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The 18th Chapter
In those days
there was no King in Israel. And in those days the tribe of Dan
sought them an inheritance to dwell in, for unto that time there
fell none inheritance unto them among the tribe of Israel. And the
children of Dan sent of their kindreds five men of activity, out of
their coasts, even out of Zaraah and Esthaol, to view the land and
search it out, and said unto them: go and search out the land. And
they came to mount Ephraim, even to the house of Micah and lodged
there. And when they were come unto the house of Micah, they knew
the voice of the young man the Levite, and turned in thither, and
said unto him: who brought thee hither? and what makest thou in this
place? And what hast thou here. And he said unto them, thus and thus
dealeth Micah with me and hath hired me to be his priest. And they
said unto him: Ask of God I pray thee, that we may know whether the
way which we go, shall be prosperous or no. And the priest said unto
them: go in peace, for the way which ye go is before the Lord.
Then the five men departed and came to Lais, and saw the
people that were therein, how they dwelt careless, and after the
manner of the Sidons: still, and without casting of perils, and that
no man made any trouble in the land or usurped any dominion, and how
they were far from the Sidons and had no business with any nation.
And they came unto their brethren, to Zaraah, and Esthaol. And their
brethren said unto them: what tidings bring you?
And they said up and let us go unto them, for we have seen the
land, that it is very good. Haste therefore and be not slothful to
depart and go and conquer the land. When ye be come, ye shall come
unto a people that casteth no perils, and unto a large country: for
God hath given into your hands a place wherein is no lack of
anything that is in the world.
And there departed thence of the kindred of the Danites, out
of Zaraah and Esthaol six hundred men appointed with instruments of
war. And they went and pitched in Kariath Jarim in Juda. Wherefore
the place is called Mahanah Dan unto this day, which is on the back
side of Kariath Jarim. And they went thence unto mount Ephraim, and
came to the house of Micah. Then answered the five men that went to
spy out the country of Lais, and said unto their brethren: know ye
not that there is in these houses and Ephod and Images, and a graven
Image and an Image of metal? Now therefore consider what ye have to
do.
And they turned thitherward and came to the house of the young
man the Levite in the house of Micah, and saluted him peaceably. And
the six hundred men girded with weapons of war which were of the
children of Dan stood in the entering of the gate. And the five men
that went to spy out the land, went in thither and took the carved
Image, and the Ephod, the carved Image, and the Image of metal. And
the priest stood in the entering of the gate with the six hundred
men that were armed unto battle, while the other went to Micahs
house, and fetched the carved Image, the Ephod, the carved Image and
the Image of metal. Then said the priest unto them: what do ye? and
they answered him, hold thy peace and put thine hand upon thy mouth,
and come with us, and be unto us a father and a priest, whether is
it better for thee to be a priest unto the house of one man, or to
be priest unto a tribe or a kindred in Israel? And the priest was
glad and took the Ephod and the Images, and the graven Image, and
went with the people. And they turned and departed, and put the
children, the cattle and their costly things before them.
When they were a good way from the house of Micah, the men
that were in the houses that were by Micahs house, made an outcry,
and followed after the children of Dan and called unto them. And
they turned their faces, and said unto Micah, what aileth thee, that
thou makest an outcry: And he said, ye have taken away my Gods which
I made and also the priest, and go your ways with them: And what
have I more, how then say ye unto me, what aileth thee? And the
children of Dan said unto him, let not thy voice be heard among us,
lest angry fellows run upon thee, and thou lose thy life, with the
lives of all thine household too. And so the children of Dan went
their ways. And when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he
turned and went back unto his house again.
And they took the things which Micah had made, and the priest
which he had, and went unto Lais, even unto a people that were at
rest and without mistrust, and smote them with the edge of the sword
and burnt the city with fire. And there was no man to help, because
it was far from Sidon, and they had no meddling with any other
nation. And the city stood in the valley that lieth by Bethrehob.
And they built the city and dwelt therein. And called it Dan, after
the name of Dan their father which was born unto Israel. Howbeit in
very deed the name of the city was Lais at the beginning.
And the children of Dan set them up the graven Image. And
Jonathan the son of Gerson, the son of Manasses and his sons were
the priests unto the tribe of the Danites, until they were carried
away out of the land captive. And they set them up the carved Image
which Micah made, all the while that the house of God was in Siloh.
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The 19th Chapter
It chanced in those days, when
there was no king in Israel, that a certain Levite dwelling on the
side of mount Ephraim, took to wife a concubine out of Bethlehem
Juda: which concubine played the whore in his house, and went away
from him, unto her fathers house to Bethlehem Juda, and there
continued four months. And her husband arose and went after her, to
speak friendly, unto her, and to bring her home again, and his lad
with him and a couple of *Asses. And she brought him unto her
fathers house, and when the father of the damsel saw him, he
rejoiced of his coming. And his father in law the damsels father
kept him that he abode with him three days and so they ate and drank
and lodged there.
The fourth day they arose early in the morning, and the man
stood up to depart. But the damsels father said unto his son in law,
comfort thine heart with a morsel of bread and then go your way. And
they sat down and did eat and drink both of them together. Then said
the damsels father unto the man, go to I pray thee and tarry all
night and let thine heart be merry. How be it the man stood up to
depart: but his father in law compelled him to turn again and to
tarry all night there. And he rose up early the fifth day to depart.
Then said the damsels father comfort thine heart: and so made him
tarry until after midday. And they did eat both of them together.
And then the man arose to depart with his concubine and his
lad. But his father in law the damsels father said unto him behold
the day goeth fast away and draweth toward even, tarry all night: at
the least way tarry this day here and let thine heart be merry. And
tomorrow get you early upon your way and get thee to thy tent.
Neverthelater the man would not tarry, but arose and departed and
came as far as Jebus, which is Jerusalem, and his two asses laden,
and his concubine, and his lad with him. And when they were fast by
Jebus, the day was sore spent and the young man said unto his
master, come I pray thee and let us turn in, into this city of the
Jebusites and lodge all night there. But his master said unto him,
we will not turn in to a strange city that are not of the children
of Israel: we will go forth to Gabaah. And he said unto his lad, go
forward, and we shall come to one place or other and shall lodge all
night in Gabaah or in Ramah. And they went forward upon their way,
and the *son went down upon them when they were fast by Gabaah which
is in Benjamin. And they turned thitherward to go and lodge all
night in Gabaah. And when they came in, they sat them down in a
street of the city, for there was no man took them in to lodge. But
behold there came an old man from his work, out of the fields at
even which was also of mount Ephraim, and but a stranger in Gabaah,
for the men of the place were of the children of Jemini. And when he
had lifted up his eyes, and saw a wayfaring man in the streets of
the city he said: whither goest thou? And whence comest thou? And
the other answered him, we come from Bethlehem Juda toward the side
of mount Ephraim: from thence am I, and went to Bethlehem Juda and
go now to the house of the Lord. But there is no man that receiveth
me to house: and yet I have straw and provender for our Asses, and
bread and wine for me and thy handmaid, and thy lad that are with
thy servant, and lack nothing.
The old man said, peace be with thee, all that thou lackest
shalt thou find with me: only abide not in the streets all night,
and he brought him into his house, and gave fodder unto his Asses.
And they washed their feet, and did eat and drink. And as they were
making their hearts merry, the men of the city which were wicked,
set the house round about, and thrust at the door, and spake to the
man of the house, the old man saying: bring forth the man that came
into thine house, that we may know him.
But the man of the house went out to them and said unto them,
Oh, nay my brethren, do not so wickedly seeing that this man is come
into mine house: do not this folly. Behold my daughter a maiden and
this mans concubine, them I will bring out unto you, and humble
them, and do with them what seemeth you good: but unto this man, do
not this folly. But the men would not hearken to him. Nevertheless
the man took his concubine and brought her out unto them, and they
had to do with her, and entreated her shamefully, all the night even
unto the morning. And when the day began to spring, they let her go.
And then came the woman in the dawning of the day and fell
down at the door of the mans house, where her Lord was, and there
she lay till day. And her Lord arose up in the morning and opened
the doors of the house and went out to go his way. And behold, his
concubine lay along before the door of the house, and her hand upon
the threshold. And he said unto her: up and let us be going. But she
answered not. Then he took her up upon an ass and stood up and gat
him unto his own home. And when he was come unto his house, he took
a dressing knife, and caught his concubine and divided her through
the bones into twelve pieces, and sent her into all quarters of
Israel. And all that saw it said: there was no such deed done or
seen since the children of Israel came out of Egypt unto this day,
consider the matter, give counsel and say your minds.
*cap A as recorded. *son as recorded
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The 20th Chapter
Then all the children of Israel
went out: and there gathered a congregation together as it had been
but one man, even from Dan to Berseba and out of the land of Galaad,
unto the land Mazphah and there stood folk out of all quarters of
all the tribes of Israel, in the congregation of the people of God,
four hundred thousand footmen that drew swords. And the children of
Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mazphah.
Then said the children of Israel, tell us how this wickedness
happened. And the Levite the womans husband that was slain, answered
and said: I came into Gabaah that is in Benjamin with my concubine
to lodge all night. And the citizens of Gabaah rose against me, and
set the house round about upon me by night, and thought to have
slain me: and caught my concubine and forced her, that she died. And
I took my concubine and cut her in pieces and sent her throughout
all the lands of the inheritance of Israel. For they have committed
abomination and folly in Israel. Behold ye are all children of
Israel. See therefore and give your advice in the case.
Then all the people arose, as it had been one man saying:
there shall not a man of us go to his tent, neither turn into his
house. And now this is it that we shall do to Gabaah and cast lots
against it. And we will take ten men of the hundred throughout all
the tribes of Israel, and an hundred of the thousand, and a thousand
out of the ten thousand, to fetch victuals for the people to make
that they may go against Gabaah Benjamin, according to all the
folly, that they have wrought in Israel. And so all the men of
Israel gathered together, unto Gabaah, knit together as it had been
but one man. And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe
of Benjamin saying: what wickedness is this that is happened among
you. Now therefore deliver us the men, those wicked wretches of
Gabaah that we may slay them, and put away evil from Israel.
Neverthelater the children of Benjamin would not hearken unto
the voice of their brethren the children of Israel: but gathered
themselves together out of the cities unto Gabaah, to come out in
battle against the children of Israel. And the children of Benjamin
were numbered at that time, out of the cities twenty six thousand
men that drew swords beside the inhabiters of Gabaah which were
numbered seven hundred chosen men. And among all these folk were
seven hundred left handed men, which every one could fling stones at
an hair breadth, and not miss. And the children of Israel beside the
children of Benjamin were numbered four hundred thousand men that
drew swords, and all men of war.
And the children of Israel arose and went up to Bethel, and
asked of God, who should begin the battle against the children of
Benjamin, and the Lord said Juda shall begin. And the children of
Israel stood up early and besieged Gabaah. And the men of Israel
went out to battle against Benjamin, and put themselves in array
against them, to fight against Gabaah. And the children of Benjamin
came out of Gabaah and destroyed in Israel that day twenty two
thousand men, and brought them to the earth.
And the folk of the children of Israel plucked up their
hearts, and went to again and made battle in the same place where
they did the first day: but they went first up and wept before the
Lord unto evening, and asked of the Lord saying: shall we go again
to battle against the children of Benjamin our brethren? And the
Lord said: go up unto them and when the children of Israel were come
to the children of Benjamin the second day, the children of Beniamin
went against them out of Gabaah, the second day, and destroyed to
the earth of the children of Israel once again eighteen thousand men
that drew swords every man of them.
Then the children of Israel and all the people went up and
came unto Bethel, and wept and sat there before the Lord, and fasted
the same day unto evening, and offered burntofferings and
peaceofferings before the Lord. And they asked the Lord: for there
was the ark of the appointment of God, in those days. And Phinehes
the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron waiting upon it at that time:
and they said shall we go out any more to battle against the
children of Benjamin our brethren, or shall we cease? And the Lord
said go: for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hands. And
Israel set layers await against Gabaah round about. And the children
of Israel went against the children of Beniamin the third time, and
put themselves in array against Gabaah, as twice before. Then came
the children of Benjamin against the people, till they were drawn a
great way from the city. And they began to smite of the people dead
( as twice before, by two high ways of which one goeth up to Bethel
and the other to Gabaah through the field ) upon a thirty men of
Israel. For the children of Benjamin thought that the other had been
beaten before them, as at the first time. But the children of Israel
said, let us flee and pluck them away from the city, unto the high
ways.
And then all the men of Israel rose up out of their standing,
and put themselves in array at Baal Thamar. And likewise the layers
in wait of Israel came forth out of their places, even out of the
meadows of Gabaah, and came before Gabaah: ten thousand chosen men
out of all Israel, and there was sore battle. But the other knew not
that evil was so nigh them. And the Lord plagued Benjamin before
Israel, so that the children of Israel destroyed in Benjamin the
same day twenty five thousand and a hundred men, that drew swords
every one of them. It seemed the children of Benjamin, that the
other had been put to the worse. For the men of Israel gave *Rome to
Benjamin, because they trusted unto the layers in wait which they
had laid against Gabaah. And the layers in wait hasted and ran upon
Gabaah, and went and smote all the city with the edge of the sword.
And the appointment of the men of Israel with the layers in wait to
run upon Benjamin with the sword, was when they should make the
smoke rise up out of the city. And the men of Israel fled in the
battle. And Benjamin began to smite dead of the children of Israel,
about a thirty persons, for they supposed that the other had been
put to the worse before them, as in the first battle. Then began to
arise out of the city, a pillar of smoke. And the Benjamites looked
back: and behold the wasting of the whole city began to ascend up to
heaven.
When the men of Israel turned again, the men of Benjamin were
abashed: for they saw that evil approached them. And they turned
before the men of Israel into the way that leadeth to the
wilderness, the other following them at the hard heels. And beside
that they of the city destroyed them in the middle of them. And they
compassed Benjamin about, and chased them to Menuah, and overran
them before Gabaah on the east side: and there were slain of
Benjamin eighteen thousand, and all men of might. And they turned
and fled to the wilderness ward and unto the rock of pomegranates.
And the other slew by the way of the rest of them, five thousand
men, and sticked unto them until they came to Gadaam, and slew two
thousand more of them. So that all that were slain that same day of
Benjamin were twenty five thousand men that drew swords, and all men
of might: only six hundred men turned and fled to the wilderness,
unto the *Rock of pomegranates and abode there four months. And then
the men of Israel turned back again unto the children of Benjamin,
and smote them with the edge of the sword in the cities both man and
beast and all that came to hand, and moreover set all the cities
they could come by on fire.
*Rome: exactly as recorded; (Yet "room" is given as it is commonly
used to give room is to allow, space, consideration.) *Rock: exactly
as recorded
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The 21st Chapter
And the men of
Israel sware in Mazphah saying: there shall none of us give his
daughter unto any of Benjamin to wife. And the people came to Bethel
and abode there till evening, before God and lifted up their voices
and wept sore and said: O' Lord God of Israel, why is this chanced
in Israel, that there should be this day one tribe lacking in
Israel? And on the morrow the people rose up be time and made there
an altar and offered burntofferings and peaceofferings.
And the children of Israel asked, who are they among all the
tribes of Israel that came not with the congregation unto the Lord?
for they had made a great oath concerning them that came not up to
the Lord to Mazphah saying that they should surely die. And the
children of Israel had pity on Benjamin their brethren, and said:
there is one tribe cut off from Israel this day: what shall we do
unto the remnant of them, for to get them wives, forasmuch as we
have sworn by the Lord that we will not give them of our daughters
to wives. Then they said, what are they of the tribes of Israel that
came not up to Mazphah to the Lord. And behold there came none of
the inhabiters of Jabes Galaad unto the congregation. And when the
people were viewed: behold there were none of the inhabiters of
Jabes Galaad there. And the congregation sent thither twelve
thousand men of the strongest of them, and commanded them saying: go
and smite the inhabiters of Jabes Galaad with the edge of the sword
both women and children. And this is that ye shall do: utterly
destroy all the males and the women that have lien by men. And they
found among the inhabiters of Jabes Galaad four hundred damsels
virgins that had known no man by lying with any male. And they
brought them unto the host to Siloh which is in the land of Canaan.
And the whole congregation sent and spake with the children of
Benjamin that were in the Rock of pomegranates, and called peaceably
unto them, and Benjamin came again at that time, and they gave them
the women which they had saved alive of the women of Jabes Galaad.
But they so sufficed them not. And the people had compassion on
Benjamin, because that God had made a gap in the tribes of Israel.
And then the elders of the congregation said: what shall we do to
the remnant of them, to get them wives seeing all the wives of
Benjamin are destroyed? And they said there must be an inheritance
for them that be escaped of Benjamin that a tribe be not destroyed
out of Israel: how be it we may not give them wives of our
daughters. For the children of Israel had made an adjuration saying:
acursed be he that giveth a wife to Benjamin.
Then they said: behold, there is a feast of the Lord yearly
in Siloh which is on the north side of Bethel, and on the east side
of the way that goeth from Bethel to Sichem and south from Libanon.
And they commanded the children of Benjamin saying: go and lie in
wait in the vineyards. And when ye see that the daughters of Siloh
come out to dance in a row, then come ye out of the vineyards, and
catch you every man a wife of the daughters of Siloh, and get you
unto the land of Benjamin. And if their fathers or brethren come to
us to complain, we will say unto them, have pity on them, because we
reserved not to each man his wife in time of war, and thereto
because that ye gave them none in due time, ye were to blame.
And the children of Benjamin did even so: and took them wives
according to the number of them of the dancers which they caught.
And then they went and returned unto their inheritance, and built
there cities and dwelt in them.
And the children of Israel departed thence at that time and
went every man to his tribe, and to his kindred, and went out from
thence every man to his inheritance. In those days there was no king
in Israel: but every man did what seemed him right.
The end of the
book of Judges
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