catch thy captors, O son of Abinoam.

Then the forsaken ruled over the mighty men: the LORD hath ruled by me over the mighty.

Out of Ephraim was their root against Amalek, and after thee, Benjamin, among thy people.
From Machir came regents, and from Zebulun were regents by the pen.

And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah. And Issachar was as Barak in the bottom, sent with his footmen. Reuben held up from him, and separated himself from us.

Why dost thou tarry among the hurdles, hearing the bleating of the flock, and thinkest thyself great, and separatest thyself from us?

And Gilead dwelt beyond Jordan. And why dwelt Dan among the ships? Asher sat at the ford of the sea, and abode in his torn spots.

And Zebulun’s people ventured their souls unto death; Naphtali also, in the height of the field.

And the kings came and fought: and the kings of the -canaanites fought at Taanah, by the waters of Megiddo; but they brought no profit.

They fought against them out of heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sissera.

The brook Kison rolled them, the brook Kedumim, the brook Kison. Tread, my soul, upon the strong!

Then the horses’ feet rattled at the trembling of their mighty riders.

Curse the city of Meros, said the angel of the LORD; curse her inhabitants, because they came not to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD to the mighty.

Blessed is Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite among the women: blessed is she in the tabernacle among the women.

She gave milk when he asked for water, and butter she offered in a glorious dish.

And she took hold of the nail with her hand, and of the smith’s hammer with her right hand; and smote Sissera through his head, and bruised and pierced his sleep.

He bowed himself at her feet, and fell down, and lay down: he bowed himself, and fell down at her feet: as he bowed himself, so he lay corrupt.

And the mother of Sissera looked out at the window, and cried through the lattice, Why doth his chariot pine, that he cometh not? How do the wheels of his chariots remain so backward?

The wisest of his wives answered, because she kept repeating her words of lamentation: 30. Shall they not then find and divide the spoil, every man a mead or two for a spoil, and Sissera multicolored embroidered garments for a spoil, embroidered multicolored garments about the neck for a spoil?

So perish, O LORD, all thine enemies. But they that love him shall be as the sun riseth in his strength. And the land was quiet forty years.
(Judges)
Chapter 6
Gideon appointed judge.

And when the children of Israel had done evil in the sight of the LORD, the LORD delivered them into the hand of the Midianites seven years.

And it came to pass, when the hand of Midian was strong upon Israel, that the children of Israel made for themselves clefts in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds.

And it came to pass, when Israel sowed any seed, that the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east came up against them;

And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the land, even unto Gaza: and they left no remnant of food in Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass.

For they came up with their cattle and their tents, as a great multitude of locusts, that neither they nor their camels could be numbered: and they fell into the land, and destroyed it.

So Israel was very small before the Midianites. Then cried the children of Israel unto the LORD.

And they cried unto the LORD because of the Midianites,

And the LORD sent unto them a prophet, which said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought you up out of Egypt, and brought you out of the house of bondage; 9. And I have delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of all the hand that oppressed you, and have thrust them out from before you, and have given you their land.

And said unto you: I am the LORD your God; not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell. And ye have not hearkened unto my voice:

And an angel of the LORD came and sat under an oak tree in Ophrah, which was Joash the father of the Ezrites: and Gideon his son threshed wheat at the winepress, that it might flee before the Midianites.

And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD be with thee, thou valiant man.

And Gideon said unto him, My lord, is the LORD with us? why then have all these things befallen us? And where are all his wonders, which our fathers told us, saying: The LORD
brought us up out of Egypt? But now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hand of Midian.

And the LORD turned unto him, and said, Go in this thy strength, and deliver Israel out of
the hand of the Midianites. Behold, I have sent thee.

And he said unto him, My lord, wherewith shall I redeem Israel? Behold, my friendship is the least in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.

And the LORD said unto him, I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.

And he said unto him, If I have found grace in thy sight, make me a sign that thou art he which speaketh unto me.

Depart not, till I come unto thee, and bring my meat offering, which I leave before thee. And he said: I will tarry until thou come again;

And Gideon came and slew a kid of the goats, and took an ephah of unleavened flour, and put the flesh in a basket, and put the broth in a pot, and brought it out unto him under the oak, and stood by.

And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh, and the unleavened meat, and leave it upon the rock that is here, and pour out the broth. And he did so.

And the angel of the LORD put forth the rod that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened flour with the point thereof. And the fire came out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened flour. And the angel of the LORD departed out of his sight.

And when Gideon saw that it was an angel of the LORD, he said, O LORD, LORD, have I thus seen an angel of the LORD face to face?

But the LORD said unto him, Peace be unto thee. Fear not; thou shalt not die.

And Gideon built there an altar unto the LORD, and called it, The LORD of peace. And it standeth unto this day in Ophrah, the father of the Ezrites.

And the same night the LORD said unto him, Take the bullock of thy father’s oxen, and another bullock of seven years old, and break down the altar of Baal which is thy father’s, and cut down the grove that is by it;

And thou shalt build an altar unto the LORD thy God upon the top of this rock, and prepare it: and take the other bullock, and offer a burnt offering with the wood of the grove which thou hast hewn down.

And Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the LORD had said unto him. But he was afraid to do it by day in the presence of his father’s house, and of the men of the city; and he did it by night.

And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was broken down, and the grove thereof cut down; and the other bullock, a burnt offering upon the altar that was built.

And one said unto another: Who hath done this thing? And when they sought and enquired, it was said, Gideon the son of Joash hath done this thing.

And the men of the city said unto Joash, Deliver up thy son. He must die, because he has broken the altar of Baal and cut down the grove.

And Joash said unto all them that sat with him: Will ye contend for Baal? Will ye help him?
He that wroth for him shall die this morning. If he be God, he shall be justified in himself, and his altar shall be broken.

And from that day they called his name Jerubbaal, saying, Baal reproacheth himself, that his altar is broken down.

And when all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east were gathered together, they passed through, and pitched in the valley of Jezreel, 34. And the Spirit of the LORD drew Gideon, and he blew with the trumpets, and called Abieser to follow him.

And he sent tidings throughout all Manasseh, and called him, that they also should follow him. And he sent word also unto Asher, and Zebulun, and Naphtali; which came up to meet him.

And Gideon said unto GOD, Wilt thou deliver Israel by my hand, as thou hast spoken?

And I will put a fleece of wool upon the threshingfloor. And the dew shall be upon the fleece alone, and shall drop upon all the earth; and I will know that thou wilt redeem Israel by mine
hand, as thou hast spoken.

And it came to pass thus. And when he arose early on the morrow, he pressed the dew out of the skin, and filled a vial full of water.

And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be kindled against me, that I may speak again. I will