Thematic Bible: Under the judges


Thematic Bible



And he judged Israel, in the days of the Philistines, twenty years.


And it came to pass, when he mentioned the ark of God, that he fell from off his seat backwards, at the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died, for, old, was the man, and, heavy, - and, he had judged Israel forty years.


And, though Yahweh raised up judges, - who saved them out of the hand of them that plundered them, yet, even unto their judges, did thy not hearken, for they went unchastely astray after other gods, and bowed themselves down to them, - they turned aside speedily out of the way wherein their fathers who hearkened unto the commandments of Yahweh, walked, they did not so. And, when Yahweh raised them up judges, then was Yahweh with the judges, and saved them out of the hand of their enemies, all the days of the judge, - for Yahweh was grieved at their outcry, because of them who oppressed them, and ill-treated them. read more.
But, when the judge was dead, they again broke faith more than their fathers, by going their way after other gods, by serving them, and bowing themselves down to them, - they ceased not from their doings nor from their stubborn way.

And, after these things, he gave them judges, until Samuel the prophet.


and said unto him - Lo! thou, art old, and, thy sons, walk not in thy ways: Now, appoint for us a king to judge us, like all the nations. But the thing was displeasing in the eyes of Samuel, when they said, Give unto us a king to judge us. So Samuel prayed unto Yahweh. And Yahweh said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people, in all that they shall say unto thee, - for, not thee, have they rejected, but, me, have they rejected, from being king over them. read more.
According to all the doings which they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt, even until this day, in that they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so, are they doing even unto thee. Now, therefore, hearken to their voice, - save that thou, enter protest, against them, and tell them the manner of the king who will reign over them. So then Samuel spake all the words of Yahweh unto the people, who were asking of him, a king. And he said, This, will be the manner of the king who will reign over you, - Your sons, will he take and appoint for himself, as his charioteers and as his horsemen, and they shall run before his chariots; and he will appoint for himself, princes of thousands, and princes of fifties, - and to plough his fields, and to reap his harvest, and to make his weapons of war, and the instruments of his chariots; And, your daughters, will he take, - as perfumers and as cooks, and as bakers; And, your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, the best of them, will he take, and give to his servants; And, your seed, and your vineyards, will he tithe, and give to his courtiers and to his servants; And, your men-servants, and your maidservants, and your oxen, even the goodliest, and your asses, will he take, - and put them to his work; Your flocks, will he tithe, - and, ye yourselves, shall become his servants. Then will ye make outcry, in that day, because of your king whom ye have chosen for yourselves, - and Yahweh will not answer you, in that day. But the people refused to hearken unto the voice of Samuel, - and they said - Nay! but, a king, shall be over us: so shall, even we, become like all the nations, - and our king shall judge us, and go forth before us, and fight our battles.

Where is thy king, then, that he may save thee throughout all thy cities? and thy judges, concerning whom thou saidst, Oh give me a king and rulers?


But Manasseh took not possession of Beth-shean and her towns, nor of Taanach and her towns, nor dispossessed the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam, and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo, and her towns, - but the Canaanites were determined to remain in this land; when Israel, however, had waxed strong, they put the Canaanites under tribute, - though they, dispossessed, them not. And, Ephraim, dispossessed not the Canaanites who were dwelling in Gezer, - so the Canaanites remained in their midst, in Gezer. read more.
Zebulun, dispossessed not the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol, - but the Canaanites remained in their midst, and came under tribute. Asher, dispossessed not the inhabitants of Acco, nor the inhabitants of Zidon, - nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor of Rehob; but the Asherites dwelt in the midst of the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land, - for they dispossessed them not. Naphtali, dispossessed not the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh nor the inhabitants of Beth-anath, but they dwelt in the midst of the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land, - and, the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh, and of Beth-anath, became theirs, under tribute. And the Amorites forced the sons of Dan into the hill country, - for they suffered them not to come down into the vale; and, though the Amorites were determined to remain in the hill country of Heres, in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim, yet was the hand of the house of Joseph heavy, so that they came under tribute. And, the boundary of the Amorites, was from the ascent of Akrabbim, from Sela and upwards.

Now, these, are the nations which Yahweh left, that he might, by them, put Israel to the proof, - all who had not known any of the wars of Canaan; that the generations of the sons of Israel might certainly get to know, by being taught to make war, - such, at least, as aforetime knew nothing thereof: - five lords of the Philistines, and all the Canaanites, and the Zidonians, and the Hivites dwelling in Mount Lebanon, - from Mount Baal-hermon as far as the entering in of Hamath. read more.
So then these were left , that, by them, he might put Israel to the proof, - to know whether they would hearken unto the commandments of Yahweh which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses. And thus, the sons of Israel, dwelt in the midst of the Canaanites, - the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites; and took their daughters to be their wives, their own daughters moreover, gave they unto their sons, and they served their gods. Thus did the sons of Israel the thing that was wicked in the sight of Yahweh, and forgat Yahweh their God, - and served the Baals and the Asherahs.


So the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man to his home; and the slaughter became exceeding great, - and there fell of Israel - thirty thousand footmen. And, the ark of God, was taken, - and, the two sons of Eli, were slain, Hophni and Phinehas.

And so it was, when the word of Samuel had reached all Israel, that Israel went forth to meet the Philistines in battle, and they encamped near Eben-ezer, while, the Philistines, encamped in Aphek. And the Philistines set themselves in array to meet Israel, and, when the battle spread, then was Israel smitten before the Philistines, - and there were slain of the army in the field about four thousand men.


And the men of Ephraim said unto him - What is this thing thou hast done to us, in not calling us, when thou wentest to fight with Midian? And they did chide with him, sharply. And he said unto them, What have I done, now, in comparison with you? Is not the grape-gleaning of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer? Into your hand, hath God delivered the princes of Midian - Oreb and Zeeb, what then had I been able to do in comparison with you? Then, was their spirit softened toward him, when he had spoken this word. read more.
And Gideon came towards the Jordan, being about to pass over - he, and the three hundred men who were with him, faint yet pursuing. So he said unto the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of bread to the people that are following me; for, faint, they are, and, I, am in pursuit of Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian. And the princes of Succoth said, Are the palms of the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in thy power, - that we should give to thine army bread? And Gideon said, Therefore, when Yahweh hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into my power, then will I tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness, and with the nettles. So he went up from thence, to Penuel, and spake unto them in like manner, - and the men of Penuel answered him, as had answered the men of Succoth. So he spake to the men of Penuel also, saying, - When I return with success, I will break down this tower. Now, Zebah and Zalmunna, were in Karkor, and their hosts with them, about fifteen thousand, all that were left out of all the host of the sons of the east, - and, the fallen, were a hundred and twenty thousand men, who had drawn the sword. So Gideon went up by the way of the tent-dwellers, on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and smote the host, when, the host, had become secure. And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, then he pursued them, and captured the two kings of Midian - Zebah and Zalmunna, and, all the host, put he in terror. And Gideon son of Joash returned from the battle, - from the ascent of Heres; and caught a young man, of the men of Succoth, and enquired of him, - so he wrote down for him the princes of Succoth, and the elders thereof, seventy-seven men. Then came he in unto the men of Succoth, and said, Lo! Zebah and Zalmunna, - concerning whom ye did taunt me, saying - Are the palms of the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna already in thy power, that we should give to thy weary men bread? So he took the elders of the city, and the thorns of the wilderness and the nettles, and taught therewith the men of Succoth: the tower of Penuel also, brake he down, - and slew the men of the city. Then said he unto Zebah and unto Zalmunna, What manner of men were they, whom ye slew at Tabor? And they said, As thou art, so were they, each one, as handsome as the sons of a king. And he said: My brethren, sons of my mother, they were! As Yahweh liveth, if ye had saved them alive, I would not have slain you. So he said to Jether his firstborn, Up! slay them. But the youth drew not his sword, for he feared, because he was yet a youth. Then said Zebah and Zalmunna - Up! thou, and fall upon us, for, like the man, is his might. So Gideon arose, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took the crescents that were on the necks of their camels. Then said the men of Israel, unto Gideon, Rule over us - even thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, - for thou hast saved us out of the power of Midian. And Gideon said unto them, I, will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you, - Yahweh, shall rule over you. And Gideon said unto them - I would make to you a request, Give me, then, every man the nose-ring of his spoil. For they had, nose-rings of gold, for, Ishmaelites, they were. And they said, We will, freely give. So they spread out a mantle, and cast therein, every man the nose-ring of his spoil. And so it was, that the weight of the nose-rings of gold which he requested, was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold, - besides the crescents, and the pendants, and the raiment of purple that were upon the kings of Midian, and besides the ornaments that were on the necks of their camels. And Gideon made thereof an Ephod, and set it up in his own city, in Ophrah, and all Israel went unchastely astray after it there, - so it became, to Gideon and to his house, a snare. Thus was Midian subdued, before the sons of Israel, neither did they again lift up their head, - and the land had rest forty years, in the days of Gideon.


And the sons of Israel again did the thing that was wicked in the sight of Yahweh, and served the Baals and the Ashtoreths, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the sons of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, - and forsook Yahweh, and served him not. So the anger of Yahweh kindled upon Israel, - and he sold them into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the sons of Ammon; and they enfeebled and oppressed the sons of Israel in that year, - eighteen years, did they this unto all the sons of Israel who were beyond the Jordan, in the land of the Amorites, that was in Gilead. read more.
And the sons of Ammon crossed the Jordan, to fight, even against Judah and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim, - so that Israel was sore distressed. Then did the sons of Israel make outcry unto Yahweh, saying, - We have sinned against thee, because we have forsaken our God, and have served the Baals. Then said Yahweh unto the sons of Israel, - Was it not, from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, and from the sons of Ammon, and from the Philistines, that I saved you ? The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, oppressed you, - and ye made outcry unto me, and I saved you out of their hand. Yet have, ye, forsaken me, and served other gods, - therefore will I not again save you. Go and make outcry unto the gods whom ye have chosen, - they, must save you, in the time of your tribulation. And the sons of Israel said unto Yahweh - We have sinned, do, thou, with us, according to all that is fitting in thine eyes, - only rescue us, we beseech thee this day. And they put away the gods of the stranger out of their midst, and served Yahweh, - and his soul was impatient of the misery of Israel. Now the sons of Ammon were called out, and they encamped in Gilead, - and the sons of Israel assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpah. Then said the people, the princes of Gilead, one to another, Who is the man that will begin to fight against the sons of Ammon? he shall become head to all the inhabitants of Gilead.



And, after him, did Elon the Zebulunite judge Israel, - and he judged Israel, ten years. And Elon the Zebulunite died, and was buried in Aijalon, in the land of Zebulun.


And there judged Israel, after him, Abdon son of Hillel, the Pirathonite. And so it was, he had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy ass colts, - and he judged Israel eight years. And Abdon son of Hillel, the Pirathonite died, - and was buried in Pirathon, in the land of Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites.


And it came to pass that, as soon as Gideon was dead, the sons of Israel turned back, and went unchastely astray after the Baals, - and appointed them Baal-berith, to be god: so the sons of Israel remembered not Yahweh, their own God, - who had rescued them out of the hand of all their enemies, on every side;


All that generation also, were gathered unto their fathers, - and there arose another generation, after them, who had not known Yahweh, nor even the work which he had wrought for Israel. So the sons of Israel did the thing that was wicked in the sight of Yahweh, - and served the Baals; and forsook Yahweh, the God of their fathers, who brought them up out of the land of Egypt, and went after other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were round about them, and bowed themselves down unto them, - and angered Yahweh. read more.
Yea, they forsook Yahweh, - and did service unto the Baal and unto Ashtaroth. Then kindled the anger of Yahweh upon Israel, and he delivered them into the hand of spoilers, who plundered them, - and he sold them into the hand of their enemies round about, so that they could no longer stand before their enemies. Whithersoever they went out, the hand of Yahweh was found to be against them for misfortune, as spake Yahweh, and as sware Yahweh unto them, - and they were distressed exceedingly. And, though Yahweh raised up judges, - who saved them out of the hand of them that plundered them, yet, even unto their judges, did thy not hearken, for they went unchastely astray after other gods, and bowed themselves down to them, - they turned aside speedily out of the way wherein their fathers who hearkened unto the commandments of Yahweh, walked, they did not so. And, when Yahweh raised them up judges, then was Yahweh with the judges, and saved them out of the hand of their enemies, all the days of the judge, - for Yahweh was grieved at their outcry, because of them who oppressed them, and ill-treated them. But, when the judge was dead, they again broke faith more than their fathers, by going their way after other gods, by serving them, and bowing themselves down to them, - they ceased not from their doings nor from their stubborn way. So then the anger of Yahweh kindled upon Israel, and he said - Forasmuch as this nation have transgressed my covenant, which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice, I also, will no further dispossess a man from before them, - from among the nations which Joshua left remaining, when he died; that I may, by them, put Israel to the proof, - whether they are going to be observant of the way of Yahweh, to walk therein as their fathers observed it, or not. Thus then Yahweh left these nations, not dispossessing them speedily, - neither had he delivered them into the hand of Joshua


And the sons of Israel again did the thing that was wicked, in the sight of Yahweh, - and Yahweh emboldened Eglon, king of Moab, against Israel, because they did the thing that was wicked in the sight of Yahweh; and he gathered unto him, the sons of Ammon, and Amalek, - and came and smote Israel, and took possession of the city of palm-trees. So the sons of Israel served Eglon king of Moab, eighteen years. read more.
And the sons of Israel made outcry unto Yahweh, and Yahweh raised up unto them a saviour, Ehud son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man left-handed, - and the sons of Israel sent, by his hand, a present, unto Eglon king of Moab. So Ehud made himself a sword which had two edges, a cubit in length, - and girded it under his raiment, upon his right thigh. So he offered the present unto Eglon, king of Moab, - now, Eglon, was an exceedingly fat man. And so it was, when he had made an end of offering the present, that he sent away the people who had been bearing the present; but, he himself, turned back from the images that were by Gilgal, and said, A secret word, have I, unto thee, O king! And he said - Silence! Thereupon went out from his presence all who had been standing near him. And, Ehud, came in unto him, he, having been sitting in a summer parlour, which he had for himself, alone, and Ehud said, A divine word, have I, unto thee. So he arose from off his seat. And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the sword from off his right thigh, - and thrust it into his body; and, the handle also, went in after the blade, and the flesh closed upon the blade, for he withdrew not the sword out of his body, - and he came out into the ante-chamber. And, when Ehud came out into the porch, he closed the doors of the parlour upon him, and bolted them. When, he, had come out, his servants, went in, and looked, and lo! the doors of the parlour were bolted, - so they said, Surely he covereth his feet, in the summer chamber. But, though they tarried a long time, yet lo! he opened not the doors of the parlour, - so they took the key, and opened them , when lo! their lord, fallen to the ground dead. But, Ehud, escaped while they delayed, - yea, he, passed the images, and escaped into Seirah. And so it was, when he came, that he blew with a horn, throughout the hill country of Ephraim, - and the sons of Israel came down with him, out of the hill country, he, being before them. And he said unto them - Come down after me, for Yahweh hath delivered your enemies, the Moabites, into your hand. So they came down after him, and captured the fords of the Jordan, towards Moab, and suffered not a man to pass over. And they smote of Moab, at that time, about ten thousand men, every one a mighty man, and every one a man of valour, - and, there escaped not a man. And Moab was subdued on that day, under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest eighty years, and Ehud judged them until his death.


And there judged Israel, after him, Ibzan of Bethlehem. And so it was, he had thirty sons, and, thirty daughters, sent he abroad, while, thirty daughters, brought he from abroad for his sons. And he judged Israel seven years. And Ibzan died, and was buried in Bethlehem.


And there arose, after Abimelech, to save Israel - Tola son of Puah son of Dodo, a man of Issachar, - and, he, used to sit in Shamir, in the hill country of Ephraim; and he judged Israel, twenty-three years, - and died, and was buried in Shamir.


Then kindled the anger of Yahweh upon Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Chushan-rishathaim, king of Mesopotamia, - and the sons of Israel served Chushan-rishathaim, eight years. And the sons of Israel made outcry unto Yahweh, so Yahweh raised up a saviour unto the sons of Israel, who saved them, - even Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother. And the Spirit of Yahweh came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war, and Yahweh delivered into his hand, Chushan-rishathaim, king of Syria, - and his hand prevailed over Chushan-rishathaim. read more.
And the land had rest forty years, - and Othniel son of Kenaz, died.


And there arose, after him, Jair the Gileadite, - and judged Israel twenty-two years. Now he had thirty sons, that rode on thirty ass colts, and they had, thirty cities, - they are called Havvoth-jair, until this day, which are in the land of Gilead.


And the men of Ephraim were called together, and passed over northward, - and said unto Jephthah - Wherefore didst thou pass over to do battle with the sons of Ammon, and, for us, didst not call, to go with thee? Thy house, will we consume over thee with fire. And Jephthah said unto them, Great strife, had, I and my people, even with the sons of Ammon; but, when I cried unto you for help, ye saved me not out of their hand. So, when I saw that thou wast not going to save, then put I my life in my hand, and passed over against the sons of Ammon, and Yahweh delivered them into my hand. Wherefore, then, have ye come up against me this day, to fight against me? read more.
And Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead, and fought with Ephraim, - and the men of Gilead smote Ephraim, because they said - Fugitives of Ephraim, are, ye, O ye Gileadites, in the midst of Ephraim, in the midst of Manasseh. And the Gileadites captured the fords of the Jordan, against the Ephraimites, - and so it was, that, when the fugitives of Ephraim said, Let me pass over, the men of Gilead said to him, An Ephraimite, art thou? and, if he said - Nay! they said to him, Come now, say Shibboleth, and, if he said Sibboleth, and he could not take heed to speak in that manner, then laid they hold on him, and slew him at the fords of the Jordan, - and there fell, at that time, of the Ephraimites, forty-two thousand. And, when Jephthah had judged Israel six years, then Jephthah the Gileadite died, and was buried in one of the cities of Gilead.


And the messenger of Yahweh came up from Gilgal, unto Bochim. And he said - I led you up out of Egypt, and brought you into the land, which I had sworn unto your fathers, And I said, I will not break my covenant with you, to times age-abiding; But, ye, must not solemnise a covenant with the inhabitants of this land, Their altars, must ye tear down, - But ye have not hearkened unto my voice, what is this ye have done? Wherefore also I said, I will not drive them out from before you, - but they shall be your adversaries, and, their gods, shall become unto you a snare. read more.
And it came to pass, when the messenger of Yahweh had spoken these words unto all the sons of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept. So they called the name of that place, Bochim, and offered sacrifice there, unto Yahweh.


And the sons of Israel again did the thing that was wicked in the sight of Yahweh, - when, Ehud, was dead. So Yahweh sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor, - now, the prince of his host, was Sisera, and, he, dwelt in Harosheth of the nations. And the sons of Israel made outcry unto Yahweh, - for he had, nine hundred chariots of iron, and, he, oppressed the sons of Israel heavily, twenty years.


And the sons of Israel again did the thing that was wicked in the sight of Yahweh, - so Yahweh delivered them up into the hand of the Philistines, forty years.



And, after him, was Shamgar, son of Anath, who smote of the Philistines, six hundred men, with an ox-goad, - and, he also, saved Israel.