# verses

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"Cursed is the one who treats his father and mother with dishonor. '"Then all the people are to respond by saying, «Amen!'


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"Cursed is the one who moves his neighbor's boundary stone. '"Then all the people are to respond by saying, «Amen!'


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"Cursed is the one who misleads a blind person on the road. "Then all the people are to respond by saying, «Amen!'


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"Cursed is the one who perverts justice due the foreigner, the orphan, or the widow. '"Then all the people are to respond by saying, «Amen!'


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"Cursed is the one who has sexual relations with his father's wife, because he has disgraced his father. <n>{Lit. has uncovered his father's garment}</n> "Then all the people are to respond by saying, «Amen!'


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"Cursed is the one who has sexual relations with any animal. "Then all the people are to respond by saying, «Amen!'


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"Cursed is the one who has sexual relations with his sister, the daughter of his father or mother. "Then all the people are to respond by saying, «Amen!'


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"Cursed is the one who has sexual relations with his mother-in-law. "Then all the people are to respond by saying, «Amen!'


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"Cursed is one who strikes his neighbor secretly. "Then all the people are to respond by saying, «Amen!'


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"Cursed is one who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person. "Then all the people are to respond by saying, «Amen!'


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"Cursed is the one who doesn't uphold the words of this Law and observe them. "Then all the people are to respond by saying, «Amen!»" 


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<n>{Rewards for Obedience}</n> d "Indeed, if you diligently obey <n>{Or listen to}</n> the Lord your God to carry out all his commands that I'm giving you today, then the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. 


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Moreover, all these blessings will come upon you in abundance, <n>{Lit. and will overtake you}</n> if you obey the Lord your God: 


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"Blessed will your children <n>{Lit. shall the fruit of your womb}</n> be, as well as the produce of your land, the offspring of your beasts and cattle, and the offspring of your flock. 


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"The Lord will make your enemies, who rise against you and attack from one direction, to flee from you in seven directions. 


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"The Lord will send blessings for you with regard to your barns and everything you undertake. Indeed, he will bless you in the land that the Lord your God is about to give you. 


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"The Lord will assign you to be a holy people <n>{Or nation}</n> for himself, just as he promised you, as long as you keep his <n>{Lit. of the Lord your God}</n> commands and walk in his ways. 


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"Then all the people of the earth will observe that the name of the Lord is proclaimed <n>{Lit. called}</n> among you, and they will fear you. 


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"The Lord will show his abundant goodness with respect to your children, <n>{Lit. the fruit of your womb}</n> the offspring of your animals, and the produce of your farmland that he <n>{Lit. the Lord}</n> promised your ancestors he would give you. 


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"The Lord will open his rich <n>{Or good}</n> treasury, the heavens, to release rain upon your land in season and bless everything you undertake so that you'll lend to many nations but won't borrow. 


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"The Lord your God will make you the head and not the tail placing you above and not beneath if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I'm giving you today to keep and observe. 


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Do not deviate from any of his commands that I'm giving you today neither to the right nor the left to follow and serve other gods." 


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<n>{Reversal of Blessings}</n> d "But if you don't obey the Lord your God and faithfully carry out all his commands and statutes that I'm giving you today, then all these curses will come upon you and overwhelm you. 


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"Cursed will your children <n>{Lit. shall the fruit of your womb}</n> be, as well as the produce of your land, the offspring of your beasts and cattle, and the offspring of your flock. 


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<n>{Diseases and Drought}</n> d "The Lord will send the curse among you, will confuse you, and will rebuke you in everything you undertake until you are destroyed and perish quickly because of your evil deeds, since you will have forsaken him. <n>{Lit. me}</n> 


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The Lord will cause you to be ill with long-lasting diseases until you are wiped out from the land that you are entering to possess. 


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The Lord will afflict you with tuberculosis, fever, inflammation, high fever, drought, blight, and mildew. These will attack you until you are completely destroyed. 


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The Lord will change the rain on your land to powder and dust. It will come down from the sky until you are exterminated." 


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<n>{From Defeat to Exile}</n> d "The Lord will cause you to be defeated <n>{Lit. be struck down}</n> by your enemies. You'll go out against them in one direction, but you'll flee from them in seven directions. Consequently, you'll be in a state of great terror throughout all the kingdoms of the earth. 


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Your dead bodies will be food for the birds of the sky and the wild animals of the earth, with no one to chase them away. 


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"The Lord will afflict you with the boils of Egypt, with tumors, skin disease, and festering rashes, and none of them will be curable. 


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The Lord will afflict you with insanity, blindness, and mental confusion. <n>{Lit. and confusion of the heart}</n> 


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As a result, you'll wander aimlessly in broad daylight just as a blind person wanders in darkness. You won't prosper in life. <n>{Lit. in your ways}</n> Instead you'll be oppressed and plundered all day long, with no deliverer. 


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You'll be engaged to a woman, but another man will rape <n>{Lit. violate}</n> her. You'll build a house but you won't live in it. You'll plant a vineyard but you won't harvest <n>{Or enjoy}</n> it. 


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Your ox will be slaughtered in front of you, and you won't be able to eat it. Your donkey will be stolen from you while you watch and won't be returned to you. Your flock of sheep will be handed to your enemies and there will be no deliverer. 


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Your sons and daughters will be given to another people while you watch, and you won't be able to approach them at all, <n>{Lit. all the day}</n> and you'll be powerless to help. <n>{Lit. and there will be no power in your hand}</n> 


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A people whom you don't know will devour what your land and labor produces. You'll be only oppressed and discouraged continually 


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"The Lord will inflict you with incurable boils on your knees and legs, and from the sole of your foot to the top of your head. 


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"The Lord will banish you and your king whom you will appoint over you to go to a nation that neither you nor your ancestors have known, and there you'll serve other gods of wood and stone. 


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You'll become a desolation and a proverb, and you'll be mocked among the people where the Lord will drive you." 


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<n>{Complete Reversal}</n> d "You'll plant many seeds in a field, but your harvest will be small because the locust will consume it. 


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You'll plant a vineyard, but you won't drink wine or harvest any grapes, because worms will consume it. 


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You'll have olive trees throughout your territory, but you won't be able to anoint yourself with oil, because the olives will drop off the trees. 


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The foreigner in your midst will be elevated higher and higher over you, while you are brought low little by little. 


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All these curses will come upon you and will overwhelm you until you are exterminated, because you didn't obey <n>{Lit. listen to the voice}</n> the Lord your God to keep his commands and statutes, which he had commanded you. 


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These curses <n>{Heb. lacks curses}</n> will serve as a sign and wonder for you and your descendants <n>{Lit. seed}</n> as long as you live." <n>{Lit. until eternity}</n> 


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<n>{Servitude and Bondage}</n> d "Because you didn't serve the Lord your God joyfully and wholeheartedly, <n>{Lit. and with gladness of heart}</n> despite the abundance of everything you have, 


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you'll serve your enemies whom the Lord your God will send against you. You will serve in famine and in drought, <n>{Or in hunger and thirst}</n> in nakedness, and in lack of everything. They'll <n>{Lit. he}</n> set a yoke of iron upon your neck until they <n>{Lit. he}</n> have exterminated you. 


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"The Lord will raise a distant nation against you from the other side of the earth. Swooping down like a vulture, 


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it will be a nation whose language you don't understand, whose <n>{Lit. a nation}</n> stern appearance <n>{Or face}</n> neither shows regard <n>{Lit. who does not lift faces}</n> nor extends grace to anyone whether old or young. 


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Its army <n>{Heb. lacks army}</n> will consume the offspring of your animals and the produce of your soil until you are exterminated. They <n>{Lit. it}</n> will leave you without your grain, wine, oil, the increase of your cattle, and the lamb of your flock, until you are completely destroyed. 


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They'll <n>{Lit. it}</n> besiege all your cities until your high and fortified walls in which you have trusted collapse throughout the land. Indeed, they will besiege all your cities, which the Lord your God gave you. 


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<n>{Cannibalism}</n> d "You'll eat your own children <n>{Lit. eat the fruit of your womb}</n> the flesh of your sons and daughters, whom the Lord your God gave you on account of the siege and the distress with which your enemy will oppress you. 


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Even the compassionate man among you the very sensitive one will look with evil in his eyes toward his brother, his beloved wife, and his surviving sons, whom he spared. 


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He will withhold from each of them the flesh of his sons that he is eating since there will be nothing left on account of the siege and distress with which your enemy will oppress you in all your cities. 


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The most tender and sensitive lady among you, who doesn't venture to touch the soles of her feet to the ground on account of her daintiness, will look with hostility in her eyes against her beloved husband, her sons, and her daughters. 


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She will eat her afterbirth <n>{Lit. will begrudge that which comes out from between her feet}</n> and her newborn children <n>{Lit. sons whom she will bear}</n> secretly since there will be nothing left on account of the siege and distress with which your enemy will oppress you in your cities." 


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<n>{Reduction in Population}</n> d "If you aren't careful to observe all the words of this Law that have been written in this book, instructing you <n>{The Heb. lacks instructing you}</n> to fear this glorious and awesome name of the Lord your God 


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then he <n>{Lit. the Lord}</n> will inflict extraordinary plagues on you and your children, great and lasting plagues, and severe and lasting illnesses. 


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He will inflict <n>{Lit. will return}</n> on you all the diseases of Egypt that you dreaded, and they won't be curable. <n>{Lit. they will cling to you}</n> 


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Moreover, the Lord will inflict you with illnesses and plagues that were not written in this Book of the Law, until you are exterminated. 


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Because you will not have obeyed <n>{Lit. listen to the voice of}</n> the Lord your God, very few of you will be left instead of you being as numerous as the stars in the heavens. 


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Just as the Lord delighted to prosper and increase you, so now the Lord will delight to destroy, exterminate, and banish you from the land that you are about to enter to possess." 


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<n>{Scattering among the Nations}</n> d "He'll <n>{Lit. the Lord}</n> scatter you among the peoples from one end of the earth to the other, <n>{Lit. end of the earth}</n> and there you'll serve other gods made of wood and stones, which neither you nor your ancestors have known. 


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Among those nations you'll have no rest. There'll be no resting place for the soles of your feet. Instead, the Lord will give you an anxious heart, failing eyesight, and a despairing spirit. 


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In the morning you'll say, «I wish it were evening.'Yet in the evening you'll say, "I wish it were morning," on account of what you'll dread <n>{Lit. the dread of your heart that you will dread}</n> and what you'll see. <n>{Lit. the vision of your eyes that you will see}</n> 


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Finally, the Lord will bring you back to Egypt by ship, a place that I said you'll never see again. There you'll try to sell yourselves to your enemies as male and female slaves, but no one will buy you." 


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<n>{Remembering the Exodus and Conquest}</n> d <n>{This v. is 28:69 in MT}</n> These are the terms of the covenant, which the Lord commanded Moses to make with the Israelis in the land of Moab in addition to the covenant that he made with them in Horeb. 


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<n>{This v. is 29:1 in MT, and so throughout the chapter}</n> Moses called all Israel together and addressed them: "You saw everything that the Lord did before your eyes in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, to all his servants, <n>{Lit. his slaves}</n> and to his whole country. 


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Yet to this day, the Lord hasn't given you a heart that understands, eyes that perceive, and ears that discern. 


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"Though I've led you for 40 years in the desert, neither your clothes nor your shoes have worn out. 


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You didn't have bread to eat or wine or anything intoxicating to drink, so that you would learn <n>{Or know}</n> that I am the Lord your God. 


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Then you reached this place, where King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan had come out to meet and fight with us, but we defeated them. 


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We captured their land and handed it as an inheritance to the descendants of Reuben, the descendants of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh. 


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Therefore, keep the terms of this covenant, carrying them out so that you'll be wise in everything you do." 


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<n>{Entering into a Covenant Relationship}</n> d "All of you are standing today in the presence of the Lord your God the heads of your tribes, your elders, your magistrates, all the men of Israel, 


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along with your children, your wives, even the foreigner in your camp, including the woodchopper and the water drawer 


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to enter into a covenant with the Lord your God and into the oath that he <n>{Lit. the Lord your God}</n> is about to make with you today, 


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so that he will elevate you to be a people for him. And he will be God to you, just as he promised you and swore to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 


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but with whoever is here with us standing in the presence of the Lord our God today, as well as with those who aren't here with us today." 


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<n>{Incurring the Judgment of God}</n> d "Now, you know how we lived in the land of Egypt and how we traveled through the territory of <n>{The Heb. lacks the territory of}</n> other nations. 


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You have seen their detestable practices, their idols of wood, stone, silver, and gold that they had with them. 


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Be alert so there is no man, woman, family, or a tribe whose heart is turning away from the Lord your God to go and serve the gods of those nations. "Be alert so there will be no root among you that produces poisonous and bitter fruit, <n>{Lit. wormwood ; i.e. bitter things}</n> 


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because when such a person <n>{Lit. he}</n> hears the words of this oath, he will bless himself and say: «I will have a peaceful life, even though I'm determined to be stubborn.'<n>{The quotation possibly ends here.}</n> By doing this he will be sweeping away both watered and parched ground alike.'


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The Lord won't forgive such a person. <n>{Lit. him}</n> Instead, the zealous anger of the Lord will blaze against him. All the curses that were written in this book will fall on him. Then the Lord will wipe out his memory <n>{Lit. name}</n> from under heaven. 


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The Lord will set him apart from all the tribes of Israel for destruction, <n>{Lit. evil}</n> according to the curses of the covenant that were written in this Book of the Law." 


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<n>{A Reminder of Sodom and Gomorrah}</n> d "Then the generation to come your descendants after you and the foreigners who come from afar will see plagues and illnesses infecting the land that the Lord will inflict on it. 


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The whole land will be covered <n>{The Heb. lacks will be covered}</n> with salt pits and burning sulfur, with nothing planted, nothing sprouting, and producing no vegetation overthrown like Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, when the Lord had overthrown them in his raging fury. 


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All the nations will ask, «Why did the Lord do this to this land? What is the meaning of this fierce and great anger? '


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Then they will answer themselves, <n>{The Heb. lacks themselves}</n> «Because they've abandoned the covenant of their Lord , the God of their ancestors that he had made with them when he brought them out of Egypt. 


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They followed and worshipped other gods whom they had not known and whom he did not assign to them. 


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For this reason, the anger of the Lord raged against this land, to bring upon it all the curses that were written in this book. 


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The Lord uprooted them from the land in his anger, wrath, and great fury, deporting them to another land, and that's the way things are today.'


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The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but what has been revealed belongs to us and to our children forever, so that we might observe the words of this Law." 


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<n>{Restoration after the Exile}</n> d "When all these things happen to you both the blessings and the curses that I've presented to you and you take them seriously <n>{Lit. you cause them to return to your heart}</n> in all the nations where the Lord your God will deport you, 


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and when you you and your descendants, that is will have returned to him <n>{Lit. the Lord your God}</n> and obeyed all the commands that I'm giving you today with all your heart and soul, 


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then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and will show compassion to you. He will gather you from among the peoples where he <n>{Lit. the Lord your God}</n> had scattered you. 


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Even if the Lord had banished you to the ends of the heavens, the Lord your God will gather you from there 


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and he'll <n>{Lit. Lord your God}</n> bring you to the land that your ancestors inherited. You'll possess it, you'll prosper, and you'll greatly multiply more than your ancestors did. 


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Then the Lord your God will circumcise both your hearts and those <n>{Lit. and the heart}</n> of your descendants so that you can love him <n>{Lit. the Lord your God}</n> with your heart and with your soul and therefore live. 


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Then the Lord your God will inflict all these curses on your enemies and on those who hate and persecute you." 


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<n>{Prosperity in Obedience}</n> d "So now, return and obey the Lord your God and observe all his commands that I'm giving you today, 


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and the Lord your God will prosper you abundantly in all that you do, along with your children, <n>{Lit. fruit of your womb}</n> your livestock, and the produce of your fields. For the Lord your God will again be delighted with you for good, just as he was delighted with your ancestors, 


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if you obey him <n>{Lit. the Lord your God}</n> and keep his commands and statutes that are written in this Book of the Law, and if you return to him <n>{Lit. the Lord your God}</n> with all your heart and soul. 


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They aren't in the heavens, so you have to ask, «Who'll go up to the heavens for us and get it for us so we can hear it and act on it? '


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And they aren't beyond the seas either, so you have to ask, «Who'll cross the sea and get it for us so we can hear it and act on it? '


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<n>{Destruction in Disobedience}</n> d "Look, today I have set before you life and what is good, along with death and what is evil. 


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That's why I'm commanding you today to love the Lord your God by walking in his ways and by observing his commands, statutes, and ordinances, so that you may live long, increase, and so that the Lord your God may bless you in the land that you are about to enter to possess. 


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"But if you turn your heart away, and do not obey, but instead if you stray away to worship and serve other gods, 


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I'm declaring to you today that you will surely be destroyed. You won't live long <n>{Lit. your days will not be long}</n> in the land that you are crossing the Jordan River to enter and possess. 


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"I call heaven and earth to testify against you today! I've set life and death before you today: both blessings and curses. Choose life, that it may be well with you you and your children. 


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Love the Lord your God, obey his voice, and cling to him, because he is your life even your long life so that you may live in the land that the Lord promised to give Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." 


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and the Lord told me, «You won't be crossing the Jordan River.'But the Lord your God is crossing over before you. He will destroy these nations in front of you and you will dispossess them. "As for Joshua, he will cross over before you, just as the Lord promised. 


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The Lord will do to them just as he did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, and to their land when he destroyed them. 


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Be strong and courageous. Don't fear or tremble before them, because the Lord your God will be the One who keeps on walking with you he won't leave you or abandon you." 


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Then Moses called on Joshua and told him in the presence of everyone in Israel, "Be strong and courageous, because you'll bring this people to the land that the Lord your God had promised to give your ancestors. You will be the one who causes them to possess it. 


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Indeed, the L ORD is the One who will keep on walking in front of you. He'll be with you and won't leave you or abandon you, so never be afraid and never be dismayed." 


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<n>{Moses Entrusts the Law to the Levitical Priests}</n> d Then Moses wrote down this Law and gave it to the Levitical priests who carry the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord and to all of Israel's leaders. <n>{Lit. elders}</n> 


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Then he <n>{Lit. Moses}</n> gave these <n>{The Heb. lacks these}</n> orders: "At the end of seven years, the year designated for release, <n>{Or remission}</n> during the Festival of Tents, <n>{Or Tents}</n> 


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when all of Israel comes to appear in the presence of the Lord your God at the place that he'll choose, read this Law aloud to them. <n>{Lit. to all Israel}</n> 


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Gather the people the men, women, children, and the foreigners that live in your cities so they may hear and fear the Lord your God, and so they may be careful to obey the words contained in this Law. 


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Their children who don't know will hear and learn to fear the Lord your God as long as you live in the land that you are crossing the Jordan River to possess." 


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<n>{Moses and Joshua Present Themselves to the Lord}</n> d Then the Lord told Moses: "Look! Because your time to die is approaching, call Joshua, present yourselves at the Tent of Meeting, and then I will commission him." Moses and Joshua complied <n>{Lit. walked}</n> and presented <n>{Or stood}</n> themselves at the Tent of Meeting. 


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So the Lord appeared at the tent in a pillar of cloud that stood above the entrance. <n>{Lit. above the Tent of Meeting}</n> 


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Then the Lord told Moses: "Look! You are about to join your ancestors. <n>{Lit. to lie down with}</n> Afterwards, this people will rebel <n>{Heb. rise up}</n> and commit prostitution with the foreign gods of the land that they are about to enter to possess. They will abandon me and break my covenant that I made with them. <n>{Lit. him}</n> 


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When that happens, <n>{Lit. On that day}</n> my anger will burn against them, <n>{Lit. him}</n> because they will have abandoned me. I'll hide my face from them, they will be consumed, and many evils and distresses will find them. When this happens, <n>{ On that day}</n> they <n>{Lit. he}</n> will say, «These troubles have happened to us because God isn't among us.'


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I'll surely hide my face in that day on account of the evil that they <n>{Lit. he}</n> will have done for they <n>{Lit. he}</n> turned to other gods." 


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<n>{Moses Instructed to Teach a Song}</n> d "Now write this song and teach it to the Israelis. Put this song in their very mouths, so that it will be a witness for me against the Israelis, 


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because after I've brought them to the land flowing with milk and honey that I promised to their ancestors by an oath, they'll eat, grow fat, and then they'll turn to other gods and serve them, while despising me and breaking my covenant. 


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Then, when many evils and troubles will have come upon them, this song will serve as a witness against them, since their descendants won't fail to sing it. I know the plan that they are devising even before I bring them into the land that I promised them <n>{The Heb. lacks them}</n> by an oath." 


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Then the Lord charged Nun's son Joshua, "Be strong and courageous, because you'll bring the Israelis to the land that I promised to them by an oath. I'll be with you." 


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he <n>{Lit. Moses}</n> gave this <n>{The Heb. lacks this}</n> charge to the descendants of Levi who carried the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord : 


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"Take the book of this Law and set it beside the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord your God. Let it remain there with you as witness against you, 


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because indeed I know your rebellion and stubbornness. Note that even while I'm still alive, you've been rebelling against the Lord how much more so after my death! 


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Gather together the leaders <n>{Lit. elders}</n> of your tribes and your foremen so I can speak these words in their hearing and call heaven and the earth as witnesses against them, 


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because I know that after my death, you'll surely act wickedly and turn from the road that I've instructed you. As a result, evil will fall on you in days to come, because you'll act wickedly in the sight of the Lord, causing him to become angry due to your behavior." 


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<n>{The Song of Moses}</n> d Hear, heavens, and I will speak! Listen, earth, to the words of my mouth! 


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May my instructions descend like rain and may my words flow like dew, as light rain upon the grass, and as showers upon new plants. 


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Flawless is the work of the Rock, because all his ways are just. A faithful God never unjust righteous and upright is he. 


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But those who are not his children acted corruptly against him; they are a defective and perverted generation. 


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This is not the way to repay the Lord , is it, you foolish and witless people? Is he not your father, who bought you, formed you, and established you? 


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<n>{An Exhortation to Remember God's Work}</n> d Remember the days of old, reflect on the years of previous generations. Ask your father, and he'll tell you; your elders will inform you. 


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When the Most High gave nations as their inheritance, when he separated the human race, he set boundaries for the people according to the number of the children of God. <n>{So with LXX and DSS 4QDeut. MT reads Israel}</n> 


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<n>{The Lord's Work on Behalf of Israel}</n> d The Lord <n>{Lit. He}</n> found him <n>{I.e. Jacob as a personification of national Israel; and so throughout the song}</n> in a desert land, in a barren, eerie <n>{Lit. howling}</n> wilderness. He surrounded, cared for, and guarded him as the pupil of his eye. 


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Like an eagle stirs its nest, hovering near its young, spreading out his wings to take him and carry him on his pinions, 


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He mounted him on a high place above the earth, feeding him from the produce of the field. He nourished <n>{Or nursed}</n> him with honey from the rock and with oil from the flint rock, 


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with curds from cattle and with milk from sheep, with the fat of lambs, with rams from Bashan, with the fat of goats, with the finest <n>{Lit. kernel}</n> of wheat and from the juice of grapes you drank wine. 


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<n>{Israel's Rebellion}</n> d Jacob dined until satisfied; <n>{So DSS Q Sam and LXX; the Heb. lacks Jacob dined until satisfied}</n> Jeshurun <n>{I.e. a poetic term for national Israel; the Heb. name means Upright One}</n> grew fat and kicked. He <n>{Lit. You}</n> grew fat, coarse, and gross, so that he abandoned the God who made him and spurned the Rock that was his salvation. 


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They sacrificed to demons not to the real God gods whom they didn't know, new neighbors who had recently appeared, whom your ancestors never feared. 


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You <n>{I.e. the nation of Israel personified in the second person singular pronoun, and so throughout the verse}</n> neglected the Rock that fathered you; you abandoned God, who was awaiting your birth. <n>{Or who was giving birth to you}</n> 


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<n>{The Lord» s Response}</n> d The Lord saw it and became jealous, <n>{So DSS, LXX. MT reads and was repulsed}</n> provoked by his sons and daughters. 


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So he said: "Let me hide my face from them. I will observe what their end will be, because they are a perverted generation, children within whom there is no loyalty. 


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They provoked me to jealousy over non-gods, and to be angry over their vanity. Now I'll provoke them to jealousy over a non-people; and over a foolish nation I'll provoke them to anger. 


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For a fire breaks out in my anger burning to the deepest part of <n>{The Heb. lacks part of}</n> Sheol, <n>{I.e. the realm of the afterlife}</n> consuming the earth and its produce and igniting the foundations of the mountains. 


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Emaciated from famine, feverish from plague, and destroyed by bitterness, I'll send fanged beasts against them, along with poisonous snakes that glide through the dust. 


text:
Outside, the sword will cause bereavement; within, <n>{Lit. within the room}</n> there will be terror for the young man and virgin alike, also for the nursing infant and the aged man." <n>{Lit. and a man of gray hair}</n> 


text:
I said: "I will scatter them, <n>{Or will break them to pieces}</n> erasing their memory from the human race, <n>{Lit. from among men}</n> 


text:
if it weren't for dreading the taunting of their enemies otherwise, their adversary might misinterpret and say, «Our power is great. It isn't the Lord who made all of this happen.»" 


text:
How can one person <n>{The Heb. lacks person}</n> chase a thousand of them and two put a myriad <n>{Or put countless ones ; Lit. put ten thousand}</n> to flight, unless their Rock delivers them and the Lord gives them up? 


text:
For their rock isn't like our Rock, as even <n>{Lit. and}</n> our enemies admit. <n>{Or concede}</n> 


text:
Instead, <n>{Lit. Because}</n> their vine is from the vines of Sodom and the vineyards of Gomorrah. Their grapes are poisonous; their clusters bitter. 


text:
To me belong vengeance and recompense. In due time their feet will slip, because their time of calamity is near and the things prepared for them draw near. 


text:
For the Lord will vindicate his people and bring comfort to his servants, because he will observe that their power <n>{Lit. hand}</n> has waned, when neither prisoner <n>{Or slave}</n> nor free person remain. 


text:
Who ate the fat of their offerings and drank the wine that was their drink offering? Let them rise and help you and be your hiding place!'


text:
"Look now! I AM, <n>{So LXX; MT reads I, I myself, am he}</n> and there is no other god besides me. I myself cause death and I sustain life; I wound severely and I also heal; from my power <n>{Lit. hand}</n> no one can deliver. 


text:
"I solemnly swear <n>{Lit. raise my hand}</n> to heaven I say «As certainly as I'm alive and living forever, 


text:
I'll whet my shining sword, with my hands in firm grasp of judgment. I'll show vengeance on my adversary and repay those who keep on hating me. 


text:
I'll make my arrows drunk with blood. My sword will devour flesh, along with the blood of the slain, and I'll take their enemy leaders captive.'


text:
"Sing for joy, nations! Sing for joy, <n>{The Heb. lacks Sing for joy}</n> people who belong to him! For he'll avenge the blood of his servants, turn on his adversary, and cleanse both his land and his people." 


text:
<n>{Moses'Final Counsel}</n> d So Moses and Nun's son Joshua came and recited all the words of this song while the people were assembled. 


text:
he told them, "Take to heart my entire testimony against you today. Command your children to observe carefully every word of this Law, 


text:
because they're not just empty words for you they are your very life. Through these instructions you will live long in the land that you are about to cross over the Jordan River to possess." 


text:
"Ascend this Abarim mountain range <n>{The Heb. lacks range}</n> toward Mount Nebo in the land of Moab across from Jericho, and look out over the land of Canaan that I'm about to give to the Israelis as a possession. 


text:
You will die on the mountain that you are about to ascend and be taken to be with your ancestors, just as your brother Aaron died on Mount Hor and was taken to be with his ancestors. 


text:
Both of you acted unfaithfully against me among the Israelis at Meribah-kadesh in the desert of Sin, when you failed to uphold my holiness among the Israelis. 


text:
You'll see the land from a distance, but you won't be able to enter the land that I am about to give to the Israelis." 


text:
<n>{Moses Reviews the Tribes of Israel}</n> d This is the blessing with which Moses, the man of God, blessed the Israelis before his death. 


text:
He said: "The Lord came from Sinai. Rising from Seir upon us, <n>{So LXX. MT reads them}</n> he shone forth from Mount Paran, accompanied <n>{Lit. came or brought}</n> by a myriad <n>{Or by countless ; Lit. by ten thousands}</n> of his holy ones, with flaming fire from his right hand for them. 


text:
Indeed, lover of people, all of his holy ones are in your control. <n>{Lit. hand}</n> They gather at your feet to do as you have instructed. <n>{Lit. to do your word}</n> 


text:
The Lord <n>{The Heb. lacks The Lord}</n> was king of Jeshurun <n>{I.e. a poetic term for national Israel; the Heb. name means Upright One}</n> when the leaders of the people all the tribes of Israel gathered together." 


text:
<n>{Judah}</n> d He declared this about Judah: "Hear, Lord , the voice of Judah and return him to his people. With his own strength he fights for himself, and you will be of assistance <n>{So LXX. MT reads be his helper}</n> against <n>{Lit. from}</n> his enemies." 


text:
<n>{Levi}</n> d About Levi he said: "Let your Thummim and Urim <n>{I.e. the jewel-encrusted breastplate worn by the high priest by which the will of God could be revealed; cf. Ezra 2:63, Neh 7:65}</n> be with the man to whom you showed gracious love, whom you tested at Massah and with whom you struggled at the waters of Meribah, 


text:
the one who told his mother and father, «I don't know <n>{Lit. see}</n> them,'and who would neither acknowledge his brothers nor know his own children. For they kept your word and guarded your covenant. 


text:
They will teach your ordinances to Jacob, and your Law to Israel. They will offer incense as a pleasant aroma to you <n>{Lit. for your nose}</n> and a whole burnt offering upon your altar. 


text:
Lord , bless his substance and approve the work that he undertakes. <n>{Lit. work of his hands}</n> Shatter the legs <n>{Or loins}</n> of those who oppose against him; may those who hate him stand no more." 


text:
<n>{Benjamin}</n> d About Benjamin he said: "The beloved of the Lord will live confidently, the Most High protecting <n>{Or shading}</n> him all day long, and resting in his bosom. <n>{Lit. between his shoulders}</n> " 


text:
<n>{Joseph}</n> d About Joseph he said: "May the blessing of the Lord be on his land: dew from the choicest of the heavens, and from the depths beneath; 


text:
the choicest portion <n>{The Heb. lacks portion}</n> of the eternal mountains, and the best of the everlasting hills; 


text:
from the choicest of the earth and its fullness, and the favor of the One who lived in the burning <n>{The Heb. lacks burning}</n> bush. May blessing <n>{Lit. it}</n> rest on Joseph's head, and on the crown of the head of the one set apart from his brothers. 


text:
May the firstborn of his bull be honorable to him, and may his horns be those of a wild ox. With them may he push people all together, to the ends of the earth. These are the myriads <n>{Or the countless ones ; Lit. the ten thousands}</n> of Ephraim and the thousands of Manasseh." 


text:
<n>{Zebulun and Issachar}</n> d About Zebulun he said: "Zebulun, rejoice as you go out and Issachar, in being inside your tents. 


text:
They will call the peoples to the mountain, and there they will offer righteous sacrifices, for they'll draw from the abundance of the sea and from the hidden treasures of the sand." 


text:
<n>{Gad}</n> d About Gad he said: "Blessed be the One who enlarges Gad! Like a roaring lion, he crouches, tearing arm and scalp. 


text:
He chose the best part for himself, when the leader's portion was assigned. He came at the head of the people, carrying out the Lord's justice and his ordinances concerning Israel." 


text:
<n>{Naphtali}</n> d About Naphtali he said: "Naphtali, full of favor and the Lord's blessing, take possession of the west <n>{Or sea}</n> and south." 


text:
<n>{Asher}</n> d About Asher he said: "May Asher be blessed, along with his descendants, may his brothers be pleased with him, may he dip his feet in oil, 


text:
may your bolts be made of iron and bronze, and may your strength be sufficient for each day you live." 


text:
<n>{Israel's Defender}</n> d "There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, <n>{I.e. a poetic term for national Israel; the Heb. name means Upright One}</n> who rides through the heavens with its lofty clouds to help you. 


text:
The God of old is a dwelling place, with everlasting arms underneath. He drove out your enemies before you and said: «Destroy them!'


text:
So Israel lives in confidence, isolated as the fountain of Jacob in a land of grain and new wine, where the heavens rain down dew. 


text:
How blessed are you, Israel! Who can be like you, a people delivered by the Lord , your shield of help and your finely crafted sword. May your enemies cower before you. You will tread down their high places. 


text:
<n>{Moses Ascends Pisgah}</n> d Moses ascended from the desert plain of Moab toward Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There <n>{The Heb. lacks There}</n> the Lord showed him the entire land, from Gilgal as far as Dan, 


text:
all of Naphtali, the territories <n>{Lit. land}</n> of Ephraim and Manasseh, and the entire territory <n>{Lit. land}</n> of Judah all the way to out over the sea, <n>{I.e. the Mediterranean Sea}</n> 


text:
including the Negev, <n>{I.e. the southern regions of the Sinai peninsula; cf. Josh 10:40}</n> the Arabah, the valley of Jericho, and the city of the palm trees as far as Zoar. 


text:
Then the Lord told him: "This is the land that I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob by an oath when I said, «I'll give it to your descendants.'I'll let you see it with your eyes, but you won't cross over there." 


text:
<n>{Moses Dies}</n> d So Moses, the servant of the Lord, died there in the land of Moab, just as the Lord had said. <n>{Lit. Moab, according to the word of the Lord}</n> 


text:
He was buried in the valley opposite Beth Peor, in the land of Moab, but no one knows to this day where his burial place is. 


text:
Moses was 120 years old when he died. His eyesight wasn't impaired and he was still vigorous and strong. 


text:
The Israelis mourned for Moses at the desert plain of Moab for 30 days, after which the period of mourning for Moses was completed. 


text:
<n>{The Epitaph for Moses}</n> d Now Nun's son Joshua was full of the spirit of wisdom, because Moses had placed his hands on him, so Israelis listened to him and did what the Lord had commanded Moses. 


text:
No prophet ever rose again in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew with such great intimacy. <n>{Lit. knew face to face}</n> 


text:
What signs and wonders the Lord sent him to do throughout the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh, and to all of his servants who lived in the whole land! 


text:
What great power <n>{Lit. What a mighty hand}</n> and great terror Moses displayed on behalf of all Israel! 


text:
<n>{ The Book of}</n> <n>{ Joshua}</n> d <n>{God's Instructions to Joshua}</n> d After Moses, the servant of the Lord , had died, the Lord spoke to Nun's son Joshua, announcing to him, 


text:
"My servant Moses is dead. Now get ready to cross the Jordan River <n>{The Heb. lacks River , and so throughout the book}</n> you and all the people to the land that I'm giving the Israelis. 


text:
Your territorial border will extend from the wilderness to the Lebanon Mountains, <n>{The Heb. lacks Mountains}</n> from the great River Euphrates all the land of the Hittites as far as the Mediterranean <n>{Lit. Great and so throughout the book}</n> Sea where the sun sets. 


text:
No one will be victorious <n>{Lit. will stand up}</n> against you for the rest of your life. I'll be with you just like I was with Moses I'll neither fail you nor abandon you. 


text:
"Be strong and courageous, because you'll be leading this people to inherit the land that I promised to give their ancestors. 


text:
Only be strong and very courageous to ensure that you obey all the instructions <n>{Or Law}</n> that my servant Moses gave you turn neither to the right nor to the left from it so that you may succeed wherever you go. 


text:
This set of instructions <n>{Or This Book of the Law}</n> is not to cease being a part of your conversations. <n>{Lit. cease from your lips}</n> Meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to carry out everything that's written in it, for then you'll prosper and succeed. 


text:
"I've commanded you, haven't I? Be strong and courageous. Don't be fearful or discouraged, because the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." 


text:
<n>{Joshua Gives Orders to His Leaders}</n> d Then Joshua gave orders to the officials of the people. 


text:
"Go through the camp," he said, "and command the people, «Prepare provisions for yourselves, because within three days you'll be crossing the Jordan River to take possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving you so go get it!»" 


text:
"Remember what <n>{Lit. Remember the word}</n> Moses commanded you when he said, «The Lord your God will provide you rest, as well as this land.'


text:
Your wives, your young children, and your livestock will remain in the land that Moses gave you on this side of the Jordan River, but you and all your warriors will cross, ready for battle, in full view of your relatives, and you will help them 


text:
until the Lord gives relief to your relatives, as he did to you. Then they'll take the land that the Lord your God is giving them as their inheritance. You'll return to the land of your heritage and receive the inheritance that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you on the east side of the Jordan River, in the direction of the sunrise." 


text:
<n>{The People Reaffirm Their Commitment}</n> d "We'll do everything that you commanded," they replied. "We'll go wherever you send us. 


text:
We'll listen and obey you in everything, just like we did with Moses. Only may the Lord your God be with you, just as he was with Moses. 


text:
Anyone who rebels against what you say and doesn't listen to your words regarding everything that you command will be executed. Only be strong and courageous." 


text:
<n>{Rahab Receives Two Scouts}</n> d After this, Nun's son Joshua sent two men from the Acacia groves <n>{Or from Shittim ; and so throughout the book}</n> as undercover scouts. He told them, "Go and look over the land. Pay special attention to Jericho." So they went out, came to the house of a prostitute named Rahab, and lodged there. 


text:
So the king of Jericho sent for Rahab and ordered her, "Bring out the men who came to visit you and lodged in your house, because they've come to scout out the entire land." 


text:
Now the woman had taken the two men and hid them. So she replied, "The men really did come to me, but I didn't know from where they came. 


text:
At dusk, when it was time to close the city gates, the men left. I don't know where the men went. Go after them quickly, and <n>{Lit. for}</n> you might overtake them." 


text:
But she had taken them up to the roof and had hidden them among stalks of flax that she had laid out in order on the roof. 


text:
So the men pursued them along the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan River. As soon as the search party had left, they shut the city gate after them. 


text:
<n>{Rahab Seeks Protection}</n> d Before the scouts <n>{Lit. Before they}</n> had lain down, she went up to them on the roof 


text:
"I'm really convinced that the Lord has given you the land," she said, <n>{Lit. told the men}</n> "because we're overwhelmed with fear of you. All the other inhabitants of the land are demoralized at your presence, 


text:
because we heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Reed <n>{So MT; LXX reads Red}</n> Sea right in front of you as you were coming out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other <n>{Lit. east}</n> side of the Jordan River to Sihon and Og whom you completely destroyed. 


text:
When we heard these reports, <n>{The Heb. lacks these reports}</n> we all became terrified and discouraged <n>{Lit. and no courage remained in any man}</n> because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath. 


text:
Now therefore, since I've treated you so kindly, <n>{Lit. you with gracious love}</n> please swear in the name of <n>{Lit. swear to}</n> the Lord that you'll also be kind <n>{Lit. also show grace}</n> to my father's household by giving me this <n>{Lit. a}</n> sure sign: 


text:
Spare my father, my mother, and my brothers and sisters, along with everyone who belongs with them so we won't be killed." 


text:
<n>{A Promise of Protection}</n> d So the men told her, "Our life for yours even to death if you don't betray this mission of ours. Then when the Lord gives us this land, we'll treat you graciously and faithfully." 


text:
So she let them down by a rope through the window, since her house was built into the town wall where she lived. 


text:
She told them, "Go out to the hill country, so the search party won't find you, and hide for three days. After that, you may go on your own way." 


text:
when we invade the land, if you don't tie this rope made with red cords in the window through which you let us down, and if you don't gather your father, your mother, your brothers, and all of the rest of your father's household into your house. 


text:
Everyone who leaves through the doors of your house into the street will be responsible for his own death, but we'll be responsible for anyone who remains with you in the house if even so much as a hand is laid on him. 


text:
"Since you put it that way," <n>{Lit. "According to your word,"}</n> she replied, "I agree." <n>{Lit. replied, "may it be."}</n> After she sent them on their way and they had left, she tied the red cord in the window. 


text:
<n>{The Scouts Report to Joshua}</n> d The scouts <n>{Lit. They}</n> left for the hill country and remained there for three days until the search party returned. The search party searched the entire road, but was unable to find them. 


text:
Later, the two men returned from the hill country, crossed over the Jordan River, <n>{The Heb. lacks the Jordan River}</n> approached Nun's son Joshua, and told him everything that had happened to them. 


text:
They reported to Joshua, "The Lord really has given the entire land into our control. The inhabitants of the land have melted away right in front of us!" 


text:
<n>{Joshua Prepares to Conquer Jericho}</n> d Joshua got up early the next morning. Accompanied by all the Israelis, he set out from the Acacia groves and arrived at the Jordan River, where they encamped before crossing it. 


text:
giving orders to the people. They said, "When you see the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then get up, leave where you are, and follow it. 


text:
Be sure to keep a distance of about 1,000 yards <n>{Lit. 2,000 cubits}</n> between you and it. Don't come near it, so you can be certain where you're going, since you haven't passed this way before." 


text:
Then Joshua addressed the people: "Consecrate yourselves, because tomorrow the Lord will do marvelous things among you." 


text:
After this, Joshua <n>{Lit. He}</n> instructed the priests, "Take up the Ark of the Covenant and cross over ahead of the people." So they took up the Ark of the Covenant and went on ahead of the people. 


text:
<n>{The Lord Addresses Joshua}</n> d At this point, the Lord told Joshua, "Today I'm going to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, so they'll be sure that I'm going to be with you just as I was with Moses. 


text:
Give this command to the priests who are carrying the Ark of the Covenant: «When you arrive at the water of the Jordan River, stand still in the Jordan.»" 


text:
<n>{Joshua Addresses Israel}</n> d So Joshua told the Israelis, "Come here and listen to what the Lord your God has to say." 


text:
Joshua continued, "This is how you'll know that the living God really is among you: he's going to remove the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Perizzites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, and the Jebusites right in front of you. 


text:
Look! The Ark of the Covenant of the Lord of all the earth is crossing ahead of you into the Jordan River. 


text:
When the soles of the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the Lord , the Lord of all the earth, touch the water in the Jordan River, the water that feeds the Jordan will be cut off from above and they'll stand still in a single location." 


text:
<n>{The Jordan River Stops Flowing}</n> d So the people set out from their tents to cross the Jordan River, with the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant in full view of the people. 


text:
When the priests who carried the ark entered the Jordan River, as their feet touched the water's edge (The Jordan River overflows all of its banks daily during the harvest season.), 


text:
the water flowing downstream from above stood still in a single location, a great distance away at Adam, a city near Zarethan. The water that flowed south toward the sea in the Arabah (that is, the Dead <n>{Lit. Salt ; and so throughout the book}</n> Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed opposite Jericho. 


text:
The priests who were carrying the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan River, while all Israel crossed on dry ground until the entire nation had finished crossing the Jordan River. 


text:
<n>{The Jordan River Memorial}</n> d As soon as the entire nation had completed its crossing of the Jordan, the Lord spoke to Joshua. He said, 


text:
and tell them, «Pick up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan where the priests'feet were standing, bring them along with you, and put them down where you camp tonight.»" 


text:
So Joshua called the twelve men whom he had chosen from the people of Israel, one man from each tribe. 


text:
Joshua told them, "Cross over again in front of the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan River. Then each of you pick up a stone on his shoulder with which to build a memorial, <n>{The Heb. lacks with which to build a memorial}</n> one for each of the tribes of Israel. 


text:
Let this serve as <n>{Lit. this be}</n> a sign among you, so that when your children ask in times to come, «What do these stones mean to you,'


text:
then you'll say to them, «Because the waters of the Jordan River were cut off in front of the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord . When it crossed the Jordan River, the waters of the Jordan were cut off.'So these stones will become a memorial to the Israelis forever." 


text:
The Israelis did just as Joshua commanded. They took up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan River just as the Lord had spoken to Joshua according to the number of the tribes of the Israelis, and they carried them over to where they would be pitching camp, and they put them down there. 


text:
Then Joshua set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan River at the location where the feet of the priests who carried the Ark of the Covenant had been standing, and they remain there to this day. 


text:
<n>{Crossing the Jordan River}</n> d The priests who were carrying the ark stood in the middle of the Jordan River until everything had been done in accordance with what the Lord had commanded Joshua to speak to the people and with everything that Moses had commanded Joshua. So the people hurried and crossed over. 


text:
When all of the people had completed their crossing, the ark of the Lord and the priests crossed over in full view of the people. 


text:
Just as Moses had directed, the descendants of Reuben, the descendants of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed over, dressed in battle regalia, in full view of the other <n>{The Heb. lacks other}</n> Israelis. 


text:
About 40,000 soldiers equipped to do battle in the Lord's presence crossed over to the desert plains of Jericho. 


text:
That day, the Lord exalted Joshua in the presence of all Israel so that they revered him just as they had revered Moses throughout his life. 


text:
As soon as the priests who were carrying the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord had come up from the middle of the Jordan River, and the soles of the priests'feet came up to dry ground, the water of the Jordan River returned to normal, <n>{Lit. to its place}</n> covering its banks as it had done so before. 


text:
<n>{Why Joshua Set up the Memorial}</n> d The people came up from the Jordan River on the tenth day <n>{The Heb. lacks day}</n> of the first month and camped at Gilgal on the eastern outskirts of Jericho. 


text:
Then he told the Israelis, "When your descendants ask their parents in years to come, «What is the meaning of these stones? '


text:
because the Lord your God dried up the water of the Jordan River right in front of you, until you had crossed over, just as the Lord your God had done to the Reed <n>{So MT; LXX reads Red}</n> Sea which he had dried up in front of us until we had crossed it also.'


text:
Do this <n>{The Heb. lacks Do this}</n> so that all of the people of the earth may know how strong the power <n>{Lit. hand}</n> of the Lord is, and so that you may fear the Lord your God every day." 


text:
<n>{Israel's Enemies Become Discouraged}</n> d All the Amorite kings who lived across the Jordan River to the west and all the Canaanite kings by the Mediterranean <n>{The Heb. lacks Mediterranean}</n> Sea became discouraged as soon as they heard that the Lord had dried up the water of the Jordan River for the people of Israel until they had crossed it. They no longer had a will to fight <n>{Lit. a spirit in them}</n> because of the people of Israel. 


text:
<n>{A New Generation is Circumcised}</n> d At that time the Lord told Joshua, "Make for yourselves some flint knives and circumcise the Israelis who haven't been circumcised yet." <n>{Lit. Israelis a second time}</n> 


text:
So Joshua made some flint knives and circumcised the Israelis at Gibeath-haaraloth. <n>{Lit. at Foreskin Hill}</n> 


text:
Joshua circumcised them because all of the males among the people who came out of Egypt that is, all the warriors had died during their journey through the wilderness following their departure from Egypt. 


text:
Although everyone who had left Egypt had been circumcised, nevertheless all the people born during the journey after their departure from Egypt had not been circumcised. 


text:
The Israelis traveled 40 years in the wilderness until the entire nation that is, the warriors who had departed from Egypt had perished because they hadn't listened to the voice of the Lord . The Lord had promised them that he would not let them see the land that he had sworn to give us, a land that flows with milk and honey. 


text:
As a result, it was their descendants, whom he raised up to take their place, that Joshua circumcised. They had remained uncircumcised, because they had not been circumcised during their journey. 


text:
When the circumcision of the entire nation was complete, they remained in their places within the camp until they were healed. 


text:
Then the Lord told Joshua, "Today I have rolled the disgrace of Egypt away from you." That's why that place is called "Gilgal" <n>{The Heb. word Gilgal means to roll}</n> to this day. 


text:
<n>{The Manna Ceases}</n> d While the Israelis remained encamped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, they observed the Passover during the evening of the fourteenth day of the month. 


text:
On the day following Passover on that exact day they ate the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. 


text:
The manna ceased on the day they ate the produce of the land. Since the Israelis no longer received manna, they ate crops from the land of Canaan that year. 


text:
<n>{Joshua is Visited by the Lord}</n> d Now it happened that while Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and much to his amazement, he saw a man standing in front of him, holding a drawn sword in his hand! Joshua approached him and asked him, "Are you one of us, or are you with our enemies?" 


text:
"Neither," he answered. "I have come as commander of the Lord's Army." Joshua immediately fell on his face to the earth and worshipped, saying to him, "Lord, what do you have for your servant by way of command?" 


text:
The commander of the Lord's Army replied to Joshua, "Remove your sandals from your feet, because the place where you're standing is holy." So Joshua did so. 


text:
<n>{Instructions for Joshua}</n> d Meanwhile, Jericho was fortified inside and out because of the Israelis. Nobody could leave or enter. 


text:
The Lord told Joshua, "Look! I have given Jericho over to your control, <n>{Lit. hand}</n> along with its kings and valiant soldiers. 


text:
with seven priests carrying in front of the ark seven trumpets made from rams'horns. On the seventh day march around the city seven times while the priests blow their trumpets. 


text:
When they sound a long blast with the ram's horn, as soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then the entire army is to cry out loud, the city wall will collapse, and then all of the soldiers are to charge straight ahead." 


text:
<n>{The Destruction of Jericho}</n> d So Nun's son Joshua called for the priests. "Pick up the Ark of the Covenant," he told them, "and have seven priests carry seven trumpets made from rams'horns in front of the ark of the Lord ." 


text:
He told the army, "Go out and encircle the city. Have the armed men march out in front of the ark of the Lord ." 


text:
And so, just as Joshua had commanded, seven of the priests went forward, carrying the seven trumpets made of rams'horns in the Lord's presence, blowing the trumpets while the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord followed them. 


text:
Armed men preceded the priests who were blowing the trumpets, and a rear guard followed the ark, while the trumpets continued to blow. 


text:
Joshua issued orders to the army: "You are not to shout or even let your voice be heard. Don't utter a word until I tell you to shout. Then shout!" 


text:
So the ark of the Lord was taken once around the city, then they went back to camp and spent the night there. <n>{Lit. night in the camp}</n> 


text:
The seven priests who carried the seven trumpets made from rams'horns preceded the ark of the Lord , blowing their trumpets constantly. The armed men preceded them, and the rear guard followed the ark of the Lord , while the trumpets continued to blow. 


text:
On the second day they marched around the city once and then went back to camp. They did this for six days. 


text:
They rose early at dawn on the seventh day and marched around the city seven times, just as they had before, except that on that day only they marched around the city seven times. 


text:
As they completed the seventh time, after the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua told the army, "Shout, because the Lord has given you the city! 


text:
The city along with everything in it is to be turned over to the Lord for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and everyone who is with her in her house may live, because she hid the scouts we sent. 


text:
Now as for you, everything has been turned over for destruction. Don't covet or take any of these things. Otherwise, you'll make the camp of Israel itself an object worthy of destruction, and bring trouble on it. 


text:
But everything made of silver and gold, and vessels made of bronze and iron are set apart to the Lord . They are to go into the treasury of the Lord ." 


text:
So the army shouted and the trumpets were blown again. As soon as the army heard the sound of the trumpets, they shouted loudly and the wall collapsed. The army charged straight ahead into the city and captured it. 


text:
They turned over everyone in the city for destruction and executed them, <n>{Lit. by the edge of the}</n> including both men and women, young and old, and oxen, sheep, and donkeys. 


text:
Joshua told the two men who had scouted the land, "Go into the prostitute's home and bring her out of it, along with everyone who is with her, just as you promised her." 


text:
So the young men who had been scouts went in and brought Rahab out, along with her father, her mother, her brothers, and everyone else who was with her. They brought her entire family out and set them outside the camp of Israel. 


text:
Then the army set fire to the city and to everything in it, except that they reserved the silver, gold, and vessels of bronze and iron for the treasury of the Lord . 


text:
But Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, along with her family and everyone who was with her. Her family <n>{Lit. She}</n> has lived in Israel ever since, because she hid the scouts whom Joshua sent to observe Jericho. 


text:
<n>{Joshua Curses the Rebuilding of Jericho}</n> d Then Joshua made everyone <n>{Lit. them}</n> take the following oath at that time. He said: "Cursed in the presence of the Lord is the man who restores and rebuilds this city of Jericho! He will lay its foundation at the cost of <n>{The Heb. lacks At the cost of}</n> his firstborn, and at the cost of <n>{The Heb. lacks at the cost of}</n> his youngest he will set up its gates." 


text:
So the Lord was with Joshua, and as a result, Joshua's <n>{Lit. his}</n> reputation spread throughout the land. 


text:
<n>{Israel is Defeated at Ai}</n> d Later, the Israelis broke their promise regarding the things that had been turned over to destruction. Carmi's son Achan, grandson of Zabdi and great-grandson of Zerah from the tribe of Judah, appropriated some of the things that had been turned over to destruction. As a result, the Lord became angry with the Israelis. 


text:
Meanwhile, Joshua had sent some soldiers from Jericho to Ai, which was near Beth-aven, east of Bethel. He ordered them, "Go up and scout the land." So the soldiers went up and scouted Ai and 


text:
returned to Joshua. "Not all of the people need to go up," they reported. "Only about two or three thousand men should attack Ai. Since they are so few, don't make all of the army work hard up there." 


text:
The men of Ai killed about 36 of them, pursuing them outside the city gates as far as Shebarim, killing them as they descended. As a result, the army became terrified and lost their confidence. <n>{Lit. the hearts of the people melted and turned to water}</n> 


text:
At this, Joshua tore his clothes, fell down to the ground on his face before the ark of the Lord until evening he and the leaders of Israel and they covered their heads with dust. 


text:
"Lord God ," Joshua asked, "Why have you brought this people across the Jordan River? To hand us over to the Amorites so we'll be destroyed? Wouldn't it have been better for us to be content to settle on the other side of the Jordan? 


text:
The Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of this, will surround us, and eliminate us <n>{Lit. eliminate our name}</n> from the earth! Then what will you do about your great reputation?" <n>{Lit. name}</n> 


text:
<n>{The Lord Rebukes Joshua}</n> d "Get up!" the Lord replied to Joshua. "Why have you fallen on your face? 


text:
Israel has sinned. They broke my covenant that I commanded them by taking some of the things that had been turned over to destruction. They have stolen, have been deceitful, and have stored what they stole <n>{The Heb. lacks what they stole}</n> among their own belongings. 


text:
The Israelis have been unable to stand before their enemies. They're turning their backs and running from <n>{The Heb. lacks and running from}</n> their enemies because they themselves have been turned over to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy these things that have been turned over to destruction. 


text:
So get up and sanctify the people. Tell them, «Sanctify yourselves in preparation for tomorrow, because this is what the Lord God of Israel, says: "There are things turned over to destruction among you, Israel. You won't be able to defeat your enemies until you remove what has been turned over to destruction. 


text:
"Tomorrow morning you are to come forward tribe by tribe. The tribe that the Lord selects <n>{Lit. selects by lottery ; and so through v 18}</n> is to come forward by clans, the clan that the Lord selects is to come forward by households, and the household that the Lord selects is to come forward one by one. 


text:
The one selected as having taken what has been turned over to destruction is to be cremated, along with everything that pertains to him, because he has transgressed against the covenant of the Lord and committed an outrageous thing in Israel."»" 


text:
<n>{Achan's Sin Revealed}</n> d So Joshua got up early that morning, brought Israel near tribe by tribe, and the tribe of Judah was selected. 


text:
He brought near the clans of Judah, and the Zerahite clan was selected. Then he brought near the Zerahite clan family by family, and the household of Zabdi was selected. 


text:
Next, he brought near his household one by one, and Carmi's son Achan, grandson of Zabdi and great-grandson of Zerah, was selected from the tribe of Judah. 


text:
Joshua then spoke to Achan, "My son, give glory and praise <n>{Lit. thanks}</n> to the Lord God of Israel. <n>{I.e. by telling the truth}</n> Tell me right now what you did. Don't hide anything." 


text:
I noticed among the war spoils a beautiful mantle from Shinar, <n>{I.e. Babylon}</n> 200 shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing 50 shekels. Because I wanted them, I took them, and they're buried in the ground inside my tent. The silver is underneath." 


text:
So Joshua sent some messengers, who ran to the tent. And there it was, hidden in the tent with the silver underneath. 


text:
They took the things from the tent that had been turned over to destruction, <n>{Lit. took them}</n> brought them to Joshua and all of the Israelis, and laid them out in the presence of the Lord . 


text:
Then Joshua, with all Israel accompanying him, took Zerah's son Achan, along with the silver, the mantle, the gold, his sons, his daughters, his oxen, his donkeys, his sheep, his tent, and everything that belonged to him to the Valley of Achor. 


text:
Joshua announced, "Why did you bring trouble to us? Today the Lord is bringing trouble to you!" So all Israel stoned him to death, cremated them, and buried them with stones, 


text:
piling up a large mound of boulders that remains to this day. After this, the Lord turned his burning anger away, and that is why that place is called "the Valley of Achor" <n>{The Heb. name Achor means Trouble}</n> to this day. 


text:
<n>{The Destruction of Ai}</n> d The Lord then told Joshua, "Don't be afraid or lose heart! Take all the fighting men with you, and go up right now to Ai. Take note that I have handed over the king of Ai into your control, along with his people, his city, and his land. 


text:
Do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king, but take its spoil and its livestock as war booty for yourselves. Set an ambush around the city." 


text:
So Joshua and all of the fighting men prepared to go out against Ai. Joshua selected 30,000 valiant warriors and sent them out by night, 


text:
telling them, "Pay attention now! You are to set up an ambush around the city. Don't go very far from the city, and all of you remain on alert. 


text:
I and all of the army with me will advance upon the city. When they come out after us like they did before, we'll run away from them. 


text:
They'll come after us until we've drawn them away from the city, because they'll say, «They're running away from us just like they did before.'While we're running away from them, 


text:
you get up from the ambush and seize the city, because the Lord your God will give it into your control. 


text:
When you've taken the city, set it on fire, just as the Lord ordered. Look! These are your orders!" <n>{Lit. Look! I have commanded you!}</n> 


text:
So Joshua sent them out, and they set up an ambush between Bethel and Ai, to the west of Ai. Joshua spent that night in the camp <n>{The Heb. lacks in the camp}</n> among the army. 


text:
In the morning, Joshua got up early, mustered his army, and set off for Ai, accompanied by the elders of Israel in full view of the army. 


text:
The entire fighting force with him attacked, approaching the city, and camped on the north side of Ai, with a ravine between them and Ai. 


text:
stationing their forces with its main encampment north of the city and its rear guard to the west. Joshua spent that night in the valley. 


text:
When the king of Ai saw what had happened, <n>{The Heb. lacks what had happened}</n> he and his army quickly got up early and went out to meet Israel in battle; he and all his people met at the place adjacent to the desert plain. But he didn't know about the ambush that had been set for him on the other side of the city. 


text:
Because Joshua and the entire fighting force of <n>{The Heb. lacks fighting force of}</n> Israel pretended to lose the battle by running away in front of them toward the wilderness, 


text:
everyone in the city followed after them. As they pursued Joshua, they were drawn away from the town. 


text:
There wasn't a single man left in Ai or Bethel who didn't run out after Israel. They left the city open and pursued Israel. 


text:
Then the Lord told Joshua, "Stretch out the battle lance <n>{Or the javelin}</n> that's in your hand toward Ai, because I will give it into your control." So Joshua stretched out the battle lance <n>{Or the javelin}</n> that was in his hand toward the city. 


text:
As soon as he stretched out his hand, the troops in ambush quickly got up from their place of hiding <n>{The Heb. lacks of hiding}</n> and attacked. They entered the city, seized it, and immediately set it <n>{Lit. set the city}</n> on fire. 


text:
Then the men of Ai looked back behind them. Look! Smoke from the city was rising into the sky. They were unable to run in any direction, because the Israelis <n>{Lit. people}</n> who had fled toward the wilderness had turned around to attack their pursuers. 


text:
When Joshua and the entire fighting force of <n>{The Heb. lacks fighting force of}</n> Israel observed that the men who had been in ambush had seized the city and that the smoke from the city was rising, they turned around and attacked the men of Ai. 


text:
Then the others came out from the city against them, so the men of Ai <n>{Lit. so they}</n> were surrounded by the Israelis, some on one side and some on the other. Israel attacked them until no one was left to survive or escape. 


text:
When Israel had completed executing all of the residents of Ai in the open wilderness where they had chased them, and after all of them to the very last of them had been killed by swords, the entire fighting force of <n>{The Heb. lacks fighting force of}</n> Israel returned to Ai and attacked it with swords. 


text:
The total of all who fell that day, including men and women, was 12,000 the entire population of Ai. 


text:
Joshua did not cease his attack <n>{Lit. his hand with which he had stretched out the battle lance}</n> until he had completely destroyed every inhabitant of Ai. 


text:
Israel took only the livestock and the spoil of that city as their war booty, in accordance with what the Lord had commanded to Joshua. 


text:
He hanged the king of Ai on a tree until dusk, and at sunset Joshua ordered his body brought down from the tree and laid at the entrance to the gate of the town. There he raised over it a large mound of stones, which stands there to this day. <n>{I.e. c. 1100 - 1000 BC}</n> 


text:
<n>{Joshua Renews the Covenant}</n> d Then Joshua built an altar to the Lord , the God of Israel, on Mount Ebal, 


text:
just the way Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded the Israelis in the Book of the Law of Moses: an altar of uncut <n>{Or whole}</n> stones that hasn't been worked with iron tools" <n>{cf. Deut. 27:5b}</n> and they offered burnt offerings to the Lord on it, along with peace offerings. 


text:
There Joshua <n>{Lit. he}</n> inscribed on stones a copy of the Law of Moses that Moses had presented to <n>{Lit. that he had written in the presence of}</n> the Israelis. 


text:
All Israel, both foreigners and citizens, together with their elders, officers, and judges, stood on opposite sides of the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord . Half stood in front of Mount Gerizim and half stood in front of Mount Ebal, just as Moses, the Lord's servant had commanded at the first, so that they could bless the people of Israel. <n>{Cf. Deut 28:1-14}</n> 


text:
Afterwards, Joshua <n>{Lit. he}</n> read all the words of the Law both the blessings and the curses according to everything written in the Book of the Law. <n>{Cf. Deut 27:1-28:68}</n> 


text:
There wasn't one word of everything Moses had commanded that Joshua did not read in front of the entire assembly of Israel, including the women, their little ones, and the foreigners who lived among them. 


text:
<n>{Trickery by the Gibeonites}</n> d Eventually all the kings who reigned in the hill country across the Jordan River and in the low-lying coastlands of the Mediterranean Sea facing Lebanon heard about this. So the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites 


text:
they took the initiative by preparing their provisions shrewdly: they took tattered sacks for their donkeys, worn-out, torn, and mended wineskins, 


text:
worn-out, patched sandals for their feet, and worn-out clothes. All of their food was dried out and covered in mold. 


text:
Then they approached Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and addressed him and the Israelis, "We've arrived from a distant country, so please make a treaty with us right now." 


text:
But the Israelis responded to the Hivites, "Perhaps you live in our midst. If this is so, <n>{The Heb. lacks If this is so}</n> how can we make a treaty with you?" 


text:
So they responded to Joshua, "We are your servants." Joshua asked them, "Who are you? And where did you come from?" 


text:
They answered, "Your servants have arrived from a very distant land, because of the reputation <n>{Lit. name}</n> of the Lord your God, because we've heard a report about all that he did in Egypt, 


text:
along with all of what he did to the two Amorite kings who were beyond the Jordan River that is, to King Sihon of Heshbon and to King Og of Bashan, who lived in Ashtaroth. 


text:
So our leaders and all of the inhabitants of our country told us, «Take provisions along with you for your journey, go to meet them, and tell them, "We are your servants. Come now and make a treaty with us."'


text:
Look at <n>{Lit. Here is}</n> our bread: it was still warm when we took it from our houses as our food for our journey on the very day we set out to come to you. But now, look how it's dry and moldy. 


text:
And these wineskins were new when we filled them, but look now they're cracked. And our clothes and sandals are worn out from our very long journey." 


text:
So the leaders of Israel <n>{The Heb. lacks of Israel}</n> sampled their provisions, but did not ask the Lord about it. 


text:
They made a treaty with them, guaranteeing their lives with a covenant, and the leaders of the congregation confirmed it with an oath to them. 


text:
But three days after they had made the treaty with them, they learned that they were their neighbors and were living in their midst. 


text:
So the Israelis set out for their cities and three days later they reached their cities of Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim. 


text:
The Israelis did not attack them, because the leaders of the congregation had made an oath with them in the name of <n>{Lit. them by}</n> the Lord , the God of Israel. Nevertheless, the entire congregation grumbled against their leaders. 


text:
Then all of the leaders spoke to the entire congregation, "We have sworn to them in the name of <n>{Lit. them by}</n> the Lord , the God of Israel, and we cannot touch them. 


text:
So this is what we'll do to them: we'll let them live, so that wrath won't come upon us because of the oath that we swore to them." 


text:
The leaders told them, "Let them live." So they became wood cutters and water carriers for the entire congregation, which is what the leaders had decided concerning them. 


text:
Joshua summoned the Gibeonites <n>{Lit. summoned them}</n> and asked them, "Why did you deceive us by saying «We live far away from you,'even though you were, in fact, living in our midst? 


text:
Now therefore you are under a curse. Some of you will always be slaves, wood cutters, and water carriers for the house of my God." 


text:
They replied to Joshua, "Because your servants had been informed that the Lord your God had certainly commanded his servant Moses to give you the entire land and to destroy all of the inhabitants of the land before you. So we were terrified for our lives because of you. That's why we did this. 


text:
So this is what Joshua <n>{Lit. he}</n> did for them: he saved them from the Israelis, and they did not kill them. 


text:
However, on that very day Joshua made them become wood cutters and water carriers for the congregation and for the Lord's altar in the place that he should choose, and this tradition continues <n>{The Heb. lacks and this tradition continues}</n> to this day. 


text:
<n>{The Sun Stands Still}</n> d King Adoni-zedek of Jerusalem eventually heard how Joshua had conquered Ai, utterly destroying it, doing to Ai and its king the same thing that he had done to Jericho and its king, and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were now living among them. 


text:
So they <n>{I.e. the inhabitants of Jerusalem}</n> were terrified, since Gibeon was a large city, comparable to one of the royal cities, was larger than Ai, and all of its men had been warriors. 


text:
So King Adoni-zedek of Jerusalem sent word to King Hoham of Hebron, King Piram of Jarmuth, King Japhia of Lachish, and King Debir of Eglon. He told them, 


text:
"Come over and help me, and let's attack Gibeon, because it made a peace treaty with Joshua and the Israelis." 


text:
So the five kings of the Amorites the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon gathered their armies together and advanced with all of their armies toward Gideon, camped there, and laid siege to it. 


text:
The Gibeonites sent word to Joshua at his camp in Gilgal: "Don't abandon your servants. Come quickly, save us, and help us, because all of the kings of the Amorites who live in the hill country have attacked us." 


text:
The Lord told Joshua, "Don't fear them, because I have handed them over to you. Not one of them will withstand you." 


text:
The Lord threw the Amorites <n>{Lit. threw them}</n> into a panic right in front of the army <n>{The Heb. lacks the army}</n> of Israel, which then slaughtered many of them at Gibeon. The Israeli army <n>{Lit. They}</n> chased them along the road that goes up to Beth-horon, striking them down as far as Azekah and Makkedah. 


text:
While they were fleeing in front of Israel and descending the slope of Beth-horon, the Lord rained down huge hailstones on them as far as Azekah, and they died. More died because of the hailstones than were killed by the Israelis in battle. <n>{Lit. Israelis by the sword}</n> 


text:
Later that day, Joshua spoke to the Lord while the Lord was delivering the Amorites to the Israelis. This is what he said in the presence of Israel: "Sun, be still over Gibeon Moon, stand in place <n>{The Heb. lacks stand in place}</n> in the Aijalon Valley" 


text:
So the sun remained still and the moon stood in place until the nation settled their score with their enemies. This is recorded, is it not, in the book of Jashar? <n>{Lit. the Book of the Upright ; i.e. an ancient chronicle of Israel, apparently now lost. The first half of v. 13 rather than the quatrain following may be the citation.}</n> The sun stood in place in the middle of the sky and seemed not to be in a hurry to set for nearly an entire day. 


text:
There has never been a day like it before or since, when the Lord listened to the voice of a man, because the Lord was fighting on behalf of Israel. 


text:
After this, Joshua returned to the camp at Gilgal with the entire fighting force of <n>{The Heb. lacks fighting force of}</n> Israel. 


text:
<n>{Defeat of the Five Kings}</n> d Meanwhile, the five kings had fled and hidden themselves inside a cave at Makkedah. 


text:
So Joshua gave an order, "Roll large stones up against the mouth of the cave and assign men to stand guard there, 


text:
but don't stay there yourselves. Instead, pursue your enemies and attack them from behind. Don't allow them to enter their cities, because the Lord your God has delivered them into your control." 


text:
Now it came about that after Joshua and the Israelis had finished the battle, <n>{Lit. slaughter}</n> destroying and scattering their survivors, who retreated into their fortified cities, 


text:
the entire army returned safely to Joshua's encampment at Makkedah. No one could speak so much as a single word against any of the Israelis. 


text:
Then Joshua gave this order: "Unseal the mouth of the cave and bring out these five kings to me from the cave." 


text:
So they did. They brought out these five kings to him from within the cave: the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon. 


text:
When they had brought these kings out to Joshua, Joshua called for all the men of Israel and spoke to the leaders of the men who had gone out to war along with him, "Come close and put your feet on the necks of these kings." So they came near and put their feet on their necks. 


text:
Joshua told the army, <n>{Lit. to them}</n> "Don't fear or be dismayed! Be strong and courageous, because this is how the Lord will treat all of your enemies whom you fight." 


text:
After this, Joshua struck those kings <n>{Lit. struck them}</n> down, executing them, and hanged them on five gallows <n>{Or trees}</n> until sunset. 


text:
When evening had come, Joshua gave a command to remove the bodies <n>{10;27 Lit. remove them}</n> from the gallows <n>{Or trees}</n> and bury them in the cave where they had hidden. The army <n>{Lit. They}</n> sealed the mouth of the cave with large stones that remain there to this very day. 


text:
<n>{The Southern Campaign}</n> d Joshua captured Makkedah that very day, and attacked both it and its king with swords, utterly destroying it along with every person in it, leaving no survivors. He dealt with the king of Makkedah the same way he had dealt with the king of Jericho. 


text:
Afterward, Joshua and all of Israel passed on from Makkedah to Libnah, where they fought against Libnah. 


text:
The Lord gave both it and its king into the control of Israel, and Joshua <n>{Lit. he}</n> executed both its king <n>{Lit. both him}</n> and every person in it with swords, leaving no survivors. He dealt with the king the same way he had dealt with the king of Jericho. 


text:
The Lord gave Lachish into the control of Israel, and Joshua captured it the next day. He declared war on the city and executed <n>{Lit. He struck it with the edge of the sword and}</n> everyone in it, the same way he had treated Libnah. 


text:
Then Horam king of Gezer appeared to help Lachish. So Joshua attacked him and his army, until he left no one remaining. 


text:
After this, Joshua, accompanied by all of Israel, proceeded from Lachish to Eglon, laid siege to it, and attacked it. 


text:
They captured it on that day, attacking it in battle. Then Joshua completely destroyed it that day, the same way he had dealt with Lachish. 


text:
captured it, and executed its inhabitants its king, all of its cities, and every person in it, leaving no one remaining, the same way he had dealt with Eglon. He completely destroyed it, along with everyone in it. 


text:
Then Joshua returned, accompanied by the entire fighting force of <n>{The Heb. lacks fighting force of}</n> Israel, to Debir, where they attacked it, 


text:
captured it, its king, and all of its villages. They executed them, totally destroying it and everyone in it, leaving no one remaining. He dealt with Debir and its king just as he had dealt with Hebron, treating them the same way he had dealt with Libnah and its king. 


text:
So Joshua conquered the entire land, the hill country, the Negev, <n>{I.e. the southern regions of the Sinai peninsula}</n> the Shephelah, <n>{I.e. the verdant central lowlands of Israel; and so throughout the book}</n> and the wilderness highlands, along with all of their kings. He left none of them remaining, but completely destroyed every living person, just as the Lord God of Israel had commanded. 


text:
Joshua conquered them from Kadesh-barnea to Gaza, including the entire territory of Goshen as far as Gibeon. 


text:
Joshua conquered all of these kings and their territories in one campaign, because the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel. 


text:
Then Joshua returned to the camp at Gilgal, along with the entire fighting force of <n>{The Heb. lacks fighting force of}</n> Israel. 


text:
<n>{The Northern Campaign}</n> d When King Jabin of Hazor heard all of this, <n>{The Heb. lacks all of this}</n> he sent word <n>{The Heb. lacks word}</n> to Jobab king of Madon, to the king of Shimron, to the king of Achshaph, 


text:
and to the kings in the north, in the hill country, in the plain south of Chinnereth, in the Shephelah, and in the hills of Dor toward the west, 


text:
to the eastern and western Canaanites the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites in the hill country, and the Hivites below Hermon in the territory of Mizpah. 


text:
So they went out, they and all of their armies with them a multitude as numerous as the sand on the seashore accompanied by many horses and chariots. 


text:
After all these kings had gathered together, they went out and camped together at the waters of Merom to fight Israel. 


text:
But the Lord told Joshua, "Don't be afraid of them, because tomorrow about this time I am giving them all to you dead in the presence of Israel. Hamstring their horses and incinerate their chariots." 


text:
So Joshua and his entire fighting force approached them suddenly by the waters of Merom and attacked them. 


text:
The Lord handed them over to the control of Israel, who defeated them and chased them as far as Greater Sidon and east as far as the Mizpah Valley. They attacked them until none remained. 


text:
Joshua dealt with them just as the Lord had told him: he hamstrung their horses and incinerated their chariots. 


text:
Joshua then turned back and captured Hazor, executing its king, because Hazor used to be the head of all of those kingdoms. 


text:
They executed all of the people who lived in it, completely destroying and leaving no one alive. Then he burned Hazor in fire. 


text:
So Joshua captured and annihilated all of these cities, along with their kings, completely destroying them, just as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded. 


text:
However, Israel did not burn any of the cities that had been built on mounds of ruins, <n>{Lit. on tels}</n> except for Hazor only, which Joshua burned. 


text:
The Israelis took the spoils of war from these cities, along with their livestock, but they executed every human being until they had completely destroyed them, leaving no one alive. 


text:
Joshua did just what the Lord had commanded his servant Moses and just what Moses had commanded him, leaving nothing unfinished. 


text:
<n>{Summary of Joshua's Victory}</n> d So Joshua conquered all of these territories: the hill country, all of the Negev, <n>{I.e. the southern regions of the Sinai peninsula; cf. Josh 10:40}</n> the entire land of Goshen with its foothills, the plains of Jordan, and the mountains of Israel with its foothills 


text:
from Mount Halak and the ascent toward Seir, including as far as Baal-gad in the Lebanon Valley that lies at the foot of Mount Hermon. Joshua captured all of their kings, struck them down, and put them to death. 


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There wasn't a single <n>{The Heb. lacks single}</n> city that made a peace accord with the Israelis, except the Hivites who lived in Gibeon. The Israelis <n>{Lit. They}</n> captured all the rest <n>{The Heb. lacks the rest}</n> in battle, 


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because the Lord had hardened their hearts so they would fight Israel in war, be completely destroyed without mercy, and be completely wiped out, as the Lord had commanded Moses. 


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At that time Joshua came and annihilated the Anakim from the hill country, that is, from Hebron, Debir, and Anab, as well as from all the hill country of Judah and Israel. Joshua completely destroyed them along with their cities. 


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None of the Anakim remained in the land belonging to the Israelis they remained only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod. 


text:
Joshua conquered the entire land, in accordance with everything that the Lord had told Moses. Joshua presented it as an inheritance to Israel, dividing it according to tribal allotments. Then the land enjoyed rest from war. 


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<n>{Kingdoms Conquered by Israel}</n> d This is a list of the kings who ruled the land that the Israelis conquered, and whose territories they took on the other side of the Jordan River toward the east, from the Arnon River to Mount Hermon, along with the entire eastern Jordan plain. <n>{Lit. Arabah}</n> 


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Sihon king of the Amorites lived in Heshbon and ruled from Aroer, which is located on the edge of the Arnon River <n>{The Heb. lacks River}</n> from the middle of the valley, including half of Gilead as far as Wadi <n>{I.e. a seasonal stream or river that channels water during rain seasons but is dry at other times}</n> Jabbok, the border of the Ammonites, 


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and toward the Arabah as far as the Sea of Galilee <n>{Lit. Chinnereth}</n> to the east, as far as the Arabah Sea (that is, the Dead Sea) to the east as one travels in the direction <n>{Lit. east in the road}</n> of Beth-jeshimoth, and to the south as far as the foothills of Pisgah. <n>{Lit. Ashdoth-pisgah ; perhaps including Mount Nebo}</n> 


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The territory of Og king of Bashan was conquered. He was <n>{The Heb. lacks was conquered. He was}</n> one of the last of the Rephaim, <n>{Or giants}</n> and lived at Ashtaroth and Edrei, 


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ruling over Mount Hermon, Salecah, and all of Bashan as far as the border of the descendants of Geshur, the descendants of Maacath, and half of Gilead to the border of Sihon king of Heshbon. 


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Moses, the servant of the Lord , and the Israelis defeated them. Then Moses, the servant of the Lord , gave it to the descendants of Reuben, the descendants of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh as their inheritance. <n>{Or possession}</n> 


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This is a list of the kings of the land whom Joshua and the Israelis defeated beyond the Jordan River toward the west, from Baal-gad in the Lebanon valley as far as Mount Halak, which rises in the direction of Seir. Joshua gave it to Israel, distributing it according to their tribal divisions as their inheritance, 


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in the mountain regions, in the Arabah, on the foothills, in the wilderness, in the Negev; <n>{I.e. the southern regions of the Sinai peninsula; cf. Josh 10:40}</n> that is, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites: 


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The king of Dor in the Dor heights: 1 The king of various <n>{The Heb. lacks various}</n> gentiles in Gilgal: <n>{So MT; LXX reads of Goyim in Galilee}</n> 1 


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<n>{Territories Yet to be Conquered}</n> d When Joshua had grown old, having lived many years, the Lord told him, "You are old and have lived many years, but much of the land still remains to be possessed. 


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This territory remains: all of the Philistine regions, including all Geshurite holdings <n>{The Heb. lacks holdings}</n> 


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from the Shihor east of Egypt as far as the border of Ekron on the north (which is considered part of Canaan). This includes the five rulers of the Philistines: the Gazites, the Ashdodites, the Ashkelonites, the Gittites, the Ekronites, and the Avvites. 


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"To the south, there remains to be conquered <n>{The Heb. lacks there remains to be conquered}</n> all the territory held by the Canaanites, Mearah that belongs to the Sidonians, as far as Aphek, to the border of the Amorites, 


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including the territory of the Gebalites and all of Lebanon facing the east from Baal-gad at the foot of Mount Hermon as far as Lebo-hamath, 


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and all the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon to Misrephoth-maim, including all the Sidonians. I myself will drive them out in the presence of the Israelis. 


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<n>{Summary of Allocations to Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh}</n> d The descendants of Reuben and descendants of Gad, along with the other half-tribe of Manasseh, received their inherited portion that Moses the servant of the Lord had given them to the east beyond the Jordan River. 


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Specifically included was from Aroer on the banks of the Wadi <n>{I.e. a seasonal stream or river that channels water during rain seasons but is dry at other times}</n> Arnon, and the town that lies in the middle of the valley, including all the plains from Medeba to Dibon, 


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all the cities pertaining to King Sihon of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, as far as the boundary of the Ammonite territory, <n>{The Heb. lacks territory}</n> 


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Gilead and the region belonging to the descendants of Geshur and Maacath, including all of Mount Hermon, and all of Bashan as far as Salecah. 


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Also included was <n>{The Heb. lacks Also included was}</n> the entire kingdom of Og in Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth and Edrei. (He was the sole survivor left of the Rephaim.) <n>{Or giants}</n> Although Moses had defeated these people and driven them out, 


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the Israelis did not drive out the descendants of Geshur or the descendants of Maacath Geshur and Maacath live within the territory of Israel to this day. 


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<n>{Allocations to Levi}</n> d Moses allotted no inheritance solely to the tribe of Levi. As he had mentioned to them, the offerings by fire to the Lord God of Israel are their inheritance. 


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<n>{Allocations to Reuben}</n> d Moses allocated territory <n>{The Heb. lacks territory}</n> to the tribe of the descendants of Reuben according to their clans. 


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Their allocation was from the border of Aroer on the edge of the Arnon valley (including the city that is located in the valley, as well as the entire plain next to Medeba), 


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all of the cities of the plain, the entire kingdom of King Sihon of the Amorites, who used to reign in Heshbon and whom Moses attacked, along with the chiefs of Midian, Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, nobles of Sihon who lived in the land. 


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The Israelis also killed Beor's son Balaam, the occult practitioner, executing him by the sword as one of those killed. 


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The border of the descendants of Reuben was the Jordan River and its banks. This was the inheritance belonging to the descendants of Reuben, divided according to their families, cities, and villages. 


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<n>{Allocations to Gad}</n> d Moses also allocated territory <n>{The Heb. lacks territory}</n> to the tribe of Gad, that is, to the descendants of Gad, according to their families. 


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Their territory included Jazer, all the cities of Gilead, half the land of the Ammonites as far as Aroer which is located near Rabbah, 


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the valley containing Beth-haram, Beth-nimrah, Succoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of King Sihon of Heshbon, with the Jordan River as its border as far as the southern <n>{The Heb. lacks southern}</n> end of the Sea of Galilee <n>{Lit. Chinnereth}</n> beyond the Jordan River to the east. 


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This was the inheritance belonging to the descendants of Gad according to their clans, cities, and villages. 


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<n>{Allocations to Manasseh}</n> d Moses also allocated territory <n>{The Heb. lacks territory}</n> to the half-tribe of Manasseh, that is, for the half-tribe of the descendants of Manasseh according to their clans. 


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Their territory extended from Mahanaim to include <n>{The Heb. lacks to include}</n> all of Bashan, all of the kingdom of King Og of Bashan, all of the 60 towns of Jair there in Bashan, 


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half of Gilead, including Ashtaroth and Edrei. The cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan went to half of the descendants of Manasseh's son Machir, according to their clans. 


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These were the allotments <n>{The Heb. lacks the allotments}</n> that Moses apportioned for an inheritance in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan River east of Jericho. 


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<n>{Allocations to Levi}</n> d Moses allotted no inheritance to the tribe of Levi. The Lord God of Israel is their inheritance, as he promised them. 


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<n>{Summary of Allocations}</n> d This is what the Israelis inherited in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, Nun's son Joshua, and the heads of the families of the Israelis allotted to them as an inheritance 


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since Moses had given the inheritance of the two tribes and the half-tribe across the Jordan River. However, he did not give an inheritance to the descendants of Levi who lived among them, 


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since the descendants of Joseph constituted two tribes Manasseh and Ephraim. They did not allot a portion to the descendants of Levi in the land, since they were given <n>{The Heb. lacks they were given}</n> cities to live in, along with pastures for their livestock and property. 


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<n>{Caleb's Request}</n> <n>{ (Judges 1:20)}</n> d After this, the descendants of Judah approached Joshua in Gilgal. Jephunneh the Kenizzite's son Caleb told him, "You know the promise that the Lord gave Moses the man of God concerning the two of us in Kadesh-barnea. 


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I was 40 years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh-barnea to scout the land. I brought back an honest report <n>{Lit. a report with my heart}</n> to him. 


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As it happened, my fellow Israelis who went up with me terrified the people, but I fully followed the Lord my God. 


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Moses made a promise to me on that day when he said, «The land that you covered on foot will certainly be your inheritance. It will belong to your descendants forever, because you have fully followed the Lord my God.'


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"Look how <n>{The Heb. lacks how}</n> the Lord has let me survive, as you can see, these 45 years since the time when the Lord said this through Moses, while Israel was wandering through the wilderness. And look! I'm here today my eighty-fifth birthday! 


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I'm still as strong today as I was the day Moses commissioned me. I'm as strong today as I was then, and I can go out to battle and come back successful. 


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Now then, give me that hill country about which the Lord spoke back on that day, because you yourself heard back then that the Anakim were there, with great reinforced cities. Perhaps the Lord will be with me and I will expel them, just as the Lord said." 


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Therefore Hebron became the inheritance of Jephunneh the Kenizzite's son Caleb, and it remains so today, because he fully followed the Lord God of Israel. 


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Hebron used to be known as Kiriath-arba, after the greatest man among the Anakim. After all of this, the land enjoyed rest from war. 


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<n>{Allotments to Judah}</n> d Joshua said, <n>{The Heb. lacks Joshua said}</n> "Now the allotment for the tribe of the descendants of Judah, allocated <n>{The Heb. lacks allocated}</n> according to their families, will extend to the border of Edom, southward to the wilderness of Zin until land's end, 


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then from the southern end of the Dead Sea, that is, from the bay that orients toward the Negev, <n>{I.e. the southern regions of the Sinai peninsula; cf. Josh 10:40}</n> 


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proceeding south to the ascent of Akrabbim, then continuing to Zin, and from there up along the south of Kadesh-barnea to Hezron, and from there up to Addar and then to Karka, 


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passing along to Azmon toward the Wadi <n>{I.e. a seasonal stream or river that channels water during rain seasons but is dry at other times}</n> of Egypt and ending at the sea. This will be your southern border." 


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The eastern border was the Dead Sea as far as the mouth of the Jordan River. The border of the north side extended from the bay of the sea at the mouth of the Jordan River 


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toward Beth-hoglah, and continuing on the north of Beth-arabah. The border ascended up to the boundary marker set up by Reuben's son Bohan. 


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The boundary then went up to Debir from the Achor valley and turned north toward Gilgal opposite the ascent of Adummim in the southern part of the valley. Then the border continued to the waters of En-shemesh and terminated at En-rogel. 


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Then the border proceeded up the valley of Ben-hinnom to the southern ascent of the Jebusites (that is, to Jerusalem), and from there to the top of the mountain that faces the valley of Hinnom to the west at the end of the valley of Rephaim toward the north. 


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The border proceeded from the top of the mountain to the spring of the waters of Nephtoah, then to the cities of Mount Ephron, and then the border curved toward Baalah (also known as Kiriath-jearim). 


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The border turned west from Baalah to Mount Seir, <n>{This mountain, the modern Jebel esh-sher, is located in the mountain range that extends south of the Dead Sea toward the Gulf of Aqaba, and is bordered by the Arabah Valley to the west.}</n> continuing to the top of Mount Jearim on the north (also known as Chesalon), and then proceeded to Beth-shemesh, continuing through Timnah. 


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The border proceeded north to the edge of Ekron, then curved to Shikkeron and on to Mount Baalah, proceeding then to Jabneel, where the boundary ended at the sea. 


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The western border was at the Mediterranean Sea coastline. This is the border that surrounded the territory of <n>{The Heb. lacks the territory of}</n> the descendants of Judah, according to their families. 


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<n>{Caleb's Conquests}</n> <n>{ (Judges 1:11-15)}</n> d Now Joshua <n>{Lit. he}</n> gave an allotment among the descendants of Judah to Jephunneh's son Caleb, just as God told Joshua, Kiriath-arba, which was named after the <n>{The Heb. lacks which was named after the}</n> ancestor of Anak (that is, Hebron). 


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Then he went up from there to attack the inhabitants of Debir. (Debir was formerly known as Kiriath-sepher.) 


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Then Caleb announced, "I will give my daughter Achsah in marriage to the one who attacks Kiriath-sepher and captures it." 


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Othniel, the son of Caleb's brother Kenaz, captured it, so Caleb gave him his daughter Achsah as his wife. 


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Sometime later, she came to Othniel <n>{The Heb. lacks to Othniel}</n> and persuaded him to ask her father for a field. As she dismounted from her donkey, Caleb asked her, "What do you want?" 


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She replied, "Give me a blessing. Since you have given me the land of the Negev, <n>{I.e. the southern regions of the Sinai peninsula; cf. Josh 10:40}</n> give me also some springs of water." So he gave her the upper and lower springs. 


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<n>{City Allotments for Judah}</n> d Here's a list of cities allotted for the tribe of the descendants of Judah according to their families: 


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The cities to the far south of the tribe of the descendants of Judah (toward the border of Edom in the south) included Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur, 


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Also included were <n>{The Heb. lacks Also included were ; and so throughout the chapter}</n> Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal-gad, 


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from Ekron to the Mediterranean <n>{The Heb. lacks Mediterranean}</n> Sea, including everything by the edge of Ashdod, along with their villages, 


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Ashdod and its towns and villages, Gaza and its towns and villages as far as the River of Egypt, and the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea. 


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Also included were Kiriath-baal (also known as Kiriath-jearim) and Rabbah, for a total of two cities and villages. 


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Now as for the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem, the descendants of Judah could not expel them, so Jebusites live with the descendants of Judah in Jerusalem to this day. 


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<n>{Ephraim's Allocation}</n> d The territorial allotment for the descendants of Joseph proceeded from the Jordan River by Jericho eastward of the waters of Jericho, into the wilderness, proceeding from Jericho through the hill country of Bethel 


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It proceeded westward to the territory of the Japhletites as far as the territory of lower Beth-horon, then toward Gezer, ending at the Mediterranean <n>{The Heb. lacks Mediterranean}</n> Sea. 


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This was the territory allocated to the descendants of Ephraim according to their families: the border of their inheritance on the east was Ataroth-addar as far as upper Beth-horon. 


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Then the border proceeded west from Michmethath on the north, then turned east toward Taanath-shiloh, continuing to the east of Janoah. 


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It proceeded from Janoah to Ataroth, then to Naarah, then proceeded to Jericho and ended at the Jordan River. 


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From Tappuach, the border proceeded west to the Kanah brook, ending at the Mediterranean Sea. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the descendants of Ephraim according to their families, 


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along with the cities that had been set aside for the descendants of Ephraim within the allotment of the descendants of Manasseh, including all of the cities and villages. 


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However, they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so the Canaanites live within the territory of <n>{The Heb. lacks the territory of}</n> Ephraim to this day, but they serve as forced laborers. 


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<n>{Manasseh's Allocation}</n> d The territorial allotment for the tribe of Manasseh, the firstborn of Joseph, was allocated first <n>{The Heb. lacks was allocated first}</n> to Machir the firstborn of Manasseh and father of Gilead. Since he had been a man of war, Gilead and Bashan were allocated to him. <n>{The Heb. lacks were allocated to him}</n> 


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Now allotments were made <n>{The Heb. lacks allotments were made}</n> with respect to the remaining descendants of Manasseh according to their families: for the descendants of Abiezer, the descendants of Helek, the descendants of Asriel, the descendants of Shechem, the descendants of Hepher, and the descendants of Shemida the male descendants of Joseph's son Manasseh, according to their families. 


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Hepher's son Zelophehad, grandson of Gilead and great-grandson of Manasseh's son Machir had no sons, only daughters. These are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 


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They appeared before Eleazar the priest and Nun's son Joshua and declared, "The Lord commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our relatives." So in keeping what the Lord had commanded, he gave them an inheritance among their ancestor's relatives. 


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That is why ten allotments fell to Manasseh, besides the land of Gilead and Bashan beyond the Jordan River, 


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since the granddaughters of Manasseh received an inheritance along with his sons. (The land of Gilead belonged to the rest of the descendants of Manasseh.) 


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The border of Manasseh proceeded from Asher to Michmethath east of Shechem, then turned south to include the inhabitants of En-tappuach. 


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(The territory of Tappuach belonged to Manasseh, but Tappuach itself, <n>{The Heb. lacks itself}</n> on the border of Manasseh, was allocated <n>{The Heb. lacks was allocated}</n> to the descendants of Ephraim.) 


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The border proceeded to the Kanah brook and proceeded south. These cities belonged to Ephraim among the cities of Manasseh, with the border of Manasseh on the north of the brook, terminating at the Mediterranean <n>{The Heb. lacks Mediterranean}</n> Sea. 


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The southern area was allocated to Ephraim and the northern area to Manasseh. The Mediterranean <n>{The Heb. lacks Mediterranean}</n> Sea was the border, extending to Asher on the North and to Issachar on the east. 


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In Issachar and Asher, Manasseh held Beth-shean and its towns, Ibleam 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, and the three coastal districts. <n>{Or the third is Napheth}</n> 


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The descendants of Manasseh did not take possession of these cities, because the Canaanites predominated in that territory. 


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Later on, when the Israelis had become strong, they forced the Canaanites to work for them, but they never did expel them completely. 


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<n>{Protests by the Tribe of Joseph}</n> d At that time, the descendants of Joseph asked Joshua, "Why did you give us <n>{Lit. me}</n> only one allotment and portion for an inheritance, since we're numerous and the Lord has blessed us all along?" 


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So Joshua replied to them, "Since you're so numerous, go up to the forest and clear ground there for yourselves in the territory where the Perizzites and Rephaim are, because the hill country of Ephraim is too narrow for you." 


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The descendants of Joseph replied, "The hill country isn't sufficient for us, but all the Canaanites who live on the plain have iron chariots, both those in Beth-shean and its villages as well as the inhabitants of the Jezreel Valley." 


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So Joshua told the tribes of Joseph, which were Ephraim and Manasseh, "You're truly a numerous group, and you have great power. You are not to have only one allotment, 


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but the hill country will also belong to you. Even though it's a forest, you will clear it and possess it to its farthest borders. You'll drive out the Canaanites, even though they have iron chariots and even though they're strong." 


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<n>{Other Tribal Allotments}</n> d After this, the entire assembly of the Israelis gathered together at Shiloh and set up a Tent of Meeting there, where the land lay conquered before them. 


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So Joshua told the Israelis, "How long will you delay invading and taking possession of the land that the Lord God of your ancestors has given you? 


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Appoint three men from each tribe and I'll send them. They'll begin to go through the land and record a description of it, categorized according to their inheritance, and then they'll report <n>{Lit. come}</n> back to me. 


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They'll divide it seven ways. Judah will stay in its territory on the south and the house of Joseph will remain in its territory on the north. 


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Lay out the land in seven divisions, then bring your report <n>{The Heb. lacks your report}</n> here to me. I will then cast lots in the presence of the Lord our God. 


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The descendants of Levi have no allotment among you, since the priesthood of the Lord is their inheritance. Gad, Reuben, and the half-tribe of Manasseh received their inheritance to the east, beyond the Jordan River given to them by Moses the servant of the Lord ." 


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So the men started out, following Joshua's command to those who went to scout the land, "Go through the land and record a description of it, and then return to me. I will then cast lots in the presence of the Lord your God in Shiloh." 


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Then the men left camp and went throughout the land, describing its cities in a book with seven divisions. Then they returned to Joshua at the camp at Shiloh. 


text:
Joshua threw lots in Shiloh in the Lord's presence and divided the land accordingly among the Israelis according to their divisions. 


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<n>{Benjamin's Allocation}</n> d The allotment of the tribe of the descendants of Benjamin came up according to their families, and their territorial allotment fell between the descendants of Judah and the descendants of Joseph. 


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Their border started on the north side at the Jordan River, proceeded to the slope of Jericho on the north, then westward through the hill country, and terminated at the wilderness of Beth-aven. 


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From there the boundary proceeded south in the direction of Luz to the slope of Luz (also known as Bethel), then proceeded to Ataroth-addar, on the mountain that lies south of Lower Beth-horon. 


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From there the boundary changes direction, turning southward on the western side opposite Beth-horon, terminating at Kiriath-baal (also known as Kiriath-jearim), which belongs to Judah. This forms the western boundary. 


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The southern boundary begins at the edge of Kiriath-jearim, proceeding from there to Ephron and then to the spring at the Nephtoah Waters. 


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From there the boundary proceeds to the border of the mountain that overlooks the Ben-hinnom Valley at the northern end of the Rephaim Valley, where it proceeds down the Hinnom Valley south of the slope of the Jebusites toward En-rogel. 


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Then it turns north toward En-shemesh and proceeds from there to Geliloth opposite the ascent of Adummim, where it turns toward the Stone of Bohan, Reuben's son, 


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From there the boundary proceeds to north of the slope of Beth-hoglah and terminates at the northern bay of the Salt <n>{Lit. Dead}</n> Sea where the Jordan River ends in the south. This is the southern border. 


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The Jordan River forms its boundary on the east. This is the inheritance for the tribe of Benjamin according to its families, boundary by boundary around the entire territory. <n>{Lit. boundary all around}</n> 


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The towns belonging to the tribe of Benjamin according to their families were Jericho, Beth-hoglah, Emek-keziz, 


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Zela, Haeleph, Jebus (also known as Jerusalem), Gibeah, and Kiriath-jearim, for a total of fourteen towns and villages. This is the inheritance of the tribe of Benjamin according to their families. 


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<n>{Simeon's Allocation}</n> d The second lottery went to the tribe of Simeon according to its families. Its inheritance was enclosed within the inheritance of the tribe of Judah. 


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Its inheritance included Beer-sheba (also known as <n>{The Heb. lacks also known as}</n> Shebah), Moladah, 


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Also included were <n>{The Heb. lacks Also included were}</n> Ain, Rimmon, Ether, and Ashan, for a total of four towns and villages. 


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Also included were <n>{The Heb. lacks Also included were}</n> all the surrounding villages as far as Baalath-beer, in Ramah of the Negev. <n>{I.e. the southern regions of the Sinai peninsula; cf. Josh 10:40}</n> This was the inheritance of the tribe of Simeon, according to its families. 


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The inheritance of the tribe of Simeon was contained in part of the territory of Judah; that is, because the portion allotted to the tribe of Judah was large enough for both tribes, the tribe of Simeon obtained an inheritance within that of Judah. <n>{Lit. within their inheritance}</n> 


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<n>{Zebulun's Allocation}</n> d The third lottery went to the tribe of Zebulun according to its families. The boundary of its inheritance extended to Sarid, 


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then turned westward toward Maralah, proceeding to Dabbesheth, and then to the valley that is east of Jokneam. 


text:
From Sarid it proceeded back eastward, creating a sunrise boundary at Chisloth-tabor, and proceeded from there to Daberath, then to Japhia, 


text:
from which it proceeded toward the east to Gath-hepher, then to Eth-kazin, then going to Rimmon, where it turned toward Neah. 


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<n>{Issachar's Allocation}</n> d The fourth lottery went to the tribe of Issachar according to its families. 


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with the boundary including Tabor, Shahazumah, and Beth-shemesh. The boundary terminated at the Jordan River, for a total of sixteen towns and villages. 


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These towns and villages comprise the inheritance of the tribe of Issachar, according to its families. 


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<n>{Asher's Allocation}</n> d The fifth lottery went to the tribe of Asher according to its families. 


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then proceeded east to Beth-dagon. It proceeded to Zebulun and the Iphtah-el Valley, turned north to Beth-emek and Neiel, then proceeded north to Cabul, 


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There the boundary turned toward Ramah, reaching to the fortress city of Tyre and turned to Hosah, where it terminated at the Mediterranean <n>{The Heb. lacks Mediterranean}</n> Sea. Also included were <n>{The Heb. lacks Also included were}</n> Mahalab, Achzib, 


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<n>{Naphtali's Allocation}</n> d The sixth lottery went to the tribe of Naphtali according to its families. 


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The territorial boundary proceeded from Heleph, the oak in Zaanannim, and Adami-nekeb, and Jabneel as far as Lakkum, terminating at the Jordan River. 


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There the boundary proceeded west to Aznoth-tabor and then to Hukkok, reaching Zebulun at the south, Asher on the west, and Judah on the east at the Jordan River. 


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Also included were <n>{The Heb. lacks Also included were}</n> the fortress towns of Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, Chinnereth, 


text:
Iron, Migdal-el, Horem, Beth-anath, and Beth-shemesh, for a total of nineteen towns and their villages. 


text:
These towns and villages comprised the inheritance of the tribe of Naphtali according to its families. 


text:
<n>{Dan's Allocation}</n> d The seventh lottery went to the tribe of Dan according to its families. 


text:
Later, when the descendants of Dan lost their territory, they went up and attacked Leshem. After they captured it and executed its inhabitants, they took possession of it and settled there, renaming the city of Leshem to Dan in memory of their ancestor Dan. 


text:
These towns and villages comprised the inheritance of the tribe of Dan according to their families. 


text:
<n>{Joshua's Allocation}</n> d When the Israelis had completed distribution of the various territories of the land as inheritances, they provided an inheritance to Nun's son Joshua. 


text:
By a command from the Lord , they allocated the town that he requested, Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim. He rebuilt the town and settled there. 


text:
These are the inheritances that Eleazar the priest, Nun's son Joshua, and the heads of the families of the Israeli tribes distributed by lot in the Lord's presence at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. So they finished dividing the land. 


text:
<n>{The Cities of Refuge}</n> <n>{ (Numbers 35:9-28; Deuteronomy 19:1-13)}</n> d Then the Lord told Joshua, 


text:
so that anyone who kills a person unintentionally and without premeditation may run there and be protected from closely related <n>{Lit. from blood}</n> avengers. 


text:
He may run to one of those cities, stand at the entrance of the city gate, and tell his side of the story to the elders of the city. They are to bring him inside the city with them and provide him a place to live among them. 


text:
«Now if the closely related <n>{Lit. the blood}</n> avenger pursues him, then they are not to hand the killer over to him, because he killed his neighbor without premeditation and without hating him beforehand. 


text:
He is to live in that city until he stands trial before the community, until the death of the one who is high priest at that time. Then the killer may return to his own city and to his own home, that is, to the city from which he fled.»" 


text:
So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba (also known as Hebron) in the hill country of Judah. 


text:
East of Jericho beyond the Jordan River, they reserved Bezer in the wilderness on the plain from the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan from the tribe of Manasseh. 


text:
These were appointed to be cities for all the Israelis and for the foreigner who lives among them, so that whoever kills anyone unintentionally may run there and not die at the hands of a closely related <n>{Lit. a blood}</n> avenger until he stands for trial before the community. 


text:
<n>{Reservation of the Levitical Cities}</n> d Then the family leaders of the descendants of Levi approached Eleazar the priest and Nun's son Joshua, along with the family leaders of the people of Israel. 


text:
It was at Shiloh in the land of Canaan that they told them, "The Lord ordered through Moses that we be given cities in which to live, along with their pasture lands for our livestock." 


text:
<n>{Allocation for the Descendants of Kohath and Descendants of Gershon}</n> d So, just as the Lord had said, the Israelis set aside cities for the descendants of Levi from a portion of their own inheritances, along with their grazing lands. 


text:
The lottery went to the families of the descendants of Kohath. So the descendants of Aaron the priest, who were descendants of Levi, received thirteen cities by random lot from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin. 


text:
The rest of the descendants of Kohath received ten cities by random lot from the families of the tribes of Ephraim, Dan, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. 


text:
The descendants of Gershon received thirteen cities by random lot from the families of the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and from the half-tribe of Manasseh located in Bashan. 


text:
The descendants of Merari, allocated according to their families, received twelve cities from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun. 


text:
The Israelis apportioned these cities, along with their pasture lands, to the descendants of Levi by random lot, just as the Lord had commanded through Moses. 


text:
From the tribes of the descendants of Judah and Simeon, they gave these cities, delineated by name: 


text:
for the descendants of Aaron, one of the families of the descendants of Kohath, of the descendants of Levi, since the lot fell in their favor first. 


text:
They gave them Kiriath-arba, also known as Hebron, (Arba was named after <n>{The Heb. lacks was named after}</n> the ancestor of Anak), in the hill country of Judah, along with its surrounding pasture lands. 


text:
But the fields adjoining the city and its surrounding villages were given to Jephunneh's son Caleb. 


text:
So they gave Hebron to the descendants of Aaron the priest to serve as a city of refuge for unintentional killers, along with its pasture lands, Libnah with its pasture lands, 


text:
Ain with its pasture lands, Juttah with its pasture lands, and Beth-shemesh with its pasture lands, for a total of nine cities from these two tribes. 


text:
All of the cities allocated <n>{The Heb. lacks allocated}</n> to the priests, who were descendants of Aaron, numbered thirteen, along with their pasture lands. 


text:
Cities from the tribe of Ephraim were also allotted to the families of the descendants of Kohath, that is, to the rest of the descendants of Kohath, who were descendants of Levi. 


text:
Shechem was allocated to them as a city of refuge for unintentional killers, along with its pasture lands, in the mountainous region <n>{Or the hill country}</n> of Ephraim, Gezer with its pasture lands, 


text:
From the tribe of Dan were allocated <n>{The Heb. lacks were allocated}</n> Elteke with its pasture lands, Gibbethon with its pasture lands, 


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Aijalon with its pasture lands, and Gath-rimmon with its pasture lands, for a total of four cities. 


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From the half-tribe of Manasseh were allocated Taanach with its pasture lands and Gath-rimmon with its pasture lands, for a total of two cities. 


text:
All the cities with their pasture lands for the families of the rest of the descendants of Kohath numbered ten. 


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To the descendants of Gershon (one of the Levitical families) from the half-tribe of Manasseh were allocated <n>{The Heb. lacks were allocated}</n> Golan in Bashan as a city of refuge for unintentional killers, along with its pasture lands, and Beeshterah with its pasture lands, for a total of two cities. 


text:
From the tribe of Issachar were allocated <n>{The Heb. lacks were allocated}</n> Kishion with its pasture lands, Daberath with its pasture lands, 


text:
From the tribe of Asher were allocated <n>{The Heb. lacks were allocated}</n> Mishal with its pasture lands, Abdon with its pasture lands, 


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From the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with its pasture lands were allocated <n>{The Heb. lacks were allocated}</n> as a city of refuge for the unintentional killer, Hammoth-dor with its pasture lands, and Kartan with its pasture lands, for a total of three cities. 


text:
All the cities of the descendants of Gershon according to their families totaled thirteen, including their pasture lands. 


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<n>{Allocation for the Descendants of Merari}</n> d From the tribe of Zebulun were allocated <n>{The Heb. lacks were allocated}</n> to the descendants of Merari (that is, the rest of the descendants of Levi) Jokneam with its pasture lands, Kartah with its pasture lands, 


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<n>{vv. 36-37 are usu. included in MT as a quotation from 1 Chr 6:63-64}</n> From the tribe of Reuben were allocated <n>{The Heb. lacks were allocated}</n> Bezer with its pasture lands, Jahaz with its pasture lands, 


text:
From the tribe of Gad were allocated <n>{The Heb. lacks were allocated}</n> Ramoth in Gilead with its pasture lands, to serve as a city of refuge for the unintentional killer, Mahanaim with its pasture lands, 


text:
Heshbon with its pasture lands, and Jazer with its pasture lands, for a total of four cities in all. 


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So the entire allocation to the descendants of Merari (that is, the rest of the families of the descendants of Levi) according to their families totaled twelve cities. 


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<n>{Summary of Allocations to the Descendants of Levi}</n> d All of the cities of the descendants of Levi that had been set apart <n>{The Heb. lacks that had been set apart}</n> among the territorial <n>{The Heb. lacks territorial}</n> possession of the Israelis totaled 48, along with their pasture lands. 


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So the Lord gave all of the land to Israel that he had promised to give their ancestors, and they took possession and settled there in it. 


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The Lord gave them peace <n>{Lit. rest}</n> all around them, just as he had promised their ancestors. Not one of their enemies was able to oppose them the Lord placed all of their enemies under their control. 


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Not one of the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel failed all of them came about. <n>{The Heb. lacks came about}</n> 


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<n>{The Tribes East of the Jordan}</n> d Later, Joshua called together the descendants of Reuben, the descendants of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh 


text:
and told them, "You have done everything that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, and you have listened to me in everything that I commanded you. 


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You haven't abandoned your relatives these past days to the present, and you have met the obligation contained in <n>{The Heb. lacks contained in}</n> the commands of the Lord your God. 


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Now the Lord has given peace <n>{Lit. rest}</n> to your relatives, just as he told them. Therefore, proceed to your tents to the land that is yours to possess that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you east of <n>{Lit. you beyond}</n> the Jordan River. 


text:
Only be very careful to keep the commands and the Law that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you that is, <n>{The Heb. lacks that is}</n> to love the Lord your God, to follow in all of his ways, to keep his commands, to stay close to him, and to serve him with all your heart and soul." 


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Now Moses had made an allotment in Bashan to one half-tribe of Manasseh, but Joshua made an allotment west of the Jordan River to the other half-tribe of their relatives. So when Joshua sent them on their way back to their tents, he also blessed them by saying 


text:
"Return to your tents with great wealth, plenty of livestock, silver, gold, bronze, iron, and lots of clothing. Divide the spoil from your enemies among your relatives." 


text:
The descendants of Reuben, the descendants of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh went back to the land of Gilead, leaving the Israelis at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, for their territorial possession that they had inherited in accordance with the command of the Lord given through Moses. 


text:
<n>{An Unauthorized Altar is Constructed}</n> d After they arrived at an area of the Jordan River that is in the land of Canaan, the descendants of Reuben, the descendants of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh constructed an altar there by the Jordan River, and it was very large. 


text:
When the Israelis heard about it, they announced, "Look here, the descendants of Reuben, the descendants of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh have constructed an altar in Canaan's frontier district of the Jordan River, on the side apportioned to the Israelis." 


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When the Israelis heard that announcement, <n>{The Heb. lacks that announcement}</n> the entire community of the Israelis gathered together at Shiloh in preparation for war. 


text:
Then the Israelis sent a delegation <n>{The Heb. lacks a delegation}</n> to the descendants of Reuben, the descendants of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh in the land of Gilead. They sent <n>{The Heb. lacks They sent}</n> Eleazar's son Phinehas the priest, 


text:
and ten officials with him (one for each of the tribal families of Israel, each one of them a family leader among the clans <n>{Lit. thousands}</n> of Israel). 


text:
They approached the descendants of Reuben, the descendants of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh in the land of Gilead and told them: 


text:
"This is what the entire community of the Lord has to say: «What is this treacherous act by which you have acted deceitfully against the God of Israel by turning away from following the Lord today, and by building yourselves an altar today, so you can rebel against the Lord ? 


text:
Isn't the evil that happened at Peor enough for us, from which we have yet to be completely cleansed even to this point, <n>{Lit. day}</n> and because of which a plague came upon the community of the Lord ? 


text:
Now then, are you turning away from following the Lord today? If you rebel against the Lord today, by tomorrow he will be angry with the entire community of Israel. 


text:
If the land of your inheritance remains unclean, then cross back over into the land that the Lord possesses, and receive an inheritance among us. Don't rebel against the Lord and against us by constructing an altar for yourselves besides the altar of the Lord our God. 


text:
Didn't Zerah's son Achan act treacherously with respect to the things banned by God, <n>{The Heb. lacks by God}</n> and as a result God became angry at <n>{Lit. result anger fell on}</n> the entire community of Israel? And that man was not the only one to die because of his iniquity.»" 


text:
The descendants of Reuben, descendants of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered the officials of the clans <n>{Lit. thousands}</n> of Israel, 


text:
"The God of gods, the Lord , the God of gods, the Lord is the One who knows! And may Israel itself be aware that if this <n>{The Heb. lacks this}</n> was an act of rebellion or an act of treachery against the Lord , may he not deliver us today! 


text:
If we have built an altar for ourselves intended to turn us away from following the Lord , or to offer burnt offerings, grain offerings, or peace offerings on it, may the Lord himself demand an accounting from us! <n>{The Heb. lacks an accounting from us}</n> 


text:
But we did this because we were concerned for a reason, since we thought, «Sometime in the future your descendants may say to our descendants, "What do you have in common <n>{The Heb. lacks have in common}</n> with the Lord , the God of Israel? 


text:
The Lord has established the Jordan River to be a territorial border between us and you. descendants of Reuben and descendants of Gad have no allotment from the Lord ." So your descendants may cause our descendants to stop fearing the Lord .'


text:
but instead it will serve as a reminder <n>{Or witness}</n> between us and you and between our generations after us, that we are to serve the Lord with our burnt offerings, sacrifices, and peace offerings. That way your descendants will not say to our descendants in the future, "You have no allotment from the Lord ."'


text:
"That's also why we said, «It may be if they say these things <n>{The Heb. lacks these things}</n> to us and to our descendants in the future, so we will respond, "Look at this replica of the altar of the Lord that our ancestors made, not for burnt offerings or sacrifice, but rather as a reminder <n>{Or witness}</n> between us and you. 


text:
May we never rebel against the Lord today by building an altar for burnt offerings, for grain offerings, or for sacrifice to replace <n>{Or sacrifice besides}</n> the altar of the Lord our God which stands before his Tent."»" 


text:
When Phinehas the priest, the leaders of the community, and the heads of the families of Israel who were with him heard what the descendants of Reuben, the descendants of Gad, and the descendants of Manasseh said, they were pleased. 


text:
So Eleazar's son Phinehas the priest replied to the descendants of Reuben, the descendants of Gad, and the descendants of Manasseh, "Today we've demonstrated <n>{Lit. known}</n> that the Lord is among us, because you have not acted treacherously against the Lord . Now you have delivered the Israelis from the anger <n>{Lit. hand}</n> of the Lord ." 


text:
So Eleazar's son Phinehas the priest and the leaders returned from the descendants of Reuben, the descendants of Gad, and from the land of Gilead to the land of Canaan and to the people of Israel, bringing back word to them. 


text:
What they said pleased the people of Israel, so they <n>{Lit. the Israelis}</n> blessed God and said no more about going up to attack them in war and to destroy the land where the descendants of Reuben and the descendants of Gad were living. 


text:
The descendants of Reuben and the descendants of Gad named the altar "Witness," because they claimed, <n>{The Heb. lacks they claimed}</n> "It stands as a witness between us that the Lord is God." 


text:
<n>{Joshua's Retirement Address to Israel}</n> d Many years later, after the Lord had given peace <n>{Lit. rest}</n> between Israel and all its surrounding enemies, and after Joshua had become very old, 


text:
Joshua called together all Israel, including their leaders, officials, judges, and tribal officers. He told them, "I am old now after having lived many years. 


text:
You have seen everything that the Lord your God has done to all of these nations on your behalf, because it has been the Lord your God who has been fighting on your behalf. 


text:
Now look, I have allocated these nations that remain as an inheritance for your tribes, including all of the nations that I have eliminated, from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean <n>{Lit. Great}</n> Sea to the west. <n>{Lit. Sea that faces the setting sun}</n> 


text:
The Lord your God will expel them in front of you, driving them out of your sight. You will take possession of this land, just as the Lord your God promised you. 


text:
"Stand very strong, then, so you can obey and carry out everything written in the Book of the Law of Moses, turning neither to the right nor to the left of it. 


text:
That way, you will not mingle with those nations that remain among you, nor mention the name of their gods, nor make oaths by them, <n>{The Heb. lacks by them}</n> nor serve them, nor worship them. 


text:
because the Lord has expelled great and strong nations ahead of you. Now as for you, not a single man has been able to oppose you right to this day. 


text:
A single man makes a thousand flee, because the Lord your God is the One who is fighting for you, just as he promised you. 


text:
because if you ever turn back and cling to those who remain of these nations by intermarrying with them and associating one with another, 


text:
know for certain that the Lord your God will not continue to drive out these nations ahead of you. Instead, they will be a snare and a trap for you, a whip to your backs, and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land that the Lord your God has given you. 


text:
"Look here: today I'm going down the path that everyone on earth takes, and you know with all your hearts and souls that not a single word of all of the good things that the Lord your God spoke about you has failed to happen. Everything has been fulfilled about you not one of them has failed. 


text:
However, just as all of the good things have come about that the Lord your God promised, so also the Lord will bring upon you all of the threats until he has destroyed you from possessing this good land that he <n>{Lit. the Lord your God}</n> has given you. 


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When you break the covenant of the Lord your God that he commanded you to obey by going to serve other gods and worship them, then the anger of the Lord will blaze against you, and you will perish quickly from this good land that he gave you." 


text:
<n>{Joshua's Final Exhortation}</n> d Then Joshua assembled together all of the tribes of Israel at Shechem. He called for the leaders, officials, judges, and tribal officers of Israel. They assembled in formation before God, 


text:
and Joshua told all of the people, "This is what the Lord God of Israel has to say: «Long ago your ancestors lived beyond the Euphrates <n>{The Heb. lacks Euphrates}</n> River, including Terah, father of both Abraham and Nahor, where they served other gods. 


text:
Then I took your ancestor Abraham from the other side of the Euphrates <n>{The Heb. lacks Euphrates}</n> River and led him through the entire land of Canaan. I multiplied his descendants, and gave him his son <n>{The Heb. lacks his son}</n> Isaac. 


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«I gave Jacob and Esau to Isaac. And I gave Mount Seir <n>{This mountain, the modern Jebel esh-sher, is located in the mountain range that extends south of the Dead Sea toward the Gulf of Aqaba, and is bordered by the Arabah Valley to the west.}</n> to Esau as his possession, but Jacob and his children went down to Egypt. 


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«Later I commissioned Moses and Aaron, and I inflicted plagues on Egypt by what I did among them. Afterwards, I brought all of you <n>{Lit. brought you (pl.)}</n> out. 


text:
«Then I brought your ancestors out of Egypt, and you came to the Sea, and the Egyptians followed your ancestors with chariots and horsemen to the Reed <n>{So MT; LXX reads Red}</n> Sea. 


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But when they cried out to the Lord , he placed darkness between you and the Egyptians, brought the sea upon the Egyptians, <n>{Lit. upon them}</n> and swallowed them up. Your own eyes saw what I did in Egypt. Then you lived in the desert for a long time. 


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«I brought you into the territory of the Amorites, who lived on the other side of the Jordan River. They fought you, but I gave them into your control, and you took possession of their land. I destroyed them from your presence. 


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«Then Zippor's son, King Balak of Moab, showed up and fought against Israel. He sent word <n>{The Heb. lacks word}</n> to Balaam, summoning Beor's son to put a curse on you. 


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But I wasn't willing to listen to Balaam. So he had to bless you, and I delivered you from his control. 


text:
«Next, you crossed the Jordan River and arrived at Jericho. But the citizens of Jericho fought you, as did the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites, and the Jebusites, so I gave them into your control. 


text:
«Then I sent hornets ahead of you to drive out two kings of the Amorites before you without your using either sword or bow. 


text:
I gave you a land for which you never worked and cities that you didn't build but that you have lived in. You're eating from vineyards and olive groves that you didn't plant.'


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"Now you must fear the Lord and serve him in faithfulness and truth. Throw away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates <n>{The Heb. lacks Euphrates}</n> River and in Egypt. Instead, serve the Lord . 


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If you think it's the wrong thing for you to serve the Lord , then choose for yourselves today whom you will serve the gods whom your ancestors served on the other side of the Euphrates <n>{The Heb. lacks Euphrates}</n> River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose territories you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord . 


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<n>{The Response of the People}</n> d In response, the people said, "Far be it from us that we should abandon the Lord to serve other gods, 


text:
since the Lord our God is the One who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, from a life of slavery. He did those great things right in front of us, preserving us along the way that we traveled and among all the peoples through whose territory we passed. 


text:
The Lord expelled all the people before us, including the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore, we also will serve the Lord , for he is our God." 


text:
So Joshua told the people, "You will not be able to serve the Lord , because he is a God of Holiness. He is a jealous God, and he will forgive neither your transgressions nor your sins. 


text:
If you abandon the Lord and serve foreign deities, then he will turn and do you harm, consuming you after all <n>{The Heb. lacks all}</n> the good he has done for you." 


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Joshua responded, "You are giving testimony against yourselves, that you have chosen to serve the Lord ." They replied, "We are witnesses!" 


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Joshua said, <n>{The Heb. lacks Josh said}</n> "Therefore abandon the foreign gods that are among you, and turn your hearts to the Lord , the God of Israel." 


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The people replied, <n>{Lit. replied to Josh}</n> "We will serve the Lord our God and obey his voice." 


text:
He <n>{Lit. Josh}</n> wrote these words in the Book of the Law of God, took a large stone, moved it under the shade of <n>{The Heb. lacks the shade of}</n> the oak tree that was near the sanctuary of the Lord , 


text:
and then <n>{Lit. Josh}</n> told all of the people, "Look! This stone will testify for us, because it has heard everything that the Lord has spoken to us. So it will stand as a witness against you in the event that you deny your God." 


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Then Joshua dismissed the people, and each man returned <n>{The Heb. lacks returned}</n> to his territorial inheritance. 


text:
<n>{The Death of Joshua}</n> <n>{ (Judges 2:6-9)}</n> d Some time later, Joshua servant of the Lord died at the age of 110 years, and 


text:
they buried him in his territorial inheritance at Timnath-serah in the mountainous region <n>{Or the hill country}</n> of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. 


text:
Israel served the Lord for the entire lifetimes of Joshua and of the officials who outlived Joshua, that is, the ones who had personally known everything that the Lord had done for Israel. 


text:
They also buried the bones of Joseph, which the Israelis brought up from Egypt, in the parcel of ground at Shechem that Jacob had purchased from the descendants of Shechem's father Hamor, for 100 pieces of silver. It became part of the inheritance of the descendants of Joseph. 


text:
<n>{The Death of Eleazar the Priest}</n> d Later, Aaron's son Eleazar also died, and they buried him at Gibeah, which belonged to his son Phinehas, and which had been given to him in the mountainous region <n>{Or the hill country}</n> of Ephraim. 


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<n>{ The Book of}</n> <n>{ Judges}</n> d <n>{The Capture of Jerusalem}</n> d Sometime after Joshua had died, the Israelis asked the Lord , "Who is to lead <n>{Lit. to go up for}</n> us against the Canaanites in our opening attack against them?" 


text:
The Lord replied, "The tribe of <n>{The Heb. lacks the tribe of ; and so throughout the chapter}</n> Judah is to lead you. <n>{Lit. to go up}</n> Look! I've given the land into their control." 


text:
But the tribe of Judah told the tribe of Simeon, the descendants of Judah's <n>{Lit. Simeon, his}</n> brother, "Come with us <n>{Lit. him}</n> into our territory, and we'll both fight the Canaanites. In return, we'll <n>{Lit. I'll}</n> go with you when you fight in your territory." So the army of <n>{The Heb. lacks the army of ; and so throughout the chapter}</n> the tribe of Simeon accompanied the army of the tribe of Judah. 


text:
When the army of the tribe of Judah went into battle, the Lord gave the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their control, and they defeated 10,000 men at Bezek. 


text:
Adoni-bezek used to brag, "Seventy kings without thumbs and big toes used to eat what was left under my table. God has repaid me for what I've done." They brought him to Jerusalem, and he later died there. 


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Then the army of Judah attacked Jerusalem, captured it, executed its inhabitants, and set fire to the city. 


text:
Later, the army of Judah left Jerusalem <n>{Lit. Judah went down}</n> to attack the Canaanites who lived in the hill country, the Negev, <n>{I.e. the southern regions of the Sinai peninsula; cf. Josh 10:40}</n> and the Shephelah. <n>{I.e. the verdant central lowlands of Israel, and so throughout the book; cf. Josh 10:40}</n> 


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They <n>{Lit. Judah}</n> attacked the Canaanites who inhabited Hebron (formerly known as Kiriath-arba) and fought Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai. 


text:
<n>{The Capture of Debir}</n> <n>{ (Joshua 15:13-19)}</n> d The army of Judah then proceeded to attack the inhabitants of Debir, which used to be known as Kiriath-sepher. 


text:
Caleb announced, "I'll give my daughter Achsah in marriage to whomever leads the attack against Kiriath-sepher and captures it." 


text:
Othniel, Caleb's nephew through his younger brother Kenaz, captured the city, so Caleb <n>{Lit. he}</n> awarded him his daughter Achsah in marriage. 


text:
Later on, after she had arrived, she urged Othniel <n>{Lit. him}</n> to ask her father for a field. As she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, "What do you want <n>{The Heb. lacks do you want}</n> for yourself?" 


text:
"I want this blessing from you," she replied. "Since you've given me land in the Negev, <n>{I.e. the southern regions of the Sinai peninsula; cf. Josh 10:40}</n> give me water springs, too." So Caleb gave her both the upper and lower springs. 


text:
<n>{The Capture of Certain Southern Territories}</n> d The descendants of the Kenites, the tribe from which <n>{The Heb. lacks the tribe from which}</n> Moses'father-in-law came, accompanied the descendants of Judah from the city of the palms to the Judean wilderness, which is in the desert area south of Arad, and lived with the people there. 


text:
The army of Judah accompanied the army of Simeon, Judah's <n>{Lit. his}</n> brother, as they attacked the Canaanites who were living in Zephath, and they completely destroyed it. Then they renamed the city Hormah. 


text:
The army of Judah captured Gaza and its territory, Ashkelon and its territory, and Ekron and its territory. 


text:
The Lord was with the army of Judah, and they captured the hill country, but did not expel the inhabitants of the valley because they were equipped with iron chariots. 


text:
<n>{Hebron Awarded to Caleb}</n> <n>{ (Joshua 14:6-15; 15:63)}</n> d They gave Hebron to Caleb, just as Moses had promised, <n>{cf. Josh 14:9}</n> and he drove out the three sons of Anak from there. 


text:
However, the descendants of Benjamin did not expel the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem, so the Jebusites have lived with the descendants of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this day. 


text:
<n>{The Capture of Bethel}</n> d Then the army of the tribe <n>{Lit. house}</n> of Joseph attacked Bethel, and the Lord was with them. 


text:
The scouts observed a man coming out of the city and they promised him, "Please show us the entrance to the city and we'll deal kindly with you." 


text:
So he showed them the entrance to the city, and they attacked the city with swords, but they let the man and his entire family escape. 


text:
So the man traveled to the land of the Hittites and built a city that he named "Luz," and it is called by that name to this day. 


text:
<n>{Unconquered Territories}</n> d The army of the tribe of Manasseh did not conquer Beth-shean and its villages, Taanach and its villages, the inhabitants of Dor and its villages, the inhabitants of Ibleam and its villages, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and its villages. Instead, the Canaanites continued to live in that land. 


text:
When Israel had grown strong, they subjected the Canaanites to conscripted labor and never did expel them completely. 


text:
The army of the tribe of Ephraim did not expel the Canaanites who were living in Gezer, so the Canaanites lived in Gezer among them. 


text:
The army of the tribe of Zebulun did not expel the inhabitants of Kitron or the inhabitants of Nahalol, so the Canaanites lived among them, but were subjected to conscripted labor. 


text:
The army of the tribe of Asher did not expel the inhabitants of Acco nor the inhabitants of Sidon, Ahlab, Achzib, Helbah, Aphik, or Rehob. 


text:
So the descendants of Asher lived among the Canaanites who continued to inhabit the land, because they did not expel them. 


text:
The army of the tribe of Naphtali did not expel the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and the inhabitants of Beth-anath. Instead, they lived among the Canaanites who inhabited the land. However, the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and Beth-anath were subjected to conscripted labor. 


text:
Later on, the Amorites forced the descendants of Dan into the hill country and did not permit them to come into the valleys of the hills. 


text:
Furthermore, the Amorites continued to inhabit Mount Heres in Aijalon and Shaalbim. Eventually, however, after the tribe <n>{Lit. house}</n> of Joseph had become strong, the Amorites <n>{Lit. they}</n> were subjected to conscripted labor. 


text:
<n>{Israel is Rebuked}</n> d Some time later, the angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim and announced to Israel, <n>{The Heb. lacks to Israel}</n> "I brought you up from Egypt and led you into the land that I promised to your ancestors. I had told them, <n>{The Heb. lacks to them}</n> «I'll never breach my covenant with you. 


text:
As for you, you must not make any treaties <n>{Or covenants}</n> with the inhabitants of this land. Instead, tear down their altars.'But you haven't obeyed me. What have you done? 


text:
Therefore I'm now saying, <n>{Lit. I also said}</n> «I won't expel them before you. Instead, they'll remain at your side, and their gods will ensnare you.»" 


text:
which is why they named the place Bochim. <n>{MT Bochim means weeping}</n> And there they sacrificed to the Lord . 


text:
After Joshua had dismissed the people, the Israelis returned to their respective inheritances to take possession of the land. 


text:
<n>{The Death of Joshua}</n> <n>{ (Joshua 24:29-31)}</n> d The people served the Lord during the entire lifetime of Joshua as well as the lifetimes of all the elders who outlived Joshua and who had observed all the great deeds that the Lord had done for Israel. 


text:
They buried him in Timnath-heres, within the boundaries of his inheritance in the mountainous region <n>{Or the hill country}</n> of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. 


text:
After that whole generation had died, <n>{Lit. had been gathered to their fathers}</n> another generation grew up after them that was not acquainted with the Lord or with what he had done for Israel. 


text:
<n>{The Rise of the Judges}</n> d So the Israelis practiced what the Lord considered to be evil by worshiping Canaanite deities. <n>{Lit. worshiping the Baals}</n> 


text:
They abandoned the Lord God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They followed other gods from among the gods of the peoples who surrounded them. They bowed down in worship of them, and by doing so angered the Lord . 


text:
As a result, they abandoned the Lord by serving both Baal <n>{I.e. the supreme male deity of the Canaanites}</n> and Ashtaroth. <n>{I.e. various female deities of the Canaanites}</n> 


text:
So in his burning anger against Israel, the Lord gave them into the domination of marauders who plundered them. The enemies who surrounded the Israelis <n>{Lit. them}</n> controlled them, and they were no longer able to withstand their adversaries. 


text:
Wherever they went, the Lord worked <n>{Lit. the hand of the Lord was}</n> against them to bring misfortune, just as the Lord had warned, and just as the Lord had promised them. As a result, they suffered greatly. 


text:
Then the Lord raised up leaders, <n>{Or judges ; and so throughout the chapter}</n> who delivered Israel <n>{Lit. them}</n> from domination by their marauders. 


text:
But they didn't listen to their leaders, because they were committing spiritual immorality by following other gods and worshiping them. They quickly turned away from the road on which their ancestors had walked in obedience to the commands of the Lord . They didn't follow their example. 


text:
As a result, whenever the Lord raised up leaders for them, the Lord remained present with their leader, delivering Israel <n>{Lit. them}</n> from the control of their enemies during the lifetime of that leader. The Lord <n>{Lit. For he}</n> was moved with compassion by their groaning that had been caused by those who were oppressing and persecuting them. 


text:
However, after the leader had died, they would relapse to a condition more corrupt than their ancestors, following other gods, serving them, and worshiping them. They would not abandon their activities or their obstinate lifestyles. 


text:
In his burning anger against Israel, the Lord said, "Because the people have transgressed my covenant that I commanded their ancestors to keep, and because they haven't obeyed me, 


text:
That way, I'll use them to demonstrate whether or not Israel will keep the Lord's lifestyle by walking on that road like their ancestors did." 


text:
So the Lord caused those nations to remain and did not expel them quickly. He did not give them into Joshua's control. 


text:
<n>{Unconquered Canaanite Nations}</n> d Here's a list of nations that the Lord caused to remain in order to test Israel (that is, <n>{The Heb. lacks that is}</n> everyone who had not gained any battle experience in Canaan) 


text:
only so that successive Israeli generations, who had not known war previously, might come to know it by experience. 


text:
These nations included <n>{The Heb. lacks These nations included}</n> the five lords of the Philistines, all of the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who lived in Mount Baal-hermon as far as Lebo-hamath. 


text:
They remained there to test Israel, to reveal if they would obey the commands of the Lord that he issued to their ancestors through Moses. 


text:
<n>{Othniel, Israel's First Judge}</n> d The Israelis continued to live among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, 


text:
taking their daughters as wives for themselves, giving their own daughters to their sons, and serving their gods. 


text:
The Israelis kept on practicing evil in full view of the Lord . They forgot the Lord their God and served Canaanite male and female deities. <n>{Lit. served the Baals and the Ashtaroth}</n> 


text:
Then in his burning anger against Israel, the Lord delivered them to domination by King Cushan-rishathaim of Aram-naharaim. <n>{Or Aram of the Two Rivers ; i.e. Mesopotamia}</n> So the Israelis served Cushan-rishathaim for eight years. 


text:
When the Israelis cried out to the Lord , the Lord raised up Othniel son of Caleb's younger brother Kenaz, to deliver <n>{Lit. to be a deliverer for ; or to be a messiah}</n> them, <n>{Lit. deliver the Israelis}</n> and he did. 


text:
The Spirit of the Lord was on him, and he governed Israel. When Othniel <n>{Lit. he}</n> went out to battle, the Lord handed king Cushan-rishathaim of Aram-naharaim <n>{Or Aram of the Two Rivers ; i.e. Mesopotamia}</n> into his control, and Othniel's <n>{Lit. his}</n> domination of Cushan-rishathaim was strong. 


text:
<n>{Ehud, Israel's Second Judge}</n> d The Israelis again practiced evil in full view of the Lord. So the Lord strengthened Eglon king of Moab in his control over Israel, because they had practiced evil in full view of the Lord . 


text:
Eglon <n>{Lit. He}</n> assembled together the Ammonites and the Amalekites, proceeded to attack Israel, and captured the cities of palms. 


text:
But when the Israelis cried out to the Lord , the Lord raised up Gera's son Ehud, a left-handed descendant of Benjamin, as a deliverer for them. The Israelis paid tribute through him to king Eglon of Moab. 


text:
Ehud forged a double-edged sword that was one and a half feet <n>{Lit. one cubit ; or about half a meter}</n> long, tied it to his right thigh under his cloak, 


text:
As he finished presenting the tribute, Ehud <n>{Lit. he}</n> sent away the people who had been carrying it. 


text:
He had turned away from the idols that were at Gilgal. So he told Eglon, "I have a secret message for you, king." King Eglon <n>{Lit. So he}</n> responded "Silence!" and all of his attendants left him. 


text:
Ehud approached him while he was sitting by himself in the cool roof chamber of his palace. <n>{The Heb. lacks of his palace}</n> He said, "I have a message from God for you!" So when Eglon <n>{Lit. he}</n> got up from his seat, 


text:
Ehud used his left hand to take the sword from his right thigh and then plunged it into Eglon's <n>{Lit. his}</n> abdomen. 


text:
The hilt also penetrated along with the sword blade, and Eglon's fat closed in over the blade. Because he did not withdraw the sword from Eglon's abdomen, the sword point <n>{So LXX. MT reads abdomen, it}</n> exited from Eglon's entrails. <n>{Or from behind}</n> 


text:
Then Ehud left the cool chamber in the direction of the vestibule, shutting and locking the doors behind him. 


text:
After he left, Eglon's <n>{Lit. his}</n> attendants came to look, but the doors to the cool chamber were locked! So they said, "He must be relieving himself <n>{Lit. be covering his feet}</n> in the inner part of the cool chamber." <n>{Or cool area ; i.e. a private room (usually on a roof) for residence in warm weather}</n> 


text:
They waited until they were embarrassed, since he never opened the doors to the chamber. Eventually they took a key, opened the doors, and found their master dead on the ground. 


text:
Meanwhile, Ehud escaped while they were delayed, passed by the idols, and escaped in the direction of Seirah. 


text:
When he arrived there, he sounded a trumpet in the mountainous region <n>{Or the hill country}</n> of Ephraim. While the Israeli army accompanied Ehud from the mountainous regions, <n>{Or the hill country}</n> 


text:
he told them, "Attack them, because the Lord has given your enemies the Moabites into your control." So the Israeli army <n>{Lit. he}</n> followed after him, seized the fords of the Jordan River opposite Moab, and did not allow anyone to cross. 


text:
At that time they attacked about 10,000 Moabites, all of whom were strong and valiant men. Not one man escaped. 


text:
As a result, Moab was subdued under the control of Israel, and the land remained quiet for 80 years. 


text:
<n>{Shamgar, Israel's Third Judge}</n> d After Ehud, <n>{Lit. him}</n> Anath's son Shamgar attacked 600 Philistines with a cattle prod. He also delivered Israel. 


text:
<n>{Deborah, Israel's Fourth Judge}</n> d After Ehud had died, while the Lord was watching, the Israelis made the evil they had been practicing even worse, 


text:
so the Lord turned them over to domination by Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. Sisera, the commanding officer of his army, lived in Harosheth-haggoyim. <n>{Or in the gentile district of Harosheth}</n> 


text:
The Israelis cried out to the Lord , because of his 900 iron chariots. Jabin <n>{Lit. he}</n> oppressed the Israelis forcefully for twenty years. 


text:
She regularly took her seat <n>{I.e. in her capacity as governor}</n> under the Palm Tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the mountainous region <n>{Or the hill country}</n> of Ephraim, where the Israelis would approach her for decisions. 


text:
She sent word to Abinoam's son Barak from Kedesh-naphtali, summoning him. She asked him, "The Lord God of Israel has commanded you, hasn't he? He told you, <n>{The Heb. lacks He told you}</n> «Go out, march to Mount Tabor, and take 10,000 men with you from the tribes <n>{Lit. children}</n> of Naphtali and Zebulun. 


text:
I will draw out Sisera, the commanding officer of Jabin's army, along with his chariots and troops, to the Kishon River, where I will drop him right into your hands.»" 


text:
She responded, "I will surely go with you, but the road that you're about to take will not lead to honor for you. The Lord will sell Sisera into the hands of a woman." Then Deborah got up and went with Barak toward Kedesh. 


text:
Barak called out the army of the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali to march on Kedesh, and 10,000 men went out to war with him, along with Deborah. 


text:
Meanwhile, Heber the Kenite had been separated from the Kenites, the descendants of Moses'father-in-law Hobab. He had pitched his tents far away, near the Elon-bezaanannim. <n>{Or the Plain of Zaanannim}</n> 


text:
So Sisera gathered his iron chariots together from Harosheth-haggoyim <n>{Or from the gentile district of Harosheth}</n> all 900 of them, along with all the people who were assigned to them and they assembled at the Kishon River. 


text:
"Get going!" Deborah told Barak. "Because today's the day when the Lord has dropped Sisera into your hands! Look! The Lord has already gone out ahead of you!" So Barak left Mount Tabor, followed by 10,000 men, 


text:
and the Lord threw Sisera, all the chariots, and his entire army into a panic right in front of Barak. Then Sisera abandoned his chariot and escaped on foot 


text:
while Barak chased the chariots and army as far as Harosheth-haggoyim. <n>{Or as the gentile district of Harosheth}</n> Sisera's entire army died in the battle not even one soldier <n>{The Heb. lacks soldier}</n> remained. 


text:
<n>{Heber's Wife Jael Kills Sisera}</n> d Meanwhile, Sisera had escaped on foot to a tent belonging to Jael, wife of Heber the Kenite, since there was peace between Jabin king of Hazor and the household of Heber the Kenite. 


text:
Jael went out to greet Sisera. "Turn aside, sir!" she told him. "Turn aside to me! Don't be afraid." So he turned aside to her and entered her tent, where she concealed him behind a curtain. <n>{Or she covered him with a blanket}</n> 


text:
He asked her, "Please give me some water to drink, because I'm thirsty." Instead, she opened a leather container of milk, gave him a drink, and then covered him up. 


text:
He told her, "Stand in the doorway of the tent, and if anyone comes and asks «Is anybody here? 'say «No'." 


text:
But Heber's wife Jael grabbed a tent peg in one hand and a hammer in the other, <n>{The Heb. lacks in the other}</n> crept up to him quietly, and drove the tent peg right through his temple into the ground below after he had fallen sound asleep from exhaustion. That's how <n>{The Heb. lacks That's how}</n> he died. 


text:
Meanwhile, as Barak continued chasing Sisera, Jael went out to meet him. "Come with me," she told him, "and I'll show you the man you're looking for!" So he went with her, and there was Sisera, lying dead with the tent peg still embedded in his temple! 


text:
<n>{Deborah and Barak Celebrate in Song}</n> d Later that day, Deborah and Abinoam's son Barak celebrated by singing this song: 


text:
"When hair grows long <n>{I.e. in keeping with having made a Nazirite vow}</n> in Israel, <n>{Or When leaders carry out vengeance in Israel}</n> when the people give themselves willingly, bless the Lord ! 


text:
Listen, you kings! Turn your ears to me, you rulers! As for me, to the Lord I will sing! I will sing praise to the Lord God of Israel. 


text:
Lord , when you left Seir, when you marched out from the grain field of Edom, the earth quaked and the heavens poured out rain; <n>{The Heb. lacks rain}</n> indeed, the clouds poured out water. 


text:
Mountains tremble at the presence of the Lord even <n>{Lit. this}</n> Sinai! at the presence of the Lord God of Israel. 


text:
During the lifetime of Anath's son Shamgar and during the lifetime of Jael highways remained deserted, while travelers kept to back roads. 


text:
Rural populations plummeted <n>{Lit. ceased}</n> in Israel; until I, Deborah, arose; until I an Israeli mother arose. 


text:
New gods were chosen, then war came to the city <n>{The Heb. lacks city}</n> gates, but there wasn't a shield or spear to be seen among 40,000 soldiers <n>{The Heb. lacks soldiers}</n> of Israel. 


text:
My heart is for the commanders of Israel, to those who work willingly among the people. Bless the Lord ! 


text:
"Speak up, you who ride white donkeys, sitting on cloth saddles <n>{Or wearing rich clothing}</n> while you travel on your way! 


text:
From the sound of those who divide their work loads at the watering troughs, there they will retell the righteous deeds of the Lord , the righteous victories for his rural people in Israel." Then the people of the Lord went down to the gates. 


text:
"Wake up! Wake up, Deborah! Wake up! Wake up, Deborah! Get up, Barak, and dispose of your captives, you son of Abinoam! 


text:
Some came <n>{The Heb. lacks came}</n> from Ephraim who had been harassed by <n>{Or who routed ; So LXX.}</n> Amalek, followed by Benjamin with your people. Some commanders came <n>{The Heb. lacks came}</n> from Machir, along with some from Zebulun who carry a badge <n>{Lit. scepter}</n> of office. <n>{Or who wield official authority}</n> 


text:
The officials of Issachar were with Deborah, as was the tribe of Issachar and Barak. They rushed out into the valley at his heels along with divisions from Reuben's army. Great was their resolve of heart! 


text:
Why did you sit down among the sheepfolds? To hear the bleating of the flocks? Among the divisions of the army of Reuben there was great searching of heart. 


text:
The tribe of Gilead remained on the other side of the Jordan River. As for the tribe of Dan, why did they stay on board their ships? The tribe of Asher sat by the seashore and remained near its harbors. 


text:
The tribe of Zebulun did not worry about their lives at the price of death; neither did the tribe of Naphtali also on high places of the field. <n>{I.e. as they fought within idolatrous worship centers}</n> 


text:
"Kings came to fight, then battled the kings of Canaan at Taanach near the waters of Megiddo. They took no silver as the spoils of war. 


text:
The current <n>{Or wadi ; i.e. a seasonal river, and so throughout the verse}</n> of the Kishon River swept them downstream, that ancient current, the Kishon's current! March on strongly, my soul! 


text:
«Meroz is cursed!'declared the angel of the Lord . «Utterly and totally cursed are its inhabitants, because they never came to the aid of the Lord , to the aid of the Lord against the valiant warriors!»" 


text:
"Blessed above all women is Jael, wife of Heber the Kenite; most blessed is she among women who live in tents! 


text:
Sisera <n>{Lit. He}</n> asked for water she gave him milk. In a magnificent bowl she brought him yogurt! <n>{I.e. a processed milk product}</n> 


text:
She reached out one hand for the tent peg, and her other <n>{Lit. right}</n> for the workman's mallet. Then she struck Sisera, smashing his head, shattering and piercing his temple. 


text:
He crumpled to the ground between her feet, where he fell down and collapsed. Between her feet he crumpled, Fallen dead! 


text:
"Back at home, <n>{The Heb. lacks Back at home}</n> out the window Sisera's mother peered, lamenting through the lattice. «Why is his chariot delayed in returning? «Why do the hoof beats of his chariots wait? '


text:
Her wise attendants <n>{Or officials}</n> find an answer for her; in fact, she tells the same words to herself: 


text:
«They're busy finding and dividing the war booty, aren't they? A girl or two for each valiant warrior, and some dyed materials for Sisera perhaps dyed, embroidered war booty or some detailed embroidery for my neck as the booty of war! 


text:
"May all of your enemies perish like this, Lord ! But may those who love him be like the ascending sun in its strength!" Then the land enjoyed quiet for 40 years. 


text:
<n>{Gideon, Israel's Fifth Judge}</n> d Later on, the Israelis practiced what the Lord considered to be evil, so the Lord handed them over to the domination of Midian for seven years. 


text:
Midian's control predominated throughout Israel, and because of Midian the Israelis went out to find temporary hiding places for themselves in the mountains, caves, and fortified places. 


text:
Whenever the Israelis sowed their crops, <n>{The Heb. lacks their crops}</n> the Midianites, the Amalekites, and certain groups <n>{Lit. and sons}</n> from the east would come up and invade them. 


text:
They set up their military encampments to fight them, destroyed the harvest of the land as far as Gaza, and left nothing in Israel, whether harvested grain, sheep, oxen, or donkeys. 


text:
They would invade with their livestock and tents, swooping in as numerous as locusts. It was impossible to count them or their camels and they came into the land to destroy it. 


text:
Because Israel was deeply impoverished due to the Midianites, they <n>{Lit. Midianites, the Israelis}</n> cried out to the Lord . 


text:
the Lord sent a man who was a prophet to the Israelis and told them, "This is what the Lord God of Israel says: «I was the one who brought you up from the land of Egypt, delivering you from the house of servitude. 


text:
I delivered you from the domination of Egypt and from the domination of all of your oppressors, expelling them right in front of you and giving their land to you. 


text:
I told you, "I am the Lord your God. You are not to fear the gods of the Amorites in whose land you'll be living."'But you haven't obeyed what I said." 


text:
<n>{Gideon is Visited by the Angel of the Lord}</n> d After this, the angel of the Lord arrived and sat down in the shade of <n>{The Heb. lacks the shade of}</n> the oak tree in Ophrah that belonged to Joash, a descendant of Abiezer, while his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a wine press in order to safeguard it <n>{The Heb. lacks it}</n> from the Midianites. 


text:
But Gideon replied, "Right Sir, if the Lord is with us, then why has all of this happened to us? And where are all of his miraculous works that our ancestors recounted to us when they said, «The Lord brought us up from Egypt, didn't he? 'But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us over to Midian!" 


text:
The Lord looked straight at him and replied, "Go with this determination <n>{Or strength}</n> of yours and deliver Israel from Midian's domination. I've directed <n>{Or sent}</n> you, haven't I?" 


text:
"Right," Gideon <n>{Lit. he}</n> responded. "Sir, how will I deliver Israel? Look my family is the weakest in Manasseh, and I'm the youngest in my father's household." 


text:
So Gideon asked him, "Please, if I have received favor from you, then do a miracle for me that shows that you're making this <n>{The Heb. lacks this}</n> promise to me. 


text:
And please don't leave here until I've come back to you, brought my offering, and set it down in front of you." The Lord <n>{Lit. So he}</n> replied, "I'll stay until you return." 


text:
Then Gideon went and prepared a young goat and unleavened bread from an ephah of flour. He put the meat in a basket and poured the broth into a pot, and brought them to the angel <n>{Lit. to him}</n> right under the oak tree. Then he made his offering. 


text:
The angel, who was God, <n>{Or angel of God}</n> replied, "Take the meat and the unleavened bread and lay them on this boulder. Then pour out the broth." So he did that. 


text:
The angel of the Lord extended the tip of the staff that was in his hand and touched the meat and unleavened bread. Fire broke out from inside the boulder, consuming the meat and unleavened bread. Then the angel of the Lord vanished in front of him. <n>{Lit. Lord left his eyes}</n> 


text:
<n>{God Reassures Gideon}</n> d When Gideon realized that he had seen the angel of the Lord himself, he cried out, "Oh no! Lord God ! I've been looking right at the angel of the Lord and face-to-face at that!" 


text:
"Calm down! <n>{Lit. Peace to you!}</n> Don't be afraid." the Lord replied. "You're not going to die!" 


text:
So Gideon built an altar right there to the Lord and called it "The Lord is peace." (To this very day it still stands in Ophrah, which belongs to the descendants of Abiezer.) 


text:
Later that very night, the Lord told Gideon, <n>{Lit. him}</n> "Take the bull that belongs to your father, along with a second bull that's seven years old. Then tear down the altar to Baal <n>{I.e. the supreme male deity of the Canaanites}</n> that your father owns, cut down the Asherah <n>{I.e. a carved wooden pillar dedicated to various female deities of the Canaanites, and so throughout the book}</n> that's beside it, 


text:
and build an altar to the Lord your God on top of this stronghold in an orderly manner. Then take the second bull and offer it as a burnt offering using the wood from the Asherah that you'll be cutting down." 


text:
<n>{Gideon Destroys His Father's Altar}</n> d So Gideon went with ten men who were his servants and did just what the Lord had told him to do, though he did it at night because he was too afraid of his father's family and the leading <n>{The Heb. lacks leading}</n> men of the city to do it during the day. 


text:
When the leading <n>{The Heb. lacks leading}</n> men of the city got up early the next morning, the altar to Baal had been torn down, along with the Asherah that had stood beside it, and the second bull had been offered on the altar that had been erected. 


text:
They asked each other, "Who did this thing?" When they looked into it and asked around, they concluded, "Joash's son Gideon did it." <n>{Lit. did this thing}</n> 


text:
So the leading <n>{The Heb. lacks leading}</n> men of the city ordered Joash, "Bring us that son of yours. He's going to die, because he tore down the altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah that stood beside it!" 


text:
But Joash responded to everyone who was opposing him, "Do you really intend to fight on Baal's behalf? Do you really intend to rescue him by ordering <n>{The Heb. lacks by ordering}</n> that whoever fights him will be executed by morning? If Baal <n>{Lit. he}</n> is a god, let him fight for himself. After all, it was his altar that was torn down." 


text:
So that very day he named Gideon <n>{Lit. him}</n> Jerubbaal, that is, "Let Baal fight," since he had torn down his altar. 


text:
Then all the Midianites, Amalekites, and certain groups <n>{Lit. and sons}</n> from the east gathered together, crossed the Jordan River, and set up camp in the Jezreel Valley. 


text:
So the Spirit of the Lord took control of <n>{Lit. Lord clothed himself with}</n> Gideon, who blew a trumpet, mustering the descendants of Abiezer to follow him into battle. <n>{The Heb. lacks into battle}</n> 


text:
He sent messengers to the entire tribe of Manasseh, calling them to follow him, and he also sent word to the tribes of Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, calling them to meet him. 


text:
<n>{Gideon Asks for a Sign from God}</n> d Then Gideon told God, "If you intend to deliver Israel by my efforts <n>{Lit. hand}</n> as you've said, 


text:
then take a look at this wool fleece that I'm placing on the threshing floor. If dew appears only on the fleece and it's dry on the ground all around it then I'll know that you'll deliver Israel by my efforts <n>{Lit. hand}</n> like you've said." 


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And that is what happened: <n>{Lit. And so it was}</n> When he got up early the next morning, he wrung out the fleece to drain the dew from it and extracted <n>{The Heb. lacks and extracted}</n> a bowl full of water. 


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Then Gideon told God, "Don't let yourself be angry with me! I want to ask you once again: please let me make a test with the fleece just once more. Cause it to be dry only on the fleece, but let there be dew all around on the ground." 


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And God did it just like that later that night. It was dry only on the fleece, but dew was all around on the ground. 


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<n>{God Chooses Gideon's 300 Soldiers}</n> d Then Jerubbaal, also known as Gideon, got up early along with all of his soldiers. They encamped near the Harod Spring. The Midian encampment lay in the valley to their north, near the hill of Moreh. 


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The Lord told Gideon, "You have too many soldiers with you for me to drop Midian into their hands, because Israel would become arrogant and say, «It was my own abilities that delivered me.'


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That's why you're to ask in full view of the soldiers, "Whoever is afraid or is trembling may go back from Mount Gilead and return home." <n>{The Heb. lacks home}</n> So 22,000 soldiers left and 10,000 remained. 


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"There are still too many soldiers," the Lord told Gideon. "Bring them down to the water and I'll refine them for you there. Therefore when I say to you, «This one will be going with you,'he'll go with you, but no one may go about whom I tell you, «This one won't be going with you.»" 


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So he brought his soldiers down to the water, and the Lord told Gideon, "You are to cull out everyone who laps up water with his tongue like a dog from everyone who kneels to drink." 


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The contingent of soldiers who lapped water <n>{The Heb. lacks water}</n> with their hands to their mouths numbered 300 men, but everyone else kneeled to drink water. 


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Then the Lord told Gideon, "I'm going to deliver you with the 300 soldiers who lapped by giving the Midianites into your control. Send everyone else back to their own homes." <n>{Lit. place}</n> 


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So the soldiers took provisions with them, along with their trumpets, and Gideon <n>{Lit. he}</n> sent all the rest of the soldiers of Israel back to their own tents, but he retained the 300 men. And the Midian encampment was below him in the valley. 


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<n>{Gideon Sneaks Down to the Midianite Encampment}</n> d Later that same night, the Lord directed Gideon, <n>{Lit. him}</n> "Get up and go down to the Midianite <n>{The Heb. lacks Midianite}</n> encampment, because I've given it into your control. 


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But if you're afraid to go down there, you may take your servant Purah with you to their encampment, 


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where you will hear what they're talking about. That way, you'll be encouraged to attack the encampment." So he and his servant Purah went down to the perimeter outposts of the encamped army. 


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The Midianites, the Amalekites, and certain groups <n>{Lit. and sons}</n> from the east lay encamped in the valley, as thick as locusts. The number of their camels couldn't be calculated they seemed as numerous as the sand on the seashore. 


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Gideon arrived just as a soldier was talking to a friend about a dream. "Look!" he was saying. "I had a dream that went like this: A loaf of barley bread rolled into the Midianite encampment, came to a tent, and collided with it. The loaf of bread fell down, turned upside down, and the tent collapsed!" 


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Then his friend replied, "Can this be anything else than the sword of Joash's son Gideon, that man from Israel? God must have given Midian and the entire encampment into his control!" 


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When Gideon <n>{Lit. he}</n> heard the tale of the dream and its interpretation, he bowed down in worship and then returned to the Israeli encampment. <n>{Gideon's 300 Attack}</n> d There he announced, "Get up! The Lord has given the Midianite army into your control!" 


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Then he separated the 300 men into three companies, gave them each trumpets to carry, along with jars into which he placed lit torches. 


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He instructed them, "Watch me, and do what I do. When we come to the outer perimeter of the encampment, do what I do. 


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When I sound my trumpet, accompanied by everyone who is with me, you must blow your trumpets all around the entire encampment. Then shout out, «For the Lord and for Gideon!»" 


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So Gideon and the 100 men with him arrived at the outer perimeter of the encampment at the beginning of the middle watch, just after they had posted sentries. They blew their trumpets and smashed the jars that they were carrying in their hands. 


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When the three companies sounded their trumpets and broke the jars, they held the torches in their left hands and sounded their trumpets with their right hands. Then they cried out, "A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!" 


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They stood up, each soldier in his assigned <n>{The Heb. lacks assigned}</n> place surrounding the encampment, and the entire army ran away, sounding the alarm to retreat. 


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As the 300 trumpets were being sounded, the Lord turned the swords of the Midianite <n>{The Heb. lacks Midianite}</n> soldiers against one another throughout the entire army, and the army ran away as far as Beth-shittah in the direction of Zererah. They got as far as the outskirts of Abel-meholah, near Tabbath. 


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Israeli soldiers were called out from the territories of <n>{The Heb. lacks the territories of}</n> Naphtali, Asher, and throughout Manasseh, and they chased after the Midianites. 


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Gideon dispatched messengers throughout the mountainous region <n>{Or the hill country}</n> of Ephraim, notifying them, "Come down to fight Midian. Capture the water crossings <n>{The Heb. lacks crossings}</n> as far as Beth-barah and the Jordan River before they can get to them." 


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They captured two Midianite leaders, Oreb and Zeeb. While they were pursuing the Midianites, they executed Oreb at Oreb's Rock and Zeeb at Zeeb's Winepress, and then they carried the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon from the east bank <n>{Lit. the other side}</n> of the Jordan River. 


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<n>{Gideon Assuages the Anger of Ephraim}</n> d Later on, the descendants of Ephraim spoke to Gideon. <n>{Lit. him}</n> They argued vehemently, "What are you doing to us? You never called us! But you went out to fight Midian!" 


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"What have I accomplished compared to you?" he responded. "Isn't what's left from Ephraim's harvest better than the best vintage of Abiezer? 


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God gave Oreb and Zeeb, the leaders of Midian, into your control. What was I able to do compared to you?" When he said this, their anger calmed down. 


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Meanwhile, Gideon and the 300 soldiers with him came to the Jordan, exhausted but continuing their pursuit. 


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He told the men of Succoth, "Please give loaves of bread to the soldiers who are following behind me. They're tired, and I'm pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian." 


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But the officials of Succoth replied, "Do you have Zebah and Zalmunna in custody <n>{Lit. have the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna}</n> already, so that we should give food to your army?" 


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So Gideon responded, "Okay then, but when the Lord has turned over Zebah and Zalmunna into my control, I'm going to whip you with thorns and briers from the desert!" 


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Then he left there to go to Penuel and asked the same thing from them, but the men of Penuel responded the same way the men of Succoth did. 


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So he responded the same way to the men of Penuel, "When I come back safely, <n>{Lit. return in peace}</n> I'm going to tear down this tower." 


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Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, along with their armies, about 15,000 men who survived from the entire army of the group from <n>{Lit. the sons of}</n> the east, since 120,000 swordsmen had already fallen. 


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Gideon went up by a caravan route east of Nobah and Jogbehah and attacked their encampment when they were off guard. 


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When Zebah and Zalmunna escaped, he pursued them, captured those two kings of Midian, <n>{Lit. Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna,}</n> and threw the entire army into a panic. 


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He caught a young man from Succoth and interrogated him. He wrote out for Gideon <n>{Lit. him}</n> a list of the 77 officials of Succoth, including its elders. 


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Then Gideon <n>{Lit. he}</n> approached the men of Succoth and announced, "Here are Zebah and Zalmunna. You criticized me about them when you said, «Do you have Zebah and Zalmunna in custody <n>{Lit. have the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna}</n> already, so that we should give food to your weary army?»" 


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So he took the elders of the city and disciplined the men of Succoth with thorns and briers from the desert. 


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Afterwards, he asked Zebah and Zalmunna, "What were the men like whom you killed at Tabor?" They answered, "Like you, each one like the son of a king" 


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Gideon replied, "They were my brothers sons from my own mother. As the Lord lives, if you had let them live, I wouldn't be killing you." 


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Then he told his firstborn son Jether, "Get up and kill them!" But he was afraid, since he was still only a youngster. 


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Then Zebah and Zalmunna responded, "Get up and attack us yourself, since a man's valor is only as good as the man himself." So Gideon got up, killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and took away the crescent-shaped necklaces that adorned the necks of their camels. 


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Then the men of Israel asked Gideon, "Rule over us you, your son, and your grandsons because you have delivered us from Midian's domination." 


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But Gideon told them, "I won't rule over you and my son won't rule over you. The Lord will rule you." 


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<n>{Gideon Falls into Idolatry}</n> d But Gideon also added, "I would like to ask that each of you give me a ring from his war booty" because, as Ishmaelites, the Midianites <n>{Lit. they}</n> had been wearing gold rings. 


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They responded, "We'll be happy to give them." So they laid out a garment, and each of them contributed a ring from his war booty. 


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The weight of the rings that he had asked for was 1,700 gold coins, <n>{The Heb. lacks coins}</n> not counting the crescent-shaped necklaces, pendants, and purple garments worn by the Midian kings, and also not counting the bands adorning the necks of their camels. 


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Gideon crafted the booty into an ephod <n>{cf. Lev 8:7; a golden garment rightly worn only by the Levitical high priest}</n> and enshrined it in his home town of Ophrah. Then all of Israel committed spiritual adultery with it there, and it became a snare for Gideon and his household. 


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<n>{Gideon Dies}</n> d Midian remained subjugated to the Israelis, and they didn't so much as raise their heads anymore, so the land was peaceful for 40 years during the lifetime of Gideon. 


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His mistress <n>{Or concubine ; i.e. a secondary wife}</n> in Shechem bore him a son whom he named Abimelech. <n>{The Heb. name Abimelech means My father is king}</n> 


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Later, Joash's son Gideon died at a ripe <n>{Lit. good}</n> old age and was buried in the tomb of his father Joash at Ophrah, which belonged to the descendants of Abiezer. 


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Later on, as soon as Gideon was dead, the Israelis again committed spiritual adultery with various Canaanite deities <n>{8:33:1 Lit. baals}</n> and appointed Baal-berith <n>{The Heb. name Baal-berith means Lord of the Covenant}</n> to be their god. 


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The Israelis did not remember the Lord their God, who continually delivered them from the domination of their enemies who surrounded them on every side. 


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And they showed no gracious love to the household of Jerubbaal also known as Gideon despite all the good that he had done for Israel. 


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<n>{Abimelech Attempts to Become King}</n> d Then Jerubbaal's son Abimelech went to his mother's relatives in Shechem. He spoke to the entire family of his mother's father, telling them, 


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"Ask all the "lords" <n>{Lit. baals ; i.e. the leaders a pun contrasting the Heb. word lords with Baal, the chief male Canaanite deity; and so through v. 47}</n> of Shechem, «What's better for you? That 70 men, each of them Jerubbaal's sons, rule over you? Or that one man rule over you? 'Keep in mind that I'm like your own close relative." <n>{Lit. your skin and flesh}</n> 


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So his mother's relatives spoke all of this on his behalf in the presence <n>{Lit. hearing}</n> of all the "lords" of Shechem. Since they were inclined to follow Abimelech, they said, "He's our relative!" 


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and they gave him 70 silver coins from the temple that they had built to <n>{Lit. temple of}</n> Baal-berith. Abimelech hired some worthless and useless men, who followed him 


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to his father's house in Ophrah. There he murdered his own brothers, Jerubbaal's sons all 70 of them in one place. <n>{Lit. them on one stone}</n> But Jerubbaal's youngest son Jotham survived by hiding himself. 


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All the men from Shechem and Beth-millo <n>{Or and from the household of Rampart ; and so throughout the chapter}</n> gathered together and set up Abimelech as king near the pillar erected <n>{I.e. a cultic object of worship}</n> in Shechem. 


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When Jotham was informed about this, he went out, took his stand on top of Mount Gerizim, and cried out loudly, "Listen to me, you "lords" of Shechem, and God will listen to you. 


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"Once upon a time <n>{The Heb. lacks Once upon a time}</n> the trees went out to consecrate <n>{Or anoint}</n> a king for themselves. "So they told the olive tree, «Reign over us!'


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But the olive tree asked them, «Should I stop producing my rich oils by which both God and men are honored and go take dominion over trees? '


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But the fig tree asked them, «Should I leave my sweet, good fruit and go take dominion over trees? '


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But the grape vine asked them, «Should I leave my new wine, which cheers God and man, and go take dominion over trees? '


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Then the bramble bush replied to the trees, «If you really are consecrating <n>{Or anointing}</n> me to rule you, come and put your confidence in my shade; but if not, may fire spring out from the bramble bush and burn up the cedars of Lebanon'


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"Now then, if you have been acting in good faith and integrity by making a king out of Abimelech, if you have treated Jerubbaal and his household appropriately by acting toward him as he deserved <n>{Lit. as his hands acted}</n> 


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because my father fought on your behalf, throwing away all concern for his own life, and delivered you from Midian's domination. 


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"But now as for you, you've rebelled against my father's house today. You've murdered his sons 70 men in one place, <n>{Lit. men on one stone}</n> and you've installed Abimelech, the son of his mistress, as king to rule over the "lords" of Shechem, since he's related to you. 


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So if you've acted in good faith and integrity toward Jerubbaal and his household today, then you're welcome to <n>{Lit. then rejoice in}</n> Abimelech, and he's welcome to <n>{Lit. and let him rejoice in}</n> you 


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But if not, may fire spring out from Abimelech and consume the "lords" of Shechem and Beth-millo, and may fire spring out from the "lords" of Shechem and Beth-millo to consume Abimelech." 


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Then Jotham escaped by running away. He went to Beer and remained there because of his brother Abimelech. 


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so that the violence committed against the 70 sons of Jerubbaal might come back on their brother Abimelech, who murdered them, and so it might come back on the "lords" of Shechem, who provoked him to murder his brothers. 


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The "lords" of Shechem sent out men to ambush him on the mountain tops, and they robbed everyone who came by them along the roads, and this was reported to Abimelech. 


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Meanwhile, Ebed's son Gaal arrived with his relatives and crossed over into Shechem. The "lords" of Shechem put their faith in him. 


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They went out into the fields, harvested their vineyards, made some wine, and threw a party. Then they went into the temple of their god, ate, drank, and cursed Abimelech. 


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Then Ebed's son Gaal remarked, "Who is this Abimelech? And who is Shechem? Should we serve him? Isn't he Jerubbaal's son? Isn't Zebul his lieutenant? Serve the men of Hamor, Shechem's ancestor but why are we serving him? 


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If only authority over this people were given to me. Then I would remove Abimelech!" Then he challenged Abimelech: "Build up your army and then come out and fight!" 


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He sent messengers to Abimelech in secret <n>{Or in Tormah}</n> and told him, "Look out! Ebed's son Gaal and his family have arrived here in Shechem. Watch out! They're stirring up the city against you. 


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Tomorrow morning when the sun is up, get up early and attack the city. When Gaal <n>{Lit. he}</n> and his army come out to fight you, do whatever you can to them." 


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So Abimelech and his entire army got up that night and waited in ambush against Shechem in four separate companies. 


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Ebed's son Gaal went out and stood in the entrance to the city gate while Abimelech and his army were creeping out of their ambush. 


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When Gaal saw the army, he observed to Zebul, "Look there! People are coming down from the top of the mountains." But Zebul replied to him, "You're looking at morning shadows cast by the mountains. They just look <n>{Lit. mountains. You are seeing}</n> like men to you." 


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Gaal spoke up again to say, "Look! People are coming down from the highest part of the land, and there's a company approaching from the diviner's oak tree." <n>{Or from Elon-meonenim}</n> 


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So Zebul replied, "Right... So where's your boasting now? You said, «Who is Abimelech? Should we serve him? 'Isn't this the army that you insulted? So go out right now and fight them!" 


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Abimelech chased him, and Gaal ran away from him. Many fell wounded right up to the entrance to the city gate. 


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Afterwards, Abimelech remained at Arumah, but Zebul expelled Gaal and his family so they couldn't remain in Shechem. 


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So he took his army, divided it into three separate companies, and laid in ambush out in the field. When Abimelech <n>{Lit. he}</n> noticed the people coming out from the city, his <n>{Lit. the}</n> army attacked them and killed them. 


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Then Abimelech and the soldiers who were with him rushed forward and commandeered the entrance to the city gate while the other two companies ran out to kill everyone who was in the field. 


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Abimelech fought against the city all that day, captured the city, killed the people in it, then tore the city to the ground and sowed it with salt. 


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When all the "lords" at the tower of Shechem heard what had happened, they retreated into the inner chamber of the temple of El-berith. 


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So he <n>{Lit. Abimelech}</n> went up to Mount Zalmon, accompanied by his entire army. Abimelech had an axe in his hand, so he cut down a branch from a tree, lifted it up, and laid it on his shoulder. Then he told the army that had accompanied <n>{The Heb. lacks had accompanied}</n> him, "You've seen what I just did. Hurry up! Do the same thing!" 


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Then his entire army also cut down a branch for each soldier, followed Abimelech to the inner chamber, and set fire to it <n>{Lit. set the inner chamber}</n> while they were inside. As a result, all the men of the tower of Shechem died, including about a thousand men and women. 


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<n>{The Death of Abimelech}</n> d Later on, Abimelech went to Thebez, set up a siege encampment there, and captured it. 


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But there was a fortified tower in the center of the city, and all the men, women, and leaders of the city escaped to it, shut themselves in, and went up to the roof of the tower. 


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So Abimelech approached the tower, attacked it, and approached the tower's gate, intending <n>{The Heb. lacks intending}</n> to burn it down. 


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So he cried out to his young armor bearer and ordered him, "Draw your sword and kill me, so no one will say about me that «A woman killed him.»" So the young man pierced him through, and he died. 


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When the men of Israel noticed that Abimelech was dead, they each left for home. <n>{Lit. each man left to his place}</n> 


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That's how God repaid Abimelech for the evil thing he did to his father by killing his 70 brothers. 


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God also repaid <n>{Lit. repaid on the heads of}</n> the men of Shechem for their wickedness, and the curse of Jerubbaal's son Jotham came true for them. 


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<n>{Tola, Israel's Sixth Judge}</n> d A man from the tribe of Issachar, Puah's son Tola, grandson of Dodo, arose to save Israel. He lived in Shamir, in the mountainous region <n>{Or the hill country}</n> of Ephraim. 


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<n>{Jair, Israel's Seventh Judge}</n> d After him, Jair the Gileadite arose and governed Israel for 22 years. 


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His 30 sons rode on 30 donkeys, controlling 30 cities in the territory of Gilead named Havvoth-jair <n>{The Heb. name Havvoth-jair means Jair's Villages}</n> to this day. 


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<n>{Israel Descends into Apostasy}</n> d Later on, the Israelis again practiced what the Lord considered to be evil by serving the Baals, the stars, the gods of Aram, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the descendants of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines. In doing so, they ignored <n>{Or forgot}</n> the Lord and wouldn't serve him. 


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In his burning anger against Israel, he sold them into domination by the Philistines and the Ammonites, 


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who trampled and troubled the Israelis during that year eighteen years for the Israelis who lived east of the Jordan River in Gilead, the land occupied by <n>{Lit. land of}</n> the Amorites. 


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The Ammonites crossed the Jordan River to fight against the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and the house of Ephraim. As a result, Israel was deeply distressed. 


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Then the Israelis cried out to the Lord and told him, <n>{The Heb. lacks him}</n> "We have sinned against you because we have abandoned our God to serve the Baals." 


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The Lord replied to the Israelis, "Aren't you away from the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, and the Philistines? 


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And when the Sidonians, the Amalekites, and the Maonites harassed you, you cried out to me, and I delivered you from under their domination. 


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Go and cry out to the gods that you have chosen for yourselves. Let them deliver you in your time of trouble." 


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The Israelis replied to the Lord , "We have sinned, so do to us anything that's right to do in your opinion, just please deliver us right now." 


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The Ammonites were summoned and they encamped in Gilead. The Israelis assembled together and encamped in Mizpah. 


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The people and Gilead's officials inquired among themselves, "Who will begin our attack against the Ammonites? He'll become head over everyone who lives in Gilead." 


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<n>{Jephthah, Israel's Eighth Judge}</n> d Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a valiant soldier, but he was also the son of a prostitute and Jephthah's father Gilead. 


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Gilead's wife bore two sons through him, but when his wife's sons grew up, they expelled Jephthah and declared to him, "You won't have an inheritance in this <n>{Lit. in our father's}</n> house, since you're the son of a different woman." 


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So Jephthah escaped from his brothers and lived in the territory of Tob, where worthless men gathered themselves around him and went out on raiding parties with him. 


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When this happened, <n>{Lit. When the Ammonites attacked Israel}</n> the elders of Gilead went to the territory of Tob to find Jephthah. 


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But Jephthah replied to the elders of Gilead, "Weren't you the ones who hated me and drove me out of my father's house? And you come to me now that you're in trouble?" 


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So the elders of Gilead told Jephthah, "Well, we're coming back to you now so you can accompany us, fight the Ammonites, and become the head of all the inhabitants of Gilead." 


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Then Jephthah asked the elders of Gilead, "If you all send me to fight against the Ammonites and the Lord hands them over right in front of me, will I really become your head?" 


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The elders of Gilead responded to Jephthah, "May the Lord serve <n>{Lit. hear}</n> as a witness that we're making this agreement between ourselves to do as we've said." 


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So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people appointed him head and military commander over them. Jephthah uttered everything he had to say with the solemnity of an oath <n>{Lit. uttered all his words}</n> in the Lord's presence at Mizpah. 


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<n>{Jephthah's Dialogue with the Ammonites}</n> d Afterwards, Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the Ammonites to ask him, "What's your dispute between us that prompted you to come and attack my land?" 


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The king of the Ammonites answered the messengers of Jephthah, "We're here <n>{The Heb. lacks We're here}</n> because Israel took away my land from the Arnon River as far as the Jabbok River and as far as the Jordan River when they came up from Egypt! So restore it as a gesture of good will." <n>{Lit. restore them in peace}</n> 


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and they informed him, "This is Jephthah's response: «Israel didn't seize the land of Moab nor the land of the Ammonites. 


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Here's what happened: <n>{Lit. Because}</n> When Israel came up from Egypt, passed through the desert to the Red <n>{Lit. Reed}</n> Sea, and arrived at Kadesh, 


text:
Israel sent a delegation to the king of Edom and asked him, "Please let us pass through your territory." «But the king of Edom wouldn't listen. So they also sent word to the king of Moab, but he wouldn't consent, either. So Israel stayed at Kadesh. 


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Then they went through the desert, circumventing the territory belonging to Edom and Moab. They encamped on the other side of the Arnon River, but never entered the territory of Moab because the Arnon River is the border of Moab. 


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«Then Israel sent a delegation to Sihon, king of the Amorites and king of Heshbon. Israel requested of him, "Please let us pass through your territory to our place." 


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But Sihon didn't trust Israel to pass through his territory, so he assembled his entire army, encamped in Jahaz, and fought against Israel. 


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«The Lord God of Israel handed Sihon and his entire army into the control of Israel, and defeated them. As a result, Israel took control over the entire land of the Amorites, who were living in that country. 


text:
They took possession of the entire territory of the Amorites from the Arnon River as far as the Jabbok River and from the desert as far as the Jordan River. 


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«Now then, since the Lord God of Israel expelled the Amorites right in front of his people Israel, are you going to control their territory? 


text:
Don't you control what your god Chemosh gives you? In the same way, we'll take control of whomever the Lord our God has driven out in front of us. 


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Also ask yourselves: <n>{Lit. And now}</n> do you have a better case <n>{Lit. are you better}</n> than Zippor's son Balak, king of Moab? Did he ever have a quarrel with Israel or ever win a <n>{The Heb. lacks ever win a}</n> fight against them? 


text:
When Israel was living in Heshbon and its surrounding villages, in Aroer and its surrounding villages, and in all the cities that line the banks of the Arnon River these past three hundred years, why didn't you retake them during that time? 


text:
«I haven't sinned against you, but you are acting wrongly against me by declaring war on me. May the Lord , the Judge, sit in judgment today between the Israelis and the Ammonites.'


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<n>{Jephthah's Vow}</n> d The Spirit of the Lord came <n>{Lit. was}</n> on Jephthah, so he swept through Gilead and the territory of <n>{The Heb. lacks the territory of}</n> Manasseh, then swept through Mizpah in Gilead, and from Mizpah in Gilead he proceeded toward where the Ammonites were encamped. 


text:
then if I return from the Ammonites without incident, <n>{Lit. Ammonites in peace}</n> whatever <n>{MT participle is masculine}</n> comes out the doors of my house to meet me will become the Lord's, and I will offer it <n>{MT suffix is masculine}</n> up as a burnt offering." 


text:
Then Jephthah crossed over to the Ammonites and attacked them. The Lord gave them into his control. 


text:
He attacked them from Aroer to the entrance of Minnith twenty cities in all <n>{The Heb. lacks in all}</n> even as far as Abel-keramim. As a result, the Ammonites were subdued right in front of the Israelis. 


text:
When Jephthah arrived at his home in Mizpah surprise! it was his daughter who came out to meet him, playing tambourines and dancing. She was his one and only child. Except for her, he had no other son or daughter. 


text:
When he saw her, he ripped his clothes and cried out, "Oh no! My daughter! You have terribly burdened me! You've joined those who are causing me trouble, because I've given my word <n>{Lit. I've opened my mouth}</n> to the Lord , and I cannot go back on it. <n>{The Heb. lacks on it}</n> 


text:
She told him, "My father, you have given your word <n>{Lit. You've opened your mouth}</n> to the Lord . Do to me according to what has come out of your own mouth, considering that the Lord has paid back your enemies, the Ammonites." 


text:
Then she continued talking with her father, "Do this for me: leave me alone by myself for two months. I'll go up to the mountains and cry there because I'll never marry. <n>{Lit. there on behalf of my virginity ; i.e. terminating the genealogy of Jephthah}</n> My friends and I will go." <n>{The Heb. lacks will go}</n> 


text:
So he said, "Go!" He sent her away for two months. She left with her friends and cried there on the mountains because she would never marry. <n>{Lit. there for her virginity}</n> 


text:
Later, after the two months were concluded, she returned to her father, and he fulfilled what he had solemnly vowed and she never married. <n>{Lit. she did not know a man}</n> That's how the custom arose in Israel 


text:
that for four days out of every year the Israeli women would go to mourn the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite in commemoration. 


text:
<n>{Jephthah's Dispute with the Tribe of Ephraim}</n> d A little while later, the army of Ephraim was mustered, and they crossed to Zaphon. They confronted Jephthah and asked, "Why did you cross over to fight the Ammonites without calling us to accompany you? We're going to burn your house down around you!" 


text:
But Jephthah replied to them, "My army and I were engaged in a serious fight with the Ammonites. I called for you, but you didn't deliver me from their control. 


text:
When I saw that you wouldn't be delivering me, I took my own life in my hands, crossed over to fight the Ammonites, and the Lord gave them into my control. So why have you come here today to fight me?" 


text:
Then Jephthah mustered all the men of Gilead, fought the tribe of Ephraim, and defeated them, because they had been claiming, "You descendants of Gilead are fugitives in the midst of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh." 


text:
<n>{Shibboleth vs. Sibboleth}</n> d The descendants of Gilead seized control of the Jordan River's fords along the border of Ephraim's territory. <n>{Lit. fords opposite Ephraim}</n> Later on, when any fugitive from Ephraim asked them, "Let me cross over," the men from Gilead would ask him, "Are you an Ephraimite?" If he said "No," 


text:
they would order him, "Pronounce the word «Shibboleth'right now." If he said "Sibboleth," not being able to pronounce it correctly, they would seize him and slaughter him there at the fords of the Jordan River. During those days 42,000 descendants of Ephraim died that way. 


text:
Jephthah governed Israel for six years. Then Jephthah died and was buried somewhere in the cities of Gilead. 


text:
<n>{Ibzan, Israel's Ninth Judge}</n> d After he died, <n>{Lit. After him}</n> Ibzan from Bethlehem governed Israel for ten years. 


text:
He had 30 sons and 30 daughters, but he gave his daughters <n>{Lit. gave them}</n> in marriage to outsiders and brought in 30 outsiders <n>{Lit. 30 daughters from outside}</n> for his sons. He governed Israel for seven years, 


text:
<n>{Abdon, Israel's Eleventh Judge}</n> d Hillel the Pirathonite's son Abdon governed Israel after him. 


text:
Then he died and was buried at Pirathon in the territory of Ephraim, in the mountainous region <n>{Or the hill country}</n> of the Amalekites. 


text:
<n>{The Birth of Samson, Israel's Twelfth Judge}</n> d Some time later, the Israelis again practiced what the Lord considered to be evil, so the Lord handed them over into the domination of the Philistines for 40 years. 


text:
There was one man from Zorah, from the family of the descendants of Dan, whose name was Manoah. Since his wife was infertile, she hadn't borne children. <n>{The Heb. lacks children}</n> 


text:
One day the angel of the Lord presented himself to the woman. "Hello!" he greeted <n>{Lit. and told}</n> her. "Though you are infertile at this time and haven't borne a child, you're about to conceive and give birth to a son. 


text:
because surprise! you're going to conceive and give birth to a son! Don't put a razor to his head, because the young man will be a Nazirite, dedicated <n>{The Heb. lacks dedicated}</n> to God from inside the womb. He will begin to deliver Israel from domination by the Philistines." 


text:
Then the woman went to tell her husband. She said, "A man of God appeared <n>{Or came}</n> to me. He looked like what an angel of God would look like very frightening. <n>{Or very awe-inspiring}</n> I didn't ask him where he had come from and he didn't tell me his name. 


text:
He told me, «Surprise! you're going to conceive and give birth to a son!'and as for you, «Be sure that you don't drink wine or anything intoxicating, and don't eat anything unclean,'«because the young man will be a Nazirite dedicated to God from inside the womb'until the day he dies." 


text:
So Manoah prayed to the Lord , "Please, Lord, have the man of God whom you sent before <n>{The Heb. lacks before}</n> come again so he can instruct us what to do on behalf of the child who is to be born." 


text:
God listened to Manoah's request, <n>{Lit. voice}</n> and the angel of God came again to the woman as she was sitting out in the pasture. But her husband Manoah wasn't with her, 


text:
so the woman ran quickly to tell her husband, "Look! The man who came the other <n>{The Heb. lacks other}</n> day appeared to me!" 


text:
So Manoah got up quickly and followed his wife, and when he came to the man he told him, "Are you the man who spoke to my <n>{The Heb. lacks my}</n> wife?" He replied, "I am." 


text:
Manoah asked, "Now, when what you've said occurs, what is to be the young man's way of life and work?" 


text:
The angel of the Lord replied to Manoah, "Just have your wife <n>{Lit. have the woman}</n> be careful to carry out everything that I told her. 


text:
She must not consume anything extracted from grape vines, including wine or anything intoxicating, and she must not eat anything unclean, doing everything that I commissioned her to do." 


text:
Manoah responded to the angel of the Lord , "Please, let us detain you while we prepare a young goat for you." 


text:
The angel of the Lord answered Manoah, "If you detain me, I won't be eating your food, but if you prepare a burnt offering, you'll be making a sacrifice to the Lord ." The angel of the Lord <n>{Lit. He}</n> said this <n>{The Heb. lacks He said this}</n> because Manoah didn't know that he was the angel of the Lord . 


text:
Manoah asked the angel of the Lord , "What's your name, because when what you've said happens, we'll glorify <n>{Or honor}</n> you?" 


text:
The angel of the Lord answered him, "Why are you asking this about my name? It's «Wonderful.»" <n>{cf. Isa 9:5}</n> 


text:
So Manoah prepared a young goat and a grain offering and offered it on a boulder to the Lord , who kept on performing miracles while Manoah and his wife watched continuously. 


text:
When the burnt offering was engulfed in flames that sprang up from the altar toward heaven, the angel of the Lord ascended in the flame that came from the altar. When Manoah and his wife observed this, they collapsed on their faces to the ground. 


text:
The angel of the Lord did not appear again to Manoah or to his wife, and then Manoah knew confidently that the visitor <n>{Lit. that he}</n> had been the angel of the Lord . 


text:
But his wife replied to him, "If the Lord had intended to kill us, he wouldn't have accepted a burnt offering and a grain offering from us, <n>{Lit. from our hands}</n> he wouldn't have shown us all these things, and he wouldn't have permitted us to hear things <n>{The Heb. lacks things}</n> like this, now would he?" <n>{The Heb. lacks would he}</n> 


text:
Later on, the woman gave birth to a son and named him Samson. <n>{The Heb. name Samson means Like the sun}</n> The child grew strong and the Lord blessed him. 


text:
Then the Spirit of the Lord began to rouse him where the tribe of Dan was encamped, <n>{Or him in Mahaneh-dan}</n> between Zorah and Eshtaol. 


text:
<n>{Samson's Marriage}</n> d A while later, Samson went down to Timnah and observed a woman in Timnah who was of Philistine origin. <n>{Lit. Timnah from the daughters of Philistines}</n> 


text:
Then he returned and told his father and mother, "In Timnah I saw a woman of Philistine origin." <n>{Lit. woman from the daughters of Philistines}</n> He ordered them, "Get her for me as a wife. Now!" <n>{Or So get her}</n> 


text:
His father and mother asked him, "Isn't there a woman suitable <n>{The Heb. lacks suitable}</n> among the daughters of your relatives or among all of our people, since you're going to get your <n>{Lit. a}</n> wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?" But Samson retorted to his father, "Get her for me, since she looks fine to me." 


text:
Meanwhile, his father and mother did not know that she was from the Lord , because he had been seeking a favorable opportunity concerning the Philistines, since <n>{Lit. and}</n> the Philistines were dominating Israel at that time. 


text:
Then Samson went down in the direction of Timnah with his father and mother and arrived as far as the vineyards of Timnah. And surprise! a young lion came roaring at him! 


text:
The Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, and he ripped the lion <n>{Lit. ripped it}</n> apart as one might dissect a young goat, even though he carried nothing in his hand. But he didn't tell his father and mother what he had done. 


text:
When he came back later to marry <n>{Lit. take}</n> her, he turned aside to observe the lion's carcass. Amazingly, there was a swarm of bees in the body of the lion, complete with honey. 


text:
So he scraped some out into his hands and went on his way, eating all the while. When he met his father and mother, he gave some <n>{The Heb. lacks some}</n> to them, and they ate it, too. But he didn't inform them that he had scraped the honey from the carcass of the lion. 


text:
<n>{Samson's Riddle}</n> d Later on, when his father went down to visit <n>{The Heb. lacks visit}</n> the woman, Samson threw a party there, since young men customarily did this. 


text:
"Let me tell you a riddle," Samson told them. "If you can solve it during this week-long festival, I'll give you 30 linen garments and 30 formal garments. <n>{Or 30 changes of clothes}</n> 


text:
But if you don't solve it, <n>{Lit. don't tell me}</n> then you'll give me 30 linen garments and 30 formal garments." <n>{Or 30 changes of clothes}</n> "Tell us your riddle and we'll solve it," they responded. 


text:
So he told them: From the eater came something edible; from the strong something sweet. For three days they couldn't solve the riddle. 


text:
The next <n>{Lit. On the fourth}</n> day, they told Samson's wife, "Coax your husband to explain the riddle or we'll set fire to your father's house with you in it! You've invited us here to make us paupers, haven't you?" 


text:
So Samson's wife cried in front of him and accused him, "You only hate me. You don't love me. You've told a riddle to my relatives, but you haven't told the solution <n>{Lit. told it}</n> to me." Samson responded, "Look, I haven't told my parents, <n>{Lit. my father and my mother}</n> either. Why <n>{The Heb. lacks either. Why}</n> should I tell you?" 


text:
So she kept on crying in front of him for the entire seven days of the wedding party. On the seventh day he told the solution <n>{Lit. it}</n> to her because she nagged him, and then she told the solution to <n>{The Heb. lacks the solution to}</n> the riddle to her relatives. 


text:
Then the men of the city answered him just before sunset on the seventh day: "What's sweeter than honey? What's stronger than lions?" Samson <n>{Lit. He}</n> responded, "If you hadn't plowed with my heifer you wouldn't have solved my riddle." 


text:
Then the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, killed 30 men, took their belongings, and gave the garments to those who had told him the solution to <n>{The Heb. lacks the solution to}</n> the riddle. He remained furious, left for his father's house, 


text:
and Samson's wife went to the best man at his wedding. <n>{Lit. wife was to an acquaintance who was his friend ; cf. Judg 15:2, 7}</n> 


text:
<n>{Samson Burns the Philistine Harvest}</n> d A while later during the wheat harvest, Samson visited his wife, bringing along a young goat, and told his father-in-law, <n>{15:a The Heb. lacks to his father-in-law}</n> "I'm going into my wife's room." But her father wouldn't give permission for him <n>{The Heb. lacks permission for him}</n> to go. 


text:
Her father said, "Because I honestly thought that you hated her deeply, I gave her in marriage to your best man. <n>{Lit. your acquaintance ; cf. Judg 14:20; 15:7}</n> Isn't her younger sister better than she? Please then, let her be yours instead." 


text:
So Samson went out, caught 300 foxes, grabbed some torches, <n>{Or firebrands}</n> tied <n>{Lit. turned}</n> the foxes together in pairs at their tails, <n>{Lit. foxes tail to tail}</n> and fastened a torch <n>{Or firebrand}</n> between each pair of tails. 


text:
Then he ignited the torches, set the foxes loose into the Philistines'unharvested grain, and burned up both the harvested shocks and the standing grain, along with their vineyards and olive groves. 


text:
Then the Philistines demanded, "Who did this?" Someone said, "Samson, son-in-law of the Timnite, because his father-in-law <n>{Lit. because he}</n> took Samson's <n>{Lit. his}</n> wife and gave her to the best man at Samson's wedding." <n>{Lit. to his acquaintance ; cf. Judg 14:20, 15:2}</n> In retaliation, the Philistines came up and burned her and her father to death. 


text:
Samson replied to them, "Because you did this, I'm not going to stop until I get my revenge against you!" 


text:
So he attacked them ruthlessly <n>{Lit. them hip and thigh}</n> in a massive slaughter, then left to live in the caves of Etam. 


text:
In response, the Philistines went up, encamped in the territory of <n>{The Heb. lacks the territory of}</n> Judah, and raided <n>{Or and spread out in}</n> Lehi. 


text:
The leading <n>{The Heb. lacks leading}</n> men of Judah asked, "Why have you invaded us?" They replied, "We're here to arrest Samson. Then we're going to do to him what he did to us." 


text:
In response, 3,000 soldiers from the tribe of Judah went down to the caves of the rock of Etam and asked Samson, "Don't you know that the Philistines have us in their control? What have you done to us?" "I did to them what they did to me," he answered. 


text:
They responded, "We've come here to arrest you and transfer you to the custody of the Philistines." Samson told them, "Promise me that you won't kill me." 


text:
So they said, "No, we won't. But we're going to tie you up securely and transfer you to their custody. But we won't kill you." Then they bound him with two ropes and brought him up from the caves. <n>{Lit. rock}</n> 


text:
<n>{Samson Kills 1,000 Philistines}</n> d When Samson <n>{Lit. he}</n> arrived at Lehi, the Philistines came shouting to meet him. Then the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, so that the ropes that bound him were like flax that's been burned by fire, and his bonds dissolved. 


text:
He happened upon a jawbone from a putrefying donkey, reached out to grab it, and killed 1,000 men with it. 


text:
Then Samson declared, "With a jawbone from the donkey here a heap, there a pair of heaps <n>{I.e. multiple encounters with the Philistines; MT word heap is a word play on the identically spelled Heb. word donkey}</n> with the jawbone of the donkey I've killed 1,000 men." 


text:
When he finally finished bragging, he discarded the jawbone and named that place "Jawbone Heights." <n>{Lit. Ramath-lehi}</n> 


text:
Aferward, he became thirsty, called out to the Lord , and told him, "So, you provided this great deliverance at the hands <n>{Lit. hand}</n> of your servant, but now I'm to die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?" 


text:
So God split a hollow place that's in Lehi, and water sprang out of it. After he had taken a drink, his strength returned, and he revived. That's why it was named "En-hakkore," <n>{MT word En-hakkore means The Spring of the One Who Calls Out}</n> which is in Lehi to this day. 


text:
<n>{Samson's Troubles in Gaza}</n> d Sometime later, Samson went to Gaza, saw a prostitute there, and went in to have sex with her. 


text:
When the Gazites were informed, <n>{Lit. were told}</n> "Samson has come here!" they surrounded him, intending to lay in wait for him at the city gate throughout the entire night. They kept quiet all night, telling each other, <n>{The Heb. lacks each other}</n> "At first light, let's kill him!" 


text:
Meanwhile, Samson had sex until midnight, then at midnight he got up, grabbed the doors, the two door posts, and the bars of the city gate, and uprooted them. He put them on his shoulders and carried them to the top of the mountain opposite Hebron. 


text:
<n>{Samson Meets Delilah}</n> d After this incident, he loved a woman in Sorek Valley whose name was Delilah. 


text:
The Philistine officials approached her and told her, "Entice him to discover where his great strength is, and how we can overpower him. We intend to tie him up and torture him. We'll each pay you 1,100 silver coins." 


text:
So Delilah asked Samson, "Please tell me the secret to <n>{Lit. the location of}</n> your great strength and how you may be tied up and tortured." 


text:
Samson replied, "If I'm tied up with seven green cords <n>{Or bowstrings}</n> that have never been dried out, then I'll become weak and just like any other <n>{Lit. like one}</n> human being." 


text:
Then the Philistine leaders brought her seven green cords <n>{Or bowstrings}</n> that had never been dried, and she tied him up with them. 


text:
Meanwhile, some kidnappers were hiding inside an inner room, waiting for her signal. <n>{Lit. sitting for her}</n> So she told him, "The Philistines are attacking you!" But he snapped the cords <n>{Or bowstrings}</n> as one might break a burned candle wick. <n>{Lit. burned strand of fiber}</n> So his secret <n>{Lit. strength}</n> remained undiscovered. 


text:
Some time later, Delilah told Samson, "Look here! You've been mocking me and lying to me. Now please tell me how you can be tied up." 


text:
He told her, "If I'm tied up securely with new ropes that have never been used, then I'll become weak and just like any other <n>{Lit. like one}</n> human being." 


text:
So Delilah grabbed some new ropes and tied him up. Then she told him, "The Philistines are attacking you, Samson!" because some kidnappers were hiding inside an inner room. But he snapped the ropes <n>{Lit. snapped them}</n> from his arms like thread. 


text:
Later on, Delilah told Samson, "You're still mocking me and telling me lies! Tell me how to tie you up!" He answered her, "If you weave the seven locks of my hair <n>{Lit. my head}</n> into a loom and fasten it with a peg, then I will become weak and just like any other human being." 


text:
So Delilah took the seven locks of his hair and wove them into the loom while he slept. <n>{16:13-14 So LXX. MT omits and fasten it with a peg, then I will become weak and just like any other human being. 14 So Delilah took the seven locks of his hair and wove them into the loom while he slept.}</n> She fastened his hair with a peg and then told him, "The Philistines are attacking you, Samson!" But he woke up from his nap and pulled the pin from the loom and the weaving. 


text:
<n>{Samson Tells Delilah His Secret}</n> d Some time later, she asked him, "How can you keep saying «I love you!'when your heart isn't with me? These three times you've lied to me and haven't told me where your great strength lies." 


text:
She nagged him every day with this speech, pestering him until he <n>{Lit. until his soul}</n> was annoyed nearly <n>{The Heb. lacks nearly}</n> to death. 


text:
So he finally disclosed everything. He told her, <n>{Lit. disclosed his entire heart to her}</n> "A razor has never touched my head, because I've been a Nazirite for God before I was born. <n>{Lit. God from my mother's womb}</n> If I am shaved, then my strength will abandon me and I will become weak like every human being." 


text:
When Delilah realized that he had disclosed everything <n>{Lit. disclosed his entire heart}</n> to her, she sent for the Philistine officials and told them, "Hurry up and come here at once, because he has told me everything." <n>{Lit. me his entire heart}</n> So the Philistine officials went to her and brought their money with them. 


text:
So she enticed him to fall asleep on her lap, called for a man to shave off his seven locks of hair <n>{The Heb. lacks of hair}</n> from his head, and so began to humiliate him. Then his strength abandoned him. 


text:
When she cried out, "The Philistines are attacking you, Samson!" he woke from his sleep and told himself, <n>{The Heb. lacks to himself}</n> "I'll go out like I did at other times like this and shake myself free." But he didn't know that the Lord had abandoned him. 


text:
<n>{Samson is Imprisoned by the Philistines}</n> d Then the Philistines grabbed him, gouged out his eyes, brought him down to Gaza, tied him up in bronze chains, <n>{The Heb. lacks chains}</n> and made him grind grain in their prison. <n>{Lit. in the house of captives}</n> 


text:
Some time later, the Philistine officials got together to present a magnificent sacrifice to their god Dagon, and to throw a party, because they were claiming, "Our god has given Samson into our control!" 


text:
When the people saw Samson, <n>{Lit. him}</n> they praised their god, claiming: Our god has given our enemy into our control; the one who was destroying our land, and who has killed many of us. 


text:
Because they all got good and drunk, <n>{Lit. Because their hearts were merry}</n> they ordered, "Go get Samson, so he can entertain us." So they called for Samson from the prison, and he entertained them while they made him stand between the pillars. 


text:
<n>{Samson Kills Himself and 3,000 Philistines}</n> d Then Samson told the young man who had been leading him around by the hand, "Let me touch and feel the pillars on which this building rests, and I'll support myself against them." 


text:
Now the building was full of men, women, and all the Philistine officials, with about 3,000 men and women on the roof watching Samson while he was entertaining them. 


text:
Then Samson cried out to the Lord , "Lord God , please remember me. And please strengthen me this one time, God, so that I can repay the Philistines right now for my two eyes." 


text:
Then Samson grabbed the two middle pillars upon which the house rested and braced himself against them with one pillar in his right hand and the other in his left. 


text:
Then Samson said, "Let me die with the Philistines!" He strained with all his strength until the building collapsed on the officials and every person in it. As a result, the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he killed during his lifetime. 


text:
Afterwards, his brothers and his father's household servants <n>{The Heb. lacks servants}</n> came down, took him, brought him back, and buried him in his father Manoah's tomb between Zorah and Eshtaol. He had governed Israel for 20 years. 


text:
<n>{Micah's Descent into Idolatry}</n> d A man named Micah lived in the mountainous region <n>{Or the hill country}</n> of the territory of <n>{The Heb. lacks the territory of}</n> Ephraim. 


text:
He told his mother, "Do you remember <n>{The Heb. lacks Do you remember}</n> those 1,100 silver coins that were stolen from you and about which you uttered a curse when I could hear it? Well, I have the silver. I took it." So she replied, "May my son be blessed by the Lord ." 


text:
Her son gave back the 1,100 silver coins to his mother, and she said, "I'm totally giving this silver from my hand to the Lord so my son can make a carved image and a cast image. So I'm returning it to you." 


text:
When he had returned the silver to his mother, his mother took 200 of the silver coins and handed them over to a silversmith. He crafted them into a carved image and into a cast image, and they were set up <n>{The Heb. lacks set up}</n> in Micah's house. 


text:
This man Micah had his own shrine, <n>{Lit. own house of God}</n> had crafted his own ephod and some household idols, <n>{Lit. and teraphim ; i.e. images of pagan gods used in divination; and so throughout the book}</n> and had installed one of his sons as a priest. 


text:
Back in those days, Israel didn't yet have a king, so each person did whatever seemed right in his own opinion. 


text:
A young male descendant of Levi happened to be visiting there from Bethlehem in the territory of <n>{The Heb. lacks the territory of}</n> Judah. 


text:
The man had left his city Bethlehem in Judah to live wherever he could. As he traveled along, he eventually arrived at Micah's house in the mountainous region <n>{Or the hill country}</n> of Ephraim, looking for work. 


text:
Micah asked him, "Where did you come from?" He replied, "I'm a descendant of Levi from Bethlehem in Judah, and I'm going to stay temporarily wherever I can find a place." <n>{The Heb. lacks a place}</n> 


text:
So Micah replied, "Come live with me! You can be a spiritual father <n>{The Heb. lacks spiritual ; cf. Judg 18:19}</n> to me, as well as a priest. I'll pay you ten silver coins a year, plus a priestly uniform <n>{Or a suit of clothes}</n> and an income." So the descendant of Levi moved in. 


text:
The descendant of Levi agreed to live with the man, and the young man became like one of the family. <n>{Lit. of his sons}</n> 


text:
Micah set up the descendant of Levi in ministry, and the young man became his priest while he lived in Micah's house. 


text:
As for Micah, he kept saying, "Now I know the Lord will make me rich, because I have a descendant of Levi for a priest!" 


text:
<n>{The Descendants of Dan Learn about Micah}</n> d Back in those days, Israel didn't have a king yet, and during that time the tribe of Dan had been seeking a territorial inheritance to live in, because up until that time no territory had been allotted to them as a possession among the tribes of Israel. 


text:
So the tribe <n>{Lit. sons}</n> of Dan sent from their families five valiant men of their number from Zorah and Eshtaol to scout the land and search through it. Following their orders, which were "Go and scout the land," they came to the mountainous region <n>{Or the hill country}</n> of Ephraim, arrived at Micah's home, and stayed there. 


text:
As they approached Micah's home, they recognized the voice of the young male descendant of Levi. They turned aside from there and spoke to him, asking him, "Who brought you here? What work are you doing here? And what's your business here?" 


text:
The priest responded to them, "Travel in peace. The mission that you're to accomplish is from the Lord ." 


text:
So the five men left and went to Laish, and observed the people who were living there carefree, as Sidonians tend to do, in peace and quiet. There was no ruler in the land oppressing them for any reason. They were living far away from the Sidonians, and had no dealings with anyone. <n>{So MT; LXX reads with Syria ; Symmachus reads with Aram ; cf. Judg 18:28}</n> 


text:
When they returned to their relatives at Zorah and Eshtaol, their relatives asked them, "What's your report?" <n>{The Heb. lacks report}</n> 


text:
They replied, "Let's get going and attack them. We've scouted out the land and look! it's a very good one. Why should we sit still? We can't wait to go back, invade, and take over the land. 


text:
When you invade, you'll meet a carefree people living in a spacious territory. God has given it into your control it's a place that lacks nothing on this earth!" 


text:
They went out and encamped at Kiriath-jearim in the territory of Judah. (That's why they call the place Mahaneh-dan to this day. It lies west of Kiriath-jearim.) 


text:
They proceeded from there to the mountainous region <n>{Or the hill country}</n> of Ephraim and arrived at Micah's house. 


text:
<n>{The Descendants of Dan Commandeer Micah's Idols}</n> d Then the five men who had gone to scout out the territory of Laish told their relatives, "Are you aware that in these houses there's an ephod, some household idols, <n>{Lit. teraphim ; i.e. images of pagan gods used in divination}</n> a carved image, and a cast image? You know what you need to do." 


text:
While the 600 Danite soldiers, armed with military weapons, stood guard at the entrance to the gate, 


text:
the five men who had gone to scout out the land arrived, entered Micah's home <n>{The Heb. lacks Micah's home}</n> and took possession of the carved image, the ephod, the household idols, <n>{Lit. teraphim ; i.e. images of pagan gods used in divination}</n> and the cast image. Meanwhile, the priest stood outside by the entrance to the gate with the 600 men armed with military weapons. 


text:
After they went into Micah's home and took the carved image, the ephod, the household idols, <n>{Lit. and teraphim ; i.e. images of pagan gods used in divination}</n> and the cast image, the priest challenged them. "What are you doing?" he asked them. 


text:
They told him, "Shut up and keep quiet. <n>{Lit. and put your hand over your mouth}</n> Come with us and be our spiritual <n>{The Heb. lacks spiritual ; cf. Judg 17:10}</n> father and priest. It's better for you, isn't it, to be a priest to an entire <n>{The Heb. lacks entire}</n> tribe and family in Israel than to be priest to the home of one man?" 


text:
The priest was happy to oblige, <n>{Lit. happy in heart}</n> so he took the ephod, the household idols, <n>{Lit. teraphim ; i.e. images of pagan gods used in divination}</n> and the carved image and went along with the army. 


text:
Then they turned around and left, sending their little ones, their livestock, and their valuables on ahead. 


text:
When they had been gone a short distance from Micah's home, some of Micah's neighbors assembled a search party and overtook the descendants of Dan. 


text:
They yelled at the descendants of Dan, who turned around to face Micah and asked, "What's wrong <n>{The Heb. lacks wrong}</n> with you? You've assembled together?" 


text:
Micah <n>{Lit. He}</n> replied, "You took my gods that I crafted, along with the priest, and left! What do I have left? So what's with this «What's wrong with you?»" 


text:
The descendants of Dan answered him, "You had better not talk to us about this, <n>{The Heb. lacks about this}</n> or else these bad guys here will attack you. You will lose your life, along with the lives of your whole <n>{The Heb. lacks whole}</n> household." 


text:
Then the descendants of Dan went on their way. Because Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back home. 


text:
But the descendants of Dan <n>{Lit. But they}</n> took what Micah had made, along with the priest who had worked for him, and went to Laish, to a quiet and carefree people, and killed them with swords. Then they set fire to the city. 


text:
They had no one else to deliver them, <n>{The Heb. lacks them}</n> because they lived far from Sidon and had no dealings with anyone. <n>{cf. Judg 18:7}</n> It lay in the valley near Beth-rehob. They rebuilt the city and lived in it. 


text:
They renamed the city Dan, after the name of their ancestor Dan, who had been born in Israel. The former name of the city was Laish. 


text:
The descendants of Dan set up the carved image, and Gershom's son Jonathan, a descendant of Manasseh, served along with his descendants as priests to the tribe of Dan until the land was taken captive. 


text:
Micah's carved image, that he himself had crafted, was in place during the entire time that God's tent was set up at Shiloh. 


text:
<n>{The Levite's Mistress}</n> d Now it happened in those days, before there was a king in Israel, that a certain male descendant of Levi, who lived in a remote part of the mountainous region <n>{Or the hill country}</n> of Ephraim, took a mistress for himself from Bethlehem in the territory of Judah. 


text:
But his mistress was sexually unfaithful to him, and then she left him to live in her father's home in Bethlehem in the territory of Judah. She had been living there for a period <n>{Lit. days}</n> of about four months 


text:
when her husband got up and went after her, intending to speak lovingly to her <n>{Lit. speak to her heart}</n> in order to win her back. He took with him his young man servant and a pair of donkeys. When she brought him into her father's house to see him, her father was happy to have met him. 


text:
The young woman's father (that is, his father-in-law) made him stay there for three days while they ate and drank during his visit there. 


text:
On the fourth day, they got up early that morning, and the descendant of Levi <n>{Lit. and he}</n> got ready to leave. Then the young woman's father-in-law told him, "Fortify yourself <n>{Lit. Fortify your heart}</n> by eating some food before you go." 


text:
So both of them sat down for a bit, ate and drank together, and the young woman's father invited the man, "Please, enjoy yourself and spend another night." 


text:
The man got up, intending <n>{The Heb. lacks intending}</n> to leave, but his father-in-law urged him to spend the night there again. 


text:
On the fifth day, he got up early in the morning, but the young woman's father-in-law told him, "Please, fortify yourself," <n>{Lit. Fortify your heart}</n> so they delayed until later that afternoon while both of them ate together. 


text:
When the man got up to leave with his mistress and servant, his father-in-law, the young woman's father, told him, "Look now, evening is coming, so please spend another night. See how the daylight is fading, so spend the night here and enjoy yourself. Then tomorrow get up early and leave on your journey home." 


text:
Because the man was unwilling to spend the night, he got up, left, and arrived opposite Jebus (now known as Jerusalem). He had with him a pair of saddled donkeys, along with his mistress. 


text:
As they approached Jebus, the daylight was almost gone, so the servant suggested to his master, "Come on, let's spend the night in this Jebusite city." 


text:
But his master replied, "We're not going to turn aside into a city of foreigners who are not part of the Israelis. Instead, we'll go on to Gibeah." 


text:
He also told his servant, "Come on, <n>{So Codex Leningradensis.}</n> let's go to one of these places and spend the night in Gibeah or Ramah." 


text:
So they continued on their way, and the sun set on them near Gibeah, which is part of Benjamin's territorial allotment. <n>{The Heb. lacks territorial allotment}</n> 


text:
They turned aside there, intending to enter Gibeah and spend the night. <n>{The Homosexual Descendants of Benjamin in Gibeah}</n> d After they entered the city, they had to sit down in the public square because no one would take them into their <n>{The Heb. lacks their}</n> home for the night. 


text:
Just then, an old man was coming out of the fields that evening from work. The man was from the mountainous region <n>{Or the hill country}</n> of Ephraim and had been staying in Gibeah, even though the men of that place were descendants of Benjamin. 


text:
As the old man looked up and saw the traveling man in the public square of the city, he asked, "Now then, where are you headed? And where are you from?" 


text:
He replied, "We're traveling from Bethlehem in Judah to the remote part of the mountainous region <n>{Or the hill country}</n> of Ephraim, because I'm from there, and I've been visiting Bethlehem in Judah. I'm going home now, but no one will take me into his home. 


text:
Meanwhile, we also have straw and fodder for our donkeys, and bread and wine for me, for this <n>{Lit. your ;}</n> young woman servant, and for the young man who is with your servants. We don't need anything else." 


text:
The old man replied, "Don't be alarmed. I'll take care of all your needs. Just don't spend the night in the public square." 


text:
So he took him into his home and fed the donkeys while they refreshed themselves and had dinner." <n>{Lit. they washed their feet and ate and drank}</n> 


text:
While they were enjoying themselves, all of a sudden certain ungodly men <n>{Lit. men of Belial ; i.e. men so wicked as to be worthy of death}</n> who lived in the city surrounded the house, pounded on the door, and ordered the old man who owned the home, "Bring out the man who came to visit your home so we can have sex with him." 


text:
The man who owned the house went out to talk to them and pleaded with them, "No, my brothers, please don't act so wickedly. This man is my guest! Don't try to do this stupid thing. 


text:
Instead, here's my virgin daughter and my visitor's <n>{Lit. and his}</n> mistress. Please let me bring them out to you. Occupy yourselves with them, and do to them whatever you would like. But don't commit such a stupid thing against this man." 


text:
<n>{The Men of Gibeah Rape and Murder the Mistress}</n> d But the men were unwilling to listen to him. So the descendant of Levi <n>{Lit. man}</n> grabbed his mistress, took her out to them, and they raped and tortured her all night until morning. Then they released her as the first daylight was beginning to appear. 


text:
As dawn was breaking, the woman approached the door of the man's home where her master was and collapsed. Eventually, full daylight came. 


text:
When her master got up that morning and opened the doors of the house to leave on his way, there was his mistress, fallen dead at the door of the house with her hands grasping the threshold. 


text:
He spoke to her, "Get up, and let's go." But there was no response. So he placed her on the donkey, mounted his own animal, <n>{Lit. donkey, got up}</n> and went home. 


text:
When he arrived home, he grabbed a knife, took hold of his mistress, cut her apart limb by limb into twelve pieces, and sent her remains <n>{The Heb. lacks remains}</n> throughout the land of Israel. 


text:
All the witnesses said, "Nothing has happened or has been seen like this from the day the Israelis came here from the land of Egypt to this day! Think about it, get some advice about it, and then speak up about it!" 


text:
<n>{The Israelis Attack the Tribe of Benjamin}</n> d Then the entire Israeli nation from Dan to Beer-sheba, including the territory of Gilead came out for war. The army assembled as one united force to God at Mizpah. 


text:
The officials of the entire nation, including every tribe of Israel, took their stand in the assembly of the people of God: 400,000 foot soldiers, all of them <n>{The Heb. lacks all of them}</n> expert swordsmen. 


text:
While the descendants of Benjamin were learning that the Israelis had gone up to Mizpah, the Israelis asked, "Somebody tell us how this evil could happen?" 


text:
So the descendant of Levi, the husband of the murdered woman, spoke up and replied, "I came to spend the night at Gibeah, which is part of Benjamin, along with my mistress. 


text:
But the officials of Gibeah attacked me and surrounded the house because of me. They intended to kill me, but instead they tortured my mistress to death. 


text:
So I grabbed my mistress, cut her in pieces, and sent her remains <n>{The Heb. lacks remains}</n> throughout the territory of Israel's inheritance, because they've committed a vile, stupid outrage in Israel. 


text:
Then the entire army stood up as a single unit and declared, "Nobody's going back to his tent, and nobody's going home! 


text:
We'll take ten men out of 100 from all of the tribes of Israel. We'll appoint 100 out of 1,000 and 1,000 out of 10,000 to supply provisions for the army. And when we reach Gibeah in the territory of Benjamin, we'll punish them for all of the stupid things that they've done in Israel." 


text:
That's how the army of Israel came to be gathered together to attack the city, united as a single unit. 


text:
The tribes of Israel sent men throughout the entire tribe of Benjamin to ask them, "What is this evil thing that has occurred among you? 


text:
Now then, hand over the men those ungodly men, <n>{Lit. men of Belial ; i.e. men so wicked as to be worthy of death}</n> and we'll execute them in order to remove this evil from Israel." But the descendants of Benjamin wouldn't obey the request of their own relatives, the Israelis, 


text:
so the descendants of Benjamin assembled from the cities of Gibeah to fight the Israelis in battle. 


text:
The day of the battle, <n>{The Heb. lacks of the battle}</n> the army from the descendants of Benjamin numbered 26,000 expert swordsmen from their cities, not including the inhabitants of Gibeah, who numbered 700 special forces soldiers. 


text:
Out of all these soldiers, 700 of them were left-handed and each one could sling a stone at a hair and never miss. 


text:
But the Israeli army not counting the tribe of Benjamin numbered 400,000 expert swordsmen, all of them battle-hardened soldiers. <n>{Lit. them men of war}</n> 


text:
<n>{Civil War Lays Waste to the Tribe of Benjamin}</n> d The Israelis mounted up, traveled to Bethel, and asked God what to do. <n>{The Heb. lacks what to do}</n> They said, "Who is to lead us in our opening attack against the descendants of Benjamin?" The Lord replied, "Judah is to open the attack." 


text:
and the army of Israel went out to fight the tribe of Benjamin, assembling in battle array against them at Gibeah. 


text:
The descendants of Benjamin came out of Gibeah, and 22,000 soldiers of Israel fell in battle that day. 


text:
But the army the men of Israel encouraged themselves and arrayed for battle again the next day in the same place where they had gathered the day before. 


text:
From there <n>{Lit. Then}</n> the Israelis went up and wept in the Lord's presence until evening. Then they asked the Lord , "Should we attack the descendants of <n>{Lit. of my brother ; the descendants of Benjamin personified as an individual}</n> Benjamin again?" The Lord replied, "Attack them." <n>{Lit. him ; i.e. the descendants of Benjamin personified as an individual}</n> 


text:
and the tribe of Benjamin went to war against them from Gibeah during that second day, and 18,000 soldiers from the Israelis all of them expert swordsmen fell to the ground. 


text:
All the Israelis, including its army, went up from there to Bethel and wept, remaining there in the Lord's presence, fasting throughout the day until dusk, when they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings in the Lord's presence. 


text:
The Israelis inquired of the Lord , since the Ark of the Covenant was there <n>{The Heb. lacks there}</n> at that time 


text:
while Eleazar's son Phinehas, a descendant of Aaron, served before it in those days. They asked, "Should we go out to war again against the descendants of our relative Benjamin, or shall we cease?" And the Lord answered, "Go out, and tomorrow I will deliver them into your control." 


text:
The Israelis went out against the descendants of Benjamin on the third day, arraying themselves against Gibeah as they had done previously. 


text:
They attacked the army and were drawn away from the city as they began to inflict casualties on the soldiers along the roads to Bethel and Gibeah, just as they had done the other times. About 30 soldiers from Israel fell in battle there <n>{The Heb. lacks fell in battle there}</n> and in the fields. 


text:
Then the descendants of Benjamin told themselves, <n>{The Heb. lacks told themselves}</n> "They're falling right in front of us, just like before!" But the army of Israel told themselves, "Let's draw them away by escaping to the highways from the city." 


text:
So the entire army of Israel moved from their location and arrayed themselves at Baal-tamer while that part of their army moved from their ambush positions from Maareh-geba. 


text:
As 10,000 of Israel's best soldiers came to fight Gibeah, the battle became fierce, but the army of Benjamin didn't know that disaster was close at hand. 


text:
The Lord struck Benjamin in the full view of Israel. As a result, the Israelis destroyed 25,100 soldiers of Benjamin that day, all expert swordsmen. 


text:
Then the descendants of Benjamin realized that they had been defeated. The army of Israel pretended to retreat from the army of Benjamin, knowing that they had set some soldiers in ambush near Gibeah. 


text:
The soldiers in ambush rushed out to attack Gibeah, deploying in force <n>{The Heb. lacks in force}</n> and executing the entire city with swords. 


text:
Meanwhile, the army of Israel had arranged to signal their soldiers who had been hiding in ambush by sending up a cloud of smoke from the city. 


text:
The army of Israel turned around in the battle, and the army of Benjamin began to attack and kill about 30 soldiers, thinking, "Now we're really defeating them, <n>{Lit. Now they are defeated in front of us}</n> just like before." 


text:
But then the smoke began to rise from the city in a column. The army of Benjamin observed behind them that the whole city was going up in flames <n>{The Heb. lacks in flames}</n> straight into the sky! 


text:
At that point, as the army of Israel turned back to face the army of Benjamin, <n>{The Heb. lacks back to face the army of Benjamin}</n> the army of Benjamin was filled with terror, because they realized that disaster was about to overtake them. 


text:
So they turned tail and ran away from the army of Israel toward the wilderness, but they were overtaken in battle when soldiers came out from the cities to destroy them. <n>{Lit. them among them}</n> 


text:
They surrounded the army of Benjamin, pursuing them ceaselessly until they defeated them near the east-facing <n>{Lit. near the rising of the sun}</n> border of Gibeah. 


text:
That's how 18,000 men from the tribe of Benjamin fell in battle, all of whom were valiant soldiers. 


text:
The rest of them turned and ran into the wilderness in the direction of the rock of Rimmon, but 5,000 of them were killed on the highways while 2,000 of them were overtaken and killed near Gidom. 


text:
To sum up, the soldiers from the tribe of Benjamin who died that day totaled 25,000 men, all of them expert swordsmen and valiant soldiers. 


text:
However, 600 soldiers ran into the wilderness in the direction of the rock of Rimmon, where they remained as fugitives for four months. 


text:
Meanwhile, the army of Israel went back to fight the surviving <n>{The Heb. lacks surviving}</n> descendants of Benjamin. They attacked the entire city with swords, including its cattle and everyone they could find. Then they set fire to all of the cities that they could find. 


text:
<n>{The Israelis Mourn the Tribe of Benjamin}</n> d Now the people of Israel had taken a vow in Mizpah that went like this: "Not even one of us will give his daughter in marriage to a descendant of Benjamin!" 


text:
So the people went to Bethel, sat before God until dusk, where they cried out loud and wept bitterly. 


text:
"Why, Lord God of Israel," they asked him, "is one tribe missing <n>{The Heb. lacks missing}</n> from Israel?" 


text:
The next day, the people got up early, built an altar, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. 


text:
The Israelis asked themselves, "Who didn't come up in our assembly in the Lord's presence from among all of the tribes of Israel?" They had taken a solemn oath concerning those who didn't come up to meet with the Lord at Mizpah that "They will certainly be executed." 


text:
But the Israelis were mourning for their relatives in the tribe of Benjamin. They announced, "One tribe has been eliminated from Israel today! 


text:
What can we do to find wives for the survivors who remain, since we've already taken an oath in the Lord's presence not to give them any of our daughters in marriage?" 


text:
<n>{The Israelis Attempt to Mitigate Their Disaster}</n> d They asked, "What one group of the tribes of Israel didn't come up to meet the Lord at Mizpah?" It turned out that no one had come to the encampment from Jabesh-gilead, 


text:
since when they took a census of the assembly, not even one of the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead was in attendance. 


text:
So the congregation sent out 12,000 of their valiant soldiers, issuing these orders to them: "Go and attack the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead with swords, including the women and little ones. 


text:
You're to completely destroy every man and every married woman." <n>{Lit. woman who has had sexual relations with a man}</n> 


text:
They discovered among the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead 400 young virgins who hadn't had sex with a man, and they brought them to the encampment at Shiloh in the territory of Canaan. 


text:
Then the entire congregation sent for the surviving <n>{The Heb. lacks surviving}</n> descendants of Benjamin who were living at the rock of Rimmon and assured them that their intentions toward them were peaceful. <n>{Lit. and proclaimed peace}</n> 


text:
So the survivors of the tribe of Benjamin <n>{The Heb. lacks the survivors of the tribe of}</n> returned at that time, and the Israelis <n>{Lit. and they}</n> gave them the women whom they had kept alive from the raid on <n>{Lit. the women of}</n> Jabesh-gilead. Even so, there weren't enough for them. 


text:
The people felt sorry for the tribe of Benjamin because the Lord had broken one of the tribes of Israel. 


text:
So the elders of the congregation asked, "What will we do to obtain wives for the survivors, since the women of Benjamin have been devastated?" 


text:
They continued, "Let's make sure that there's an inheritance for the survivors of the tribe of Benjamin, so that a tribe won't be blotted out from Israel. 


text:
But we can't give them wives from our own daughters, since we've <n>{Lit. since the Israelis had}</n> taken this vow: «May the Lord curse <n>{Lit. vow: «Cursed be}</n> anyone who gives his daughter as <n>{The Heb. lacks his daughter as}</n> a wife to the tribe of Benjamin!»" 


text:
So they concluded, "Look, there's a festival to the Lord every year in Shiloh on the north side of Bethel, south of Lebonah and on the east side of the highway that runs from Bethel to Shechem" 


text:
Watch when the unmarried women <n>{Lit. the daughters}</n> from Shiloh come out to participate in the dances. Then come out of the vineyards and each of you grab a wife from the unmarried women <n>{Lit. the daughters}</n> from Shiloh. Then go back home to the territory of Benjamin. 


text:
If their fathers or brothers come complaining to us, we'll tell them «Be generous! Give them to us voluntarily, because we didn't take anyone to be a wife for the men of the tribe of Benjamin <n>{The Heb. lacks of the tribe of Benjamin}</n> as a result of the battle. And you haven't incurred guilt by giving your daughters to them.»" 


text:
So the descendants of Benjamin did all of this: they chose and carried away just enough wives from those who danced to meet the number needed, then they left to return to their inheritance, to rebuild their cities, and to live there. 


text:
The Israelis left there at that time, each man to his tribe and family, and each of them went down from there to his territorial allotment. 


text:
<n>{ The Book of}</n> <n>{ Ruth}</n> d <n>{Naomi's Family}</n> d Now there came a time of famine while judges were ruling in the land of Israel. <n>{The Heb. lacks of Israel}</n> A man from Bethlehem of Judah, his wife, and his two sons left to live in the country of Moab. 


text:
The man's name was Elimelech, his wife's name was Naomi, and their two sons were named Mahlon and Chilion Ephrathites from Bethlehem of Judah. They journeyed to the country of Moab and lived there for some time. <n>{The Heb. lacks for some time}</n> 


text:
Each of her sons <n>{Lit. They}</n> married Moabite women: one named Orpah and the other named Ruth. After they lived there about ten years, 


text:
both Mahlon and Chilion died, leaving Naomi <n>{Lit. the woman}</n> alone with neither her husband nor her two sons. 


text:
<n>{Naomi Returns to Judah}</n> d She and her daughters-in-law prepared to return from the country of Moab, because she had heard while living there <n>{Lit. living in the country of Moab}</n> how the Lord had come to the aid of his people, giving them relief. <n>{Lit. bread or food}</n> 


text:
So she left the place where she had been, along with her two daughters-in-law, and they traveled along the return road to the land of Judah. 


text:
But along the way, <n>{The Heb. lacks along the way}</n> Naomi told her two daughters-in-law, "Each of you go back home. Return to your mother's house. May the Lord show his gracious love to you, as you have shown me and our loved ones who have died. <n>{Lit. and the dead}</n> 


text:
May the Lord grant each of you security in your new <n>{The Heb. lacks new}</n> husbands'households." Then she kissed them good-bye, <n>{The Heb. lacks good-bye}</n> and they cried loudly. 


text:
But Naomi responded, "Go back, my daughters. Why go with me? Are there still sons to be born to me <n>{Lit. sons in my womb}</n> as future husbands for you? 


text:
So go on back, my daughters! Be on your way! I'm too old to remarry. <n>{Lit. to have a husband}</n> If I were to say that I'm hoping for a husband tonight and then also bore sons this very night, <n>{The Heb. lacks this very night}</n> 


text:
would you wait for them until they were grown? Would you refrain from marriage for them? No, my daughters! I'm more deeply grieved than you, because <n>{Lit. because the hand of}</n> the Lord is working against me!" 


text:
<n>{Ruth Remains with Naomi}</n> d They began to cry loudly again. So Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-bye, <n>{The Heb. lacks good-bye}</n> but Ruth remained with her. 


text:
Naomi told Ruth, <n>{The Heb. lacks to Ruth}</n> "Look, your sister-in-law has returned to her people and to her gods. Follow your sister-in-law!" 


text:
But Ruth answered, "Stop urging me to abandon you and to turn back from following you. Because wherever you go, I'll go. Wherever you live, I'll live. Your people will be my people, and your God, my God. 


text:
Where you die, I'll die and be buried. May the Lord do this to me and more if anything <n>{The Heb. lacks anything}</n> except death comes between you and me." 


text:
When Naomi <n>{The Heb. lacks Naomi}</n> observed Ruth's <n>{Lit. her}</n> determination to travel with her, she ended the conversation. 


text:
So they continued on until they reached Bethlehem. <n>{Naomi and Ruth Arrive in Bethlehem}</n> d Now when the two of them arrived in Bethlehem, the entire town got excited at the news of their arrival <n>{Lit. at them}</n> and they asked one another, "Can this be Naomi?" 


text:
But Naomi replied, "Don't call me «Naomi'! <n>{I.e. pleasant}</n> Call me «Mara'! <n>{I.e. bitter}</n> That's because the Almighty has dealt bitterly with me. 


text:
I left here full, but the Lord brought me back empty. So why call me «Naomi'? After all, the Lord is against me, and the Almighty has broken <n>{Or has done evil toward}</n> me." 


text:
So Naomi returned to Bethlehem <n>{The Heb. lacks to Bethlehem}</n> from the country of Moab, along with her daughter-in-law Ruth the Moabite woman. And they arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest. 


text:
<n>{Boaz Meets Ruth}</n> d Naomi had a close relative of her late <n>{The Heb. lacks late}</n> husband, a man of considerable wealth from the family of Elimelech. His name was Boaz. 


text:
Ruth the Moabite told Naomi, "Please allow me to go out to the fields and glean grain behind anyone who shows me kindness." So Naomi replied, "Go ahead, my daughter." 


text:
So she went out, proceeded to the field, and gleaned behind the harvesters. And it happened that she came to the portion of land belonging to Boaz, of the family of Elimelech. 


text:
Now when Boaz arrived from Bethlehem, he told the harvesters, "The Lord be with you." "May the Lord bless you!" they replied. 


text:
At this point, Boaz asked the foreman of <n>{Or the young man over}</n> his harvesters, "To whom does this young woman belong?" 


text:
The foreman of <n>{Or The young man over}</n> the harvesters answered, "She is the Moabite who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. 


text:
She asked us, «Please allow me to glean what's left of the grain behind the harvesters.'So she came out and has continued working <n>{The Heb. lacks working}</n> from dawn until now, except for a short time in a shelter." 


text:
<n>{Boaz Shows Kindness to Ruth}</n> d Boaz then addressed Ruth: "Listen, my daughter! <n>{Lit. Will you not listen, my daughter?}</n> Don't glean in any other field. Don't even leave this one, and be sure to stay close to my women servants. 


text:
Keep your eyes on the field where they are harvesting, and follow them. I have ordered my young men not to bother <n>{Or touch}</n> you, have I not? And when you are thirsty, drink from the water vessels that the young men have filled." 


text:
At this she fell prostrate, bowing low to the ground, and asked him, "Why is it that you're showing me kindness by noticing me, since I'm a foreigner?" 


text:
Boaz answered her, "It has been clearly disclosed to me all that you have done for your mother-in-law following the death of your husband how you abandoned your father, your mother, and your own land, and came to a people you did not previously know. 


text:
May the Lord repay you for your work, and may a full reward be given you from the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings <n>{Or garment ; cf. 3:9}</n> you have come for refuge." 


text:
She responded, "May I continue to find favor in your sight, sir, since you've been comforting me and you have spoken graciously to <n>{Lit. spoken to the heart of}</n> your servant, even though I am not one of your servants." 


text:
At lunchtime, Boaz invited her, "Come on over, have some food, and dip your bread in our oil and <n>{The Heb. lacks oil and}</n> vinegar." So she sat down beside the harvesters, and he handed her some roasted grain, which she ate until she was satisfied. She kept what was left over. 


text:
<n>{Boaz the Benefactor}</n> d After she had left to glean, Boaz commanded his servants, <n>{Or young men}</n> "Allow her to glean also among the cut sheaves, and don't taunt her. 


text:
One other thing <n>{Lit. her . 16 Also}</n> drop some handfuls <n>{Or portions}</n> deliberately, leaving them for her so she can gather it. And don't bother her." 


text:
So Ruth <n>{Lit. she}</n> gathered grain out in the field until dusk, and then threshed what she had gathered about a week's supply <n>{Lit. an ephah ; i.e. enough to support Naomi and Ruth for at least five or six days}</n> of barley. 


text:
She picked up her grain <n>{The Heb. lacks her grain}</n> and went back to town. Her mother-in-law noticed how much Ruth <n>{Lit. she}</n> had gleaned and had brought back from what was left over from her lunch. 


text:
So her mother-in-law quizzed her, "Where did you glean today? Where, precisely, did you work? May the one who took notice of you be blessed." So Ruth told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked. She said, "The man's name with whom I worked today is Boaz." 


text:
Naomi replied, "May the one who hasn't abandoned his gracious love to the living or to the dead be blessed by the Lord ." Naomi added, "This man is closely related to us, our related redeemer, <n>{I.e. a close male relative responsible to redeem inheritances (Lev. 25:25), to free relatives from indentured servitude (Lev. 25:47-55), to avenge deaths (Deut. 19:1-13), and to financially support, care for, and (in certain limited cases) to marry a widow related to him (Deut. 25:5-10); and so throughout the book}</n> as a matter of fact!" 


text:
Then Ruth the Moabite woman added, "He also told me «Stay close to my young men until they have completed my entire harvest.»" 


text:
Naomi responded to her daughter-in-law Ruth, "It is prudent, my daughter, for you to go out with his women servants, so someone won't attack you in another field." 


text:
So Ruth <n>{Lit. she}</n> continued to stay close to the young women who worked for Boaz, gathering grain until both the barley and wheat harvests were complete, all the while living with her mother-in-law. 


text:
<n>{Naomi Offers to Find a Husband for Ruth}</n> d Ruth's <n>{Lit. her}</n> mother-in-law Naomi, told her, "My daughter, should I not make inquiries about your financial security, <n>{Lit. about a resting place}</n> so you'll be better off in life? <n>{Lit. so your life may go well}</n> 


text:
Isn't Boaz one of our close relatives? You've been associating with his women servants lately. Look, he'll be winnowing barley at the threshing floor tonight. 


text:
So get cleaned up, put on some perfume, dress up, and go to the threshing floor, but don't let him see you <n>{Lit. but do not make yourself known to the man}</n> until after he's finished eating and drinking. 


text:
When he lies down, be sure to notice where he is resting. Then go over, uncover his feet, and lie down. He'll tell you what to do." 


text:
<n>{Ruth's Meeting with Boaz}</n> d After Boaz had finished eating and drinking to his heart's content, he went over and lay down next to the pile of threshed grain. Ruth <n>{Lit. She}</n> came in quietly, uncovered his feet, and lay down. 


text:
In the middle of the night, Boaz <n>{Lit. the man}</n> was startled awake and turned over in surprise to see a woman lying at his feet. 


text:
He asked her, "Who are you?" She answered, "I'm only Ruth, your servant. Spread the edge <n>{Or wing ; cf. 2:12}</n> of your garment over your servant, because you are my related redeemer." 


text:
He replied, "May you be blessed by the Lord , my daughter. You've added to the gracious love you've already demonstrated <n>{Lit. You've showed more gracious love in the latter end than in the beginning}</n> by not pursuing younger men, whether rich or poor. 


text:
Don't be afraid, my daughter. I'll do for you everything that you have asked, since all of my people in town are aware that you're a virtuous <n>{The Heb. word for virtuous is identical to the word for of considerable wealth in 2:1}</n> woman. 


text:
It's true that I'm your related redeemer, but there is another related redeemer even closer than I. 


text:
Stay the night, and if he fulfills his duty as your related redeemer in the morning, that will be acceptable. But if he isn't inclined to do so, <n>{I.e. act as related redeemer}</n> then, as the Lord lives, I will act as your related redeemer myself. So lie down until morning." 


text:
So she lay down at his feet until dawn approached, then got up while it was still difficult for anyone to be recognized. Then he told her, "It shouldn't be known that a woman has come to the threshing floor." 


text:
So he said, "Take your cloak and hold it out." She did so, and he measured out six units <n>{The Heb. lacks units}</n> of barley and placed them in a sack <n>{The Heb. lacks in a sack}</n> on her. Then she left for town. 


text:
<n>{Naomi's Response to Ruth}</n> d When Ruth <n>{Lit. she}</n> returned to her mother-in-law, Naomi <n>{Lit. she}</n> asked her, "How did it go, my daughter?" Then she related everything that the man had done for her. 


text:
Ruth <n>{Lit. She}</n> also said, "He gave me these six units <n>{The Heb. lacks units}</n> of barley and told me, «Don't go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.»" <n>{Lit. in vain}</n> 


text:
Naomi <n>{Lit. She}</n> replied, "Be patient, my daughter, until you learn how this works out, because the man won't rest until he finishes everything today." 


text:
<n>{Boaz Acts to Fulfill His Responsibilities}</n> d Meanwhile, Boaz approached the city gate <n>{I.e. the place of public business}</n> and sat down there. Just then, the very same related redeemer whom Boaz had mentioned came by, so Boaz <n>{Lit. he}</n> called out to him, "Come over and sit down here, my friend!" So the man came over and sat down. 


text:
Boaz <n>{Lit. He}</n> selected ten of the town elders and spoke to them, "Sit down here." So they sat down 


text:
and Boaz <n>{Lit. he}</n> addressed the related redeemer directly: "A portion of a field belonging to our relative Elimelech is up for sale by Naomi, who recently returned from the country of Moab. 


text:
So I thought to myself I ought to tell you that you must make a public purchase of this before the town residents and the elders of my people. So if you intend to act as the related redeemer, then do so. <n>{Lit. then act as related redeemer}</n> But if not, let me know, because except for you and I after you there is no one to fulfill the duties of a related redeemer." The man responded, "I will act as related redeemer." 


text:
<n>{A Complication Arises and is Resolved}</n> d Boaz continued, "On the very day you buy the field from Naomi, <n>{Lit. from the hand of Naomi}</n> you're also "buying" Ruth the Moabite woman, the wife of her dead husband, <n>{The Heb. lacks husband}</n> so the family name may be continued <n>{Or raised up}</n> as an inheritance." 


text:
At this, the nearer related redeemer replied, "Then I am unable to act as related redeemer, because that would complicate my own inheritance. You act instead as the related redeemer, because I cannot do so." <n>{Lit. cannot act as related redeemer}</n> 


text:
During Israel's earlier history, <n>{Or years}</n> all things concerning redeeming or changing inheritances were confirmed by a man taking off his sandal and giving it to the other party, <n>{Or neighbor ; cf. Deut 25:9}</n> thereby creating a public <n>{The Heb. lacks public}</n> record in Israel. 


text:
So when the nearer related redeemer told Boaz, "Make the purchase yourself," he then took off his sandal. 


text:
<n>{Boaz's Public Commitment}</n> d At this, Boaz addressed the elders and all of the people: "You all are witnesses today that I hereby redeem everything from Naomi that belonged to Elimelech, including what belonged to Chilion and Mahlon, 


text:
along with Mahlon's wife Ruth the Moabite woman. I will marry her to continue the family name as an inheritance, so that the name of the deceased does not disappear from among his relatives, nor from the public record. <n>{Lit. the gate of his place}</n> You are all witnesses today!" 


text:
Then all of the assembled people <n>{Lit. the people in the gate}</n> along with the elders who were there said, "We are witnesses! May the Lord make this woman who enters your house like Rachel and Leah, who together established the house of Israel. May you prosper in Ephrathah, and may you excel in Bethlehem! 


text:
Moreover, may your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore for Judah, from the offspring that the Lord gives you from this young woman." 


text:
<n>{The Marriage of Boaz and Ruth}</n> d So Boaz took Ruth to be his wife, and when he had marital relations with her, the Lord made her conceive, and she bore a son. 


text:
Then the women of Bethlehem <n>{The Heb. lacks of Bethlehem}</n> told Naomi, "May the Lord be blessed, <n>{Or Blessed be the Lord}</n> who has not left you today without a related redeemer. May his name become famous throughout Israel! 


text:
And he will restore your life for you and will support you in your old age, because your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who has borne him, is better for you than seven sons!" 


text:
So her women neighbors gave the child a nickname, which is "Naomi has a son!" They named him Obed. He became the father of Jesse, who was the father of David. 


text:
<n>{ The Book of}</n> <n>{ First Samuel}</n> d <n>{The Birth of Samuel}</n> d A certain man lived in Ramathaim-zophim, which is in the hill country of Ephraim. He was Jeroham's son Elkanah, the grandson of Elihu and grandson of Tohu, who was the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 


text:
He had two wives; the name of one was Hannah and the name of the other was Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. 


text:
That man would go up from his town each year to worship and sacrifice to the Lord of the Heavenly Armies at Shiloh, where Eli's two sons Hophni and Phineas served as priests of the Lord . 


text:
On the day when Elkanah offered sacrifices, he would give portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters, 


text:
Her rival would provoke her severely so that she complained loudly <n>{Or severely to irritate her}</n> because the Lord had closed her womb. 


text:
Elkanah <n>{Lit. He}</n> would do this year after year, as often as Hannah <n>{Lit. she}</n> went up to the house of the Lord . Likewise, Peninnah <n>{Lit. she}</n> would provoke her, and Hannah <n>{Lit. she}</n> would cry and would not eat. 


text:
Elkanah her husband told her, "Hannah, why are you crying and why don't you eat? Why are you upset? <n>{Lit. is your heart troubled}</n> Am I not better to you than ten sons?" 


text:
Hannah got up after she had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the chair by the doorpost of the tent <n>{Or temple}</n> of the Lord . 


text:
Hannah <n>{Lit. She}</n> made a vow: "Lord of the Heavenly Armies, if you just look at the misery of your maid servant, remember me, and don't forget your maid servant. If you give your maid servant a son, <n>{Lit. seed of men}</n> then I'll give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, <n>{LXX and DSS add wine or strong drink he won't drink}</n> and a razor is never to touch <n>{Lit. come upon}</n> his head." 


text:
Hannah was praying inwardly. <n>{Lit. in her heart}</n> Her lips were quivering, and her voice could not be heard. So Eli thought she was drunk. 


text:
"No, sir!" <n>{Lit. No, my lord}</n> Hannah replied. "I'm a deeply troubled <n>{Lit. harsh of spirit ; i.e. one whose life is hard}</n> woman. I've drunk neither wine nor beer. I've been pouring out my soul in the Lord's presence. 


text:
Don't consider your maid servant a worthless woman. Rather, all this time I've been speaking because I'm very anxious and distressed." 


text:
She said, "Let your servant <n>{Lit. maid servant}</n> find favor in your eyes." Then she <n>{Lit. Then the woman}</n> went on her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad. <n>{So LXX; The meaning of MT is uncertain.}</n> 


text:
They got up early the next morning and worshipped in the Lord's presence, and then they returned and came to their house at Ramah. Elkanah had marital relations with <n>{Lit. Elkanah knew}</n> his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her. 


text:
By the time of the next year's sacrifice, <n>{Or in due time}</n> Hannah had become pregnant and had borne a son. She named him Samuel <n>{The Heb. name Samuel means God has heard}</n> because she said, <n>{The Heb. lacks she said}</n> "I asked the Lord for him." 


text:
<n>{Hannah Dedicates Samuel to the Lord}</n> d Then Elkanah went up with all his family to offer the yearly sacrifice to the Lord and pay his vow. 


text:
Hannah did not go up because she had told her husband, "As soon as the child is weaned, I'll take him to appear in the Lord's presence and remain there forever. 


text:
"Do what you want," <n>{Lit. is good in your eyes}</n> Elkanah told her. "Stay until you have weaned him, only may the Lord bring about what you have said." <n>{Lit. what comes out of your mouth (LXX and DSS); MT reads his word}</n> So Hannah <n>{Lit. So the woman}</n> stayed and nursed her son until she had weaned him. 


text:
Then, when she had weaned him, she brought him up with her to Shiloh, <n>{The Heb. lacks to Shiloh; LXX and DSS add to Shiloh}</n> along with a three-year-old bull, <n>{So LXX and DSS; The meaning of MT is uncertain.}</n> a half-bushel <n>{Lit. an ephah}</n> of flour, and a skin of wine. She brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh, and the boy was young. <n>{The meaning of MT is uncertain. Lit. the lad was a lad ; LXX and DSS read and the boy was with them.}</n> 


text:
They slaughtered the bull and brought the boy to Eli. <n>{LXX and DSS read When they brought the boy before the LORD, his father slaughtered the sacrifice just as he did yearly to the LORD. She brought the boy and he slaughtered the bull, and then Hannah brought the boy to Eli.}</n> 


text:
Hannah <n>{Lit. she}</n> said, "Sir, <n>{Lit. My lord}</n> as surely as you are alive, I'm the woman who stood before you here praying to the Lord . 


text:
Now <n>{Lit. Also}</n> I'm dedicating <n>{Or lending}</n> him to the Lord , and as long as he lives, <n>{So LXX and other Heb. MSS; MT, is}</n> he will be dedicated <n>{Or lent}</n> to the Lord ." Then they worshipped the Lord there. 


text:
<n>{Hannah's Thanksgiving Psalm}</n> d Then Hannah prayed: "My heart exults in the Lord ; my strength <n>{Lit. horn ; i.e. a symbol of strength and well-being}</n> is increased by the Lord . I will open my mouth to speak <n>{The Heb. lacks to speak}</n> against my enemies, because I rejoice in your deliverance. 


text:
There is no one holy like the Lord , indeed there is no one besides you, there is no rock like our God. 


text:
Don't continue to talk proudly, and don't speak arrogantly, for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. 


text:
The bows of warriors are shattered, but those who stumble are equipped with <n>{Lit. stumble gird on}</n> strength. 


text:
Those who had an abundance of bread now hire themselves out, and those who were hungry hunger no more. <n>{Lit. cease}</n> While the barren woman gives birth to seven children, <n>{The Heb. lacks children}</n> she who had many children languishes. 


text:
The Lord kills and gives life, he brings people down to where the dead are <n>{Lit. Sheol ; i.e. the realm of the dead}</n> and he raises them up. 


text:
He raises the poor up from the dust, he lifts up the needy from the trash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. Indeed the pillars of the earth belong to the Lord , and he has set the world on them. 


text:
He guards the steps <n>{Lit. feet}</n> of his faithful ones, while the wicked are made silent <n>{Or are destroyed}</n> in darkness. Indeed it's not by strength that a person prevails. 


text:
The Lord will shatter those who contend against him, he will thunder against them in the heavens. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth, he will give strength to his king, and he will increase the strength of His anointed one." 


text:
Then Elkanah went to his house at Ramah, while the boy was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli the priest. 


text:
The custom of the priests with the people was that whenever a person offered a sacrifice, a servant <n>{Lit. lad}</n> of the priest would come with a three pronged fork in his hand while the meat was boiling. 


text:
He would stick it into the basin or pot or kettle or pan, and whatever the fork brought up, the priest would take for himself. This is what they were supposed to do with all the Israelis who came there to Shiloh. 


text:
But even before they burned the fat, the servant of the priest would come and say to the person offering the sacrifice, "Give me meat to roast for the priest. He won't accept boiled meat from you, but only raw." 


text:
If the man told him, "They must surely burn up the fat first, and then take for yourself whatever you desire," the servant would say, "No, <n>{Lit. Rather}</n> give it now, and if you don't, I'll take it by force!" 


text:
By doing this, the sin of the young men was very serious in the Lord's sight because the men despised the Lord's offering. 


text:
<n>{Samuel at Shiloh}</n> d Now Samuel was ministering in the Lord's presence, as a boy wearing a linen ephod. <n>{The ephod was a type of vest normally worn by the Levite priests.}</n> 


text:
His mother would make a small robe for him, and she would bring it each year when she went up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. 


text:
Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife and say, "May the Lord give you descendants <n>{Lit. seed}</n> from this woman in place of the one she dedicated <n>{So LXX and DSS; MT, he dedicated or asked}</n> to the Lord ." Then they would return to their home. <n>{Lit. go to their place}</n> 


text:
The Lord took note of Hannah, and she became pregnant and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel continued to grow, and the Lord was constantly <n>{The Heb. lacks constantly}</n> with him. 


text:
<n>{Judgment against Eli's Sons}</n> d Now Eli was very old, and he had heard everything that his sons were doing to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who were serving regularly <n>{Lit. who had assembled in order}</n> at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 


text:
"Why are you doing these things that I'm hearing about?" he asked his sons, <n>{Lit. them}</n> "These reports about your evil deeds are coming from all these people! 


text:
If a person sins against another, God <n>{Or a judge}</n> will mediate for him, but if a person sins against the Lord , who can intercede for him?" But they would not listen to their father; for the Lord wanted to put them to death. 


text:
A man of God came to Eli, saying to him, "This is what the Lord says: «When they were in Egypt and slaves <n>{So LXX and DSS; the Heb. lacks slaves}</n> to the house of Pharaoh, did I not reveal to the family of your ancestor Aaron <n>{The Heb. lacks Aaron}</n> 


text:
that I had chosen him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer up burnt offerings on my altar, burn incense, and carry the ephod in my presence? And did I not give to your ancestors'family all the Israeli fire-offerings? 


text:
Why then do all of you <n>{MT you is plural}</n> show contempt for <n>{Lit. you kick at}</n> my sacrifice and offering that I've commanded for my <n>{The Heb. lacks my}</n> dwelling? And you honor your sons more than me in order to fatten yourselves from the best of all the offerings of my people Israel.'


text:
"Therefore, the Lord God of Israel has declared, «I did, in fact, say that your family and your ancestor's family would walk before me forever,'but now the Lord declares, «Far be it from me! The one who honors me I'll honor, and the one who despises me is to be treated with contempt. 


text:
The time is coming when I'll cut away at your family <n>{Lit. arm}</n> and your ancestor's family <n>{Lit. arm}</n> until there are no old men left in your family. 


text:
Distress will settle down to live in your household, and despite all the good that I do for Israel, <n>{Or you are to look with envy on all that happens good with Israel, and}</n> there will never be an old man in your family forever. 


text:
Any of you whom I don't eliminate from serving at my altar will grow tired from weeping, <n>{The Heb. lacks from weeping}</n> and their <n>{Lit. your}</n> souls will grieve. All the increase of your family will die by violence. <n>{Lit. by the sword ; so with LXX and DSS; MT die like men}</n> 


text:
And I'll raise up for myself a faithful <n>{Or an enduring ; MT word translated faithful here is translated enduring later in this verse.}</n> priest who will do according to what is in my heart and according to my desire. I'll build for him an enduring <n>{Or faithful ; MT word translated enduring here is translated faithful earlier in this verse.}</n> house and he will walk before my anointed one forever. 


text:
Anyone who remains in your family will come and prostrate themselves before him for a small wage <n>{Lit. a payment of silver}</n> or a loaf of bread and will say, «Please put me in one of the priest's offices so I can eat a piece of bread.»"»" 


text:
<n>{The Lord Calls Samuel}</n> d Meanwhile the boy Samuel was serving the Lord before Eli. A word from the Lord was rare in those days, and visions were infrequent. 


text:
At that time Eli, whose vision was growing dim, <n>{Lit. dim so that he was unable to see}</n> was lying down in his bedroom. <n>{Lit. place}</n> 


text:
The lamp of God had not yet been extinguished, and Samuel was lying down in the tent <n>{Or temple}</n> of the Lord where the Ark of God was. 


text:
He ran to Eli and said, "Here I am! You called me." "I didn't call you," Eli <n>{Lit. He}</n> said. "Go back and lie down." So he went and lay down. 


text:
Then the Lord again called out, "Samuel!" So Samuel got up, went to Eli, and said, "Here I am! You called me." He said, "I didn't call you, my son. Go back and lie down." 


text:
Then the Lord called out to Samuel again a third time, and he got up, went to Eli, and said, "Here I am! You called me." Then Eli understood that the Lord was calling the boy, 


text:
so Eli told Samuel, "Go lie down, and then if he calls you, answer, «Speak, Lord , because your servant is listening.»" Then Samuel <n>{Lit. he}</n> went and lay down. 


text:
Later, the Lord came and stood there, calling out, "Samuel! Samuel!" as he had before. Samuel said, "Speak, because your servant is listening." 


text:
"Look," the Lord told Samuel. "I'm about to do something <n>{Lit. do a work}</n> in Israel that will make both ears of anyone who hears it tingle. 


text:
I've told him that I'm about to judge his family forever because of the iniquity that he knew about. His sons committed blasphemy <n>{LXX cursed God ; MT cursed themselves}</n> and he did not rebuke them. 


text:
Therefore I've sworn concerning Eli's family that the iniquity of his family is not to be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever." 


text:
<n>{Samuel Delivers God's Message}</n> d Samuel lay down until morning and then opened the doors of the house of the Lord , but he <n>{Lit. Samuel}</n> was afraid to report the vision to Eli. 


text:
Eli <n>{Lit. He}</n> said, "What did the Lord <n>{Lit. he}</n> say to you? Please don't conceal anything <n>{The Heb. lacks anything}</n> from me. May God do this to you and even more <n>{I.e. May God punish you}</n> if you conceal from me one word of all that he spoke to you." 


text:
Samuel told him everything he did not conceal anything <n>{The Heb. lacks anything}</n> from him. Eli <n>{Lit. He}</n> said, "He is the Lord . May he do what seems good to him." 


text:
As Samuel grew, the Lord was with him and did not let any of Samuel's <n>{Lit. his}</n> predictions fail. <n>{Lit. words fall to the ground}</n> 


text:
The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, because he <n>{Lit. the Lord}</n> revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by means of messages from <n>{Lit. by the word of}</n> the Lord . 


text:
<n>{The Philistines Capture the Ark}</n> d What Samuel had to say was directed to all Israel, and Israel went out to engage the Philistines in battle. The Israelis <n>{Lit. They}</n> were camped at Ebenezer, while the Philistines were camped at Aphek. 


text:
The Philistines deployed their forces to meet Israel, and as the battle spread Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men on the battlefield. 


text:
When the people came to the camp, the elders of Israel said, "Why did the Lord defeat us today when we fought the Philistines? Let's take the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord from Shiloh, so it <n>{Or he}</n> may go with us and deliver us from the power of our enemies." 


text:
So the people sent word <n>{The Heb. lacks word}</n> to Shiloh and took away from there the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, who sits above <n>{Lit. sits}</n> the cherubim. Now the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phineas, were there with the Ark of the Covenant of God. 


text:
When the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord came into the camp, all Israel gave a great shout and the earth reverberated! 


text:
When the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they asked, "What is this noise coming from shouting in the camp of the Hebrews?" Then they realized that the Ark of the Lord had come into the camp, 


text:
and the Philistines were terrified. "God has come <n>{So MT Some LXX texts read The gods have come and other LXX texts read Their God has come}</n> into the camp," they said. "How terrible for us, because nothing like this has ever happened before! 


text:
How terrible for us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the desert. 


text:
Philistines, be strong and be men, or you will become slaves to the Hebrews just as they have been slaves to you! Be men and fight!" 


text:
The Philistines fought and Israel was defeated; each of them fled to his own tent. It was a very great slaughter, and 30,000 soldiers of Israel died. 


text:
<n>{The Death of Eli}</n> d That very same day, a man who was a descendant of Benjamin ran from the battle line and came to Shiloh, with his garments torn and dirt on his head. 


text:
When he arrived, Eli was sitting there on a seat beside the road, watching because his heart trembled for the Ark of God. The man went into the town to give the report, and the whole town cried out. 


text:
Eli heard the sound of the cry and asked, "What is the meaning <n>{Lit. sound}</n> of this commotion?" Then the man quickly came and told Eli. 


text:
The man told Eli, "I've just come from the battle line, and I escaped from the battle today." He asked, "What happened, my son?" 


text:
The messenger answered, "Israel fled from the Philistines and the people suffered a great defeat as well. Moreover, your two sons, Hophni and Phineas, are dead, and the Ark of God was captured." 


text:
When he mentioned the Ark of God, Eli <n>{Lit. he}</n> fell off the seat backwards by the side of the gate. His neck was broken and he died, since he was old and heavy. Eli had judged Israel for 40 years. 


text:
<n>{Ichabod is Born}</n> d Eli's <n>{Lit. His}</n> daughter-in-law, the wife of Phineas, was pregnant and ready to give birth. When she heard the report about the capture of the Ark of God and that her father-in-law and husband were dead, she crouched down and gave birth, because her labor pains suddenly began. 


text:
As she was about to die, the women standing around her said, "Don't be afraid! You've given birth to a son." But she did not respond or pay attention. 


text:
She had named the boy Ichabod, <n>{Ichabod means Where is the glory?}</n> saying, "Glory has departed from Israel," because the Ark of God had been captured and because her father-in-law and husband were dead. <n>{Lit. because of her father-in-law and husband}</n> 


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<n>{The Philistines'Troubles because of the Ark}</n> d The Philistines took the Ark of God and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. 


text:
Then the Philistines took the Ark of God, brought it to the temple of Dagon, <n>{Dagon was the principal deity of the Philistines.}</n> and placed it beside Dagon. 


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When the people of Ashdod got up the next morning, there was Dagon, lying on the ground in front of the Ark of the Lord . They took Dagon and put him back in his place. 


text:
But when they got up the next morning, there was Dagon, lying on the ground again in front of the Ark of the Lord . Dagon's head and both of his arms <n>{Lit. both of the palms of his hands}</n> were broken off and lying on the threshold. <n>{Lit. broken off on the threshold}</n> Only the trunk of <n>{The Heb. lacks the trunk of}</n> Dagon was left intact. <n>{Lit. on it}</n> 


text:
This is why neither the priests of Dagon nor anyone who enters the temple of Dagon step on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day. 


text:
The Lord heavily oppressed the people of Ashdod, devastating and afflicting Ashdod and its territories with tumors of the groin. 


text:
When the men of Ashdod saw how things were, they said, "Don't let the Ark of the God of Israel stay with us, because he is severely attacking us and our god Dagon." 


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They sent messengers <n>{The Heb. lacks messengers}</n> and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines and asked, "What are we to do with the Ark of the God of Israel?" They said, "Let the Ark of the God of Israel move to Gath." So they moved the Ark of the God of Israel. 


text:
After they moved it, the Lord moved against the town, causing <n>{Lit. with}</n> a very great panic. He struck the men of the town, from young to old with tumors of the groin. 


text:
Then they sent the Ark of God to Ekron. When the Ark of God arrived in Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out, "They have brought the Ark of the God of Israel to us to kill us and our people!" 


text:
They sent messengers <n>{The Heb. lacks messengers}</n> and gathered together all the Philistine lords: "Send away the Ark of the God of Israel, and let it return to where it belongs so that it does not kill us and our people." Meanwhile, a deadly panic had spread all over the town, and God kept on pressuring <n>{Lit. and the hand of God was on}</n> them there. 


text:
The people who did not die were afflicted with tumors of the groin, and the cry of the town went up to heaven. 


text:
<n>{The Philistines Return the Ark to Israel}</n> d The Ark of the Lord remained in Philistine territory <n>{Lit. field}</n> for seven months. 


text:
The Philistines summoned the priests and diviners and asked, "What should we do about the Ark of the Lord ? Tell us how we should send it back to its place." 


text:
They said, "If you send the Ark of the God of Israel back, don't send it empty, but rather be sure to send back to him a guilt offering. Then you will be healed and will know why his oppression <n>{Lit. hand}</n> has not been removed from you." 


text:
They asked, "What is the guilt offering that we should send back to him?" "Five gold tumors and five gold mice," they answered, "according to the number of the lords of the Philistines, since the same plague was on all of you and on your lords. 


text:
Make images of your tumors and images of the mice that are destroying your land, and you are to give glory to the God of Israel. Perhaps he will remove his pressure from you, your gods, and your land. 


text:
Why should you harden your hearts just as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? Isn't it true that after God <n>{Lit. he}</n> toyed with them, they let Israel <n>{Lit. them}</n> go, and off they went? 


text:
"So make a new cart, and take two milk cows that have never had a yoke on them. Hitch the cows to the cart and take their calves away from them and back to the house. 


text:
Take the Ark of the Lord , put it on the cart, and put the gold objects that you are returning to him as a guilt offering in a box beside it. Then send it away and let it go. 


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Keep watching it. If it goes up along the road to its own territory to Beth-shemesh, it's the Lord <n>{Lit. he}</n> who has done this great evil to us. But if it does not, then we will know that he wasn't pressuring us. It happened to us as a natural event." 


text:
The men did this. They took two milk cows, hitched them to the cart, and penned up their calves in the house. 


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The cows took a straight path along the road to Beth-shemesh. They stayed on the highway, lowing as they went, and did not turn to the right or the left. The Philistine lords followed them as far as the border of Beth-shemesh. 


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Now the people of Beth-shemesh were gathering their wheat harvest in the valley. They looked up, saw the Ark, and rejoiced to see it. 


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The cart came to the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh, and stopped there. In that place there was a large stone. They broke up the wood from the cart, and offered up the cows as a burnt offering to the Lord . 


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The descendants of Levi took down the Ark of the Lord , along with the box that was with it, containing the objects of gold, and they put them on the large stone. The men of Beth-shemesh offered burnt offerings and made sacrifices to the Lord that day. 


text:
These are the gold tumors that the Philistines returned as a guilt offering to the Lord : one for Ashdod, one for Gaza, one for Ashkelon, one for Gath, and one for Ekron. 


text:
The gold mice represented <n>{Lit. were according to}</n> the number of all the Philistine towns belonging to the five lords, both fortified towns and unwalled villages. The large stone, beside which they put the Ark of the Lord , is a witness to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh. 


text:
God struck down the men of Beth-shemesh because they had looked into the Ark of the Lord . He struck down 50,070 <n>{So MT; LXX reads 70}</n> men among the people, and the people mourned because the Lord struck down the people with a great slaughter. 


text:
The men of Beth-shemesh asked themselves, "Who can stand in the presence of the Lord , this holy God? And to whom will the Ark <n>{Lit. it}</n> go from here?" <n>{Lit. us}</n> 


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They sent messengers to the residents of Kiriath-jearim, who told them, "The Philistines have returned the Ark of the Lord . Come down and take it up with you." 


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<n>{The Ark is Stored in Kiriath-Jearim}</n> d The men of Kiriath-jearim came and took the Ark of the Lord . They brought it to the house of Abinadab on the hill, and they consecrated his son Eleazar to care for the Ark of the Lord . 


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A long time passed it was twenty years from the time the Ark came to reside in Kiriath-jearim, and all the house of Israel mourned because of the Lord . 


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<n>{The Philistines are Defeated at Ebenezer}</n> d Then Samuel told the whole house of Israel, "If you're returning to the Lord with all your heart, then remove the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth <n>{I.e. trees or images representing the Canaanite deity Asherah}</n> from among you, direct your hearts back to the Lord, and serve him only. Then he will deliver you from the control of the Philistines." 


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So the Israelis removed the Baals <n>{Images representing the Canaanite storm god}</n> and Ashtaroth, and served the Lord only. 


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So they came together at Mizpah, drew water, and poured it out in the Lord's presence. On that day they fasted there and said, "We have sinned against the Lord ." Then Samuel judged the Israelis at Mizpah. 


text:
When the Philistines heard that the Israelis had gathered at Mizpah, the Philistine lords came up against Israel. When the Israelis heard this, they were afraid of the Philistines. 


text:
The Israelis told Samuel, "Don't stop crying out to the Lord our God for us that he may deliver us from the hand of the Philistines." 


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Then Samuel took a nursing lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord . Samuel cried out to the Lord on behalf of Israel, and the Lord answered him. 


text:
While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines approached to attack Israel. But that day the Lord thundered against the Philistines and threw them into panic, and they were defeated before Israel. 


text:
The men of Israel went out from Mizpah, pursued the Philistines, and struck them down as far as a point below Beth-car. 


text:
Then Samuel took a stone, placed it between Mizpah and Shen <n>{Lit. the tooth ; perhaps referring to a prominent rock formation. Syr reads Jeshanah}</n> and named it Ebenezer. <n>{MT means Stone of Help}</n> He said, "The Lord has helped us this far." 


text:
The Philistines were subdued, and they did not continue to enter the territory of Israel. The Lord continued to oppose the Philistines all during Samuel's life time. 


text:
The towns that the Philistines had taken from Israel were returned to Israel, from Ekron to Gath, and Israel delivered their territory from Philistine control. There was also peace between Israel and the Amorites. 


text:
He went on a circuit each year to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah, and he judged Israel in all those places. 


text:
He would return to Ramah because his house was there, and judged Israel from there. He also built an altar to the Lord there. 


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The name of his firstborn son was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah. They were judges in Beer-sheba. 


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His sons did not follow Samuel's example. <n>{Lit. not walk in his ways}</n> Instead, they pursued <n>{Lit. turned after}</n> dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice. <n>{Lit. caused justice to be turned aside}</n> 


text:
They told him, "Look, you're old, and your sons don't follow your example. <n>{Lit. not walk in his ways}</n> So appoint a king to govern us like all the other <n>{The Heb. lacks other}</n> nations." 


text:
Samuel was displeased <n>{Lit. the thing was bad in the eyes of}</n> when they said, "Give us a king to govern us." So Samuel prayed to the Lord . 


text:
The Lord told Samuel, "Listen to the people <n>{Lit. the voice of the people}</n> in all that they say to you. In fact, it's not you they have rejected, but rather they have rejected me from being their king. 


text:
Like all the things they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this very day, they have forsaken me and followed other gods. They're also doing the same thing to you. 


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Now, listen to them, but you are to clearly warn them and inform them about how the king who rules over them will operate." <n>{Lit. the practice of the king}</n> 


text:
He said, "This is how the king who rules over you will operate: He will conscript your sons and assign them <n>{Lit. them for himself}</n> to his chariots. He will conscript them <n>{The Heb. lacks conscripting them}</n> as his horsemen, and they'll run in front of his chariots. 


text:
He will appoint his officers over thousands and officers over fifties some will plow his fields, <n>{Lit. and to plow his plowing}</n> reap his harvest, and craft his war implements and equipment for his chariots. 


text:
He will take the best products of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves and give them to his servants. <n>{Or officials}</n> 


text:
He will take a tenth of your seed and your vineyards and give it to his officers and servants. <n>{Or officials}</n> 


text:
When all of this comes about, you will cry out because of your king whom you chose for yourselves, but the Lord won't answer you at that time." 


text:
The people refused to listen to Samuel. <n>{Lit. to the voice of Samuel}</n> Instead, they insisted, "No! Let a king rule over us instead! 


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We, too, will be like all the nations! Our king will govern us and go out before us to fight our battles." 


text:
So Samuel listened to all the words of the people, and he repeated them directly to <n>{Lit. them in the ears of}</n> the Lord . 


text:
The Lord told Samuel, "Listen to them, and appoint a king for them." Then Samuel told the men of Israel, "Each of you go to his own town." 


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<n>{Saul Selected as Israel's First King}</n> d There was a man from Benjamin named Kish, Abiel's son, the grandson of Zeror and great-grandson of Aphiah's son Becorath. A prominent man <n>{I.e. a man of wealth, military skill, or high reputation}</n> from Benjamin, 


text:
he had a son named Saul, who was a choice and handsome <n>{Or good}</n> young man. There was no one among the Israelis as handsome as he, and he was a head taller <n>{Lit. from his shoulder up he was taller}</n> than any of the other people. 


text:
The donkeys belonging to Kish, Saul's father, were lost, and Kish told his son Saul, "Take one of the young men with you, get up, and go look for the donkeys." 


text:
He went through the hill country of Ephraim and through the region of Shalishah, but they did not find them. Then they went through the region of Shaalim, but they were not there. They also went through the territory of the descendants of Benjamin, but they did not find them. 


text:
When they entered the region of Zuph, Saul told the <n>{Lit. his}</n> young man with him, "Come on, let's go back so my father does not stop worrying <n>{The Heb. lacks worrying}</n> about the donkeys and become anxious about us." 


text:
The young man <n>{Lit. He}</n> said, "Look, there's a man of God in this town. The man is respected, and everything he predicts happens. Now, let's go there. Perhaps he can tell us about the <n>{Lit. our}</n> journey on which we have set out." 


text:
Saul told the <n>{Lit. his}</n> young man, "Look, we could go, but what could we bring the man? The bread is gone from our bags, and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have with us?" 


text:
The young man answered Saul again, "Look here! I have in my hand a quarter shekel of silver. I'll give it to the man of God, and he will tell us about our journey." 


text:
(Previously in Israel, a person would say when he went to inquire of God, "Come on! Let's go to the seer!" because the person known as a prophet <n>{Lit. the prophet}</n> today was formerly called a seer.) 


text:
Saul told his young man, "That's a good suggestion! Come on, let's go!" Then they entered the town where the man of God was. 


text:
As they were going up the hill to the town, they met some young women going out to draw water, and they told them, "Is the seer here?" 


text:
They answered them: "Yes, he's right there ahead of you. Hurry, for he came to town just today because there is a sacrifice for the people on the high place today. 


text:
When you come into town you can find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. For the people don't eat until he arrives, because he must bless the sacrifice and then after that those who are invited will eat. So go up right now because you can find him now." 


text:
They went up to the town, and as they were coming to the center of the town, Samuel was coming out to meet them, on his way <n>{Lit. going}</n> up to the high place. 


text:
<n>{The Lord's Revelation to Samuel}</n> d Now one day before Saul's arrival, the Lord had revealed to <n>{Lit. uncovered the ear of}</n> Samuel: 


text:
"About this time tomorrow I'll send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you are to anoint him as Commander-in-Chief <n>{Lit. Nagid ; i.e. a senior officer entrusted with dual roles of operational oversight and administrative authority}</n> over my people Israel. He'll deliver my people from the control <n>{Lit. hand}</n> of the Philistines, because I've seen the suffering of <n>{So LXX; the Heb. lacks the suffering of}</n> my people and because their cry has come up to me." 


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When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord told him, "Here is the man I told you about. This man will rule over my people." 


text:
As Saul approached Samuel in the middle of the gate, he said, "Please tell me where the seer's house is." 


text:
Samuel answered Saul: "I'm the seer. Go up ahead of me to the high place, and eat with me today. In the morning I'll send you away and tell you everything that is on your mind. 


text:
Now as for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, don't give any thought to them, because they've been found. Meanwhile, to whom is all Israel looking, if not to you and all of your father's household?" 


text:
Saul answered: "Am I not a descendant of Benjamin from the least of the tribes of Israel? Isn't my family the least important of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why have you spoken to me like this?" 


text:
Then Samuel took Saul and his young man and brought them to a room where he gave them a place at the head of those who were invited, of whom there were about 30 men. 


text:
The cook picked up the thigh and what was on it and set it in front of Saul. Then Samuel <n>{Lit. he}</n> said, "Here is what is left! Set it before you and eat, for it has been kept for you until the appointed time, about which I said, <n>{Lit. appointed time, saying}</n> «I've invited the people.»" So Saul ate with Samuel that day. 


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When they had come down from the high place into town, <n>{LXX adds, they made a bed for Saul on the roof and he slept}</n> Samuel <n>{Lit. he}</n> spoke to Saul on the roof. 


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They got up early in the morning, and about daybreak Samuel called to Saul on the roof, "Get up and I'll send you off." Saul got up and the two of them, he and Samuel, went outside. 


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As they were going down to the edge of the town, Samuel told Saul, "Tell your young man to go ahead of us and when he has gone ahead, stop for a while so I may declare God's word to you." 


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<n>{Saul is Anointed King}</n> d Samuel took a flask of oil, poured it on Saul's <n>{Lit. his}</n> head, kissed him, and said, "The Lord has anointed you Commander-in-Chief <n>{Lit. Nagid ; i.e. a senior officer entrusted with dual roles of operational oversight and administrative authority}</n> over his inheritance, has he not? 


text:
When you leave me today, you will find two men by Rachel's tomb in the territory of Benjamin at Zelzah. They'll tell you, «The donkeys you went to look for have been found. Now your father has stopped worrying about the donkeys <n>{Lit. about the matter of the donkeys}</n> and he's anxious about you. He's asking, «What will I do about my son? '


text:
Then you'll go on further from there and come to the oak at Tabor. There three men going up to the Lord at Bethel will meet you. One will be herding <n>{Lit. carrying}</n> three young goats, one will be carrying three loaves of bread, and one will be carrying a bottle <n>{Lit. skin}</n> of wine. 


text:
"After that you will come to Gibeath-elohim <n>{Or the hill of God}</n> where the Philistine garrison is. As you arrive there at the town, you'll meet a band of prophets coming down from the high place with a harp, tambourine, flute, and lyre being played in front of them, and they'll be prophesying. 


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The Spirit of the Lord will come upon you, and you'll prophesy with them and be changed into a different person. 


text:
When these signs occur, <n>{Lit. signs come to you}</n> do whatever you want <n>{Lit. whatever your hand finds}</n> to do, because the Lord is with you. 


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You are to go down ahead of me to Gilgal, and then I'll come down to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice peace offerings. You are to wait seven days until I come to you to let you know what you are to do." 


text:
<n>{The Spirit of God Comes on Saul}</n> d Now it happened as Saul <n>{Lit. he}</n> turned his back to leave Samuel, that God gave him another heart, <n>{Lit. changed for him another heart}</n> and all these signs occurred on that day. 


text:
When they arrived there at Gibeah, <n>{Or the hill}</n> a band of prophets was right there to meet them. The Spirit of God came upon Saul, <n>{Lit. him}</n> and he prophesied <n>{Or he was caught up in prophetic ecstasy}</n> along with them. 


text:
When all those who had known Saul previously saw that he was there among the prophets prophesying, the people told one another, "What has happened to Kish's son? Is Saul also among the prophets?" 


text:
A man from there answered: "Now who is their father?" Therefore it became a proverb, "Is Saul also among the prophets?" 


text:
Saul's uncle told him and to his young man, "Where did you go?" He said, "To look for the donkeys, and when we saw that they couldn't be found, we went to Samuel." 


text:
Saul told his uncle, "He actually told us that the donkeys had been found," but he did not tell him about the matter of kingship about which Samuel had spoken. 


text:
He told the Israelis, "This is what the Lord God of Israel says: «I brought Israel up out of Egypt, and I rescued you from the power <n>{Lit. hand}</n> of Egypt and from the power <n>{Lit. hand}</n> of all the kingdoms that were oppressing you.'


text:
But today you have rejected your God who delivers you from all your troubles and difficulties. You have said, «No! <n>{So with numerous mss and versions; MT reads told him, «Instead,}</n> Instead, appoint a king over us.'Now present yourselves in the Lord's presence by your tribes and clans." 


text:
Then he brought forward the tribe of Benjamin according to its families, and the family of Matri was chosen. Finally, Kish's son Saul was chosen, but when they looked for him, they couldn't find him. 


text:
So they inquired further of the Lord , "Has the man come here yet?" The Lord said, "He is here, hiding among the baggage." 


text:
They ran and brought him from there. When he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the others by a head. <n>{Lit. than all the people from his shoulder up}</n> 


text:
Then Samuel told all the people, "Do you see the man whom the Lord has chosen? For there is no one like him among all the people." Then all the people shouted, "Long live the king!" 


text:
Samuel explained to the people the regulations <n>{Or practices}</n> concerning kingship. He wrote them in a scroll and placed it in the Lord's presence. Then Samuel sent all the people to their own houses. 


text:
Saul also went to his house in Gibeah, and the soldiers <n>{Or valiant men}</n> whose hearts God had touched went with him. 


text:
But some troublemakers <n>{Lit. sons of Belial ; i.e. worthless men}</n> said, "How can this man deliver us?" They despised him and did not bring him a gift. But Saul <n>{Lit. he}</n> remained silent. (10:28) <n>{The Ammonites Threaten Jabesh-gilead}</n> d Meanwhile, Nahash, king of the Ammonites, had been severely oppressing the descendants of Gad and descendants of Reuben, gouging out their right eyes and not allowing Israel to have a deliverer. No one was left among the Israelis across the Jordan whose right eye Nahash, king of the Ammonites, had not gouged out. However, 7,000 men had escaped from the Ammonites and entered Jabesh-gilead. <n>{So DSS 4QSam a and Josephus; MT and LXX lack 10:28.}</n> 


text:
<n>{Saul Defeats the Ammonites}</n> d So after a month, <n>{So LXX and DSS 4QSam a ; the Heb. lacks after a month}</n> Nahash the Ammonite came up and laid siege to <n>{Lit. camped against}</n> Jabesh-gilead. All the men of Jabesh told Nahash, "Make a covenant with us, and we will serve you." 


text:
Nahash the Ammonite told them, "I'll make a covenant with you on the condition that I gouge out the right eye of every one of you and so bring disgrace on all Israel." 


text:
The elders of Jabesh told him, "Leave us alone for seven days so that we may send messengers through all the territory of Israel. Then if no one delivers us, we will come out to you and surrender." <n>{The Heb. lacks and surrender}</n> 


text:
When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and reported the terms to the people, <n>{Lit. in the ears of the people}</n> all the people cried loudly. <n>{Lit. lifted their voices and wept}</n> 


text:
Just then Saul was coming in from the field behind the oxen and he said, "What's with the people? Why are they crying?" They reported to him what the men of Jabesh had said. <n>{Lit. the words of the men of Jabesh}</n> 


text:
He took a yoke of oxen, cut them in pieces, and sent the pieces <n>{Lit. sent}</n> by messengers through all the territory of Israel: "This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not come out and join <n>{Lit. out after}</n> Saul and Samuel!" The fear of the Lord fell on the people and they came out as one man. 


text:
Saul <n>{Lit. He}</n> mustered them at Bezek, and there were 300,000 Israelis and 30,000 men of Judah. 


text:
They told the messengers who had come, "You are to say this to the men of Jabesh-gilead, «Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you will be delivered.»" The messengers went and reported to the men of Jabesh, and they rejoiced. 


text:
The men of Jabesh said, "Tomorrow we will come out to you and surrender. <n>{The Heb. lacks and surrender}</n> Then you can do whatever you want to us." 


text:
The next day Saul separated the people into three companies. They came into the camp during the morning watch, and struck down the Ammonites until the heat of the day. Those who survived were scattered so that no two of them remained together. 


text:
The people told Samuel, "Who said, «Will Saul reign over us? 'Bring them to us <n>{Lit. Give the men}</n> and we will put them to death!" 


text:
So all the people went to Gilgal and there they made Saul king in the Lord's presence in Gilgal. There they sacrificed peace offerings in the Lord's presence, and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly. 


text:
<n>{Samuel's Farewell}</n> d Then Samuel told all Israel, "Take note! I've listened to you, to everything you have told me, and I've appointed a king over you. 


text:
Now here is the king walking before you, <n>{I.e. leading you}</n> while I'm old and gray, and my sons are with you. I've walked before you <n>{I.e. led you}</n> from my youth until this day. 


text:
Here I am. Testify against me in the Lord's presence and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken, or whose donkey have I taken? Who have I cheated? Who have I oppressed? Who bribed me to look the other way? <n>{Lit. From whose hand did I accept a bribe to blind my eyes}</n> I'll restore it to you." 


text:
They said, "You haven't cheated us or oppressed us, and you haven't taken anything from anyone's hand." 


text:
He told them, "Today the Lord is testifying, along with his anointed, that you haven't found any bribes in my possession." They said, "He's a witness." 


text:
Then Samuel told the people, "It is the Lord who appointed Moses and Aaron and who brought your ancestors up out of the land of Egypt. 


text:
Now stand up and I'll pass judgment on you in light of the Lord's righteous acts that he did for you and your ancestors. 


text:
After Jacob went to Egypt, and your ancestors cried out to the Lord , he sent Moses and Aaron, who brought your ancestors out of Egypt and settled them in this place. 


text:
But they forgot the Lord their God, so he handed them over to the domination of Sisera, the commander of the army of Hazor, and into domination by the Philistines and by the king of Moab, and Israel fought against them. 


text:
"Then they cried out to the Lord : «We have sinned because we have forsaken the Lord and have served <n>{Or worshipped}</n> the Baals <n>{I.e. images representing the Canaanite storm god}</n> and the Ashtaroth. <n>{I.e. trees or other symbols representing the Canaanite deity Asherah}</n> Now deliver us from the hand of our enemies, and we will serve <n>{Or worship}</n> you.'


text:
Then the Lord sent Jerubbaal, <n>{I.e. Gideon}</n> Barak, <n>{So LXX and Syr; MT reads Bedan}</n> Jephthah, and Samuel and he delivered you from the hand of your enemies on every side, so that you lived securely. 


text:
But when you saw that Nahash, king of the Ammonites, was coming to fight you, you told me, «No, let a king rule over us instead,'even though the Lord your God was your king. 


text:
"Now, here is the king you have chosen, the one whom you asked for. See, the Lord has appointed a king over you. 


text:
If you fear the Lord , serve him, obey him, and don't rebel against the commandment of the Lord , then both you and the king who rules over you will truly follow the Lord your God. 


text:
But if you don't obey the Lord and rebel against the commandment of the Lord , then the Lord will turn against you as he did against your ancestors. <n>{Lit. and against your ancestors}</n> 


text:
Is it not the wheat harvest today? I'll call upon the Lord , and he will send thunder and rain. Then you will know and understand that you have done a great evil in the sight of the Lord by asking for a king for yourselves." 


text:
Samuel called upon the Lord that same day, and the Lord sent thunder and rain. So all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel. 


text:
Then all the people told Samuel, "Pray to the Lord your God for your servants, so that we don't die, because we made all our sins worse by asking for a king for ourselves." 


text:
Samuel told all the people, "Don't be afraid. You have done all this evil. Yet don't turn aside from following the Lord , but serve <n>{Or worship}</n> the Lord with all your heart. 


text:
Don't turn aside after useless things <n>{I.e. idols or false gods}</n> that cannot profit or deliver because they're useless. 


text:
Indeed, the Lord won't abandon His people for the sake of His great name, for the Lord desires to make you a people for himself. 


text:
Now as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you. I'll also instruct you in the way that is good and right. 


text:
Only, fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. Indeed, consider what great things he has done for you. 


text:
<n>{Saul's Battles against the Philistines}</n> d Saul was 30 <n>{So a few late LXX mss.; the Heb. lacks 30}</n> years old when he began to reign, and he ruled for 42 <n>{Lit. two ; cf. Acts 13:21; Josephus's Antiquities VI.14.9 cites Saul as reigning 18 years before Samuel's death and 22 years after. But Antiquities X.8.4 cites only 20 years for Saul's reign.}</n> years over Israel. 


text:
Saul chose for himself 3,000 men from Israel. There were 2,000 with Saul in Michmash and the hill country of Bethel, while 1,000 were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. He had sent the rest of the people home. <n>{Lit. each to his own tent}</n> 


text:
Jonathan attacked the Philistine garrison <n>{Or struck down the Philistine leader}</n> in Geba, and the Philistines heard about it. Saul blew the trumpet throughout the land: "Listen, Hebrews!" 


text:
All Israel heard the report, <n>{Lit. heard, saying}</n> "Saul has attacked the Philistine garrison <n>{Or struck down the Philistine leader}</n> and Israel has also become repulsive to the Philistines." Then the people were summoned to Saul at Gilgal. 


text:
The Philistines assembled to fight against Israel with 30,000 chariots, 6,000 horsemen, and people as numerous as the sand on the seashore. And they advanced and camped in Michmash, east of Beth-aven. 


text:
When the men of Israel saw that they were in distress (for the people were in a tight spot), the people hid themselves in caves, in thickets, in crags, in tombs, and in pits. 


text:
Hebrews went across the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead, but Saul remained in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling. 


text:
Saul <n>{Lit. He}</n> waited seven days for the appointment set by Samuel. When Samuel did not arrive at Gilgal, as the people began to scatter from Saul, <n>{Lit. him}</n> 


text:
Saul said, "Bring the burnt offering and the peace offering to me," and he offered the burnt offering. 


text:
Just as he finished offering the burnt offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to meet and greet him. 


text:
Samuel said, "What have you done?" Saul replied, "When? I saw that the people were scattering from me, that you didn't come at the appointed time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Michmash. 


text:
I <n>{13:11-12 Or When I Michmash, 12 I}</n> thought, «The Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal but I've not sought the favor of the Lord ,'so I forced myself to offer the burnt offering." 


text:
Then Samuel told Saul, "You have acted foolishly. You haven't obeyed the commandment of the Lord your God, which he commanded you. For then the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever, 


text:
but now your kingdom won't be established. The Lord has sought for himself a man after his own heart, and the Lord has appointed him as Commander-in-Chief <n>{Lit. Nagid ; i.e. a senior officer entrusted with dual roles of operational oversight and administrative authority}</n> over his people because you didn't obey that which the Lord commanded you." 


text:
Then Samuel got up and went from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. Saul mustered the people present with him, about 600 men. 


text:
Saul, his son Jonathan, and the people present with them remained in Geba of Benjamin, while the Philistines camped in Michmash. 


text:
Raiders went out of the Philistine camp in three companies. One company turned in the direction of <n>{Or along the road to}</n> Ophrah, to the land of Shual, 


text:
one company turned in the direction of <n>{Or along the road to}</n> Beth-horon, while the one company turned toward the border <n>{Or along the border road}</n> that overlooks the valley of Zeboiim toward the desert. 


text:
<n>{The Philistine Monopoly on Metal Working}</n> d No blacksmith could be found in all the land of Israel because the Philistines thought, "This will keep the Hebrews from making swords or spears." 


text:
All Israel would have to go to the Philistines so each person could sharpen his plow, his mattock, his axe, and his sickle. <n>{So LXX; MT, plow}</n> 


text:
The charge was two thirds of a shekel <n>{Heb. pim ; a measure of weight, about a quarter of an ounce, equal in value to 2/3 of a shekel}</n> for plows, mattocks, three pronged forks, <n>{The meaning of MT is uncertain}</n> and axes, or for setting the goads. 


text:
On the day of battle no sword or spear was found in the hands of any of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan, but Saul and his son Jonathan did have <n>{Lit. were found with}</n> them. 


text:
<n>{Jonathan's Heroic Exploits}</n> d One day Jonathan told his armor bearer, <n>{Lit. the young man who carries his weapons}</n> "Come, let's go over to the Philistine garrison which is on the other side," but he did not tell his father. 


text:
Saul was sitting on the outskirts of Geba under the pomegranate tree which was at Migron, and with him <n>{Lit. the people with him}</n> were about 600 men. 


text:
Along with him were Ahitub's son Ahijah, Ichabod's brother, who was Phineas'son and a grandson of Eli the priest of the Lord at Shiloh, who was carrying the ephod. The people did not know that Jonathan had gone. 


text:
Now in the pass <n>{Lit. between the passes}</n> through which Jonathan planned to get across to the Philistine garrison, there was a sharp crag <n>{Lit. tooth of a crag}</n> on one side and a sharp crag on the other side. The name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other was Seneh. 


text:
Jonathan told his armor bearer, <n>{Lit. the young man carrying his armor}</n> "Come, let's go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised ones. Perhaps the Lord will work for us, since nothing prevents the Lord from delivering, whether by many or by a few." 


text:
His armor bearer told him, "Do whatever you want. <n>{Lit. is in your heart}</n> Let's move out! <n>{Lit. Turn}</n> I'm right here with you, as you wish." <n>{Lit. according to your heart}</n> 


text:
If they say to us, «Stay there until we come to you,'then we will stay where we are <n>{Lit. in our place}</n> and not go up to them. 


text:
But if they say, «Come up and fight us,'then we will go up, for the Lord has given them into our hands, and this will be the sign for us." 


text:
When the two of them showed themselves to the Philistine garrison, the Philistines said, "Look, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have been hiding." 


text:
The men of the garrison responded to Jonathan and his armor bearer: "Come up and fight us, and we will show you something." Jonathan then told his armor bearer, "Follow me, for the Lord has given them into Israel's control." 


text:
Jonathan crawled up on his hands and feet, with his armor bearer following him. The Philistines <n>{Lit. They}</n> fell before Jonathan, and his armor bearer who was behind him also killed some. 


text:
In the initial attack, Jonathan and his armor bearer struck down about twenty men in an area of about half an acre <n>{An acre represents the amount of land a yoke of oxen could plow in a day.}</n> of land. 


text:
There was terror in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. Even the garrison and the raiders were terrified. The earth shook, and there was even greater terror. <n>{Lit. it became a terror of God}</n> 


text:
Saul's sentries in Gibeah of Benjamin watched as the camp <n>{Lit. the multitude}</n> was in disarray, <n>{Lit. melted away}</n> going this way and that. <n>{Lit. here}</n> 


text:
Saul told the people who were with him, "Do a roll call <n>{Lit. Number}</n> and see who has left us." They did a roll call, <n>{Lit. numbered}</n> and Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there. 


text:
Saul told Ahijah, "Bring the Ark of God here." For at that time the Ark of God was with <n>{So some mss and ancient versions; MT and the Israelis}</n> the Israelis. 


text:
While Saul was still speaking to the priest, the commotion in the Philistine camp increased more and more, and Saul told the priest, "Remove your hand." <n>{I.e. from the ephod that the priest was wearing in order to determine God's will as to what the army should do}</n> 


text:
Then Saul and all the people who were with him assembled and went into battle. Now the swords of all the Philistines were against each other, <n>{Lit. the sword of each man was against his companion}</n> and there was very great confusion. 


text:
The Hebrews who had previously been with the Philistines, who had gone up with them from the surrounding areas to the camp, even they joined Israel and those who were with Saul and Jonathan. 


text:
All the Israelis who had been hiding in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing, and even they pursued the Philistines <n>{Lit. them}</n> in the battle. 


text:
<n>{Saul Issues a Rash Edict}</n> d The men of Israel were hard pressed on that day, and Saul required the army to take an oath: "Cursed is the person who eats food before evening and before I've been avenged of my enemies." So no one tasted food. 


text:
Later on, all the soldiers <n>{Lit. land}</n> entered the woods, and there was honey on the ground. 


text:
The people came into the woods and there was flowing honey, but no one put his hand to his mouth to eat it because the people were afraid due to the oath. 


text:
But Jonathan had not heard that his father had required the army to swear an oath, so he stretched out the end of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb. He brought it back to his mouth and his eyes brightened. 


text:
Then one of the people responded: "Your father strictly ordered the army to take an oath. That's why he said, «Cursed is the person who eats food today,'and so the army is exhausted." 


text:
Jonathan said, "My father has troubled the land. See how my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey. 


text:
How much better if the army had eaten freely today of their enemy's spoil that they found, because the slaughter among the Philistines has not been great." 


text:
The army grabbed the spoil, took sheep, oxen, and calves, and slaughtered them on the ground, and then the army ate them with the blood. 


text:
Someone <n>{Lit. They}</n> reported this to Saul: "Right now the army is sinning against the Lord by eating meat <n>{The Heb. lacks meat}</n> with the blood." He said, "You have acted treacherously. Roll a large stone to me today." 


text:
Then Saul said, "Disperse yourselves among the soldiers and say to them, «Let each man bring his ox and his sheep to me, and you are to slaughter them here and eat. But don't sin against the Lord by eating meat <n>{The Heb. lacks meat}</n> with the blood.»" So every soldier brought his ox with him that night, and they slaughtered them there. 


text:
Saul said, "Let's go down after the Philistines tonight and plunder them until dawn, and let's not leave a single one <n>{Lit. a man}</n> of them alive." They said, "Do whatever seems good to you!" But the priest said, "Let's draw near to God here." 


text:
Saul inquired of God, "Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you give them into the hand of Israel?" But God <n>{Lit. he}</n> did not answer him that day. 


text:
Saul said, "All you army officers are to come here to find out <n>{Lit. know and see}</n> what constitutes <n>{Lit. in what is}</n> this sin today. 


text:
Indeed, as the Lord who delivers Israel lives, even if the sin <n>{Lit. it}</n> is with my son Jonathan, he will surely die!" Not a single one of the soldiers answered him. 


text:
Then he told all Israel, "You will be on one side, and I and my son Jonathan will be on the other side." The people told Saul, "Do what seems good to you." 


text:
Then Saul told the Lord God of Israel, "Judge us properly." <n>{Lit. Give perfect}</n> Jonathan and Saul were selected, but the army was cleared. <n>{Lit. went out}</n> 


text:
Saul told Jonathan, "Tell me what you've done." So Jonathan spoke to him: "I did taste a little honey from the end of the staff that was in my hand. Here I am; I'm ready to die!" 


text:
Saul said, "May God do this to me <n>{So LXX; i.e. may God strike me dead}</n> and even more, if you don't surely die, Jonathan!" 


text:
Then the army told Saul, "Shall Jonathan die, who brought about this great deliverance in Israel? As the Lord lives, not one hair of his head will fall to the ground, because today he did this with God's help." <n>{Lit. with God}</n> 


text:
Then Saul stopped pursuing <n>{Lit. went up from after}</n> the Philistines, and the Philistines went back to their territory. 


text:
<n>{Saul's Military Victories}</n> d When Saul became king over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side against Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Everywhere he turned he was victorious. <n>{Cf. LXX}</n> 


text:
<n>{Saul's Family}</n> d Saul's sons included Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchi-shua. Of his two daughters, the firstborn was named Merab, and the younger one was named Michal. 


text:
Saul's wife was Ahinoam, daughter of Ahimaaz, while the commander of his army was Saul's uncle Ner's son Abner. 


text:
There was intense fighting against the Philistines during Saul's entire reign, and whenever Saul discovered a strong or valiant warrior, he would enlist him for service. <n>{Lit. gather him to himself}</n> 


text:
<n>{Saul Disobeys the Lord}</n> d Samuel told Saul, "The Lord sent me to anoint you king over his people, Israel. Now listen to the words <n>{Lit. the sound of the words}</n> of the Lord . 


text:
This is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says: «I'll punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, when he set himself against Israel <n>{Lit. him}</n> in the way, as they were going up from Egypt. 


text:
Now, go and attack Amalek. Completely destroy <n>{The Heb. term destroy involved consecration of things or people to the Lord either by destruction or by an offering; and so throughout the chapter}</n> all that they have. Don't spare them, but put to death both man and woman, child and infant, both ox and sheep, camel and donkey.»" 


text:
Saul summoned the people and mustered them in Telaim, 200,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 men from Judah. 


text:
Saul told the Kenites, "Withdraw from the Amalekites so that I don't destroy you with them, for you showed kindness to all the Israelis when they departed from Egypt." So the Kenites withdrew from the Amalekites. 


text:
He captured alive Agag king of Amalek, but he completely destroyed all the people, executing them with swords. 


text:
Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle the fattened animals and lambs along with all that was good. They were not willing to completely destroy them, but they did completely destroy everything that was worthless and inferior. 


text:
"I regret that I made Saul king, because he has turned away from following me and has not carried out my commands." Samuel was angry, and he cried out to the Lord all night. 


text:
Samuel got up early in the morning to meet Saul, but Samuel was told, "Saul went up to Carmel to set up a monument for himself. Then he turned around and traveled on to Gilgal." 


text:
Samuel approached Saul. "May the Lord bless you," Saul said. "I've carried out the Lord's command." 


text:
Samuel said, "Then what is this bleating of sheep in my ears and the lowing of cattle that I hear?" 


text:
Saul replied, "They brought them from the Amalekites. The people spared the best of the sheep and cattle to offer sacrifices to the Lord your God, and the rest they completely destroyed." 


text:
So Samuel replied, "Is it not true that though you were small in your own eyes you became head of the tribes of Israel, and the Lord anointed you king over Israel? 


text:
The Lord sent you on a mission: «Go and completely destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they're destroyed.'


text:
Saul told Samuel, "I did obey the Lord . I went on the mission on which the Lord sent me, I brought Agag king of Amalek, and I completely destroyed the Amalekites. 


text:
The people took some of the spoil sheep, cattle, and the best of what was to be completely destroyed to sacrifice to the Lord your God at Gilgal." 


text:
Samuel said, "Does the Lord delight as much in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the Lord ? Surely, to obey is better than sacrifice, to pay attention is better <n>{The Heb. lacks is better}</n> than the fat of rams. 


text:
Indeed, rebellion is the sin of divination, and arrogance is iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected this message from the Lord , he has rejected you from being king." 


text:
"I've sinned," Saul replied to Samuel. "I've broken the Lord's command and your word, because I was afraid of the people and listened to them. 


text:
Samuel told Saul, "I won't return with you because you have rejected the message from the Lord , and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel." 


text:
Samuel told him, "The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel away from you today, and he has given it to your neighbor who is better than you. 


text:
Moreover, the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind, for he's not a man that he should change his mind." 


text:
"I've sinned," Saul <n>{Lit. He}</n> said. "But please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me so I may worship the Lord your God." 


text:
<n>{Samuel Executes King Agag}</n> d Then Samuel said, "Bring Agag king of Amalek to me." Agag came to him in fetters, saying to himself, <n>{The Heb. lacks to himself}</n> "Surely the bitterness of death is past." 


text:
Samuel said, "Just as your sword has made women childless, so your mother will be childless among women." Then Samuel cut Agag into pieces in the Lord's presence in Gilgal. 


text:
Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, but Samuel grieved over Saul, and the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel. 


text:
<n>{David Anointed to Succeed Saul}</n> d The Lord told Samuel, "How long will you grieve over Saul, since I've rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I'm sending you to Jesse from Bethlehem because I've chosen for myself one of his sons as king." 


text:
Samuel said, "How can I go? Saul will hear about this <n>{The Heb. lacks about this}</n> and kill me!" The Lord said, "Take a heifer <n>{I.e. a young cow that has not yet had a calf}</n> with you and say, «I've come to offer a sacrifice to the Lord .'


text:
You are to invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I'll show you what you are to do. You are to anoint for me the one I tell you." 


text:
Samuel did what the Lord said and went to Bethlehem. The elders of the town came out to meet him trembling, and said, "May your coming be in peace." 


text:
He said, "Peace, I've come to sacrifice to the Lord . Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice." Samuel <n>{Lit. He}</n> consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. 


text:
When they arrived, Samuel <n>{Lit. he}</n> saw Eliab, and said, "Surely he's the Lord's <n>{Lit. his}</n> anointed." <n>{Lit. surely the LORD's anointed is before him}</n> 


text:
The Lord told Samuel, "Don't look at his appearance or his height, <n>{Lit. the height of his stature}</n> for I've rejected him. Truly, God does not see <n>{The Heb. lacks see}</n> what man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord sees the heart." 


text:
Then Jesse summoned Abinadab and brought him before Samuel, and he said, "Neither has the Lord chosen this one." 


text:
Jesse brought seven of his sons before Samuel, and Samuel told Jesse, "The Lord has not chosen these." 


text:
Then Samuel told Jesse, "Are these all the young men?" He said, "There yet remains the youngest one, and right now he's tending the sheep." Samuel told Jesse, "Send someone to get him, <n>{Lit. send and get him}</n> for we won't do anything else <n>{Lit. we won't turn aside}</n> until he arrives here." 


text:
So he sent and brought him. He had a dark, healthy complexion, with beautiful eyes, and he was handsome. The Lord said, "Get up and anoint him, for this is the one." 


text:
<n>{God's Spirit Comes on David and Departs from Saul}</n> d Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed David <n>{Lit. him}</n> in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the Lord came on David from that day forward. Then Samuel got up and went to Ramah. 


text:
Let our lord order his servants who attend you <n>{Lit. who are before you}</n> to look for a man who is skilled in playing the lyre. And then when an evil spirit from God comes on you, he will play <n>{Lit. play with his hand}</n> and you will be better." 


text:
Saul told his servants, "Find <n>{Lit. Provide}</n> a man for me who can play well and bring him to me." 


text:
One of the young men answered: "Look, I've seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is skilled in playing. The man is a valiant soldier, gifted in speech, and handsome. And the Lord is with him." 


text:
Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a container of wine, and one kid, and sent them to Saul along with his son David. 


text:
David went to Saul and began to serve him. <n>{Lit. stood before him}</n> Saul loved him very much, and he became his armor bearer. 


text:
Saul sent a messenger <n>{The Heb. lacks a messenger}</n> to Jesse to tell him, "Allow David to serve me, because I'm pleased with him." <n>{Lit. because he has found favor in my sight}</n> 


text:
Whenever an evil <n>{The Heb. lacks evil}</n> spirit from God came to Saul, David would take the lyre and play it. <n>{Lit. play with his hand}</n> Relief would come to Saul and he would be better, because the evil spirit would leave him. 


text:
<n>{Goliath Challenges the Israelis}</n> d The Philistines assembled their army for battle. They were assembled at Socoh, which belongs to Judah, and they camped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim. 


text:
Saul and the Israelis assembled and camped in the valley of Elah, where they set up their forces to meet the Philistines. 


text:
The Philistines were standing on the hill on one side while the Israelis were standing on the hill on the other side, with the valley between them. 


text:
A champion named Goliath from Gath came out from the Philistine camp. He was six and a half feet tall, <n>{4 DSS 4QSam a and LXX read four cubits and a span (i.e. six and a half feet); MT reads six cubits and a span (i.e. nine and a half feet)}</n> 


text:
wore a bronze helmet on his head, and wore bronze scale armor that weighed about 125 pounds. <n>{Lit. 5,000 shekels ; or about 125 pounds at 40 shekels per pound}</n> 


text:
He had bronze armor on his legs <n>{Or bronze greaves ; i.e. leg armor worn below the knees}</n> and carried a bronze javelin slung <n>{The Heb. lacks slung}</n> between his shoulders. 


text:
The shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam and the iron point of his spear weighed fifteen pounds. <n>{Lit. 600 shekels ; or about 15 pounds at 40 shekels per pound}</n> A man carrying his shield walked in front of him. 


text:
He stood still and called out to the ranks of Israel, "Why should you move into position for battle? Am I not a Philistine and you Saul's servants? Choose a man for yourselves to come down against me. 


text:
If he's able to fight me and strike me down, then we will become your servants; but if I prevail against him and strike him down, then you will become our servants and serve us." 


text:
The Philistine said, "I defy <n>{Or challenge}</n> the ranks of Israel today. Send me one man and let's fight together." 


text:
When Saul and all the Israelis heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and very frightened. 


text:
<n>{David Comes to the Camp}</n> d David was the son of that Ephrathite man named Jesse from Bethlehem in Judah. He had eight sons; at the time when Saul was king he was old, having lived to an advanced age. 


text:
The three oldest sons of Jesse followed Saul into battle. The names of his three sons who went to the battle were his firstborn Eliab, Abinadab, his second son, and Shammah, the third. 


text:
Jesse told his son David, "Take for your brothers this half-bushel <n>{Lit. this ephah}</n> of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread and quickly take them to your brothers in the camp. 


text:
Take these ten pieces of cheese to the commander of the unit, <n>{Lit. thousand}</n> check on the well-being of your brothers, and bring something back from them. 


text:
Saul, your brothers, <n>{Lit. they}</n> and all the men of Israel are in the valley of Elah fighting with the Philistines." 


text:
David got up early in the morning, left the sheep with a keeper, took the supplies, <n>{The Heb. lacks the supplies}</n> and went as Jesse had directed him. He arrived at the encampment <n>{Or entrenchment}</n> as the army was going out to the battle line, shouting the battle cry. 


text:
<n>{David Hears Goliath's Challenge}</n> d Israel and the Philistines moved into position for battle, battle line facing battle line. 


text:
David left the supplies he had with him in the care of the supply keeper and ran to the battle line. When he arrived there, he asked his brothers about their well-being. 


text:
As he was speaking with them, the Philistine champion named Goliath from Gath came up from the Philistine battle lines and spoke his usual words, <n>{Lit. according to these words}</n> as David listened. 


text:
"Did all of you see this man coming up?" one Israeli asked. "He comes up to defy <n>{Or challenge}</n> Israel, and the king will richly reward the man who kills him. He will give his daughter to him and will make his father's house tax <n>{The Heb. lacks tax}</n> free in Israel." 


text:
David asked the men who were standing by him, "What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? Indeed, who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy <n>{Or challenge}</n> the armies of the living God?" 


text:
The people also told him the same thing, <n>{Lit. spoke to him according to this word}</n> saying, "This is what will be done for the man who kills him." 


text:
Eliab his oldest brother heard him talking to the men. Eliab was angry with David and said, "Why did you come down here? And who did you leave those few sheep with in the wilderness? I know your insolence and wicked intentions. <n>{Lit. wickedness of your heart}</n> You came down just to see the battle!" 


text:
Then he turned from him toward another person and asked the same thing. The people replied to him the same way as the first one had. 


text:
<n>{David Accepts the Challenge}</n> d When the words that David had spoken were heard, they were reported to Saul, and he sent for him. 


text:
David told Saul, "Let no one's courage <n>{Lit. heart}</n> fail because of him; your servant will go fight this Philistine." 


text:
Saul told David, "You can't go against this Philistine and fight him. You are only a young man, but he has been a warrior since his youth." 


text:
David told Saul, "Your servant has been a shepherd for his father. When a lion or bear came and took a lamb from the flock, 


text:
I would go out after it, strike it down, and rescue the lamb <n>{The Heb. lacks the lamb}</n> from its mouth. Then when it rose up against me, I would grab it by its fur, <n>{Lit. beard}</n> strike it down, and kill it. 


text:
Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, since he defied <n>{Or challenged}</n> the armies of the living God." 


text:
David continued, "The Lord who delivered me from the power of <n>{Or hand of}</n> the lion and the power of <n>{Or hand of}</n> the bear will also deliver me from the power of <n>{Or hand of}</n> this Philistine." Saul told David, "Go, and may the Lord be with you." 


text:
David strapped Saul's <n>{Lit. his}</n> sword over his garments and tried to walk, but <n>{Lit. for}</n> he was not used to the armor. <n>{Lit. he had not tested}</n> David told Saul, "I can't walk in these because I'm not used to them," <n>{Lit. I have not tested}</n> and then took them off. 


text:
He took his staff in his hand and chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook and put them in the pouch in his shepherd's bag. He approached the Philistine with his sling in his hand. 


text:
<n>{David Defeats Goliath}</n> d With a man carrying his shield in front of him, the Philistine kept coming closer to David. 


text:
When the Philistine looked and saw David, he had contempt for him, because he was only a young man. David had a dark, healthy complexion and was handsome. 


text:
The Philistine asked David, "Am I a dog that you come at me with sticks?" Then the Philistine cursed David by his own gods and 


text:
told David, "Come to me! I'll give your flesh to the birds of the sky and to the beasts of the field." 


text:
Then David told the Philistine, "You come at me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of the armies of Israel whom you have defied. <n>{Or challenged}</n> 


text:
This very day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I'll strike you down and remove your head from you. And this very day I'll give the dead bodies of the Philistine army to the birds of the sky and to the animals of the earth, so that all the earth will know that there is a God in Israel, 


text:
and this whole congregation will know that the Lord does not deliver by sword or spear. Indeed, the battle is the Lord's and he will give you into our hands." 


text:
When the Philistine got up and came closer to meet David, David quickly ran to the battle line to meet the Philistine. 


text:
David reached his hand into the bag, took out a stone, slung it, and struck the Philistine in his forehead. The stone sunk into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground. 


text:
David defeated the Philistine with a sling and a stone; he struck down the Philistine and killed him, and there was no sword in David's hand. 


text:
David ran and stood over the Philistine. He took the Philistine's <n>{Lit. his}</n> sword, pulled it from its sheath, killed him, and then he cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. 


text:
The men of Israel and Judah got up with a shout and pursued the Philistines as far as the entrance to <n>{Lit. until you enter}</n> the valley and to the gates of Ekron. Wounded Philistines fell along the way to Shaaraim as far as Gath and Ekron. 


text:
David took the Philistine's head and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put Goliath's <n>{Lit. his}</n> weapons in his tent. 


text:
When Saul saw David going out to meet the Philistine, he asked Abner, the commander of the army, "Whose son is this young man, Abner?" Abner said, "As surely as you live, your majesty, I don't know." 


text:
When David returned from striking down the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him to Saul with the Philistine's head in his hand. 


text:
Saul told him, "Whose son are you, young man?" David said, "The son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem." 


text:
<n>{Jonathan and David's Friendship}</n> d When David finished speaking with Saul, Jonathan became a close friend to David, <n>{Lit. Jonathan's soul was knit with David's soul}</n> and Jonathan <n>{Lit. he}</n> loved him as himself. 


text:
Jonathan took off the robe that he had on and gave it to David, along with his coat, his sword, his bow, and his belt. 


text:
David went out and was successful everywhere Saul sent him, and Saul put him in charge of the troops. This pleased the entire army, <n>{Or pleased all the people}</n> as well as Saul's officials. <n>{Or servants}</n> 


text:
<n>{Saul's Jealousy of David}</n> d When David returned from defeating the Philistine, as they were entering the city, women from all the towns of Israel came out to meet King Saul, singing and dancing as they joyously played tambourines and lyres. 


text:
As the women sang and played, they said, "Saul has struck down his thousands but David his ten thousands." 


text:
Saul was very angry and he did not like what the women sang. He told himself, <n>{The Heb. lacks to himself}</n> "They have attributed tens of thousands to David, but to me they have attributed thousands. What else can he have but the kingdom?" 


text:
The next day, while David was playing the lyre <n>{Lit. playing with his hand}</n> as he had before, the evil spirit from the Lord attacked Saul, and he began to rave <n>{Or prophesy}</n> inside the house with a spear in his hand. 


text:
Saul hurled it, thinking, <n>{Lit. saying}</n> "I'll pin David to the wall." But David escaped from him twice. 


text:
Saul removed David <n>{Lit. him}</n> from his presence and made him an officer over a division of soldiers. <n>{Lit. over a thousand}</n> So David led the troops in battle. <n>{Lit. went out and came in before the people (i.e. the soldiers)}</n> 


text:
But all Israel and Judah loved David because he led them in battle. <n>{Lit. went out and came in before them}</n> 


text:
<n>{David Marries Saul's Daughter}</n> d Saul told David, "Here is my older daughter Merab. I'll give her to you as a wife. Just be an excellent soldier for me and fight the Lord's battles." Now Saul told himself, <n>{The Heb. lacks to himself}</n> "I won't harm him myself. <n>{Lit. Let not my hand be against him}</n> Instead, I'll let the Philistines harm him." <n>{Lit. let the hand of the Philistines be against him}</n> 


text:
David told Saul, "Who am I and what is my life or my father's family in Israel that I should be the king's son-in-law?" 


text:
And when the time came to give Saul's daughter Merab to David, she was given as a wife to Adriel of Meholah. 


text:
Saul's daughter Michal loved David. Saul was informed of this and he liked the idea. <n>{Lit. the matter was straight in his eyes}</n> 


text:
Saul told himself, <n>{The Heb. lacks to himself}</n> "I'll give her to him and she can be a snare to him and the Philistines will harm him." <n>{Lit. so the hand of the Philistines will be against him}</n> So Saul told David, "For a second time you can be my son-in-law today." 


text:
Saul commanded his officials, <n>{Or servants}</n> "Speak with David privately and say, «Look, the king delights in you, and all his officials <n>{Or servants}</n> love you. Now become the king's son-in-law.»" 


text:
Saul's officials <n>{Or servants}</n> delivered this message to David, <n>{Lit. spoke these words in the ears of David}</n> and he <n>{Lit. David}</n> asked, "Is becoming the king's son-in-law an unimportant thing to you? I'm a poor and unimportant man." 


text:
Saul said, "This is what you are to tell David, «The king desires no bride price except 100 Philistine foreskins to take vengeance on the king's enemies.»" Now Saul thought he would cause David to die at the hand of the Philistines. 


text:
When his officials <n>{Or servants}</n> delivered this message to David, David decided it would be a good thing to become the king's son-in-law. Before the time was up, 


text:
David got up, went out with his men, and struck down 200 Philistine men. David brought their foreskins and gave them all to the king so he could become the king's son-in-law. So Saul gave him his daughter Michal as a wife. 


text:
As Saul continued to observe, he realized that the Lord was with David and that Saul's daughter Michal loved him. 


text:
Then Saul was even more afraid of David, and Saul was David's enemy from that time on. <n>{Lit. all the days}</n> 


text:
The Philistine commanders would go out to fight <n>{The Heb. lacks to fight}</n> and whenever they did, David was more successful than any of Saul's other leaders. <n>{Or servants}</n> His name was held in high esteem. 


text:
<n>{Jonathan Intercedes for David}</n> d Saul told his son Jonathan and all his officials <n>{Or servants}</n> to kill David, but Saul's son Jonathan was very fond of <n>{Lit. took great delight in}</n> David. 


text:
So Jonathan told David, "My father Saul is trying to kill you. In the morning be careful and stay hidden in a secret place. 


text:
I'll go out and stand by my father in the field where you are. I'll speak to my father about you. If I find out what he intends to do, <n>{The Heb. lacks he intends to do}</n> I'll tell you." 


text:
Jonathan spoke to his father Saul favorably about David. "The king shouldn't wrong his servant David because he has not wronged you and because what he has done has been very beneficial for you. 


text:
He risked his life <n>{Lit. put his life in his hand}</n> and struck down the Philistine, and the Lord brought about a spectacular deliverance for all Israel. You saw that and rejoiced, so why would you do wrong and shed innocent blood <n>{Lit. do wrong with innocent blood}</n> by killing David without cause?" 


text:
Saul listened to Jonathan, and swore by the life of the Lord that David <n>{Lit. he}</n> would not be killed. 


text:
Jonathan summoned David and told him all this. <n>{Lit. all these words}</n> Then Jonathan brought David to Saul, and David <n>{Lit. he}</n> served him <n>{Lit. was in his presence}</n> as before. 


text:
<n>{Saul Again Tries to Kill David}</n> d The war continued and David went out to fight against the Philistines. He thoroughly defeated them, <n>{Lit. he struck them down with a great slaughter}</n> and they fled before David. <n>{Lit. him}</n> 


text:
The evil spirit from the Lord attacked Saul while he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand and David was playing the lyre. 


text:
Saul tried to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he jumped away from Saul and the spear stuck in the wall. That night David escaped and fled. 


text:
<n>{Michal Helps David Escape}</n> d Saul sent messengers to David's house to watch him so they could kill him in the morning. David's wife, Michal, told him, "If you don't escape with your life tonight, tomorrow you'll be put to death." 


text:
Then Michal took the household idol <n>{Heb. teraphim}</n> and laid it on the bed with a cover of goat hair placed at its head. Then she covered it with clothes. 


text:
Then Saul sent messengers to check on <n>{Or to see}</n> David. He told them, "Bring him to me on the bed so I may kill him." <n>{Lit. in order to kill him}</n> 


text:
The messengers went in, and there was the household idol in the bed with the cover of goat hair at its head! 


text:
Then Saul told Michal, "Why did you deceive me like this and let my enemy go so he could escape?" Michal told Saul, "He told me, «Let me go or I'll kill you!»" <n>{Lit. why should I kill you?}</n> 


text:
<n>{Saul Prophesies at Ramah and David Escapes}</n> d David escaped and fled. He came to Samuel at Ramah and told him all that Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel went and stayed at Naioth. 


text:
Saul sent messengers to take David, and they saw a group of prophets caught up in prophetic ecstasy, <n>{Or prophesying}</n> with Samuel standing beside them leading them. Then the Spirit of God came on Saul's messengers, and they also were caught up in prophetic ecstasy. <n>{Or prophesied}</n> 


text:
They reported this to Saul, he sent other messengers, and they also were caught up in prophetic ecstasy. <n>{Or prophesied}</n> 


text:
Then Saul himself went to Ramah, and he arrived at the large well that is in Secu. He asked, "Where are Samuel and David?" Someone <n>{Lit. He}</n> replied, "They're at Naioth in Ramah." 


text:
Saul went to Naioth in Ramah, and the Spirit of God came on him also. He continued in prophetic ecstasy <n>{Or he continued to prophesy}</n> until he came to Naioth in Ramah. 


text:
He also removed his clothes and was caught up in prophetic ecstasy <n>{Or prophesied}</n> right in front of Samuel! He fell down naked and remained there all that day and all night. That is why people say, <n>{Lit. Therefore, they say}</n> "Is Saul also among the prophets?" 


text:
<n>{David and Jonathan's Discussion}</n> d David fled from Naioth in Ramah. He came to Jonathan and said, "What have I done? What is my crime, and how have I wronged your father so that he's determined to kill me? <n>{Lit. seeks my life}</n> 


text:
Jonathan <n>{Lit. He}</n> told him, "Far from it! You won't die. Look, my father never does anything, great or small, without telling me; <n>{Lit. revealing it in my ear}</n> so why should my father hide this thing from me? It's not like that!" 


text:
David again took an oath: "Your father certainly knows that I've found favor with you, and so he told himself, <n>{The Heb. lacks to himself}</n> «Jonathan must not know this so he won't be upset.'But as certainly as the Lord is alive and living, and as certainly as I'm alive and living, too, there is only a step between me and death." 


text:
David told Jonathan, "Look, the New Moon is tomorrow, and I'm expected to sit down with the king to eat. Let me go so I can hide in the field until the evening of the day after tomorrow. <n>{Lit. until the third evening}</n> 


text:
If your father actually notices that I'm not there, <n>{The Heb. lacks that I'm not there}</n> then you are to say, «David urgently requested that I allow him to run to his hometown of Bethlehem because the yearly sacrifice for the entire family was taking place there.'


text:
If he says, «Good,'then your servant will be safe. <n>{Lit. there will be peace for your servant}</n> But if he actually gets angry, you will know that his intentions are evil. <n>{Lit. that evil has been determined by him}</n> 


text:
Now, show gracious kindness to your servant because you have entered into a sacred covenant <n>{Lit. a covenant of the LORD}</n> with your servant. If there is iniquity in me, then kill me yourself why should you bring me to your father?" 


text:
"Nonsense!" Jonathan replied. "If I actually knew that my father intended evil against you, wouldn't I tell you about it?" 


text:
<n>{David and Jonathan Make a Covenant}</n> d Then Jonathan told David, "Come, let's go into the field." So the two of them went into the field. 


text:
Jonathan told David, "The Lord God of Israel is my witness <n>{The Heb. lacks is my witness}</n> that I'll carefully question my father by tomorrow or the next day. And if the response <n>{Lit. it}</n> is favorable for David, will I not then send word <n>{The Heb. lacks word}</n> to you and let you know? <n>{Lit. reveal in your ear}</n> 


text:
But if my father intends to harm you, may the Lord strike me dead <n>{Lit. may the LORD do to Jonathan and more also ; This oath would have been accompanied by some symbolic action such as simulating the plunge of a knife into one's heart.}</n> if I don't let you know and send you away so you may go safely. May the Lord be with you as he has been with my father. 


text:
And don't stop showing your gracious love to my family forever, not even when the Lord eliminates each of David's enemies from the surface of the earth." 


text:
Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David: "May the Lord punish any violation of this covenant by the hand of David's enemies." <n>{Lit. may the LORD seek from the hand of David's enemies}</n> 


text:
<n>{Jonathan's Signal to David}</n> d Jonathan told him, "Tomorrow is the New Moon, and you will be missed because your seat is empty. 


text:
On the third day go down quickly and come to the place where you hid earlier. <n>{Lit. on the day of the event}</n> Remain beside the rock at Ezel. 


text:
I'll shoot three arrows to the side of the rock <n>{The Heb. lacks of the rock}</n> as though I were shooting at a target. 


text:
Then I'll send a servant, <n>{Or boy}</n> saying, <n>{The Heb. lacks saying}</n> «Go, find the arrows.'If I specifically say to the servant, <n>{Or boy}</n> «Look, the arrows are on this side of you, get them,'then come out because it's safe for you, and, as surely as the Lord lives, there is no danger. <n>{Lit. thing}</n> 


text:
But if I say this to the young man: «Look, the arrows are beyond you,'then go, for the Lord has sent you away. 


text:
As for the matter about which you and I spoke, remember that <n>{Or look,}</n> the Lord is a witness <n>{The Heb. lacks a witness}</n> between us forever." 


text:
<n>{Jonathan Intercedes for David}</n> d David hid in the field. When the New Moon arrived, the king sat down to eat. 


text:
The king sat down at his place as before, in the seat by the wall. Jonathan stood while Abner sat next to Saul, but David's place was empty. 


text:
Saul didn't say anything that day because he told himself, <n>{The Heb. lacks to himself}</n> "Something has happened; he's unclean; surely he's not clean." 


text:
But the next day, on the second day of the New Moon, David's place was empty, and so Saul told his son Jonathan, "Why didn't Jesse's son come to the festival, either yesterday or today?" 


text:
He said, «Please let me go because our family has a sacrifice in the town, and my brother has ordered me to come. Now, if it's acceptable to you, <n>{Lit. if I have found favor in your eyes}</n> please let me get away so I can see my brothers.'That's the reason he didn't come to the king's table." 


text:
<n>{Saul's Anger toward Jonathan}</n> d Saul flew into a rage and told Jonathan, "You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Don't I know that you have chosen Jesse's son to your shame and to the shame of your mother who bore you? <n>{Lit. to the shame of your mother's nakedness}</n> 


text:
As long as <n>{Lit. all the days that}</n> Jesse's son lives on the earth, neither you nor your kingdom will be established! Now send someone and bring David <n>{Lit. him}</n> to me. He's a dead man!" 


text:
Then Saul threw the spear that was beside him to strike Jonathan <n>{Lit. him}</n> down. So Jonathan realized that his father was determined to kill David. 


text:
So on the second day of the New Moon Jonathan angrily got up from the table without eating because he was upset about David, and because his father had humiliated him. 


text:
<n>{Jonathan Warns David}</n> d In the morning Jonathan, accompanied by a servant, <n>{Lit. young man}</n> went out to the field for the appointment with David. 


text:
Jonathan <n>{Lit. He}</n> told his servant, <n>{Lit. young man}</n> "Run, find the arrows that I'm shooting." As the servant <n>{Lit. young man}</n> ran, Jonathan <n>{Lit. he}</n> shot the arrow beyond him. 


text:
The servant <n>{Lit. young man}</n> came to the place where Jonathan had shot it, and Jonathan called out to him, <n>{Lit. young man}</n> "The arrow is beyond you, isn't it?" 


text:
Jonathan called out to the servant, <n>{Lit. young man}</n> "Hurry, be quick, don't stand around." Jonathan's servant <n>{Lit. young man}</n> picked up the arrow and brought it to his master. 


text:
The servant was not aware of anything. Only Jonathan and David understood what had happened. <n>{Lit. the matter}</n> 


text:
Then Jonathan gave his equipment to the servant <n>{Lit. young man}</n> who was with him and told him, "Go, take these things to the city." 


text:
The servant <n>{Lit. young man}</n> went. Then David came out from the south side of the rock, <n>{The Heb. lacks of the rock}</n> fell on his face, and bowed down three times. The men kissed each other, and both of them cried, but David even more. 


text:
Jonathan told David, "Go in peace since both of us swore in the name of the Lord : «May the Lord be between me and you, and between my descendants and your descendants forever.»" <n>{This sentence is 21:1 in MT}</n> Then David <n>{Lit. he}</n> got up and left, while Jonathan went to the city. 


text:
<n>{David Flees to Nob}</n> d <n>{This verse is 21:2 in MT}</n> David came to Nob to Ahimelech the priest, and Ahimelech was trembling as he came <n>{The Heb. lacks as he came}</n> to meet David. Ahimelech <n>{Lit. He}</n> told him, "Why are you alone, and no one with you?" 


text:
David told Ahimelech the priest, "The king commanded me about a matter, saying to me, «Don't let anyone know anything about the matter I'm sending you to do <n>{The Heb. lacks to do}</n> and about which I've commanded you. I've directed the young men to a certain place.'


text:
Now, what do you have available? <n>{Lit. under your control}</n> Give me five loaves of bread or whatever you have." <n>{Lit. what is found}</n> 


text:
The priest answered David: "There is no ordinary bread available; <n>{Lit. under my control}</n> only consecrated bread, provided that the young men have kept themselves from women." 


text:
David answered the priest, saying to him, "Indeed, women were kept from us as is usual <n>{Lit. as previously}</n> whenever I go out on a mission, <n>{The Heb. lacks on a mission}</n> and the equipment <n>{Or vessels}</n> of the young men is consecrated even when it's an ordinary journey, so how much more is their equipment <n>{Or are their vessels}</n> consecrated today?" 


text:
So the priest gave him consecrated bread because no bread was there except the Bread of the Presence that had been removed from the Lord's presence and replaced with hot bread on the day it was taken away. 


text:
Now, Doeg the Edomite, one of Saul's officials, <n>{Or servants}</n> was there that day, detained in the Lord's presence. He was the chief of Saul's shepherds. 


text:
<n>{David Takes Goliath's Sword}</n> d David told Ahimelech, "Is there no spear or sword available <n>{Lit. under your control}</n> here? I took neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's mission is urgent." 


text:
The priest said, "The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you struck down in the Valley of Elah is wrapped up in a cloth behind the ephod. <n>{The ephod was a type of vest normally worn by the priests}</n> If you want it, take it because there is no other except it here." So David said, "There is none like it. Give it to me." 


text:
<n>{David Flees to Gath}</n> d David got up that day and fled from Saul, and he went to King Achish of Gath. 


text:
The officials <n>{Or servants}</n> of Achish told him, "Isn't this David, king of the land? Isn't this the one about whom they sang as they danced, «Saul has struck down his thousands, but David his ten thousands'?" 


text:
David took these words seriously, <n>{Lit. paid attention to these words}</n> and he was very frightened of King Achish of Gath. 


text:
So David changed his behavior before them and acted like he was crazy in their presence. He scribbled on the doors of the gate, and let his saliva run down his beard. 


text:
Achish told his officials, <n>{Or servants}</n> "Look, you see a person acting like a madman. Why'd you bring him to me? 


text:
Am I lacking madmen that you bring me this one to act like a madman around me? Shall this one come into my house?" 


text:
<n>{David at the Cave of Adullam}</n> d David left from there and escaped to the Cave of Adullam. His brothers and all his father's family heard about this and went down to him there. 


text:
Everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was malcontent <n>{Lit. bitter of spirit}</n> gathered around him, and he became their leader. There were about 400 men with him. 


text:
<n>{David Seeks Protection for His Family}</n> d David went from there to Mizpah of Moab, and he told the king of Moab, "Please let my father and mother come and stay with you <n>{Lit. come with you}</n> until I know what God is going to do for me." 


text:
David left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him all the time David was in the stronghold. 


text:
The prophet Gad told David, "Don't remain in the stronghold. Go and enter the territory of Judah." So David left and went into the forest of Hereth. 


text:
<n>{Doeg the Edomite Reports to Saul}</n> d When Saul heard that David and the men who were with him had been found, <n>{Lit. were known}</n> he <n>{Lit. Saul}</n> was sitting in Gibeah, under the tamarisk tree on the hill, with his spear in his hand. All his officials <n>{Or servants}</n> were standing around him. 


text:
Saul told his officials who were standing around him, "Listen, men of Benjamin! Will Jesse's son also give fields and vineyards to all of you? Will he make all of you officers over thousands and officers over hundreds? 


text:
But all of you have conspired against me, and no one tells me <n>{Lit. reveals in my ear}</n> about my son's covenant <n>{Or agreement}</n> with Jesse's son. None of you feels sorry for me and tells me that my son has stirred up my servant against me to lie in wait, as he's doing <n>{The Heb. lacks he is doing}</n> this day." 


text:
Then Doeg the Edomite, who was in charge of Saul's servants answered: "I saw Jesse's son coming to Nob to Ahitub's son Ahimelech. 


text:
Ahimelech <n>{Lit. He}</n> inquired of the Lord for him, gave him provisions, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine." 


text:
<n>{Saul Orders the Execution of the Priests}</n> d The king sent for Ahitub's son Ahimelech the priest and for all his father's family who were priests at Nob. All of them came to the king. 


text:
Then Saul <n>{Lit. he}</n> asked him, "Why have you conspired against me you and Jesse's son by giving him food and a sword, and by inquiring of God for him, so he can rise up against me to lie in wait, as he's doing <n>{The Heb. lacks he is doing}</n> today?" 


text:
Ahimelech answered the king, "Who among all your officials <n>{Or servants}</n> is as faithful as David? He is the king's son-in-law, the captain of your bodyguard, and he's honored in your household. 


text:
Is today the first time I inquired of God for him? Absolutely not! The king shouldn't accuse his servant, or any of my father's family of anything, because your servant didn't know anything at all <n>{Lit. anything, great or small}</n> about this." 


text:
The king told the guards, who were standing beside him, "Turn and kill the priests of the Lord because they supported David, <n>{Lit. their hand was with David}</n> and because they knew he was fleeing, but didn't inform me." <n>{Lit. reveal in my ear}</n> But the officials of the king did not want to lift their hands <n>{Lit. to send their hand}</n> to attack the priests of the Lord . 


text:
Then the king told Doeg, "You turn and attack the priests." Doeg the Edomite turned and attacked the priests. That day he killed eighty-five men who carry the linen ephod. <n>{I.e. the priests}</n> 


text:
He attacked the priestly town of Nob with the sword. Men and women, children and infants, oxen, donkeys and sheep were put to the sword. 


text:
<n>{Abiathar Takes the Ephod to David}</n> d One man, Ahimelech's son Abiathar, a grandson of Ahitub, escaped and fled to David. 


text:
David told Abiathar, "I knew on that day when Doeg the Edomite was there that he would certainly tell Saul! I'm responsible for the deaths of your father's whole family. 


text:
Stay with me, and don't be afraid because the one who seeks my life, seeks your life. Indeed, you will be safe with me." 


text:
<n>{David Delivers Keilah}</n> d Someone <n>{Lit. They}</n> told David, "Look, the Philistines are fighting at Keilah and are plundering the threshing floors." 


text:
David inquired of the Lord : "Shall I go and strike down these Philistines?" The Lord told David, "Go strike down the Philistines and deliver Keilah." 


text:
David's men told him, "Look, we're afraid here in Judah. How much then, if we go to Keilah against the Philistine army?" 


text:
David inquired of the Lord again, and the Lord answered him: "Get up, go down to Keilah. I'll give the Philistines into your control." <n>{Lit. hand}</n> 


text:
David and his men went to Keilah and fought the Philistines. He carried off their livestock and defeated them decisively, <n>{Lit. struck them down with a great slaughter}</n> and so David delivered the inhabitants of Keilah. 


text:
Now when Ahimelech's son Abiathar had fled to David in Keilah, the ephod <n>{The ephod was a type of vest normally worn by the priests.}</n> had come down with him. 


text:
It was reported to Saul that David had come to Keilah, and Saul said, "The Lord has delivered <n>{So with LXX}</n> him into my hand because he has shut himself in by going into a town with double gates and bars." 


text:
Saul summoned for battle all his forces <n>{Lit. all the people}</n> to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men. 


text:
David knew that Saul was devising evil plans against him, and so he told Abiathar the priest, "Bring the ephod." 


text:
David said, "Lord God of Israel. Your servant has definitely heard that Saul intends to come to Keilah to destroy the town because of me. 


text:
Will the people of Keilah hand me over to him? <n>{Lit. into his hand}</n> Will Saul come down just as your servant has heard? Lord God of Israel, please inform your servant." The Lord said, "He will come down." 


text:
Then David said, "Will the people of Keilah hand me over to Saul?" <n>{Lit. into Saul's hand}</n> The Lord said, "They'll hand you over." 


text:
David and his men, about 600 strong, got up and left Keilah. They moved around wherever they could go. Saul was advised that David had escaped from Keilah, so he stopped the campaign. <n>{Lit. stopped going out}</n> 


text:
<n>{Jonathan Visits David}</n> d David stayed in the wilderness in the strongholds, and he lived in the hill country in the wilderness of Ziph. Saul sought him every day, but God did not let David <n>{Lit. him}</n> slip into Saul's <n>{Lit. his}</n> control. 


text:
David was afraid because <n>{Or David saw that}</n> Saul had come out to seek his life while David was in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh. 


text:
Saul's son Jonathan got up and went to David at Horesh, and he encouraged him to trust <n>{Lit. he strengthened his hand}</n> in God. 


text:
Jonathan told him, "Don't be afraid. My father Saul won't find you, and you will be king over Israel. I'll be your second-in-command. My father Saul also knows this." 


text:
The two of them made a covenant <n>{Or agreement}</n> in the Lord's presence. David remained at Horesh while Jonathan went home. 


text:
<n>{The People of Ziph Betray David}</n> d People from Ziph came up to Saul at Gibeah and informed him, "David is hiding with us in the strongholds in Horesh and on the hill of Hachilah south of Jeshimon, isn't he? 


text:
Now, your majesty, whenever you want to come down, <n>{Lit. according to your desire to come down}</n> come down, and our part will be to hand him over to the king." 


text:
Go and again make sure, find out and investigate where he is <n>{Lit. his place where his foot is}</n> and who has seen him there, for people tell me that he's very clever. 


text:
Investigate and find out all the hiding places there where he hides, and return to me with reliable information. Then I'll go down with you, and if he's in the land, I'll search him out among all the thousands of Judah." 


text:
The people from Ziph got up and left Saul, while David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon in the Arabah south of Jeshimon. 


text:
When Saul and his men went to search for David, <n>{The Heb. lacks for David}</n> some people <n>{Lit. David, they}</n> told David, and he went down to the Rock of Escape <n>{The Heb. lacks of Escape ; cf. v.28}</n> and remained in the wilderness of Maon. Saul heard this and he pursued David into the wilderness of Maon. 


text:
Saul went on one side of the mountain while David and his men went on the other side of the mountain. David was hurrying to get away from Saul while Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them. 


text:
Then a messenger came to Saul with this news: "Come quickly, because the Philistines have made a raid on the land!" 


text:
So Saul turned around from pursuing David and went to meet the Philistines. Therefore, they call that place the Rock of Escape. 


text:
<n>{David Spares Saul's Life}</n> d <n>{This v. is 24:2 in MT}</n> When Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, <n>{Lit. they told him}</n> "Look, David is in the wilderness of En-gedi." 


text:
Saul took 3,000 of his best troops <n>{Lit. choice men}</n> from all over Israel, and he went to look for David and his men in the direction of the Rocks of the Wild Goats. 


text:
He came to the sheepfolds beside the road. There was a cave there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. <n>{Lit. to cover his feet}</n> Now David and his men were sitting in the inner recesses <n>{Or in the interior}</n> of the cave. 


text:
David's men told him, "Look, today is the day about which the Lord spoke to you when he said, <n>{The Heb. lacks when he said}</n> «I'll give your enemy into your hand.'Do to him whatever you want!" David rose and stealthily cut off the corner of Saul's robe. 


text:
He told his men, "God forbid that I should do this thing to your majesty, the Lord's anointed, by stretching out my hand against him, since he's the Lord's anointed." 


text:
David restrained his men with his <n>{The Heb. lacks his}</n> words and did not allow them to rebel against Saul. Saul got up from the cave and started off. <n>{Lit. went on the way}</n> 


text:
<n>{David Rebukes Saul}</n> d Then David got up, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul: "Your majesty!" <n>{Lit. My lord, O king!}</n> Saul looked behind him, and David bowed down with his face to the ground and prostrated himself. 


text:
Then David told Saul, "Why do you listen to the words of those who say, «Look, David is trying to harm you? '


text:
Look, this very day you saw with your own eyes <n>{Lit. your eyes saw}</n> that the Lord gave you into my control in the cave, and one of my men <n>{Lit. and he}</n> told kill you, but I had pity <n>{So LXX}</n> on you and responded, «I won't lift my hand against his majesty because he's the Lord's anointed.'


text:
See, my father, see! The corner of your robe is in my hand. Indeed, by my cutting off the corner of your robe and not killing you, you may know and understand that I have no evil intent or transgression I haven't wronged you, even though you are hunting me to take my life. 


text:
May the Lord judge between me and you, and may he take vengeance on you for me, but I won't be attacking you. 


text:
May the Lord act as judge, and may he decide between me and you. May he see, may he plead my case, and may he vindicate me in this dispute against you." <n>{Or he deliver me from your hand}</n> 


text:
<n>{Saul's Apparent Repentance}</n> d When David had finished saying these things to Saul, Saul asked, "Is this your voice, my son David?" Then Saul cried loudly 


text:
to David, "You are more righteous than I am, because you have treated me well even though I've treated you poorly. 


text:
You have explained how you treated me well, in that the Lord delivered me into your hand but you didn't kill me. 


text:
For who would find his enemy and then send him away safely? <n>{Lit. on a good road}</n> May the Lord repay you for what you have done for me today. 


text:
Now I know for certain that you will be king, and that the kingdom will be established under your authority. <n>{Lit. hand}</n> 


text:
Now swear to me by the Lord that you will never eliminate my descendants after me, and that you won't erase my name from my father's family." 


text:
David made this vow to Saul, and then Saul went home, while David and his men went up to the stronghold. 


text:
<n>{The Death of Samuel}</n> d Samuel died and all Israel assembled to mourn for him. They buried him at his home in Ramah. <n>{David, Nabal, and Abigail}</n> d David got up and went down to the Wilderness of Paran. <n>{LXX reads Maoch}</n> 


text:
Now there was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel of Judah, <n>{The Heb. lacks of Judah}</n> and the man was very rich. He had 3,000 sheep and 1,000 goats, and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel. 


text:
The man's name was Nabal and his wife's name was Abigail. The woman was intelligent and beautiful, while the man was harsh and wicked in his dealings. He was a descendant of Caleb. 


text:
David sent ten young men, saying to the young men, "Go up to Carmel, find Nabal, and greet him in my name. 


text:
Now, I've heard that the sheep shearers are with you. Now, your shepherds have been with us. We didn't harm them, and they didn't miss anything all the time they were in Carmel. 


text:
Ask your young men and they'll tell you. Therefore let my <n>{Lit. the}</n> young men find favor with you since we came on a special <n>{Lit. good}</n> day. Please give whatever you have available to your servants and to your son David.»" 


text:
David's young men came to Nabal and told him all this <n>{Lit. according to all these words}</n> in David's name, and then they waited. 


text:
Nabal answered David's servants: "Who is David? Who is this son of Jesse? There are many servants today who are breaking away from their masters. 


text:
Should I take my food, my water, and my meat that I've slaughtered for my shearers and give it to men who came from who knows where?" <n>{Lit. men whom I don't know where they're from}</n> 


text:
David's men turned and went on <n>{Lit. turned to}</n> their way. They came back and told David <n>{Lit. him}</n> everything. 


text:
David told his men, "Put on your swords." They put on their swords, and David put on his sword. Then about 400 men followed David, while 200 stayed with the supplies. 


text:
<n>{Abigail Intercedes with David}</n> d Now, one of the young men told Nabal's wife Abigail: "Look, David sent messengers from the wilderness to greet <n>{Lit. bless}</n> our lord, but he screamed insults at them. 


text:
The men were very good to us. They didn't harm us, and we didn't miss anything all the time we moved around with them when we were in the field. 


text:
They were a wall around us both day and night, all the time we were with them taking care of the sheep. 


text:
Now, be aware of this <n>{Lit. Know}</n> and consider what you should do. Calamity is being planned against our master and against his entire household. He's such a worthless person <n>{Lit. a son of Belial ; i.e. a worthless person}</n> that no one can talk to him." 


text:
Abigail quickly took 200 loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five butchered sheep, five measures of roasted grain, 100 bunches of raisins, and 200 fig cakes and loaded them on donkeys. 


text:
She told her young men, "Go ahead of me, I'll be coming right behind you." But she said nothing to her husband Nabal. 


text:
She was riding on the donkey and as she went down a protected part <n>{Or a hidden part}</n> of the mountain, David was there with his men, coming down to meet her, and she went toward them. 


text:
Now David had said, "Surely it was for nothing that I protected everything that belonged to this man in the wilderness, and nothing was missing of all that belonged to him. But he has repaid me <n>{Lit. returned to me}</n> with evil for good! 


text:
May the Lord do this to the enemies of David <n>{LXX reads to David}</n> and more also if by the morning I've left alive a single male <n>{Lit. single one who urinates on a wall}</n> of all those who belong to him." 


text:
When Abigail saw David, she quickly got down from the donkey and fell on her face before David, prostrating herself on the ground. 


text:
She fell at his feet and pleaded, "Your majesty, let the guilt be on me alone, and please let your servant <n>{Lit. maidservant}</n> speak to you. <n>{Lit. speak in your ear}</n> Listen to the words of your servant. <n>{Lit. maidservant}</n> 


text:
Please, your majesty, don't pay attention to this worthless man Nabal, for he's just like his name. Nabal <n>{ Nabal means fool in Heb.}</n> is his name and folly is his constant companion. But I, your servant, <n>{Lit. maidservant}</n> didn't see your majesty's young men whom you sent. 


text:
Now, your majesty, as the Lord lives and as you live, the Lord has kept you from shedding blood <n>{Lit. coming with blood}</n> and from delivering yourself by your own actions. Now, may your enemies and those seeking to do evil to your majesty be like Nabal. 


text:
Now let this present that your servant <n>{Lit. maidservant}</n> has brought to your majesty be given to the young men who follow <n>{Lit. who are walking at the feet of}</n> your majesty. 


text:
Please forgive the offense of your servant. <n>{Lit. maidservant}</n> For the Lord will certainly make a strong dynasty for your majesty, for your majesty is fighting the Lord's battles. May evil not be found in you for all of your life. <n>{Lit. all the days}</n> 


text:
If anyone should arise to pursue you and seek your life, may the life of your majesty be bound up with the Lord your God in a bundle of the living, and may he sling out the lives of your enemies from the pocket of a sling. 


text:
When the Lord does for your majesty all the good that he promised concerning you and appoints you Commander-in-Chief <n>{Lit. Nagid ; i.e. a senior officer entrusted with dual roles of operational oversight and administrative authority}</n> over Israel, 


text:
this shouldn't be an obstacle or stumbling block for your majesty's conscience, that he poured out blood without cause or that your majesty delivered himself. When the Lord does good things for your majesty, remember your servant." <n>{Lit. maidservant}</n> 


text:
Blessed be your good judgment, and blessed be you, who today stopped me from shedding blood <n>{Lit. from coming with blood}</n> and delivering myself by my own actions. 


text:
For as surely as the Lord God of Israel lives, the one who restrained me from harming you indeed, had you not quickly come to meet me, by dawn <n>{Lit. the light of the morning}</n> there wouldn't be a single male <n>{Lit. one who urinates on a wall}</n> left to Nabal." 


text:
David took from her what she had brought him and told her, "Go up to your house in peace. Look, I've heard your request and will grant it." 


text:
<n>{Nabal's Death}</n> d Abigail returned to Nabal, and he was there in his house holding a festival like the festival of a king. Nabal's heart was glad, and he was very drunk, so she didn't tell him anything at all <n>{Lit. anything great or small}</n> until morning. 


text:
After Nabal became sober the next morning, <n>{Lit. When the wine had gone out of Nabal}</n> his wife told him all that had happened. <n>{Lit. all these things}</n> Nabal's <n>{Lit. His}</n> heart failed and he became paralyzed. <n>{Lit. became like a stone}</n> 


text:
When David heard that Nabal had died, he said, "Blessed be the Lord who has judged the dispute over my insult at the hand of Nabal, and has held back his servant from evil. The Lord has repaid Nabal's wickedness." Then David sent word to Abigail that he would take her as his wife. 


text:
David's servants went to Abigail at Carmel and told her, "David sent us to you to take you to him as his wife." 


text:
She got up, prostrated herself face down on the ground, and replied, "Your servant would be a slave to wash the feet of your majesty's servants." 


text:
Then Abigail quickly got up and got on a donkey, with five young women walking behind her. <n>{Lit. walking at her feet ; i.e. as her attendants}</n> She followed David's messengers, and she became his wife. 


text:
<n>{David Again Spares Saul's Life}</n> d People from Ziph came to Saul in Gibeah and informed him, "David is hiding on the hill of Hachilah which is across from Jeshimon, isn't he?" 


text:
So Saul rose and went down with 3,000 select men of Israel to the Wilderness of Ziph, to look for David in the Wilderness of Ziph. 


text:
Saul camped by the road on the hill of Hachilah, across from Jeshimon, while David was staying in the wilderness. When he realized <n>{Lit. saw}</n> that Saul had come after him in the wilderness, 


text:
David rose and went to the place where Saul was camped. David saw the place where Saul and Abner, his Commander-in-Chief, lay down. Saul was lying down within the encampment, and the army was <n>{Or the people were}</n> camped all around him. 


text:
David said <n>{Lit. answered, saying}</n> to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Joab's brother Abishai, Zeruiah's son, "Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?" Abishai said, "I'll go down with you." 


text:
David and Abishai went to the army <n>{Or the people}</n> at night, and Saul was lying there asleep in the encampment. His spear was stuck in the ground at his head, and Abner and the army <n>{Or the people}</n> were lying all around him. 


text:
Abishai told David, "Today God has delivered your enemy into your hand. Let me run the spear through him into the ground with a single blow. I won't need to strike him twice!" 


text:
David told Abishai, "Don't destroy him. Who can raise his hand to strike the Lord's anointed and remain innocent? 


text:
As the Lord lives, the Lord will strike him down, or his time will come to die, or he will go into battle and perish. 


text:
The Lord forbid that I should raise my hand against the Lord's anointed. Now take the spear that is at his head and the jug of water, and let's go." 


text:
So David took the spear and the jug of water at Saul's head, and they left. No one saw, and no one knew, because no one was awake. They were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen over them. 


text:
Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the hill some distance away with a large distance between them. 


text:
David called out to the army <n>{Or the people}</n> and to Ner's son Abner, "Abner, won't you answer me?" Abner answered: "Who are you who calls out to the king?" 


text:
David told Abner, "Are you not a man, and who is like you in Israel? Why didn't you guard your lord, the king? Indeed, a soldier came to destroy the king, your lord. 


text:
This thing that you did is not good. As the Lord lives, you deserve to die, <n>{Lit. you are sons of death; i.e. dead men}</n> you who didn't guard your lord, the Lord's anointed. Where is the king's spear and where is the jug of water that was at his head?" 


text:
Saul recognized David's voice and said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" David replied, "It is my voice, your majesty." <n>{Lit. My lord the king}</n> 


text:
David <n>{Lit. He}</n> said, "Why is your majesty pursuing his servant? For what have I done, and what evil do I bear toward you? 


text:
Now let your majesty <n>{Lit. My lord the king}</n> listen to the words of his servant. If the Lord incited you against me, then may he accept an offering. But if it is people, may they be cursed in the Lord's presence, because they have driven me out today from sharing in the inheritance of the Lord by saying, «Go serve other gods.'


