Thematic Bible: Judge


Thematic Bible



And after him, Abdon the son of Hillel a Pirathonite judged Israel. And he had forty sons, and thirty nephews that rode on thirty ass colts. And when Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite had judged Israel eight years, he died and was buried in Pirathon, the land of Ephraim in the mount of the Amalekites.


And what shall I more say? The time would be too short for me to tell of Gideon, of Barach, and of Samson, and of Jephthah. Also of David and Samuel, and of the prophets,



I testify therefore before God, and before the Lord Jesus Christ, which shall judge quick and dead at his appearing in his kingdom:






But why doest thou then judge thy brother? Other why dost thou despise thy brother? We shall all be brought before the judgment seat of Christ.



After this man, one Ibozan of Bethlehem judged Israel; and he had thirty sons and thirty daughters, and sent also his thirty daughters out; and took thirty others in, for his sons. And when Ibozan had judged Israel seven years, he died and was buried at Bethlehem.


And after him arose Jair a Gileadite, which judged Israel twenty two years. And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts, and had thirty cities for them, which are called the towns of Jair unto this day, and are in the land of Gilead. And Jair died, and was buried in Kamon.





I testify therefore before God, and before the Lord Jesus Christ, which shall judge quick and dead at his appearing in his kingdom:






But why doest thou then judge thy brother? Other why dost thou despise thy brother? We shall all be brought before the judgment seat of Christ.




And I saw the dead, both great and small, stand before God: And the books were opened, and another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged of those things which were written in the books according to their deeds.

Therefore shall her plagues come at one day; death, and sorrow, and hunger, and she shall be burnt with fire: for strong is the Lord God which judgeth her.

That be far from thee, that thou shouldest do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked, and that the righteous should be as the wicked: that be far from thee. Should not the Judge of all the world do according to right?"

So that men shall say, "Verily there is a reward for the righteous! Doubtless, there is a God that judgeth the earth!"

And why? God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.

for he cometh to judge the earth: yea with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with his truth. {TYNDALE: For he cometh to judge the earth. Thank the LORD for he is good, and his mercy lasteth ever.}

Then thought I in my mind, "God shall separate the righteous from the ungodly, and then shall be the time and judgment of all counsels and works."


Then came there two women that were harlots unto the king and stood before him. And the one of them said, "Oh my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house. And I was delivered of a child with her in the said house. And the third day after that I was delivered, she was delivered also: we two being together and no stranger with us in the house save we two alone. read more.
And this woman's child died in a night, for she had overlaid it. And then she arose at midnight and took my son from my side, while thine handmaid slept and laid it in her bosom, and put her dead child in my bosom. And when I rose up in the morning to give my child suck: see, it was dead. But when I had looked more diligently upon it in the morning: Behold, it was not my son which I did bear." And the other woman said, "It is not so: But the living is my son, and the dead thine." And she said again, "Thou sayest untrue, for the dead is thy son, and the living mine." And thus they pleaded before the king. Then said the king, "The one sayeth, 'This that is alive is my son, and the dead is thine.' And the other sayeth, 'Nay: But thy son is the dead and the live child is mine.'" Then said the king, "Bring me a sword." And they brought a sword before the king. And then the king said, "Divide the living child in two, and give the one half to the one, and the other to the other." Then spake the woman whose son lived, unto the king - for her motherly heart was kindled with pity over her son - and said, "I beseech thee, my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it." And the other said, "It shall be neither mine nor thine, but divide it." Then the king answered and said, "Give her the living child and slay it not, for she is the mother thereof." And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged and feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to do justice.


Then spake Elisha unto the woman whose son he had restored to life again, saying, "Up, and go both thou and thine house, and sojourn where thou thinkest best, for the LORD will call a dearth which shall come on the land seven years." And the woman arose and did after the saying of the man of God, and went both she and her household and sojourned in the land of the Philistines seven years. And at the seven years' end, when the woman was come again out of the land of the Philistines she went out to speak to the king for her house and for her land. read more.
And the king was talking with Gehazi, the servant to the man of God, saying, "Tell me I pray thee, all the great deeds which Elisha did." And it chanced, as he was telling the king how he restored a dead body to life again, that the woman whose son he revived, cried to the king for her house and her land. Then said Gehazi, "My lord king, this is the woman and this is her son which Elisha brought to life again." And the king asked the woman, and she told him. And so the king sent with her one of his chamberlains saying, "Restore all that pertaineth to her, with all the fruits of the field, since the day she left the land, unto this time."

And thereto he used to rise up early in the mornings and to stand by the wayside that led to the gate of the city. And all the men of Israel that had complaints and came to the king for judgment, he called unto him, and said, "Of what city art thou?" And when the other answered, "thy servant is of such a tribe of Israel,"

And blessed be the LORD thy God which had a lust to thee, to set thee on the seat of Israel, because the LORD loved Israel for ever, and therefore made thee king, to do equity and righteousness."

{Of Solomon} Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son. Then shall he judge thy people according unto right, and defend the poor. The mountains also shall bring peace, and the little hills righteousness unto the people. read more.
He shall keep the simple folk by their right, defend the children of the poor, and punish the wrongdoer.

Jesus stood before the deputy, and the deputy asked him, saying, "Art thou the King of the Jews?" Jesus said unto him, "Thou sayest." And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then said Pilate unto him, "Hearest thou not how many things they lay against thee?" read more.
And he answered him to never a word: insomuch that the deputy marveled greatly. At that feast, the deputy was wont to deliver unto the people a prisoner whom they would desire. He had then a notable prisoner called Barabbas. And when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, "Whether will ye that I give loose unto you: Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?" For he knew well, that for envy they had delivered him. When he was set down to give judgment, his wife sent to him, saying, "Have thou nothing to do with that just man, I have suffered many things this day in a dream about him." But the chief priests and the elders had persuaded the people, that they should ask Barabbas, and should destroy Jesus. Then the deputy answered and said unto them, "Whether of the twain will ye that I let loose unto you?" And they said, "Barabbas." Pilate said unto them, "What shall I do then with Jesus, which is called Christ?" They all said to him, "Let him be crucified." Then said the deputy, "What evil hath he done?" And they cried the more saying, "Let him be crucified." When Pilate saw that he prevailed nothing, but that more business was made, he took water and washed his hands before the people saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this righteous person: see ye thereto." Then answered all the people, and said, "His blood be on us, and on our children." Then let he Barabbas loose unto them, and scourged Jesus, and delivered him to be crucified.

When the deputy had read the letter, he asked of what country he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia, "I will hear thee," said he, "when thine accusers are come also." And commanded him to be kept in Herod's palace.

If I have hurt them, or committed anything worthy of death, I refuse not to die. If none of these things are, whereof they accuse me, no man ought to deliver me to them. I appeal unto Caesar." Then spake Festus with deliberation, and answered, "Thou hast appealed unto Caesar: unto Caesar shalt thou go."


and go unto the priests the Levites, and unto the judge that shall be in those days, and ask, and they shall show thee how to judge.

And they took Jesus and led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. And Peter followed him afar off, unto the high priest's place: and went in, and sat with the servants to see the end. The chief priests, and the elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, for to put him to death, read more.
but found none: insomuch that when many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses, and said, "This fellow said, I can destroy the temple of God, and build the it again in three days." And the chief priest arose, and said to him, "Answerest thou nothing? How is it that these bear witness against thee?"

Moreover in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites and of the priests and of the ancient heads of Israel, over the customs of the LORD and causes of strife. And then they returned again to Jerusalem.

They shall show my people the difference between the holy and unholy, betwixt the clean and unclean. If any discord arise, they shall discern it, and give sentence after my judgments. My solemn feasts, my laws and ordinances shall they keep, and hallow my Sabbaths.


When Pilate saw that he prevailed nothing, but that more business was made, he took water and washed his hands before the people saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this righteous person: see ye thereto."


And they smote him on the head with a reed, and spat upon him, and kneeled down and worshipped him. And when they had mocked him, they took the purple off him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out, to crucify him. And they compelled one that passed by, called Simon of Cyrene, which came out of the field, and was father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross. read more.
And they brought him to a place named Golgotha: which is, by interpretation, the place of dead men's skulls. And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh, but he received it not. And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots for them, what every man should have.


Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hands of their oppressors, and yet for all that they would not hearken unto their judges: But went a whoring after strange gods and bowed themselves unto them, and turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in obeying the commandments of the LORD, and did not so. And when the LORD raised up judges unto them, the LORD was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hands of their enemies all the days of the judge: for the LORD had compassion over their sorrowings which they had by the reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them. read more.
Yet for all that, as soon as the judge was dead they turned and did worse than their fathers in following strange gods, and in serving them, and ceased not from their inventions nor from their malicious ways.

And afterward he gave unto them judges, about the space of four hundred and fifty years, unto the time of Samuel the prophet.


Eli was very old and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel, and how they slept with the women that waited in the door of the tabernacle of witness, and said unto them, "Why do ye such things? For I hear your wicked deeds of all these people. Oh, nay my sons: For it is no good report that I hear how that ye make the LORD's people to trespass. read more.
If one man sin against another, the judge can redress it. But if a man sin against the LORD, who can redress it?" Notwithstanding, they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, for the LORD's will was to slay them.

But the sons of Eli were unthrifty children, and knew not the LORD. For the manner of the priests with the people was: whensoever any man offered any offerings, the priest's lad came, while the flesh was in seething, and a flesh hook with three teeth in his hand; and thrust it into the pan, kettle, cauldron or pot. And all that the flesh hook brought up the priest took away. And so they did unto all Israel that came thither to Shiloh. read more.
Yea, and thereto before they had offered the fat, the priest's lad came and said to the man that offered, "Give flesh to roast for the priest, for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw." And if any man said unto him, "Let the fat be offered according to the day, and then take as much as thine heart desireth." The lad would answer him, "Thou shalt give it me now, or else I will take it with violence." And the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD. For they despised the people, and also the offering of the LORD.



And the Angel of the LORD came and sat under an oak in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the father of the Abiezrites. And his son Gideon pressed out wheat out of the ears in a press, for to flee from the Midianites. And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said, "The LORD is with thee, thou man of might." And Gideon answered him, "Oh my Lord; if the LORD be with us, why is all this come upon us? Yea, and where be his miracles which our fathers told us of and said, 'The LORD brought us out of Egypt'? But now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites." read more.
And the LORD looked upon him and said, "Go hence in this thy might and deliver Israel out of the hands of the Midianites: Behold, I have sent thee." And he answered him, "Oh Lord, wherewith should I save Israel? Behold my kindred is the poorest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house." But then the LORD said unto him, "I will be with thee: and thou shalt smite the Midianites, as they were but one man." And he answered him, "If I have found grace in thy sight, then show me a sign, that thou art the LORD that talketh with me. Depart not hence until I come again unto thee and bring mine offering, and have set it before thee." And he said, "I will tarry until thou come again." And Gideon went and made ready a kid, and sweet cakes of an Ephah of flour, and put the flesh in a basket and the broth in a pot, and brought it out unto him under the oak and presented it. And the angel of God said unto him, "Take the flesh and the sweet cakes and put them upon this rock, and pour out the broth." And he did so. Then the angel of the LORD put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand and touched the flesh and the cakes. And there arose up fire out of the rock and consumed the flesh and the cakes. And the angel of the LORD vanished out of his sight. And when Gideon perceived that it was an angel, he said, "Alas my Lord Jehovah, that I have seen an angel of the LORD face to face." And the LORD said unto him, peace be with thee and fear not, for thou shalt not die. Then Gideon made an altar there unto the LORD and called it Jehovah Shalom; The LORD is the Peace. Which unto this day is yet in Ophrah that pertaineth unto the father of the Abiezrites. And the same night the LORD said unto him, "Take an ox of thy father's and another of seven years old, and destroy the altar of Baal that belongeth unto thy father, and cut down the grove that is about it, and make an altar unto the LORD thy God upon the top of this rock and furnish it. And take the second ox and offer burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove, which thou shalt have cut down." Then Gideon took ten men of his servants and did as the LORD bade him. But because he durst not do it by day for fear of his father's household and of the men of the city, he did it by night. When the men of the city were up early in the morning: Behold the altar of Baal was broken, and the grove that stood about it cut down. And the second ox offered upon the altar that was made. And they said one to another, "Who hath done this thing?" And they enquired and asked. And it was told them that Gideon the son of Joash had done it. Then the men of the city said unto Joash, "Bring out thy son that he may die, because he hath broken the altar of Baal, and cut down the grove that was about it." And Joash said unto all that stood by him, "Will ye fight for Baal, or will ye be his defenders? He that striveth for him shall die this morning. If he be a god, let him strive with him that cast down his altar!" And he called Gideon "Jerubbaal" the same time, saying "Let Baal strive with him because he hath broken down his altar." When all the Midianites, the Amalekites and they of the east were gathered together and had gone and pitched in the valley of Jezreel, the spirit of the LORD entered into Gideon. And he blew a trumpet, and called Abiezer to follow him; and sent messengers throughout all Manasseh and called them up to follow him also. And he sent messengers unto Asher, Zebulun and Naphtali, which came also to meet him. And Gideon said unto God, "If thou wilt save Israel by my hand as thou hast said: Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the threshing place. And if the dew be on the fleece only, and dry upon all the earth beside: then I shall be sure that thou wilt save Israel by my hand as thou saidest." And it came to pass. And he rose up early on the morrow, and he thrust the fleece together and wrung the dew thereout and filled a bowl of water. And Gideon said unto God, "Be not angry with me, that I speak once more; let me prove only once again with the fleece. Let it be dry only upon the fleece, and dew upon all the ground about." And God did so that same night: so that it was dry upon the fleece only, and on all the ground about, dew.


And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water and poured it out before the LORD and fasted the same day, and said there, "We have sinned against the LORD." And Samuel judged the causes of the children of Israel in Mizpeh.

And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life, and went about year by year, to Bethel, Gilgal and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places, and came again to Ramah: for there was his house, and there he judged Israel, and there he built an altar unto the LORD.


And the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and went northward, and said unto Jephthah, "Wherefore wentest thou to fight with the children of Ammon, and didst not call us to go with thee? We will therefore burn thine house upon thee with fire." And Jephthah said unto them, "I and my people were at great strife with the children of Ammon. And I called you. But ye delivered me not out of their hands. And when I saw that ye delivered me not, I put my life in my hands and went upon the children of Ammon. And the LORD delivered them into my hands. Wherefore then are ye come upon me to fight with me?" read more.
And Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead, and fought with the Ephraimites. And the men of Gilead smote the Ephraimites, because they said, "Ye Gileadites are but renegades of Ephraim among the Ephraimites and the Manassites!" Moreover, the men of Gilead took the passages of Jordan from the Ephraimites. And when those Ephraimites that were escaped said, "Let us go over," then the men of Gilead said unto them, "Ye are Ephraimites." And they said, "Nay." Then the other answered, "Then say, 'Shibboleth.'" And they said, "Syboleth" - and could not so pronounce. Whereupon the others took them and slew them at the passages of Jordan. And there were overthrown at that time, of the Ephraimites, forty two thousand. And when Jephthah had judged Israel six years, he died and was buried in one of the cities of Gilead.


And she wrote a letter in Ahab's name and sealed it with his seal, and sent it unto the elders and chief men of his city that dwelt where Naboth dwelt. And she wrote in the letter, saying, "Proclaim fasting and set Naboth on high among the people, and set two unthrifties before him, and let them testify against him, saying, 'Thou didst curse both God and the king.' And upon that carry him out and stone him to death." read more.
And the elders and nobles of his city, which dwelt in his city, did as Jezebel had sent unto them, and as it was written in the letter which she had sent unto them. They proclaimed fasting, and set Naboth on high among the people, and there came in two unthrifty persons and sat before him. And the two unthrifty persons witnessed against Naboth before the people, saying, "Naboth did curse God and the king." And upon that they carried him out of the city and stoned him with stones to death.


He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul that he might loose him, wherefore he called him the oftener, and communed with him. But after two years came Festus Porcius into Felix's room: and Felix, willing to show the Jews a pleasure, left Paul in prison bound.


And after him, Abdon the son of Hillel a Pirathonite judged Israel. And he had forty sons, and thirty nephews that rode on thirty ass colts.


And after him, Elon a Zebulunite judged Israel ten years, and he died and was buried in Aijalon, in the country of Zebulun.


After this man, one Ibozan of Bethlehem judged Israel; and he had thirty sons and thirty daughters, and sent also his thirty daughters out; and took thirty others in, for his sons. And when Ibozan had judged Israel seven years, he died and was buried at Bethlehem.


And then they cried unto the LORD. And the LORD stirred them up a saver, Ehud the son of Gera, the son of Jemini, a man that could do nothing handsomely with his right hand. And when the children of Israel sent a present by him unto Eglon the king of the Moabites, Ehud made him a two-edged dagger of a span long, and girded it under his garment upon his right thigh; and brought the present unto Eglon the king of the Moabites. As for Eglon, he was a very fat man. read more.
And when he had delivered the present, he let the people go that had carried the present, and he himself turned back from the idols at Gilgal, and caused to say thus: "I have a secret thing to tell thee, O king." And the king commanded to keep silence, and all they that stood about him went out from him. And Ehud came in unto him in a summer parlor, of which he had several unto himself alone, and said, "I have a message unto thee from God." And he arose out of his seat. And Ehud put forth his left hand and took the dagger from his right thigh and thrust it into his belly, so that the hilt went in also, and the fat closed upon the hilt: for he drew not the dagger out of his belly. And filthiness departed from him. But Ehud gat him out at the back door, and put to the door after him, and locked it. When he was gone out, his servants came and looked. And behold, the doors of the parlor were locked. And they said, "Ah, he is doing of his easement in his summer chamber." And when they had tarried till they were ashamed, for no man did the doors of the parlor open: then they took a key and opened them. And behold, their lord was fallen down dead upon the earth. But Ehud escaped while they tarried, and was gone beyond the idols and escaped into Seirah. And when he was come, he blew a trumpet in mount Ephraim. And the children of Israel went down with him off the hill and he before them. And he said unto them, "Follow me: for the LORD hath delivered your enemies, the Moabites into your hands." And they descended after him and took the passages of Jordan from the Moabites, and suffered not a man to pass over. And they slew of the Moabites, the same time, upon a ten thousand men, all nobles, and men of might: that there escaped not a man, and so the Moabites were subdued that day, under the hands of Israel: and the land had rest eighty years.


Then Samuel was old, he made his sons judges over Israel. The name of his eldest son was Joel, and the name of the second Abiah, which were judges in Beersheba. Nevertheless, his sons followed not his steps: but turned aside after lucre and took rewards, and perverted the right. read more.
Then all the elders of Israel gathered them together and came to Samuel unto Ramah, and said unto him, "Behold, thou art old and thy sons follow not thy ways. Now, therefore, make us a king to judge us, as all other nations have."


Then Samuel was old, he made his sons judges over Israel. The name of his eldest son was Joel, and the name of the second Abiah, which were judges in Beersheba. Nevertheless, his sons followed not his steps: but turned aside after lucre and took rewards, and perverted the right. read more.
Then all the elders of Israel gathered them together and came to Samuel unto Ramah, and said unto him, "Behold, thou art old and thy sons follow not thy ways. Now, therefore, make us a king to judge us, as all other nations have."


For Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem, unto his mother's brethren, and communed with them and with all his mother's father's kindred, saying, "Say, I pray you, in the ears of all the inhabiters of Shechem: whether is better for you that all the sons of Jerubbaal which are seventy persons reign over you, either that one reign over you. And remember thereto, that I am your bones and your flesh." And his mother's brethren rehearsed of him in the audience of all the citizens of Shechem, all these words, and moved their hearts to follow Abimelech, in that they said how he was their brother. read more.
And they gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baalberith, with which Abimelech hired vain and light persons which went with him. And they went unto his father's house at Ophrah, and slew all his brethren, the sons of Jerubbaal, even seventy persons upon one stone. Notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal escaped, for he hid himself. And all the citizens of Shechem gathered together with all the house of Mello, and went and made Abimelech king at a certain oak that was by Shechem. And when it was told Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lift up his voice and called, and said unto them, "Hearken unto me you citizens of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you. The trees went to anoint a king over them, and said unto the olive tree, 'Reign over us.' But the olive tree said unto them, 'Should I leave my fatness which both God and man praiseth in me, and go to be promoted over the trees?' Then said the trees to the fig tree, 'Come thou and be king over us.' And the fig tree answered them, 'Should I forsake my sweetness and my good fruit, and should go to be promoted over the trees?' Then said the trees unto the vine, 'Come thou and be king over us.' And the vine answered, 'Should I leave my wine that cheereth both God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?' Then said all the trees unto the furze-bush, 'Come thou and reign over us.' And the furze bush said unto the trees, "If it will be true that ye will anoint me king over you, then come and rest under my shadow, and ye shall see that a fire shall come out of the furze-bush and waste the cypress trees of Lebanon!' And even so, now: if ye have done truly and uncorruptly to make Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands, - forasmuch as my father fought for you and adventured his life, and rid you out of the hands of the Midianites - and ye are risen up against my father's house this day. And have slain his children, even seventy persons upon one stone and have made Abimelech - the son of his maidservant - king over the citizens of Shechem, because he is your brother. If, then, ye have dealt purely and truly with Jerubbaal and with his house this day: then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you. But, if ye have not dealt truly, then I pray God a fire may come out of Abimelech and consume the citizens of Shechem and the house of Mello. And that there come a fire out of the citizens of Shechem, and out of the house of Mello and consume Abimelech." And Jotham ran away and fled and went to Beer and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother. When Abimelech had reigned three years, God sent a hate between Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem. And the citizens of Shechem railed upon Abimelech, and wished that the wickedness done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come on him, and laid the blood of them unto Abimelech their brother which slew them, and unto the other citizens of Shechem which aided him in the killing of his brethren. And the citizens of Shechem set men to lay await for him in the top of the mountains, which men robbed all that came along the way by them. And it was told Abimelech. And Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren went and gat them to Shechem. And the men of Shechem put their confidence in him. And they went out into the fields and gathered in their grapes and trod them and made merry: and went into the house of their God, and did eat and drink and cursed Abimelech. And Gaal the son of Ebed said, "What is Abimelech, and what is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal, and Zebul is his officer? Serve such as come of Hamor the father of Shechem. For what reason is it that we should serve him? Would God this people were under my hand, then I would take Abimelech out of the way." And one said unto Abimelech, "Make thine host greater and go out." And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Abed, he was wroth, and sent messengers unto Abimelech privily saying, "Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren be come to Shechem: and behold they set the city against thee. Now, therefore, up by night, both thou and all the people that is with thee, and lie in wait in the fields. And rise early in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, and come upon the city. And when he and the people that is with him come out against thee, do to him what thine hands shall be able." And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night. And they laid await to the city in four companies. And Gaal the son of Ebed went out and stood in the entering of the gate of the city. And Abimelech rose up and the folk that were with him, from lying await. And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, "Behold, there come people down from the top of the mountains." And Zebul said unto him, "The shadow of the hills seem men unto thee." And Gaal answered again and said, "See, there come folk down by the middle of the land and another company come along by the charmer's oak." Then said Zebul unto him, "Where is now thy mouth that said, 'What fellow is Abimelech, that we should serve him?' These are the people that thou so despisest. Go out now a fellowship and fight with them." And Gaal went out before the citizens of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech. And Abimelech chased him that he fled before him and many were overthrown and slain, even until they came unto the entering of the gate. And then Abimelech went and dwelt at Arumah. And then Zebul thrust out Gaal and his brethren, and would not suffer them to dwell in Shechem. And on the morrow the people went out into the field. And it was told Abimelech. And he took his people and divided them into three companies and lay await in the fields. And when he saw that the people were come out of the city, he ran upon them and laid upon them. And Abimelech, and the companies that were with him, ran and stood in the entering of the gate of the city. And the two other companies ran upon all the people that were in the fields and slew them. And then Abimelech fought against the city all that day, and took it, and slew the people that were therein, and destroyed the city and sowed salt in the place. And when all the men of the town of Shechem heard that, they entered into a stronghold of the house of their god Baalberith. And when it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together, he gat him to mount Zalmon, both he and all that were with him, and took axes with him and cut down an arm of a tree, and took it up, and put it on his shoulder, and said unto the folk that were with him, "Whatsoever ye see me do: speed yourselves and do likewise." And all the people cut down also every man a bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them into the hold, and set the hold a fire upon them: so that all the men of the tower of Shechem were slain, upon a thousand persons what of men and women together. Then went Abimelech to Thebez and besieged it and took it. But there was a strong tower in the midst of the city, and thither ran all the men and women and all the citizens of the city and shut it to them, and got them up upon the top of the tower. Then came Abimelech unto the tower and fought against it, and went hard unto the entering of the gate, to set it on fire. But a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon his head and all to break his brainpan. Then Abimelech called hastily unto the young man that bare his harness, and said unto him, "Draw thy sword and slay me, that men say not of me, 'A woman slew him.'" And his lad thrust him through and he died.


And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD. And the LORD stirred them up a saver and saved them: one Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother. And the spirit of the LORD came upon him. And he judged Israel, and went out to war. And the LORD sold Cushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand. So that his hand was mighty over Cushanrishathaim. And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died.


And after him arose Jair a Gileadite, which judged Israel twenty two years. And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts, and had thirty cities for them, which are called the towns of Jair unto this day, and are in the land of Gilead. And Jair died, and was buried in Kamon.


After Abimelech there arose, to defend Israel, one Tola, the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar, which dwelt in Shamir in mount Ephraim. And he judged Israel twenty three years, and then died and was buried in Shamir.


And when he made mention of the ark of God, Eli fell from off his stool backward toward the gate, and his neck brake, and he died: for he was old and unwieldy. And he had judged Israel forty years.


But thou Ezra - after the wisdom of thy God that is in thy hand - set thou judges and arbiters, to judge all the people that is beyond the Jordan, even all such as know the law of thy God: and them that know it not, those see that ye teach.


and went about year by year, to Bethel, Gilgal and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places, and came again to Ramah:



And after him came Shamgar the son of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an oxgoad, and delivered Israel also.


And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth judged Israel the same time,


That be far from thee, that thou shouldest do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked, and that the righteous should be as the wicked: that be far from thee. Should not the Judge of all the world do according to right?"


And after him came Shamgar the son of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an oxgoad, and delivered Israel also.


And then his brethren and all the house of his father came down and took him up, and brought him and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol, in the burying place of Manoah his father. And he judged Israel twenty years.


And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life, and went about year by year, to Bethel, Gilgal and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places, and came again to Ramah: for there was his house, and there he judged Israel, and there he built an altar unto the LORD.


Our God shall come, and not keep silence: there shall go before him a consuming fire, and a mighty tempest shall be stirred up round about him. He shall call the heavens from above, and the earth, that he may judge his people.


And after him came Shamgar the son of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an oxgoad, and delivered Israel also.

In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath and in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied. And they that walked by paths, went by ways that set compasses about.


After Abimelech there arose, to defend Israel, one Tola, the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar, which dwelt in Shamir in mount Ephraim. And he judged Israel twenty three years, and then died and was buried in Shamir.