text:
Their territory was from Mahanaim, all Bashan, all the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, and <f>[46†]</f>all the towns of Jair which are in Bashan, sixty cities;


text:
half of Gilead, and <f>[47†]</f>Ashtaroth and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan, <i>were</i> for the <f>[48†]</f>children of Machir the son of Manasseh, for half of the children of Machir according to their families.


text:
<pb/>These <i>are</i> <i>the</i> <i>areas</i> which Moses had distributed as an inheritance in the plains of Moab on the other side of the Jordan, by Jericho eastward.


text:
<f>[49†]</f>But to the tribe of Levi Moses had given no inheritance; the LORD God of Israel <i>was</i> their inheritance, <f>[50†]</f>as He had said to them.


text:
<pb/>These <i>are</i> <i>the</i> <i>areas</i> which the children of Israel inherited in the land of Canaan, <f>[1†]</f>which Eleazar the priest, Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel distributed as an inheritance to them.


text:
Their inheritance <i>was</i> <f>[2†]</f>by lot, as the LORD had commanded by the hand of Moses, for the nine tribes and the half-tribe.


text:
<f>[3†]</f>For Moses had given the inheritance of the two tribes and the half-tribe on the other side of the Jordan; but to the Levites he had given no inheritance among them.


text:
For <f>[4†]</f>the children of Joseph were two tribes: Manasseh and Ephraim. And they gave no part to the Levites in the land, except <f>[5†]</f>cities to dwell <i>in,</i> with their common-lands for their livestock and their property.


text:
<f>[6†]</f>As the LORD had commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did; and they divided the land.


text:
<pb/>Then the children of Judah came to Joshua in Gilgal. And Caleb the son of Jephunneh the <f>[7†]</f>Kenizzite said to him: “You know <f>[8†]</f>the word which the LORD said to Moses the man of God concerning <f>[9†]</f>you and me in Kadesh Barnea.


text:
I <i>was</i> forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD <f>[10†]</f>sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out the land, and I brought back word to him as <i>it</i> <i>was</i> in my heart.


text:
Nevertheless <f>[11†]</f>my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt, but I wholly <f>[12†]</f>followed the LORD my God.


text:
So Moses swore on that day, saying, <f>[13†]</f>‘Surely the land <f>[14†]</f>where your foot has trodden shall be your inheritance and your children’s forever, because you have wholly followed the LORD my God.’


text:
And now, behold, the LORD has kept me <f>[15†]</f>alive, <f>[16†]</f>as He said, these forty-five years, ever since the LORD spoke this word to Moses while Israel wandered in the wilderness; and now, here I am this day, eighty-five years old.


text:
<f>[17†]</f>As yet I <i>am</i> <i>as</i> strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength <i>was</i> then, so now <i>is</i> my strength for war, both <f>[18†]</f>for going out and for coming in.


text:
Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the LORD spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how <f>[19†]</f>the Anakim <i>were</i> there, and <i>that</i> the cities <i>were</i> great <i>and</i> fortified. <f>[20†]</f>It may be that the LORD <i>will</i> <i>be</i> with me, and <f>[21†]</f>I shall be able to drive them out as the LORD said.”


text:
<pb/>And Joshua <f>[22†]</f>blessed him, <f>[23†]</f>and gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh as an inheritance.


text:
<f>[24†]</f>Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, because he <f>[25†]</f>wholly followed the LORD God of Israel.


text:
And <f>[26†]</f>the name of Hebron formerly was Kirjath Arba (<i>Arba</i> <i>was</i> the greatest man among the Anakim). <pb/> <f>[27†]</f>Then the land had rest from war.


text:
<pb/>So <i>this</i> was the lot of the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families: <pb/> <f>[1†]</f>The border of Edom at the <f>[2†]</f>Wilderness of Zin southward <i>was</i> the extreme southern boundary.


text:
And their <f>[3†]</f>southern border began at the shore of the Salt Sea, from the bay that faces southward.


text:
Then it went out to the southern side of <f>[4†]</f>the Ascent of Akrabbim, passed along to Zin, ascended on the south side of Kadesh Barnea, passed along to Hezron, went up to Adar, and went around to Karkaa.


text:
<i>From</i> <i>there</i> it passed <f>[5†]</f>toward Azmon and went out to the Brook of Egypt; and the border ended at the sea. This shall be your southern border.


text:
<pb/>The east border <i>was</i> the Salt Sea as far as the mouth of the Jordan. <pb/>And the <f>[6†]</f>border on the northern quarter <i>began</i> at the bay of the sea at the mouth of the Jordan.


text:
The border went up to <f>[7†]</f>Beth Hoglah and passed north of Beth Arabah; and the border went up <f>[8†]</f>to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben.


text:
Then the border went up toward <f>[9†]</f>Debir from <f>[10†]</f>the Valley of Achor, and it turned northward toward Gilgal, which <i>is</i> before the Ascent of Adummim, which <i>is</i> on the south side of the valley. The border continued toward the waters of En Shemesh and ended at <f>[11†]</f>En Rogel.


text:
And the border went up <f>[12†]</f>by the Valley of the Son of Hinnom to the southern slope of the <f>[13†]</f>Jebusite <i>city</i> (which <i>is</i> Jerusalem). The border went up to the top of the mountain that <i>lies</i> before the Valley of Hinnom westward, which <i>is</i> at the end of the Valley <f>[14†]</f>of Rephaim northward.


text:
Then the border went around from the top of the hill to <f>[15†]</f>the fountain of the water of Nephtoah, and extended to the cities of Mount Ephron. And the border went around <f>[16†]</f>to Baalah (which <i>is</i> <f>[17†]</f>Kirjath Jearim).


text:
Then the border turned westward from Baalah to Mount Seir, passed along to the side of Mount Jearim on the north (which <i>is</i> Chesalon), went down to Beth Shemesh, and passed on to <f>[18†]</f>Timnah.


text:
And the border went out to the side of <f>[19†]</f>Ekron northward. Then the border went around to Shicron, passed along to Mount Baalah, and extended to Jabneel; and the border ended at the sea.


text:
<pb/>The west border <i>was</i> <f>[20†]</f>the coastline of the Great Sea. This <i>is</i> the boundary of the children of Judah all around according to their families.


text:
<pb/> <f>[21†]</f>Now to Caleb the son of Jephunneh he gave a share among the children of <f>[22†]</f>Judah, according to the commandment of the LORD to Joshua, <i>namely,</i> <f>[23†]</f>Kirjath Arba, which <i>is</i> Hebron (<i>Arba</i> <i>was</i> the father of Anak).


text:
Caleb drove out <f>[24†]</f>the three sons of Anak from there: <f>[25†]</f>Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak.


text:
Then <f>[26†]</f>he went up from there to the inhabitants of Debir (formerly the name of Debir <i>was</i> Kirjath Sepher).


text:
<pb/> <f>[27†]</f>And Caleb said, “He who attacks Kirjath Sepher and takes it, to him I will give Achsah my daughter as wife.”


text:
So <f>[28†]</f>Othniel the <f>[29†]</f>son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it; and he gave him <f>[30†]</f>Achsah his daughter as wife.


text:
<f>[31†]</f>Now it was so, when she came <i>to</i> <i>him,</i> that she persuaded him to ask her father for a field. So <f>[32†]</f>she dismounted from <i>her</i> donkey, and Caleb said to her, “What do you wish?”


text:
She answered, “Give me a <f>[33†]</f>blessing; since you have given me land in the South, give me also springs of water.” So he gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.


text:
<pb/>This <i>was</i> the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families:


text:
<pb/>The cities at the limits of the tribe of the children of Judah, toward the border of Edom in the South, were Kabzeel, <f>[34†]</f>Eder, Jagur,


text:
Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and <f>[39†]</f>Rimmon: all the cities <i>are</i> twenty-nine, with their villages.


text:
Ashdod with its towns and villages, Gaza with its towns and villages—as far as <f>[47†]</f>the Brook of Egypt and <f>[48†]</f>the Great Sea with <i>its</i> coastline.


text:
Humtah, <f>[50†]</f>Kirjath Arba (which <i>is</i> Hebron), and Zior: nine cities with their villages;


text:
<f>[52†]</f>Kirjath Baal (which <i>is</i> Kirjath Jearim) and Rabbah: two cities with their villages.


text:
<pb/>As for the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, <f>[54†]</f>the children of Judah could not drive them out; <f>[55†]</f>but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem to this day.


text:
<pb/>The lot fell to the children of Joseph from the Jordan, by Jericho, to the waters of Jericho on the east, to the <f>[1†]</f>wilderness that goes up from Jericho through the mountains to Bethel,


text:
and went down westward to the boundary of the Japhletites, <f>[3†]</f>as far as the boundary of Lower Beth Horon to <f>[4†]</f>Gezer; and it ended at the sea.


text:
<pb/> <f>[6†]</f>The border of the children of Ephraim, according to their families, was <i>thus:</i> The border of their inheritance on the east side was <f>[7†]</f>Ataroth Addar <f>[8†]</f>as far as Upper Beth Horon.


text:
<pb/>And the border went out toward the sea on the north side of <f>[9†]</f>Michmethath; then the border went around eastward to Taanath Shiloh, and passed by it on the east of Janohah.


text:
Then it went down from Janohah to Ataroth and Naarah, reached to Jericho, and came out at the Jordan.


text:
<pb/>The border went out from <f>[10†]</f>Tappuah westward to the <f>[11†]</f>Brook Kanah, and it ended at the sea. This <i>was</i> the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Ephraim according to their families.


text:
<f>[12†]</f>The separate cities for the children of Ephraim <i>were</i> among the inheritance of the children of Manasseh, all the cities with their villages.


text:
<pb/> <f>[13†]</f>And they did not drive out the Canaanites who dwelt in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites to this day and have become forced laborers.


text:
<pb/>There was also a lot for the tribe of Manasseh, for he <i>was</i> the <f>[1†]</f>firstborn of Joseph: <i>namely</i> for <f>[2†]</f>Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead, because he was a man of war; therefore he was given <f>[3†]</f>Gilead and Bashan.


text:
And there was <i>a</i> <i>lot</i> for <f>[4†]</f>the rest of the children of Manasseh according to their families: <f>[5†]</f>for the children of Abiezer, the children of Helek, <f>[6†]</f>the children of Asriel, the children of Shechem, <f>[7†]</f>the children of Hepher, and the children of Shemida; these <i>were</i> the male children of Manasseh the son of Joseph according to their families.


text:
<pb/>But <f>[8†]</f>Zelophehad the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons, but only daughters. And these <i>are</i> the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.


text:
And they came near before <f>[9†]</f>Eleazar the priest, before Joshua the son of Nun, and before the rulers, saying, <f>[10†]</f>“The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brothers.” Therefore, according to the commandment of the LORD, he gave them an inheritance among their father’s brothers.


text:
Ten shares fell to <f>[11†]</f>Manasseh, besides the land of Gilead and Bashan, which <i>were</i> on the other side of the Jordan,


text:
because the daughters of Manasseh received an inheritance among his sons; and the rest of Manasseh’s sons had the land of Gilead.


text:
<pb/>And the territory of Manasseh was from Asher to <f>[12†]</f>Michmethath, that <i>lies</i> east of Shechem; and the border went along south to the inhabitants of En Tappuah.


text:
Manasseh had the land of Tappuah, but <f>[13†]</f>Tappuah on the border of Manasseh <i>belonged</i> to the children of Ephraim.


text:
And the border descended to the Brook Kanah, southward to the brook. <f>[14†]</f>These cities of Ephraim <i>are</i> among the cities of Manasseh. The border of Manasseh <i>was</i> on the north side of the brook; and it ended at the sea.


text:
<pb/>Southward <i>it</i> <i>was</i> Ephraim’s, northward <i>it</i> <i>was</i> Manasseh’s, and the sea was its border. Manasseh’s territory was adjoining Asher on the north and Issachar on the east.


text:
And in Issachar and in Asher, <f>[15†]</f>Manasseh had <f>[16†]</f>Beth Shean and its towns, Ibleam and its towns, the inhabitants of Dor and its towns, the inhabitants of En Dor and its towns, the inhabitants of Taanach and its towns, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and its towns—three hilly regions.


text:
Yet <f>[17†]</f>the children of Manasseh could not drive out <i>the</i> <i>inhabitants</i> <i>of</i> those cities, but the Canaanites were determined to dwell in that land.


text:
And it happened, when the children of Israel grew strong, that they put the Canaanites to <f>[18†]</f>forced labor, but did not utterly drive them out.


text:
<pb/> <f>[19†]</f>Then the children of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, “Why have you given us <i>only</i> <f>[20†]</f>one lot and one share to inherit, since we <i>are</i> <f>[21†]</f>a great people, inasmuch as the LORD has blessed us until now?”


text:
<pb/>So Joshua answered them, “If you <i>are</i> a great people, <i>then</i> go up to the forest <i>country</i> and clear a place for yourself there in the land of the Perizzites and the giants, since the mountains of Ephraim are too confined for you.”


text:
<pb/>But the children of Joseph said, “The mountain country is not enough for us; and all the Canaanites who dwell in the land of the valley have <f>[22†]</f>chariots of iron, <i>both</i> <i>those</i> who <i>are</i> of Beth Shean and its towns and <i>those</i> who <i>are</i> <f>[23†]</f>of the Valley of Jezreel.”


text:
<pb/>And Joshua spoke to the house of Joseph—to Ephraim and Manasseh—saying, “You <i>are</i> a great people and have great power; you shall not have <i>only</i> one lot,


text:
but the mountain country shall be yours. Although it <i>is</i> wooded, you shall cut it down, and its farthest extent shall be yours; for you shall drive out the Canaanites, <f>[24†]</f>though they have iron chariots <i>and</i> are strong.”


text:
<pb/>Now the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together <f>[1†]</f>at Shiloh, and <f>[2†]</f>set up the tabernacle of meeting there. And the land was subdued before them.


text:
But there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes which had not yet received their inheritance.


text:
<pb/>Then Joshua said to the children of Israel: <f>[3†]</f>“How long will you neglect to go and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers has given you?


text:
Pick out from among you three men for <i>each</i> tribe, and I will send them; they shall rise and go through the land, survey it according to their inheritance, and come <i>back</i> to me.


text:
And they shall divide it into seven parts. <f>[4†]</f>Judah shall remain in their territory on the south, and the <f>[5†]</f>house of Joseph shall remain in their territory on the north.


text:
You shall therefore survey the land in seven parts and bring <i>the</i> <i>survey</i> here to me, <f>[6†]</f>that I may cast lots for you here before the LORD our God.


text:
<f>[7†]</f>But the Levites have no part among you, for the priesthood of the LORD <i>is</i> their inheritance. <f>[8†]</f>And Gad, Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance beyond the Jordan on the east, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave them.”


text:
<pb/>Then the men arose to go away; and Joshua charged those who went to survey the land, saying, “Go, walk <f>[9†]</f>through the land, survey it, and come back to me, that I may cast lots for you here before the LORD in Shiloh.”


text:
So the men went, passed through the land, and wrote the survey in a book in seven parts by cities; and they came to Joshua at the camp in Shiloh.


text:
Then Joshua cast <f>[10†]</f>lots for them in Shiloh before the LORD, and there <f>[11†]</f>Joshua divided the land to the children of Israel according to their divisions.


text:
<pb/> <f>[12†]</f>Now the lot of the tribe of the children of Benjamin came up according to their families, and the territory of their lot came out between the children of Judah and the children of Joseph.


text:
<f>[13†]</f>Their border on the north side began at the Jordan, and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north, and went up through the mountains westward; it ended at the Wilderness of Beth Aven.


text:
The border went over from there toward Luz, to the side of Luz <f>[14†]</f>(which <i>is</i> Bethel) southward; and the border descended to Ataroth Addar, near the hill that <i>lies</i> on the south side <f>[15†]</f>of Lower Beth Horon.


text:
<pb/>Then the border extended around the west side to the south, from the hill that <i>lies</i> before Beth Horon southward; and it ended at <f>[16†]</f>Kirjath Baal (which <i>is</i> Kirjath Jearim), a city of the children of Judah. This <i>was</i> the west side.


text:
<pb/>The south side <i>began</i> at the end of Kirjath Jearim, and the border extended on the west and went out to <f>[17†]</f>the spring of the waters of Nephtoah.


text:
Then the border came down to the end of the mountain that <i>lies</i> before <f>[18†]</f>the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, which <i>is</i> in the Valley of the Rephaim on the north, descended to the Valley of Hinnom, to the side of the Jebusite <i>city</i> on the south, and descended to <f>[19†]</f>En Rogel.


text:
And it went around from the north, went out to En Shemesh, and extended toward Geliloth, which is before the Ascent of Adummim, and descended to <f>[20†]</f>the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben.


text:
And the border passed along to the north side of Beth Hoglah; then the border ended at the north bay at the <f>[21†]</f>Salt Sea, at the south end of the Jordan. This <i>was</i> the southern boundary.


text:
<pb/>The Jordan was its border on the east side. This <i>was</i> the inheritance of the children of Benjamin, according to its boundaries all around, according to their families.


text:
<pb/>Now the cities of the tribe of the children of Benjamin, according to their families, were Jericho, Beth Hoglah, Emek Keziz,


text:
Zelah, Eleph, <f>[24†]</f>Jebus (which <i>is</i> Jerusalem), Gibeath, <i>and</i> Kirjath: fourteen cities with their villages. This was the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families.


text:
<pb/>The <f>[1†]</f>second lot came out for Simeon, for the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families. <f>[2†]</f>And their inheritance was within the inheritance of the children of Judah.


text:
and all the villages that <i>were</i> all around these cities as far as Baalath Beer, <f>[4†]</f>Ramah of the South. This <i>was</i> the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families.


text:
<pb/>The inheritance of the children of Simeon <i>was</i> <i>included</i> in the share of the children of Judah, for the share of the children of Judah was too much for them. <f>[5†]</f>Therefore the children of Simeon had <i>their</i> inheritance within the inheritance of that people.


text:
<pb/>The third lot came out for the children of Zebulun according to their families, and the border of their inheritance was as far as Sarid.


text:
<f>[6†]</f>Their border went toward the west and to Maralah, went to Dabbasheth, and extended along the brook that is <f>[7†]</f>east of Jokneam.


text:
Then from Sarid it went eastward toward the sunrise along the border of Chisloth Tabor, and went out toward <f>[8†]</f>Daberath, bypassing Japhia.


text:
And from there it passed along on the east of <f>[9†]</f>Gath Hepher, toward Eth Kazin, and extended to Rimmon, which borders on Neah.


text:
Then the border went around it on the north side of Hannathon, and it ended in the Valley of Jiphthah El.


text:
This <i>was</i> the inheritance of the children of Zebulun according to their families, these cities with their villages.


text:
And the border reached to Tabor, Shahazimah, and <f>[10†]</f>Beth Shemesh; their border ended at the Jordan: sixteen cities with their villages.


text:
This <i>was</i> the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Issachar according to their families, the cities and their villages.


text:
<pb/> <f>[11†]</f>The fifth lot came out for the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families.


text:
Alammelech, Amad, and Mishal; it reached to <f>[12†]</f>Mount Carmel westward, along <i>the</i> <i>Brook</i> Shihor Libnath.


text:
It turned toward the sunrise to Beth Dagon; and it reached to Zebulun and to the Valley of Jiphthah El, then northward beyond Beth Emek and Neiel, bypassing <f>[13†]</f>Cabul <i>which</i> <i>was</i> on the left,


text:
And the border turned to Ramah and to the fortified city of Tyre; then the border turned to Hosah, and ended at the sea by the region of <f>[15†]</f>Achzib.


text:
This <i>was</i> the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families, these cities with their villages.


text:
<pb/> <f>[16†]</f>The sixth lot came out to the children of Naphtali, for the children of Naphtali according to their families.


text:
And their border began at Heleph, enclosing the territory from the terebinth tree in Zaanannim, Adami Nekeb, and Jabneel, as far as Lakkum; it ended at the Jordan.


text:
<f>[17†]</f>From Heleph the border extended westward to Aznoth Tabor, and went out from there toward Hukkok; it adjoined Zebulun on the south side and Asher on the west side, and ended at Judah by the Jordan toward the sunrise.


text:
This <i>was</i> the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Naphtali according to their families, the cities and their villages.


text:
<pb/> <f>[19†]</f>The seventh lot came out for the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families.


text:
And the <f>[24†]</f>border of the children of Dan went beyond these, because the children of Dan went up to fight against Leshem and took it; and they struck it with the edge of the sword, took possession of it, and dwelt in it. They called Leshem, <f>[25†]</f>Dan, after the name of Dan their father.


text:
This <i>is</i> the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families, these cities with their villages.


text:
<pb/>When they had made an end of dividing the land as an inheritance according to their borders, the children of Israel gave an inheritance among them to Joshua the son of Nun.


text:
According to the word of the LORD they gave him the city which he asked for, <f>[26†]</f>Timnath <f>[27†]</f>Serah in the mountains of Ephraim; and he built the city and dwelt in it.


text:
<pb/> <f>[28†]</f>These <i>were</i> the inheritances which Eleazar the priest, Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel divided as an inheritance by lot <f>[29†]</f>in Shiloh before the LORD, at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. So they made an end of dividing the country.


text:
“Speak to the children of Israel, saying: <f>[1†]</f>‘Appoint for yourselves cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses,


text:
that the slayer who kills a person accidentally <i>or</i> unintentionally may flee there; and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.


text:
And when he flees to one of those cities, and stands at the entrance of the gate of the city, and declares his case in the hearing of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city as one of them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them.


text:
<f>[2†]</f>Then if the avenger of blood pursues him, they shall not deliver the slayer into his hand, because he struck his neighbor unintentionally, but did not hate him beforehand.


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And he shall dwell in that city <f>[3†]</f>until he stands before the congregation for judgment, <i>and</i> until the death of the one who is high priest in those days. Then the slayer may return and come to his own city and his own house, to the city from which he fled.’ ”


text:
<pb/>So they appointed <f>[4†]</f>Kedesh in Galilee, in the mountains of Naphtali, <f>[5†]</f>Shechem in the mountains of Ephraim, and <f>[6†]</f>Kirjath Arba (which <i>is</i> Hebron) in <f>[7†]</f>the mountains of Judah.


text:
And on the other side of the Jordan, by Jericho eastward, they assigned <f>[8†]</f>Bezer in the wilderness on the plain, from the tribe of Reuben, <f>[9†]</f>Ramoth in Gilead, from the tribe of Gad, and <f>[10†]</f>Golan in Bashan, from the tribe of Manasseh.


text:
<f>[11†]</f>These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel and for the stranger who dwelt among them, that whoever killed a person accidentally might flee there, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood <f>[12†]</f>until he stood before the congregation.


text:
<pb/>Then the heads of the fathers’ <i>houses</i> of the <f>[1†]</f>Levites came near to <f>[2†]</f>Eleazar the priest, to Joshua the son of Nun, and to the heads of the fathers’ <i>houses</i> of the tribes of the children of Israel.


text:
And they spoke to them at <f>[3†]</f>Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, <f>[4†]</f>“The LORD commanded through Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with their common-lands for our livestock.”


text:
So the children of Israel gave to the Levites from their inheritance, at the commandment of the LORD, these cities and their common-lands:


text:
<pb/>Now the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites. And <f>[5†]</f>the children of Aaron the priest, <i>who</i> <i>were</i> of the Levites, <f>[6†]</f>had thirteen cities by lot from the tribe of Judah, from the tribe of Simeon, and from the tribe of Benjamin.


text:
<f>[7†]</f>The rest of the children of Kohath had ten cities by lot from the families of the tribe of Ephraim, from the tribe of Dan, and from the half-tribe of Manasseh.


text:
<pb/>And <f>[8†]</f>the children of Gershon had thirteen cities by lot from the families of the tribe of Issachar, from the tribe of Asher, from the tribe of Naphtali, and from the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.


text:
<pb/> <f>[9†]</f>The children of Merari according to their families had twelve cities from the tribe of Reuben, from the tribe of Gad, and from the tribe of Zebulun.


text:
<pb/> <f>[10†]</f>And the children of Israel gave these cities with their common-lands by lot to the Levites, <f>[11†]</f>as the LORD had commanded by the hand of Moses.


text:
<pb/>So they gave from the tribe of the children of Judah and from the tribe of the children of Simeon these cities which are designated by name,


text:
which were for the children of Aaron, one of the families of the Kohathites, <i>who</i> <i>were</i> of the children of Levi; for the lot was theirs first.


text:
<f>[12†]</f>And they gave them Kirjath Arba (<i>Arba</i> <i>was</i> the father of <f>[13†]</f>Anak), <f>[14†]</f>which <i>is</i> Hebron, in the mountains of Judah, with the common-land surrounding it.


text:
But <f>[15†]</f>the fields of the city and its villages they gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh as his possession.


text:
<pb/>Thus <f>[16†]</f>to the children of Aaron the priest they gave <f>[17†]</f>Hebron with its common-land (a city of refuge for the slayer), <f>[18†]</f>Libnah with its common-land,


text:
<f>[23†]</f>Ain with its common-land, <f>[24†]</f>Juttah with its common-land, and <f>[25†]</f>Beth Shemesh with its common-land: nine cities from those two tribes;


text:
and from the tribe of Benjamin, <f>[26†]</f>Gibeon with its common-land, <f>[27†]</f>Geba with its common-land,


text:
All the cities of the children of Aaron, the priests, <i>were</i> thirteen cities with their common-lands.


text:
<pb/> <f>[29†]</f>And the families of the children of Kohath, the Levites, the rest of the children of Kohath, even they had the cities of their lot from the tribe of Ephraim.


text:
For they gave them <f>[30†]</f>Shechem with its common-land in the mountains of Ephraim (a city of refuge for the slayer), <f>[31†]</f>Gezer with its common-land,


text:
and from the half-tribe of Manasseh, Tanach with its common-land and Gath Rimmon with its common-land: two cities.


text:
All the ten cities with their common-lands were for the rest of the families of the children of Kohath.


text:
<pb/> <f>[33†]</f>Also to the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, from the <i>other</i> half-tribe of Manasseh, <i>they</i> <i>gave</i> <f>[34†]</f>Golan in Bashan with its common-land (a city of refuge for the slayer), and Be Eshterah with its common-land: two cities;


text:
and from the tribe of Naphtali, <f>[35†]</f>Kedesh in Galilee with its common-land (a city of refuge for the slayer), Hammoth Dor with its common-land, and Kartan with its common-land: three cities.


text:
All the cities of the Gershonites according to their families <i>were</i> thirteen cities with their common-lands.


text:
<pb/> <f>[36†]</f>And to the families of the children of Merari, the rest of the Levites, from the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with its common-land, Kartah with its common-land,


text:
and from the tribe of Gad, <f>[38†]</f>Ramoth in Gilead with its common-land (a city of refuge for the slayer), Mahanaim with its common-land,


text:
So all the cities for the children of Merari according to their families, the rest of the families of the Levites, were <i>by</i> their lot twelve cities.


text:
<pb/> <f>[39†]</f>All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel <i>were</i> forty-eight cities with their common-lands.


text:
<pb/>So the LORD gave to Israel <f>[40†]</f>all the land of which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they <f>[41†]</f>took possession of it and dwelt in it.


text:
<f>[42†]</f>The LORD gave them <f>[43†]</f>rest all around, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers. And <f>[44†]</f>not a man of all their enemies stood against them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand.


text:
<f>[45†]</f>Not a word failed of any good thing which the LORD had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass.


text:
and said to them: “You have kept <f>[1†]</f>all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, <f>[2†]</f>and have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you.


text:
You have not left your brethren these many days, up to this day, but have kept the charge of the commandment of the LORD your God.


text:
And now the LORD your God has given <f>[3†]</f>rest to your brethren, as He promised them; now therefore, return and go to your tents <i>and</i> to the land of your possession, <f>[4†]</f>which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the other side of the Jordan.


text:
But <f>[5†]</f>take careful heed to do the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, <f>[6†]</f>to love the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, to keep His commandments, to hold fast to Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”


text:
<pb/>Now to half the tribe of Manasseh Moses had given a possession in Bashan, <f>[8†]</f>but to the <i>other</i> half of it Joshua gave <i>a</i> <i>possession</i> among their brethren on this side of the Jordan, westward. And indeed, when Joshua sent them away to their tents, he blessed them,


text:
and spoke to them, saying, “Return with much riches to your tents, with very much livestock, with silver, with gold, with bronze, with iron, and with very much clothing. <f>[9†]</f>Divide the spoil of your enemies with your brethren.”


text:
<pb/>So the children of Reuben, the children of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh returned, and departed from the children of Israel at Shiloh, which <i>is</i> in the land of Canaan, to go to <f>[10†]</f>the country of Gilead, to the land of their possession, which they had obtained according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses.


text:
<pb/>And when they came to the region of the Jordan which <i>is</i> in the land of Canaan, the children of Reuben, the children of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh built an altar there by the Jordan—a great, impressive altar.


text:
Now the children of Israel <f>[11†]</f>heard <i>someone</i> say, “Behold, the children of Reuben, the children of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh have built an altar on the frontier of the land of Canaan, in the region of the Jordan—on the children of Israel’s side.”


text:
And when the children of Israel heard <i>of</i> <i>it,</i> <f>[12†]</f>the whole congregation of the children of Israel gathered together at Shiloh to go to war against them.


text:
<pb/>Then the children of Israel <f>[13†]</f>sent <f>[14†]</f>Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest to the children of Reuben, to the children of Gad, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, into the land of Gilead,


text:
and with him ten rulers, one ruler each from the chief house of every tribe of Israel; and <f>[15†]</f>each one <i>was</i> the head of the house of his father among the divisions of Israel.


text:
Then they came to the children of Reuben, to the children of Gad, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, to the land of Gilead, and they spoke with them, saying,


text:
“Thus says the whole congregation of the LORD: ‘What <f>[16†]</f>treachery <i>is</i> this that you have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away this day from following the LORD, in that you have built for yourselves an altar, <f>[17†]</f>that you might rebel this day against the LORD?


text:
<i>Is</i> the iniquity <f>[18†]</f>of Peor not enough for us, from which we are not cleansed till this day, although there was a plague in the congregation of the LORD,


text:
but that you must turn away this day from following the LORD? And it shall be, if you rebel today against the LORD, that tomorrow <f>[19†]</f>He will be angry with the whole congregation of Israel.


text:
Nevertheless, if the land of your possession <i>is</i> unclean, <i>then</i> cross over to the land of the possession of the LORD, <f>[20†]</f>where the LORD’s tabernacle stands, and take possession among us; but do not rebel against the LORD, nor rebel against us, by building yourselves an altar besides the altar of the LORD our God.


text:
<f>[21†]</f>Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the accursed thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? And that man did not perish alone in his iniquity.’ ”


text:
<pb/>Then the children of Reuben, the children of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh answered and said to the heads of the divisions of Israel:


text:
“The LORD <f>[22†]</f>God of gods, the LORD God of gods, He <f>[23†]</f>knows, and let Israel itself know—if <i>it</i> <i>is</i> in rebellion, or if in treachery against the LORD, do not save us this day.


text:
If we have built ourselves an altar to turn from following the LORD, or if to offer on it burnt offerings or grain offerings, or if to offer peace offerings on it, let the LORD Himself <f>[24†]</f>require <i>an</i> <i>account.</i>


text:
But in fact we have done it for fear, for a reason, saying, ‘In time to come your descendants may speak to our descendants, saying, “What have you to do with the LORD God of Israel?


text:
For the LORD has made the Jordan a border between you and us, <i>you</i> children of Reuben and children of Gad. You have no part in the LORD.” So your descendants would make our descendants cease fearing the LORD.’


text:
Therefore we said, ‘Let us now prepare to build ourselves an altar, not for burnt offering nor for sacrifice,


text:
but <i>that</i> it <i>may</i> <i>be</i> <f>[25†]</f>a witness between you and us and our generations after us, that we may <f>[26†]</f>perform the service of the LORD before Him with our burnt offerings, with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings; that your descendants may not say to our descendants in time to come, “You have no part in the LORD.” ’


text:
Therefore we said that it will be, when they say <i>this</i> to us or to our generations in time to come, that we may say, ‘Here is the replica of the altar of the LORD which our fathers made, though not for burnt offerings nor for sacrifices; but it <i>is</i> a witness between you and us.’


text:
Far be it from us that we should rebel against the LORD, and turn from following the LORD this day, <f>[27†]</f>to build an altar for burnt offerings, for grain offerings, or for sacrifices, besides the altar of the LORD our God which <i>is</i> before His tabernacle.”


text:
<pb/>Now when Phinehas the priest and the rulers of the congregation, the heads of the divisions of Israel who <i>were</i> with him, heard the words that the children of Reuben, the children of Gad, and the children of Manasseh spoke, it pleased them.


text:
Then Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said to the children of Reuben, the children of Gad, and the children of Manasseh, “This day we perceive that the LORD <i>is</i> <f>[28†]</f>among us, because you have not committed this treachery against the LORD. Now you have delivered the children of Israel out of the hand of the LORD.”


text:
<pb/>And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, and the rulers, returned from the children of Reuben and the children of Gad, from the land of Gilead to the land of Canaan, to the children of Israel, and brought back word to them.


text:
So the thing pleased the children of Israel, and the children of Israel <f>[29†]</f>blessed God; they spoke no more of going against them in battle, to destroy the land where the children of Reuben and Gad dwelt.


text:
<pb/>The children of Reuben and the children of Gad called the altar, <i>Witness,</i> “For <i>it</i> <i>is</i> a witness between us that the LORD <i>is</i> God.”


text:
<pb/>Now it came to pass, a long time after the LORD <f>[1†]</f>had given rest to Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua <f>[2†]</f>was old, advanced in age.


text:
And Joshua <f>[3†]</f>called for all Israel, for their elders, for their heads, for their judges, and for their officers, and said to them: <pb/>“I am old, advanced in age.


text:
You have seen all that the <f>[4†]</f>LORD your God has done to all these nations because of you, for the <f>[5†]</f>LORD your God <i>is</i> He who has fought for you.


text:
See, <f>[6†]</f>I have divided to you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from the Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, as far as the Great Sea westward.


text:
And the LORD your God <f>[7†]</f>will expel them from before you and drive them out of your sight. So you shall possess their land, <f>[8†]</f>as the LORD your God promised you.


text:
<f>[9†]</f>Therefore be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, <f>[10†]</f>lest you turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left,


text:
<i>and</i> lest you <f>[11†]</f>go among these nations, these who remain among you. You shall not <f>[12†]</f>make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause <i>anyone</i> to <f>[13†]</f>swear <i>by</i> <i>them;</i> you shall not <f>[14†]</f>serve them nor bow down to them,


text:
<f>[16†]</f>For the LORD has driven out from before you great and strong nations; but <i>as</i> <i>for</i> you, no one has been able to stand against you to this day.


text:
<f>[17†]</f>One man of you shall chase a thousand, for the LORD your God <i>is</i> He who fights for you, <f>[18†]</f>as He promised you.


text:
Or else, if indeed you do <f>[20†]</f>go back, and cling to the remnant of these nations—these that remain among you—and <f>[21†]</f>make marriages with them, and go in to them and they to you,


text:
know for certain that <f>[22†]</f>the LORD your God will no longer drive out these nations from before you. <f>[23†]</f>But they shall be snares and traps to you, and scourges on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land which the LORD your God has given you.


text:
<pb/>“Behold, this day <f>[24†]</f>I <i>am</i> going the way of all the earth. And you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that <f>[25†]</f>not one thing has failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spoke concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one word of them has failed.


text:
<f>[26†]</f>Therefore it shall come to pass, that as all the good things have come upon you which the LORD your God promised you, so the LORD will bring upon you <f>[27†]</f>all harmful things, until He has destroyed you from this good land which the LORD your God has given you.


text:
When you have transgressed the covenant of the LORD your God, which He commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed down to them, then the <f>[28†]</f>anger of the LORD will burn against you, and you shall perish quickly from the good land which He has given you.”


text:
<pb/>Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to <f>[1†]</f>Shechem and <f>[2†]</f>called for the elders of Israel, for their heads, for their judges, and for their officers; and they <f>[3†]</f>presented themselves before God.


text:
And Joshua said to all the people, “Thus says the LORD God of Israel: <f>[4†]</f>‘Your fathers, <i>including</i> Terah, the father of Abraham and the father of Nahor, dwelt on the other side of the River in old times; and <f>[5†]</f>they served other gods.


text:
<f>[6†]</f>Then I took your father Abraham from the other side of the River, led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his descendants and <f>[7†]</f>gave him Isaac.


text:
To Isaac I gave <f>[8†]</f>Jacob and Esau. To <f>[9†]</f>Esau I gave the mountains of Seir to possess, <f>[10†]</f>but Jacob and his children went down to Egypt.


text:
<f>[11†]</f>Also I sent Moses and Aaron, and <f>[12†]</f>I plagued Egypt, according to what I did among them. Afterward I brought you out.


text:
<pb/>‘Then I <f>[13†]</f>brought your fathers out of Egypt, and you came to the sea; and the Egyptians pursued your fathers with chariots and horsemen to the Red Sea.


text:
So they cried out to the LORD; and He put <f>[14†]</f>darkness between you and the Egyptians, brought the sea upon them, and covered them. And <f>[15†]</f>your eyes saw what I did in Egypt. Then you dwelt in the wilderness <f>[16†]</f>a long time.


text:
And I brought you into the land of the Amorites, who dwelt on the other side of the Jordan, <f>[17†]</f>and they fought with you. But I gave them into your hand, that you might possess their land, and I destroyed them from before you.


text:
Then <f>[18†]</f>Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose to make war against Israel, and <f>[19†]</f>sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you.


text:
<f>[20†]</f>But I would not listen to Balaam; <f>[21†]</f>therefore he continued to bless you. So I delivered you out of his hand.


text:
Then <f>[22†]</f>you went over the Jordan and came to Jericho. And <f>[23†]</f>the men of Jericho fought against you—<i>also</i> the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. But I delivered them into your hand.


text:
<f>[24†]</f>I sent the hornet before you which drove them out from before you, <i>also</i> the two kings of the Amorites, <i>but</i> <f>[25†]</f>not with your sword or with your bow.


text:
I have given you a land for which you did not labor, and <f>[26†]</f>cities which you did not build, and you dwell in them; you eat of the vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant.’


text:
<pb/> <f>[27†]</f>“Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in <f>[28†]</f>sincerity and in truth, and <f>[29†]</f>put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and <f>[30†]</f>in Egypt. Serve the LORD!


text:
And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, <f>[31†]</f>choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether <f>[32†]</f>the gods which your fathers served that <i>were</i> on the other side of the River, or <f>[33†]</f>the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. <f>[34†]</f>But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”


text:
<pb/>So the people answered and said: “Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods;


text:
for the LORD our God <i>is</i> He who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, who did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way that we went and among all the people through whom we passed.


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And the LORD drove out from before us all the people, including the Amorites who dwelt in the land. <f>[35†]</f>We also will serve the LORD, for He <i>is</i> our God.”


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<pb/>But Joshua said to the people, <f>[36†]</f>“You cannot serve the LORD, for He <i>is</i> a <f>[37†]</f>holy God. He <i>is</i> <f>[38†]</f>a jealous God; <f>[39†]</f>He will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.


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<f>[40†]</f>If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, <f>[41†]</f>then He will turn and do you harm and consume you, after He has done you good.”


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<pb/>So Joshua said to the people, “You <i>are</i> witnesses against yourselves that <f>[42†]</f>you have chosen the LORD for yourselves, to serve Him.” <pb/>And they said, “<i>We</i> <i>are</i> witnesses!”


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<pb/>“Now therefore,” <i>he</i> <i>said,</i> <f>[43†]</f>“put away the foreign gods which <i>are</i> among you, and <f>[44†]</f>incline your heart to the LORD God of Israel.”


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<pb/>And the people <f>[45†]</f>said to Joshua, “The LORD our God we will serve, and His voice we will obey!”


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<pb/>So Joshua <f>[46†]</f>made a covenant with the people that day, and made for them a statute and an ordinance <f>[47†]</f>in Shechem.


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<pb/>Then Joshua <f>[48†]</f>wrote these words in the Book of the Law of God. And he took <f>[49†]</f>a large stone, and <f>[50†]</f>set it up there <f>[51†]</f>under the oak that <i>was</i> by the sanctuary of the LORD.


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And Joshua said to all the people, “Behold, this stone shall be <f>[52†]</f>a witness to us, for <f>[53†]</f>it has heard all the words of the LORD which He spoke to us. It shall therefore be a witness to you, lest you deny your God.”


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<pb/> <f>[55†]</f>Now it came to pass after these things that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, <i>being</i> one hundred and ten years old.


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And they buried him within the border of his inheritance at <f>[56†]</f>Timnath Serah, which <i>is</i> in the mountains of Ephraim, on the north side of Mount Gaash.


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<pb/> <f>[57†]</f>Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had <f>[58†]</f>known all the works of the LORD which He had done for Israel.


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<pb/> <f>[59†]</f>The bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel had brought up out of Egypt, they buried at Shechem, in the plot of ground <f>[60†]</f>which Jacob had bought from the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for one hundred pieces of silver, and which had become an inheritance of the children of Joseph.


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<pb/>And <f>[61†]</f>Eleazar the son of Aaron died. They buried him in a hill <i>belonging</i> <i>to</i> <f>[62†]</f>Phinehas his son, which was given to him in the mountains of Ephraim.


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<pb/>Now after the <f>[1†]</f>death of Joshua it came to pass that the children of Israel <f>[2†]</f>asked the LORD, saying, “Who shall be first to go up for us against the <f>[3†]</f>Canaanites to fight against them?”


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<pb/>And the LORD said, <f>[4†]</f>“Judah shall go up. Indeed I have delivered the land into his hand.”


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<pb/>So Judah said to <f>[5†]</f>Simeon his brother, “Come up with me to my allotted territory, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and <f>[6†]</f>I will likewise go with you to your allotted territory.” And Simeon went with him.


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Then Judah went up, and the LORD delivered the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand; and they killed ten thousand men at <f>[7†]</f>Bezek.


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And they found Adoni-Bezek in Bezek, and fought against him; and they defeated the Canaanites and the Perizzites.


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And Adoni-Bezek said, “Seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off used to gather <i>scraps</i> under my table; <f>[8†]</f>as I have done, so God has repaid me.” Then they brought him to Jerusalem, and there he died.


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<pb/>Now <f>[9†]</f>the children of Judah fought against Jerusalem and took it; they struck it with the edge of the sword and set the city on fire.


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<f>[10†]</f>And afterward the children of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites who dwelt in the mountains, in the South, and in the lowland.


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Then Judah went against the Canaanites who dwelt in <f>[11†]</f>Hebron. (Now the name of Hebron <i>was</i> formerly <f>[12†]</f>Kirjath Arba.) And they killed Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai.


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<pb/> <f>[13†]</f>From there they went against the inhabitants of Debir. (The name of Debir <i>was</i> formerly Kirjath Sepher.)


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<pb/> <f>[14†]</f>Then Caleb said, “Whoever attacks Kirjath Sepher and takes it, to him I will give my daughter Achsah as wife.”


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And Othniel the son of Kenaz, <f>[15†]</f>Caleb’s younger brother, took it; so he gave him his daughter Achsah as wife.


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<f>[16†]</f>Now it happened, when she came <i>to</i> <i>him,</i> that she urged him to ask her father for a field. And she dismounted from <i>her</i> donkey, and Caleb said to her, “What do you wish?”


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So she said to him, <f>[17†]</f>“Give me a blessing; since you have given me land in the South, give me also springs of water.” <pb/>And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.


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<pb/> <f>[18†]</f>Now the children of the Kenite, Moses’ father-in-law, went up <f>[19†]</f>from the City of Palms with the children of Judah into the Wilderness of Judah, which <i>lies</i> in the South <i>near</i> <f>[20†]</f>Arad; <f>[21†]</f>and they went and dwelt among the people.


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<f>[22†]</f>And Judah went with his brother Simeon, and they attacked the Canaanites who inhabited Zephath, and utterly destroyed it. So the name of the city was called <f>[23†]</f>Hormah.


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Also Judah took <f>[24†]</f>Gaza with its territory, Ashkelon with its territory, and Ekron with its territory.


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So the LORD was with Judah. And they drove out the mountaineers, but they could not drive out the inhabitants of the lowland, because they had <f>[25†]</f>chariots of iron.


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<f>[26†]</f>And they gave Hebron to Caleb, as Moses had said. Then he expelled from there the <f>[27†]</f>three sons of Anak.


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<f>[28†]</f>But the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites who inhabited Jerusalem; so the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this day.


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<pb/>And the house of Joseph also went up against Bethel, <f>[29†]</f>and the LORD <i>was</i> with them.


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So the house of Joseph <f>[30†]</f>sent men to spy out Bethel. (The name of the city <i>was</i> formerly <f>[31†]</f>Luz.)


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And when the spies saw a man coming out of the city, they said to him, “Please show us the entrance to the city, and <f>[32†]</f>we will show you mercy.”


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So he showed them the entrance to the city, and they struck the city with the edge of the sword; but they let the man and all his family go.


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And the man went to the land of the Hittites, built a city, and called its name Luz, which <i>is</i> its name to this day.


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<pb/> <f>[33†]</f>However, Manasseh did not drive out <i>the</i> <i>inhabitants</i> <i>of</i> Beth Shean and its villages, or <f>[34†]</f>Taanach and its villages, or the inhabitants of <f>[35†]</f>Dor and its villages, or the inhabitants of Ibleam and its villages, or the inhabitants of Megiddo and its villages; for the Canaanites were determined to dwell in that land.


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And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites under tribute, but did not completely drive them out.


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<pb/> <f>[36†]</f>Nor did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites who dwelt in Gezer; so the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them.


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<pb/>Nor did <f>[37†]</f>Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron or the inhabitants of Nahalol; so the Canaanites dwelt among them, and were put under tribute.


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<pb/> <f>[38†]</f>Nor did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Acco or the inhabitants of Sidon, or of Ahlab, Achzib, Helbah, Aphik, or Rehob.


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So the Asherites <f>[39†]</f>dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land; for they did not drive them out.


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<pb/> <f>[40†]</f>Nor did Naphtali drive out the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh or the inhabitants of Beth Anath; but they dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land. Nevertheless the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh and Beth Anath were put under tribute to them.


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<pb/>And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountains, for they would not allow them to come down to the valley;


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and the Amorites were determined to dwell in Mount Heres, <f>[41†]</f>in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim; yet when the strength of the house of Joseph became greater, they were put under tribute.


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<pb/>Now the boundary of the Amorites <i>was</i> <f>[42†]</f>from the Ascent of Akrabbim, from Sela, and upward.


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<pb/>Then the Angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said: <f>[1†]</f>“I led you up from Egypt and <f>[2†]</f>brought you to the land of which I swore to your fathers; and <f>[3†]</f>I said, ‘I will never break My covenant with you.


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And <f>[4†]</f>you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; <f>[5†]</f>you shall tear down their altars.’ <f>[6†]</f>But you have not obeyed My voice. Why have you done this?


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Therefore I also said, ‘I will not drive them out before you; but they shall be <f>[7†]</f><i>thorns</i> in your side, and <f>[8†]</f>their gods shall be a <f>[9†]</f>snare to you.’ ”


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So it was, when the Angel of the LORD spoke these words to all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voices and wept.


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And when <f>[10†]</f>Joshua had dismissed the people, the children of Israel went each to his own inheritance to possess the land.


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<pb/> <f>[11†]</f>So the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD which He had done for Israel.


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Now <f>[12†]</f>Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died <i>when</i> <i>he</i> <i>was</i> one hundred and ten years old.


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<f>[13†]</f>And they buried him within the border of his inheritance at <f>[14†]</f>Timnath Heres, in the mountains of Ephraim, on the north side of Mount Gaash.


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When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who <f>[15†]</f>did not know the LORD nor the work which He had done for Israel.


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<pb/>Then the children of Israel did <f>[16†]</f>evil in the sight of the LORD, and served the Baals;


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and they <f>[17†]</f>forsook the LORD God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt; and they followed <f>[18†]</f>other gods from <i>among</i> the gods of the people who <i>were</i> all around them, and they <f>[19†]</f>bowed down to them; and they provoked the LORD to anger.


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<f>[21†]</f>And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel. So He <f>[22†]</f>delivered them into the hands of plunderers who despoiled them; and <f>[23†]</f>He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, so that they <f>[24†]</f>could no longer stand before their enemies.


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Wherever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for calamity, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had <f>[25†]</f>sworn to them. And they were greatly distressed.


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<pb/>Nevertheless, <f>[26†]</f>the LORD raised up judges who delivered them out of the hand of those who plundered them.


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Yet they would not listen to their judges, but they <f>[27†]</f>played the harlot with other gods, and bowed down to them. They turned quickly from the way in which their fathers walked, in obeying the commandments of the LORD; they did not do so.


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And when the LORD raised up judges for them, <f>[28†]</f>the LORD was with the judge and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; <f>[29†]</f>for the LORD was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who oppressed them and harassed them.


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And it came to pass, <f>[30†]</f>when the judge was dead, that they reverted and behaved more corruptly than their fathers, by following other gods, to serve them and bow down to them. They did not cease from their own doings nor from their stubborn way.


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<pb/>Then the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and He said, “Because this nation has <f>[31†]</f>transgressed My covenant which I commanded their fathers, and has not heeded My voice,


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I also will no longer drive out before them any of the nations which Joshua <f>[32†]</f>left when he died,


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so <f>[33†]</f>that through them I may <f>[34†]</f>test Israel, whether they will keep the ways of the LORD, to walk in them as their fathers kept <i>them,</i> or not.”


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Therefore the LORD left those nations, without driving them out immediately; nor did He deliver them into the hand of Joshua.


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<pb/>Now these <i>are</i> <f>[1†]</f>the nations which the LORD left, that He might test Israel by them, <i>that</i> <i>is,</i> all who had not known any of the wars in Canaan


text:
(<i>this</i> <i>was</i> only so that the generations of the children of Israel might be taught to know war, at least those who had not formerly known it),


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<i>namely,</i> <f>[2†]</f>five lords of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who dwelt in Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal Hermon to the entrance of Hamath.


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And they were <i>left, that He might</i> test Israel by them, to know whether they would obey the commandments of the LORD, which He had commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.


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<pb/> <f>[3†]</f>Thus the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.


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And <f>[4†]</f>they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons; and they served their gods.


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<pb/>So the children of Israel did <f>[5†]</f>evil in the sight of the LORD. They <f>[6†]</f>forgot the LORD their God, and served the Baals and Asherahs.


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Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and He <f>[7†]</f>sold them into the hand of <f>[8†]</f>Cushan-Rishathaim king of Mesopotamia; and the children of Israel served Cushan-Rishathaim eight years.


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When the children of Israel <f>[9†]</f>cried out to the LORD, the LORD <f>[10†]</f>raised up a deliverer for the children of Israel, who delivered them: <f>[11†]</f>Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother.


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<f>[12†]</f>The Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel. He went out to war, and the LORD delivered Cushan-Rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed over Cushan-Rishathaim.


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<pb/> <f>[13†]</f>And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD. So the LORD strengthened <f>[14†]</f>Eglon king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD.


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Then he gathered to himself the people of Ammon and <f>[15†]</f>Amalek, went and defeated Israel, and took possession of <f>[16†]</f>the City of Palms.


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<pb/>But when the children of Israel <f>[18†]</f>cried out to the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer for them: Ehud the son of Gera, the Benjamite, a <f>[19†]</f>left-handed man. By him the children of Israel sent tribute to Eglon king of Moab.


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Now Ehud made himself a dagger (it was double-edged and a cubit in length) and fastened it under his clothes on his right thigh.


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And when he had finished presenting the tribute, he sent away the people who had carried the tribute.


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But he himself turned back <f>[20†]</f>from the stone images that <i>were</i> at Gilgal, and said, “I have a secret message for you, O king.” <pb/>He said, “Keep silence!” And all who attended him went out from him.


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<pb/>So Ehud came to him (now he was sitting upstairs in his cool private chamber). Then Ehud said, “I have a message from God for you.” So he arose from <i>his</i> seat.


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Then Ehud reached with his left hand, took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly.


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Even the hilt went in after the blade, and the fat closed over the blade, for he did not draw the dagger out of his belly; and his entrails came out.


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Then Ehud went out through the porch and shut the doors of the upper room behind him and locked them.


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<pb/>When he had gone out, <i>Eglon’s</i> servants came to look, and <i>to</i> <i>their</i> surprise, the doors of the upper room were locked. So they said, “He is probably <f>[21†]</f>attending to his needs in the cool chamber.”


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So they waited till they were <f>[22†]</f>embarrassed, and still he had not opened the doors of the upper room. Therefore they took the key and opened <i>them.</i> And there was their master, fallen dead on the floor.


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<pb/>But Ehud had escaped while they delayed, and passed beyond the stone images and escaped to Seirah.


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And it happened, when he arrived, that <f>[23†]</f>he blew the trumpet in the <f>[24†]</f>mountains of Ephraim, and the children of Israel went down with him from the mountains; and he led them.


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Then he said to them, “Follow <i>me,</i> for <f>[25†]</f>the LORD has delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand.” So they went down after him, seized the <f>[26†]</f>fords of the Jordan leading to Moab, and did not allow anyone to cross over.


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And at that time they killed about ten thousand men of Moab, all stout men of valor; not a man escaped.


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So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And <f>[27†]</f>the land had rest for eighty years.


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<pb/>After him was <f>[28†]</f>Shamgar the son of Anath, who killed six hundred men of the Philistines <f>[29†]</f>with an ox goad; <f>[30†]</f>and he also delivered <f>[31†]</f>Israel.


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<pb/>When Ehud was dead, <f>[1†]</f>the children of Israel again did <f>[2†]</f>evil in the sight of the LORD.


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So the LORD <f>[3†]</f>sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in <f>[4†]</f>Hazor. The commander of his army <i>was</i> <f>[5†]</f>Sisera, who dwelt in <f>[6†]</f>Harosheth Hagoyim.


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And the children of Israel cried out to the LORD; for Jabin had nine hundred <f>[7†]</f>chariots of iron, and for twenty years <f>[8†]</f>he had harshly oppressed the children of Israel.


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<f>[9†]</f>And she would sit under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the mountains of Ephraim. And the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.


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Then she sent and called for <f>[10†]</f>Barak the son of Abinoam from <f>[11†]</f>Kedesh in Naphtali, and said to him, “Has not the LORD God of Israel commanded, ‘Go and deploy <i>troops</i> at Mount <f>[12†]</f>Tabor; take with you ten thousand men of the sons of Naphtali and of the sons of Zebulun;


text:
and against you <f>[13†]</f>I will deploy Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude at the <f>[14†]</f>River Kishon; and I will deliver him into your hand’?”


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<pb/>And Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go!”


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<pb/>So she said, “I will surely go with you; nevertheless there will be no glory for you in the journey you are taking, for the LORD will <f>[15†]</f>sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.” Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh.


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And Barak called <f>[16†]</f>Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; he went up with ten thousand men <f>[17†]</f>under his command, and Deborah went up with him.


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<pb/>Now Heber <f>[18†]</f>the Kenite, of the children of <f>[19†]</f>Hobab the father-in-law of Moses, had separated himself from the Kenites and pitched his tent near the terebinth tree at Zaanaim, <f>[20†]</f>which <i>is</i> beside Kedesh.


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So Sisera gathered together all his chariots, nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people who <i>were</i> with him, from Harosheth Hagoyim to the River Kishon.


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<pb/>Then Deborah said to Barak, “Up! For this <i>is</i> the day in which the LORD has delivered Sisera into your hand. <f>[21†]</f>Has not the LORD gone out before you?” So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him.


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And the LORD routed Sisera and all <i>his</i> chariots and all <i>his</i> army with the edge of the sword before Barak; and Sisera alighted from <i>his</i> chariot and fled away on foot.


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But Barak pursued the chariots and the army as far as Harosheth Hagoyim, and all the army of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword; not a man was <f>[22†]</f>left.


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<pb/>However, Sisera had fled away on foot to the tent of <f>[23†]</f>Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite; for <i>there</i> <i>was</i> peace between Jabin king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite.


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And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said to him, “Turn aside, my lord, turn aside to me; do not fear.” And when he had turned aside with her into the tent, she covered him with a blanket.


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<pb/>Then he said to her, “Please give me a little water to drink, for I am thirsty.” So she opened <f>[24†]</f>a jug of milk, gave him a drink, and covered him.


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And he said to her, “Stand at the door of the tent, and if any man comes and inquires of you, and says, ‘Is there any man here?’ you shall say, ‘No.’ ”


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<pb/>Then Jael, Heber’s wife, <f>[25†]</f>took a tent peg and took a hammer in her hand, and went softly to him and drove the peg into his temple, and it went down into the ground; for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died.


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And then, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said to him, “Come, I will show you the man whom you seek.” And when he went into her <i>tent,</i> there lay Sisera, dead with the peg in his temple.


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And the hand of the children of Israel grew stronger and stronger against Jabin king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.


text:
<pb/><t>“When leaders <f>[2†]</f>lead in Israel, </t><t> <f>[3†]</f>When the people willingly offer themselves, </t><t>Bless the LORD!</t>


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<t>“Hear, <f>[4†]</f> O kings! Give ear, O princes! </t><t>I, <i>even</i> <f>[5†]</f>I, will sing to the LORD; </t><t>I will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel.</t>


text:
<t>“LORD, <f>[6†]</f>when You went out from Seir, </t><t>When You marched from <f>[7†]</f>the field of Edom, </t><t>The earth trembled and the heavens poured, </t><t>The clouds also poured water;</t>


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<t> <f>[8†]</f>The mountains gushed before the LORD, </t><t> <f>[9†]</f>This Sinai, before the LORD God of Israel.</t>


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<t>“In the days of <f>[10†]</f>Shamgar, son of Anath, </t><t>In the days of <f>[11†]</f>Jael, </t><t> <f>[12†]</f>The highways were deserted, </t><t>And the travelers walked along the byways.</t>


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<t>Village life ceased, it ceased in Israel, </t><t>Until I, Deborah, arose, </t><t>Arose a mother in Israel.</t>


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<t>They chose <f>[13†]</f>new gods; </t><t>Then <i>there</i> <i>was</i> war in the gates; </t><t>Not a shield or spear was seen among forty thousand in Israel.</t>


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<t>My heart <i>is</i> with the rulers of Israel </t><t>Who offered themselves willingly with the people. </t><t>Bless the LORD!</t>


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<t>“Speak, you who ride on white <f>[14†]</f>donkeys, </t><t>Who sit in judges’ attire, </t><t>And who walk along the road.</t>


text:
<t>Far from the noise of the archers, among the watering places, </t><t>There they shall recount the righteous acts of the LORD, </t><t>The righteous acts <i>for</i> His villagers in Israel; </t><t>Then the people of the LORD shall go down to the gates.</t>


text:
<t>“Awake, <f>[15†]</f> awake, Deborah! </t><t>Awake, awake, sing a song! </t><t>Arise, Barak, and lead your captives away, </t><t>O son of Abinoam!</t>


text:
<t>“Then the survivors came down, the people against the nobles; </t><t>The LORD came down for me against the mighty.</t>


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<t>From Ephraim <i>were</i> those whose roots were in <f>[16†]</f>Amalek. </t><t>After you, Benjamin, with your peoples, </t><t>From Machir rulers came down, </t><t>And from Zebulun those who bear the recruiter’s staff.</t>


text:
<t>And the princes of Issachar <i>were</i> with Deborah; </t><t>As Issachar, so <i>was</i> Barak </t><t>Sent into the valley under his command; </t><t>Among the divisions of Reuben </t><t><i>There</i> <i>were</i> great resolves of heart.</t>


text:
<t>Why did you sit among the sheepfolds, </t><t>To hear the pipings for the flocks? </t><t>The divisions of Reuben have great searchings of heart.</t>


text:
<t> <f>[17†]</f>Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan, </t><t>And why did Dan remain on ships? </t><t> <f>[18†]</f>Asher continued at the seashore, </t><t>And stayed by his inlets.</t>


text:
<t> <f>[19†]</f>Zebulun <i>is</i> a people <i>who</i> jeopardized their lives to the point of death, </t><t>Naphtali also, on the heights of the battlefield.</t>


text:
<t>“The kings came <i>and</i> fought, </t><t>Then the kings of Canaan fought </t><t>In <f>[20†]</f>Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo; </t><t>They took no spoils of silver.</t>


text:
<t> <f>[21†]</f>The torrent of Kishon swept them away, </t><t>That ancient torrent, the torrent of Kishon. </t><t>O my soul, march on in strength!</t>


text:
<t>‘Curse Meroz,’ said the angel of the LORD, </t><t>‘Curse its inhabitants bitterly, </t><t>Because they did not come to the help of the LORD, </t><t>To the help of the LORD against the mighty.’</t>


text:
<t>“Most blessed among women is Jael, </t><t>The wife of Heber the Kenite; </t><t> <f>[22†]</f>Blessed is she among women in tents.</t>


text:
<t>She stretched her hand to the tent peg, </t><t>Her right hand to the workmen’s hammer; </t><t>She pounded Sisera, she pierced his head, </t><t>She split and struck through his temple.</t>


text:
<t>At her feet he sank, he fell, he lay still; </t><t>At her feet he sank, he fell; </t><t>Where he sank, there he fell <f>[23†]</f>dead.</t>


text:
<t>“The mother of Sisera looked through the window, </t><t>And cried out through the lattice, </t><t>‘Why is his chariot <i>so</i> long in coming? </t><t>Why tarries the clatter of his chariots?’</t>


text:
<t>‘Are they not finding and dividing the spoil: </t><t>To every man a girl <i>or</i> two; </t><t>For Sisera, plunder of dyed garments, </t><t>Plunder of garments embroidered and dyed, </t><t>Two pieces of dyed embroidery for the neck of the looter?’</t>


text:
<t>“Thus let all Your enemies <f>[24†]</f>perish, O LORD! </t><t>But <i>let</i> those who love Him <i>be</i> <f>[25†]</f>like the <f>[26†]</f>sun </t><t>When it comes out in full <f>[27†]</f>strength.” </t> <pb/>So the land had rest for forty years.


text:
<pb/>Then the children of Israel did <f>[1†]</f>evil in the sight of the LORD. So the LORD delivered them into the hand of <f>[2†]</f>Midian for seven years,


text:
and the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel. Because of the Midianites, the children of Israel made for themselves the dens, <f>[3†]</f>the caves, and the strongholds which <i>are</i> in the mountains.


text:
So it was, whenever Israel had sown, Midianites would come up; also Amalekites and the <f>[4†]</f>people of the East would come up against them.


text:
Then they would encamp against them and <f>[5†]</f>destroy the produce of the earth as far as Gaza, and leave no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep nor ox nor <f>[6†]</f>donkey.


text:
For they would come up with their livestock and their tents, coming in as numerous as locusts; both they and their camels were without number; and they would enter the land to destroy it.


text:
So Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites, and the children of Israel <f>[7†]</f>cried out to the LORD.


text:
<pb/>And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried out to the LORD because of the Midianites,


text:
that the LORD sent a prophet to the children of Israel, who said to them, “Thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘I brought you up from Egypt and brought you out of the <f>[8†]</f>house of bondage;


text:
and I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of all who oppressed you, and <f>[9†]</f>drove them out before you and gave you their land.


text:
Also I said to you, “I <i>am</i> the LORD your God; <f>[10†]</f>do not fear the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell.” But you have not obeyed My <f>[11†]</f>voice.’ ”


text:
<pb/>Now the Angel of the LORD came and sat under the terebinth tree which <i>was</i> in Ophrah, which <i>belonged</i> to Joash <f>[12†]</f>the Abiezrite, while his son <f>[13†]</f>Gideon threshed wheat in the winepress, in order to hide <i>it</i> from the Midianites.


text:
And the <f>[14†]</f>Angel of the LORD appeared to him, and said to him, “The LORD <i>is</i> <f>[15†]</f>with you, you mighty man of valor!”


text:
<pb/>Gideon said to Him, “O my lord, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And <f>[16†]</f>where <i>are</i> all His miracles <f>[17†]</f>which our fathers told us about, saying, ‘Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the LORD has <f>[18†]</f>forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.”


text:
<pb/>Then the LORD turned to him and said, <f>[19†]</f>“Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. <f>[20†]</f>Have I not sent you?”


text:
<pb/>So he said to Him, “O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed <f>[21†]</f>my clan <i>is</i> the weakest in Manasseh, and I <i>am</i> the least in my father’s house.”


text:
<pb/>And the LORD said to him, <f>[22†]</f>“Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man.”


text:
<pb/>Then he said to Him, “If now I have found favor in Your sight, then <f>[23†]</f>show me a sign that it is You who talk with me.


text:
<f>[24†]</f>Do not depart from here, I pray, until I come to You and bring out my offering and set <i>it</i> before You.” <pb/>And He said, “I will wait until you come back.”


text:
<pb/> <f>[25†]</f>So Gideon went in and prepared a young goat, and unleavened bread from an ephah of flour. The meat he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot; and he brought <i>them</i> out to Him under the terebinth tree and presented <i>them.</i>


text:
The Angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened bread and <f>[26†]</f>lay <i>them</i> on this rock, and <f>[27†]</f>pour out the broth.” And he did so.


text:
<pb/>Then the Angel of the LORD put out the end of the staff that <i>was</i> in His hand, and touched the meat and the unleavened bread; and <f>[28†]</f>fire rose out of the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened bread. And the Angel of the LORD departed out of his sight.


text:
<pb/>Now Gideon <f>[29†]</f>perceived that He <i>was</i> the Angel of the LORD. So Gideon said, “Alas, O Lord GOD! <f>[30†]</f>For I have seen the Angel of the LORD face to face.”


text:
<pb/>Then the LORD said to him, <f>[31†]</f>“Peace <i>be</i> with you; do not fear, you shall not die.”


text:
So Gideon built an altar there to the LORD, and called it The-LORD-<i>Is</i>-Peace. To this day it <i>is</i> still <f>[32†]</f>in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.


text:
<pb/>Now it came to pass the same night that the LORD said to him, “Take your father’s young bull, the second bull of seven years old, and <f>[33†]</f>tear down the altar of <f>[34†]</f>Baal that your father has, and <f>[35†]</f>cut down the wooden image that <i>is</i> beside it;


text:
and build an altar to the LORD your God on top of this rock in the proper arrangement, and take the second bull and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the image which you shall cut down.”


text:
So Gideon took ten men from among his servants and did as the LORD had said to him. But because he feared his father’s household and the men of the city too much to do <i>it</i> by day, he did <i>it</i> by night.


text:
<pb/>And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, there was the altar of Baal, torn down; and the wooden image that <i>was</i> beside it was cut down, and the second bull was being offered on the altar <i>which</i> <i>had</i> <i>been</i> built.


text:
So they said to one another, “Who has done this thing?” And when they had inquired and asked, they said, “Gideon the son of Joash has done this thing.”


text:
Then the men of the city said to Joash, “Bring out your son, that he may die, because he has torn down the altar of Baal, and because he has cut down the wooden image that <i>was</i> beside it.”


text:
<pb/>But Joash said to all who stood against him, “Would you plead for Baal? Would you save him? Let the one who would plead for him be put to death by morning! If he <i>is</i> a god, let him plead for himself, because his altar has been torn down!”


text:
Therefore on that day he called him <f>[36†]</f>Jerubbaal, saying, “Let Baal plead against him, because he has torn down his altar.”


text:
<pb/>Then all <f>[37†]</f>the Midianites and Amalekites, the people of the East, gathered together; and they crossed over and encamped in <f>[38†]</f>the Valley of Jezreel.


text:
But <f>[39†]</f>the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon; then he <f>[40†]</f>blew the trumpet, and the Abiezrites gathered behind him.


text:
And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh, who also gathered behind him. He also sent messengers to <f>[41†]</f>Asher, <f>[42†]</f>Zebulun, and Naphtali; and they came up to meet them.


text:
<f>[43†]</f>look, I shall put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor; if there is dew on the fleece only, and <i>it</i> <i>is</i> dry on all the ground, then I shall know that You will save Israel by my hand, as You have said.”


text:
And it was so. When he rose early the next morning and squeezed the fleece together, he wrung the dew out of the fleece, a bowlful of water.


text:
Then Gideon said to God, <f>[44†]</f>“Do not be angry with me, but let me speak just once more: Let me test, I pray, just once more with the fleece; let it now be dry only on the fleece, but on all the ground let there be dew.”


text:
<pb/>Then <f>[1†]</f>Jerubbaal (that <i>is,</i> Gideon) and all the people who <i>were</i> with him rose early and encamped beside the well of Harod, so that the camp of the Midianites was on the north side of them by the hill of Moreh in the valley.


text:
<pb/>And the LORD said to Gideon, “The people who <i>are</i> with you <i>are</i> too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel <f>[2†]</f>claim glory for itself against Me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’


text:
Now therefore, proclaim in the hearing of the people, saying, <f>[3†]</f>‘Whoever <i>is</i> fearful and afraid, let him turn and depart at once from Mount Gilead.’ ” And twenty-two thousand of the people returned, and ten thousand remained.


text:
<pb/>But the LORD said to Gideon, “The people <i>are</i> still <i>too</i> many; bring them down to the water, and I will test them for you there. Then it will be, <i>that</i> of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ the same shall go with you; and of whomever I say to you, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ the same shall not go.”


text:
So he brought the people down to the water. And the LORD said to Gideon, “Everyone who laps from the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, you shall set apart by himself; likewise everyone who gets down on his knees to drink.”


text:
And the number of those who lapped, <i>putting</i> their hand to their mouth, was three hundred men; but all the rest of the people got down on their knees to drink water.


text:
Then the LORD said to Gideon, <f>[4†]</f>“By the three hundred men who lapped I will save you, and deliver the Midianites into your hand. Let all the <i>other</i> people go, every man to his place.”


text:
So the people took provisions and their trumpets in their hands. And he sent away all <i>the</i> <i>rest</i> <i>of</i> Israel, every man to his tent, and retained those three hundred men. Now the camp of Midian was below him in the valley.


text:
<pb/>It happened on the same <f>[5†]</f>night that the LORD said to him, “Arise, go down against the camp, for I have delivered it into your hand.


text:
and you shall <f>[6†]</f>hear what they say; and afterward your hands shall be strengthened to go down against the camp.” Then he went down with Purah his servant to the outpost of the armed men who <i>were</i> in the camp.


text:
Now the Midianites and Amalekites, <f>[7†]</f>all the people of the East, were lying in the valley <f>[8†]</f>as numerous as locusts; and their camels <i>were</i> without number, as the sand by the seashore in multitude.


text:
<pb/>And when Gideon had come, there was a man telling a dream to his companion. He said, “I have had a dream: <i>To</i> <i>my</i> surprise, a loaf of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian; it came to a tent and struck it so that it fell and overturned, and the tent collapsed.”


text:
<pb/>Then his companion answered and said, “This <i>is</i> nothing else but the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel! Into his hand <f>[9†]</f>God has delivered Midian and the whole camp.”


text:
<pb/>And so it was, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream and its interpretation, that he worshiped. He returned to the camp of Israel, and said, “Arise, for the LORD has delivered the camp of Midian into your hand.”


text:
Then he divided the three hundred men <i>into</i> three companies, and he put a trumpet into every man’s hand, with empty pitchers, and torches inside the pitchers.


text:
And he said to them, “Look at me and do likewise; watch, and when I come to the edge of the camp you shall do as I do:


text:
When I blow the trumpet, I and all who <i>are</i> with me, then you also blow the trumpets on every side of the whole camp, and say, ‘<i>The</i> <i>sword</i> <i>of</i> the LORD and of Gideon!’ ”


text:
<pb/>So Gideon and the hundred men who <i>were</i> with him came to the outpost of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just as they had posted the watch; and they blew the trumpets and broke the pitchers that <i>were</i> in their hands.


text:
Then the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the pitchers—they held the torches in their left hands and the trumpets in their right hands for blowing—and they cried, “The sword of the LORD and of Gideon!”


text:
And <f>[10†]</f>every man stood in his place all around the camp; <f>[11†]</f>and the whole army ran and cried out and fled.


text:
When the three hundred <f>[12†]</f>blew the trumpets, <f>[13†]</f>the LORD set <f>[14†]</f>every man’s sword against his companion throughout the whole camp; and the army fled to Beth Acacia, toward Zererah, as far as the border of <f>[15†]</f>Abel Meholah, by Tabbath.


text:
<pb/>And the men of Israel gathered together from <f>[16†]</f>Naphtali, Asher, and all Manasseh, and pursued the Midianites.


text:
<pb/>Then Gideon sent messengers throughout all the <f>[17†]</f>mountains of Ephraim, saying, “Come down against the Midianites, and seize from them the watering places as far as Beth Barah and the Jordan.” Then all the men of Ephraim gathered together and <f>[18†]</f>seized the watering places as far as <f>[19†]</f>Beth Barah and the Jordan.


text:
And they captured <f>[20†]</f>two princes of the Midianites, <f>[21†]</f>Oreb and Zeeb. They killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and Zeeb they killed at the winepress of Zeeb. They pursued Midian and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the <f>[22†]</f>other side of the Jordan.


text:
<pb/>Now <f>[1†]</f>the men of Ephraim said to him, “Why have you done this to us by not calling us when you went to fight with the Midianites?” And they reprimanded him sharply.


text:
<pb/>So he said to them, “What have I done now in comparison with you? <i>Is</i> not the gleaning <i>of</i> <i>the</i> <i>grapes</i> of Ephraim better than the vintage of <f>[2†]</f>Abiezer?


text:
<f>[3†]</f>God has delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. And what was I able to do in comparison with you?” Then their <f>[4†]</f>anger toward him subsided when he said that.


text:
<pb/>When Gideon came <f>[5†]</f>to the Jordan, he and <f>[6†]</f>the three hundred men who <i>were</i> with him crossed over, exhausted but still in pursuit.


text:
Then he said to the men of <f>[7†]</f>Succoth, “Please give loaves of bread to the people who follow me, for they are exhausted, and I am pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian.”


text:
<pb/>And the leaders of Succoth said, <f>[8†]</f>“<i>Are</i> the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that <f>[9†]</f>we should give bread to your army?”


text:
<pb/>So Gideon said, “For this cause, when the LORD has delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, <f>[10†]</f>then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers!”


text:
Then he went up from there <f>[11†]</f>to Penuel and spoke to them in the same way. And the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered.


text:
So he also spoke to the men of Penuel, saying, “When I <f>[12†]</f>come back in peace, <f>[13†]</f>I will tear down this tower!”


text:
<pb/>Now Zebah and Zalmunna <i>were</i> at Karkor, and their armies with them, about fifteen thousand, all who were left of <f>[14†]</f>all the army of the people of the East; for <f>[15†]</f>one hundred and twenty thousand men who drew the sword had fallen.


text:
Then Gideon went up by the road of those who dwell in tents on the east of <f>[16†]</f>Nobah and Jogbehah; and he attacked the army while the camp felt <f>[17†]</f>secure.


text:
When Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued them; and he <f>[18†]</f>took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and routed the whole army.


text:
And he caught a young man of the men of Succoth and interrogated him; and he wrote down for him the leaders of Succoth and its elders, seventy-seven men.


text:
Then he came to the men of Succoth and said, “Here are Zebah and Zalmunna, about whom you <f>[19†]</f>ridiculed me, saying, ‘<i>Are</i> the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your weary men?’ ”


text:
<f>[20†]</f>And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth.


text:
<pb/>And he said to Zebah and Zalmunna, “What kind of men <i>were</i> <i>they</i> whom you killed at <f>[23†]</f>Tabor?” <pb/>So they answered, “As you <i>are,</i> so <i>were</i> they; each one resembled the son of a king.”


text:
<pb/>Then he said, “They <i>were</i> my brothers, the sons of my mother. <i>As</i> the LORD lives, if you had let them live, I would not kill you.”


text:
And he said to Jether his firstborn, “Rise, kill them!” But the youth would not draw his sword; for he was afraid, because he <i>was</i> still a youth.


text:
<pb/>So Zebah and Zalmunna said, “Rise yourself, and kill us; for as a man <i>is, so is</i> his strength.” So Gideon arose and <f>[24†]</f>killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and took the crescent ornaments that <i>were</i> on their camels’ necks.


text:
<pb/>Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, <f>[25†]</f>“Rule over us, both you and your son, and your grandson also; for you have <f>[26†]</f>delivered us from the hand of Midian.”


text:
<pb/>But Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; <f>[27†]</f>the LORD shall rule over you.”


text:
Then Gideon said to them, “I would like to make a request of you, that each of you would give me the earrings from his plunder.” For they had golden earrings, <f>[28†]</f>because they <i>were</i> Ishmaelites.


text:
<pb/>So they answered, “We will gladly give <i>them.</i>” And they spread out a garment, and each man threw into it the earrings from his plunder.


text:
Now the weight of the gold earrings that he requested was one thousand seven hundred <i>shekels</i> of gold, besides the crescent ornaments, pendants, and purple robes which <i>were</i> on the kings of Midian, and besides the chains that <i>were</i> around their camels’ necks.


text:
Then Gideon <f>[29†]</f>made it into an ephod and set it up in his city, <f>[30†]</f>Ophrah. And all Israel <f>[31†]</f>played the harlot with it there. It became <f>[32†]</f>a snare to Gideon and to his house.


text:
<pb/>Thus Midian was subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted their heads no more. <f>[33†]</f>And the country was quiet for forty years in the days of Gideon.


text:
<f>[36†]</f>And his concubine who <i>was</i> in Shechem also bore him a son, whose name he called Abimelech.


text:
Now Gideon the son of Joash died <f>[37†]</f>at a good old age, and was buried in the tomb of Joash his father, <f>[38†]</f>in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.


text:
<pb/>So it was, <f>[39†]</f>as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel again <f>[40†]</f>played the harlot with the Baals, <f>[41†]</f>and made Baal-Berith their god.


text:
Thus the children of Israel <f>[42†]</f>did not remember the LORD their God, who had delivered them from the hands of all their enemies on every side;


text:
<f>[43†]</f>nor did they show kindness to the house of Jerubbaal (Gideon) in accordance with the good he had done for Israel.


text:
<pb/>Then Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem, to <f>[1†]</f>his mother’s brothers, and spoke with them and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying,


text:
“Please speak in the hearing of all the men of Shechem: ‘Which is better for you, that all <f>[2†]</f>seventy of the sons of Jerubbaal reign over you, or that one reign over you?’ Remember that I <i>am</i> your own flesh and <f>[3†]</f>bone.”


text:
<pb/>And his mother’s brothers spoke all these words concerning him in the hearing of all the men of Shechem; and their heart was inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is our <f>[4†]</f>brother.”


text:
So they gave him seventy <i>shekels</i> of silver from the temple of <f>[5†]</f>Baal-Berith, with which Abimelech hired <f>[6†]</f>worthless and reckless men; and they followed him.


text:
Then he went to his father’s house <f>[7†]</f>at Ophrah and <f>[8†]</f>killed his brothers, the seventy sons of Jerubbaal, on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, because he hid himself.


text:
And all the men of Shechem gathered together, all of Beth Millo, and they went and made Abimelech king beside the terebinth tree at the pillar that <i>was</i> in Shechem.


text:
<pb/>Now when they told Jotham, he went and stood on top of <f>[9†]</f>Mount Gerizim, and lifted his voice and cried out. And he said to them: <pb/><t>“Listen to me, you men of Shechem, </t><t>That God may listen to you!</t>


text:
<t>“The <f>[10†]</f> trees once went forth to anoint a king over them. </t><t>And they said to the olive tree, </t><t> <f>[11†]</f>‘Reign over us!’</t>


text:
<t>But the olive tree said to them, </t><t>‘Should I cease giving my oil, </t><t> <f>[12†]</f>With which they honor God and men, </t><t>And go to sway over trees?’</t>


text:
<t>But the fig tree said to them, </t><t>‘Should I cease my sweetness and my good fruit, </t><t>And go to sway over trees?’</t>


text:
<t>But the vine said to them, </t><t>‘Should I cease my new wine, </t><t> <f>[13†]</f>Which cheers <i>both</i> God and men, </t><t>And go to sway over trees?’</t>


text:
<t>And the bramble said to the trees, </t><t>‘If in truth you anoint me as king over you, </t><t><i>Then</i> come <i>and</i> take shelter in my <f>[14†]</f>shade; </t><t>But if not, <f>[15†]</f>let fire come out of the bramble </t><t>And devour the <f>[16†]</f>cedars of Lebanon!’</t>


text:
<pb/>“Now therefore, if you have acted in truth and sincerity in making Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done to him <f>[17†]</f>as he deserves—


text:
for my <f>[18†]</f>father fought for you, risked his life, and <f>[19†]</f>delivered you out of the hand of Midian;


text:
<f>[20†]</f>but you have risen up against my father’s house this day, and killed his seventy sons on one stone, and made Abimelech, the son of his <f>[21†]</f>female servant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother—


text:
if then you have acted in truth and sincerity with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, <i>then</i> <f>[22†]</f>rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you.


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“But if not, <f>[23†]</f>let fire come from Abimelech and devour the men of Shechem and Beth Millo; and let fire come from the men of Shechem and from Beth Millo and devour Abimelech!”


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And Jotham ran away and fled; and he went to <f>[24†]</f>Beer and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.


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<f>[25†]</f>God sent a <f>[26†]</f>spirit of ill will between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem <f>[27†]</f>dealt treacherously with Abimelech,


text:
<f>[28†]</f>that the crime <i>done</i> to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might be settled and their <f>[29†]</f>blood be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the men of Shechem, who aided him in the killing of his brothers.


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And the men of Shechem set men in ambush against him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all who passed by them along that way; and it was told Abimelech.


text:
<pb/>Now Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brothers and went over to Shechem; and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him.


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So they went out into the fields, and gathered <i>grapes</i> from their vineyards and trod <i>them,</i> and made merry. And they went into <f>[30†]</f>the house of their god, and ate and drank, and cursed Abimelech.


text:
Then Gaal the son of Ebed said, <f>[31†]</f>“Who <i>is</i> Abimelech, and who <i>is</i> Shechem, that we should serve him? <i>Is</i> <i>he</i> not the son of Jerubbaal, and <i>is</i> <i>not</i> Zebul his officer? Serve the men of <f>[32†]</f>Hamor the father of Shechem; but why should we serve him?


text:
<f>[33†]</f>If only this people were under my authority! Then I would remove Abimelech.” So he said to Abimelech, “Increase your army and come out!”


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<pb/>When Zebul, the ruler of the city, heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was aroused.


text:
And he sent messengers to Abimelech secretly, saying, “Take note! Gaal the son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem; and here they are, fortifying the city against you.


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Now therefore, get up by night, you and the people who <i>are</i> with you, and lie in wait in the field.


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And it shall be, as soon as the sun is up in the morning, <i>that</i> you shall rise early and rush upon the city; and <i>when</i> he and the people who are with him come out against you, you may then do to them as you find opportunity.”


text:
<pb/>So Abimelech and all the people who <i>were</i> with him rose by night, and lay in wait against Shechem in four companies.


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When Gaal the son of Ebed went out and stood in the entrance to the city gate, Abimelech and the people who <i>were</i> with him rose from lying in wait.


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And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, “Look, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains!” <pb/>But Zebul said to him, “You see the shadows of the mountains as <i>if</i> <i>they</i> <i>were</i> men.”


text:
<pb/>So Gaal spoke again and said, “See, people are coming down from the center of the land, and another company is coming from the Diviners’ Terebinth Tree.”


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<pb/>Then Zebul said to him, “Where indeed <i>is</i> your mouth now, with which you <f>[34†]</f>said, ‘Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him?’ <i>Are</i> not these the people whom you despised? Go out, if you will, and fight with them now.”


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And Abimelech chased him, and he fled from him; and many fell wounded, to the <i>very</i> entrance of the gate.


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Then Abimelech dwelt at Arumah, and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brothers, so that they would not dwell in Shechem.


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<pb/>And it came about on the next day that the people went out into the field, and they told Abimelech.


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So he took his people, divided them into three companies, and lay in wait in the field. And he looked, and there were the people, coming out of the city; and he rose against them and attacked them.


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Then Abimelech and the company that <i>was</i> with him rushed forward and stood at the entrance of the gate of the city; and the <i>other</i> two companies rushed upon all who <i>were</i> in the fields and killed them.


text:
So Abimelech fought against the city all that day; <f>[35†]</f>he took the city and killed the people who <i>were</i> in it; and he <f>[36†]</f>demolished the city and sowed it with salt.


text:
<pb/>Now when all the men of the tower of Shechem had heard <i>that,</i> they entered the stronghold of the temple <f>[37†]</f>of the god Berith.


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Then Abimelech went up to Mount <f>[38†]</f>Zalmon, he and all the people who <i>were</i> with him. And Abimelech took an ax in his hand and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it and laid <i>it</i> on his shoulder; then he said to the people who were with him, “What you have seen me do, make haste <i>and</i> do as I <i>have</i> <i>done.</i>”


text:
So each of the people likewise cut down his own bough and followed Abimelech, put <i>them</i> against the stronghold, and set the stronghold on fire above them, so that all the people of the tower of Shechem died, about a thousand men and women.


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But there was a strong tower in the city, and all the men and women—all the people of the city—fled there and shut themselves in; then they went up to the top of the tower.


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So Abimelech came as far as the tower and fought against it; and he drew near the door of the tower to burn it with fire.


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But a certain woman <f>[39†]</f>dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head and crushed his skull.


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Then <f>[40†]</f>he called quickly to the young man, his armorbearer, and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, lest men say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’ ” So his young man thrust him through, and he died.


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<pb/> <f>[41†]</f>Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he had done to his father by killing his seventy brothers.


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And all the evil of the men of Shechem God returned on their own heads, and on them came <f>[42†]</f>the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.


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<pb/>After Abimelech there <f>[1†]</f>arose to save Israel Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; and he dwelt in Shamir in the mountains of Ephraim.


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Now he had thirty sons who <f>[2†]</f>rode on thirty donkeys; they also had thirty towns, <f>[3†]</f>which are called “Havoth Jair” to this day, which <i>are</i> in the land of Gilead.


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<pb/>Then <f>[4†]</f>the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, and <f>[5†]</f>served the Baals and the Ashtoreths, <f>[6†]</f>the gods of Syria, the gods of <f>[7†]</f>Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the people of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines; and they forsook the LORD and did not serve Him.


text:
So the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and He <f>[8†]</f>sold them into the hands of the <f>[9†]</f>Philistines and into the hands of the people of <f>[10†]</f>Ammon.


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From that year they harassed and oppressed the children of Israel for eighteen years—all the children of Israel who <i>were</i> on the other side of the Jordan in the <f>[11†]</f>land of the Amorites, in Gilead.


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Moreover the people of Ammon crossed over the Jordan to fight against Judah also, against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim, so that Israel was severely distressed.


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<pb/> <f>[12†]</f>And the children of Israel cried out to the LORD, saying, “We have <f>[13†]</f>sinned against You, because we have both forsaken our God and served the Baals!”


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<pb/>So the LORD said to the children of Israel, “<i>Did</i> <i>I</i> not <i>deliver</i> <i>you</i> <f>[14†]</f>from the Egyptians and <f>[15†]</f>from the Amorites and <f>[16†]</f>from the people of Ammon and <f>[17†]</f>from the Philistines?


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Also <f>[18†]</f>the Sidonians <f>[19†]</f>and Amalekites and Maonites <f>[20†]</f>oppressed you; and you cried out to Me, and I delivered you from their hand.


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“Go and <f>[22†]</f>cry out to the gods which you have chosen; let them deliver you in your time of distress.”


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<pb/>And the children of Israel said to the LORD, “We have sinned! <f>[23†]</f>Do to us whatever seems best to You; only deliver us this day, we pray.”


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<f>[24†]</f>So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the LORD. And <f>[25†]</f>His soul could no longer endure the misery of Israel.


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<pb/>Then the people of Ammon gathered together and encamped in Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled together and encamped in <f>[26†]</f>Mizpah.


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And the people, the leaders of Gilead, said to one another, “Who <i>is</i> the man who will begin the fight against the people of Ammon? He shall <f>[27†]</f>be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.”


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<pb/>Now <f>[1†]</f>Jephthah the Gileadite was <f>[2†]</f>a mighty man of valor, but he <i>was</i> the son of a harlot; and Gilead begot Jephthah.


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Gilead’s wife bore sons; and when his wife’s sons grew up, they drove Jephthah out, and said to him, “You shall have <f>[3†]</f>no inheritance in our father’s house, for you <i>are</i> the son of another woman.”


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Then Jephthah fled from his brothers and dwelt in the land of <f>[4†]</f>Tob; and <f>[5†]</f>worthless men banded together with Jephthah and went out <i>raiding</i> with him.


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And so it was, when the people of Ammon made war against Israel, that the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah from the land of Tob.


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Then they said to Jephthah, “Come and be our commander, that we may fight against the people of Ammon.”


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<pb/>So Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, <f>[7†]</f>“Did you not hate me, and expel me from my father’s house? Why have you come to me now when you are in distress?”


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<pb/> <f>[8†]</f>And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “That is why we have <f>[9†]</f>turned again to you now, that you may go with us and fight against the people of Ammon, and be <f>[10†]</f>our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.”


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<pb/>So Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “If you take me back home to fight against the people of Ammon, and the LORD delivers them to me, shall I be your head?”


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<pb/>And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, <f>[11†]</f>“The LORD will be a witness between us, if we do not do according to your words.”


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Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him <f>[12†]</f>head and commander over them; and Jephthah spoke all his words <f>[13†]</f>before the LORD in Mizpah.


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<pb/>Now Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the people of Ammon, saying, <f>[14†]</f>“What do you have against me, that you have come to fight against me in my land?”


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<pb/>And the king of the people of Ammon answered the messengers of Jephthah, <f>[15†]</f>“Because Israel took away my land when they came up out of Egypt, from <f>[16†]</f>the Arnon as far as <f>[17†]</f>the Jabbok, and to the Jordan. Now therefore, restore those <i>lands</i> peaceably.”


text:
and said to him, “Thus says Jephthah: <f>[18†]</f>‘Israel did not take away the land of Moab, nor the land of the people of Ammon;


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for when Israel came up from Egypt, they walked through the wilderness as far as the Red Sea and <f>[19†]</f>came to Kadesh.


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Then <f>[20†]</f>Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, “Please let me pass through your land.” <f>[21†]</f>But the king of Edom would not heed. And in like manner they sent to the <f>[22†]</f>king of Moab, but he would not <i>consent.</i> So Israel <f>[23†]</f>remained in Kadesh.


text:
And they <f>[24†]</f>went along through the wilderness and <f>[25†]</f>bypassed the land of Edom and the land of Moab, came to the east side of the land of Moab, and encamped on the other side of the Arnon. But they did not enter the border of Moab, for the Arnon <i>was</i> the border of Moab.


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Then <f>[26†]</f>Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, king of Heshbon; and Israel said to him, “Please <f>[27†]</f>let us pass through your land into our place.”


text:
<f>[28†]</f>But Sihon did not trust Israel to pass through his territory. So Sihon gathered all his people together, encamped in Jahaz, and fought against Israel.


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And the LORD God of Israel <f>[29†]</f>delivered Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel, and they <f>[30†]</f>defeated them. Thus Israel gained possession of all the land of the Amorites, who inhabited that country.


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They took possession of <f>[31†]</f>all the territory of the Amorites, from the Arnon to the Jabbok and from the wilderness to the Jordan.


text:
<pb/>‘And now the LORD God of Israel has dispossessed the Amorites from before His people Israel; should you then possess it?


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Will you not possess whatever <f>[32†]</f>Chemosh your god gives you to possess? So whatever <f>[33†]</f>the LORD our God takes possession of before us, we will possess.


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And now, <i>are</i> you any better than <f>[34†]</f>Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever strive against Israel? Did he ever fight against them?


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While Israel dwelt in <f>[35†]</f>Heshbon and its villages, in <f>[36†]</f>Aroer and its villages, and in all the cities along the banks of the Arnon, for three hundred years, why did you not recover <i>them</i> within that time?


text:
Therefore I have not sinned against you, but you wronged me by fighting against me. May the LORD, <f>[37†]</f>the Judge, <f>[38†]</f>render judgment this day between the children of Israel and the people of Ammon.’ ”


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<pb/>Then <f>[39†]</f>the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, and he passed through Gilead and Manasseh, and passed through Mizpah of Gilead; and from Mizpah of Gilead he advanced <i>toward</i> the people of Ammon.


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And Jephthah <f>[40†]</f>made a vow to the LORD, and said, “If You will indeed deliver the people of Ammon into my hands,


text:
then it will be that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the people of Ammon, <f>[41†]</f>shall surely be the LORD’s, <f>[42†]</f>and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.”


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<pb/>So Jephthah advanced toward the people of Ammon to fight against them, and the LORD delivered them into his hands.


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And he defeated them from Aroer as far as <f>[43†]</f>Minnith—twenty cities—and to Abel Keramim, with a very great slaughter. Thus the people of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel.


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<pb/>When Jephthah came to his house at <f>[44†]</f>Mizpah, there was <f>[45†]</f>his daughter, coming out to meet him with timbrels and dancing; and she <i>was</i> <i>his</i> only child. Besides her he had neither son nor daughter.


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And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he <f>[46†]</f>tore his clothes, and said, “Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low! You are among those who trouble me! For I <f>[47†]</f>have given my word to the LORD, and <f>[48†]</f>I cannot go back on it.”


text:
<pb/>So she said to him, “My father, <i>if</i> you have given your word to the LORD, <f>[49†]</f>do to me according to what has gone out of your mouth, because <f>[50†]</f>the LORD has avenged you of your enemies, the people of Ammon.”


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Then she said to her father, “Let this thing be done for me: let me alone for two months, that I may go and wander on the mountains and bewail my virginity, my friends and I.”


text:
<pb/>So he said, “Go.” And he sent her away <i>for</i> two months; and she went with her friends, and bewailed her virginity on the mountains.


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And it was so at the end of two months that she returned to her father, and he <f>[51†]</f>carried out his vow with her which he had vowed. She knew no man. <pb/>And it became a custom in Israel


text:
<i>that</i> the daughters of Israel went four days each year to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite.


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<pb/>Then <f>[1†]</f>the men of Ephraim gathered together, crossed over toward Zaphon, and said to Jephthah, “Why did you cross over to fight against the people of Ammon, and did not call us to go with you? We will burn your house down on you with fire!”


text:
<pb/>And Jephthah said to them, “My people and I were in a great struggle with the people of Ammon; and when I called you, you did not deliver me out of their hands.


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So when I saw that you would not deliver <i>me,</i> I <f>[2†]</f>took my life in my hands and crossed over against the people of Ammon; and the LORD delivered them into my hand. Why then have you come up to me this day to fight against me?”


text:
Now Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead and fought against Ephraim. And the men of Gilead defeated Ephraim, because they said, “You Gileadites <f>[3†]</f><i>are</i> fugitives of Ephraim among the Ephraimites <i>and</i> among the Manassites.”


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The Gileadites seized the <f>[4†]</f>fords of the Jordan before the Ephraimites <i>arrived.</i> And when <i>any</i> Ephraimite who escaped said, “Let me cross over,” the men of Gilead would say to him, “<i>Are</i> you an Ephraimite?” If he said, “No,”


text:
then they would say to him, “Then say, <f>[5†]</f>‘Shibboleth’!” And he would say, “Sibboleth,” for he could not pronounce <i>it</i> right. Then they would take him and kill him at the fords of the Jordan. There fell at that time forty-two thousand Ephraimites.


text:
<pb/>And Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then Jephthah the Gileadite died and was buried in among the cities of Gilead.


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He had thirty sons. And he gave away thirty daughters in marriage, and brought in thirty daughters from elsewhere for his sons. He judged Israel seven years.


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He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who <f>[6†]</f>rode on seventy young donkeys. He judged Israel eight years.


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Then Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died and was buried in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, <f>[7†]</f>in the mountains of the Amalekites.


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<pb/>Again the children of Israel <f>[1†]</f>did evil in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD delivered them <f>[2†]</f>into the hand of the Philistines for forty years.


text:
<pb/>Now there was a certain man from <f>[3†]</f>Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name <i>was</i> Manoah; and his wife <i>was</i> barren and had no children.


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And the <f>[4†]</f>Angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, “Indeed now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and bear a son.


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Now therefore, please be careful <f>[5†]</f>not to drink wine or <i>similar</i> drink, and not to eat anything unclean.


text:
For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. And no <f>[6†]</f>razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be <f>[7†]</f>a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall <f>[8†]</f>begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.”


text:
<pb/>So the woman came and told her husband, saying, <f>[9†]</f>“A Man of God came to me, and His <f>[10†]</f>countenance <i>was</i> like the countenance of the Angel of God, very awesome; but I <f>[11†]</f>did not ask Him where He <i>was</i> from, and He did not tell me His name.


text:
And He said to me, ‘Behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. Now drink no wine or <i>similar</i> drink, nor eat anything unclean, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.’ ”


text:
<pb/>Then Manoah prayed to the LORD, and said, “O my Lord, please let the Man of God whom You sent come to us again and teach us what we shall do for the child who will be born.”


text:
<pb/>And God listened to the voice of Manoah, and the Angel of God came to the woman again as she was sitting in the field; but Manoah her husband <i>was</i> not with her.


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Then the woman ran in haste and told her husband, and said to him, “Look, the Man who came to me the <i>other</i> day has just now appeared to me!”


text:
<pb/>So Manoah arose and followed his wife. When he came to the Man, he said to Him, “Are You the Man who spoke to this woman?” <pb/>And He said, “I <i>am.</i>”


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<pb/>Manoah said, “Now let Your words come <i>to</i> <i>pass!</i> What will be the boy’s rule of life, and his work?”


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She may not eat anything that comes from the vine, <f>[12†]</f>nor may she drink wine or <i>similar</i> drink, nor eat anything unclean. All that I commanded her let her observe.”


text:
<pb/>Then Manoah said to the Angel of the LORD, “Please <f>[13†]</f>let us detain You, and we will prepare a young goat for You.”


text:
<pb/>And the Angel of the LORD said to Manoah, “Though you detain Me, I will not eat your food. But if you offer a burnt offering, you must offer it to the LORD.” (For Manoah did not know He <i>was</i> the Angel of the LORD.)


text:
<pb/>Then Manoah said to the Angel of the LORD, “What <i>is</i> Your name, that when Your words come <i>to</i> <i>pass</i> we may honor You?”


text:
<pb/>And the Angel of the LORD said to him, <f>[14†]</f>“Why do you ask My name, seeing it <i>is</i> wonderful?”


text:
<pb/>So Manoah took the young goat with the grain offering, <f>[15†]</f>and offered it upon the rock to the LORD. And He did a wondrous thing while Manoah and his wife looked on—


text:
it happened as the flame went up toward heaven from the altar—the Angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of the altar! When Manoah and his wife saw <i>this,</i> they <f>[16†]</f>fell on their faces to the ground.


text:
When the Angel of the LORD appeared no more to Manoah and his wife, <f>[17†]</f>then Manoah knew that He <i>was</i> the Angel of the LORD.


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<pb/>But his wife said to him, “If the LORD had desired to kill us, He would not have accepted a burnt offering and a grain offering from our hands, nor would He have shown us all these <i>things,</i> nor would He have told us <i>such</i> <i>things</i> as these at this time.”


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<pb/>So the woman bore a son and called his name <f>[19†]</f>Samson; and <f>[20†]</f>the child grew, and the LORD blessed him.


text:
<f>[21†]</f>And the Spirit of the LORD began to move upon him at Mahaneh Dan <f>[22†]</f>between Zorah and <f>[23†]</f>Eshtaol.


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<pb/>Now Samson went down <f>[1†]</f>to Timnah, and <f>[2†]</f>saw a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines.


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So he went up and told his father and mother, saying, “I have seen a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines; now therefore, <f>[3†]</f>get her for me as a wife.”


text:
<pb/>Then his father and mother said to him, “<i>Is</i> <i>there</i> no woman among the daughters of <f>[4†]</f>your brethren, or among all my people, that you must go and get a wife from the <f>[5†]</f>uncircumcised Philistines?” <pb/>And Samson said to his father, “Get her for me, for she pleases me well.”


text:
<pb/>But his father and mother did not know that it was <f>[6†]</f>of the LORD—that He was seeking an occasion to move against the Philistines. For at that time <f>[7†]</f>the Philistines had dominion over Israel.


text:
<pb/>So Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother, and came to the vineyards of Timnah. <pb/>Now <i>to</i> <i>his</i> surprise, a young lion <i>came</i> roaring against him.


text:
And <f>[8†]</f>the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he tore the lion apart as one would have torn apart a young goat, though <i>he</i> <i>had</i> nothing in his hand. But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done.


text:
After some time, when he returned to get her, he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion. And behold, a swarm of bees and honey <i>were</i> in the carcass of the lion.


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He took some of it in his hands and went along, eating. When he came to his father and mother, he gave <i>some</i> to them, and they also ate. But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey out of the <f>[9†]</f>carcass of the lion.


text:
<pb/>So his father went down to the woman. And Samson gave a feast there, for young men used to do so.


text:
<pb/>Then Samson said to them, “Let me <f>[10†]</f>pose a riddle to you. If you can correctly solve and explain it to me <f>[11†]</f>within the seven days of the feast, then I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty <f>[12†]</f>changes of clothing.


text:
But if you cannot explain <i>it</i> to me, then you shall give me thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing.” <pb/>And they said to him, <f>[13†]</f>“Pose your riddle, that we may hear it.”


text:
<pb/>So he said to them: <pb/><t>“Out of the eater came something to eat, </t><t>And out of the strong came something sweet.” </t> <pb/>Now for three days they could not explain the riddle.


text:
<pb/>But it came to pass on the seventh day that they said to Samson’s wife, <f>[14†]</f>“Entice your husband, that he may explain the riddle to us, <f>[15†]</f>or else we will burn you and your father’s house with fire. Have you invited us in order to take what is ours? <i>Is</i> <i>that</i> not <i>so?</i>”


text:
<pb/>Then Samson’s wife wept on him, and said, <f>[16†]</f>“You only hate me! You do not love me! You have posed a riddle to the sons of my people, but you have not explained <i>it</i> to me.” <pb/>And he said to her, “Look, I have not explained <i>it</i> to my father or my mother; so should I explain <i>it</i> to you?”


text:
Now she had wept on him the seven days while their feast lasted. And it happened on the seventh day that he told her, because she pressed him so much. Then she explained the riddle to the sons of her people.


text:
So the men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down: <pb/><t>“What <i>is</i> sweeter than honey? </t><t>And what <i>is</i> stronger than a lion?” </t> <pb/>And he said to them: <pb/><t>“If you had not plowed with my heifer, </t><t>You would not have solved my riddle!”</t>


text:
<pb/>Then <f>[17†]</f>the Spirit of the LORD came upon him mightily, and he went down to Ashkelon and killed thirty of their men, took their apparel, and gave the changes <i>of</i> <i>clothing</i> to those who had explained the riddle. So his anger was aroused, and he went back up to his father’s house.


text:
And Samson’s wife <f>[18†]</f>was <i>given</i> to his companion, who had been <f>[19†]</f>his best man.


text:
<pb/>After a while, in the time of wheat harvest, it happened that Samson visited his wife with a <f>[1†]</f>young goat. And he said, “Let me go in to my wife, into <i>her</i> room.” But her father would not permit him to go in.


text:
<pb/>Her father said, “I really thought that you thoroughly <f>[2†]</f>hated her; therefore I gave her to your companion. <i>Is</i> not her younger sister better than she? Please, take her instead.”


text:
<pb/>And Samson said to them, “This time I shall be blameless regarding the Philistines if I harm them!”


text:
Then Samson went and caught three hundred foxes; and he took torches, turned <i>the</i> <i>foxes</i> tail to tail, and put a torch between each pair of tails.


text:
When he had set the torches on fire, he let <i>the</i> <i>foxes</i> go into the standing grain of the Philistines, and burned up both the shocks and the standing grain, as well as the vineyards <i>and</i> olive groves.


text:
<pb/>Then the Philistines said, “Who has done this?” <pb/>And they answered, “Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite, because he has taken his wife and given her to his companion.” <f>[3†]</f>So the Philistines came up and burned her and her father with fire.


text:
<pb/>Samson said to them, “Since you would do a thing like this, I will surely take revenge on you, and after that I will cease.”


text:
So he attacked them hip and thigh with a great slaughter; then he went down and dwelt in the cleft of the rock of <f>[4†]</f>Etam.


text:
<pb/>Now the Philistines went up, encamped in Judah, and deployed themselves <f>[5†]</f>against Lehi.


text:
And the men of Judah said, “Why have you come up against us?” <pb/>So they answered, “We have come up to arrest Samson, to do to him as he has done to us.”


text:
<pb/>Then three thousand men of Judah went down to the cleft of the rock of Etam, and said to Samson, “Do you not know that the Philistines <f>[6†]</f>rule over us? What <i>is</i> this you have done to us?” <pb/>And he said to them, “As they did to me, so I have done to them.”


text:
<pb/>But they said to him, “We have come down to arrest you, that we may deliver you into the hand of the Philistines.” <pb/>Then Samson said to them, “Swear to me that you will not kill me yourselves.”


text:
<pb/>So they spoke to him, saying, “No, but we will tie you securely and deliver you into their hand; but we will surely not kill you.” And they bound him with two <f>[7†]</f>new ropes and brought him up from the rock.


text:
<pb/>When he came to Lehi, the Philistines came shouting against him. Then <f>[8†]</f>the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him; and the ropes that <i>were</i> on his arms became like flax that is burned with fire, and his bonds broke loose from his hands.


text:
He found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, reached out his hand and took it, and <f>[9†]</f>killed a thousand men with it.


text:
Then Samson said: <pb/><t>“With the jawbone of a donkey, </t><t>Heaps upon heaps, </t><t>With the jawbone of a donkey </t><t>I have slain a thousand men!”</t>


text:
<pb/>And so it was, when he had finished speaking, that he threw the jawbone from his hand, and called that place Ramath Lehi.


text:
<pb/>Then he became very thirsty; so he cried out to the LORD and said, <f>[10†]</f>“You have given this great deliverance by the hand of Your servant; and now shall I die of thirst and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised?”


text:
So God split the hollow place that <i>is</i> in Lehi, and water came out, and he drank; and <f>[11†]</f>his spirit returned, and he revived. Therefore he called its name En Hakkore, which is in Lehi to this day.


text:
And <f>[12†]</f>he judged Israel <f>[13†]</f>twenty years <f>[14†]</f>in the days of the Philistines.


text:
<i>When</i> the Gazites <i>were</i> <i>told,</i> “Samson has come here!” they <f>[2†]</f>surrounded <i>the</i> <i>place</i> and lay in wait for him all night at the gate of the city. They were quiet all night, saying, “In the morning, when it is daylight, we will kill him.”


text:
And Samson lay <i>low</i> till midnight; then he arose at midnight, took hold of the doors of the gate of the city and the two gateposts, pulled them up, bar and all, put <i>them</i> on his shoulders, and carried them to the top of the hill that faces Hebron.


text:
<pb/>Afterward it happened that he loved a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name <i>was</i> Delilah.


text:
And the <f>[3†]</f>lords of the Philistines came up to her and said to her, <f>[4†]</f>“Entice him, and find out where his great strength <i>lies,</i> and by what <i>means</i> we may overpower him, that we may bind him to afflict him; and every one of us will give you eleven hundred <i>pieces</i> of silver.”


text:
<pb/>So Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me where your great strength <i>lies,</i> and with what you may be bound to afflict you.”


text:
<pb/>And Samson said to her, “If they bind me with seven fresh bowstrings, not yet dried, then I shall become weak, and be like any <i>other</i> man.”


text:
<pb/>So the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven fresh bowstrings, not yet dried, and she bound him with them.


text:
Now <i>men</i> <i>were</i> lying in wait, staying with her in the room. And she said to him, “The Philistines <i>are</i> upon you, Samson!” But he broke the bowstrings as a strand of yarn breaks when it touches fire. So the secret of his strength was not known.


text:
<pb/>Then Delilah said to Samson, “Look, you have mocked me and told me lies. Now, please tell me what you may be bound with.”


text:
<pb/>So he said to her, “If they bind me securely with <f>[5†]</f>new ropes that have never been used, then I shall become weak, and be like any <i>other</i> man.”


text:
<pb/>Therefore Delilah took new ropes and bound him with them, and said to him, “The Philistines <i>are</i> upon you, Samson!” And <i>men</i> <i>were</i> lying in wait, staying in the room. But he broke them off his arms like a thread.


text:
<pb/>Delilah said to Samson, “Until now you have mocked me and told me lies. Tell me what you may be bound with.” <pb/>And he said to her, “If you weave the seven locks of my head into the web of the loom”—


text:
<pb/>So she wove <i>it</i> tightly with the batten of the loom, and said to him, “The Philistines <i>are</i> upon you, Samson!” But he awoke from his sleep, and pulled out the batten and the web from the loom.


text:
<pb/>Then she said to him, <f>[6†]</f>“How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart <i>is</i> not with me? You have mocked me these three times, and have not told me where your great strength <i>lies.</i>”


text:
And it came to pass, when she pestered him daily with her words and pressed him, <i>so</i> that his soul was vexed to death,


text:
that he <f>[7†]</f>told her all his heart, and said to her, <f>[8†]</f>“No razor has ever come upon my head, for I <i>have</i> <i>been</i> a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If I am shaven, then my strength will leave me, and I shall become weak, and be like any <i>other</i> man.”


text:
<pb/>When Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, “Come up once more, for he has told me all his heart.” So the lords of the Philistines came up to her and brought the money in their hand.


text:
<f>[9†]</f>Then she lulled him to sleep on her knees, and called for a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to torment him, and his strength left him.


text:
And she said, “The Philistines <i>are</i> upon you, Samson!” So he awoke from his sleep, and said, “I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!” But he did not know that the LORD <f>[10†]</f>had departed from him.


text:
<pb/>Then the Philistines took him and put out his <f>[11†]</f>eyes, and brought him down to Gaza. They bound him with bronze fetters, and he became a grinder in the prison.


text:
<pb/>Now the lords of the Philistines gathered together to offer a great sacrifice to <f>[12†]</f>Dagon their god, and to rejoice. And they said: <pb/><t>“Our god has delivered into our hands </t><t>Samson our enemy!”</t>


text:
<pb/>When the people saw him, they <f>[13†]</f>praised their god; for they said: <pb/><t>“Our god has delivered into our hands our enemy, </t><t>The destroyer of our land, </t><t>And the one who multiplied our dead.”</t>


text:
<pb/>So it happened, when their hearts were <f>[14†]</f>merry, that they said, “Call for Samson, that he may perform for us.” So they called for Samson from the prison, and he performed for them. And they stationed him between the pillars.


text:
Then Samson said to the lad who held him by the hand, “Let me feel the pillars which support the temple, so that I can lean on them.”


text:
Now the temple was full of men and women. All the lords of the Philistines <i>were</i> there—about three thousand men and women on the <f>[15†]</f>roof watching while Samson performed.


text:
<pb/>Then Samson called to the LORD, saying, “O Lord GOD, <f>[16†]</f>remember me, I pray! Strengthen me, I pray, just this once, O God, that I may with one <i>blow</i> take vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes!”


text:
And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars which supported the temple, and he braced himself against them, one on his right and the other on his left.


text:
Then Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” And he pushed with <i>all</i> <i>his</i> might, and the temple fell on the lords and all the people who <i>were</i> in it. So the dead that he killed at his death were more than he had killed in his life.


text:
<pb/>And his brothers and all his father’s household came down and took him, and brought <i>him</i> up and <f>[17†]</f>buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of his father Manoah. He had judged Israel <f>[18†]</f>twenty years.


text:
And he said to his mother, “The eleven hundred <i>shekels</i> of silver that were taken from you, and on which you <f>[2†]</f>put a curse, even saying it in my ears—here <i>is</i> the silver with me; I took it.” <pb/>And his mother said, <f>[3†]</f>“<i>May</i> <i>you</i> <i>be</i> blessed by the LORD, my son!”


text:
So when he had returned the eleven hundred <i>shekels</i> of silver to his mother, his mother said, “I had wholly dedicated the silver from my hand to the LORD for my son, to <f>[4†]</f>make a carved image and a molded image; now therefore, I will return it to you.”


text:
Thus he returned the silver to his mother. Then his mother <f>[5†]</f>took two hundred <i>shekels</i> of silver and gave them to the silversmith, and he made it into a carved image and a molded image; and they were in the house of Micah.


text:
<pb/>The man Micah had a <f>[6†]</f>shrine, and made an <f>[7†]</f>ephod and <f>[8†]</f>household idols; and he consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.


text:
<f>[9†]</f>In those days <i>there</i> <i>was</i> no king in Israel; <f>[10†]</f>everyone did <i>what</i> <i>was</i> right in his own eyes.


text:
<pb/>Now there was a young man from <f>[11†]</f>Bethlehem in Judah, of the family of Judah; he <i>was</i> a Levite, and <f>[12†]</f>was staying there.


text:
The man departed from the city of Bethlehem in Judah to stay wherever he could find <i>a</i> <i>place.</i> Then he came to the mountains of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, as he journeyed.


text:
And Micah said to him, “Where do you come from?” <pb/>So he said to him, “I <i>am</i> a Levite from Bethlehem in Judah, and I am on my way to find <i>a</i> <i>place</i> to stay.”


text:
<pb/>Micah said to him, “Dwell with me, <f>[13†]</f>and be a <f>[14†]</f>father and a priest to me, and I will give you ten <i>shekels</i> of silver per year, a suit of clothes, and your sustenance.” So the Levite went in.


text:
Then the Levite was content to dwell with the man; and the young man became like one of his sons to him.


text:
So Micah <f>[15†]</f>consecrated the Levite, and the young man <f>[16†]</f>became his priest, and lived in the house of Micah.


text:
Then Micah said, “Now I know that the LORD will be good to me, since I have a Levite as <f>[17†]</f>priest!”


text:
<pb/>In <f>[1†]</f>those days <i>there</i> <i>was</i> no king in Israel. And in those days <f>[2†]</f>the tribe of the Danites was seeking an inheritance for itself to dwell in; for until that day <i>their</i> inheritance among the tribes of Israel had not fallen to them.


text:
So the children of Dan sent five men of their family from their territory, men of valor from <f>[3†]</f>Zorah and Eshtaol, <f>[4†]</f>to spy out the land and search it. They said to them, “Go, search the land.” So they went to the mountains of Ephraim, to the <f>[5†]</f>house of Micah, and lodged there.


text:
While they <i>were</i> at the house of Micah, they recognized the voice of the young Levite. They turned aside and said to him, “Who brought you here? What are you doing in this <i>place?</i> What do you have here?”


text:
<pb/>He said to them, “Thus and so Micah did for me. He has <f>[6†]</f>hired me, and I have become his priest.”


text:
<pb/>So they said to him, “Please <f>[7†]</f>inquire of <f>[8†]</f>God, that we may know whether the journey on which we go will be prosperous.”


text:
<pb/>And the priest said to them, <f>[9†]</f>“Go in peace. The presence of the LORD <i>be</i> with you on your way.”


text:
<pb/>So the five men departed and went to <f>[10†]</f>Laish. They saw the people who <i>were</i> there, <f>[11†]</f>how they dwelt safely, in the manner of the Sidonians, quiet and secure. <i>There</i> <i>were</i> no rulers in the land who might put <i>them</i> to shame for anything. They <i>were</i> far from the <f>[12†]</f>Sidonians, and they had no ties with anyone.


text:
<pb/>Then <i>the</i> <i>spies</i> came back to their brethren at <f>[13†]</f>Zorah and Eshtaol, and their brethren said to them, “What <i>is</i> your <i>report?</i>”


text:
<pb/>So they said, <f>[14†]</f>“Arise, let us go up against them. For we have seen the land, and indeed it <i>is</i> very good. <i>Would</i> you <f>[15†]</f><i>do</i> nothing? Do not hesitate to go, <i>and</i> enter to possess the land.


text:
When you go, you will come to a <f>[16†]</f>secure people and a large land. For God has given it into your hands, <f>[17†]</f>a place where <i>there</i> <i>is</i> no lack of anything that <i>is</i> on the earth.”


text:
<pb/>And six hundred men of the family of the Danites went from there, from Zorah and Eshtaol, armed with weapons of war.


text:
Then they went up and encamped in <f>[18†]</f>Kirjath Jearim in Judah. (Therefore they call that place <f>[19†]</f>Mahaneh Dan to this day. There <i>it</i> <i>is,</i> west of Kirjath Jearim.)


text:
<pb/> <f>[21†]</f>Then the five men who had gone to spy out the country of Laish answered and said to their brethren, “Do you know that <f>[22†]</f>there are in these houses an ephod, household idols, a carved image, and a molded image? Now therefore, consider what you should do.”


text:
So they turned aside there, and came to the house of the young Levite man—to the house of Micah—and greeted him.


text:
The <f>[23†]</f>six hundred men armed with their weapons of war, who <i>were</i> of the children of Dan, stood by the entrance of the gate.


text:
Then <f>[24†]</f>the five men who had gone to spy out the land went up. Entering there, they took <f>[25†]</f>the carved image, the ephod, the household idols, and the molded image. The priest stood at the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men <i>who</i> <i>were</i> armed with weapons of war.


text:
<pb/>When these went into Micah’s house and took the carved image, the ephod, the household idols, and the molded image, the priest said to them, “What are you doing?”


text:
<pb/>And they said to him, “Be quiet, <f>[26†]</f>put your hand over your mouth, and come with us; <f>[27†]</f>be a father and a priest to us. <i>Is</i> <i>it</i> better for you to be a priest to the household of one man, or that you be a priest to a tribe and a family in Israel?”


text:
So the priest’s heart was glad; and he took the ephod, the household idols, and the carved image, and took his place among the people.


text:
<pb/>Then they turned and departed, and put the little ones, the livestock, and the goods in front of them.


text:
When they were a good way from the house of Micah, the men who <i>were</i> in the houses near Micah’s house gathered together and overtook the children of Dan.


text:
And they called out to the children of Dan. So they turned around and said to Micah, <f>[28†]</f>“What ails you, that you have gathered such a company?”


text:
<pb/>So he said, “You have <f>[29†]</f>taken away my gods which I made, and the priest, and you have gone away. Now what more do I have? How can you say to me, ‘What ails you?’ ”


text:
<pb/>And the children of Dan said to him, “Do not let your voice be heard among us, lest angry men fall upon you, and you lose your life, with the lives of your household!”


text:
Then the children of Dan went their way. And when Micah saw that they <i>were</i> too strong for him, he turned and went back to his house.


text:
<pb/>So they took <i>the</i> <i>things</i> Micah had made, and the priest who had belonged to him, and went to Laish, to a people quiet and secure; <f>[30†]</f>and they struck them with the edge of the sword and burned the city with fire.


text:
<i>There</i> <i>was</i> no deliverer, because it <i>was</i> <f>[31†]</f>far from Sidon, and they had no ties with anyone. It was in the valley that belongs <f>[32†]</f>to Beth Rehob. So they rebuilt the city and dwelt there.


text:
And <f>[33†]</f>they called the name of the city <f>[34†]</f>Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born to Israel. However, the name of the city formerly <i>was</i> Laish.


text:
<pb/>Then the children of Dan set up for themselves the carved image; and Jonathan the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan <f>[35†]</f>until the day of the captivity of the land.


text:
So they set up for themselves Micah’s carved image which he made, <f>[36†]</f>all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.


text:
<pb/>And it came to pass in those days, <f>[1†]</f>when <i>there</i> <i>was</i> no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite staying in the remote mountains of Ephraim. He took for himself a concubine from <f>[2†]</f>Bethlehem in Judah.


text:
But his concubine played the harlot against him, and went away from him to her father’s house at Bethlehem in Judah, and was there four whole months.


text:
Then her husband arose and went after her, to <f>[3†]</f>speak kindly to her <i>and</i> bring her back, having his servant and a couple of donkeys with him. So she brought him into her father’s house; and when the father of the young woman saw him, he was glad to meet him.


text:
Now his father-in-law, the young woman’s father, detained him; and he stayed with him three days. So they ate and drank and lodged there.


text:
<pb/>Then it came to pass on the fourth day that they arose early in the morning, and he stood to depart; but the young woman’s father said to his son-in-law, <f>[4†]</f>“Refresh your heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward go your way.”


text:
<pb/>So they sat down, and the two of them ate and drank together. Then the young woman’s father said to the man, “Please be content to stay all night, and let your heart be merry.”


text:
Then he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart, but the young woman’s father said, “Please refresh your heart.” So they delayed until afternoon; and both of them ate.


text:
<pb/>And when the man stood to depart—he and his concubine and his servant—his father-in-law, the young woman’s father, said to him, “Look, the day is now drawing toward evening; please spend the night. See, the day is coming to an end; lodge here, that your heart may be merry. Tomorrow go your way early, so that you may get home.”


text:
<pb/>However, the man was not willing to spend that night; so he rose and departed, and came opposite <f>[5†]</f>Jebus (that <i>is,</i> Jerusalem). With him were the two saddled donkeys; his concubine <i>was</i> also with him.


text:
They <i>were</i> near Jebus, and the day was far spent; and the servant said to his master, “Come, please, and let us turn aside into this city <f>[6†]</f>of the Jebusites and lodge in it.”


text:
<pb/>But his master said to him, “We will not turn aside here into a city of foreigners, who <i>are</i> not of the children of Israel; we will go on <f>[7†]</f>to Gibeah.”


text:
So he said to his servant, “Come, let us draw near to one of these places, and spend the night in Gibeah or in <f>[8†]</f>Ramah.”


text:
And they passed by and went their way; and the sun went down on them near Gibeah, which belongs to Benjamin.


text:
They turned aside there to go in to lodge in Gibeah. And when he went in, he sat down in the open square of the city, for no one would <f>[9†]</f>take them into <i>his</i> house to spend the night.


text:
<pb/>Just then an old man came in from <f>[10†]</f>his work in the field at evening, who also <i>was</i> from the mountains of Ephraim; he was staying in Gibeah, whereas the men of the place <i>were</i> Benjamites.


text:
And when he raised his eyes, he saw the traveler in the open square of the city; and the old man said, “Where are you going, and where do you come from?”


text:
<pb/>So he said to him, “We <i>are</i> passing from Bethlehem in Judah toward the remote mountains of Ephraim; I <i>am</i> from there. I went to Bethlehem in Judah; <i>now</i> I am going to <f>[11†]</f>the house of the LORD. But there <i>is</i> no one who will take me into his house,


text:
although we have both straw and fodder for our donkeys, and bread and wine for myself, for your female servant, and for the young man <i>who</i> <i>is</i> with your servant; <i>there</i> <i>is</i> no lack of anything.”


text:
<pb/>And the old man said, <f>[12†]</f>“Peace <i>be</i> with you! However, <i>let</i> all your needs <i>be</i> my responsibility; <f>[13†]</f>only do not spend the night in the open square.”


text:
<f>[14†]</f>So he brought him into his house, and gave fodder to the donkeys. <f>[15†]</f>And they washed their feet, and ate and drank.


text:
<pb/>As they were <f>[16†]</f>enjoying themselves, suddenly <f>[17†]</f>certain men of the city, <f>[18†]</f>perverted men, surrounded the house <i>and</i> beat on the door. They spoke to the master of the house, the old man, saying, <f>[19†]</f>“Bring out the man who came to your house, that we may know him <i>carnally!</i>”


text:
<pb/>But <f>[20†]</f>the man, the master of the house, went out to them and said to them, “No, my brethren! I beg you, do not act <i>so</i> wickedly! Seeing this man has come into my house, <f>[21†]</f>do not commit this outrage.


text:
<f>[22†]</f>Look, <i>here</i> <i>is</i> my virgin daughter and <i>the</i> <i>man’s</i> concubine; let me bring them out now. <f>[23†]</f>Humble them, and do with them as you please; but to this man do not do such a vile thing!”


text:
But the men would not heed him. So the man took his concubine and brought <i>her</i> out to them. And they <f>[24†]</f>knew her and abused her all night until morning; and when the day began to break, they let her go.


text:
<pb/>Then the woman came as the day was dawning, and fell down at the door of the man’s house where her master <i>was,</i> till it was light.


text:
<pb/>When her master arose in the morning, and opened the doors of the house and went out to go his way, there was his concubine, fallen <i>at</i> the door of the house with her hands on the threshold.


text:
And he said to her, “Get up and let us be going.” But <f>[25†]</f>there was no answer. So the man lifted her onto the donkey; and the man got up and went to his place.


text:
<pb/>When he entered his house he took a knife, laid hold of his concubine, and <f>[26†]</f>divided her into twelve pieces, limb by limb, and sent her throughout all the territory of Israel.


text:
And so it was that all who saw it said, “No such deed has been done or seen from the day that the children of Israel came up from the land of Egypt until this day. Consider it, <f>[27†]</f>confer, and speak up!”


text:
<pb/>So <f>[1†]</f>all the children of Israel came out, from <f>[2†]</f>Dan to <f>[3†]</f>Beersheba, as well as from the land of Gilead, and the congregation gathered together as one man before the LORD <f>[4†]</f>at Mizpah.


text:
And the leaders of all the people, all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand foot soldiers <f>[5†]</f>who drew the sword.


text:
(Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.) <pb/>Then the children of Israel said, “Tell <i>us,</i> how did this wicked deed happen?”


text:
<pb/>So the Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered and said, “My concubine and <f>[6†]</f>I went into Gibeah, which belongs to Benjamin, to spend the night.


text:
<f>[7†]</f>And the men of Gibeah rose against me, and surrounded the house at night because of me. They intended to kill me, <f>[8†]</f>but instead they ravished my concubine so that she died.


text:
So <f>[9†]</f>I took hold of my concubine, cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the territory of the inheritance of Israel, because they <f>[10†]</f>committed lewdness and outrage in Israel.


text:
Look! All of you <i>are</i> children of Israel; <f>[11†]</f>give your advice and counsel here and now!”


text:
<pb/>So all the people arose as one man, saying, “None <i>of</i> <i>us</i> will go to his tent, nor will any turn back to his house;


text:
but now this <i>is</i> the thing which we will do to Gibeah: <i>We</i> <i>will</i> <i>go</i> <i>up</i> <f>[12†]</f>against it by lot.


text:
We will take ten men out of <i>every</i> hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, a hundred out of <i>every</i> thousand, and a thousand out of <i>every</i> ten thousand, to make provisions for the people, that when they come to Gibeah in Benjamin, they may repay all the vileness that they have done in Israel.”


text:
<pb/> <f>[13†]</f>Then the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, “What <i>is</i> this wickedness that has occurred among you?


text:
Now therefore, deliver up the men, <f>[14†]</f>the perverted men who <i>are</i> in Gibeah, that we may put them to death and <f>[15†]</f>remove the evil from Israel!” But the children of Benjamin would not listen to the voice of their brethren, the children of Israel.


text:
Instead, the children of Benjamin gathered together from their cities to Gibeah, to go to battle against the children of Israel.


text:
And from their cities at that time <f>[16†]</f>the children of Benjamin numbered twenty-six thousand men who drew the sword, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah, who numbered seven hundred select men.


text:
Among all this people <i>were</i> seven hundred select men <i>who</i> <i>were</i> <f>[17†]</f>left-handed; every one could sling a stone at a hair’s <i>breadth</i> and not miss.


text:
Now besides Benjamin, the men of Israel numbered four hundred thousand men who drew the sword; all of these <i>were</i> men of war.


text:
<pb/>Then the children of Israel arose and <f>[18†]</f>went up to the house of God to <f>[19†]</f>inquire of God. They said, “Which of us shall go up first to battle against the children of Benjamin?” <pb/>The LORD said, <f>[20†]</f>“Judah first!”


text:
And the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin, and the men of Israel put themselves in battle array to fight against them at Gibeah.


text:
Then <f>[21†]</f>the children of Benjamin came out of Gibeah, and on that day cut down to the ground twenty-two thousand men of the Israelites.


text:
And the people, that is, the men of Israel, encouraged themselves and again formed the battle line at the place where they had put themselves in array on the first day.


text:
<f>[22†]</f>Then the children of Israel went up and wept before the LORD until evening, and asked counsel of the LORD, saying, “Shall I again draw near for battle against the children of my brother Benjamin?” <pb/>And the LORD said, “Go up against him.”


text:
And <f>[23†]</f>Benjamin went out against them from Gibeah on the second day, and cut down to the ground eighteen thousand more of the children of Israel; all these drew the sword.


text:
<pb/>Then all the children of Israel, that is, all the people, <f>[24†]</f>went up and came to the house of God and wept. They sat there before the LORD and fasted that day until evening; and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.


text:
So the children of Israel inquired of the LORD ( <f>[25†]</f>the ark of the covenant of God <i>was</i> there in those days,


text:
<f>[26†]</f>and Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, <f>[27†]</f>stood before it in those days), saying, “Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of my brother Benjamin, or shall I cease?” <pb/>And the LORD said, “Go up, for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand.”


text:
And the children of Israel went up against the children of Benjamin on the third day, and put themselves in battle array against Gibeah as at the other times.


text:
So the children of Benjamin went out against the people, <i>and</i> were drawn away from the city. They began to strike down <i>and</i> kill some of the people, as at the other times, in the highways <f>[29†]</f>(one of which goes up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah) and in the field, about thirty men of Israel.


text:
And the children of Benjamin said, “They <i>are</i> defeated before us, as at first.” <pb/>But the children of Israel said, “Let us flee and draw them away from the city to the highways.”


text:
So all the men of Israel rose from their place and put themselves in battle array at Baal Tamar. Then Israel’s men in ambush burst forth from their position in the plain of Geba.


text:
And ten thousand select men from all Israel came against Gibeah, and the battle was fierce. <f>[30†]</f>But <i>the</i> <i>Benjamites</i> did not know that disaster <i>was</i> upon them.


text:
The LORD defeated Benjamin before Israel. And the children of Israel destroyed that day twenty-five thousand one hundred Benjamites; all these drew the sword.


text:
<pb/>So the children of Benjamin saw that they were defeated. <f>[31†]</f>The men of Israel had given ground to the Benjamites, because they relied on the men in ambush whom they had set against Gibeah.


text:
<f>[32†]</f>And the men in ambush quickly rushed upon Gibeah; the men in ambush spread out and struck the whole city with the edge of the sword.


text:
Now the appointed signal between the men of Israel and the men in ambush was that they would make a great cloud of <f>[33†]</f>smoke rise up from the city,


text:
whereupon the men of Israel would turn in battle. Now Benjamin had begun to strike <i>and</i> kill about thirty of the men of Israel. For they said, “Surely they are defeated before us, as <i>in</i> the first battle.”


text:
But when the cloud began to rise from the city in a column of smoke, the Benjamites <f>[34†]</f>looked behind them, and there was the whole city going up <i>in</i> <i>smoke</i> to heaven.


text:
And when the men of Israel turned back, the men of Benjamin panicked, for they saw that disaster had come upon them.


text:
Therefore they turned <i>their</i> <i>backs</i> before the men of Israel in the direction of the wilderness; but the battle overtook them, and whoever <i>came</i> out of the cities they destroyed in their midst.


text:
They surrounded the Benjamites, chased them, <i>and</i> easily trampled them down as far as the front of Gibeah toward the east.


text:
Then they turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of <f>[35†]</f>Rimmon; and they cut down five thousand of them on the highways. Then they pursued them relentlessly up to Gidom, and killed two thousand of them.


text:
So all who fell of Benjamin that day were twenty-five thousand men who drew the sword; all these <i>were</i> men of valor.


text:
<pb/> <f>[36†]</f>But six hundred men turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, and they stayed at the rock of Rimmon for four months.


text:
And the men of Israel turned back against the children of Benjamin, and struck them down with the edge of the sword—from <i>every</i> city, men and beasts, all who were found. They also set fire to all the cities they came to.


text:
<pb/>Now <f>[1†]</f>the men of Israel had sworn an oath at Mizpah, saying, “None of us shall give his daughter to Benjamin as a wife.”


text:
Then the people came <f>[2†]</f>to the house of God, and remained there before God till evening. They lifted up their voices and wept bitterly,


text:
and said, “O LORD God of Israel, why has this come to pass in Israel, that today there should be one tribe <i>missing</i> in Israel?”


text:
<pb/>So it was, on the next morning, that the people rose early and <f>[3†]</f>built an altar there, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.


text:
The children of Israel said, “Who <i>is</i> <i>there</i> among all the tribes of Israel who did not come up with the assembly to the LORD?” <f>[4†]</f>For they had made a great oath concerning anyone who had not come up to the LORD at Mizpah, saying, “He shall surely be put to death.”


text:
And the children of Israel grieved for Benjamin their brother, and said, “One tribe is cut off from Israel today.


text:
What shall we do for wives for those who remain, seeing we have sworn by the LORD that we will not give them our daughters as wives?”


text:
<pb/>And they said, “What one <i>is</i> <i>there</i> from the tribes of Israel who did not come up to Mizpah to the LORD?” And, in fact, no one had come to the camp from <f>[5†]</f>Jabesh Gilead to the assembly.


text:
For when the people were counted, indeed, not one of the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead <i>was</i> there.


text:
So the congregation sent out there twelve thousand of their most valiant men, and commanded them, saying, <f>[6†]</f>“Go and strike the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead with the edge of the sword, including the women and children.


text:
And this <i>is</i> the thing that you shall do: <f>[7†]</f>You shall utterly destroy every male, and every woman who has known a man intimately.”


text:
So they found among the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead four hundred young virgins who had not known a man intimately; and they brought them to the camp at <f>[8†]</f>Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.


text:
<pb/>Then the whole congregation sent <i>word</i> to the children of Benjamin <f>[9†]</f>who <i>were</i> at the rock of Rimmon, and announced peace to them.


text:
So Benjamin came back at that time, and they gave them the women whom they had saved alive of the women of Jabesh Gilead; and yet they had not found enough for them.


text:
<pb/>And the people <f>[10†]</f>grieved for Benjamin, because the LORD had made a void in the tribes of Israel.


text:
<pb/>Then the elders of the congregation said, “What shall we do for wives for those who remain, since the women of Benjamin have been destroyed?”


text:
And they said, “<i>There</i> <i>must</i> <i>be</i> an inheritance for the survivors of Benjamin, that a tribe may not be destroyed from Israel.


text:
However, we cannot give them wives from our daughters, <f>[11†]</f>for the children of Israel have sworn an oath, saying, ‘Cursed <i>be</i> the one who gives a wife to Benjamin.’ ”


text:
Then they said, “In fact, <i>there</i> <i>is</i> a yearly <f>[12†]</f>feast of the LORD in <f>[13†]</f>Shiloh, which <i>is</i> north of Bethel, on the east side of the <f>[14†]</f>highway that goes up from Bethel to Shechem, and south of Lebonah.”


text:
and watch; and just when the daughters of Shiloh come out <f>[15†]</f>to perform their dances, then come out from the vineyards, and every man catch a wife for himself from the daughters of Shiloh; then go to the land of Benjamin.


text:
Then it shall be, when their fathers or their brothers come to us to complain, that we will say to them, ‘Be kind to them for our sakes, because we did not take a wife for any of them in the war; for <i>it</i> <i>is</i> not <i>as</i> <i>though</i> you have given the <i>women</i> to them at this time, making yourselves guilty of your oath.’ ”


text:
<pb/>And the children of Benjamin did so; they took enough wives for their number from those who danced, whom they caught. Then they went and returned to their inheritance, and they <f>[16†]</f>rebuilt the cities and dwelt in them.


text:
So the children of Israel departed from there at that time, every man to his tribe and family; they went out from there, every man to his inheritance.


text:
<pb/> <f>[17†]</f>In those days <i>there</i> <i>was</i> no king in Israel; <f>[18†]</f>everyone did <i>what</i> <i>was</i> right in his own eyes.


text:
<pb/>Now it came to pass, in the days when <f>[1†]</f>the judges ruled, that there was <f>[2†]</f>a famine in the land. And a certain man of <f>[3†]</f>Bethlehem, Judah, went to dwell in the country of <f>[4†]</f>Moab, he and his wife and his two sons.


text:
The name of the man <i>was</i> Elimelech, the name of his wife <i>was</i> Naomi, and the names of his two sons <i>were</i> Mahlon and Chilion— <f>[5†]</f>Ephrathites of Bethlehem, Judah. And they went <f>[6†]</f>to the country of Moab and remained there.


text:
Now they took wives of the women of Moab: the name of the one <i>was</i> Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth. And they dwelt there about ten years.


text:
<pb/>Then she arose with her daughters-in-law that she might return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the country of Moab that the LORD had <f>[7†]</f>visited His people by <f>[8†]</f>giving them bread.


text:
Therefore she went out from the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah.


text:
And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, <f>[9†]</f>“Go, return each to her mother’s house. <f>[10†]</f>The LORD deal kindly with you, as you have dealt <f>[11†]</f>with the dead and with me.


text:
The LORD grant that you may find <f>[12†]</f>rest, each in the house of her husband.” <pb/>So she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept.


text:
<pb/>But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? <i>Are</i> there still sons in my womb, <f>[13†]</f>that they may be your husbands?


text:
Turn back, my daughters, go—for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, <i>if</i> I should have a husband tonight and should also bear sons,


text:
would you wait for them till they were grown? Would you restrain yourselves from having husbands? No, my daughters; for it grieves me very much for your sakes that <f>[14†]</f>the hand of the LORD has gone out against me!”


text:
<pb/>Then they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth <f>[15†]</f>clung to her.


text:
<pb/>And she said, “Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to <f>[16†]</f>her people and to her gods; <f>[17†]</f>return after your sister-in-law.”


text:
But Ruth said: <pb/><t> <f>[18†]</f>“Entreat me not to leave you, </t><t><i>Or</i> <i>to</i> turn back from following after you; </t><t>For wherever you go, I will go; </t><t>And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; </t><t> <f>[19†]</f>Your people <i>shall</i> <i>be</i> my people, </t><t>And your God, my God.</t>


text:
<t>Where you die, I will die, </t><t>And there will I be buried. </t><t> <f>[20†]</f>The LORD do so to me, and more also, </t><t>If <i>anything</i> <i>but</i> death parts you and me.”</t>


text:
<pb/>Now the two of them went until they came to Bethlehem. And it happened, when they had come to Bethlehem, that <f>[22†]</f>all the city was excited because of them; and the women said, <f>[23†]</f>“<i>Is</i> this Naomi?”


text:
<pb/>But she said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.


text:
I went out full, <f>[24†]</f>and the LORD has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the LORD has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?”


text:
<pb/>So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. Now they came to Bethlehem <f>[25†]</f>at the beginning of barley harvest.


text:
<pb/>There was a <f>[1†]</f>relative of Naomi’s husband, a man of great wealth, of the family of <f>[2†]</f>Elimelech. His name <i>was</i> <f>[3†]</f>Boaz.


text:
So Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Please let me go to the <f>[4†]</f>field, and glean heads of grain after <i>him</i> in whose sight I may find favor.” <pb/>And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.”


text:
<pb/>Then she left, and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers. And she happened to come to the part of the field <i>belonging</i> to Boaz, who <i>was</i> of the family of Elimelech.


text:
<pb/>Now behold, Boaz came from <f>[5†]</f>Bethlehem, and said to the reapers, <f>[6†]</f>“The LORD <i>be</i> with you!” <pb/>And they answered him, “The LORD bless you!”


text:
<pb/>Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman <i>is</i> this?”


text:
<pb/>So the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered and said, “It <i>is</i> the young Moabite woman <f>[7†]</f>who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab.


text:
And she said, ‘Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.’ So she came and has continued from morning until now, though she rested a little in the house.”


text:
<pb/>Then Boaz said to Ruth, “You will listen, my daughter, will you not? Do not go to glean in another field, nor go from here, but stay close by my young women.


text:
<i>Let</i> your eyes <i>be</i> on the field which they reap, and go after them. Have I not commanded the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from what the young men have drawn.”


text:
<pb/>So she <f>[8†]</f>fell on her face, bowed down to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found <f>[9†]</f>favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I <i>am</i> a foreigner?”


text:
<pb/>And Boaz answered and said to her, “It has been fully reported to me, <f>[10†]</f>all that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and <i>how</i> you have left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and have come to a people whom you did not know before.


text:
<f>[11†]</f>The LORD repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the LORD God of Israel, <f>[12†]</f>under whose wings you have come for refuge.”


text:
<pb/>Then she said, <f>[13†]</f>“Let me find favor in your sight, my lord; for you have comforted me, and have spoken kindly to your maidservant, <f>[14†]</f>though I am not like one of your maidservants.”


text:
<pb/>Now Boaz said to her at mealtime, “Come here, and eat of the bread, and dip your piece of bread in the vinegar.” So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed parched <i>grain</i> to her; and she ate and <f>[15†]</f>was satisfied, and kept some back.


text:
And when she rose up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her.


text:
Also let <i>grain</i> from the bundles fall purposely for her; leave <i>it</i> that she may glean, and do not rebuke her.”


text:
<pb/>So she gleaned in the field until evening, and beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of <f>[16†]</f>barley.


text:
Then she took <i>it</i> up and went into the city, and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. <pb/>So she brought out and gave to her <f>[17†]</f>what she had kept back after she had been satisfied.


text:
<pb/>And her mother-in-law said to her, “Where have you gleaned today? And where did you work? Blessed be the one who <f>[18†]</f>took notice of you.” <pb/>So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked, and said, “The man’s name with whom I worked today <i>is</i> Boaz.”


text:
<pb/>Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, <f>[19†]</f>“Blessed <i>be</i> he of the LORD, who <f>[20†]</f>has not forsaken His kindness to the living and the dead!” And Naomi said to her, “This man <i>is</i> a relation of ours, <f>[21†]</f>one of our close relatives.”


text:
<pb/>Ruth the Moabitess said, “He also said to me, ‘You shall stay close by my young men until they have finished all my harvest.’ ”


text:
<pb/>And Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, “<i>It</i> <i>is</i> good, my daughter, that you go out with his young women, and that people do not meet you in any other field.”


text:
So she stayed close by the young women of Boaz, to glean until the end of barley harvest and wheat harvest; and she dwelt with her mother-in-law.


text:
<pb/>Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, <f>[1†]</f>shall I not seek <f>[2†]</f>security for you, that it may be well with you?


text:
Now Boaz, <f>[3†]</f>whose young women you were with, <i>is</i> <i>he</i> not our relative? In fact, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor.


text:
Therefore wash yourself and <f>[4†]</f>anoint yourself, put on your <i>best</i> garment and go down to the threshing floor; <i>but</i> do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.


text:
Then it shall be, when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies; and you shall go in, uncover his feet, and lie down; and he will tell you what you should do.”


text:
<pb/>So she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law instructed her.


text:
And after Boaz had eaten and drunk, and <f>[5†]</f>his heart was cheerful, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain; and she came softly, uncovered his feet, and lay down.


text:
<pb/>Now it happened at midnight that the man was startled, and turned himself; and there, a woman was lying at his feet.


text:
And he said, “Who <i>are</i> you?” <pb/>So she answered, “I <i>am</i> Ruth, your maidservant. <f>[6†]</f>Take your maidservant under your wing, for you are <f>[7†]</f>a close relative.”


text:
<pb/>Then he said, <f>[8†]</f>“Blessed <i>are</i> you of the LORD, my daughter! For you have shown more kindness at the end than <f>[9†]</f>at the beginning, in that you did not go after young men, whether poor or rich.


text:
And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you request, for all the people of my town know that you <i>are</i> a virtuous woman.


text:
Now it is true that I <i>am</i> a <f>[10†]</f>close relative; however, <f>[11†]</f>there is a relative closer than I.


text:
Stay this night, and in the morning it shall be <i>that</i> if he will <f>[12†]</f>perform the duty of a close relative for you—good; let him do it. But if he does not want to perform the duty for you, then I will perform the duty for you, <f>[13†]</f><i>as</i> the LORD lives! Lie down until morning.”


text:
<pb/>So she lay at his feet until morning, and she arose before one could recognize another. Then he said, <f>[14†]</f>“Do not let it be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.”


text:
Also he said, “Bring the shawl that <i>is</i> on you and hold it.” And when she held it, he measured six <i>ephahs</i> of barley, and laid <i>it</i> on her. Then she went into the city.


text:
<pb/>When she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “<i>Is</i> that you, my daughter?” <pb/>Then she told her all that the man had done for her.


text:
And she said, “These six <i>ephahs</i> of barley he gave me; for he said to me, ‘Do not go empty-handed to your mother-in-law.’ ”


text:
<pb/>Then she said, <f>[15†]</f>“Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will turn out; for the man will not rest until he has concluded the matter this day.”


text:
<pb/>Now Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there; and behold, <f>[1†]</f>the close relative of whom Boaz had spoken came by. So Boaz said, “Come aside, friend, sit down here.” So he came aside and sat down.


text:
And he took ten men of <f>[2†]</f>the elders of the city, and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down.


text:
Then he said to the close relative, “Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, sold the piece of land <f>[3†]</f>which <i>belonged</i> to our brother Elimelech.


text:
And I thought to inform you, saying, <f>[4†]</f>‘Buy <i>it</i> back <f>[5†]</f>in the presence of the inhabitants and the elders of my people. If you will redeem <i>it,</i> redeem <i>it;</i> but if you will not redeem <i>it, then</i> tell me, that I may know; <f>[6†]</f>for <i>there</i> <i>is</i> no one but you to redeem <i>it,</i> and I <i>am</i> next after you.’ ” <pb/>And he said, “I will redeem <i>it.</i>”


text:
<pb/>Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also buy <i>it</i> from Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, <f>[7†]</f>to perpetuate the name of the dead through his inheritance.”


text:
<pb/> <f>[8†]</f>And the close relative said, “I cannot redeem <i>it</i> for myself, lest I ruin my own inheritance. You redeem my right of redemption for yourself, for I cannot redeem <i>it.</i>”


text:
<pb/> <f>[9†]</f>Now this <i>was</i> <i>the</i> <i>custom</i> in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging, to confirm anything: one man took off his sandal and gave <i>it</i> to the other, and this <i>was</i> a confirmation in Israel.


text:
<pb/>Therefore the close relative said to Boaz, “Buy <i>it</i> for yourself.” So he took off his sandal.


text:
And Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You <i>are</i> witnesses this day that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that <i>was</i> Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, from the hand of Naomi.


text:
Moreover, Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, I have acquired as my wife, to perpetuate the name of the dead through his inheritance, <f>[10†]</f>that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brethren and from his position at the gate. You <i>are</i> witnesses this day.”


text:
<pb/>And all the people who <i>were</i> at the gate, and the elders, said, “<i>We</i> <i>are</i> witnesses. <f>[11†]</f>The LORD make the woman who is coming to your house like Rachel and Leah, the two who <f>[12†]</f>built the house of Israel; and may you prosper in <f>[13†]</f>Ephrathah and be famous in <f>[14†]</f>Bethlehem.


text:
May your house be like the house of <f>[15†]</f>Perez, <f>[16†]</f>whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of <f>[17†]</f>the offspring which the LORD will give you from this young woman.”


text:
<pb/>So Boaz <f>[18†]</f>took Ruth and she became his wife; and when he went in to her, <f>[19†]</f>the LORD gave her conception, and she bore a son.


text:
Then <f>[20†]</f>the women said to Naomi, “Blessed <i>be</i> the LORD, who has not left you this day without a close relative; and may his name be famous in Israel!


text:
And may he be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, who is <f>[21†]</f>better to you than seven sons, has borne him.”


text:
<f>[22†]</f>Also the neighbor women gave him a name, saying, “There is a son born to Naomi.” And they called his name Obed. He <i>is</i> the father of Jesse, the father of David.


text:
<pb/>Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of the <f>[1†]</f>mountains of Ephraim, and his name <i>was</i> <f>[2†]</f>Elkanah the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, <f>[3†]</f>an Ephraimite.


text:
And he had <f>[4†]</f>two wives: the name of one <i>was</i> Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.


text:
This man went up from his city <f>[5†]</f>yearly <f>[6†]</f>to worship and sacrifice to the LORD of hosts in <f>[7†]</f>Shiloh. Also the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, <i>were</i> there.


text:
And whenever the time came for Elkanah to make an <f>[8†]</f>offering, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters.


text:
But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, <f>[9†]</f>although the LORD had closed her womb.


text:
And her rival also <f>[10†]</f>provoked her severely, to make her miserable, because the LORD had closed her womb.


text:
So it was, year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, that she provoked her; therefore she wept and did not eat.


text:
<pb/>Then Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? <i>Am</i> I not <f>[11†]</f>better to you than ten sons?”


text:
<pb/>So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of <f>[12†]</f>the tabernacle of the LORD.


text:
Then she <f>[14†]</f>made a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed <f>[15†]</f>look on the affliction of Your maidservant and <f>[16†]</f>remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and <f>[17†]</f>no razor shall come upon his head.”


text:
Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk.


text:
<pb/>But Hannah answered and said, “No, my lord, I <i>am</i> a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have <f>[18†]</f>poured out my soul before the LORD.


text:
“Do not consider your maidservant a <f>[19†]</f>wicked woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now.”


text:
<pb/>Then Eli answered and said, <f>[20†]</f>“Go in peace, and <f>[21†]</f>the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.”


text:
<pb/>And she said, <f>[22†]</f>“Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.” So the woman <f>[23†]</f>went her way and ate, and her face was no longer <i>sad.</i>


text:
<pb/>Then they rose early in the morning and worshiped before the LORD, and returned and came to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah <f>[24†]</f>knew Hannah his wife, and the LORD <f>[25†]</f>remembered her.


text:
So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel, <i>saying,</i> “Because I have asked for him from the LORD.”


text:
<pb/>Now the man Elkanah and all his house <f>[26†]</f>went up to offer to the LORD the yearly sacrifice and his vow.


text:
But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “<i>Not</i> until the child is weaned; then I will <f>[27†]</f>take him, that he may appear before the LORD and <f>[28†]</f>remain there <f>[29†]</f>forever.”


text:
<pb/>So <f>[30†]</f>Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him. Only let the LORD establish His word.” Then the woman stayed and nursed her son until she had weaned him.


text:
<pb/>Now when she had weaned him, she <f>[31†]</f>took him up with her, with three bulls, one ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and brought him to <f>[32†]</f>the house of the LORD in Shiloh. And the child <i>was</i> young.


text:
And she said, “O my lord! <f>[34†]</f>As your soul lives, my lord, I <i>am</i> the woman who stood by you here, praying to the LORD.


text:
Therefore I also have lent him to the LORD; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the LORD.” So they <f>[36†]</f>worshiped the LORD there.


text:
<pb/>And Hannah <f>[1†]</f>prayed and said: <pb/><t> <f>[2†]</f>“My heart rejoices in the LORD; </t><t> <f>[3†]</f>My horn is exalted in the LORD. </t><t>I smile at my enemies, </t><t>Because I <f>[4†]</f>rejoice in Your salvation.</t>


text:
<t>“No <f>[5†]</f> one is holy like the LORD, </t><t>For <i>there</i> <i>is</i> <f>[6†]</f>none besides You, </t><t>Nor <i>is</i> <i>there</i> any <f>[7†]</f>rock like our God.</t>


text:
<t>“Talk no more so very proudly; </t><t> <f>[8†]</f>Let no arrogance come from your mouth, </t><t>For the LORD <i>is</i> the God of <f>[9†]</f>knowledge; </t><t>And by Him actions are weighed.</t>


text:
<t>“The <f>[10†]</f> bows of the mighty men <i>are</i> broken, </t><t>And those who stumbled are girded with strength.</t>


text:
<t><i>Those</i> <i>who</i> <i>were</i> full have hired themselves out for bread, </t><t>And the hungry have ceased <i>to</i> <i>hunger.</i> </t><t>Even <f>[11†]</f>the barren has borne seven, </t><t>And <f>[12†]</f>she who has many children has become feeble.</t>


text:
<t>“The <f>[13†]</f> LORD kills and makes alive; </t><t>He brings down to the grave and brings up.</t>


text:
<t>The LORD <f>[14†]</f>makes poor and makes rich; </t><t> <f>[15†]</f>He brings low and lifts up.</t>


text:
<t> <f>[16†]</f>He raises the poor from the dust </t><t><i>And</i> lifts the beggar from the ash heap, </t><t> <f>[17†]</f>To set <i>them</i> among princes </t><t>And make them inherit the throne of glory. </t><t> <f>[18†]</f>“For the pillars of the earth <i>are</i> the LORD’s, </t><t>And He has set the world upon them.</t>


text:
<t> <f>[19†]</f>He will guard the feet of His saints, </t><t>But the <f>[20†]</f>wicked shall be silent in darkness. </t><t>“For by strength no man shall prevail.</t>


text:
<t>The adversaries of the LORD shall be <f>[21†]</f>broken in pieces; </t><t> <f>[22†]</f>From heaven He will thunder against them. </t><t> <f>[23†]</f>The LORD will judge the ends of the earth. </t><t> <f>[24†]</f>“He will give <f>[25†]</f>strength to His king, </t><t>And <f>[26†]</f>exalt the horn of His anointed.”</t>


text:
<pb/>Then Elkanah went to his house at Ramah. But the child ministered to the LORD before Eli the priest.


text:
And the priests’ custom with the people <i>was</i> <i>that</i> when any man offered a sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come with a three-pronged fleshhook in his hand while the meat was boiling.


text:
Then he would thrust <i>it</i> into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; and the priest would take for himself all that the fleshhook brought up. So they did in <f>[29†]</f>Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there.


text:
Also, before they <f>[30†]</f>burned the fat, the priest’s servant would come and say to the man who sacrificed, “Give meat for roasting to the priest, for he will not take boiled meat from you, but raw.”


text:
<pb/>And <i>if</i> the man said to him, “They should really burn the fat first; <i>then</i> you may take <i>as</i> <i>much</i> as your heart desires,” he would then answer him, “<i>No,</i> but you must give <i>it</i> now; and if not, I will take <i>it</i> by force.”


text:
<pb/>Therefore the sin of the young men was very great <f>[31†]</f>before the LORD, for men <f>[32†]</f>abhorred the offering of the LORD.


text:
<pb/> <f>[33†]</f>But Samuel ministered before the LORD, <i>even</i> <i>as</i> a child, <f>[34†]</f>wearing a linen ephod.


text:
Moreover his mother used to make him a little robe, and bring <i>it</i> to him year by year when she <f>[35†]</f>came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.


text:
And Eli <f>[36†]</f>would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, “The LORD give you descendants from this woman for the loan that was <f>[37†]</f>given to the LORD.” Then they would go to their own home.


text:
<pb/>And the LORD <f>[38†]</f>visited Hannah, so that she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile the child Samuel <f>[39†]</f>grew before the LORD.


text:
<pb/>Now Eli was very old; and he heard everything his sons did to all Israel, and how they lay with <f>[40†]</f>the women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.


text:
So he said to them, “Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all the people.


text:
No, my sons! For <i>it</i> <i>is</i> not a good report that I hear. You make the LORD’s people transgress.


text:
If one man sins against another, <f>[41†]</f>God will judge him. But if a man <f>[42†]</f>sins against the LORD, who will intercede for him?” Nevertheless they did not heed the voice of their father, <f>[43†]</f>because the LORD desired to kill them.


text:
<pb/>And the child Samuel <f>[44†]</f>grew in stature, and <f>[45†]</f>in favor both with the LORD and men.


text:
<pb/>Then a <f>[46†]</f>man of God came to Eli and said to him, “Thus says the LORD: <f>[47†]</f>‘Did I not clearly reveal Myself to the house of your father when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh’s house?


text:
Did I not <f>[48†]</f>choose him out of all the tribes of Israel <i>to</i> <i>be</i> My priest, to offer upon My altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod before Me? And <f>[49†]</f>did I not give to the house of your father all the offerings of the children of Israel made by fire?


text:
Why do you <f>[50†]</f>kick at My sacrifice and My offering which I have commanded <i>in</i> <i>My</i> <f>[51†]</f>dwelling place, and honor your sons more than <f>[52†]</f>Me, to make yourselves fat with the best of all the offerings of Israel My people?’


text:
Therefore the LORD God of Israel says: <f>[53†]</f>‘I said indeed <i>that</i> your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever.’ But now the LORD says: <f>[54†]</f>‘Far be it from Me; for those who honor Me I will honor, and <f>[55†]</f>those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.


text:
Behold, <f>[56†]</f>the days are coming that I will cut off your arm and the arm of your father’s house, so that there will not be an old man in your house.


text:
And you will see an enemy <i>in</i> <i>My</i> dwelling place, <i>despite</i> all the good which God does for Israel. And there shall not be <f>[57†]</f>an old man in your house forever.


text:
But any of your men <i>whom</i> I do not cut off from My altar shall consume your eyes and grieve your heart. And all the descendants of your house shall die in the flower of their age.


text:
Now this <i>shall</i> <i>be</i> <f>[58†]</f>a sign to you that will come upon your two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas: <f>[59†]</f>in one day they shall die, both of them.


text:
Then <f>[60†]</f>I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest <i>who</i> shall do according to what <i>is</i> in My heart and in My mind. <f>[61†]</f>I will build him a sure house, and he shall walk before <f>[62†]</f>My anointed forever.


text:
<f>[63†]</f>And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left in your house will come <i>and</i> bow down to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and say, “Please, put me in one of the priestly positions, that I may eat a piece of bread.” ’ ”


text:
<pb/>Now <f>[1†]</f>the boy Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. And <f>[2†]</f>the word of the LORD was rare in those days; <i>there</i> <i>was</i> no widespread revelation.


text:
And it came to pass at that time, while Eli <i>was</i> lying down in his place, and when his eyes had begun to grow <f>[3†]</f>so dim that he could not see,


text:
and before <f>[4†]</f>the lamp of God went out in the tabernacle of the LORD where the ark of God <i>was,</i> and while Samuel was lying down,


text:
So he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” <pb/>And he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” And he went and lay down.


text:
<pb/>Then the LORD called yet again, “Samuel!” <pb/>So Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” He answered, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.”


text:
(Now Samuel <f>[5†]</f>did not yet know the LORD, nor was the word of the LORD yet revealed to him.)


text:
<pb/>And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. So he arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you did call me.” <pb/>Then Eli perceived that the LORD had called the boy.


text:
Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, <f>[6†]</f>‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant hears.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.


text:
<pb/>Now the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” <pb/>And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.”


text:
<pb/>Then the LORD said to Samuel: “Behold, I will do something in Israel <f>[7†]</f>at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle.


text:
In that day I will perform against Eli <f>[8†]</f>all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end.


text:
<f>[9†]</f>For I have told him that I will <f>[10†]</f>judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knows, because <f>[11†]</f>his sons made themselves vile, and he <f>[12†]</f>did not restrain them.


text:
And therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house <f>[13†]</f>shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.”


text:
<pb/>So Samuel lay down until morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the vision.


text:
<pb/>And he said, “What <i>is</i> the word that <i>the</i> <i>LORD</i> spoke to you? Please do not hide <i>it</i> from me. <f>[14†]</f>God do so to you, and more also, if you hide anything from me of all the things that He said to you.”


text:
Then Samuel told him everything, and hid nothing from him. And he said, <f>[15†]</f>“It <i>is</i> the LORD. Let Him do what seems good to Him.”


text:
<pb/>So Samuel <f>[16†]</f>grew, and <f>[17†]</f>the LORD was with him <f>[18†]</f>and let none of his words fall to the ground.


text:
And all Israel <f>[19†]</f>from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel <i>had</i> <i>been</i> established as a prophet of the LORD.


text:
Then the LORD appeared again in Shiloh. For the LORD revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by <f>[20†]</f>the word of the LORD.


text:
<pb/>And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. <pb/>Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines, and encamped beside <f>[1†]</f>Ebenezer; and the Philistines encamped in Aphek.


text:
Then the <f>[2†]</f>Philistines put themselves in battle array against Israel. And when they joined battle, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men of the army in the field.


text:
And when the people had come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has the LORD defeated us today before the Philistines? <f>[3†]</f>Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Shiloh to us, that when it comes among us it may save us from the hand of our enemies.”


text:
So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from there the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, <f>[4†]</f>who dwells <i>between</i> <f>[5†]</f>the cherubim. And the <f>[6†]</f>two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, <i>were</i> there with the ark of the covenant of God.


text:
<pb/>And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted so loudly that the earth shook.


text:
Now when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, “What <i>does</i> the sound of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews <i>mean?</i>” Then they understood that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp.


text:
So the Philistines were afraid, for they said, “God has come into the camp!” And they said, <f>[7†]</f>“Woe to us! For such a thing has never happened before.


text:
Woe to us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? These <i>are</i> the gods who struck the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness.


text:
<f>[8†]</f>Be strong and conduct yourselves like men, you Philistines, that you do not become servants of the Hebrews, <f>[9†]</f>as they have been to you. Conduct yourselves like men, and fight!”


text:
<pb/>So the Philistines fought, and <f>[10†]</f>Israel was defeated, and every man fled to his tent. There was a very great slaughter, and there fell of Israel thirty thousand foot soldiers.


text:
Also <f>[11†]</f>the ark of God was captured; and <f>[12†]</f>the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.


text:
<pb/>Then a man of Benjamin ran from the battle line the same day, and <f>[13†]</f>came to Shiloh with his clothes torn and <f>[14†]</f>dirt on his head.


text:
Now when he came, there was Eli, sitting on <f>[15†]</f>a seat by the wayside watching, for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city and told <i>it,</i> all the city cried out.


text:
When Eli heard the noise of the outcry, he said, “What <i>does</i> the sound of this tumult <i>mean?</i>” And the man came quickly and told Eli.


text:
<pb/>Then the man said to Eli, “I <i>am</i> he who came from the battle. And I fled today from the battle line.” <pb/>And he said, <f>[17†]</f>“What happened, my son?”


text:
<pb/>So the messenger answered and said, “Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has been a great slaughter among the people. Also your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead; and the ark of God has been captured.”


text:
<pb/>Then it happened, when he made mention of the ark of God, that Eli fell off the seat backward by the side of the gate; and his neck was broken and he died, for the man was old and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.


text:
<pb/>Now his daughter-in-law, Phinehas’s wife, was with child, <i>due</i> to be delivered; and when she heard the news that the ark of God was captured, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and gave birth, for her labor pains came upon her.


text:
And about the time of her death <f>[18†]</f>the women who stood by her said to her, “Do not fear, for you have borne a son.” But she did not answer, nor did she regard <i>it.</i>


text:
Then she named the child <f>[19†]</f>Ichabod, saying, <f>[20†]</f>“The glory has departed from Israel!” because the ark of God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband.


text:
When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of <f>[2†]</f>Dagon and set it by Dagon.


text:
And when the people of Ashdod arose early in the morning, there was Dagon, <f>[3†]</f>fallen on its face to the earth before the ark of the LORD. So they took Dagon and <f>[4†]</f>set it in its place again.


text:
And when they arose early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen on its face to the ground before the ark of the LORD. <f>[5†]</f>The head of Dagon and both the palms of its hands <i>were</i> broken off on the threshold; only Dagon’s <i>torso</i> was left of it.


text:
Therefore neither the priests of Dagon nor any who come into Dagon’s house <f>[6†]</f>tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.


text:
<pb/>But the <f>[7†]</f>hand of the LORD was heavy on the people of Ashdod, and He <f>[8†]</f>ravaged them and struck them with <f>[9†]</f>tumors, <i>both</i> Ashdod and its <f>[10†]</f>territory.


text:
And when the men of Ashdod saw how <i>it</i> <i>was,</i> they said, “The ark of the <f>[11†]</f>God of Israel must not remain with us, for His hand is harsh toward us and Dagon our god.”


text:
Therefore they sent and gathered to themselves all the <f>[12†]</f>lords of the Philistines, and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” <pb/>And they answered, “Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried away to <f>[13†]</f>Gath.” So they carried the ark of the God of Israel away.


text:
So it was, after they had carried it away, that <f>[14†]</f>the hand of the LORD was against the city with a very great destruction; and He struck the men of the city, both small and great, and tumors broke out on them.


text:
<pb/>Therefore they sent the ark of God to Ekron. So it was, as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying, “They have brought the ark of the God of Israel to us, to kill us and our people!”


text:
So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, “Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go back to its own place, so that it does not kill us and our people.” For there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.


text:
And the men who did not die were stricken with the tumors, and the <f>[15†]</f>cry of the city went up to heaven.


text:
And the Philistines <f>[1†]</f>called for the priests and the diviners, saying, “What shall we do with the ark of the LORD? Tell us how we should send it to its place.”


text:
<pb/>So they said, “If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it <f>[2†]</f>empty; but by all means return <i>it</i> to Him <i>with</i> <f>[3†]</f>a trespass offering. Then you will be healed, and it will be known to you why His hand is not removed from you.”


text:
<pb/>Then they said, “What <i>is</i> the trespass offering which we shall return to Him?” <pb/>They answered, <f>[4†]</f>“Five golden tumors and five golden rats, <i>according</i> <i>to</i> the number of the lords of the Philistines. For the same plague <i>was</i> on all of you and on your lords.


text:
Therefore you shall make images of your tumors and images of your rats that <f>[5†]</f>ravage the land, and you shall <f>[6†]</f>give glory to the God of Israel; perhaps He will <f>[7†]</f>lighten His hand from you, from <f>[8†]</f>your gods, and from your land.


text:
Why then do you harden your hearts <f>[9†]</f>as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? When He did mighty things among them, <f>[10†]</f>did they not let the people go, that they might depart?


text:
Now therefore, make <f>[11†]</f>a new cart, take two milk cows <f>[12†]</f>which have never been yoked, and hitch the cows to the cart; and take their calves home, away from them.


text:
Then take the ark of the LORD and set it on the cart; and put <f>[13†]</f>the articles of gold which you are returning to Him <i>as</i> a trespass offering in a chest by its side. Then send it away, and let it go.


text:
And watch: if it goes up the road to its own territory, to <f>[14†]</f>Beth Shemesh, <i>then</i> He has done us this great evil. But if not, then <f>[15†]</f>we shall know that <i>it</i> <i>is</i> not His hand <i>that</i> struck us—it happened to us by chance.”


text:
<pb/>Then the men did so; they took two milk cows and hitched them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home.


text:
And they set the ark of the LORD on the cart, and the chest with the gold rats and the images of their tumors.


text:
Then the cows headed straight for the road to Beth Shemesh, <i>and</i> went along the <f>[16†]</f>highway, lowing as they went, and did not turn aside to the right hand or the left. And the lords of the Philistines went after them to the border of Beth Shemesh.


text:
<pb/>Now <i>the</i> <i>people</i> <i>of</i> Beth Shemesh <i>were</i> reaping their <f>[17†]</f>wheat harvest in the valley; and they lifted their eyes and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see <i>it.</i>


text:
Then the cart came into the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh, and stood there; a large stone <i>was</i> there. So they split the wood of the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the LORD.


text:
The Levites took down the ark of the LORD and the chest that <i>was</i> with it, in which <i>were</i> the articles of gold, and put <i>them</i> on the large stone. Then the men of Beth Shemesh offered burnt offerings and made sacrifices the same day to the LORD.


text:
So when <f>[18†]</f>the five lords of the Philistines had seen <i>it,</i> they returned to Ekron the same day.


text:
<pb/> <f>[19†]</f>These <i>are</i> the golden tumors which the Philistines returned <i>as</i> a trespass offering to the LORD: one for Ashdod, one for Gaza, one for Ashkelon, one for <f>[20†]</f>Gath, one for Ekron;


text:
and the golden rats, <i>according</i> <i>to</i> the number of all the cities of the Philistines <i>belonging</i> to the five lords, <i>both</i> fortified cities and country villages, even as far as the large <i>stone</i> <i>of</i> Abel on which they set the ark of the LORD, <i>which</i> <i>stone</i> <i>remains</i> to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh.


text:
<pb/>Then <f>[21†]</f>He struck the men of Beth Shemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD. He <f>[22†]</f>struck fifty thousand and seventy men of the people, and the people lamented because the LORD had struck the people with a great slaughter.


text:
<pb/>And the men of Beth Shemesh said, <f>[23†]</f>“Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? And to whom shall it go up from us?”


text:
So they sent messengers to the inhabitants of <f>[24†]</f>Kirjath Jearim, saying, “The Philistines have brought back the ark of the LORD; come down <i>and</i> take it up with you.”


text:
<pb/>Then the men of <f>[1†]</f>Kirjath Jearim came and took the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of <f>[2†]</f>Abinadab on the hill, and <f>[3†]</f>consecrated Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD.


text:
<pb/>So it was that the ark remained in Kirjath Jearim a long time; it was there twenty years. And all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.


text:
<pb/>Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If you <f>[4†]</f>return to the LORD with all your hearts, <i>then</i> <f>[5†]</f>put away the foreign gods and the <f>[6†]</f>Ashtoreths from among you, and <f>[7†]</f>prepare your hearts for the LORD, and <f>[8†]</f>serve Him only; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.”


text:
So the children of Israel put away the <f>[9†]</f>Baals and the Ashtoreths, and served the LORD only.


text:
<pb/>And Samuel said, <f>[10†]</f>“Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and <f>[11†]</f>I will pray to the LORD for you.”


text:
So they gathered together at Mizpah, <f>[12†]</f>drew water, and poured <i>it</i> out before the LORD. And they <f>[13†]</f>fasted that day, and said there, <f>[14†]</f>“We have sinned against the LORD.” And Samuel judged the children of Israel at Mizpah.


text:
<pb/>Now when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel had gathered together at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard <i>of</i> <i>it,</i> they were afraid of the Philistines.


text:
So the children of Israel said to Samuel, <f>[15†]</f>“Do not cease to cry out to the LORD our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines.”


text:
<pb/>And Samuel took a <f>[16†]</f>suckling lamb and offered <i>it</i> <i>as</i> a whole burnt offering to the LORD. Then <f>[17†]</f>Samuel cried out to the LORD for Israel, and the LORD answered him.


text:
Now as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. <f>[18†]</f>But the LORD thundered with a loud thunder upon the Philistines that day, and so confused them that they were overcome before Israel.


text:
And the men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and drove them back as far as below Beth Car.


text:
Then Samuel <f>[19†]</f>took a stone and set <i>it</i> up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.”


text:
<pb/> <f>[20†]</f>So the Philistines were subdued, and they <f>[21†]</f>did not come anymore into the territory of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.


text:
Then the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath; and Israel recovered its territory from the hands of the Philistines. Also there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.


text:
He went from year to year on a circuit to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah, and judged Israel in all those places.


text:
But <f>[23†]</f>he always returned to Ramah, for his home <i>was</i> there. There he judged Israel, and there he <f>[24†]</f>built an altar to the LORD.


text:
<pb/>Now it came to pass when Samuel was <f>[1†]</f>old that he <f>[2†]</f>made his <f>[3†]</f>sons judges over Israel.


text:
The name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; <i>they</i> <i>were</i> judges in Beersheba.


text:
But his sons <f>[4†]</f>did not walk in his ways; they turned aside <f>[5†]</f>after dishonest gain, <f>[6†]</f>took bribes, and perverted justice.


text:
and said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now <f>[7†]</f>make us a king to judge us like all the nations.”


text:
<pb/>But the thing <f>[8†]</f>displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” So Samuel <f>[9†]</f>prayed to the LORD.


text:
And the LORD said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for <f>[10†]</f>they have not rejected you, but <f>[11†]</f>they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.


text:
According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt, even to this day—with which they have forsaken Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also.


text:
Now therefore, heed their voice. However, you shall solemnly forewarn them, and <f>[12†]</f>show them the behavior of the king who will reign over them.”


text:
And he said, <f>[13†]</f>“This will be the behavior of the king who will reign over you: He will take your <f>[14†]</f>sons and appoint <i>them</i> for his own <f>[15†]</f>chariots and <i>to</i> <i>be</i> his horsemen, and <i>some</i> will run before his chariots.


text:
He will <f>[16†]</f>appoint captains over his thousands and captains over his fifties, <i>will</i> <i>set</i> <i>some</i> to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and <i>some</i> to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots.


text:
And <f>[17†]</f>he will take the best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, and give <i>them</i> to his servants.


text:
And he will take your male servants, your female servants, your finest young men, and your donkeys, and put <i>them</i> to his work.


text:
And you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, and the LORD <f>[18†]</f>will not hear you in that day.”


text:
<pb/>Nevertheless the people <f>[19†]</f>refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, “No, but we will have a king over us,


text:
that we also may be <f>[20†]</f>like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.”


text:
So the LORD said to Samuel, <f>[21†]</f>“Heed their voice, and make them a king.” <pb/>And Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Every man go to his city.”


text:
<pb/>There was a man of Benjamin whose name <i>was</i> <f>[1†]</f>Kish the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power.


text:
And he had a choice and handsome son whose name <i>was</i> Saul. <i>There</i> <i>was</i> not a more handsome person than he among the children of Israel. <f>[2†]</f>From his shoulders upward <i>he</i> <i>was</i> taller than any of the people.


text:
<pb/>Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. And Kish said to his son Saul, “Please take one of the servants with you, and arise, go and look for the donkeys.”


text:
So he passed through the mountains of Ephraim and through the land of <f>[3†]</f>Shalisha, but they did not find <i>them.</i> Then they passed through the land of Shaalim, and <i>they</i> <i>were</i> not <i>there.</i> Then he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they did not find <i>them.</i>


text:
<pb/>When they had come to the land of <f>[4†]</f>Zuph, Saul said to his servant who <i>was</i> with him, “Come, let <f>[5†]</f>us return, lest my father cease <i>caring</i> about the donkeys and become worried about us.”


text:
<pb/>And he said to him, “Look now, <i>there</i> <i>is</i> in this city <f>[6†]</f>a man of God, and <i>he</i> <i>is</i> an honorable man; <f>[7†]</f>all that he says surely comes to pass. So let us go there; perhaps he can show us the way that we should go.”


text:
<pb/>Then Saul said to his servant, “But look, <i>if</i> we go, <f>[8†]</f>what shall we bring the man? For the bread in our vessels is all gone, and <i>there</i> <i>is</i> no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?”


text:
<pb/>And the servant answered Saul again and said, “Look, I have here at hand one-fourth of a shekel of silver. I will give <i>that</i> to the man of God, to tell us our way.”


text:
(Formerly in Israel, when a man <f>[9†]</f>went to inquire of God, he spoke thus: “Come, let us go to the seer”; for <i>he</i> <i>who</i> <i>is</i> now <i>called</i> a prophet was formerly called <f>[10†]</f>a seer.)


text:
<pb/>Then Saul said to his servant, “Well said; come, let us go.” So they went to the city where the man of God <i>was.</i>


text:
<pb/>As they went up the hill to the city, <f>[11†]</f>they met some young women going out to draw water, and said to them, “Is the seer here?”


text:
<pb/>And they answered them and said, “Yes, there he is, just ahead of you. Hurry now; for today he came to this city, because <f>[12†]</f>there is a sacrifice of the people today <f>[13†]</f>on the high place.


text:
As soon as you come into the city, you will surely find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. For the people will not eat until he comes, because he must bless the sacrifice; afterward those who are invited will eat. Now therefore, go up, for about this time you will find him.”


text:
So they went up to the city. As they were coming into the city, there was Samuel, coming out toward them on his way up to the high place.


text:
“Tomorrow about this time <f>[15†]</f>I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, <f>[16†]</f>and you shall anoint him commander over My people Israel, that he may save My people from the hand of the Philistines; for I have <f>[17†]</f>looked upon My people, because their cry has come to Me.”


text:
<pb/>So when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said to him, <f>[18†]</f>“There he is, the man of whom I spoke to you. This one shall reign over My people.”


text:
Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, “Please tell me, where <i>is</i> the seer’s house?”


text:
<pb/>Samuel answered Saul and said, “I <i>am</i> the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for you shall eat with me today; and tomorrow I will let you go and will tell you all that <i>is</i> in your heart.


text:
But as for <f>[19†]</f>your donkeys that were lost three days ago, do not be anxious about them, for they have been found. And on whom <f>[20†]</f><i>is</i> all the desire of Israel? <i>Is</i> <i>it</i> not on you and on all your father’s house?”


text:
<pb/>And Saul answered and said, <f>[21†]</f>“<i>Am</i> I not a Benjamite, of the <f>[22†]</f>smallest of the tribes of Israel, and <f>[23†]</f>my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak like this to me?”


text:
<pb/>Now Samuel took Saul and his servant and brought them into the hall, and had them sit in the place of honor among those who were invited; there <i>were</i> about thirty persons.


text:
And Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the portion which I gave you, of which I said to you, ‘Set it apart.’ ”


text:
So the cook took up <f>[24†]</f>the thigh with its upper part and set <i>it</i> before Saul. And <i>Samuel</i> said, “Here it is, what was kept back. <i>It</i> was set apart for you. Eat; for until this time it has been kept for you, since I said I invited the people.” So Saul ate with Samuel that day.


text:
<pb/>When they had come down from the high place into the city, <i>Samuel</i> spoke with Saul on <f>[25†]</f>the top of the house.


text:
They arose early; and it was about the dawning of the day that Samuel called to Saul on the top of the house, saying, “Get up, that I may send you on your way.” And Saul arose, and both of them went outside, he and Samuel.


text:
<pb/>As they were going down to the outskirts of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go on ahead of us.” And he went on. “But you stand here awhile, that I may announce to you the word of God.”


text:
<pb/>Then <f>[1†]</f>Samuel took a flask of oil and poured <i>it</i> on his head, <f>[2†]</f>and kissed him and said: “<i>Is</i> <i>it</i> not because <f>[3†]</f>the LORD has anointed you commander over <f>[4†]</f>His inheritance?


text:
When you have departed from me today, you will find two men by <f>[5†]</f>Rachel’s tomb in the territory of Benjamin <f>[6†]</f>at Zelzah; and they will say to you, ‘The donkeys which you went to look for have been found. And now your father has ceased caring about the donkeys and is worrying about <f>[7†]</f>you, saying, “What shall I do about my son?” ’


text:
Then you shall go on forward from there and come to the terebinth tree of Tabor. There three men going up <f>[8†]</f>to God at Bethel will meet you, one carrying three young goats, another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a skin of wine.


text:
And they will greet you and give you two <i>loaves</i> of bread, which you shall receive from their hands.


text:
After that you shall come to the hill of God <f>[9†]</f>where the Philistine garrison <i>is.</i> And it will happen, when you have come there to the city, that you will meet a group of prophets coming down <f>[10†]</f>from the high place with a stringed instrument, a tambourine, a flute, and a harp before them; <f>[11†]</f>and they will be prophesying.


text:
Then <f>[12†]</f>the Spirit of the LORD will come upon you, and <f>[13†]</f>you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man.


text:
And let it be, when these <f>[14†]</f>signs come to you, <i>that</i> you do as the occasion demands; for <f>[15†]</f>God <i>is</i> with you.


text:
You shall go down before me <f>[16†]</f>to Gilgal; and surely I will come down to you to offer burnt offerings <i>and</i> make sacrifices of peace offerings. <f>[17†]</f>Seven days you shall wait, till I come to you and show you what you should do.”


text:
<pb/>So it was, when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, that God gave him another heart; and all those signs came to pass that day.


text:
<f>[18†]</f>When they came there to the hill, there was <f>[19†]</f>a group of prophets to meet him; then the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.


text:
And it happened, when all who knew him formerly saw that he indeed prophesied among the prophets, that the people said to one another, “What <i>is</i> this <i>that</i> has come upon the son of Kish? <f>[20†]</f><i>Is</i> Saul also among the prophets?”


text:
Then a man from there answered and said, “But <f>[21†]</f>who <i>is</i> their father?” Therefore it became a proverb: “<i>Is</i> Saul also among the prophets?”


text:
<pb/>Then Saul’s <f>[22†]</f>uncle said to him and his servant, “Where did you go?” <pb/>So he said, “To look for the donkeys. When we saw that <i>they</i> <i>were</i> nowhere <i>to</i> <i>be</i> <i>found,</i> we went to Samuel.”


text:
<pb/>So Saul said to his uncle, “He told us plainly that the donkeys had been <f>[23†]</f>found.” But about the matter of the kingdom, he did not tell him what Samuel had said.


text:
and said to the children of Israel, <f>[26†]</f>“Thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians <i>and</i> from the hand of all kingdoms and from those who oppressed you.’


text:
<f>[27†]</f>But you have today rejected your God, who Himself saved you from all your adversities and your tribulations; and you have said to Him, ‘No, set a king over us!’ Now therefore, present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and by your clans.”


text:
<pb/>And when Samuel had <f>[28†]</f>caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was chosen.


text:
When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was chosen. And Saul the son of Kish was chosen. But when they sought him, he could not be found.


text:
Therefore they <f>[29†]</f>inquired of the LORD further, “Has the man come here yet?” <pb/>And the LORD answered, “There he is, hidden among the equipment.”


text:
<pb/>So they ran and brought him from there; and when he stood among the people, <f>[30†]</f>he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward.


text:
And Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see him <f>[31†]</f>whom the LORD has chosen, that <i>there</i> <i>is</i> no one like him among all the people?” <pb/>So all the people shouted and said, <f>[32†]</f>“Long live the king!”


text:
<pb/>Then Samuel explained to the people <f>[33†]</f>the behavior of royalty, and wrote <i>it</i> in a book and laid <i>it</i> up before the LORD. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house.


text:
And Saul also went home <f>[34†]</f>to Gibeah; and valiant <i>men</i> went with him, whose hearts God had touched.


text:
<f>[35†]</f>But some <f>[36†]</f>rebels said, “How can this man save us?” So they despised him, <f>[37†]</f>and brought him no presents. But he held his peace.


text:
<pb/>Then <f>[1†]</f>Nahash the Ammonite came up and encamped against <f>[2†]</f>Jabesh Gilead; and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, <f>[3†]</f>“Make a covenant with us, and we will serve you.”


text:
<pb/>And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, “On this <i>condition</i> I will make <i>a</i> <i>covenant</i> with you, that I may put out all your right eyes, and bring <f>[4†]</f>reproach on all Israel.”


text:
<pb/>Then the elders of Jabesh said to him, “Hold off for seven days, that we may send messengers to all the territory of Israel. And then, if <i>there</i> <i>is</i> no one to save us, we will come out to you.”


text:
<pb/>So the messengers came <f>[5†]</f>to Gibeah of Saul and told the news in the hearing of the people. And <f>[6†]</f>all the people lifted up their voices and wept.


text:
Now there was Saul, coming behind the herd from the field; and Saul said, “What <i>troubles</i> the people, that they weep?” And they told him the words of the men of Jabesh.


text:
<f>[7†]</f>Then the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard this news, and his anger was greatly aroused.


text:
So he took a yoke of oxen and <f>[8†]</f>cut them in pieces, and sent <i>them</i> throughout all the territory of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, <f>[9†]</f>“Whoever does not go out with Saul and Samuel to battle, so it shall be done to his oxen.” <pb/>And the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with one consent.


text:
When he numbered them in <f>[10†]</f>Bezek, the children <f>[11†]</f>of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.


text:
And they said to the messengers who came, “Thus you shall say to the men of Jabesh Gilead: ‘Tomorrow, by <i>the</i> <i>time</i> the sun is hot, you shall have help.’ ” Then the messengers came and reported <i>it</i> to the men of Jabesh, and they were glad.


text:
Therefore the men of Jabesh said, “Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you may do with us whatever seems good to you.”


text:
<pb/>So it was, on the next day, that <f>[12†]</f>Saul put the people <f>[13†]</f>in three companies; and they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch, and killed Ammonites until the heat of the day. And it happened that those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.


text:
<pb/>Then the people said to Samuel, <f>[14†]</f>“Who <i>is</i> he who said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ <f>[15†]</f>Bring the men, that we may put them to death.”


text:
<pb/>But Saul said, <f>[16†]</f>“Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today <f>[17†]</f>the LORD has accomplished salvation in Israel.”


text:
<pb/>Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go <f>[18†]</f>to Gilgal and renew the kingdom there.”


text:
So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king <f>[19†]</f>before the LORD in Gilgal. <f>[20†]</f>There they made sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD, and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.


text:
<pb/>Now Samuel said to all Israel: “Indeed I have heeded <f>[1†]</f>your voice in all that you said to me, and <f>[2†]</f>have made a king over you.


text:
And now here is the king, <f>[3†]</f>walking before you; <f>[4†]</f>and I am old and grayheaded, and look, my sons <i>are</i> with you. I have walked before you from my childhood to this day.


text:
Here I am. Witness against me before the LORD and before <f>[5†]</f>His anointed: <f>[6†]</f>Whose ox have I taken, or whose donkey have I taken, or whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed, or from whose hand have I received <i>any</i> <f>[7†]</f>bribe with which to <f>[8†]</f>blind my eyes? I will restore <i>it</i> to you.”


text:
<pb/>And they said, <f>[9†]</f>“You have not cheated us or oppressed us, nor have you taken anything from any man’s hand.”


text:
<pb/>Then he said to them, “The LORD <i>is</i> witness against you, and His anointed <i>is</i> witness this day, <f>[10†]</f>that you have not found anything <f>[11†]</f>in my hand.” <pb/>And they answered, “<i>He</i> <i>is</i> witness.”


text:
<pb/>Then Samuel said to the people, <f>[12†]</f>“<i>It</i> <i>is</i> the LORD who raised up Moses and Aaron, and who brought your fathers up from the land of Egypt.


text:
Now therefore, stand still, that I may <f>[13†]</f>reason with you before the LORD concerning all the <f>[14†]</f>righteous acts of the LORD which He did to you and your fathers:


text:
<f>[15†]</f>When Jacob had gone into Egypt, and your fathers <f>[16†]</f>cried out to the LORD, then the LORD <f>[17†]</f>sent Moses and Aaron, who brought your fathers out of Egypt and made them dwell in this place.


text:
And when they <f>[18†]</f>forgot the LORD their God, He sold them into the hand of <f>[19†]</f>Sisera, commander of the army of Hazor, into the hand of the <f>[20†]</f>Philistines, and into the hand of the king of <f>[21†]</f>Moab; and they fought against them.


text:
Then they cried out to the LORD, and said, <f>[22†]</f>‘We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD <f>[23†]</f>and served the Baals and Ashtoreths; but now deliver us from the hand of our enemies, and we will serve You.’


text:
And the LORD sent Jerubbaal, Bedan, <f>[24†]</f>Jephthah, and <f>[25†]</f>Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side; and you dwelt in safety.


text:
And when you saw that <f>[26†]</f>Nahash king of the Ammonites came against you, <f>[27†]</f>you said to me, ‘No, but a king shall reign over us,’ when <f>[28†]</f>the LORD your God <i>was</i> your king.


text:
<pb/>“Now therefore, <f>[29†]</f>here is the king <f>[30†]</f>whom you have chosen <i>and</i> whom you have desired. And take note, <f>[31†]</f>the LORD has set a king over you.


text:
If you <f>[32†]</f>fear the LORD and serve Him and obey His voice, and do not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then both you and the king who reigns over you will continue following the LORD your God.


text:
However, if you do <f>[33†]</f>not obey the voice of the LORD, but <f>[34†]</f>rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then the hand of the LORD will be against you, as <i>it</i> <i>was</i> against your fathers.


text:
<pb/>“Now therefore, <f>[35†]</f>stand and see this great thing which the LORD will do before your eyes:


text:
<i>Is</i> today not the <f>[36†]</f>wheat harvest? <f>[37†]</f>I will call to the LORD, and He will send thunder and <f>[38†]</f>rain, that you may perceive and see that <f>[39†]</f>your wickedness <i>is</i> great, which you have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking a king for yourselves.”


text:
<pb/>So Samuel called to the LORD, and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day; and <f>[40†]</f>all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.


text:
<pb/>And all the people said to Samuel, <f>[41†]</f>“Pray for your servants to the LORD your God, that we may not die; for we have added to all our sins the evil of asking a king for ourselves.”


text:
<pb/>Then Samuel said to the people, “Do not fear. You have done all this wickedness; <f>[42†]</f>yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart.


text:
And <f>[43†]</f>do not turn aside; <f>[44†]</f>for <i>then</i> <i>you</i> <i>would</i> <i>go</i> after empty things which cannot profit or deliver, for they <i>are</i> nothing.


text:
For <f>[45†]</f>the LORD will not forsake <f>[46†]</f>His people, <f>[47†]</f>for His great name’s sake, because <f>[48†]</f>it has pleased the LORD to make you His people.


text:
Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD <f>[49†]</f>in ceasing to pray for you; but <f>[50†]</f>I will teach you the <f>[51†]</f>good and the right way.


text:
<f>[52†]</f>Only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for <f>[53†]</f>consider what <f>[54†]</f>great things He has done for you.


text:
But if you still do wickedly, <f>[55†]</f>you shall be swept away, <f>[56†]</f>both you and your king.”


text:
Saul chose for himself three thousand <i>men</i> of Israel. Two thousand were with Saul in <f>[1†]</f>Michmash and in the mountains of Bethel, and a thousand were with <f>[2†]</f>Jonathan in <f>[3†]</f>Gibeah of Benjamin. The rest of the people he sent away, every man to his tent.


text:
<pb/>And Jonathan attacked <f>[4†]</f>the garrison of the Philistines that <i>was</i> in <f>[5†]</f>Geba, and the Philistines heard <i>of</i> <i>it.</i> Then Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, “Let the Hebrews hear!”


text:
Now all Israel heard it said <i>that</i> Saul had attacked a garrison of the Philistines, and <i>that</i> Israel had also become an abomination to the Philistines. And the people were called together to Saul at Gilgal.


text:
<pb/>Then the Philistines gathered together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots and six thousand horsemen, and people <f>[6†]</f>as the sand which <i>is</i> on the seashore in multitude. And they came up and encamped in Michmash, to the east of <f>[7†]</f>Beth Aven.


text:
When the men of Israel saw that they were in danger (for the people were distressed), then the people <f>[8†]</f>hid in caves, in thickets, in rocks, in holes, and in pits.


text:
And <i>some</i> <i>of</i> the Hebrews crossed over the Jordan to the <f>[9†]</f>land of Gad and Gilead. <pb/>As for Saul, he <i>was</i> still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.


text:
<f>[10†]</f>Then he waited seven days, according to the time set by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.


text:
So Saul said, “Bring a burnt offering and peace offerings here to me.” And he offered the burnt offering.


text:
Now it happened, as soon as he had finished presenting the burnt offering, that Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might greet him.


text:
<pb/>And Samuel said, “What have you done?” <pb/>Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattered from me, and <i>that</i> you did not come within the days appointed, and <i>that</i> the Philistines gathered together at Michmash,


text:
then I said, ‘The Philistines will now come down on me at Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the LORD.’ Therefore I felt compelled, and offered a burnt offering.”


text:
<pb/>And Samuel said to Saul, <f>[11†]</f>“You have done foolishly. <f>[12†]</f>You have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which He commanded you. For now the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.


text:
<f>[13†]</f>But now your kingdom shall not continue. <f>[14†]</f>The LORD has sought for Himself a man <f>[15†]</f>after His own heart, and the LORD has commanded him <i>to</i> <i>be</i> commander over His people, because you have <f>[16†]</f>not kept what the LORD commanded you.”


text:
<pb/>Then Samuel arose and went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people present with him, <f>[17†]</f>about six hundred men.


text:
<pb/>Saul, Jonathan his son, and the people present with them remained in Gibeah of Benjamin. But the Philistines encamped in Michmash.


text:
Then raiders came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies. One company turned onto the road to <f>[18†]</f>Ophrah, to the land of Shual,


text:
another company turned to the road <i>to</i> <f>[19†]</f>Beth Horon, and another company turned <i>to</i> the road of the border that overlooks the Valley of <f>[20†]</f>Zeboim toward the wilderness.


text:
<pb/>Now <f>[21†]</f>there was no blacksmith to be found throughout all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, “Lest the Hebrews make swords or spears.”


text:
But all the Israelites would go down to the Philistines to sharpen each man’s plowshare, his mattock, his ax, and his sickle;


text:
and the charge for a sharpening was a pim for the plowshares, the mattocks, the forks, and the axes, and to set the points of the goads.


text:
So it came about, on the day of battle, that <f>[22†]</f>there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people who <i>were</i> with Saul and Jonathan. But they were found with Saul and Jonathan his son.


text:
<pb/>Now it happened one day that Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come, let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison that <i>is</i> on the other side.” But he did not tell his father.


text:
And Saul was sitting in the outskirts of <f>[1†]</f>Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which <i>is</i> in Migron. The people who <i>were</i> with him <i>were</i> about six hundred men.


text:
<f>[2†]</f>Ahijah the son of Ahitub, <f>[3†]</f>Ichabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD’s priest in Shiloh, was <f>[4†]</f>wearing an ephod. But the people did not know that Jonathan had gone.


text:
<pb/>Between the passes, by which Jonathan sought to go over <f>[5†]</f>to the Philistines’ garrison, <i>there</i> <i>was</i> a sharp rock on one side and a sharp rock on the other side. And the name of one <i>was</i> Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh.


text:
<pb/>Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these <f>[6†]</f>uncircumcised; it may be that the LORD will work for us. For nothing restrains the LORD <f>[7†]</f>from saving by many or by few.”


text:
<pb/>So his armorbearer said to him, “Do all that is in your heart. Go then; here I am with you, according to your heart.”


text:
<pb/>Then Jonathan said, “Very well, let us cross over to <i>these</i> men, and we will show ourselves to them.


text:
If they say thus to us, ‘Wait until we come to you,’ then we will stand still in our place and not go up to them.


text:
But if they say thus, ‘Come up to us,’ then we will go up. For the LORD has delivered them into our hand, and <f>[8†]</f>this <i>will</i> <i>be</i> a sign to us.”


text:
<pb/>So both of them showed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines. And the Philistines said, “Look, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have <f>[9†]</f>hidden.”


text:
Then the men of the garrison called to Jonathan and his armorbearer, and said, “Come up to us, and we will show you something.” <pb/>Jonathan said to his armorbearer, “Come up after me, for the LORD has delivered them into the hand of Israel.”


text:
And Jonathan climbed up on his hands and knees with his armorbearer after him; and they <f>[10†]</f>fell before Jonathan. And as he came after him, his armorbearer killed them.


text:
That first slaughter which Jonathan and his armorbearer made was about twenty men within about half an acre of land.


text:
<pb/>And <f>[11†]</f>there was trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. The garrison and <f>[12†]</f>the raiders also trembled; and the earth quaked, so that it was <f>[13†]</f>a very great trembling.


text:
Now the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and <i>there</i> was the multitude, melting away; and they <f>[14†]</f>went here and there.


text:
Then Saul said to the people who <i>were</i> with him, “Now call the roll and see who has gone from us.” And when they had called the roll, surprisingly, Jonathan and his armorbearer <i>were</i> not <i>there.</i>


text:
And Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God here” (for at that time the ark of God was with the children of Israel).


text:
Now it happened, while Saul <f>[15†]</f>talked to the priest, that the noise which <i>was</i> in the camp of the Philistines continued to increase; so Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.”


text:
Then Saul and all the people who <i>were</i> with him assembled, and they went to the battle; and indeed <f>[16†]</f>every man’s sword was against his neighbor, <i>and</i> <i>there</i> <i>was</i> very great confusion.


text:
Moreover the Hebrews <i>who</i> were with the Philistines before that time, who went up with them into the camp <i>from</i> <i>the</i> surrounding <i>country,</i> they also joined the Israelites who <i>were</i> with Saul and Jonathan.


text:
Likewise all the men of Israel who <f>[17†]</f>had hidden in the mountains of Ephraim, <i>when</i> they heard that the Philistines fled, they also followed hard after them in the battle.


text:
<pb/>And the men of Israel were distressed that day, for Saul had <f>[20†]</f>placed the people under oath, saying, “Cursed <i>is</i> the man who eats <i>any</i> food until evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies.” So none of the people tasted food.


text:
<f>[21†]</f>Now all <i>the</i> <i>people</i> of the land came to a forest; and there was <f>[22†]</f>honey on the ground.


text:
And when the people had come into the woods, there was the honey, dripping; but no one put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath.


text:
But Jonathan had not heard his father charge the people with the oath; therefore he stretched out the end of the rod that <i>was</i> in his hand and dipped it in a honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his countenance brightened.


text:
Then one of the people said, “Your father strictly charged the people with an oath, saying, ‘Cursed <i>is</i> the man who eats food this day.’ ” And the people were faint.


text:
<pb/>But Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land. Look now, how my countenance has brightened because I tasted a little of this honey.


text:
How much better if the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies which they found! For now would there not have been a much greater slaughter among the Philistines?”


text:
<pb/>Now they had driven back the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. So the people were very faint.


text:
And the people rushed on the spoil, and took sheep, oxen, and calves, and slaughtered <i>them</i> on the ground; and the people ate <i>them</i> <f>[23†]</f>with the blood.


text:
Then they told Saul, saying, “Look, the people are sinning against the LORD by eating with the blood!” <pb/>So he said, “You have dealt treacherously; roll a large stone to me this day.”


text:
Then Saul said, “Disperse yourselves among the people, and say to them, ‘Bring me here every man’s ox and every man’s sheep, slaughter <i>them</i> here, and eat; and do not sin against the LORD by eating with the blood.’ ” So every one of the people brought his ox with him that night, and slaughtered <i>it</i> there.


text:
Then Saul <f>[24†]</f>built an altar to the LORD. This was the first altar that he built to the LORD.


text:
<pb/>Now Saul said, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and plunder them until the morning light; and let us not leave a man of them.” <pb/>And they said, “Do whatever seems good to you.” <pb/>Then the priest said, “Let us draw near to God here.”


text:
<pb/>So Saul <f>[25†]</f>asked counsel of God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will You deliver them into the hand of Israel?” But <f>[26†]</f>He did not answer him that day.


text:
And Saul said, <f>[27†]</f>“Come over here, all you chiefs of the people, and know and see what this sin was today.


text:
For <f>[28†]</f><i>as</i> the LORD lives, who saves Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die.” But not a man among all the people answered him.


text:
Then he said to all Israel, “You be on one side, and my son Jonathan and I will be on the other side.” <pb/>And the people said to Saul, “Do what seems good to you.”


text:
<pb/>Therefore Saul said to the LORD God of Israel, <f>[29†]</f>“Give a perfect <i>lot.</i>” <f>[30†]</f>So Saul and Jonathan were taken, but the people escaped.


text:
Then Saul said to Jonathan, <f>[31†]</f>“Tell me what you have done.” <pb/>And Jonathan told him, and said, <f>[32†]</f>“I only tasted a little honey with the end of the rod that <i>was</i> in my hand. So now I must die!”


text:
<pb/>Saul answered, <f>[33†]</f>“God do so and more also; <f>[34†]</f>for you shall surely die, Jonathan.”


text:
<pb/>But the people said to Saul, “Shall Jonathan die, who has accomplished this great deliverance in Israel? Certainly not! <f>[35†]</f>As the LORD lives, not one hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for he has worked <f>[36†]</f>with God this day.” So the people rescued Jonathan, and he did not die.


text:
<pb/>So Saul established his sovereignty over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, against the people of <f>[37†]</f>Ammon, against Edom, against the kings of <f>[38†]</f>Zobah, and against the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he harassed <i>them.</i>


text:
And he gathered an army and <f>[39†]</f>attacked the Amalekites, and delivered Israel from the hands of those who plundered them.


text:
<pb/> <f>[40†]</f>The sons of Saul were Jonathan, Jishui, and Malchishua. And the names of his two daughters <i>were</i> <i>these:</i> the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger <f>[41†]</f>Michal.


text:
The name of Saul’s wife <i>was</i> Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. And the name of the commander of his army <i>was</i> Abner the son of Ner, Saul’s <f>[42†]</f>uncle.


text:
<f>[43†]</f>Kish <i>was</i> the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner <i>was</i> the son of Abiel.


text:
<pb/>Now there was fierce war with the Philistines all the days of Saul. And when Saul saw any strong man or any valiant man, <f>[44†]</f>he took him for himself.


text:
<pb/>Samuel also said to Saul, <f>[1†]</f>“The LORD sent me to anoint you king over His people, over Israel. Now therefore, heed the voice of the words of the LORD.


text:
Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘I will punish Amalek <i>for</i> what he did to Israel, <f>[2†]</f>how he ambushed him on the way when he came up from Egypt.


text:
Now go and <f>[3†]</f>attack Amalek, and <f>[4†]</f>utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’ ”


text:
<pb/>So Saul gathered the people together and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand foot soldiers and ten thousand men of Judah.


text:
<pb/>Then Saul said to <f>[5†]</f>the Kenites, <f>[6†]</f>“Go, depart, get down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them. For <f>[7†]</f>you showed kindness to all the children of Israel when they came up out of Egypt.” So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.


text:
<f>[8†]</f>And Saul attacked the Amalekites, from <f>[9†]</f>Havilah all the way to <f>[10†]</f>Shur, which is east of Egypt.


text:
<f>[11†]</f>He also took Agag king of the Amalekites alive, and <f>[12†]</f>utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.


text:
But Saul and the people <f>[13†]</f>spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all <i>that</i> <i>was</i> good, and were unwilling to utterly destroy them. But everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed.


text:
<f>[14†]</f>“I greatly regret that I have set up Saul <i>as</i> king, for he has <f>[15†]</f>turned back from following Me, <f>[16†]</f>and has not performed My commandments.” And it <f>[17†]</f>grieved Samuel, and he cried out to the LORD all night.


text:
So when Samuel rose early in the morning to meet Saul, it was told Samuel, saying, “Saul went to <f>[18†]</f>Carmel, and indeed, he set up a monument for himself; and he has gone on around, passed by, and gone down to Gilgal.”


text:
Then Samuel went to Saul, and Saul said to him, <f>[19†]</f>“Blessed <i>are</i> you of the LORD! I have performed the commandment of the LORD.”


text:
<pb/>But Samuel said, “What then <i>is</i> this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?”


text:
<pb/>And Saul said, “They have brought them from the Amalekites; <f>[20†]</f>for the people spared the best of the sheep and the oxen, to sacrifice to the LORD your God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.”


text:
<pb/>Then Samuel said to Saul, “Be quiet! And I will tell you what the LORD said to me last night.” <pb/>And he said to him, “Speak on.”


text:
<pb/>So Samuel said, <f>[21†]</f>“When you <i>were</i> little in your own eyes, <i>were</i> you not head of the tribes of Israel? And did not the LORD anoint you king over Israel?


text:
Now the LORD sent you on a mission, and said, ‘Go, and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’


text:
Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD? Why did you swoop down on the spoil, and do evil in the sight of the LORD?”


text:
<pb/>And Saul said to Samuel, <f>[22†]</f>“But I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and gone on the mission on which the LORD sent me, and brought back Agag king of Amalek; I have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.


text:
<f>[23†]</f>But the people took of the plunder, sheep and oxen, the best of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal.”


text:
<pb/>So Samuel said: <pb/><t> <f>[24†]</f>“Has the LORD <i>as</i> <i>great</i> delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, </t><t>As in obeying the voice of the LORD? </t><t>Behold, <f>[25†]</f>to obey is better than sacrifice, </t><t><i>And</i> to heed than the fat of rams.</t>


text:
<t>For rebellion <i>is</i> <i>as</i> the sin of witchcraft, </t><t>And stubbornness <i>is</i> <i>as</i> iniquity and idolatry. </t><t>Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, </t><t> <f>[26†]</f>He also has rejected you from <i>being</i> king.”</t>


text:
<pb/> <f>[27†]</f>Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD and your words, because I <f>[28†]</f>feared the people and obeyed their voice.


text:
<pb/>But Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you, <f>[29†]</f>for you have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you from being king over Israel.”


text:
<pb/>And as Samuel turned around to go away, <f>[30†]</f><i>Saul</i> seized the edge of his robe, and it tore.


text:
So Samuel said to him, <f>[31†]</f>“The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today, and has given it to a neighbor of yours, <i>who</i> <i>is</i> better than you.


text:
And also the Strength of Israel <f>[32†]</f>will not lie nor relent. For He <i>is</i> not a man, that He should relent.”


text:
<pb/>Then he said, “I have sinned; <i>yet</i> <f>[33†]</f>honor me now, please, before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, that I may worship the LORD your God.”


text:
<pb/>Then Samuel said, “Bring Agag king of the Amalekites here to me.” So Agag came to him cautiously. <pb/>And Agag said, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.”


text:
<pb/>But Samuel said, <f>[34†]</f>“As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women.” And Samuel hacked Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal.


text:
<pb/>Then Samuel went to <f>[35†]</f>Ramah, and Saul went up to his house at <f>[36†]</f>Gibeah of Saul.


text:
And <f>[37†]</f>Samuel went no more to see Saul until the day of his death. Nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul, and the LORD regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel.


text:
<pb/>Now the LORD said to Samuel, <f>[1†]</f>“How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? <f>[2†]</f>Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to <f>[3†]</f>Jesse the Bethlehemite. For <f>[4†]</f>I have provided Myself a king among his sons.”


text:
<pb/>And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears <i>it,</i> he will kill me.” <pb/>But the LORD said, “Take a heifer with you, and say, <f>[5†]</f>‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’


text:
Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; you shall anoint for Me the one I name to you.”


text:
<pb/>So Samuel did what the LORD said, and went to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town <f>[6†]</f>trembled at his coming, and said, <f>[7†]</f>“Do you come peaceably?”


text:
<pb/>And he said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. <f>[8†]</f>Sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons, and invited them to the sacrifice.


text:
<pb/>So it was, when they came, that he looked at <f>[9†]</f>Eliab and <f>[10†]</f>said, “Surely the LORD’s anointed <i>is</i> before Him!”


text:
<pb/>But the LORD said to Samuel, <f>[11†]</f>“Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. <f>[12†]</f>For <i>the</i> <i>LORD</i> <i>does</i> not <i>see</i> as man sees; for man <f>[13†]</f>looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the <f>[14†]</f>heart.”


text:
<pb/>So Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the LORD chosen this one.”


text:
Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen these.”


text:
And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all the young men here?” Then he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the <f>[15†]</f>sheep.” <pb/>And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here.”


text:
So he sent and brought him in. Now he <i>was</i> <f>[16†]</f>ruddy, <f>[17†]</f>with bright eyes, and good-looking. <f>[18†]</f>And the LORD said, “Arise, anoint him; for this <i>is</i> the one!”


text:
Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and <f>[19†]</f>the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.


text:
<pb/> <f>[20†]</f>But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and <f>[21†]</f>a distressing spirit from the LORD troubled him.


text:
Let our master now command your servants, <i>who</i> <i>are</i> before you, to seek out a man <i>who</i> <i>is</i> a skillful player on the harp. And it shall be that he will <f>[22†]</f>play it with his hand when the distressing spirit from God is upon you, and you shall be well.”


text:
<pb/>So Saul said to his servants, “Provide me now a man who can play well, and bring <i>him</i> to me.”


text:
<pb/>Then one of the servants answered and said, “Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, <i>who</i> <i>is</i> skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and <f>[23†]</f>the LORD <i>is</i> with him.”


text:
<pb/>Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, “Send me your son David, who <i>is</i> with the sheep.”


text:
And Jesse <f>[24†]</f>took a donkey <i>loaded</i> <i>with</i> bread, a skin of wine, and a young goat, and sent <i>them</i> by his son David to Saul.


text:
So David came to Saul and <f>[25†]</f>stood before him. And he loved him greatly, and he became his armorbearer.


text:
Then Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Please let David stand before me, for he has found favor in my sight.”


text:
And so it was, whenever the spirit from God was upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play <i>it</i> with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him.


text:
<pb/>Now the Philistines gathered their armies together to battle, and were gathered at <f>[1†]</f>Sochoh, which <i>belongs</i> to Judah; they encamped between Sochoh and Azekah, in Ephes Dammim.


text:
And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and they encamped in the Valley of Elah, and drew up in battle array against the Philistines.


text:
The Philistines stood on a mountain on one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side, with a valley between them.


text:
<pb/>And a champion went out from the camp of the Philistines, named <f>[2†]</f>Goliath, from <f>[3†]</f>Gath, whose height <i>was</i> six cubits and a span.


text:
<i>He</i> <i>had</i> a bronze helmet on his head, and he <i>was</i> armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat <i>was</i> five thousand shekels of bronze.


text:
Now the staff of his spear <i>was</i> like a weaver’s beam, and his iron spearhead <i>weighed</i> six hundred shekels; and a shield-bearer went before him.


text:
Then he stood and cried out to the armies of Israel, and said to them, “Why have you come out to line up for battle? <i>Am</i> I not a Philistine, and you the <f>[4†]</f>servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me.


text:
If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and <f>[5†]</f>serve us.”


text:
And the Philistine said, <f>[6†]</f>“I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.”


text:
When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.


text:
<pb/>Now David <i>was</i> <f>[7†]</f>the son of that <f>[8†]</f>Ephrathite of Bethlehem Judah, whose name <i>was</i> Jesse, and who had <f>[9†]</f>eight sons. And the man was old, advanced <i>in</i> <i>years,</i> in the days of Saul.


text:
The three oldest sons of Jesse had gone to follow Saul to the battle. The <f>[10†]</f>names of his three sons who went to the battle <i>were</i> Eliab the firstborn, next to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.


text:
But David occasionally went and returned from Saul <f>[11†]</f>to feed his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.


text:
<pb/>Then Jesse said to his son David, “Take now for your brothers an ephah of this dried <i>grain</i> and these ten loaves, and run to your brothers at the camp.


text:
And carry these ten cheeses to the captain of <i>their</i> thousand, and <f>[12†]</f>see how your brothers fare, and bring back news of them.”


text:
Now Saul and they and all the men of Israel <i>were</i> in the Valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.


text:
<pb/>So David rose early in the morning, left the sheep with a keeper, and took <i>the</i> <i>things</i> and went as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the camp as the army was going out to the fight and shouting for the battle.


text:
And David left his supplies in the hand of the supply keeper, ran to the army, and came and greeted his brothers.


text:
Then as he talked with them, there was the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, coming up from the armies of the Philistines; and he spoke <f>[13†]</f>according to the same words. So David heard <i>them.</i>


text:
So the men of Israel said, “Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel; and it shall be <i>that</i> the man who kills him the king will enrich with great riches, <f>[14†]</f>will give him his daughter, and give his father’s house exemption <i>from</i> <i>taxes</i> in Israel.”


text:
<pb/>Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away <f>[15†]</f>the reproach from Israel? For who <i>is</i> this <f>[16†]</f>uncircumcised Philistine, that he should <f>[17†]</f>defy the armies of <f>[18†]</f>the living God?”


text:
<pb/>And the people answered him in this manner, saying, <f>[19†]</f>“So shall it be done for the man who kills him.”


text:
<pb/>Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab’s <f>[20†]</f>anger was aroused against David, and he said, “Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.”


text:
Then he turned from him toward another and <f>[22†]</f>said the same thing; and these people answered him as the first ones <i>did.</i>


text:
<pb/>Now when the words which David spoke were heard, they reported <i>them</i> to Saul; and he sent for him.


text:
Then David said to Saul, <f>[23†]</f>“Let no man’s heart fail because of him; <f>[24†]</f>your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”


text:
<pb/>And Saul said to David, <f>[25†]</f>“You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you <i>are</i> a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.”


text:
<pb/>But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a <f>[26†]</f>lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock,


text:
I went out after it and struck it, and delivered <i>the</i> <i>lamb</i> from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught <i>it</i> by its beard, and struck and killed it.


text:
Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.”


text:
Moreover David said, <f>[27†]</f>“The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” <pb/>And Saul said to David, <f>[28†]</f>“Go, and the LORD be with you!”


text:
<pb/>So Saul clothed David with his armor, and he put a bronze helmet on his head; he also clothed him with a coat of mail.


text:
David fastened his sword to his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested <i>them.</i> And David said to Saul, “I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested <i>them.</i>” So David took them off.


text:
<pb/>Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine.


text:
So the Philistine came, and began drawing near to David, and the man who bore the shield <i>went</i> before him.


text:
And when the Philistine looked about and saw David, he <f>[29†]</f>disdained him; for he was <i>only</i> a youth, <f>[30†]</f>ruddy and good-looking.


text:
So the Philistine <f>[31†]</f>said to David, “<i>Am</i> I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.


text:
And the Philistine <f>[32†]</f>said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!”


text:
<pb/>Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. <f>[33†]</f>But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have <f>[34†]</f>defied.


text:
This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give <f>[35†]</f>the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, <f>[36†]</f>that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.


text:
Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD <f>[37†]</f>does not save with sword and spear; for <f>[38†]</f>the battle <i>is</i> the LORD’s, and He will give you into our hands.”


text:
<pb/>So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hurried and <f>[39†]</f>ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.


text:
Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung <i>it</i> and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth.


text:
So David prevailed over the Philistine with a <f>[40†]</f>sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. But <i>there</i> <i>was</i> no sword in the hand of David.


text:
Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his <f>[41†]</f>sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it. <pb/>And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, <f>[42†]</f>they fled.


text:
Now the men of Israel and Judah arose and shouted, and pursued the Philistines as far as the entrance of the valley and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell along the road to <f>[43†]</f>Shaaraim, even as far as Gath and Ekron.


text:
And David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armor in his tent.


text:
<pb/>When Saul saw David going out against the Philistine, he said to <f>[44†]</f>Abner, the commander of the army, “Abner, <f>[45†]</f>whose son <i>is</i> this youth?” <pb/>And Abner said, “As your soul lives, O king, I do not know.”


text:
<pb/>Then, as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul <f>[46†]</f>with the head of the Philistine in his hand.


text:
And Saul said to him, “Whose son <i>are</i> you, young man?” <pb/>So David answered, <f>[47†]</f>“<i>I</i> <i>am</i> the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.”


text:
<pb/>Now when he had finished speaking to Saul, <f>[1†]</f>the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, <f>[2†]</f>and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.


text:
And Jonathan took off the robe that <i>was</i> on him and gave it to David, with his armor, even to his sword and his bow and his belt.


text:
<pb/>So David went out wherever Saul sent him, <i>and</i> behaved wisely. And Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.


text:
Now it had happened as they were coming <i>home,</i> when David was returning from the slaughter of the Philistine, that <f>[5†]</f>the women had come out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with musical instruments.


text:
So the women <f>[6†]</f>sang as they danced, and said: <pb/><t> <f>[7†]</f>“Saul has slain his thousands, </t><t>And David his ten thousands.”</t>


text:
<pb/>Then Saul was very angry, and the saying <f>[8†]</f>displeased him; and he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed <i>only</i> thousands. Now <i>what</i> more can he have but <f>[9†]</f>the kingdom?”


text:
<pb/>And it happened on the next day that <f>[10†]</f>the distressing spirit from God came upon Saul, <f>[11†]</f>and he prophesied inside the house. So David <f>[12†]</f>played <i>music</i> with his hand, as at other times; <f>[13†]</f>but <i>there</i> <i>was</i> a spear in Saul’s hand.


text:
And Saul <f>[14†]</f>cast the spear, for he said, “I will pin David to the wall!” But David escaped his presence twice.


text:
<pb/>Now Saul was <f>[15†]</f>afraid of David, because <f>[16†]</f>the LORD was with him, but had <f>[17†]</f>departed from Saul.


text:
Therefore Saul removed him from his presence, and made him his captain over a thousand; and <f>[18†]</f>he went out and came in before the people.


text:
<pb/>Then Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab; <f>[21†]</f>I will give her to you as a wife. Only be valiant for me, and fight <f>[22†]</f>the LORD’s battles.” For Saul thought, <f>[23†]</f>“Let my hand not be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.”


text:
<pb/>So David said to Saul, <f>[24†]</f>“Who <i>am</i> I, and what <i>is</i> my life <i>or</i> my father’s family in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?”


text:
But it happened at the time when Merab, Saul’s daughter, should have been given to David, that she was given to <f>[25†]</f>Adriel the <f>[26†]</f>Meholathite as a wife.


text:
<pb/> <f>[27†]</f>Now Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David. And they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.


text:
So Saul said, “I will give her to him, that she may be a snare to him, and that <f>[28†]</f>the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” Therefore Saul said to David a second time, <f>[29†]</f>“You shall be my son-in-law today.”


text:
<pb/>And Saul commanded his servants, “Communicate with David secretly, and say, ‘Look, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you. Now therefore, become the king’s son-in-law.’ ”


text:
<pb/>So Saul’s servants spoke those words in the hearing of David. And David said, “Does it seem to you <i>a</i> light <i>thing</i> to be a king’s son-in-law, seeing I <i>am</i> a poor and lightly esteemed man?”


text:
<pb/>Then Saul said, “Thus you shall say to David: ‘The king does not desire any <f>[30†]</f>dowry but one hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to take <f>[31†]</f>vengeance on the king’s enemies.’ ” But Saul <f>[32†]</f>thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.


text:
So when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to become the king’s son-in-law. Now <f>[33†]</f>the days had not expired;


text:
therefore David arose and went, he and <f>[34†]</f>his men, and killed two hundred men of the Philistines. And <f>[35†]</f>David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full count to the king, that he might become the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave him Michal his daughter as a wife.


text:
<pb/>Thus Saul saw and knew that the LORD <i>was</i> with David, and <i>that</i> Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him;


text:
Then the princes of the Philistines <f>[36†]</f>went out <i>to</i> <i>war.</i> And so it was, whenever they went out, <i>that</i> David <f>[37†]</f>behaved more wisely than all the servants of Saul, so that his name became highly esteemed.


text:
<pb/>Now Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they should kill <f>[1†]</f>David; but Jonathan, Saul’s son, <f>[2†]</f>delighted greatly in David.


text:
So Jonathan told David, saying, “My father Saul seeks to kill you. Therefore please be on your guard until morning, and stay in a secret <i>place</i> and hide.


text:
And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you <i>are,</i> and I will speak with my father about you. Then what I observe, I will tell <f>[3†]</f>you.”


text:
<pb/>Thus Jonathan <f>[4†]</f>spoke well of David to Saul his father, and said to him, “Let not the king <f>[5†]</f>sin against his servant, against David, because he has not sinned against you, and because his works <i>have</i> <i>been</i> very good toward you.


text:
For he took his <f>[6†]</f>life in his hands and <f>[7†]</f>killed the Philistine, and <f>[8†]</f>the LORD brought about a great deliverance for all Israel. You saw <i>it</i> and rejoiced. <f>[9†]</f>Why then will you <f>[10†]</f>sin against innocent blood, to kill David without a cause?”


text:
<pb/>So Saul heeded the voice of Jonathan, and Saul swore, “<i>As</i> the LORD lives, he shall not be killed.”


text:
Then Jonathan called David, and Jonathan told him all these things. So Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence <f>[11†]</f>as in times past.


text:
<pb/>And there was war again; and David went out and fought with the Philistines, <f>[12†]</f>and struck them with a mighty blow, and they fled from him.


text:
<pb/>Now <f>[13†]</f>the distressing spirit from the LORD came upon Saul as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand. And David was playing <i>music</i> with <i>his</i> hand.


text:
Then Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he slipped away from Saul’s presence; and he drove the spear into the wall. So David fled and escaped that night.


text:
<pb/> <f>[14†]</f>Saul also sent messengers to David’s house to watch him and to kill him in the morning. And Michal, David’s wife, told him, saying, “If you do not save your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed.”


text:
And Michal took an image and laid <i>it</i> in the bed, put a cover of goats’ <i>hair</i> for his head, and covered <i>it</i> with clothes.


text:
<pb/>Then Saul sent the messengers <i>back</i> to see David, saying, “Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may kill him.”


text:
And when the messengers had come in, there was the image in the bed, with a cover of goats’ <i>hair</i> for his head.


text:
Then Saul said to Michal, “Why have you deceived me like this, and sent my enemy away, so that he has escaped?” <pb/>And Michal answered Saul, “He said to me, ‘Let me go! <f>[16†]</f>Why should I kill you?’ ”


text:
<pb/>So David fled and escaped, and went to <f>[17†]</f>Samuel at <f>[18†]</f>Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and stayed in Naioth.


text:
Then <f>[19†]</f>Saul sent messengers to take David. <f>[20†]</f>And when they saw the group of prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing <i>as</i> leader over them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also <f>[21†]</f>prophesied.


text:
And when Saul was told, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. Then Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also.


text:
Then he also went to Ramah, and came to the great well that <i>is</i> at Sechu. So he asked, and said, “Where <i>are</i> Samuel and David?” <pb/>And <i>someone</i> said, “Indeed <i>they</i> <i>are</i> at Naioth in Ramah.”


text:
So he went there to Naioth in Ramah. Then <f>[22†]</f>the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on and prophesied until he came to Naioth in Ramah.


text:
<f>[23†]</f>And he also stripped off his clothes and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down <f>[24†]</f>naked all that day and all that night. Therefore they say, <f>[25†]</f>“<i>Is</i> Saul also among the prophets?”


text:
<pb/>Then David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and went and said to Jonathan, “What have I done? What <i>is</i> my iniquity, and what <i>is</i> my sin before your father, that he seeks my life?”


text:
<pb/>So Jonathan said to him, “By no means! You shall not die! Indeed, my father will do nothing either great or small without first telling me. And why should my father hide this thing from me? It <i>is</i> not <i>so!</i>”


text:
<pb/>Then David took an oath again, and said, “Your father certainly knows that I have found favor in your eyes, and he has said, ‘Do not let Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved.’ But <f>[1†]</f>truly, <i>as</i> the LORD lives and <i>as</i> your soul lives, <i>there</i> <i>is</i> but a step between me and death.”


text:
<pb/>And David said to Jonathan, “Indeed tomorrow <i>is</i> the <f>[2†]</f>New Moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king to eat. But let me go, that I may <f>[3†]</f>hide in the field until the third <i>day</i> at evening.


text:
If your father misses me at all, then say, ‘David earnestly asked <i>permission</i> of me that he might run over <f>[4†]</f>to Bethlehem, his city, for <i>there</i> <i>is</i> a yearly sacrifice there for all the family.’


text:
<f>[5†]</f>If he says thus: ‘<i>It</i> <i>is</i> well,’ your servant will be safe. But if he is very angry, be sure that <f>[6†]</f>evil is determined by him.


text:
Therefore you shall <f>[7†]</f>deal kindly with your servant, for <f>[8†]</f>you have brought your servant into a covenant of the LORD with you. Nevertheless, <f>[9†]</f>if there is iniquity in me, kill me yourself, for why should you bring me to your father?”


text:
<pb/>But Jonathan said, “Far be it from you! For if I knew certainly that evil was determined by my father to come upon you, then would I not tell you?”


text:
<pb/>Then David said to Jonathan, “Who will tell me, or what <i>if</i> your father answers you roughly?”


text:
<pb/>And Jonathan said to David, “Come, let us go out into the field.” So both of them went out into the field.


text:
Then Jonathan said to David: “The LORD God of Israel <i>is</i> <i>witness!</i> When I have sounded out my father sometime tomorrow, <i>or</i> the third <i>day,</i> and indeed <i>there</i> <i>is</i> good toward David, and I do not send to you and tell you,


text:
may <f>[10†]</f>the LORD do so and much more to Jonathan. But if it pleases my father <i>to</i> <i>do</i> you evil, then I will report it to you and send you away, that you may go in safety. And <f>[11†]</f>the LORD be with you as He has <f>[12†]</f>been with my father.


text:
but <f>[13†]</f>you shall not cut off your kindness from my house forever, no, not when the LORD has cut off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth.”


text:
So Jonathan made <i>a</i> <i>covenant</i> with the house of David, <i>saying,</i> <f>[14†]</f>“Let the LORD require <i>it</i> at the hand of David’s enemies.”


text:
<pb/>Now Jonathan again caused David to vow, because he loved him; <f>[15†]</f>for he loved him as he loved his own soul.


text:
Then Jonathan said to David, <f>[16†]</f>“Tomorrow <i>is</i> the New Moon; and you will be missed, because your seat will be empty.


text:
And <i>when</i> you have stayed three days, go down quickly and come to <f>[17†]</f>the place where you hid on the day of the deed; and remain by the stone Ezel.


text:
and there I will send a lad, <i>saying,</i> ‘Go, find the arrows.’ If I expressly say to the lad, ‘Look, the arrows <i>are</i> on this side of you; get them and come’—then, <f>[18†]</f>as the LORD lives, <i>there</i> <i>is</i> safety for you and no harm.


text:
But if I say thus to the young man, ‘Look, the arrows <i>are</i> beyond you’—go your way, for the LORD has sent you away.


text:
And as for <f>[19†]</f>the matter which you and I have spoken of, indeed the LORD <i>be</i> between you and me forever.”


text:
<pb/>Then David hid in the field. And when the New Moon had come, the king sat down to eat the feast.


text:
Now the king sat on his seat, as at other times, on a seat by the wall. And Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul’s side, but David’s place was empty.


text:
Nevertheless Saul did not say anything that day, for he thought, “Something has happened to him; he <i>is</i> unclean, surely he <i>is</i> <f>[20†]</f>unclean.”


text:
And it happened the next day, the second <i>day</i> of the month, that David’s place was empty. And Saul said to Jonathan his son, “Why has the son of Jesse not come to eat, either yesterday or today?”


text:
<pb/>So Jonathan <f>[21†]</f>answered Saul, “David earnestly asked <i>permission</i> of me <i>to</i> <i>go</i> to Bethlehem.


text:
And he said, ‘Please let me go, for our family has a sacrifice in the city, and my brother has commanded me <i>to</i> <i>be</i> <i>there.</i> And now, if I have found favor in your eyes, please let me get away and see my brothers.’ Therefore he has not come to the king’s table.”


text:
<pb/>Then Saul’s anger was aroused against Jonathan, and he said to him, “You son of a perverse, rebellious <i>woman!</i> Do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of your mother’s nakedness?


text:
For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, you shall not be established, nor your kingdom. Now therefore, send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die.”


text:
<pb/>And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said to him, <f>[22†]</f>“Why should he be killed? What has he done?”


text:
Then Saul <f>[23†]</f>cast a spear at him to kill him, <f>[24†]</f>by which Jonathan knew that it was determined by his father to kill David.


text:
<pb/>So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and ate no food the second day of the month, for he was grieved for David, because his father had treated him shamefully.


text:
<pb/>And so it was, in the morning, that Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David, and a little lad <i>was</i> with him.


text:
Then he said to his lad, “Now run, find the arrows which I shoot.” As the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.


text:
When the lad had come to the place where the arrow was which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried out after the lad and said, “<i>Is</i> not the arrow beyond you?”


text:
And Jonathan cried out after the lad, “Make haste, hurry, do not delay!” So Jonathan’s lad gathered up the arrows and came back to his master.


text:
<pb/>As soon as the lad had gone, David arose from <i>a</i> <i>place</i> toward the south, fell on his face to the ground, and bowed down three times. And they kissed one another; and they wept together, but David more so.


text:
Then Jonathan said to David, <f>[25†]</f>“Go in peace, since we have both sworn in the name of the LORD, saying, ‘May the LORD be between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants, forever.’ ” So he arose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city.


text:
<pb/>Now David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. And <f>[1†]</f>Ahimelech was <f>[2†]</f>afraid when he met David, and said to him, “Why <i>are</i> you alone, and no one is with you?”


text:
<pb/>So David said to Ahimelech the priest, “The king has ordered me on some business, and said to me, ‘Do not let anyone know anything about the business on which I send you, or what I have commanded you.’ And I have directed <i>my</i> young men to such and such a place.


text:
Now therefore, what have you on hand? Give <i>me</i> five <i>loaves</i> <i>of</i> bread in my hand, or whatever can be found.”


text:
<pb/>And the priest answered David and said, “<i>There</i> <i>is</i> no common bread on hand; but there is <f>[3†]</f>holy bread, <f>[4†]</f>if the young men have at least kept themselves from women.”


text:
<pb/>Then David answered the priest, and said to him, “Truly, women <i>have</i> <i>been</i> kept from us about three days since I came out. And the <f>[5†]</f>vessels of the young men are holy, and <i>the</i> <i>bread</i> <i>is</i> in effect common, even though it was consecrated <f>[6†]</f>in the vessel this day.”


text:
<pb/>So the priest <f>[7†]</f>gave him holy <i>bread;</i> for there was no bread there but the showbread <f>[8†]</f>which had been taken from before the LORD, in order to put hot bread <i>in</i> <i>its</i> <i>place</i> on the day when it was taken away.


text:
<pb/>Now a certain man of the servants of Saul <i>was</i> there that day, detained before the LORD. And his name <i>was</i> <f>[9†]</f>Doeg, an Edomite, the chief of the herdsmen who <i>belonged</i> to Saul.


text:
<pb/>And David said to Ahimelech, “Is there not here on hand a spear or a sword? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king’s business required haste.”


text:
<pb/>So the priest said, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in <f>[10†]</f>the Valley of Elah, <f>[11†]</f>there it is, wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you will take that, take <i>it.</i> For <i>there</i> <i>is</i> no other except that one here.” <pb/>And David said, “<i>There</i> <i>is</i> none like it; give it to me.”


text:
And <f>[12†]</f>the servants of Achish said to him, “<i>Is</i> this not David the king of the land? Did they not sing of him to one another in dances, saying: <pb/><t> <f>[13†]</f>‘Saul has slain his thousands, </t><t>And David his ten thousands’?”</t>


text:
<pb/>Now David <f>[14†]</f>took these words to heart, and was very much afraid of Achish the king of Gath.


text:
So <f>[15†]</f>he changed his behavior before them, pretended madness in their hands, scratched on the doors of the gate, and let his saliva fall down on his beard.


text:
Have I need of madmen, that you have brought this <i>fellow</i> to play the madman in my presence? Shall this <i>fellow</i> come into my house?”


text:
<pb/>David therefore departed from there and <f>[1†]</f>escaped <f>[2†]</f>to the cave of Adullam. So when his brothers and all his father’s house heard <i>it,</i> they went down there to him.


text:
<f>[3†]</f>And everyone <i>who</i> <i>was</i> in distress, everyone who <i>was</i> in debt, and everyone <i>who</i> <i>was</i> discontented gathered to him. So he became captain over them. And there were about <f>[4†]</f>four hundred men with him.


text:
<pb/>Then David went from there to Mizpah of <f>[5†]</f>Moab; and he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and mother come here with you, till I know what God will do for me.”


text:
So he brought them before the king of Moab, and they dwelt with him all the time that David was in the stronghold.


text:
<pb/>Now the prophet <f>[6†]</f>Gad said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold; depart, and go to the land of Judah.” So David departed and went into the forest of Hereth.


text:
<pb/>When Saul heard that David and the men who <i>were</i> with him had been discovered—now Saul was staying in <f>[7†]</f>Gibeah under a tamarisk tree in Ramah, with his spear in his hand, and all his servants standing about him—


text:
then Saul said to his servants who stood about him, “Hear now, you Benjamites! Will the son of Jesse <f>[8†]</f>give every one of you fields and vineyards, <i>and</i> make you all captains of thousands and captains of hundreds?


text:
All of you have conspired against me, and <i>there</i> <i>is</i> no one who reveals to me that <f>[9†]</f>my son has made a covenant with the son of Jesse; and <i>there</i> <i>is</i> not one of you who is sorry for me or reveals to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as <i>it</i> <i>is</i> this day.”


text:
<pb/>Then answered <f>[10†]</f>Doeg the Edomite, who was set over the servants of Saul, and said, “I saw the son of Jesse going to Nob, to <f>[11†]</f>Ahimelech the son of <f>[12†]</f>Ahitub.


text:
<f>[13†]</f>And he inquired of the LORD for him, <f>[14†]</f>gave him provisions, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”


text:
<pb/>So the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father’s house, the priests who <i>were</i> in Nob. And they all came to the king.


text:
<pb/>Then Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, in that you have given him bread and a sword, and have inquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as it is this day?”


text:
<pb/>So Ahimelech answered the king and said, “And who among all your servants <i>is</i> <i>as</i> <f>[15†]</f>faithful as David, who is the king’s son-in-law, who goes at your bidding, and is honorable in your house?


text:
Did I then begin to inquire of God for him? Far be it from me! Let not the king impute anything to his servant, <i>or</i> to any in the house of my father. For your servant knew nothing of all this, little or much.”


text:
<pb/>And the king said, “You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and all <f>[16†]</f>your father’s house!”


text:
Then the king said to the guards who stood about him, “Turn and kill the priests of the LORD, because their hand also <i>is</i> with David, and because they knew when he fled and did not tell it to me.” But the servants of the king <f>[17†]</f>would not lift their hands to strike the priests of the LORD.


text:
And the king said to Doeg, “You turn and kill the priests!” So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck the priests, and <f>[18†]</f>killed on that day eighty-five men who wore a linen ephod.


text:
<f>[19†]</f>Also Nob, the city of the priests, he struck with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and nursing infants, oxen and donkeys and sheep—with the edge of the sword.


text:
<pb/> <f>[20†]</f>Now one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, <f>[21†]</f>escaped and fled after David.


text:
So David said to Abiathar, “I knew that day, when Doeg the Edomite <i>was</i> there, that he would surely tell Saul. I have caused <i>the</i> <i>death</i> of all the persons of your father’s house.


text:
Stay with me; do not fear. <f>[22†]</f>For he who seeks my life seeks your life, but with me you <i>shall</i> <i>be</i> safe.”


text:
<pb/>Then they told David, saying, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against <f>[1†]</f>Keilah, and they are robbing the threshing floors.”


text:
<pb/>Therefore David <f>[2†]</f>inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” <pb/>And the LORD said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines, and save Keilah.”


text:
<pb/>But David’s men said to him, “Look, we are afraid here in Judah. How much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?”


text:
Then David inquired of the LORD once again. <pb/>And the LORD answered him and said, “Arise, go down to Keilah. For I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.”


text:
And David and his men went to Keilah and <f>[3†]</f>fought with the Philistines, struck them with a mighty blow, and took away their livestock. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.


text:
<pb/>Now it happened, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech <f>[4†]</f>fled to David at Keilah, <i>that</i> he went down <i>with</i> an ephod in his hand.


text:
<pb/>And Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah. So Saul said, “God has delivered him into my hand, for he has shut himself in by entering a town that has gates and bars.”


text:
Then Saul called all the people together for war, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men.


text:
<pb/>When David knew that Saul plotted evil against him, <f>[5†]</f>he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.”


text:
Then David said, “O LORD God of Israel, Your servant has certainly heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah <f>[6†]</f>to destroy the city for my sake.


text:
Will the men of Keilah deliver me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as Your servant has heard? O LORD God of Israel, I pray, tell Your servant.” <pb/>And the LORD said, “He will come down.”


text:
<pb/>Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul?” <pb/>And the LORD said, “They will deliver <i>you.</i>”


text:
<pb/>So David and his men, <f>[7†]</f>about six hundred, arose and departed from Keilah and went wherever they could go. Then it was told Saul that David had escaped from Keilah; so he halted the expedition.


text:
<pb/>And David stayed in strongholds in the wilderness, and remained in <f>[8†]</f>the mountains in the Wilderness of <f>[9†]</f>Ziph. Saul <f>[10†]</f>sought him every day, but God did not deliver him into his hand.


text:
So David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life. And David <i>was</i> in the Wilderness of Ziph in a forest.


text:
And he said to him, <f>[11†]</f>“Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. <f>[12†]</f>Even my father Saul knows that.”


text:
So the two of them <f>[13†]</f>made a covenant before the LORD. And David stayed in the woods, and Jonathan went to his own house.


text:
<pb/>Then the Ziphites <f>[14†]</f>came up to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is David not hiding with us in strongholds in the woods, in the hill of Hachilah, which <i>is</i> on the south of Jeshimon?


text:
Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of your soul to come down; and <f>[15†]</f>our part <i>shall</i> <i>be</i> to deliver him into the king’s hand.”


text:
Please go and find out for sure, and see the place where his hideout is, <i>and</i> who has seen him there. For I am told he is very crafty.


text:
See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hides; and come back to me with certainty, and I will go with you. And it shall be, if he is in the land, that I will search for him throughout all the clans of Judah.”


text:
<pb/>So they arose and went to Ziph before Saul. But David and his men <i>were</i> in the Wilderness <f>[16†]</f>of Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon.


text:
When Saul and his men went to seek <i>him,</i> they told David. Therefore he went down to the rock, and stayed in the Wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard <i>that,</i> he pursued David in the Wilderness of Maon.


text:
Then Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain. <f>[17†]</f>So David made haste to get away from Saul, for Saul and his men <f>[18†]</f>were encircling David and his men to take them.


text:
<pb/> <f>[19†]</f>But a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Hurry and come, for the Philistines have invaded the land!”


text:
Therefore Saul returned from pursuing David, and went against the Philistines; so they called that place the Rock of Escape.


text:
<pb/>Now it happened, <f>[1†]</f>when Saul had returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, “Take note! David <i>is</i> in the Wilderness of En Gedi.”


text:
Then Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel, and <f>[2†]</f>went to seek David and his men on the Rocks of the Wild Goats.


text:
So he came to the sheepfolds by the road, where there <i>was</i> a cave; and <f>[3†]</f>Saul went in to <f>[4†]</f>attend to his needs. ( <f>[5†]</f>David and his men were staying in the recesses of the cave.)


text:
<f>[6†]</f>Then the men of David said to him, “This is the day of which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do to him as it seems good to you.’ ” And David arose and secretly cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.


text:
Now it happened afterward that <f>[7†]</f>David’s heart troubled him because he had cut Saul’s robe.


text:
And he said to his men, <f>[8†]</f>“The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he <i>is</i> the anointed of the LORD.”


text:
So David <f>[9†]</f>restrained his servants with <i>these</i> words, and did not allow them to rise against Saul. And Saul got up from the cave and went on <i>his</i> way.


text:
<pb/>David also arose afterward, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed down.


text:
And David said to Saul: <f>[10†]</f>“Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Indeed David seeks your harm’?


text:
Look, this day your eyes have seen that the LORD delivered you today into my hand in the cave, and <i>someone</i> urged <i>me</i> to kill you. But <i>my</i> <i>eye</i> spared you, and I said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he <i>is</i> the LORD’s anointed.’


text:
Moreover, my father, see! Yes, see the corner of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the corner of your robe, and did not kill you, know and see that <i>there</i> <i>is</i> <f>[11†]</f>neither evil nor rebellion in my hand, and I have not sinned against you. Yet you <f>[12†]</f>hunt my life to take it.


text:
<f>[13†]</f>Let the LORD judge between you and me, and let the LORD avenge me on you. But my hand shall not be against you.


text:
As the proverb of the ancients says, <f>[14†]</f>‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.’ But my hand shall not be against you.


text:
After whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? <f>[15†]</f>A dead dog? <f>[16†]</f>A flea?


text:
<f>[17†]</f>Therefore let the LORD be judge, and judge between you and me, and <f>[18†]</f>see and <f>[19†]</f>plead my case, and deliver me out of your hand.”


text:
<pb/>So it was, when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, <f>[20†]</f>“<i>Is</i> this your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice and wept.


text:
<f>[21†]</f>Then he said to David: “You <i>are</i> <f>[22†]</f>more righteous than I; for <f>[23†]</f>you have rewarded me with good, whereas I have rewarded you with evil.


text:
And you have shown this day how you have dealt well with me; for when <f>[24†]</f>the LORD delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me.


text:
For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him get away safely? Therefore may the LORD reward you with good for what you have done to me this day.


text:
And now <f>[25†]</f>I know indeed that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand.


text:
<f>[26†]</f>Therefore swear now to me by the LORD <f>[27†]</f>that you will not cut off my descendants after me, and that you will not destroy my name from my father’s house.”


text:
<pb/>So David swore to Saul. And Saul went home, but David and his men went up to <f>[28†]</f>the stronghold.


text:
<pb/>Then <f>[1†]</f>Samuel died; and the Israelites gathered together and <f>[2†]</f>lamented for him, and buried him at his home in Ramah. And David arose and went down <f>[3†]</f>to the Wilderness of Paran.


text:
<pb/>Now <i>there</i> <i>was</i> a man <f>[4†]</f>in Maon whose business <i>was</i> in <f>[5†]</f>Carmel, and the man <i>was</i> very rich. He had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. And he was shearing his sheep in Carmel.


text:
The name of the man <i>was</i> Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail. And <i>she</i> <i>was</i> a woman of good understanding and beautiful appearance; but the man <i>was</i> harsh and evil in <i>his</i> doings. He <i>was</i> <i>of</i> <i>the</i> <i>house</i> <i>of</i> <f>[6†]</f>Caleb.


text:
David sent ten young men; and David said to the young men, “Go up to Carmel, go to Nabal, and greet him in my name.


text:
And thus you shall say to him who lives <i>in</i> <i>prosperity:</i> <f>[8†]</f>‘Peace <i>be</i> to you, peace to your house, and peace to all that you have!


text:
Now I have heard that you have shearers. Your shepherds were with us, and we did not hurt them, <f>[9†]</f>nor was there anything missing from them all the while they were in Carmel.


text:
Ask your young men, and they will tell you. Therefore let <i>my</i> young men find favor in your eyes, for we come on <f>[10†]</f>a feast day. Please give whatever comes to your hand to your servants and to your son David.’ ”


text:
<pb/>So when David’s young men came, they spoke to Nabal according to all these words in the name of David, and waited.


text:
<pb/>Then Nabal answered David’s servants, and said, <f>[11†]</f>“Who <i>is</i> David, and who <i>is</i> the son of Jesse? There are many servants nowadays who break away each one from his master.


text:
<f>[12†]</f>Shall I then take my bread and my water and my meat that I have killed for my shearers, and give <i>it</i> to men when I do not know where they <i>are</i> from?”


text:
<pb/>So David’s young men turned on their heels and went back; and they came and told him all these words.


text:
Then David said to his men, “Every man gird on his sword.” So every man girded on his sword, and David also girded on his sword. And about four hundred men went with David, and two hundred <f>[13†]</f>stayed with the supplies.


text:
<pb/>Now one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, saying, “Look, David sent messengers from the wilderness to greet our master; and he reviled them.


text:
But the men <i>were</i> very good to us, and <f>[14†]</f>we were not hurt, nor did we miss anything as long as we accompanied them, when we were in the fields.


text:
They were <f>[15†]</f>a wall to us both by night and day, all the time we were with them keeping the sheep.


text:
Now therefore, know and consider what you will do, for <f>[16†]</f>harm is determined against our master and against all his household. For he <i>is</i> <i>such</i> a <f>[17†]</f>scoundrel that <i>one</i> cannot speak to him.”


text:
<pb/>Then Abigail made haste and <f>[18†]</f>took two hundred <i>loaves</i> of bread, two skins of wine, five sheep already dressed, five seahs of roasted <i>grain,</i> one hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and loaded <i>them</i> on donkeys.


text:
And she said to her servants, <f>[19†]</f>“Go on before me; see, I am coming after you.” But she did not tell her husband Nabal.


text:
<pb/>So it was, <i>as</i> she rode on the donkey, that she went down under cover of the hill; and there were David and his men, coming down toward her, and she met them.


text:
Now David had said, “Surely in vain I have protected all that this <i>fellow</i> has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that <i>belongs</i> to him. And he has <f>[20†]</f>repaid me evil for good.


text:
<f>[21†]</f>May God do so, and more also, to the enemies of David, if I <f>[22†]</f>leave <f>[23†]</f>one male of all who <i>belong</i> to him by morning light.”


text:
<pb/>Now when Abigail saw David, she <f>[24†]</f>dismounted quickly from the donkey, fell on her face before David, and bowed down to the ground.


text:
So she fell at his feet and said: “On me, my lord, <i>on</i> me <i>let</i> this iniquity <i>be!</i> And please let your maidservant speak in your ears, and hear the words of your maidservant.


text:
Please, let not my lord regard this scoundrel Nabal. For as his name <i>is,</i> so <i>is</i> he: Nabal <i>is</i> his name, and folly <i>is</i> with him! But I, your maidservant, did not see the young men of my lord whom you sent.


text:
Now therefore, my lord, <f>[25†]</f><i>as</i> the LORD lives and <i>as</i> your soul lives, since the LORD has <f>[26†]</f>held you back from coming to bloodshed and from <f>[27†]</f>avenging yourself with your own hand, now then, <f>[28†]</f>let your enemies and those who seek harm for my lord be as Nabal.


text:
And now <f>[29†]</f>this present which your maidservant has brought to my lord, let it be given to the young men who follow my lord.


text:
Please forgive the trespass of your maidservant. For <f>[30†]</f>the LORD will certainly make for my lord an enduring house, because my lord <f>[31†]</f>fights the battles of the LORD, <f>[32†]</f>and evil is not found in you throughout your days.


text:
Yet a man has risen to pursue you and seek your life, but the life of my lord shall be <f>[33†]</f>bound in the bundle of the living with the LORD your God; and the lives of your enemies He shall <f>[34†]</f>sling out, <i>as</i> <i>from</i> the pocket of a sling.


text:
And it shall come to pass, when the LORD has done for my lord according to all the good that He has spoken concerning you, and has appointed you <f>[35†]</f>ruler over Israel,


text:
that this will be no grief to you, nor offense of heart to my lord, either that you have shed blood without cause, or that my lord has avenged himself. But when the LORD has dealt well with my lord, then remember your maidservant.”


text:
<pb/>Then David said to Abigail: <f>[36†]</f>“Blessed <i>is</i> the LORD God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me!


text:
And blessed <i>is</i> your advice and blessed <i>are</i> you, because you have <f>[37†]</f>kept me this day from coming to bloodshed and from avenging myself with my own hand.


text:
For indeed, <i>as</i> the LORD God of Israel lives, who has <f>[38†]</f>kept me back from hurting you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, surely <f>[39†]</f>by morning light no males would have been left to Nabal!”


text:
So David received from her hand what she had brought him, and said to her, <f>[40†]</f>“Go up in peace to your house. See, I have heeded your voice and <f>[41†]</f>respected your person.”


text:
<pb/>Now Abigail went to Nabal, and there he was, <f>[42†]</f>holding a feast in his house, like the feast of a king. And Nabal’s heart <i>was</i> merry within him, for he <i>was</i> very drunk; therefore she told him nothing, little or much, until morning light.


text:
So it was, in the morning, when the wine had gone from Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became <i>like</i> a stone.


text:
<pb/>So when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, <f>[44†]</f>“Blessed <i>be</i> the LORD, who has <f>[45†]</f>pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and has <f>[46†]</f>kept His servant from evil! For the LORD has <f>[47†]</f>returned the wickedness of Nabal on his own head.” <pb/>And David sent and proposed to Abigail, to take her as his wife.


text:
When the servants of David had come to Abigail at Carmel, they spoke to her saying, “David sent us to you, to ask you to become his wife.”


text:
<pb/>Then she arose, bowed her face to the earth, and said, “Here is your maidservant, a servant to <f>[48†]</f>wash the feet of the servants of my lord.”


text:
So Abigail rose in haste and rode on a donkey, attended by five of her maidens; and she followed the messengers of David, and became his wife.


text:
<pb/>But Saul had given <f>[51†]</f>Michal his daughter, David’s wife, to Palti the son of Laish, who <i>was</i> from <f>[52†]</f>Gallim.


text:
<pb/>Now the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, <f>[1†]</f>“Is David not hiding in the hill of Hachilah, opposite Jeshimon?”


text:
Then Saul arose and went down to the Wilderness of Ziph, having <f>[2†]</f>three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the Wilderness of Ziph.


text:
And Saul encamped in the hill of Hachilah, which <i>is</i> opposite Jeshimon, by the road. But David stayed in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness.


text:
<pb/>So David arose and came to the place where Saul had encamped. And David saw the place where Saul lay, and <f>[3†]</f>Abner the son of Ner, the commander of his army. Now Saul lay within the camp, with the people encamped all around him.


text:
Then David answered, and said to Ahimelech the Hittite and to Abishai <f>[4†]</f>the son of Zeruiah, brother of <f>[5†]</f>Joab, saying, “Who will <f>[6†]</f>go down with me to Saul in the camp?” <pb/>And <f>[7†]</f>Abishai said, “I will go down with you.”


text:
<pb/>So David and Abishai came to the people by night; and there Saul lay sleeping within the camp, with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. And Abner and the people lay all around him.


text:
Then Abishai said to David, <f>[8†]</f>“God has delivered your enemy into your hand this day. Now therefore, please, let me strike him at once with the spear, right to the earth; and I will not <i>have</i> <i>to</i> <i>strike</i> him a second time!”


text:
<pb/>But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him; <f>[9†]</f>for who can stretch out his hand against the LORD’s anointed, and be guiltless?”


text:
David said furthermore, “<i>As</i> the LORD lives, <f>[10†]</f>the LORD shall strike him, or <f>[11†]</f>his day shall come to die, or he shall <f>[12†]</f>go out to battle and perish.


text:
<f>[13†]</f>The LORD forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the LORD’s anointed. But please, take now the spear and the jug of water that <i>are</i> by his head, and let us go.”


text:
So David took the spear and the jug of water <i>by</i> Saul’s head, and they got away; and no man saw or knew <i>it</i> or awoke. For they <i>were</i> all asleep, because <f>[14†]</f>a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen on them.


text:
<pb/>Now David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of a hill afar off, a great distance <i>being</i> between them.


text:
And David called out to the people and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, “Do you not answer, Abner?” <pb/>Then Abner answered and said, “Who <i>are</i> you, calling out to the king?”


text:
<pb/>So David said to Abner, “<i>Are</i> you not a man? And who <i>is</i> like you in Israel? Why then have you not guarded your lord the king? For one of the people came in to destroy your lord the king.


text:
This thing that you have done <i>is</i> not good. <i>As</i> the LORD lives, you deserve to die, because you have not guarded your master, the LORD’s anointed. And now see where the king’s spear <i>is,</i> and the jug of water that <i>was</i> by his head.”


text:
<pb/>Then Saul knew David’s voice, and said, <f>[15†]</f>“<i>Is</i> that your voice, my son David?” <pb/>David said, “<i>It</i> <i>is</i> my voice, my lord, O king.”


text:
And he said, <f>[16†]</f>“Why does my lord thus pursue his servant? For what have I done, or what evil <i>is</i> in my hand?


text:
Now therefore, please, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant: If the LORD has <f>[17†]</f>stirred you up against me, let Him accept an offering. But if <i>it</i> <i>is</i> the children of men, <i>may</i> they <i>be</i> cursed before the LORD, <f>[18†]</f>for they have driven me out this day from sharing in the <f>[19†]</f>inheritance of the LORD, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’


