being exceeding angry, he went up to his father's bouse: 20 But his wife took one of his friends and bridal companions for her husband. CHAP. XV. Samson is denied his wife: He burns the corn of the Philistines, and kills many of them. AND a while after, when the days of the harvest were at hand, Samson came, meaning to visit his wife; and he brought her a kid of the flock. And when he would have gone into her chamber as usual, her father would not suffer him, saying: 2 I thought thou hadst hated her, and therefore I gave her to thy friend: but she hath a sister, who is younger and fairer than she; take her to wife instead of her. 3 And Samson answered him: From this day I shall be blameless in what I do against the Philistines: for I will do you evils. 4 And he went and caught three hundred foxes, and coupled them tail to tail, and fastened torches between the tails: 5 And setting them on fire, he let the foxes go, that they might run about hither and thither. And 16 And he said: With the jaw-bone of an ass, with the jaw of the colt of asses I have destroyed them, and have slain a thousand men. 17 And when he had ended these words singing, he threw the jaw-bone out of his hand; and called the name of that place Ramathlechi, which is interpreted the lifting up of the jawbone. 18 And being very thirsty, he cried to the Lord, and said: Thou hast given this very great deliverance and victory into the hand of thy servant: and behold, I die for thirst, and shall fall into the hands of the uncircumcised. 19 Then the Lord opened a great tooth in the jaw of the ass, and waters issued out of it. And when he had drank them he refreshed his spirit, and recovered his strength. Therefore the name of that place was called, The Spring of him that invoked from the jaw-bone, until this present day. 20 And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years. CHAP. XVI. Samson is deluded by Dalila; and falls into the they presently went into the standing corn of the He went art, and went in unto her. Philistines; which being set on fire, both the corn 2 And when the Philistines had heard this, and that was already carried together, and that which it was noised about among them, that Samson was yet standing, was all burnt; insomuch, that was come into the city, they surrounded him, the flame consumed also the vineyards and the olive-yards. 6 Then the Philistines said: Who hath done this thing? And it was answered: Samson the son-in-law of the Thamnathite, because he took away his wife, and gave her to another, hath done these things. And the Philistines went up, and burnt both the woman and her father. 7 But Samson said to them: Although you have done this, yet will I be revenged of you, and then I will be quiet. 8 And he made a great slaughter of them, so that in astonishment they laid the calf of the leg upon the thigh. And going down he dwelt in a cavern of the rock Etam. 9 Then the Philistines going up into the land of Juda, camped in the place which afterwards was called Lechi, that is, the Jaw-bone, where their army was spread. 10 And the men of the tribe of Juda said to them: Why are you come up against us? They answered: We are come to bind Samson, and to pay him for what he hath done against us. 11 Wherefore three thousand men of Juda went down to the cave of the rock Etam, and said to Samson: Knowest thou not that the Philistines rule over us? Why wouldst thou do thus? And he said to them: As they did to me, so have I done to them. 12 And they said to him, We are come to bind thee, and to deliver thee into the hands of the Philistines. And Samson said to them: Swear to me, and promise me, that you will not kill me. 13 They said: We will not kill thee: but we will deliver thee up bound. And they bound him with two new cords, and brought him from the rock Etam. setting guards at the gate of the city, and watching there all the night in silence, that in the morning they might kill him as he went out. 3 But Samson slept till midnight: and then rising he took both the doors of the gate, with the posts thereof, and the bolt, and laying them on his shoulders, carried them up to the top of the hill, which looketh towards Hebron. After this he loved a woman, who dwelt in the valley of Sorec: and she was called Dalila.† 5 And the princes of the Philistines came to her, and said: Deceive him, and learn of him, wherein his great strength lieth, and how we may be able to overcome him, to bind and afflict him; which if thou shalt do, we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver. 6 And Dalila said to Samson: Tell me, I beseech thee, wherein thy greatest strength lieth, and what it is wherewith if thou were bound thou couldst not break loose. 7 And Samson answered her: If I shall be bound with seven cords made of sinews not yet dry, but still moist, I shall be weak like other men: 8 And the princes of the Philistines brought unto her seven cords, such as he spoke of, with which she bound him, 9 Men lying privately in wait with her, and in the chamber expecting the event of the thing: and she cried out to him: The Philistines are upon thee, Samson. And he broke the bands, as a man would break a thread of tow, when it smelleth the fire: so it was not known wherein his strength lay. 10 And Dalila said to him: Behold, thou hast mocked me, and hast told me a false thing: but now at least tell me wherewith thou mayst be bound. 14 Now when he was come to the place of the Jaw-bone, and the Philistines shouting went to 11 And he answered her: If I shall be bound meet him, the Spirit of the Lord came strongly with new ropes, that were never in work, I shall upon him: and as the flax is wont to be consu- be weak, and like other men. med at the approach of fire, so the bands with which he was bound were broken and loosed. 15 And finding a jaw-bone, even the jaw-bone of an ass which lay there, catching it up, he slew therewith a thousand men. Foxes. Being judge of the people he might have many to assist him to catch with nets or otherwise a number of these animals; of which there were great numbers in that country. † Dalila. Some are of opinion that she was married to Samson; others that she was his harlot. If the latter opinion be true, we cannot wonder that, in punishment of his lust, the Lord delivered him up, by her means, into the hands of his enemies. However, if he was guilty, it is not to be doubted but that under his afflictions he heartily repented, and returned to God, and so obtained forgiveness of his sins: 12 Dalila bound him again with these, and cri-venge myself on my enemies; and for the loss ed out: The Philistines are upon thee, Samson; of my two eyes I may take one revenge. there being an ambush prepared for him in the chamber. But he broke the bands like threads of webs. 13 And Dalila said to him again: How long. dost thou deceive me, and tell me lies? Shew me wherewith thou mayst be bound. And Samson answered her: If thou plattest the seven locks of my head with a lace, and tying them round about a nail, fastenest it in the ground, I shall be weak. 14 And when Dalila had done this, she said to him: The Philistines are upon thee, Samson. And awaking out of his sleep, he drew out the nail with the hairs and the lace. 29 And laying hold on both the pillars on which the house rested, and holding the one with his right hand, and the other with his left, 30 He said: Let me diet with the Philistines. And when he had strongly shook the pillars, the house fell upon all the princes, and the rest of the multitude, that was there; and he killed many more at his death, than he had killed before in his life. 31 And his brethren and all his kindred, going down, took his body, and buried it between Saraa and Esthaol in the burying-place of his father Manue: and he judged Israel twenty years. CHAP. XVII. Levite. 15 And Dalila said to him: How dost thou say thou lovest me, when thy mind is not with me? The history of the idol of Michas, and the young Thou hast told me lies these three times, and wouldst not tell me wherein thy great strength lieth. 16 And when she pressed him much, and continually hung upon him for many days, giving him no time to rest, his soul fainted away, and was wearied even until death. HERE was at that time a man of mount 2 Who said to his mother: The eleven hundred pieces of silver, which thou hadst put aside for thyself, and concerning which thou didst swear in my hearing, behold, I have, and they are with me. And she said to him: Blessed Le my son by the Lord. 17 Then opening the truth of the thing, he said to her: The razor hath never come upon my head: for I am a Nazarite, that is to say, conse- 3 So he restored them to his mother, who said crated to God from my mother's womb: if my to him: I have consecrated and vowed this silver head be shaven, my strength shall depart from to the Lord, that my son may receive it at my me, and I shall become weak, and shall be like hand, and make a graven and a molten god: so other men. now I deliver it to thee. 18 Then seeing that he had discovered to her all his mind, she sent to the princes of the Philistines, saying: Come up this once more; for now he hath opened his heart to me. And they went up taking with them the money which they had promised. 19 But she made him sleep upon her knees, and lay his head in her bosom. And she called a barber, and shaved his seven locks; and began to drive him away, and thrust him from her: for immediately his strength departed from him. 20 And she said: The Philistines are upon thee, Samson. And awaking from sleep, he said in his mind; I will go out as I did before, and shake myself: not knowing that the Lord was departed from him. 21 Then the Philistines seized upon him, and forthwith pulled out his eyes, and led him bound in chains to Gaza; and shutting him up in prison, made him grind. 22 And now his hair began to grow again. 23 And the princes of the Philistines assembled together, to offer great sacrifices to Dagon their god, and to make merry, saying: Our god hath delivered our enemy Samson into our hands. 24 And the people also seeing this, praised their god, and said the same: Our god hath delivered our adversary into our hands, him that destroyed our country and killed very many. 25 And rejoicing in their feasts, when they had now taken their good cheer, they commanded that Samson should be called, and should play before them. And being brought out of prison, he played before them, and they made him stand between two pillars. 26 And he said to the lad that guided his steps: Suffer me to touch the pillars which support the whole house, and let me lean upon them, and rest a little. 4 And he restored them to his mother; and she took two hundred pieces of silver, and gave them to the silversmith, to make of them a graven and a molten god, which was in the house of Michas. 5 And he separated also therein a little temple for the god; and made an ephod, and theraphim, that is to say, a priestly garment, and idols; and he filled the hand of one of his sons; and he became his priest. 6 In those days there was no king in Israel; but every one did that which seemed right to himself. 7 There was also another young man of Bethlehem Juda, of the kindred thereof: and he was a Levite, and dwelt there. 8 Now he went out from the city of Bethlehem, and desired to sojourn wheresoever he should find it convenient for him. And when he was come to mount Ephraim, as he was on his journey, and had turned aside a little into the house of Michas, 9 He was asked by him whence he came? And he answered: I am a Levite of Bethlehem Juda: and I am going to dwell where I can, and where I shall find a place to my advantage. 10 And Michas said: Stay with me, and be unto me a father and a priest: and I will give thee every year ten pieces of silver, and a double suit of apparel, and thy victuals. 11 He was content, and abode with the man, and was unto him as one of his sons. 12 And Michas filled his hand, and had the young man with him for his priest, saying: * Revenge myself. This desire of revenge was out of zeal for justice against the enemies of God and his people; and not out of private rancour and malice of heart. Let me die. Literally, let my soul die. Samson did not sin on this occasion, though he was indirectly the cause of his own death. Because 27 Now the house was full of men and wo- he was moved to what he did, by a particular inmen; and all the princes of the Philistines were spiration of God, who also concurred with him there. Moreover, about three thousand persons by a miracle, in restoring his strength upon the of both sexes from the roof and the higher part spot, in consequence of his prayer. Samson by of the house, were beholding Samson's play. dying in this manner was a figure of Christ, who 28 But he called upon the Lord, saying: O by his death overcame all his enemies. Lord God, remember me; and restore to me now Filled the hand. That is, appointed and conmy former strength, O my God, that I may re-secrated him to the priestly office. 13 Now I know God will do me good, since I graven thing, the ephod, and the idols, and the have a priest of the race of the Levites. molten god. And the priest said to them: What are you doing? CHAP. XVIII. The expedition of the men of Dan against Lais: in their way they rob Michas of his priest and his gods. 19 And they said to him: Hold thy peace, and put thy finger on thy mouth, and come with us, that we may have thee for a father, and a priest. Whether is better for thee, to be a priest in the house of one man, or in a tribe and family in Is those days there was no king in Israel: and the tribe of Dan sought them an inheritance rael? to dwell in: for unto that day they had not received their lot among the other tribes. 2 So the children of Dan sent five most valiant men of their stock and family from Saraa and Esthaol, to spy out the land, and to view it diligently: and they said to them: Go, and view the land. They went on their way, and when they came to mount Ephraim, they went into the house of Michas, and rested there: 3 And knowing the voice of the young man the Levite, and lodging with him, they said to him: Who brought thee hither? what doest thou here? why wouldst thou come hither? 4 He answered them: Michas hath done such and such things for me, and hath hired me to be his priest. 5 Then they desired him to consult the Lord, that they might know whether their journey should be prosperous, and the thing should have effect. 6 He answered them: Go in peace: the Lord looketh on your way, and the journey that you go. 20 When he had heard this, he agreed to their words; and took the ephod, and the idols, and the graven god, and departed with them. 21 And when they were going forward, and had put before them the children and the cattle, and all that was valuable, 22 And were now at a distance from the house of Michas, the men that dwelt in the houses of Michas gathering together followed them, 23 And began to shout out after them. They looked back, and said to Michas: What aileth thee? Why dost thou cry? 24 And he answered: You have taken away my gods which I have made me, and the priest, and all that I have; and do you say: What aileth thee? 25 And the children of Dan said to him: See thou say no more to us, lest men enraged come upon thee, and thou perish with all thy house. 26 And so they went on the journey they had begun. But Michas seeing that they were stronger than he, returned to his house. 27 And the six hundred men took the priest, 7 So the five men going on came to Lais: and and the things we spoke of before, and came to they saw how the people dwelt therein without Lais, to a people that was quiet and secure, and any fear, according to the custom of the Sidoni-smote them with the edge of the sword: and the ans, secure and easy, having no man at all to city was burnt with fire, oppose them, being very rich, and living separat- 28 There being no man at all who brought them ed, at a distance from Sidon and from all men. 8 And they returned to their brethren in Saraa and Esthaol, who asked them what they had done? to whom they answered: any succour, because they dwelt far from Sidon, and had no society or business with any man. And the city was in the land of Rohob: and they rebuilt it, and dwelt therein, 9 Arise, and let us go up to them; for we have 29 Calling the name of the city Dan after the seen the land, which is exceeding rich and fruit-name of their father, who was the son of Israel, ful: neglect not; lose nó time: let us go and pos- which before was called Lais. sess it; there will be no difficulty. 10 We shall come to a people that is secure, into a spacious country: and the Lord will deliver the place to us, in which there is no want of any thing, that groweth on the earth. Il There went therefore of the kindred of Dan, to wit, from Saraa and Esthaol, six hundred men, furnished with arms for war. 12 And going up they lodged in Cariathiarim of Juda; which place from that time is called the camp of Dan, and is behind Cariathiarim. 13 From thence they passed into mount Ephraim. And when they were come to the house of Michas, 14 The five men, that before had been sent to view the land of Lais, said to the rest of their brethren: You know that in these houses there is an ephod, and theraphim, and a graven and a molten god: see what you are pleased to do. 15 And when they had turned a little aside, they went into the house of the young man the Levite, who was in the house of Michas: and they saluted him with words of peace. 16 And the six hundred men stood before the door, appointed with their arms. 17 But they that were gone into the house of the young man, went about to take away the graven god, and the ephod, and the theraphim, and the molten god: and the priest stood before the door, the six hundred valiant men waiting not far off. 18 So they that were gone in took away the Not received, &c. They had their portions assigned them, Josue xix. 40. But, through their own sloth, possessed as yet but a small part of it. See Judges i. 34. 30 And they set up to themselves the graven idol: and Jonathan the son of Gersam the son of Moses, he and his sons were priests in the tribe of Dan, until the day of their captivity. 31 And the idol of Michas remained with them all the time, that the house of God was in Silo. In those days there was no king in Israel. CHAP. XIX. A Levite bringing home his wife, is lodged by an old man at Gabaa in the tribe of Benjamin. His wife is there abused by wicked men; and in the morning found dead. Her husband cutteth her body in pieces; and sendeth to every tribe of Israel, requiring them to revenge the wicked fact. the side of mount Ephraim, who took a wife THERE was a certain Levite, who dwelt on of Bethlehem Juda: 2 And she left him and returned to her father's house in Bethlehem, and abode with him four months. 3 And her husband followed her, willing to be reconciled with her, and to speak kindly to her, and to bring her back with him, having with him a servant and two asses: and she received him, and brought him into her father's house. And when his father-in-law had heard this, and had seen him, he met him with joy, 4 And embraced the man. And the son-inlaw tarried in the house of his father-in-law three days, eating with him, and drinking familiarly. 5 But on the fourth day arising early in the morning, he desired to depart. But his father-inlaw kept him, and said to him: Taste first a little bread, and strengthen thy stomach; and so thou shalt depart. 6 And they sat down together, and ate and said: Do not so, my brethren, do not so wickeddrank. And the father of the young woman said ly; because this man is come into my lodging: to his son-in-law: I beseech thee to stay here to- and cease, I pray you, from this folly. day, and let us make merry together. "But he rising up began to be for departing. And nevertheless his father-in-law earnestly pressed him, and made him stay with him. 8 But when morning was come, the Levite prepared to go on his journey. And his father-in-law said to him again: I beseech thee to take a little meat, and strengthening thyself, till the day be farther advanced, afterwards thou mayst depart. And they ate together. 9 And the young man arose to set forward with his wife and servant. And his father-in-law spoke to him again: Consider that the day is declining, and draweth toward evening: tarry with me to-day also, and spend the day in mirth; and to-morrow thou shalt depart, that thou mayst go into thy house. 10 His son-in-law would not consent to his words: but forthwith went forward and came over-against Jebus, which by another name is called Jerusalem, leading with him two asses loaden, and his concubine.* 11 And now they were come near Jebus, and the day was far spent: and the servant said to his master: Come, I beseech thee, let us turn into the city of the Jebusites, and lodge there. 12 His master answered him: I will not go into the town of another nation, who are not of the children of Israel; but I will pass over to Gabaa. 13 And when I shall come thither, we will lodge there, or at least in the city of Rama. 14 So they passed by Jebus, and went on their journey: and the sun went down upon them when they were by Gabaa, which is in the tribe of Benjamin: 15 And they turned into it, to lodge there. And when they were come in, they sat in the street of the city, for no man would receive them to lodge. 16 And behold, they saw an old man, returning out of the field, and from his work in the evening: and he also was of mount Ephraim, and dwelt as a stranger in Gabaa; but the men of that country were the children of Jemini.† 17 And the old man lifting up his eyes, saw the man sitting with his bundles in the street of the city, and said to him: Whence comest thou? and whither goest thou? 18 He answered him: We came out from Bethlehem Juda, and we are going to our home, which is on the side of mount Ephraim, from whence we went to Bethlehem: and now we go to the house of God, and none will receive us under his roof: 19 We have straw and hay for provender of the asses, and bread and wine for the use of myself and of thy handmaid, and of the servant that is with me: we want nothing but lodging. 20 And the old man answered him: Peace be with thee: I will furnish all things that are necessary: only, I beseech thee, stay not in the street. 21 And he brought him into his house, and gave provender to his asses: and after they had washed their feet, he entertained them with a feast. 22 While they were making merry, and refreshing their bodies with meat and drink, after the labour of the journey, the men of that city, sons of Belial (that is, without yoke) came and beset the old man's house, and began to knock at the door, calling to the master of the house, and saying: Bring forth the man that came into thy house, that we may abuse him. 23 And the old man went out to them, and 24 I have a maiden daughter, and this man hath a concubine: I will bring them out to you, and you may humble them, and satisfy your lust: only, I beseech you, commit not this crime against nature on the man. 25 They would not be satisfied with his words; which the man seeing, brought out his concubine to them, and abandoned her to their wickedness: and when they had abused her all the night, they let her go in the morning. 26 But the woman, at the dawning of the day, came to the door of the house where her lord lodged, and there fell down. 27 And in the morning the man arose, and opened the door, that he might end the journey he had begun: and behold, his concubine lay before the door with her hands spread on the threshold. 28 He thinking she was taking her rest, said to her: Arise, and let us be going. But as she made no answer, perceiving she was dead, he took her and laid her upon his ass, and returned to his up, house. 29 And when he was come home, he took a sword, and divided the dead body of his wife with her bones into twelve parts; and sent the pieces into all the borders of Israel. 30 And when every one had seen this, they all cried out: There was never such a thing done in Israel from the day that our fathers came up out of Egypt, until this day: give sentence, and decree in common what ought to be done. CHAP. XX. The Israelites warring against Benjamin are twice defeated; but in the third battle the Benjamites are all slain, saving six hundred men. THEN all the children of Israel went out, and gathered together as one man, from Dan to Bersabee, with the land of Galaad, to the Lord in Maspha: 2 And all the chiefs of the people, and all the tribes of Israel met together in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen fit for war. 3 (Nor were the children of Benjamin ignorant that the children of Israel were come up to Maspha.) And the Levite the husband of the woman that was killed, being asked, how so great a wickedness had been committed, 4 Answered: I came into Gabaa of Benjamin with my wife; and there I lodged: 5 And behold, the men of that city in the night beset the house wherein I was, intending to kill me; and abused my wife with an incredible fury of lust, so that at last she died. 6 And I took her and cut her in pieces, and sent the parts into all the borders of your posses sion: because there never was so heinous a crime, and so great an abomination committed in Israel. 7 You are all here, O children of Israel: determine what you ought to do. 8 And all the people standing, answered as by the voice of one man: We will not return to our tents, neither shall any one of us go into his own house: 9 But this we will do in common against Gabaa: 10 We will take ten men of a hundred out of all the tribes of Israel, and a hundred out of a thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand, to bring victuals for the army; that we may fight against Gabaa of Benjamin, and render to it for its wickedness, what it deserveth. Concubine. She was his lawful wife: but 11 And all Israel were gathered together against even lawful wives are frequently in scripture the city, as one man, with one mind, and one called concubines. See above, ch. viii. ver. 31.counsel: + Jemini. That is, Benjamin. 12 And they sent messengers to all the tribe of Benjamin, to say to them: Why hath so great an abomination been found among you? 13 Deliver up the men of Gabaa, that have committed this heinous crime, that they may die, and the evil may be taken away out of Israel. But they would not hearken to the proposition of their brethren the children of Israel: 14 But out of all the cities which were of their lot, they gathered themselves together into Gabaa, to aid them, and to fight against the whole people of Israel. 15 And there were found of Benjamin five and twenty thousand men that drew the sword, besides the inhabitants of Gabaa, 16 Who were seven hundred most valiant men, fighting with the left hand as well as with the right: and slinging stones so sure that they could hit even a hair, and not miss by the stone's going on either side. 17 Of the men of Israel also, beside the children of Benjamin, were found four hundred thousand that drew swords, and were prepared to fight. 18 And they arose, and came to the house of God, that is, to Silo: and they consulted God, and said: Who shall be in our army the first to go to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And the Lord answered them: Let Juda be your leader. 4. 19 And forthwith the children of Israel rising in the morning, camped by Gabaa: 20 And going out from thence to fight against Benjamin, began to assault the city. 21 And the children of Benjamin coming out of Gabaa, slew of the children of Israel that day two and twenty thousand men. 22 Again Israel trusting in their strength and their number, set their army in array in the same place, where they had fought before: 23 Yet so that they first went up, and wept before the Lord until night: and consulted him, and said: Shall I go out any more to fight against the children of Benjamin my brethren, or no? And he answered them: Go up against them, and join battle. 31 And the children of Benjamin boldly issued out of the city; and seeing their enemies flee, pursued them a long way, so as to wound and kill some of them, as they had done the first and second day, whilst they fled by two highways, whereof one goeth up to Bethel, and the other to Gabaa: and they slew about thirty men: 32 For they thought to cut them off, as they did before. But they artfully feigning a flight, designed to draw them away from the city, and by their seeming to flee to bring them to the highways aforesaid. 33 Then all the children of Israel rising up out of the places where they were, set their army in battle array, in the place which is called Baal thamar. The ambushes also which were abou the city, began by little and little to come forth, 34 And to march from the west side of the city And other ten thousand men chosen out of all Israel attacked the inhabitants of the city. And the battle grew hot against the children of Benjamin and they understood not that present death threatened them on every side. 35 And the Lord defeated them before the children of Israel: and they slew of them in that day five and twenty thousand and one hundred, all fighting men, and that drew the sword. 36 But the children of Benjamin when they saw themselves to be too weak, began to flee. Which the children of Israel seeing, gave them place to flee, that they might come to the ambushes that were prepared, which they had set near the city. 37 And they that were in ambush arose on a sudden out of their coverts; and whilst Benjamin turned their backs to the slayers, went into the city, and smote it with the edge of the sword. 38 Now the children of Israel had given a sign to them, whom they had laid in ambushes, that after they had taken the city, they should make a fire; that by the smoke rising on high, they might shew that the city was taken. 39 And when the children of Israel saw this in the battle (for the children of Benjamin thought they fled, and pursued them vigorously, killing thirty men of their army) 24 And when the children of Israel went out the next day to fight against the children of Benjamin. 40 And perceived as it were a pillar of smoke 25 The children of Benjamin sallied forth out rise up from the city; and Benjamin looking of the gates of Gabaa: and meeting them made so back, saw that the city was taken, and that the great a slaughter of them, as to kill eighteen thou-flames ascended on high: sand men that drew the sword. 26 Wherefore all the children of Israel came to the house of God, and sat and wept before the Lord: and they fasted that day till the evening: and offered to him holocausts, and victims of peace-offerings, 27 And inquired of him concerning their state. At that time the ark of the covenant of the Lord was there, 41 They that before had made as if they fled, turning their faces stood bravely against them. Which the children of Benjamin seeing, turned their backs, 42 And began to go towards the way of the desert, the enemy pursuing them thither also. And they that fired the city came also out to meet them. 43 And so it was, that they were slain on both 28 And Phinees the son of Eleazar, the son of sides by the enemies; and there was no rest of Aaron, was over the house. So they consulted their men dying. They fell, and were beaten the Lord, and said: Shall we go out any more to down on the east side of the city Gabaa. fight against the children of Benjamin our bre- 44 And they that were slain in the same place, thren, or shall we cease? And the Lord said to were eighteen thousand men, all most valiant them: Go up, for to-morrow I will deliver them soldiers. into your hands. 29 And the children of Israel set ambushes round about the city of Gabaa: 30 And they drew up their army against Benjamin the third time, as they had done the first and second. 45 And when they that remained of Benjamin saw this, they fled into the wilderness, and made towards the rock that is called Remmon. In that flight also as they were straggling, and going different ways, they slew of them five thousand men. And as they went farther, they still pursued them, and slew also other two thousand. Trusting in their strength. The Lord suf- 46 And so it came to pass, that all that were fered them to be overthrown, and many of them slain of Benjamin in divers places, were five and to be slain, though their cause was just; partly in twenty thousand fighting men, most valiant for punishment of the idolatry which they exercised war. or tolerated in the tribe of Dan, and elsewhere; 47 And there remained of all the number of and partly because they trusted in their own Benjamin only six hundred men that were able to strength: and therefore though he bid them fight, escape, and flee to the wilderness: and they he would not give them the victory, till they abode in the rock Remmon four months. were thoroughly humbled, and had learned to trust in him alone. 48 But the children of Israel returning, put all the remains of the city to the sword, both men |