h Exod. 14. 13. 14. 18 When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow ye the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and say, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon. 19 ¶ So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands. 20 And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon. 21 And they stood every man in his 2 Chron. 20. place round about the camp: 'and all the 175 Kings 7. host ran, and cried, and fled. blew the every man's 22 And the three hundred trumpets, and 'the LORD set sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled to Beth20. 2 Chron. shittah || in Zererath, and to the + border 20. 23. of Abel-meholah, unto Tabbath. 1 Ps. 83. 9. Isai. 9. 4m 1 Sam. 14. Or, toward. tlleb. Lip. 23 And the men of Israel gathered themselves together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after the Midianites. n 24 ¶ And Gideon sent messengers n ch. 3. 7. throughout all mount Ephraim, saying, Come down against the Midianites, and take before them the waters unto Bethbarah and Jordan. Then all the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and took the waters unto Beth-barah and Jordan. ch. 3.28 p Johu 1. 28. | Zebah and Zalmunna taken. Before CHRIST thus, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites? And cir. 1249. they did chide with him sharply. + Heb. 2 And he said unto them, What have strongly. I done now in comparison of you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abi-ezer? b 25. Phil. 2.3. 3 God hath delivered into your hands bch 24, the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison of you? Then their anger was abated llebspirit toward him, when he had said that. 4 ¶ And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them. c Prow 15, 1 17. Ps. 60. 6. 5 And he said unto the men of Suc-d Gen. 33. coth, Give, I pray you, loaves of bread unto the people that follow me; for they be faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian. 6 And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thine army? See Kings 20. 11. See 1 Sam. 25-11. 11 And Gideon went up by the way them that dwelt in tents on the east Nobah and Jogbehah, and smote the 35Kings host: for the host was secure. n 3.26. m Numb. 32. 35, 42. 18 27Thess. 5. 3 12 And when Zebah and Zalmunnach. fled, he pursued after them, and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and † discomfited all the host. 13 And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the sun was up, o Ps. 83. 11. + Heb. terrified. 14 And caught a young man of the men of Succoth, and enquired of him: and he described unto him the princes Heb. crit. of Succoth, and the elders thereof, even threescore and seventeen men. 15 And he came unto the men of Suc coth, and said, Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, with whom ye did Pupbraid me, saying, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thy men that are weary? p ver. 6. 16 And he took the elders of the city, ver. 7 Zebah and Zalmunna slain. Before CHRIST CHAP. IX. Gideon's death and burial. CHRIST cir. 1249. and thorns of the wilderness and briers, | Shechem, she also bare him a son, whose Before eir. 1249 and with them he taught the men of name he † called Abimelech. + Heb. made Succoth. to know. r ver.g 25. 17 And he beat down the tower of 1 Kings 12. "Penuel, and slew the men of the city. 18 Then said he unto Zebah and Zalmanna, What manner of men were ich they whom ye slew at Tabor? And they answered, As thou art, so were they; each one tresembled the children of a king. tch. 4. 6. Ps. 83. 11. (Or, orna ments like the moon. I 1 Sam. 8. 7.& 19 19 & 12 12. + Gen. 25. 12&37.25, ich 17.5 19 And he said, They were my brethren, even the sons of my mother: as the LORD liveth, if ye had saved them alive, I would not slay you. 20 And he said unto Jether his firstborn, Up, and slay them. But the youth drew not his sword: for he feared, because he was yet a youth. 21 Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise thou, and fall upon us: for as the man is, so is his strength. And Gideon arose, and "slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took away the ornaments that were on their camels' necks. 22 Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son's son also: for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian. 23 And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you. 24 And Gideon said unto them, I would 25 And they answered, We will wil- 32 And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age, and was buried in the sepulchre of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abi-ezrites. Heb. set. Gen. 95. 8. cir. 1209. 5. 26. h ver. 27. ch. 6. 24. 33 And it came to pass, as soon as ich. 2. 19. Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whor- k ch. 2. 17. ing after Baalim, 1 and made Baal-berith 1 ch. 9. 4, 46. their god. m remem m Ps. 78. 11, 42. & 106. 13, 34 And the children of Israel 18. Eccles. 35 Neither shewed they kindness to ch.9.16,17, 1 Abimelech by conspiracy with the Shechem- AND Abimelech the son of Jerub- ch.1309 baal went to Shechem unto his ch. 8.31. mother's brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying, 26 And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beInside ornaments, and || collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were about 4 And they gave him threescore and ten their camels' necks. pieces of silver out of the house of Baal27 And Gideon made an ephod there-berith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain fch 1.3. chof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and light persons, which followed him. 7. Próv. 12. P. 106, and all Israel went thither a whoring 5 And he went unto his father's house s Deat 7-16 after it: which thing became a snare "at Ophrah, and hslew his brethren the ch. 6. 24. unto Gideon, and to his house. sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself. JUDGES. CHRIST cried, and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you. cir. 1209. k See зKings 14.9. 1 ch. 8. 22,23. m Ps. 104. 15. +lebo and down for other trees. 8 The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, 'Reign thou over us. 9 But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? 10 And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us. 11 But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees? 12 Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us. 13 And the vine said unto them, nP 104.15. Should I leave my wine, "which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? Or, thistle. 14 Then said all the trees unto the || bramble, Come thou, and reign over us. 15 And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in Isai. 30. 2. my shadow: and if not, Plet fire come out of the bramble, and devour the Numb.21.28. cedars of Lebanon. Dan. 4. 12. los. 14. 7. ver. Ezek. 19. 14. q 2 Kings 14. Ps. 104. 16. Isai. 2. 13. & 37.24. Ezek. 31.3. r ch. 8. 35 + Heb. cast his life. s ver. 5, 6. t Isai. 8. 6. Phil. 3-3 u ver. 15, 56, 57. 16 Now therefore, if ye have done 17 (For my father fought for you, and 18 And ye are risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother;) 19 If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you: 20 But if not, "let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech. 21 And Jotham ran away, and fled, x 2 Sam. 20. and went to *Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother. 14. cir, 1206. y 1 Sam. 16. 14.& 189,10. See Kings 19. 15. & 22. 22. 2 Chron. 10. 15. & 18 19, &c. Isai. 19. 2, 14. z Isai. 33.1. 22 When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel, y 23 Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech: 228 The Shechemites revolt to Gaal. CHRIST 24 That the cruelty done to the three- Before score and ten sons of Jerubbaal might cir. 1206. come, and their blood be laid upon a1 Kings 2. Abimelech their brother, which slew 32. Esth.. them; and upon the men of Shechem, Matt. 23. 35, which aided him in the killing of his Heb. 36. brethren. 25. Ps. 7. 16. strengthened his hands te 25 And the men of Shechem set liers kill. in wait for him in the top of the mounalong that way by them: and it was told tains, and they robbed all that came Abimelech. 26 And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to Shechem: and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him. 27 And they went out into the fields, the grapes, and made || merry, and went and gathered their vineyards, and trode into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech. Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, were under my hand! then would I re- 30 And when Zebul the ruler of 31 And he sent messengers unto Abime- and the people that is with thee, and lie ing, as soon as the sun is up, thou shalt 34 ¶ And Abimelech rose up, and all out, and stood in the entering of the gate he said to Zebul, Behold, there come 37 And Gaal spake again and said, See Abimelech overcometh the Shechemites. CHRIST Before CHRIST Before there come people down by the middle | women, and all they of the city, and shut cir. 1206 of the land, and another company come it to them, and gat them up to the top of cir. 1206. +Heb.narel. along by the plain of || Meonenim. the tower. garders of the times. Deut. 18 14 1 Or, the re- 58 Then said Zebul unto him, Where is now thy mouth, wherewith thou saidst, ver. Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? is not this the people that thou hast despised? go out, I pray now, and fight with them. ter. 20. 59 And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech. 40 And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many were overthrown and wounded, even unto the entering of the gate. 41 And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem. 42 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech. 43 And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field, and looked, and, behold, the people were come forth out of the city; and he rose up against them, and smote them. 44 And Abimelech, and the company that was with him, rushed forward, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and the two other companies ran upon all the people that were in the fields, and slew them. 45 And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that was therein, and h Deut. 29. beat down the city, and sowed it with salt. 23. 12.25 1 Kings 2 Kings 3.25. 46 And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that, they enterich. & 33. ed into an hold of the house of the god Berith. 47 And it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together. 48 And Abimelech gat him up to Ps. 14 mount *Zalmon, he and all the people that were with him; and Abimelech took an ax in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it, and laid it on his shoulder, and said unto the people that were with him, What ye have seen +me do, make haste, and do as I have done. + Heb. 1 have done. 49 And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the hold, and set the hold on fire upon them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women. 50 Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it. 51 But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the men and 52 And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire. 8 And that year they vexed and top-t Heb. pressed the children of Israel eighteen CHRIST years, all the children of Israel that were 1 1 Sam. 12. 10. 9 Moreover the children of Ammon passed over Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim; so that Israel was sore distressed." 10 And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, saying, We have sinned against thee, both because we have forsaken our God, and also served Baalim. 11 And the LORD said unto the childk Exod. 14. ren of Israel, Did not I deliver you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines? 30. I Numb. 21. 21, 24, 25. in ch. 3. 12, 13. u ch. 3.31. a ch. 5. 19. p ch. 6. 3. 43 12 The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress Ps. 106. 42, you; and ye cried to me, and I delivered you out of their hand. r Deut. 32. s Deut. 32. 37.38 13' Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more. 14 Go and 'cry unto the gods which Kings 3.13. ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation. Jer. 2. 28. 15 And the children of Israel said unto the LORD, We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever + seemeth good inthine unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day. 11 Sam. 3. u 2 Chron. 7. 14. & 15.8. u 16 And they put away the strange Jer. 18. 7,8. gods from among them, and served the + Heb. Rods LORD: and his soul was grieved for x Ps. 106. 44, the misery of Israel. 45. Isai. 63. of strangers. 9. + Heb. was shortened. 17¶Then the children of Ammon were +gathered together, and encamped in +Heb. cried Gilead. And the children of Israel astogether. sembled themselves together, and eny ch. 11. 11, camped in 'Mizpeh. 29. Gen. 31. 49. z ch. 11. 8, 11. 18 And the people and princes of Gilead said one to another, What man is he that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? he shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead. 1 The covenant between Jephthah and the CHAP. XI. Gileadites, that he should be their head. 12 The treaty of peace between_him_and the Ammonites is in vain. 29 Jephthah's vow. 32 His conquest of the Ammonites. 34 He performeth his vow on his daughter. OW Jephthah the Gileadite was 2 Kings 5.1. was the son of tan harlot: and Gilead a mighty man of valour, and he there were gathered vain men to Jeph- 5 And it was so, that when the child- and be our captain, that we may fight + Heb after days. 27. of Gilead, Did not ye hate me, and ex- d Gen. 26. Jephthah, Therefore we turn again to f Luke 17. 4. fight against the children of Ammon, and Jephthah, "The LORD tbe witness be- h Jer. 42. 5. ders of Gilead, and the people made him 12 And Jephthah sent messengers saying, What hast thou to do with me, unto the king of the children of Ammon, that thou art come against me to fight in my land? 16 But when Israel came up from E- 17 Then 'Israel sent messengers unto woman. 230 |