Various Heroes and Guides

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It is our prayer that the Open English Translation of the Bible will give you a clear understanding of the accounts and messages written by the God-inspired Biblical writers.

Readers’ Version

Literal Version

1:1 Yehudah and Simeon capture Adoni-Bezek

Completing the conquest of Canaan; Israel Fights the Remaining Canaanites; Israel’s Failure to Complete the Conquest of Canaan; Judah and Simeon Conquer the Land; The Tribes of Judah and Simeon Capture Adonibezek

1 After Yehoshua’s death, the Israelis asked Yahweh, “≈Which tribe should go first to attack the Canaanites?” 2 “Yehudah will go first,” Yahweh ≈answered. “Listen, I’ve ≈already determined that they’ll conquer the land.”

3 Then the Yehudah leaders said to the tribe of Simeon, “≈Come with #us into the region that we’ve been allocated and we can fight together against the Canaanites. Then we’ll do the same in your area.” So ≈the warriors from the two tribes worked together. 4 When *they attacked, Yahweh ≈gave them victory over the Canaanites and the Perizzites and they killed ten thousand men at Bezek. 5 They ≈confronted Adoni-Bezek in Bezek and fought against him (then eventually defeating the Canaanites and the Perizzites). 6 Adoni -Bezek tried to flee but they chased him and captured him, cutting off his thumbs and big toes. 7 “Seventy kings had their thumbs and big toes chopped off,” Adoni -Bezek said, “and were gathering scraps of food beneath my table. Just as I have done, so God has repaid to me.” Then they took him to Yerushalem and he died there.

1  And_he/it_was after the_death_of Yəhōshūˊa/(Joshua) and_ the_people_of _inquired of_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) in/on/at/with_LORD to_say who will_he_go_up to/for_ourselves against the_Kənaˊₐnī in/on/at/with_first to_fight in/on/over_him/it.

2 And_ YHWH _he/it_said Yəhūdāh/(Judah) he_will_go_up here I_have_given DOM the_earth/land in_his/its_hand.

3 And_ Yəhūdāh _he/it_said to_Shimˊōn his/its_woman come_up with_me in/on/at/with_territory_allotted_of_me and_fight in/on/at/with_Kənaˊₐnī and_go also I with_you in/on/at/with_territory_allotted_of_you and_he/it_went with_him/it Shimˊōn.

4 And_ Yəhūdāh _he/it_ascended and_ YHWH _he/it_gave DOM the_Kənaˊₐnī and_the_Pərizzī in/on/at/with_hand_of_their and_defeated_them in/on/at/with_Bezeq ten_of thousand(s) man.

5 And_found DOM Adoni- Bezeq in/on/at/with_Bezeq and_fought in/on/over_him/it and_defeated DOM the_Kənaˊₐnī and_DOM the_Pərizzī.

6 And_ Adoni- _fled Bezeq and_pursued after_him and_caught DOM_him/it and_cut_off DOM the_thumbs_of hands_of_his and_big_toes_of_his.

7 And_ Adoni- _he/it_said Bezeq seventy kings the_thumbs_of hands_of_their and_big_toes_of_their cut_off they_were gathering_up under table_of_my just_as I_have_done so he_has_repaid to_me god and_brought_him Yərūshālam/(Jerusalem) and_he/it_died there.

1:8 The capture of Yerushalem and Hebron

The Tribe of Judah Conquers Jerusalem and Hebron

8 The warriors from Yehudah attacked Yerushalem and captured the city, killing the inhabitants and setting the city on fire. 9 Then they fought against the Canaanites who lived in the hill country, in the southern wilderness, and in the western foothills. 10 *They also fought the Canaanites in Kiriath-Arba (now known as Hebron) and killed Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai.

8 and_ the_descendants_of _fought of_Yəhūdāh in/on/at/with_Yərūshālam/(Jerusalem) and_captured DOM_it and_put_it to_edge_of the_sword and_DOM the_city they_sent in/on/at/with_fire.

9 And_after the_descendants_of they_went_down of_Yəhūdāh/(Judah) to_fight in/on/at/with_Kənaˊₐnī who_was_dwelling the_hill_country and_the_Negeⱱ¦111725 and_the_lowland.

10 And_ Yəhūdāh _he/it_went against the_Kənaˊₐnī the_living in/on/at/with_Ḩeⱱrōn and_name_of Ḩeⱱrōn to/for_formerly was_Qiryat ʼArbaˊ and_defeated DOM Shēshay and_DOM ʼAḩīman and_DOM Talimay.

1:11 Otniel captures Debir

Othniel Conquers the City of Debir

(Josh. 15:13-19)

11 From there #they ≈fought against Kiriath -Sepher (now known as Debir). 12 Caleb had said, “Whoever attacks Kiriath -Sepher and captures it ≈can marry my daughter Aksah.” 13 Otniel (son of Caleb’s younger brother Kenaz) captured it so @Caleb gave his daughter Aksah to him to become his wife. 14 ≈After the wedding, she urged @Otniel to ask her father for a field. When she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What can I do for you?” 15 “Give me a blessing,” she ≈requested. “Although you’ve given me land in the southern wilderness, give me some springs of water as well.” So Caleb gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.

11 And_he/it_went from_there against the_inhabitants_of Dəⱱīr and_name_of Dəⱱīr to/for_formerly was_Qiryat Sepher.

12 And_ Kālēⱱ/(Caleb) _he/it_said the_one_who he_will_attack DOM Qiryat Sepher and_captures_it and_give to_him/it DOM ˊAkşāh daughter_of_my to/for_(a)_woman.

13 And_captured_it ˊĀtənī^ʼēl the_son_of Qənaz the_brother_of Kālēⱱ¦111791 the_small(sg) from_him/it and_gave to_him/it DOM ˊAkşāh daughter_of_his to/for_(a)_woman.

14 And_he/it_was in/on/at/with_came_she and_urged_him to_ask from father_of_her the_field and_dismounted from_under the_donkey and_he/it_said to/for_her/it Kālēⱱ¦111817 what for_you.

15 And_she/it_said to_him/it come_now to/for_me a_blessing if/because the_land_of the_Negeⱱ¦111830 given_me and_you(ms)_will_give to_me springs_of water and_gave to/for_her/it Kālēⱱ¦111839 DOM springs_of upper and_DOM springs_of lower.

1:16 The victory of descendants of Yehudah and Benyamin

The Victories of the Tribes of Judah and Benjamin

16 The Kenites (descendants of Mosheh’s father-in-law), left the city of palm trees (Yericho) and went with Yehudah’s descendants to the southern wilderness near Arad and lived with the people there. 17 Then the warriors of Yehudah and Simeon conquered the Canaanites living at Tsefat and destroyed @the city. Now it’s called Hormah (which means ‘complete destruction’). 18 *They also captured Gaza, Ashkelon, and Ekron and all their surrounding territories.

Israel Fails to Conquer the Land

19 Yahweh helped Yehudah and #they took possession of the hill country, although they weren’t able to conquer the people living down in the plains because they had iron on their chariots. 20 They gave Hebron to Caleb just as Mosheh had directed, and he dispossessed the three sons of the Anak from there.[ref] 21 ≈However Benyamin’s descendants didn’t drive the Yebusites living in Yerushalem out, so *they have lived among the Benyamites in Yerushalem to this day.[ref]

16 and_the_sons the_Qēynī the_father-in-law_of Mosheh they_went_up from_city_of the_palms with the_descendants_of Yəhūdāh/(Judah) the_wilderness_of Yəhūdāh which in/on/at/with_Negeⱱ¦111862_of ˊArād and_he/it_went and_he/it_sat_down//remained//lived with the_people.

17 And_ Yəhūdāh _he/it_went with Shimˊōn his/its_woman and_defeated DOM the_Kənaˊₐnī who_was_dwelling Tsəfat/(Zephath) and_utterly_destroyed DOM_it and_he/it_called DOM the_name_of the_city Ḩārəmāh.

18 And_ Yəhūdāh _took DOM ˊAzzāh and_DOM territory_of_its and ʼAshqəlōn and_DOM territory_of_its and_DOM ˊEqrōn and_DOM territory_of_its.

19 And_he/it_was YHWH with Yəhūdāh\f + \fr 1:19 \ft OSHB note: We read the punctuation in L differently from BHQ.

\f*\f + \fr 1:19 \ft OSHB note: Marks an anomalous form.

\f*\f + \fr 1:19 \ft OSHB note: We read punctuation in L differently from BHS.

\f* and_took_possession DOM the_hill_country if/because not to_drive_out DOM the_inhabitants_of the_plain if/because chariotry_of iron to/for_them.

20 And_gave to_Kālēⱱ/(Caleb) DOM Ḩeⱱrōn just_as he_had_said Mosheh and_drove_out from_there DOM three the_sons_of the_ˊĀnāq.

21 And_DOM the_Yəⱱūşī Yərūshālam/(Jerusalem) who_was_dwelling not the_descendants_of they_dispossessed of_Binyāmīn and_he/it_sat_down//remained//lived the_Yəⱱūşī with the_descendants_of Binyāmīn in/on/at/with_Yərūshālam/(Jerusalem) until the_day the_this.

1:22 Efrayim and Menashsheh conquer Beyt-El

The Tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh Conquer Beyt-El

22 Also Yosef’s descendants attacked Beyt-El, and Yahweh ≈helped them. 23 *They sent spies out to Beyt-El (previously called Luz) 24 and *they saw a man coming out of the city and told him, “Please show us an entrance into the city, and we’ll be kind to you.” 25 ≈So he showed them an entrance, and @their warriors attacked and ≈killed the inhabitants, but they let the man and his family go free. 26 The man went to the land of the Hittites and ≈founded a city and called it Luz (which it’s still called to this day).

22 and_ the_house_of _went_up of_Yōşēf/(Joseph) also they Bēyt- ^ʼēl and_YHWH with_them.

23 And_ the_house_of _spied_out of_Yōşēf in_house_of ^ʼēl and_name_of the_city to/for_formerly was_Lūz.

24 And_they_saw the_ a_man _spies coming_out from the_city and_they_said to_him/it show_us please DOM the_entrance_of the_city and_deal with_you loyalty.

25 And_showed_them DOM the_entrance_of the_city and_struck DOM the_city with_edge_of the_sword and_DOM the_man and_DOM all_of family_of_his they_let_go.

26 And_he/it_went the_man the_land_of the_Ḩittiy and_he/it_built a_city and_he/it_called his/its_name Lūz that his/its_name until the_day the_this.

1:27 The locals not driven out by the Israelis

People Who Were Not Driven Out by the Israelites

27 ≈However Menashsheh’s descendants didn’t drive out those living in Beyt-Shan, Taanak, Dor, Yibleam, or Meggidon, because the Canaanites were determined ≈to keep living there.[ref] 28 (Later, the Israelis became stronger and ≈they forced the Canaanites to work for them as their slaves, but they didn’t drive them out.) 29 Nor did Efrayim’s descendants drive the Canaanites out of Gezer, so *they continued to live among them.[ref]

30 Zebulun’s descendants didn’t drive the Canaanites out of Kitron or Nahalol, so they continued to live among them and were ≈forced to work as slaves.

31 Asher’s descendants didn’t drive out those who were living in Akko, Tsidon, Ahlab, Aczib, Helbah, Afek, or Rehob, 32 ≈So the Asherites lived with the Canaanites who still lived in the region because they didn’t drive them out.

33 Naftali’s descendants didn’t drive out those who were living in Beyt-Shemesh or Beyt-Anat, so they continued to live among them and were ≈forced to work as slaves.

34 The Amorites forced Dan’s descendants to live in the hill country, because they didn’t allow them to come down to the plains. 35 The Amorites were determined to live at Mt. Heres, in Ayyalon and Shaalbim (but when Yosef’s descendants became stronger, they forced the Amorites ≈to work as slaves). 36 The Amorites border went from the Scorpion Pass through Sela and upward from there.

27 and_not Mənashsheh it_took_possession_of DOM Bēyt Shan and_DOM villages_of_its and_DOM Taˊₐnāk and_DOM villages_of_its and_DOM the_inhabitants_of\f + \fr 1:27 \ft OSHB variant note: ישב: (x-qere) ’יֹשְׁבֵ֨י’: lemma_3427 morph_HVqrmpc id_07Xh9 יֹשְׁבֵ֨י\f* of_Dōr and_DOM villages_of_its and_DOM of_Yiⱱləˊām/(Ibleam) the_inhabitants_of and_DOM villages_of_its and_DOM of_Məgiddōn the_inhabitants_of and_DOM villages_of_its and_determined the_Kənaˊₐnī to_live on_the_earth the_that.

28 And_he/it_was if/because Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) it_became_strong and_he/it_assigned DOM the_Kənaˊₐnī to_forced_labour and_to_drive_out not he_drove_out_them.

29 and_ʼEfrayim not it_dispossessed DOM the_Kənaˊₐnī the_living in/on/at/with_Gezer and_he/it_sat_down//remained//lived the_Kənaˊₐnī in/on/at/with_midst_of_them in/on/at/with_Gezer.

30 Zəⱱulun not it_dispossessed DOM the_inhabitants_of Qiţrōn and_DOM the_inhabitants_of Nahₐlāl and_he/it_sat_down//remained//lived the_Kənaˊₐnī in/on/at/with_midst_of_them and_they_were to_forced_labour.

31 ʼĀshēr not it_dispossessed DOM the_inhabitants_of ˊAkkō and_DOM the_inhabitants_of Tsīdōn/(Sidon) and_DOM ʼAḩlāⱱ¦112164 and_DOM ʼAkzīⱱ¦112167 and_DOM Ḩelbāh and_DOM ʼAfēq and_DOM Rəḩoⱱ¦112176.

32 And_he/it_sat_down//remained//lived the_Asherites in/on/at/with_midst_of the_Kənaˊₐnī the_inhabitants_of the_earth/land if/because not drive_out_them.

33 Naftālī not it_dispossessed DOM the_inhabitants_of Bēyt Shemesh and_DOM the_inhabitants_of Bēyt Anath and_he/it_sat_down//remained//lived in/on/at/with_midst_of the_Kənaˊₐnī the_inhabitants_of the_earth/land and_inhabitants_of Bēyt Shemesh and_Bēyt- anath they_became to/for_them to_forced_labour.

34 and_pressed the_ʼAmorī DOM the_descendants_of Dān the_hill_country_into if/because not allow_them to_come_down to_the_plain.

35 And_determined the_ʼAmorī to_live in/on/at/with_mount_of Ḩereş in/on/at/with_ʼAyyālōn and_in/on/at/with_Shaˊalⱱīm and_ the_hand_of _rested_heavily of_the_house_of of_Yōşēf/(Joseph) and_they_were to_forced_labour.

36 And_border_of the_ʼAmorī from_ascent_of scorpions from_the_Sela and_beyond.

2:1 God’s messenger comes to Bokim

The Angel of the Lord at Bochim; Result of disobedience; Israel’s Disobedience; The Angel of the Lord at Bokim; The Lord’s Messenger Comes to Bokim

2 Then Yahweh’s messenger went from Gilgal to Bokim and told the Israelis, “I brought you all out of Egypt and led you here to this land that I promised to your ancestors. I had said that I wouldn’t ever break my agreement with you all, 2 but that you mustn’t form treaties with the peoples who lived here, rather you must tear down their altars. But you all haven’t obeyed what I said. What have you gone and done?[ref] 3 ≈So I’m telling you that I won’t drive your enemies out ahead of you, ≈but they’ll be like thorns in your sides and you’ll all end up being enslaved to their ≈idols.” 4 When Yahweh’s messenger finished saying that, the people wept loudly, 5 so they called that place Bokim (which means ‘weeping’) and they ≈offered sacrifices to Yahweh there.

↑ 2  and_ the_messenger_of _he/it_ascended of_YHWH from the_Gilgāl to the_Bokīm and_he/it_said I_brought_up DOM_you_all from_Miʦrayim/(Egypt) and_led DOM_you_all into the_earth/land which I_swore to_fathers_of_your_all’s and_said not I_will_break covenant_of_my with_you_all for_ever.

2 And_you_all not you_all_must_make a_covenant with_inhabitants_of the_earth/land the_this altars_of_their tear_down and_not you_all_have_listened in/on/at/with_voice_of_me what this have_you_all_done.

3 And_also I_say not I_will_drive_out DOM_them from_before_of_you_all and_they_will_be to/for_you_all in_sides and_gods_of_their they_will_become to/for_you_all as_snare.

4 And_he/it_was when_spoke the_messenger_of YHWH DOM the_messages the_these to all_of the_people_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_lifted_up the_people DOM voices_of_their and_wept.

5 And_called the_name_of the_place (the)_that Bokim and_sacrificed there to/for_YHWH.

2:6 The death of Yehoshua

Death of Joshua; Disobedience and Defeat; The Death of Joshua

6 Then Yehoshua dismissed the people and the ≈tribes went to their various regions to take possession of the land. 7 The people ≈obeyed Yahweh ≈as long as Yehoshua and the elders who had seen the great things that Yahweh had done for Yisrael, were alive. 8 Then Yahweh’s servant Yehoshua (son of Nun) died at the age of 110 9 and they buried him in his allocated land at Timnat-Heres, inside Efrayim’s hill country territory north of Mt. Gaash.[ref]

2:10 Yisrael (Israel) turns from Yahweh

Israel Disobeys the Lord

10 When all of that generation ≈had passed away, the next generation didn’t know Yahweh or even know about what he’d done for ≈the Israelis.

Israel’s Unfaithfulness; Israel Stops Worshipping the Lord

11 *They did ≈things that Yahweh considered evil and worshipped Baal idols 12 and abandoned the god of their ancestors, Yahweh, the one who brought them out of Egypt. Instead they went after other gods—the gods of the people around them. They worshipped them and that made Yahweh angry. 13 They abandoned Yahweh and ≈worshipped the Baal and Ashtarot idols. 14 ≈So Yahweh ≈got angry with Yisrael so ≈he caused raiders to come and take their property and ≈he allowed their enemies to become more powerful so they could no longer stand against them. 15 ≈Whenever the Israelis went into battle, Yahweh ≈worked against them just like *he’d said he would and they became very distressed.

The Lord Rescues His People; The first judges

16 Then Yahweh ≈gave them leaders[fn] to save them from the raiders. 17 ≈However they wouldn’t listen to those leaders either—continuing to prostitute themselves to other gods and bowing down to idols. They rapidly turned away from their ancestors’ ways and ≈showed no interest in obeying Yahweh’s instructions. 18 Whenever Yahweh ≈gave them a leader, he would ≈support that leader and would save them from their enemies during that leader’s life, because he pitied @the people when they groaned ≈from being tormented and oppressed. 19 ≈But then at the death of that leader, they would turn back and behave more corruptly than their ancestors—following other gods and bowing down to @idols. They didn’t stop any of their evil activities or their shameless behaviour 20 ≈so Yahweh ≈was very angry at Yisrael and said, “This nation has broken the agreement that I made with their ancestors and haven’t ≈done what I told them to. 21 I won’t keep driving the people groups away that remained when Yehoshua died, 22 so as to use them to test Yisrael to see whether @the Israelis will obey my instructions like their ancestors did, or not. 23 ≈So Yahweh allowed those people groups to stay on, and hence they hadn’t been ≈handed over to Yehoshua.

10 And_also all_of the_generation (the)_that they_were_gathered to ancestors_of_their and_ a_generation _he/it_rose_up another after_them which not they_knew DOM YHWH and_also DOM the_work which he_had_done for_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel).

11 and_ the_people_of _they_made of_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) DOM the_evil in/on_both_eyes_of YHWH and_served DOM the_Baals.

12 And_abandoned DOM YHWH the_god_of fathers_of_their the_brought_out DOM_them of_land_of of_Miʦrayim/(Egypt) and_went after gods other from_gods_of the_peoples which around_of_them and_bowed_down to/for_them and_provoked_toanger DOM YHWH.

\f + \fr 2:12 \ft OSHB note: We read one or more accents in L differently from BHQ.

\f*\f + \fr 2:12 \ft OSHB note: We read one or more accents in L differently than BHS.

Often this notation indicates a typographical error in BHS.

\f* 13 and_abandoned DOM YHWH and_served to_the_Baˊal and_to_the_ˊAshtārōt.

14 And_it_glowed/burned the_anger of_YHWH in/on/at/with_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_gave_them in/on/at/with_hand_of plunderers and_plundered DOM_them and_sold_them in/on/at/with_hand_of enemies_of_their from_all_sides and_not they_were_able still to_stand to_(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before enemies_of_their.

15 In/on/at/with_every where they_went_out the_hand_of YHWH it_was in/on/at/with_them to_harm as/like_just_as he_had_spoken YHWH and_as_which he_had_sworn YHWH to/for_them and_distressed to/for_them exceedingly.

16 And_ YHWH _raised_up judges and_delivered_them from_power_of plundered_of_them.

17 And_also to judges_of_their not they_listened if/because they_acted_as_prostitutes after gods other and_bowed_down to/for_them they_turned_aside quickly from the_way which they_had_walked fathers_of_their in_obeyed the_commands_of YHWH not they_did so.

18 And_because/when YHWH he_raised_up to/for_them judges and_it_was YHWH with the_judge and_delivered_them from_hand_of enemies_of_their all_of the_days_of the_judge if/because YHWH he_had_compassion by_groaning_of_their from_face/in_front_of oppressed_of_their and_afflicted_of_them.

19 And_it_was in/on/at/with_died_of the_judge they_returned and_act_corruptly more_than_fathers_of_their to_go after gods other to_serving_them and_to_bowing_down to/for_them not they_let_drop any_of_practices_of_their and_from_ways_of_their the_stubborn.

20 And_it_glowed/burned the_anger of_YHWH in/on/at/with_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_he/it_said because that they_have_transgressed the_nation the_this DOM covenant_of_my which I_commanded DOM fathers_of_their and_not they_have_listened to_voice_of_my.

21 Also I not I_will_increase to_drive_out anyone from_their_face/front of the_nations which he_left Yəhōshūˊa/(Joshua) and_he/it_died.

22 So_as to_put_to_the_test in/on/at/with_them DOM Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) whether_keep will_they DOM the_way_of YHWH to_go in/on/at/with_it just_as they_kept_it fathers_of_their or not.

23 And_ YHWH _left DOM the_nations the_these to_not drive_out_them quickly and_not give_them in/on/at/with_hand_of Yəhōshūˊa.

3:1 The remaining kingdoms in Canaan

Nations Remaining in the Land; The Nations Left in Canaan; The Nations Remaining in the Land

3 The following are the kingdoms which Yahweh allowed to remain so as to test the newer generations of Yisrael who hadn’t experienced the battles in Canaan 2 (if only for the sake of teaching warfare to those generations who hadn’t experienced it): 3 the five Philistine rulers and the Canaanites, the Sidonians, the Hivites that live on Mt. Lebanon between Mt. Baal-Hermon and Lebo-Hamat.[fn] 4 They were left to test Yisrael to find out if they would obey Yahweh’s instructions that had been given through Mosheh to their ancestors, 5 and so the Israelis lived among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Yebusites. 6 They took their daughters as wives, and gave their own daughters to be married to their sons, and they ≈worshipped their gods.

↑ 3  and_these the_nations which he_left YHWH to_test in/on/at/with_them DOM Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) DOM all_of those_who not they_had_known DOM all_of the_wars_of Kinaˊan/(Canaan).

2 Only so_as to_know the_generations_of the_people_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) to_teach_them war only which to/for_previously not experienced_it.

3 The_five_of the_rulers_of the_Fəlishtiy and_all the_Kənaˊₐnī and_the_Tsīdonī/(Sidonians) and_the_Ḩiūī who_was_dwelling of_the_mount_of the_Ləⱱānōn from_hill of Baˊal to Ləⱱōʼ Ḩₐmāt.

4 And_were for_testing in/on/at/with_them DOM Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) to_know whether_obey DOM the_commands_of YHWH which he_had_commanded DOM fathers_of_their in/on/at/with_hand_of Mosheh.

5 And_the_sons of_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) they_dwelt in/on/at/with_midst_of the_Kənaˊₐnī the_Ḩittiy and_the_ʼAmorī and_the_Pərizzī and_the_Ḩiūī and_the_Yəⱱūşī/(Yəⱱūşī/(Jebusite)s).

6 And_they_took DOM daughters_of_their to/for_them as_wives and_DOM daughters_of_their_own they_gave to_sons_of_their and_served DOM gods_of_their.

3:7 Otniel

Othniel; Othniel Becomes Israel’s Judge

7 ≈So the ≈Israelis did things considered evil by Yahweh and they forgot about their god Yahweh, ≈instead serving the Baal and Asherot idols. 8 Because of that, Yahweh ≈was very angry with Yisrael, so he ≈handed them over to King Cushan-Rishathaim of Aram-Naharaim (Mesopotamia). The Israelis served him for eight years 9 ≈but when they cried out to Yahweh, *he ≈sent them a ≈leader to rescue them: Otniel, son of Caleb’s younger brother Kenaz. 10 Yahweh’s spirit ≈empowered him and he led Yisrael. He ≈led them into battle against King Cushan-Rishathaim of Aram, and Yahweh ≈helped them defeat *him. 11 ≈So the region had peace for forty years, and then Otniel (Kenaz’s son) died.

7 and_ the_people_of _they_made of_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) DOM the_evil in/on_both_eyes_of YHWH and_forgot DOM YHWH god_of_their and_served DOM the_Baals and_DOM the_ʼAshērāhs.

8 And_it_glowed/burned the_anger of_YHWH in/on/at/with_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_sold_them in/on/at/with_hand_of Cushan- Rishathaim the_king_of ʼArām and_ the_people_of _served of_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) DOM Cushan- Rishathaim eight years.

9 And_ the_people_of _cried_out of_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) to YHWH and_raised_up YHWH a_deliverer for_sons_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_delivered_them DOM ˊĀtənī^ʼēl the_son_of Qənaz the_brother_of Kālēⱱ/(Caleb) the_small(sg) than_him.

10 And_it_became on/upon/above_him/it the_spirit_of YHWH and_judged DOM Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_he/it_went_out to_the_war and_ YHWH _he/it_gave in_his/its_hand DOM Cushan- Rishathaim the_king_of ʼArām his/its_hand and_prevailed over Cushan- Rishathaim.

11 And_had_peace the_earth/land forty years and_ ˊĀtənī^ʼēl _he/it_died the_son_of Qənaz.

3:12 Ehud

Ehud; Ehud Becomes Israel’s Judge

12 Once again the Israelis started doing things considered evil by Yahweh, ≈so because of that, *he strengthened King Eglon of Moab against Yisrael. 13 @King Eglon ≈enlisted warriors from the Ammonites and the Amalekites, and they attacked Yisrael and captured Yericho, the city of palm trees, 14 ≈so the Israelis served *him for eighteen years.

15 ≈But the Israelis cried out to Yahweh, *he ≈sent them a ≈leader to rescue them: the left-hander Ehud, son of Gera the Benyamite. The Israelis sent him to carry the tribute payment to King Eglon of Moab. 16 ≈Now Ehud had made himself a double-edged sword—a short one about half a metre long—and he strapped it to his right thigh beneath his clothes. 17 Then he presented the tribute to King Eglon of Moab, who was a very fat man, 18 and after leaving for home, he sent off the people who’d actually carried it all. 19 Then from the stone quarries that they’d reached near Gilgal, he returned and told the king that he had a private message for him. The king told his attendants to be quiet then sent them out of the room.

20 ≈So Ehud approached where the king was sitting alone in the coolness of his upper room and told him, “I have a message for you from God.” @The king stood up from &his seat 21 and then Ehud reached with his left hand and pulled the sword from his right thigh and plunged it into @the king’s belly. 22 Even the handle went in after the blade and the fat closed up over the handle because @Ehud didn’t pull the sword out of his belly. Then he went out to the passage[fn] 23 and closed and locked the rooms of the upper room and exited through the porch.[fn] 24 After he’d left, the servants came and found the doors locked, so they thought @the king must be relieving himself in *there. 25 They waited until they ≈became worried that he hadn’t opened the doors, ≈so they got a key and opened them, only to find their master lying dead on the floor.

26 While @the servants had been waiting, Ehud had escaped and passed beyond the quarries, then fleeing to Seirah. 27 When he got there, he blew a trumpet ≈throughout the Efrayimite hill country, and so the ≈Israelis assembled under his direction down in the valley. 28 “Follow after me,” he told them, “because Yahweh ≈will enable you all to defeat your enemies, the Moabites.” So they followed him down to the Yordan river and captured the fords opposite Moab, thus preventing anyone from crossing. 29 Then they ≈attacked Moab and killed around ten thousand men—all strong and capable yet none of them escaped. 30 ≈So Moab was subdued that day by the Israelis, and ≈there was peace in the region for eighty years.

12 and_ the_people_of _again of_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) for_doing the_evil in/on_both_eyes_of YHWH and_strengthened YHWH DOM ˊEglōn the_king_of Mōʼāⱱ¦112943 over Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) on if/because they_did DOM the_evil in/on_both_eyes_of YHWH.

13 And_gathered to_him/it DOM the_people_of ˊAmmōn and_ˊAmālēqites and_he/it_went and_defeated DOM Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_took_possession_of DOM (a)_city the_palms.

14 And_ the_people_of _served of_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) DOM ˊEglōn the_king_of Mōʼāⱱ¦112984 eight- teen years.

15 and_ the_people_of _cried_out of_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) to YHWH and_ YHWH _raised_up to/for_them a_deliverer DOM ʼĒhūd the_son_of Gērāʼ the_Ben-_of the_Binyāmīnite a_man impeded_of the_hand_of right_of_him and_ the_people_of _sent of_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) in_his/its_hand tribute to_ˊEglōn the_king_of Mōʼāⱱ¦113023.

16 And_he/it_made to_him/it ʼĒhūd a_sword and_with_her two_of mouths was_a_cubit length_of_her and_fastened DOM_it from_under on_clothes_of_his on the_thigh_of right_of_his.

17 And_presented DOM the_tribute to_ˊEglōn the_king_of Mōʼāⱱ¦113048 and_ˊEglōn was_a_man fat very.

18 And_he/it_was just_as he_had_finished to_presenting DOM the_tribute and_sent_away DOM the_people who_had_carried_of the_tribute.

19 And_he he_returned from the_idols which were_with the_Gilgāl and_he/it_said a_message_of secrecy to_me for_you the_king and_he/it_said hush and_they_went_out in_presence_him all_of the_attendants on/upon/above_him/it.

20 And_ʼĒhūd he_came to_him/it and_he was_sitting in/on/at/with_roof_chamber_of the_cool which to_him/it for_him/it_being_alone and_ ʼĒhūd _he/it_said a_message_of god to_me for_you and_he/it_rose_up from_under the_seat.

21 And_ ʼĒhūd _reached DOM the_hand_of left_of_his and_he/it_took DOM the_drought//sword/knife from_under the_thigh_of right_of_his and_thrust_it in/on/at/with_belly_of_his.

22 And_went_in also the_handle after the_blade and_he/it_closed_up the_fat behind the_blade if/because not he_drew_out the_drought//sword/knife of_belly_of_his and_he/it_went_out the_dirt.

23 And_ ʼĒhūd _he/it_went_out the_vestibule_into and_he/it_closed_up the_doors_of the_roof_chamber behind_him and_locked.

24 And_he he_went_forth and_servants_of_his they_came and_they_saw and_see/lo/see the_doors_of the_roof_chamber were_locked and_they_said surely is_covering he DOM feet_of_himself in/on/at/with_inner_room_of the_cool.

25 And_waited until were_ashamed and_saw\f + \fr 3:25 \ft OSHB note: Marks a place where we agree with BHQ against BHS in reading L.

\f*\f + \fr 3:25 \ft OSHB note: Marks an anomalous form.

\f*\f + \fr 3:25 \ft OSHB note: We read one or more vowels in L differently from BHS.

\f* not_he was_opening the_doors_of the_roof_chamber\f + \fr 3:25 \ft OSHB note: Marks a place where we agree with BHQ against BHS in reading L.

\f*\f + \fr 3:25 \ft OSHB note: We read one or more accents in L differently than BHS.

Often this notation indicates a typographical error in BHS.

\f* and_they_took DOM the_key and_opened and_see/lo/see master_of_their was_lying towards_land dead.

26 And_ʼĒhūd he_escaped until delayed_they and_he he_passed_by DOM the_idols and_escaped the_Sēˊīrah_to.

27 And_he/it_was in/on/at/with_arrived_he and_sounded in/on/at/with_trumpet in/on/at/with_hill_country_of ʼEfrayim and_went_down with_him/it the_people_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) from the_hill_country and_he at_head_of_them.

28 And_he/it_said to_them pursue after_me if/because YHWH he_has_given DOM enemies_of_your_all’s DOM Mōʼāⱱ¦113246 in/on/at/with_hand_of_your_all’s and_went_down after_him and_seized DOM the_fords_of the_Yardēn/(Jordan) against_Mōʼāⱱ¦113255 and_not they_permitted anyone to_cross_over.

29 And_struck_down DOM Mōʼāⱱ¦113265 in/on/at/with_time the_that about_ten_of thousand(s) man every_of stout_person and_all man_of strength and_not anyone he_escaped.

30 And_ Mōʼāⱱ¦113283 _subdued in_the_day (the)_that under the_hand_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_had_peace the_earth/land eighty years.

3:31 Shamgar

Shamgar Becomes Israel’s Judge; Shamgar

31 After @Ehud came Shamgar (Anat’s son), and he rescued Yisrael by killing six hundred Philistines with a cattle prod.

31 and_after_him Shamgar he_was the_son_of ˊAnāt and_killed DOM the_Fəlishtiy six hundred(s) man in/on/at/with_prod_of the_cattle and_delivered also he DOM Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel).

4:1 Deborah and Barak

Deborah Becomes Israel’s Judge; Deborah; Deborah and Barak

4 After Ehud died, the Israelis again started doing things ≈considered evil by Yahweh, 2 ≈so *he handed them over to King Yabin of Canaan who reigned in Hatsor. Sisera was the commander of his army, and he lived in Haroshet -Haggoyim. 3 The Israelis cried out to Yahweh because @Sisera had nine hundred chariots with iron on them, and he cruelly oppressed *them for twenty years.

4 ≈Now the prophetess Deborah (Lappidot’s wife) was leading Yisrael at that time. 5 She ≈would sit under the palm tree between Ramah and Beyt-El (in the Efrayimite hill country), and ≈people would come to her ≈to have their disputes settled. 6 One day she summoned Barak (Abinoam’s son from Kedesh in Naftali) and told him, “Yisrael’s God, Yahweh commands you to draft ten thousand men from Naftali and Zebulun and assemble at Mt. Tabor. 7 Yahweh will lure King Yabin’s army commander, Sisera bring his warriors and chariots to the Kishon river, and ≈Yahweh will enable you to defeat them there.”

8 “I’ll go if you’ll come with me,” ≈replied Barak, “≈but if you won’t come with me, I won’t go.”

9 “I’ll certainly go with you,” she said, “but it won’t be you that’s honoured ≈afterwards, but rather Yahweh ≈will use a woman to defeat Sisera.” So Deborah ≈accompanied Barak to Kedesh. 10 There *he summoned warriors from Zebulun and Naftali and ten thousand men came, and they all went together with Deborah to Mt. Tabor.

11 ≈Now Heber had moved with his wife Yael and their family ≈away from the other Kenites (and from Mosheh’s father-in-law Hobab’s descendants) and set up his tent by the oak tree at Zaanannim near Kedesh.

12 ≈When Sisera was told that Barak (Abinoam’s son) had gone to Mt. Tabor, 13 *he assembled his warriors and their nine hundred chariots (with iron on them) and went from Haroshet -Haggoyim to the Kishon riverbed.

14 “Get going,” Deborah told Barak, “because it’s today that Yahweh has gone ahead of you and ≈will help you defeat Sisera.” So Barak led his ten thousand warriors down from Mt. Tabor. 15 Then Yahweh ≈caused Sisera and all his warriors and chariots to be confused as Barak advanced, ≈so Sisera jumped down from his chariot and took off on foot. 16 Barak pursued the men and chariots as far as Haroshet -Haggoyim and they killed them all—not a single one survived.

17 ≈But Sisera had fled on foot and ran to Yael’s tent (Heber the Kenite’s wife) because there was peace between King Yabin of Hatsor and the house of Heber the Kenite. 18 Yael went out to meet Sisera and told him, “≈Stop and rest, my master. ≈Stop and rest here. Don’t be afraid.” So he turned and went into her tent, and she covered him with a blanket.

19 “I’m thirsty,” he said. “Could you get me a little water to drink.” @Yael opened a goatskin container and gave him milk to drink, then she covered him again. 20 “Stand at the tent doorway,” he said, “and if anyone comes and asks you if ≈you’ve seen a man, say, ‘No.’ ”

21 Then Heber’s wife Yael got a hammer and a tent peg and ≈crept in silently, driving the peg through his temple and pounding it into the ground,. He’d been tired and was sleeping soundly, and ≈it killed him. 22 ≈Meanwhile Barak ≈had been searching for Sisera, and Yael went out to meet him. “Come in here,” she told him, “and I’ll show you the man you’ve been searching for.” He ≈followed her into the tent and wow—Sisera was lying there dead with the peg still through his temple.

23 ≈So that day God defeated Canaanite King Yabin’s army ≈in front of the Israelis, 24 and as *they became stronger against *him, they destroyed King Yabin of Canaan.

↑ 4  and_ the_people_of _again of_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) for_doing the_evil in/on_both_eyes_of YHWH and_ʼĒhūd he_had_died.

2 And_sold_them YHWH in/on/at/with_hand_of Yāⱱīn/(Jabin) the_king_of Kinaˊan/(Canaan) who he_reigned in/on/at/with_Ḩāʦōr and_commander_of army_of_his was_Şīşərāʼ and_he was_dwelling in/on/at/with_Harosheth Haggoyim.

3 And_ the_people_of _cried_out of_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) to YHWH if/because nine hundred(s) chariots_of iron to_him/it and_he he_oppressed DOM the_people_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) in/on/at/with_cruelty twenty years.

4 and_Dəbōrāh was_a_woman a_prophetess the_wife_of Lappidōt she was_judging DOM Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) in/on/at/with_time the_that.

5 And_she was_dwelling under the_palm_tree_of Dəbōrāh between the_Rāmāh and_between Bēyt- ^ʼēl in/on/at/with_hill_country_of ʼEfrayim and_came_up to_her/it the_people_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) for_the_judgement.

6 And_sent and_she/it_called/named for_Bārāq the_son_of ʼAⱱīnnoˊam from_Qedesh Naftālī and_she/it_said to_him/it not has_he_commanded YHWH the_god_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) go and_march in/on/at/with_mount_of Tāⱱōr and_take with_you ten_of thousand(s) man from_(the)_sons of_Naftālī and_from_tribe_of Zəⱱulun.

7 And_draw_out to_you to the_wadi_of Qīshōn DOM Şīşərāʼ the_commander_of the_army_of Yāⱱīn and_DOM chariots_of_his and_DOM troops_of_his and_give_him in/on/at/with_hand_of_your.

8 And_he/it_said to_her/it Bārāq if you_will_go with_me and_go and_if not you_will_go with_me not I_will_go.

9 And_she/it_said certainly_(go) I_will_go with_you nevertheless if/because not it_will_be glory_of_you on the_road which you are_going if/because in/on/at/with_hand_of a_woman YHWH he_will_sell DOM Şīşərāʼ and_ Dəbōrāh _she/it_arose and_went\f + \fr 4:9 \ft OSHB note: Marks a place where we agree with BHQ against BHS in reading L.

\f*\f + \fr 4:9 \ft OSHB note: Marks an anomalous form.

\f*\f + \fr 4:9 \ft OSHB note: We read one or more vowels in L differently from BHS.

\f* with Bārāq Qedesh_to.

10 And_ Bārāq _summoned DOM Zəⱱulun and_DOM Naftālī Qedesh_to and_he/it_ascended in/on/at/with_heels_of_him ten_of thousand(s)_of man and_went_up with_him/it Dəbōrāh.

11 And_Ḩeⱱer the_Qēynī was_separated from_Qēynīs from_(the)_sons of_Ḩoⱱāⱱ¦113534 the_father-in-law_of Mosheh and_pitched tent_of_his to the_great_tree in/on/at/with_Tsaˊₐnannim/(Zaanannim)\f + \fr 4:11 \ft OSHB variant note: ב/צענים: (x-qere) ’בְּ/צַעֲנַנִּ֖ים’: lemma_b/6815 n_0.

0 morph_HR/Np id_07aFY בְּ/צַעֲנַנִּ֖ים\f* which is_with Qedesh.

12 And_told to_Şīşərāʼ if/because_that he_had_gone_up Bārāq the_son_of ʼAⱱīnnoˊam the_mountain_of Tāⱱōr.

13 and_ Şīşərāʼ _summoned DOM all_of chariots_of_his nine hundred(s) chariots_of iron and_DOM all_of the_troops which with_him/it from_Harosheth Haggoyim to the_wadi_of Qīshōn.

14 And_ Dəbōrāh _she/it_said to Bārāq arise if/because this the_day which he_has_given YHWH DOM Şīşərāʼ in/on/at/with_hand_of_your not YHWH has_he_gone_out to_your_face and_ Bārāq _he/it_descended from_hill of_Tāⱱōr and_ten_of thousand(s) man following_him.

15 And_ YHWH _routed DOM Şīşərāʼ and_DOM all_of the_chariots and_DOM all_of the_army by_edge_of the_sword to_(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before Bārāq and_ Şīşərāʼ _he/it_descended from_under the_chariot and_fled in/on/at/with_foot_of_him.

16 And_Bārāq he_pursued after the_chariots and_after the_army to Harosheth Haggoyim and_ all_of _fell the_army_of Şīşərāʼ by_edge_of the_sword not it_was_left up_to one.

17 And_Şīşərāʼ he_fled in/on/at/with_foot_of_him to the_tent_of Yāˊēl/(Jael) the_wife_of\f + \fr 4:17 \ft OSHB note: Marks a place where we agree with BHQ against BHS in reading L.

\f*\f + \fr 4:17 \ft OSHB note: Marks an anomalous form.

\f*\f + \fr 4:17 \ft OSHB note: We read punctuation in L differently from BHS.

\f* of_Ḩeⱱer the_Qēynī if/because peace was_between Yāⱱīn/(Jabin) the_king_of Ḩāʦōr and_between the_house_of Ḩeⱱer the_Qēynī.

18 And_ Yāˊēl _went_out to_ Şīşərāʼ _meet and_she/it_said to_him/it turn_aside my_master turn_aside to_me do_not be_afraid and_turned_aside to_her/it the_tent_into and_covered_him in/on/at/with_rug.

19 And_he/it_said to_her/it give_to_drink_me please a_little_of water if/because I_am_thirsty and_opened DOM the_skin-bottle_of the_milk and_gave_adrink_him and_covered_him.

20 And_he/it_said to_her/it stand the_opening_of the_tent and_it_was if anyone he_will_come and_asks_you and_saying(ms) is here anyone and_say there_is_not.

21 And_ Yāˊēl _she/it_took the_wife_of Ḩeⱱer DOM the_peg_of the_tent and_took DOM the_hammer in/on/at/with_hand_of_her and_went to_him/it in/on/at/with_quiet and_drove DOM the_peg in/on/at/with_temple_of_his and_went_down on_the_earth and_he was_sleeping and_exhausted and_he/it_died.

22 And_see/lo/see Bārāq was_pursuing DOM Şīşərāʼ and_ Yāˊēl/(Jael) _went_out to_meet_him and_she/it_said to_him/it come and_show_you DOM the_man whom you are_seeking and_went_in to_her/it and_see/lo/see Şīşərāʼ was_lying dead and_the_tent_peg in/on/at/with_temple_of_his.

23 And_ god _subdued in_the_day (the)_that DOM Yāⱱīn/(Jabin) the_king_of Kinaˊan/(Canaan) to_(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before the_people_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel).

24 And_continued the_hand_of the_people_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) going and_strong on Yāⱱīn the_king_of Kinaˊan/(Canaan) until that they_cut_off DOM Yāⱱīn the_king_of Kinaˊan/(Canaan).

5:1 Deborah and Barak sing together

The Song of Deborah and Barak; The Song of Deborah; The song of Deborah and Barak

5 That day, Deborah and Barak sang this song:

2 “When the leaders take the lead in Yisrael,

when the people offer themselves willingly,

Yahweh be blessed.

3 Listen you kings.

≈Pay attention you rulers.

I will sing to Yahweh, yes, even me.

≈I will make music for Yisrael’s God Yahweh.

4 Yahweh, you left Seir.

≈You marched out of the Edom region.

The earth quaked.

≈The heavens also dropped.

And the clouds poured down rain.

5 Mountains melted in Yahweh’s presence,[ref]

Yes, Mt. Sinai shook in front of Yisrael’s God, Yahweh.

6 In the days of Anat’s son Shamgar,

≈in the days of Yael,

main roads were abandoned,

≈and travellers walked twisting trails.

7 Israeli villages were abandoned.

≈No one lived there until I, Deborah, became their leader.

I became one of Yisrael’s mothers.

8 When ?@Yisrael chose new gods,

then enemies attacked the city gates.

No shield or spear could be found

among forty thousand in Yisrael.

9 ≈I’m thankful to Yisrael’s commanders

who volunteered to help the people.

Yahweh be blessed.

10 You riders of white donkeys,

you who sit on saddle blankets,

you who are walking on the road,

tell about this.

11 From the sounds of conflict over the watering places

they recount ≈Yahweh’s righteousness

and about his righteous warriors in Yisrael.

Then Yahweh’s people went down to the city gates.

12 Wake up, Deborah, wake up.

Wake up, wake up, ≈sing a song.

Barak, ≈get moving and capture your prisoners,

you son of Abinoam.

13 Then the survivor went down to the nobles.

Yahweh’s people went down to the mighty. ???

14 From Efrayim their root was with Amalek.

After you, Benyamin, among your people.

From (Menashsheh’s) Makir, the commanders came down.

And from Zebulun, those who march carrying an officer’s staff.

15 My princes in Yissashkar were with Deborah.

And Yissashkar was also with Barak.

He was sent into a valley on his heels.

There was intense heart searching among the clans of Reuben.

16 Why did you sit between the sheep pens?

To hear the whistling for the flocks?

There was intense heart searching among the clans of Reuben.

17 Gilead settled ≈east of the Yordan.

≈But, Dan, why does he stay on ships?

Asher stayed at the sea coast

≈and lives by his ≈jetties.

18 Zebulun were a ≈tribe that devotedly risked losing their lives.

And Naftali ≈was at their heights on the battlefield.

19 Kings came and made war.

Then the Canaanite kings fought at Taanak,

at the Megiddo springs.

But they ≈weren’t able to plunder any silver.

20 From the sky, the stars battled.

From their courses, they fought against Sisera.

21 The Kishon river swept them away.

An ancient river that Kison river.

March on with strength, my soul.

22 Then the horses’ hooves struck.

His galloping stallions charging.

23 ‘Curse that Meroz place,’ said Yahweh’s messenger.

‘You shall certainly curse its inhabitants

because they didn’t come and help Yahweh—

to help Yahweh against the mighty ones.’

24 Yael will be an ≈honoured woman.

The wife of Heber the Kenite.

She deserves the most praise out of all women ≈who live in tents.

25 He asked for water—she gave him milk,

Yogurt in a bowl suitable for nobles.

26 Her hands reached out for the tent peg,

and her right hand for the workman’s hammer.

She hammered Sisera—shattering his head—

shattering and piercing his temple.

27 He bowed down between her feet—he fell—he lay down.

He bowed down between her feet—where he bowed down, there he fell—destroyed.

28 Sisera’s mother looked out the window.

She peered through the lattice, crying out,

‘Why is his chariot so slow to return?

Why are the hoofbeats of his chariots delayed?’

29 Her wise ladies answered her.

Indeed, she keeps telling herself

30 ‘Won’t they be gathering and dividing the plunder?

A woman or two for each warrior to bear children.

Finding some colourful material for Sisera.

Taking some embroidered fabrics.

Dyed scarves as plunder.’

31 May all your enemies perish like that, Yahweh.

≈But may those who love you shine like the sun rising in its strength.”

Then that region had peace for forty years.

↑ 5  and_ Dəbōrāh _sang and_Bārāq the_son_of ʼAⱱīnnoˊam in_the_day (the)_that to_say.

2 In/on/at/with_lead leaders in/on/at/with_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) in/on/at/with_offer_themselves_willingly a_people bless YHWH.

3 Hear Oh_kings give_ear Oh_rulers I to/for_YHWH I I_will_sing I_will_sing_praises to/for_YHWH the_god_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel).

4 Oh_YHWH in/on/at/with_went_out_you from_Sēˊīr in/on/at/with_marched_you from_region_of ʼEdōm the_earth it_shook both the_heavens they_dropped as_well_as the_clouds they_dropped water.

5 the_mountains they_flowed from_face/in_front_of YHWH this Şīnay from_face/in_front_of YHWH the_god_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel).

6 In/on/at/with_days_of Shamgar the_son_of ˊAnāt in/on/at/with_days_of Yāˊēl/(Jael) roads they_ceased and_ones_travelling_of paths they_walked roads twisting.

7 rural_people They_ceased in/on/at/with_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) they_ceased until arose Dəbōrāh I_arose a_mother in/on/at/with_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel).

8 It_chose gods new then war was_in_the_gates a_shield if it_was_seen and_spear in/on/at/with_forty thousand in/on/at/with_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel).

9 Heart_of_my to_commanders_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) the_volunteers in/on/at/with_people bless YHWH.

10 Oh_riders_of female_donkeys tawny Oh_you_all_who_sit_of on garments and_walk_of on the_road tell_out.

11 To_sound_of those_who_divide between the_places_for_drawing_water there they_will_recount the_righteousness(es)_of YHWH the_righteousness(es)_of warriors_of_his in/on/at/with_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) then they_went_down to_the_gates the_people_of YHWH.

12 Awake awake Oh_Dəbōrāh awake awake speak a_song arise Oh_Bārāq and_take_captive captives_of_your Oh_son_of ʼAⱱīnnoˊam.

13 Then the_survivors he_went_down to_nobles the_people YHWH he_went_down to_me in/on/at/with_mighty.

14 From ʼEfrayim root_of_their in/on/at/with_ˊAmālēq following_you Binyāmīn in/on/at/with_people_of_your from Mākīr they_came_down commanders and_from_Zəⱱulun those_who_march in/on/at/with_staff_of a_muster-officer.

15 And_princes_of_me in/on/at/with_Yissāskār/(Issachar) were_with Dəbōrāh and_Yissāskār so Bārāq in/on/at/with_valley he_was_sent in/on/at/with_heels_of_his in/on/at/with_clans_of Rəʼūⱱēn were_great resolves_of heart.

16 To/for_what did_you_sit between the_sheepfolds to_hear the_whistling_of the_flocks among_clans_of Rəʼūⱱēn were_great searchings_of heart.

17 Gilˊād in/on/at/with_beyond_of the_Yardēn/(Jordan) he_dwelt and_Dān to/for_what did_he_sojourn ships ʼĀshēr he_remained at_coast_of the_seas and_by landings_of_his he_dwelt.

18 Zəⱱulun was_a_people which_it_despised lives_of_their to_death and_Naftali was_on the_heights_of the_field.

19 kings They_came they_fought then the_kings_of they_fought of_Kinaˊan/(Canaan) in/on/at/with_Taˊₐnāk at the_waters_of Məgiddōn profit_of silver not they_took.

20 From heaven they_fought the_stars from_courses_of_their they_fought with Şīşərāʼ.

21 The_wadi_of Qīshōn swept_away_them a_wadi_of ancient_times the_wadi_of Qīshōn you_will_march soul_of_my strength.

22 Then the_heels_of they_struck horses with_galloping the_galloping_of stallions_of_his.

23 Curse Mērōz the_messenger_of he_says of_YHWH curse certainly_(curse) inhabitants_of_its if/because not they_came to_help_of YHWH to_help_of YHWH in/on/at/with_mighty.

24 She_will_be_blessed of_women Yāˊēl/(Jael) the_wife_of Ḩeⱱer the_Qēynī of_women in/on/at/with_tent_dwellers she_will_be_blessed.

25 Water he_asked milk she_gave in/on/at/with_bowl_of nobles she_brought_near curds.

26 Hand_of_her for_the_tent_peg they_stretched_out and_right_hand_of_her for_hammer_of labourers and_struck Şīşərāʼ she_shattered his/its_head and_shattered and_pierced temple_of_his.

27 Between feet_of_her he_bowed_down he_fell he_lay_down between feet_of_her he_bowed_down he_fell in/on/at/with_where he_bowed_down there he_fell destroyed.

28 Through the_window she_looked_down and_ the_mother_of _cried_out of_Şīşərāʼ through the_lattice why has_it_delayed chariot_of_his in_coming why have_they_delayed the_hoof-beats_of chariots_of_his.

29 The_wise_women_of ladies_of_her they_answered also she she_brought_back messages_of_her to/for_her/it.

30 Not are_they_finding are_they_dividing_up plunder a_womb two_wombs for_each_of a_man plunder_of coloured_cloth(s) for_Şīşərāʼ plunder_of coloured_cloth(s) multicoloured_material coloured_cloth_of multicoloured_material(s) for_neck_of plunder.

31 So may_they_perish all_of enemies_of_your Oh_YHWH and_love_of_him like_rising the_sun in/on/at/with_might_of_its and_had_peace the_earth/land forty years.

6:1 Gideon

The Midianite Oppression; Gideon; Gideon Becomes Israel’s Judge

6 The Israelis did ≈things that Yahweh considered evil so *he handed them over to the Midian for seven years 2 and the ≈Midianites oppressed *them badly. ≈It was so bad that the Israelis made dens for themselves up in the hills, in caves, and ≈in small, fortified settlements. 3 Whenever the Israelis planted a crop, the Midianites or the Amalekites, or eastern groups would attack #them. 4 They would set up their camps around them and destroy the crops as far away as Gaza—they left ≈nothing for the Israelis to eat, and ≡no #sheep, cattle, or donkeys. 5 It was like a swarm of locusts when they’d all come with their tents and their livestock—you couldn’t even count their camels! They entered the region to ≈totally ravage it. 6 Thus Yisrael was ≈severely weakened by Midian, and the Israelis cried out to Yahweh.

7 When the Israelis cried out to Yahweh concerning Midian, 8 Yahweh sent a prophet to *them and he told them, “Yisrael’s God Yahweh says, ‘I myself brought you all out of slavery in Egypt—9 rescuing you from the Egyptians who were oppressing you all. I drove them out ≈when you all entered and I’ve certainly given their land to you. 10 I told you all that I’m your God Yahweh and that when you live in the Amorite regions, you all mustn’t worship their gods. But you ≈didn’t listen to what I said.’ ”

The Call of Gideon

11 One day Yahweh’s messenger came and sat beneath the oak tree in the town of Ofrah. (The tree belonged to the Abi-Ezrite, Yoash.) Yoah’s son Gideon was beating wheat down in a winepress to hide it from the Midianites 12 when Yahweh’s messenger appeared to him and said, “Yahweh is with you, you powerful warrior.”

13 “With me, my master?” Gideon ≈asked. “If Yahweh is with us, then why’s all of this happened to us? Where are all of the miracles that our ancestors told us about, saying, ‘Didn’t Yahweh bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now Yahweh has abandoned us and handed us over to the Midianites.”

14 Then Yahweh turned to him and said, “Use your strength to set Yisrael free from the grasp of Midian. Haven’t I sent you to do that?”

15 “Please, my master,” Gideon replied, “how could I save Yisrael? Look, my clan is the weakest in Menashsheh and on top of that, I’m the youngest in my ≈family.”

16 “I’ll ≈help you,” said Yahweh, “and you’ll strike down all the Midianites as easily as battling just one man.”

17 “If indeed I’ve found favour in your eyes,” Gideon ≈requested, “then ≈show me a miracle so I’ll know that it’s God speaking to me. 18 Please ≈wait here while I go and prepare my gift for you and bring it back here for you.”

“Okay, I’ll stay here until you get back,” he said.

19 Then Gideon went a prepared a young goat and unrisen bread. He put the meat in a basket and the soup in a pot and brought them out to the oak tree and offered them to him. 20 Then God’s messenger said, “Take the meat and the flat bread and put them on this rock, then pour the soup out over it.” ≈So @Gideon did that 21 and Yahweh’s messenger stretched out the staff that he was holding and touched the meat and bread with the end of it. A fire flamed up from the rock and burnt up the meat and bread, then Yahweh’s messenger went out of his sight.[fn]

22 When Gideon ≈realised that it really had been Yahweh’s messenger, he ≈was upset and said, “Oh no, my master Yahweh, ≈what will happen now that I’ve seen Yahweh’s face to face?” 23 But Yahweh ≈replied to him, “Peace to you. Don’t be afraid—you won’t die.” 24 ≈So Gideon built an altar there to sacrifice to Yahweh and named it ‘Yahweh is peace’. (It’s still stands there at Ofrah of the Abi-Ezrite to this day.)

25 ≈That same night, Yahweh told him, “Take the young bull that belongs to your father, and the second bull seven years old. Break the altar of Baal into pieces that belongs to your father, and cut down the Asherah pole that’s beside it. 26 Build a ≈regular altar to your God Yahweh on top of this stronghold, then take the second bull and offer a whole burnt offering using the Asherah pole that you cut down ≈for firewood.” 27 ≈So Gideon took ten of his servants and did what Yahweh had instructed him to, ≈but he did it at night because he was afraid to do it in the daytime—fearing the anger of his father’s household and the men of the city.

Gideon Destroys the Altar of Baal

28 When the men of the city got up early the next morning, wow, the Baal’s altar had been torn down, the Asherah pole that was beside it had been cut down, and the second bull had been offered on a new altar that had been built. 29 ≈So people started asking each other, “Who did this?” After some investigation, they said, “Yoash’s son Gideon did it.” 30 Then the men of the city told Yoash, “Bring your son out here ≈to be executed, because he tore down the Baal’s altar and cut down the Asherah pole that was beside it.”

31 “≈Are you all really fighting Baal’s battle for him?” Yoash replied to those standing against him. “Are you all really helping him? Whoever fights on his behalf should be be put to death while it is still the morning. If @Baal is a god, then let him stand up for himself when someone tears down his altar.” 32 ≈So after that, he called @Gideon ‘Yerub-Baal’ to say ‘Let Baal defend himself,’ because he had torn down @Baal’s altar.

33 ≈Meanwhile all the Midianite and Amalekite warriors and others from the east, assembled together. Then they crossed the Yordan and set up camp in the Jezreel valley. 34 ≈But Yahweh’s spirit ≈enabled Gideon, and he blew a trumpet and called the men of Abiezer to follow him. 35 Then he sent messengers throughout all of the regions of Menashsheh, Asher, Zebulun, and Naftali, and summoned their warriors to come and join with them.

The Sign of the Fleece

36 Then Gideon said to God, “If it’s really you rescuing Yisrael ≈through me like you said, 37 I’ll put this woollen fleece on the threshing floor tonight. If there’s dew on the fleece in the morning, but it’s dry around it, then I’ll know that you’ll rescue Yisrael ≈through me just as you said.” 38 And that’s what happened—he rose early the next morning and squeezed the fleece and wrung out a bowl full of water from the dew. 39 Then Gideon said to God, “Don’t ≈be angry with me, but ≈can I ask one more thing. Let me put the fleece out this time, and let the fleece be dry, but wet all around it with dew.” 40 ≈So God did it that night, and the next morning only the fleece was dry, but everywhere around was covered with dew.

↑ 6  and_ the_people_of _they_made of_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) the_evil in/on_both_eyes_of YHWH and_gave_them YHWH in/on/at/with_hand_of Midyān seven years.

2 And_ the_hand_of _prevailed of_Midyān over Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) from_face/in_front_of Midyān they_made to/for_them the_people_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) DOM the_hiding_places which in/on/at/with_mountains and_DOM the_caves and_DOM the_strongholds.

3 And_it_was if it_sowed Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_he/it_would_go_up Midyān and_ˊAmālēqites and_the_sons the_east and_come_up on/upon/above_him/it.

4 And_camp against_them and_destroy DOM the_produce_of the_earth/land until to_go_you ˊAzzāh and_not they_left sustenance in/on/at/with_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_sheep and_ox and_donkey.

5 If/because they and_livestock_of_their they_came_up and_tents_of_their wwww\f + \fr 6:5 \ft OSHB variant note: יבאו: (x-qere) ’וּ/בָ֤אוּ’: lemma_c/935 morph_HC/Vqq3cp id_07XWV וּ/בָ֤אוּ\f* like_swarm_of locusts to_increase_in_number and_to_they and_to_camels_of_their there_was_not number and_they_came in/on_the_earth to_wasted_it.

6 And_ Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) _brought_low very from_face/in_front_of Midyān and_ the_people_of _cried_out of_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) to YHWH.

7 and_he/it_was if/because the_people_of they_cried_out of_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) to YHWH on the_causes_of Midyān.

8 And_ YHWH _sent a_man a_prophet to the_people_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_he/it_said to/for_them thus YHWH he_says the_god_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) I I_brought_up DOM_you_all from_Miʦrayim/(Egypt) and_brought_out DOM_you_all of_house_of slaves.

9 And_delivered DOM_you_all from_hand_of Miʦrayim and_from_hand_of all_of oppressors_of_your_all’s and_drove_out DOM_them from_before_of_you_all and_gave to/for_you_all DOM land_of_their.

10 And_said to/for_you_all I am_YHWH god_of_your_all’s not you_all_must_fear DOM the_gods_of the_ʼAmorī whom you_all are_dwelling in/on/at/with_land_of_them and_not you_all_have_listened in/on/at/with_voice_of_me.

11 and_ the_messenger_of _came of_YHWH and_he/it_sat_down//remained//lived under the_oak which in/on/at/with_ˊĀfərāh which belonged_to_Yōʼāsh/(Joash) the_Abi- ezrite and_Gidˊōn his/its_son was_beating_out wheat(s) in/on/at/with_winepress to_hide from_face/in_front_of Midyān.

12 And_appeared to_him/it the_messenger_of\f + \fr 6:12 \ft OSHB note: Marks a place where we agree with BHQ against BHS in reading L.

\f*\f + \fr 6:12 \ft OSHB note: Marks an anomalous form.

\f*\f + \fr 6:12 \ft OSHB note: We read punctuation in L differently from BHS.

\f* of_YHWH and_he/it_said to_him/it YHWH with_you Oh_mighty_man_of the_mighty.

13 And_he/it_said to_him/it Gidˊōn pardon_me my_master and_is YHWH with_us and_for_what happened_us all_of this and_where are_all_of wonders_of_his which they_recounted to/for_us fathers_of_our to_say not from_Miʦrayim/(Egypt) bring_up_us YHWH and_now abandoned_us YHWH and_given_us in/on/at/with_hand_of Midyān.

14 And_turned to_him/it YHWH and_he/it_said go in/on/at/with_strength_of_you this and_deliver DOM Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) from_hand_of Midyān not sending_you.

15 And_he/it_said to_him/it pardon_me my_master in/on/at/with_how will_I_deliver DOM Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) here clan_of_my the_weakest in/on/at/with_Mənashsheh and_I the_youngest in_house_of father’s_of_my.

16 And_he/it_said to_him/it YHWH if/because I_will_be with_you and_strike_down DOM Midyān as_man one.

17 And_he/it_said to_him/it if please I_have_found favour in/on/at/with_eyes_of_your and_show to/for_me a_sign that_you are_speaking with_me.

18 Do_not please depart from_here until come_I to_you and_bring_out DOM gift_of_my and_set to_your_face and_said I I_will_remain until return_you.

19 And_Gidˊōn he_went and_he/it_made a_kid_of goats and_ʼēyfāh_of flour_of unleavened_bread(s) the_meat he_put in/on/at/with_basket and_the_broth he_put in/on/at/with_pot and_brought_out to_him/it to under the_oak and_presented.

20 and_he/it_said to_him/it the_messenger_of the_ʼElohīm take DOM the_meat and_DOM the_unleavened_bread and_put to the_rock this and_DOM the_broth pour_out and_he/it_made so.

21 And_ the_messenger_of _reached_out of_YHWH DOM the_end_of the_staff which in_his/its_hand and_touched in/on/at/with_meat and_in/on/at/with_unleavened_bread and_sprang_up the_fire from the_rock and_she/it_ate DOM the_meat and_DOM the_unleavened_cakes and_messenger_of YHWH he_went from_sight_of_his.

22 And_ Gidˊōn _he/it_saw if/because_that was_the_messenger_of YHWH it and_ Gidˊōn _he/it_said alas my_master YHWH if/because on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in yes/correct/thus/so I_have_seen the_messenger_of YHWH face to face.

23 And_he/it_said to_him/it YHWH peace to/for_yourself(m) do_not be_afraid not you_will_die.

24 And_he/it_built there Gidˊōn an_altar to/for_YHWH and_he/it_called to_him/it YHWH is_peace until the_day the_this still_it in/on/at/with_ˊĀfərāh of_the_Abi- ezrites.

25 and_he/it_was in/on/at/with_night (the)_that and_he/it_said to_him/it YHWH take DOM the_young_bull_of the_cattle which belongs_to_father_of_your and_bull_of the_second seven years and_pull_down DOM the_altar_of the_Baˊal which belongs_to_father_of_your and_DOM the_ʼₐshērāh which on/upon/above_him/it you_will_cut_down.

26 And_build an_altar to/for_YHWH god_of_your on the_top_of the_stronghold the_this in/on/at/with_proper_order and_take DOM the_bull the_second and_offer a_burnt_offering in/on/at/with_wood_of the_ʼₐshērāh which you_will_cut_down.

27 And_ Gidˊōn _he/it_took ten men of_servants_of_his and_he/it_made just_as he_had_spoken to_him/it YHWH and_he/it_was just_as he_feared DOM the_household_of his/its_father and_DOM the_men_of the_city to_do by_day and_he/it_made night.

28 And_ the_men_of _got_up the_city in/on/at/with_morning and_see/lo/see it_had_been_pulled_down the_altar_of the_Baˊal and_the_ʼₐshērāh which on/upon/above_him/it it_had_been_cut_down and_DOM the_bull the_second it_had_been_offered_up on the_altar the_built.

29 And_they_said each to his/its_neighbour who has_he_done the_thing the_this and_searched and_inquired and_they_said Gidˊōn the_son_of Yōʼāsh/(Joash) he_has_done the_thing the_this.

30 And_ the_men_of _they_said the_city to Yōʼāsh bring_out DOM son_of_your and_die if/because he_has_torn_down DOM the_altar_of the_Baˊal and_because/when he_has_cut_down the_ʼₐshērāh which on/upon/above_him/it.

31 And_ Yōʼāsh _he/it_said to_all/each/any/every those_who they_stood on/upon/above_him/it you_all contend for_the_Baˊal or you_all save DOM_him the_one_who he_will_conduct_a_case to_him/it he_will_be_put_to_death until the_morning if is_a_god he let_him_conduct_a_case to_him/it if/because someone_has_torn_down DOM altar_of_his.

32 And_he/it_called to_him/it in/on/at/with_day (the)_that Jerub-Baˊal to_say let_him_conduct_a_case in/on/over_him/it the_Baˊal if/because he_has_torn_down DOM altar_of_his.

33 and_all Midyān and_ˊAmālēqites and_the_sons the_east they_gathered together and_crossed_over and_camped in/on/at/with_valley_of Yizrəˊ^ʼēl/(Jezreel).

34 And_spirit of_YHWH it_clothed DOM Gidˊōn and_blew in/on/at/with_trumpet and_called_out\f + \fr 6:34 \ft OSHB note: Marks a place where we agree with BHQ against BHS in reading L.

\f*\f + \fr 6:34 \ft OSHB note: Marks an anomalous form.

\f*\f + \fr 6:34 \ft OSHB note: We read punctuation in L differently from BHS.

\f* ʼAⱱīˊezr follow_him.

35 And_messengers he_sent in_all Mənashsheh and_called_out\f + \fr 6:35 \ft OSHB note: Marks a place where we agree with BHQ against BHS in reading L.

\f*\f + \fr 6:35 \ft OSHB note: Marks an anomalous form.

\f*\f + \fr 6:35 \ft OSHB note: We read punctuation in L differently from BHS.

\f* also it follow_him and_messengers he_sent in/on/at/with_ʼĀshēr and_in/on/at/with_Zəⱱulun and_in/on/at/with_Naftālī and_went_up to_meet_them.

36 And_ Gidˊōn _he/it_said to the_ʼElohīm if it_is_you will_be_delivering in/on/at/with_hand_of_my DOM Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) just_as you_have_spoken.

37 Here I am_placing DOM the_fleece_of the_wool in/on/at/with_threshing_floor if dew it_will_be on the_fleece by_herself_of and_on all_of the_earth/land dryness and_know if/because_that you_will_deliver in/on/at/with_hand_of_my DOM Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) just_as you_have_spoken.

38 And_he/it_was so and_rose_early in_next_morning and_squeezed DOM the_fleece and_wrung_out dew from the_fleece the_fullness_of the_bowl water.

39 And_ Gidˊōn _he/it_said to the_ʼElohīm not anger_of_your let_it_burn in/on/at/with_me and_speak only the_one_more let_me_put_to_the_test please only the_time//this_time in/on/at/with_fleece let_it_be please dryness to the_fleece by_herself_of and_on all_of the_earth/land let_it_be dew.

40 And_ god _he/it_made so in/on/at/with_night (the)_that and_he/it_was dryness to the_fleece by_herself_of and_on all_of the_earth/land it_was dew.

7:1 Gideon defeats the Midianites

Gideon Defeats the Midianites; Gideon Surprises and Routs the Midianites

7 Then Gideon (also known as Yerub-Baal) and the warriors with him got up early and went to Harod spring. The Midianite camp was north of them in the valley below the Moreh hill.

2 Then Yahweh told Gideon, “≈You’ve got too many warriors with you for me to give victory over the Midianites, because what if Yisrael takes the glory for themselves thinking that their own strength saved them. 3 ≈So tell the men that anyone who’s afraid or trembling can leave Mt. Gilead and go back home.” Twenty-two thousand of them went back, leaving only ten thousand.[ref]

4 “That’s still too many,” Yahweh told Gideon. “Bring them down to the ≈spring and I’ll short-list them there. Whoever I tell you to go with you, can do so, but anyone that I say won’t go with you, won’t go.” 5 ≈So he took them down to the water and Yahweh told *him, “≈Separate out those who lap up the water with #their tongues like a dog would, ≈along with those who kneel down to drink.” 6 ≈It turned out that only three hundred men used their hands to bring water to their mouths, and all the rest knelt down to drink the water. 7 “I’ll ≈rescue you all from Midian with the three hundred men who lapped the water from their hands,” Yahweh told Gideon. “Let all the others go back to their homes.” 8 Then the three-hundred warriors ≈collected the food and ram’s horns from the others before @Gideon sent the others back to their own ≈homes.

The Midian camp was below #them down in the valley 9 and during the night Yahweh told @Gideon, “≈Get ready and lead them down into the camp, because I have ≈made you victorious. 10 ≈But if you’re afraid to ≈attack, take your servant Purah down to &their camp 11 and you’ll hear what they’re saying, then ≈you’ll have the courage to go down and attack the camp.” So @Gideon and his servant Purah went quietly down to the ≈unit at the edge of the camp.

12 The Midianites and Amalekites and others from the east covered the valley like a swarm of locusts. Even their camels were as numerous as sand grains on the beach. 13 ≈When Gideon ≈got close, a man was telling his companion about his dream. “Listen,” he said, “I had a dream and wow, a round loaf of barley bread was tumbling into ≈our camp. It came as far as the tent and struck it so that it fell and turned it upside down, and collapsed completely.”

14 “≈That could only be the sword of Yoash’s son Gideon from Yisrael,” ≈the other man replied. “The true God has ≈caused Midian and all of the camp to be defeated by him.”

15 When Gideon heard the account of the dream and its interpretation, he ≈thanked God, then #they returned to *their camp and ≈commanded, “≈Get ready to go because Yahweh has given ≈you all victory over the Midianite camp.” 16 Then he divided the three hundred men into three units, and gave each of them rams’ horns and clay jars with burning torches inside them, 17 and instructed them, “Watch me and do what I do. See, when I get to the edge of &their camp, do the same as me. 18 When I blow the ram’s horn trumpet, all of you with horns should blow them and everyone will shout, ‘For Yahweh and for Gideon!’ ”

19 ≈When Gideon and the hundred men with him got to the edge of the camp, it was the beginning of the middle nightwatch and ≈the fresh guards had just gotten into their places. @Gideon and his unit blew their trumpets and smashed the jars ≈that they were carrying. 20 Then all three units blew the trumpets and smashed their jars. They held the torches in their left hands and the trumpets in their right hands, and they shouted out, “A sword for Yahweh and for Gideon.” 21 Then everyone stood in their place around the camp, ≈but the Midianite army cried out in alarm and ≈took off. 22 When the three hundred ram’s horns ≈sounded, Yahweh ≈caused the Midianite army to start fighting each other with their swords, and the army fled as far as Beyt-Shittah (towards Tsererah) and towards the border of Abel-Meholah (towards Tabbat).

23 Then the ≈warriors from Naftali, Asher, and from all of Menashsheh were summoned ≈to help with pursuing the Midianites. 24 Gideon also sent messengers through Efrayim’s hill country ≈to tell them, “Go down to the Yordan river opposite Midian and ≈take control of the crossings to capture them between as far as Beyt-Barah.” So all the men of Efrayim were summoned and they commandeered the Yordan ≈crossings as far as Beyt-Barah. 25 They chased after the Midianites and captured their two princes, Oreb and Zeeb. They killed Oreb at the rock now called ‘Oreb’s rock’, and they killed Zeeb at a winepress now called ‘Zeeb’s winepress’, and they brought their heads back across the Yordan to Gideon.

↑ 7  and_ Jerub-Baˊal _rose_early that is_Gidˊōn and_all the_troops which with_him/it and_camped at En Harod and_camp_of Midyān it_was to_him/it on_north below_hill_of the_Mōreh in/on/at/with_valley.

2 And_ YHWH _he/it_said to Gidˊōn is_too_numerous the_troops which with_you for_give_me DOM Midyān in/on/at/with_hands_of_their lest it_should_glorify_itself over_me Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) to_say hand_of_my_own it_has_delivered to/for_me.

3 And_now proclaim please in/on/at/with_hearing_of the_troops to_say who is_fearful and_trembling let_him_go_back and_leave from_hill the_Gilˊād and_returned of the_troops twenty and_two thousand and_ten_of thousand(s) they_remained.

4 and_ YHWH _he/it_said to Gidˊōn still the_troops is_numerous bring_down DOM_them to the_waters and_test_them to/for_yourself(m) there and_it_was the_one_whom I_will_say to_you this_one he_will_go with_you he he_will_go with_you and_all/each/any/every one_whom I_will_say to_you this_one not he_will_go with_you he not he_will_go.

5 And_brought_down DOM the_troops to the_waters and_ YHWH _he/it_said to Gidˊōn every one_who he_will_lap_up in/on/at/with_tongue_of_his some_of the_waters just_as it_laps_up the_dog you_will_set DOM_him to_one_side and_all/each/any/every one_who he_will_bow_down on knees_of_him to_drink.

6 And_he/it_was the_number_of the_lapped in/on/at/with_hands_of_their to mouths_of_their three hundred(s) man and_all/each/any/every the_remainder_of the_troops they_bowed_down on knees_of_their to_drink water.

7 and_ YHWH _he/it_said to Gidˊōn in/on/at/with_three hundred(s) the_man the_lapped I_will_deliver DOM_you_all and_give DOM Midyān in/on/at/with_hand_of_your and_all the_troops let_them_go each to_home_of_his.

8 And_they_took DOM provisions the_troops in/on/at/with_hands_of_their and_DOM trumpets_of_their and_DOM every_of (the)_man_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) he_sent_away each to_tents_of_his and_in/on/at/with_three hundred(s) the_man he_kept_hold and_camp_of Midyān it_was to_him/it from_under in/on/at/with_valley.

9 and_he/it_was in/on/at/with_night (the)_that and_he/it_said to_him/it YHWH arise go_down in/on/at/with_camp if/because given_it in/on/at/with_hand_of_your.

10 And_if are_afraid you to_go_down go_down you and_Furāh servant_of_your to the_camp.

11 And_hear what will_they_speak and_after hands_of_you they_will_be_strong and_go_down in/on/at/with_camp and_he/it_descended he and_Furāh servant_of_his to the_edge_of the_armed_men who in/on/at/with_camp.

12 And_Midyānites and_ˊAmālēqites and_all the_people_of the_east were_lying in/on/at/with_valley like_the_locusts to_increase_in_number and_to_camels_of_their there_was_not number as_as_the_sand that_on the_shore_of the_sea to_increase_in_number.

13 And_ Gidˊōn _arrived and_see/lo/see a_man was_recounting to_friend_of_his a_dream and_he/it_said here a_dream I_have_dreamed and_see/lo/see a_round_loaf_of\f + \fr 7:13 \ft OSHB variant note: צלול: (x-qere) ’צְלִ֜יל’: lemma_6742 n_0.

0 morph_HNcmsc id_07vwy צְלִ֜יל\f* of_bread_of barley(s) was_tumbling in/on/at/with_camp_of Midyān and_came to the_tent and_struck_it and_fell and_turned_down_it to_~top_on and_collapsed the_tent.

14 his/its_neighbour And_answered and_he/it_said is_not this except (if) the_sword_of Gidˊōn the_son_of Yōʼāsh/(Joash) the_man_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) he_has_given the_ʼElohīm in_his/its_hand DOM Midyān and_DOM all_of the_camp.

15 and_he/it_was when_heard Gidˊōn DOM the_recounting_of the_dream and_DOM interpretation_of_its and_bowed_in_worship and_returned to the_camp_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_he/it_said arise if/because YHWH he_has_given in/on/at/with_hand_of_your_all’s DOM the_camp_of Midyān.

16 And_divided DOM three hundred(s) the_man three companies and_he/it_gave trumpets in/on/at/with_hands_of all_of_them and_jars empty and_torches in_the_middle the_jars.

17 And_he/it_said to_them at_me you_all_will_see and_thus/so/as_follows you_all_will_do and_see/lo/see I will_be_coming in/on/at/with_outskirts_of the_camp and_it_was as/like_just_as I_will_do so do.

18 And_blow in/on/at/with_trumpet I and_all those_who with_me and_blow in/on/at/with_trumpets also you_all all_around_of all_of the_camp and_say to/for_YHWH and_for_Gidˊōn.

19 and_ Gidˊōn _came and_hundred man who with_him/it in/on/at/with_outskirts_of the_camp the_beginning_of the_watch the_middle just just_(station) they_had_stationed DOM the_watch and_blew in/on/at/with_trumpets and_smashed the_jars which in/on/at/with_hands_of_their.

20 And_blew the_three_of the_companies in/on/at/with_trumpets and_broke the_jars and_held in/on/at/with_hands_of left_of_their\f + \fr 7:20 \ft OSHB note: We agree with both BHS 1997 and BHQ on an unexpected reading.

\f* in/on/at/with_torches and_in/on/at/with_hands_of right_of_their the_trumpets to_blow and_cried a_sword to/for_YHWH and_for_Gidˊōn.

21 And_they_stood everyone in_place_his round_about to_the_camp and_ all_of _ran the_army and_cried_out and_fled\f + \fr 7:21 \ft OSHB variant note: ו/יניסו: (x-qere) ’וַ/יָּנֽוּסוּ’: lemma_c/5127 n_0 morph_HC/Vqw3mp id_07f82 וַ/יָּנֽוּסוּ\f*.

22 And_blew the_three (the)_hundred(s) the_trumpets and_ YHWH _he/it_assigned DOM the_sword_of each in/on/at/with_fellow_of_his and_on/over_all the_army and_fled the_army to Bēyt Shittah Tsərērāh/(Zererah)_toward to the_border_of Abel at Ţabat.

23 And_ the_man_of _called_out of_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) from_Naftālī and_from ʼĀshēr and_from all_of Mənashsheh and_pursued after Midyān.

24 And_messengers Gidˊōn he_sent in_all the_hill_country_of ʼEfrayim to_say come_down to_against Midyān and_seize to/for_them DOM the_waters to Bēyt Barah and_DOM the_Yardēn/(Jordan) and_ every_of _called_out (the)_man_of ʼEfrayim and_took DOM the_waters to Bēyt Barah and_DOM the_Yardēn.

25 And_captured the_two_of the_commanders_of Midyān DOM ˊOrēⱱ¦115692 and_DOM Zəʼēⱱ¦115695 and_killed DOM ˊOrēⱱ¦115699 in/on/at/with_rock_of ˊOrēⱱ¦115702 and_DOM Zəʼēⱱ¦115705 they_killed in/on/at/with_winepress_of Zəʼēⱱ¦115709 and_pursued (to) Midyān and_heads_of ˊOrēⱱ¦115716 and_Zəʼēⱱ¦115717 they_brought to Gidˊōn from_beyond of_the_Yardēn.

8:1 The final defeat of the Midianites

Gideon Kills Zebah and Zalmunna; Gideon’s Triumph and Vengeance; The Final Defeat of the Midianites

8 But then the Efrayimite men ≈challenged Gideon, “Why have you ≈side-tracked us? Why didn’t you call us when you went to battle against the Midianites?” And they severely rebuked him.

2 “What ≈have I achieved compared to you guys?” ≈answered @Gideon. “Aren’t the ≈seconds of Efrayim’s grapes better than the whole grape harvest of Abiezer? 3 God ≈helped you all defeat Oreb and Zeeb, the princes of Midian. What did I do compared to that?” After he said that, they all ≈calmed down again.[ref]

4 Then Gideon and his three hundred warriors crossed the Yordan going east. They were ≈all exhausted, but continued the pursuit. 5 When they arrived at the town of Sukkot, Gideon asked the ≈leaders, “Please give my men some bread to eat because they’re exhausted, ≈but we’re chasing Zebah and Zalmunna, the Midianite kings.”

6 ≈However, the Sukkot officials asked cautiously, “≈Do you already have Zebah and Zalmunna in your grasp that we should give ≈food to your army?”

7 “Let me assure you all,” Gideon ≈responded, “that when Yahweh has ≈helped us capture Zebah and Zalmunna, I will rip off your flesh with the wilderness thorns and briers.”

8 From there they climbed up to Penuel, and he ≈asked them for food in a similar manner, and the ≈leaders there responded similarly to the ≈leaders of Sukkot. 9 ≈So he said to the men of Penuel as well, “When I return ≈safely, I’ll tear down this tower.”

10 ≈Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with around fifteen thousand warriors—all that remained out of all of that allied Midianite camp of eastern people, because one hundred and twenty thousand of their warriors had already been killed. 11 Gideon approached them unexpectedly via the caravan route east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and struck their camp when they were feeling secure. 12 Zebah and Zalmunna fled, but #they chased after those two Midianite kings and captured them, thus defeating their entire army.

13 The Gideon (Yoash’s son) and his warriors returned from battle, going through the Heres pass. 14 He captured a young man from Sukkot and questioned him—writing down the names of the seventy-seven leaders and elders of Sukkot. 15 Then he ≈returned to Sukkot and told them, “Look here at Zebah and Zalmunna—the ones you taunted me about when you ≈asked, ‘≈Do you already have Zebah and Zalmunna in your grasp that we should give ≈food to your weary men.’ ” 16 He took the city elders and had them punished with wilderness thorns and briers ≈to teach them a lesson, 17 then they went to Penuel and tore down the tower and executed the city ≈leaders.

18 Then @Gideon ≈asked Zebah and Zalmunna, “≈What were the men like that you killed at Tabor?”

“≈They were just like you,” they ≈replied. “≈They seemed like they could have been a king’s sons.”

19 “They were my brothers—the sons of my mother,” he said. “As Yahweh lives, if only you had let them live, I wouldn’t have killed you.” 20 Then he ≈ordered Yeter, his oldest son, “Go and kill them.” But Yeter didn’t pull out his sword because he was afraid—he was still a youth.

21 Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, “Come and kill us yourself—≈be a man and use your own strength.” So Gideon ≈went over and killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and then he took the crescent-shaped ornaments that were on their camels’ necks.

Gideon’s Idolatry; Gideon’s Sacred Ephod; Gideon’s Ephod

22 Then a group of Israeli men said to Gideon, “≈We want you and your sons and your future descendants to rule over us, because you have ≈saved us from the Midianites.”

23 ≈But Gideon ≈answered, “No, I won’t rule over you myself, nor will my son rule over you. Yahweh will rule over you.” 24 ≈However, *he ≈continued, “Let me ask you all for something: that each man give me the #earrings from his spoil.” (@The enemies had gold earrings because they were Ishmaelites.)

25 “We ≈can certainly do that for you,” they ≈replied. So they spread out a garment and each man threw the #earrings from his spoil onto it. 26 Now the weight of the gold earrings of gold came to twenty kilograms, and then there were the crescent-shaped ornaments, the pendants, the dyed purple garments that the Midianite kings had been wearing, as well as the collars that had been around their camels’ necks. 27 Then Gideon made @the gold into an idol[fn] and placed it in his home city of Ophrah, and the Israelis prostituted themselves to it there, and so it became like a trap for Gideon and his household.

Gideon’s Death

28 ≈So Midian was ≈kept under control by the Israelis and they didn’t continue to ≈oppress the people, and there was peace in the region for forty years during Gideon’s time.

↑ 8  And_they_said to_him/it the_man_of ʼEfrayim what the_thing the_this which_you_have_done to/for_ourselves to_not to_summon to/for_us if/because you_went to_fight in/on/at/with_Midyānites and_upbraided with_him/it in/on/at/with_sharpness.

2 And_he/it_said to_them what have_I_done now in_comparison_with_you_all am_not good are_the_gleanings_of ʼEfrayim than_grape_harvest_of ʼAⱱīˊezr.

3 In/on/at/with_hands_of_your_all’s god he_has_given DOM the_commanders_of Midyān DOM ˊOrēⱱ¦115769 and_DOM Zəʼēⱱ¦115772 and_what have_I_been_able to_do in_comparison_with_you_all then anger_of_their it_relaxed from_against_him in/on/at/with_said_he the_thing the_this.

4 And_ Gidˊōn _came the_Yardēn_to was_passing_over he and_three hundred(s) the_man who with_him/it exhausted and_pursuing.

5 And_he/it_said to_men_of Şukkōt give please round_loaves_of bread to_the_people which in/on/at/with_feet_of_my if/because are_exhausted they and_I am_pursuing after Zeⱱaḩ and_Tsalmunnāˊ/(Tsalmōn/(Zalmun)na) the_kings_of Midyān.

6 And_ the_officials_of _he/it_said of_Şukkōt hands_of Zeⱱaḩ and_Tsalmunnāˊ now in/on/at/with_hand_of_your (cmp) we_will_give to_army_of_your bread.

7 And_ Gidˊōn _he/it_said for_so/thus/hence in/on/at/with_given YHWH DOM Zeⱱaḩ and_DOM Tsalmunnāˊ in/on/at/with_hand_of_my and_trample DOM flesh_of_your_all’s with (the)_thorns_of the_wilderness and_DOM the_briers.

8 And_he/it_ascended from_there Pənū^ʼēl and_he/it_spoke to_them as_that and_answered the_men_of DOM_him of_Pənū^ʼēl just_as they_had_answered the_men_of Şukkōt.

9 And_he/it_said also to_men_of Pənū^ʼēl to_say in/on/at/with_return_I in/on/at/with_triumph I_will_tear_down DOM the_tower the_this.

10 and_Zeⱱaḩ and_Tsalmunnāˊ in/on/at/with_Qarqor and_army_of_their with_them about_five_of teen thousand all_of the_left from_all the_army_of the_people_of the_east and_the_fallen were_one_hundred and_twenty thousand man who_drew the_sword.

11 And_ Gidˊōn _he/it_ascended the_direction_of the_dwell_of in/on/at/with_tents from_east of_Noⱱaḩ and_Yāgəbəhāh/(Jogbehah) and_attacked DOM the_army and_the_army it_was security.

12 And_ Zeⱱaḩ _fled and_Tsalmunnāˊ/(Tsalmōn/(Zalmun)na) and_pursued after_them and_captured DOM the_two_of the_kings_of Midyān DOM Zeⱱaḩ and_DOM Tsalmunnāˊ and_all the_army he_routed.

13 And_ Gidˊōn _returned the_son_of Yōʼāsh/(Joash) from the_battle by_to/for_ascent_of the_Heres.

14 And_captured a_young_man from_people_of Şukkōt and_questioned_him and_wrote_down to_him/it DOM the_officials_of Şukkōt and_DOM elders_of_its seventy and_seven man.

15 And_came to the_men_of Şukkōt and_he/it_said here Zeⱱaḩ and_Tsalmunnāˊ whom you_all_taunted DOM_me to_say hands_of Zeⱱaḩ and_Tsalmunnāˊ now in/on/at/with_hand_of_your (cmp) we_will_give to_men_of_your the_exhausted bread.

16 And_he/it_took DOM the_elders_of the_city and_DOM the_thorns_of the_wilderness and_DOM the_briers and_taught_alesson (is)_in_them DOM the_men_of Şukkōt.

17 And_DOM the_tower_of Pənū^ʼēl he_tore_down and_killed DOM the_men_of the_city.

18 And_he/it_said to Zeⱱaḩ and_near/to Tsalmunnāˊ where the_men whom you_all_killed in/on/at/with_Tāⱱōr and_said\f + \fr 8:18 \ft OSHB note: Marks a place where we agree with BHQ against BHS in reading L.

\f*\f + \fr 8:18 \ft OSHB note: Marks an anomalous form.

\f*\f + \fr 8:18 \ft OSHB note: We read one or more vowels in L differently from BHS.

\f* like_you so_they one with_appearance_of the_sons_of the_king.

19 And_said brothers_of_my the_sons_of mother_of_my they by_the_life of_YHWH if you_all_had_let_live DOM_them not I_killed DOM_you_all.

20 And_he/it_said to_Yeter/(Jether) firstborn_of_his arise kill DOM_them and_not he_drew the_boy sword_of_his if/because he_was_afraid if/because still_he was_a_young_man.

21 And_ Zeⱱaḩ _he/it_said and_Tsalmunnāˊ/(Tsalmōn/(Zalmun)na) arise you and_fall in/on/at/with_us if/because as_the_man strength_of_his and_ Gidˊōn _he/it_rose_up and_killed DOM Zeⱱaḩ and_DOM Tsalmunnāˊ and_he/it_took DOM the_crescent_ornaments which in/on/at/with_necks_of camels_of_their.

22 And_ the_man_of _they_said of_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) to Gidˊōn rule in/on/at/with_us both you as_well_as son_of_your as_well_as the_son_of sons’¦116139_of_your if/because delivered_us from_hand_of Midyān.

23 And_he/it_said to_them Gidˊōn not I_will_rule I in/on/at/with_you_all and_not he_will_rule son_of_my in/on/at/with_you_all YHWH he_will_rule in/on/at/with_you_all.

24 And_he/it_said to_them Gidˊōn let_me_ask of_you_all a_petition and_give to_me everyone (the)_earring_of plunder_of_his if/because earrings_of gold to/for_them if/because were_Yishmāˊ^ʼēlī they.

25 And_they_said indeed_(give) we_will_give_them and_spread_out DOM the_garment and_threw there_into everyone (the)_earring_of plunder_of_his.

26 And_he/it_was the_weight_of the_earrings_of the_gold which he_asked_for one_thousand and_seven hundred(s) gold to/for_apart from the_crescent_ornaments and_the_pendants and_garments_of the_purple that_on the_kings_of Midyān and_to/for_apart from the_chains which in/on/at/with_necks_of camels_of_their.

27 And_he/it_made Gidˊōn DOM_it into_ephod and_put DOM_it in/on/at/with_town_of_his in/on/at/with_ˊĀfərāh and_ all_of _prostituted Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) to_it there and_he/it_was to_Gidˊōn and_to_family_of_his as_snare.

28 And_ Midyān _subdued to_(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before the_people_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_not they_repeated to_lift_up heads_of_their and_had_rest the_earth/land forty years in/on/at/with_days_of Gidˊōn.

8:29 The death of Gideon

The Death of Gideon; Death of Gideon

29 Then Gideon (Yoash’s son, also known as Yerub-Baal) went back and lived in his house, 30 and *he fathered seventy sons because he had many wives. 31 He also had a mistress in Shekem—she also bore him a son that he named Abimelek. 32 Gideon died at a good old age and was buried in the tomb of Yoash his father, at Ofrah of the #Abiezerites.

33 ≈However after Gideon had died, the ≈Israelis turned away again from Yahweh and prostituted themselves to the Baals—making Baal-Berit for themselves as a god. 34 *They ≈forgot about their God Yahweh—the one who had rescued them from the ≈clutch of all of their enemies all around. 35 They didn’t ≈show lasting loyalty to Gideon’s ≈family, despite all the good that he’d done within Yisrael.

29 and_ Jerub-Baˊal _he/it_went the_son_of Yōʼāsh/(Joash) and_he/it_sat_down//remained//lived in/on/at/with_house_of_his_own.

30 And_to_Gidˊōn they_belonged seventy sons body_of_his_own who_came_out_of if/because wives many they_belonged to_him/it.

31 And_concubine_of_his who in/on/at/with_Shəkem she_bore for_him/it also she a_son and_he/it_assigned DOM his/its_name ʼAⱱīmelek.

32 And_ Gidˊōn _he/it_died the_son_of Yōʼāsh in/on/at/with_old_age good and_buried in/on/at/with_tomb_of Yōʼāsh his/its_father in/on/at/with_ˊĀfərāh of_the_Abi- ezrites.

33 and_he/it_was as/like_just_as he_had_died Gidˊōn and_ the_people_of _again of_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_prostituted after the_Baals and_made to/for_them Baˊal- Berith as_god.

34 And_not the_people_of they_remembered of_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) DOM YHWH god_of_their the_rescued DOM_them from_hand_of all_of enemies_of_their on_every_side.

35 And_not they_did loyalty with the_house_of Jerub-Baˊal Gidˊōn for_all_of the_good which he_had_done with Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel).

9:1 Abimelek snatches the kingship

Abimelech; Abimelech and his successors; Abimelech Rules over Shechem; Abimelech Attempts to Establish a Monarchy

9 ≈Now Gideon’s son Abimelek went to Shekem to his mother’s brothers and spoke to @those uncles and to all the ≈extended family of his mother’s father, saying, 2 “Please ≈ask around all the citizens of Shekem: ‘What is better for you: Gideon’s seventy sons ruling over you, or having a single man ≈in charge?’ Remember that I’m your flesh and bone.” 3 ≈So his uncles working on his behalf, passed that onto all the citizens of Shekem, and ≈they became convinced in Abimelek, because they said, “He’s our brother.” 4 Then they gave him seventy silver coins from the temple of Baal -Berith, and Abimelek ≈used them to entice some rough lay-abouts to work for him. 5 Then #they went to his father’s house at Ofrah, and he killed his seventy half-brothers (Gideon’s sons) there on one stone. But Gideon’s youngest son Yotam survived because he had hidden from them. 6 Then all of the prominent citizens of Shekem and all of Beyt-Millo assembled themselves, and they went and installed Abimelek as king beside an oak tree near the standing pillar[fn] that was in Shekem.

↑ 9  and_ ʼAⱱīmelek _he/it_went the_son_of Jerub-Baˊal Shəkem_to to the_brothers_of his/its_mother and_he/it_spoke to_them and_near/to all_of the_clan_of the_house_of the_father_of his/its_mother to_say.

2 Speak please in/on/at/with_hearing_of all_of the_citizens_of Shəkem what is_good to/for_you_all the_rule in/on/at/with_you_all seventy man all_of the_sons_of Jerub-Baˊal or to_rule in/on/at/with_you_all a_man one and_remember if/because_that bone_of_your_all’s\f + \fr 9:2 \ft OSHB note: Marks a place where we agree with BHQ against BHS in reading L.

\f*\f + \fr 9:2 \ft OSHB note: We agree with both BHS 1997 and BHQ on an unexpected reading.

\f*\f + \fr 9:2 \ft OSHB note: We read one or more accents in L differently than BHS.

Often this notation indicates a typographical error in BHS.

\f*\f + \fr 9:2 \ft OSHB note: Marks an anomalous form.

\f* and_flesh_of_your_all’s I.

\f + \fr 9:2 \ft OSHB note: We agree with both BHS 1997 and BHQ on an unexpected reading.

\f* 3 and_ the_brothers_of _spoke his/its_mother on/upon/above_him/it in/on/at/with_hearing_of all_of the_citizens_of Shəkem DOM all_of the_messages the_these hearts_of_they and_inclined after ʼAⱱīmelek if/because they_said brother_of_our he.

4 And_gave to_him/it seventy silver from_house_of\f + \fr 9:4 \ft OSHB note: We read the punctuation in L differently from BHQ.

\f*\f + \fr 9:4 \ft OSHB note: Marks an anomalous form.

\f*\f + \fr 9:4 \ft OSHB note: We read punctuation in L differently from BHS.

\f* of_Baˊal-\f + \fr 9:4 \ft OSHB note: We read the punctuation in L differently from BHQ.

\f*\f + \fr 9:4 \ft OSHB note: Marks an anomalous form.

\f*\f + \fr 9:4 \ft OSHB note: We read punctuation in L differently from BHS.

\f* Berith and_hired (is)_in_them ʼAⱱīmelek men worthless and_reckless and_they_followed after_him.

5 And_went the_house_of his/its_father ˊĀfərāh_at and_killed DOM brothers_of_his the_sons_of Jerub-Baˊal seventy\f + \fr 9:5 \ft OSHB note: We read the punctuation in L differently from BHQ.

\f*\f + \fr 9:5 \ft OSHB note: Marks an anomalous form.

\f*\f + \fr 9:5 \ft OSHB note: We read punctuation in L differently from BHS.

\f* man on stone one and_ Yōtām/(Jotham) _survived the_son_of Jerub-Baˊal the_small(sg) if/because he_hid_himself.

6 and_ all_of _gathered the_citizens_of Shəkem and_all Bēyt Millōʼ and_went and_crown DOM ʼAⱱīmelek as_king near the_great_tree_of which_had_been_set_up which in/on/at/with_Shəkem.

9:7 Yotam’s tree parable

Jotham’s Parable; The Parable of the Trees

7 ≈When they told Yotam, he went and stood on the top of Mt. Gerizim and shouted out to them all ≈in a loud voice, “Listen to me, citizens of Shekem, so God will listen to all of you. 8 Once the trees went about in order to appoint a king for themselves, ≈So they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’ 9 ≈But the olive tree replied to them, ‘Have I stopped producing my ≈valuable oil used to honour gods and men, that I should go to sway above the other trees?’ 10 ≈So the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come and reign over us.’ 11 ≈But the fig tree answered them, ‘Have I stopped producing my sweetness and my good fruit, that I should go to sway above the other trees?’ 12 Then the trees said to the grapevine, ‘You come and reign over us.’ 13 ≈But the vine ≈replied, ‘Have I stopped producing my new wine, which cheers gods and man, that I should go to sway over the other trees?’ 14 Then all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘You come and reign over us!’ 15 The thornbush told the trees, ‘If you all are ≈really wanted to anoint me as king over you, come and take refuge in my shade. But if ≈you all don’t, may the thornbush send out fire to ≈burn up Lebanon’s cedar forests.’

16 “≈Therefore did you all act with honesty and integrity when you installed Abimelek as king? Did you all treat ≈Gideon’s family well, and did you all ≈repay him appropriately for what he did for you all? 17 My father fought on your behalf, and even ≈risked his life out front when he ≈rescued you all from the Midianites, 18 ≈but today you’ve all risen up against my father’s family and killed his sons—seventy men on one stone. Then you’ve installed Abimelek, the son of his female servant, as king over the citizens of Shekem because he’s your brother. 19 ≈Now if you’ve all acted with honesty and integrity with towards ≈Gideon and his family today, be happy with Abimelek, and he’ll also be happy with all of you, 20 ≈but if not, then fire will come out of Abimelek and destroy the citizens of Shekem and Beyt-Millo. Fire will also come out from the Shekem’s citizens and from Beyt-Millo, and it’ll destroy Abimelech.” 21 Then Yotam fled away and escaped and went to Be’er and settled there away from the presence of his half-brother Abimelek.

Shechem’s Revolt against Abimelech; The Downfall of Abimelech

22 Abimelek ruled over Yisrael for three years, 23 then God sent an evil spirit between *him and the citizens of Shekem, ≈so the citizens *there dealt treacherously with Abimelek. 24 The violent treatment of ≈Gideon’s seventy sons ≈kept getting brought up, and by ≈it was all blamed on their brother Abimelech who had killed them, and on those of Shekem’s citizens who ≈assisted him in the killing of his brothers. 25 ≈So the Shekem citizens placed men in ambush along the tops of the hills ≈to get him, ≈but they robbed everyone who went passed them along the road, and so it was reported to Abimelech.

26 Then Gaal (Ebed’s son) came along with his brothers and ≈moved into Shekem, and the citizens *there began to trust #them. 27 They went out into the field, and they picked grapes from their vineyards and pressed them. They celebrated harvest festivals and they went into the house of their gods, then they ate and drank, and they cursed Abimelek. 28 Then Gaal (Ebed’s son) said, “Who’s Abimelek, and who’s Shekem, that we should serve him? Isn’t @Abimelek ≈Gideon’s son, and Zebul is his deputy? Serve the descendants of Shekem’s father Hamor, ≈but why should we serve @Abimelek? 29 Who will ≈fight with me to defeat those people and depose Abimelek? Then he said to Abimelek, ‘≈Gather your army and come ≈and fight.’ ”

30 When Zebul, the prince of the city, heard ≈what Ga’al (Ebed’s son) had said, ≈he got very angry 31 and he sent messengers to Abimelek in secret, saying, “Listen, Ebed’s son Gaal and his brothers are coming to Shekem, and wow, they’re inciting the city against you. 32 You and the people who are with you ≈should go out at night and lie in ambush in the countryside. 33 Then ≈when the sun rises in the morning, you all should set out early and spread out in an attack against the city. Keep watch, then when @Ga’al and the people with him are coming out toward you to fight, then you can overpower them and ≈treat him however you think fit.”

34 ≈So Abimelek and all the people with him ≈went out in the night and they set up four units in an ambush against Shekem. 35 In the morning, Ga’al (Ebed’s son) went out and he stood at the entrance of the city gate. Then Abimelek and ≈his men stood up from their hiding places. 36 ≈When Ga’al saw the people, he said to Zebul, “Look, a group of people is coming down from the tops of the hills!”

“You are seeing the shadow of the hills as men,” Zebul ≈responded.

37 ≈But Ga’al said again, “Look, groups of people are coming down from beside the ≈top of the hill, and ≈another group is coming from the way of the ‘oak of the diviners’.”

38 Then Zebul said to him, “≈Well, you were the one who said, ‘Who is Abimelek that we should serve him?’ Aren’t these the people who you ≈were scorning? Indeed now, go out and fight against #them.” 39 ≈So Ga’al went out in front of Shekem’s citizens and fought against Abimelek. 40 Abimelek pursued him, and he ≈had to flee away from him. Many of their men fell fatally wounded as far as the entrance of the city gate. 41 Then Abimelek settled in Arumah, ≈but Zebul drove Ga’al and his brothers away from living in Shekem.

42 Now it so happened that the next day, the people of Shekem went out into the countryside, and ≈it was reported to Abimelek. 43 So he took ≈his men and split them into three units. Then he waited in ambush in the countryside. When he saw and wow, the people were going out of the city, then he ≈attacked and killed them. 44 Abimelek and the units that were with him had spread out and they stood at the entrance of the city gate, and two units spread out against everyone who was in the field and killed them. 45 Abimelek ≈spent that whole day attacking Shekem. He captured the city and #they killed the people who were in it. Then he tore *it down, and scattered salt on @the land.

46 When all the lords of the tower of Shekem heard, they went into the citadel of the temple for El-Berit, 47 ≈but it was reported to Abimelek that all the lords of the Shekem tower had gathered there. 48 So Abimelek and all the people with him, went up to Mt. Tsalmon. *He took axes and cut a branch down from the trees, then lifted it onto his shoulder and said to the people who were with him, “≈What I just did, you all quickly do the same.” 49 So all the people also each cut off a branch and then ≈followed Abimelek. They piled them on top of the underground chamber, ≈and that’s how they burnt out the underground chamber. As a result, all the distinguished people in the tower of Shekem also died—about a thousand men and women.

50 Then Abimelek went to Tebets and set up camp around *the city and captured it. 51 ≈But there was a strong tower in the middle of the city, so all of the men and the women and all the prominent citizens fled to it. ≈Once they were all in, they barricaded it up and they went up onto the tower roof. 52 Then Abimelek and his men approached the tower and fought against it, and he came in as close as the tower entrance in order to ≈set fire to it, 53 ≈but a woman threw an upper millstone down onto Abimelek’s head and it crushed his skull.[ref] 54 Then he cried out hurriedly to the young man bearing his armour, “Draw out your sword and put me to death, ≈because I don’t want it to be said afterwards that I was killed by a woman.” ≈So his young man stabbed him so that he died. 55 ≈When the ≈Israeli warriors saw that Abimelek was dead, they all returned to their own homes.

56 Thus God avenged the evil of Abimelek that he had done to his father Gideon by killing his seventy brothers, 57 and God ≈caused all the evil done by Shekem’s men to return back upon their own heads, and the curse of ≈Gideon’s youngest son Yotam, came true on them.

7 And_told to_Yōtām and_he/it_went and_stood in/on/at/with_top_of the_mountain_of Gərizīm and_raised voice_of_his and_he/it_called and_he/it_said to/for_them listen to_me Oh_citizens_of Shəkem and_listen to_you_all god.

8 Indeed_(go) they_went the_trees to_anoint over_themselves a_king and_they_said to_the_olive_tree reign\f + \fr 9:8 \ft OSHB variant note: מלוכ/ה: (x-qere) ’מָלְכָ֥/ה’: lemma_4427 a morph_HVqv2ms/Sh id_07UZY מָלְכָ֥/ה\f* over_us.

9 And_he/it_said to/for_them the_olive_tree the_leave DOM oil_of_my which in/on/at/with_me people_honour gods and_men and_go to_sway over the_trees.

10 And_they_said the_trees to_the_fig_tree come you reign over_us.

11 And_she/it_said to/for_them the_fig_tree the_leave DOM sweetness_of_my and_DOM fruit_of_my the_good and_go to_sway over the_trees.

12 And_they_said the_trees to_the_vine come you reign\f + \fr 9:12 \ft OSHB variant note: מלוכי: (x-qere) ’מָלְכִ֥י’: lemma_4427 a morph_HVqv2fs id_07Euf מָלְכִ֥י\f* over_us.

13 And_she/it_said to/for_them the_vine the_leave DOM wine_of_my the_cheers gods and_men and_go to_sway over the_trees.

14 And_ all_of _they_said the_trees to the_bramble come you reign over_us.

15 And_he/it_said the_bramble to the_trees if in/on/at/with_good_faith you_all are_anointing DOM_me as_king over_you_all come take_refuge in/on/at/with_shade_of_my and_if not let_it_go_out a_fire from the_bramble and_consume DOM the_cedars_of the_Ləⱱānōn.

16 And_now if in/on/at/with_good_faith and_in/on/at/with_integrity you_all_have_acted and_making_king DOM ʼAⱱīmelek and_if good you_all_have_done with Jerub-Baˊal and_to house_of_his and_if as_deserved_of actions_of_he you_all_have_done to_him/it.

17 That he_fought father_of_my for_you_all and_he_risked DOM life_of_his in_front and_delivered DOM_you_all from_hand_of Midyān.

18 And_you_all you_all_have_risen_up on the_house_of father’s_of_my the_day and_killed DOM sons_of_his seventy man on stone one and_made_king DOM ʼAⱱīmelek the_son_of slave_woman_of_his over the_citizens_of Shəkem if/because relative_of_your_all’s he.

19 And_if in/on/at/with_good_faith and_in/on/at/with_integrity you_all_have_acted with Jerub-Baˊal and_with house_of_his the_day the_this rejoice in/on/at/with_ʼAⱱīmelek and_rejoice also he in/on/at/with_you_all.

20 And_if not let_it_go_out a_fire from_ʼAⱱīmelek and_consume DOM the_citizens_of Shəkem and_DOM Bēyt Millōʼ and_come_out a_fire from_masters_of Shəkem and_from_household millo and_consume DOM ʼAⱱīmelek.

21 And_ Yōtām/(Jotham) _fled and_fled and_he/it_went Bəʼēr_to and_he/it_sat_down//remained//lived there from_face/in_front_of ʼAⱱīmelek his/its_woman.

22 and_ ʼAⱱīmelek _ruled over Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) three years.

23 And_ god _sent a_spirit evil between ʼAⱱīmelek and_between the_citizens_of Shəkem and_ the_citizens_of _dealt_treacherously of_Shəkem in/on/at/with_ʼAⱱīmelek.

24 So_that_come the_violence_of seventy the_sons_of Jerub-Baˊal and_blood_of_their to_laid on ʼAⱱīmelek brother_of_their who he_killed DOM_them and_on the_citizens_of Shəkem who they_strengthened DOM hands_of_his to_kill DOM brothers_of_his.

25 And_set to_him/it the_citizens_of Shəkem ambushers on the_tops_of the_mountains and_robbed DOM every_of one_who he_passed_by by_them in/on/at/with_road and_reported to_ʼAⱱīmelek.

26 and_ Gaˊal _came the_son_of ˊEⱱed and_relatives_of_his and_crossed_over in/on/at/with_Shəkem and_put_confidence in_him/it the_citizens_of Shəkem.

27 And_they_went_out the_field and_gathered DOM vineyards_of_their and_trod and_held rejoicings and_they_came the_house_of god_of_their and_ate and_drank and_cursed DOM ʼAⱱīmelek.

28 And_he/it_said Gaˊal the_son_of ˊEⱱed who is_ʼAⱱīmelek and_who is_Shəkem (cmp) serve_him not is_he_the_son_of Jerub-Baˊal and_Zəⱱul officer_of_his serve DOM the_men_of Ḩₐmōr the_father_of Shəkem and_why serve_him we.

29 And_who will_he_give DOM the_people the_this in/on/at/with_command_of_my and_remove DOM ʼAⱱīmelek and_he/it_said to_ʼAⱱīmelek make_numerous army_of_your and_come_out.

30 And_ Zəⱱul _he/it_listened the_official_of the_city DOM the_messages_of Gaˊal the_son_of ˊEⱱed anger_of_he and_it_glowed/burned.

31 And_sent messengers to ʼAⱱīmelek in/on/at/with_cover to_say here Gaˊal the_son_of ˊEⱱed and_relatives_of_his are_coming Shəkem_to and_see_they are_shutting_up DOM the_city against_you.

32 And_now night arise you and_the_troops which with_you and_lie_in_wait in/on/at/with_field.

33 And_it_was in/on/at/with_morning at_up the_sun you_will_rise_early and_rush on the_city and_see/lo/see he and_the_troops which with_him/it are_going_out against_you and_do for_him/it just_as it_will_find hand_of_you.

34 and_ ʼAⱱīmelek _he/it_rose_up and_all the_troops which with_him/it night and_lay_in_wait on Shəkem four companies.

35 And_ Gaˊal _he/it_went_out the_son_of ˊEⱱed and_stood the_entrance_of the_gate_of the_city and_ ʼAⱱīmelek _he/it_rose_up and_the_troops which with_him/it from the_ambush.

36 And_he/it_saw Gaˊal DOM the_people and_he/it_said to Zəⱱul there a_people is_coming_down from_tops_of the_mountains and_he/it_said to_him/it Zəⱱul DOM the_shadow_of the_mountains you are_seeing like_THE_men.

37 and_he_repeated again Gaˊal to_spoke and_he/it_said there a_people are_coming_down from_in the_center_of the_earth/land and_company one is_coming from_direction_of the_great_tree_of the_soothsayer.

38 And_he/it_said to_him/it Zəⱱul where then boast_of_your Oh_you_who you_said who is_ʼAⱱīmelek (cmp) serve_him not is_this the_troops which you_rejected in/on/over_him/it go_out please now and_fight in/on/over_him/it.

39 and_ Gaˊal _he/it_went_out to_(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before the_citizens_of Shəkem and_fought in/on/at/with_ʼAⱱīmelek.

40 And_chased_him ʼAⱱīmelek and_fled from_before_of_him and_they_fell those_fatally_wounded many to the_entrance_of the_gate.

41 And_ ʼAⱱīmelek _he/it_sat_down//remained//lived in/on/at/with_Arumah and_ Zəⱱul _he/it_drove_out DOM Gaˊal and_DOM relatives_of_his from_live_on in/on/at/with_Shəkem.

42 And_he/it_was on_next_day and_he/it_went_out the_people the_field and_reported to_ʼAⱱīmelek.

43 And_he/it_took DOM the_troops and_divided_them into_three companies and_lay_in_wait in_the_field and_he/it_saw and_see/lo/see the_people was_going_out from the_city and_he/it_rose_up against_them and_killed_them.

44 And_ʼAⱱīmelek and_the_company which with_him/it they_made_a_raid and_stood the_entrance_of the_gate_of the_city and_two_of the_companies they_made_a_raid on all_of those_who in_the_field and_killed_them.

45 And_ʼAⱱīmelek was_fighting in/on/at/with_city all_of the_day (the)_that and_captured DOM the_city and_DOM the_people which in/on/at/with_it he_killed and_razed DOM the_city and_sowed_it salt.

46 and_ all_of _they_heard the_citizens_of the_tower_of Shəkem and_they_came into the_underground_chamber_of the_house_of ʼĒl- Berith.

47 And_told to_ʼAⱱīmelek if/because_that they_had_gathered_together all_of the_citizens_of the_tower_of Shəkem.

48 And_ ʼAⱱīmelek _he/it_ascended the_mountain_of Tsalmōn/(Zalmon) he and_all the_troops which with_him/it and_ ʼAⱱīmelek _he/it_took DOM the_ax in_his/its_hand and_cut_down a_branch_of wood(s) and_lifted_it and_he/it_assigned on shoulder_of_his and_he/it_said to the_troops which with_him/it whatever you_all_have_seen I_have_done hurry do as_me.

49 And_cut_down also all_of the_troops everyone branch_of_his and_they_followed after ʼAⱱīmelek and_put over the_stronghold and_they_set_fire over_them DOM the_stronghold in/on/at/with_fire and_died also all_of the_men_of the_tower_of Shəkem about_a_thousand man and_women.

50 and_ ʼAⱱīmelek _he/it_went to Tēⱱēʦ and_encamped in/on/at/with_Tēⱱēʦ and_captured_it.

51 And_tower_of strength it_was in/on/at/with_middle_of the_city and_fled there_to all_of the_men and_the_women and_all/each/any/every the_citizens_of the_city and_shut_in after_themselves and_went_up on the_roof the_tower.

52 And_ ʼAⱱīmelek _came to the_tower and_fought in/on/over_him/it and_approached to the_entrance_of the_tower to_burn_it in/on/at/with_fire.

53 And_ a_woman _threw one a_mill-stone_of an_upper_mill-stone on the_head_of ʼAⱱīmelek and_crushed DOM skull_of_his.

54 And_he/it_called quickly to the_young_man the_bearer_of armour_of_his and_he/it_said to_him/it draw sword_of_your and_kill_me lest people_should_say to_me a_woman killed_him and_ran_through_him young_man_of_his and_he/it_died.

55 And_ the_man_of _they_saw of_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) if/because_that ʼAⱱīmelek he_was_dead and_went everyone to_home_of_his.

56 And_ god _repaid DOM the_evil_of ʼAⱱīmelek which he_had_done to_father_of_his in_killing DOM seventy brothers_of_his.

57 And_DOM all_of the_evil_of the_men_of Shəkem god he_repaid in/on/at/with_heads_of_their and_came on_them the_curse_of Yōtām/(Jotham) the_son_of Jerub-Baˊal.

10:1 Tola

Tola Becomes Israel’s Judge; Tola and Jair; Tola

10 ≈Now after Abimelek, Tola (the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, ≈from the tribe of Yissashkar) ≈came on the scene to rescue Yisrael. He settled in Shamir, in the hill country of Efrayim. 2 He ≈led Yisrael for twenty-three years, then he died and was buried in Shamir.

10:3 Yair

Jair Becomes Israel’s Judge; Jair

3 After him, Yair the Gileadite ≈led Yisrael for twenty-two years. 4 He had thirty sons that rode on thirty donkeys. There were thirty cities for them in the Gilead region which they call Yair’s villages to this day. 5 Then Yair died and he was buried in Kamon.

3 and_he/it_rose_up after_him Yāʼīr/(Jair) the_Gilˊādite and_judged DOM Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) twenty and_two years.

4 And_he/it_was to_him/it thirty sons who_rode on thirty male_donkeys and_thirty cities to/for_them to/for_them people_call the_villages_of Yāʼīr until the_day the_this which in_land the_Gilˊād.

5 And_ Yāʼīr _he/it_died and_buried in/on/at/with_Qāmōn.

10:6 The making again of bad of Israelis

Oppression by the Ammonites; The Ammonites Oppress Israel; Jephthah

6 The ≈Israelis continued to do ≈what Yahweh considered evil: they worshipped the Ba’als, the Ashtorets, the gods of Aram, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the sons of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines. They forsook Yahweh and didn’t serve him. 7 Yahweh ≈was very angry with Yisrael, so he ≈allowed the Philistines and the Ammonites to harass them. 8 They shattered and oppressed the ≈Israelis that year, ≈but it went on for eighteen years for all the ≈Israelis who were on the opposite side of the Yordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in the Gilead. 9 Then the ≈Ammonites also crossed over the Yordan to fight against Yehudah, against Benyamin, and against the ≈half-tribe of Efrayim.

This caused incredible distress for the ≈Israelis 10 ≈so *they cried out to Yahweh, “We have sinned against you, because we have abandoned our God and we have served the Ba’als.”

11 “Wasn’t it from the Egyptians,” Yahweh ≈responded, “from the Amorites, from the ≈Ammonites, from the Philistines, 12 the Sidonians and Amalek and Maon, when they oppressed you that you cried out to me, and I ≈rescued you all from them? 13 ≈Yet you’ve all abandoned me and served other gods. Therefore, I won’t not continue to rescue you. 14 Go and cry out to the gods that you’ve all chosen for yourselves. They should deliver you all at the time of your distress.”

15 Then the ≈Israelis said to Yahweh, “We’ve sinned. You do to us according to all that is good in your eyes. Only please rescue us today.” 16 They removed the foreign gods from among them, and they worshipped Yahweh and ≈so he became concerned with Yisrael’s suffering.

17 Now the ≈Ammonites had assembled and were camped in Gilead. So the ≈Israelis gathered together and they camped at Mitspah. 18 Then the princes of Gilead said to ≈each other, “Who ≈will lead us to fight against the ≈Ammonites? He can become the leader over all of us who live in Gilead.”

6 and_again the_people_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) for_doing the_evil in/on_both_eyes_of YHWH and_served DOM the_Baals and_DOM the_ˊAshtārōt and_DOM the_gods_of ʼArām and_DOM the_gods_of Tsīdōn/(Sidon) and_DOM the_gods_of Mōʼāⱱ¦117578 and_DOM the_gods_of the_people_of ˊAmmōn and_DOM the_gods_of the_Fəlishtiy and_abandoned DOM YHWH and_not serve_him.

7 And_it_glowed/burned the_anger of_YHWH in/on/at/with_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_sold_them in/on/at/with_hand_of the_Fəlishtiy and_in/on/at/with_hand_of the_people_of ˊAmmōn.

8 And_crushed and_crushed DOM the_people_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) in/on/at/with_year the_that eight- teen years DOM all_of the_people_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) who in/on/at/with_other_side_of the_Yardēn/(Jordan) in_land the_ʼAmorī which in/on/at/with_Gilˊād.

9 And_ the_people_of _crossed of_ˊAmmōn DOM the_Yardēn to_fight also in/on/at/with_Yəhūdāh/(Judah) and_in/on/at/with_Binyāmīn and_in/on/at/with_house_of ʼEfrayim and_distressed to_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) exceedingly.

10 And_ the_people_of _cried_out of_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) to YHWH to_say we_have_sinned to/for_you(fs) and_because/when we_have_abandoned DOM god_of_our and_served DOM the_Baals.

11 and_ YHWH _he/it_said to the_people_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) not from_Miʦrayim/(Egypt) and_from the_ʼAmorī and_from the_people_of ˊAmmōn and_from the_Fəlishtiy.

12 And_Tsīdonī/(Sidonians) and_ˊAmālēqites and_Māˊōnites they_oppressed DOM_you_all and_cried_out to_me and_delivered DOM_you_all from_hand_of_their.

13 And_you_all you_all_have_abandoned DOM_me and_served gods other for_so/thus/hence not I_will_repeat to_deliver DOM_you_all.

14 Go and_cry_out to the_ʼElohīm which you_all_have_chosen in/on/at/with_them they let_them_deliver to/for_you_all in/on/at/with_time_of distress_of_your_all’s.

15 And_ the_people_of _they_said of_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) to YHWH we_have_sinned do you to/for_us as_whatever_of the_good in/on/at/with_eyes_of_you only deliver_us please the_day the_this.

16 And_put_away DOM the_gods_of the_foreign from_among_of_them and_served DOM YHWH soul_of_he and_became_weary in/on/at/with_misery_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel).

17 and_ the_people_of _called of_ˊAmmōn and_camped in/on/at/with_Gilˊād and_ the_people_of _assembled of_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_camped in/on/at/with_Miʦpāh.

18 And_they_said the_people the_leaders_of Gilˊād each to his/its_neighbour who the_man who he_will_begin to_fight in/on/at/with_sons_of ˊAmmōn he_will_become as_head to_all/each/any/every the_inhabitants_of Gilˊād.

11:1 Yiftah

Jephthah and his successors; Jephthah Becomes Israel’s Judge; Jephthah

11 Now Yiftah the Gileadite was a fierce warrior, ≈but he was a ≈prostitute’s son and his father was Gilead. 2 Gilead’s wife also gave birth to sons for him, and when those sons of the wife grew up, they drove Yiftah out and told him, “You won’t ≈get any inheritance from our father’s estate because you’re a son of another woman.” 3 So Yiftah fled from the presence of his half-brothers and he settled in the Tob region. Unprincipled men associated around Yiftah and went around with him.

4 ≈Some time later, the ≈Ammonites battled against Yisrael. 5 and ≈that was when the elders of Gilead went to summon Yiftah from the Tob region. 6 Then ≈requested Yiftah, “Come and be our commander so we can fight against the ≈Ammonites.”

7 “Don’t you all hate me? Yiftah asked *them. “Didn’t you yourselves drive me out of my father’s house? ≈So why have you all come to me now when you have #troubles?”

8 “≈Well, true,” the Gilead elders ≈replied, “But now we’ve turned back to you. ≈So join with us and fight against the ≈Ammonites, and you’ll become commander over all of who lives in Gilead.”

9 “If you bring me back to fight against the ≈Ammonites,” Yiftah ≈asked *them, “and if Yahweh ≈helps me defeat them, is it correct that I’ll actually become your leader?”

10 “Yahweh will be a witness between us,” the Gilead elders ≈responded, “≈that we’ll most certainly do what you just said.” 11 ≈So Yiftah went with the Gilead elders, and the people set him as commander and leader over themselves. (Yiftah had spoken all those words before Yahweh at Mitspah.)

12 Then Yiftah sent messengers to the ≈Ammonite king, demanding, “What’s happened with respect to me and to you, that you’ve come against me to fight over my land?”

13 The ≈Ammonite king ≈responded to Yiftah’s messengers, “Because ≈the Israelis seized my land ≈when they came out of Egypt. It went from the Arnon river up to the Yabbok river, and over to the Yordan river. Now return @the land peaceably.”

14 Then Yiftah sent messengers back to the ≈Ammonite king 15 to tell him, “Yiftah ≈wants you to know that Yisrael didn’t take land from Moab nor from ≈you Ammonites. 16 However in their coming up from Egypt, Yisrael went through the wilderness as far as the ≈Red Sea until arriving at Kadesh. 17 When Yisrael (Israel) sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, ‘Please may #we pass through your land,’ the king of Edom wouldn’t listen. @Yisrael likewise sent to the king of Moab, but he wasn’t willing either, so Yisrael stayed at Kadesh.[ref] 18 Then #we went through the wilderness and turned away from the land of Edom and the land of Moab, then went the long way ≈around the eastern border of Moab. They camped on the other side of the Arnon river, but they didn’t go within Moab’s borders, because the Arnon was the border of Moab.[ref] 19 Yisrael sent messengers to the Amorite King Sihon, the king of Heshbon ≈and asked him, ‘Please, let us pass through your land as far as #our place.’[ref] 20 But King Sihon didn’t trust Yisrael passing through within his border, ≈so *he assembled all of his people together and they camped at Jahaz, and he battled with Yisrael. 21 Then Yisrael’s God, Yahweh, handed King Sihon and all his people over to Yisrael and ≈we defeated them. Thus Yisrael took possession of all of the land of the Amorites inhabiting that region—22 everything within the Amorite territory from the Arnon river to the Yabbok, and from the wilderness as far as the Jordan. 23 ≈So since it was Yisrael’s God Yahweh that expelled the Amorites out of the presence of his people Yisrael, ≈do you actually think that you can take it now? 24 Wouldn’t you take possession if your god Chemosh, allowed you to? ≈So too all that our God Yahweh has dispossessed ahead of us, we’ll possess that. 25 Are you really better now than Zippor’s son, King Balak of Moab? Did he dare contend with Yisrael or did he ever wage war against them?[ref] 26 Yisrael lived in Heshbon and in its villages for three hundred years, and in Aroer and in its villages, and in all the cities that are along the banks of the Arnon—≈so why didn’t you repossess during that time? 27 I haven’t ≈done anything wrong to you, ≈but you’re doing wrong in dealing with me by fighting against me. Yahweh, the judge, will decide today between the ≈Israelis and the ≈Ammonites.” 28 ≈But the ≈Ammonite king didn’t ≈take any notice of Yiftah’s message to him.

Jephthah’s Vow

29 Then Yahweh’s spirit ≈empowered Yiftah, and he passed through the Gilead and Menashsheh, and through Mizpah of Gilead, and from *there he passed through the ≈Ammonite region, 30 and *he ≈made a promise to Yahweh, “If you really give ≈me victory over the Ammonites, 31 then whoever’s ≈the first person to come out of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the ≈battle against the Ammonites, that person will belong to Yahweh, and I will offer him up as a whole burnt offering.” 32 ≈So Yiftah ≈went to the Ammonite territory to fight against them, and Yahweh ≈enabled them to defeat them. 33 Then he attacked them from Aroer and as far as ≈the entrance to Minnith, twenty cities, and then up to Abel -Keramim, ≈slaughtering a huge number. ≈So the ≈Ammonites were subdued by the presence of the ≈Israelis.

↑ 11  and_Yiftāḩ/(Jephthah) the_Gilˊādite he_was a_mighty_man_of strength and_he was_the_son_of a_woman a_prostitute and_ Gilˊād _he/it_fathered DOM Yiftāḩ.

2 And_ the_wife_of _she/it_gave_birth of_Gilˊād to_him/it sons and_ the_sons_of _grew_up the_woman and_drove_away DOM Yiftāḩ and_they_said to_him/it not you_will_have_an_inheritance in_house_of father’s_of_our if/because are_the_son_of a_woman another you.

3 And_ Yiftāḩ _fled from_face/in_front_of brothers_of_his and_he/it_sat_down//remained//lived in_land of_Ţōⱱ¦117849 and_gathered to Yiftāḩ men worthless and_they_went_out with_him/it.

4 and_he/it_was from_days and_ the_people_of _made_war of_ˊAmmōn with Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel).

5 And_he/it_was just_as they_fought the_people_of ˊAmmōn with Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_went the_elders_of Gilˊād to_take/accept/receive DOM Yiftāḩ from_land_of Ţōⱱ¦117888.

6 And_they_said to_Yiftāḩ come and_be to/for_ourselves as_commander and_fight in/on/at/with_sons_of ˊAmmōn.

7 And_ Yiftāḩ _he/it_said to_elders_of Gilˊād not you_all did_you_all_hate DOM_me and_drive_me from_house_of father’s_of_my and_why have_you_all_come to_me now just_as it_is_distress to_you_all.

8 And_they_said the_elders_of Gilˊād to Yiftāḩ/(Jephthah) for_so/thus/hence now we_have_returned to_you and_go with_us and_fight in/on/at/with_sons_of ˊAmmōn and_become to/for_ourselves as_head to_all/each/any/every the_inhabitants_of Gilˊād.

9 And_ Yiftāḩ _he/it_said to the_elders_of Gilˊād if are_bringing_back you_all DOM_me to_fight in/on/at/with_sons_of ˊAmmōn and_he/it_gave YHWH DOM_them to_face/front_me I I_will_become to/for_you_all as_head.

10 And_they_said the_elders_of Gilˊād to Yiftāḩ YHWH he_will_be hearing between_us if not as_say_of_you so we_will_do.

11 And_ Yiftāḩ _he/it_went with the_elders_of Gilˊād and_made the_people DOM_him over_them as_head and_as_commander and_ Yiftāḩ _he/it_spoke DOM all_of messages_of_his to_(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before YHWH in/on/at/with_Miʦpāh.

12 and_ Yiftāḩ _sent messengers to the_king_of the_people_of ˊAmmōn to_say what to/for_me and_have_you (cmp) you_have_come to_me to_fight in/on/at/with_land_of_my.

13 And_ the_king_of _he/it_said of_the_people_of of_ˊAmmōn to the_messengers_of Yiftāḩ if/because Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) it_took DOM land_of_my in/on/at/with_came_up_they from_Miʦrayim/(Egypt) from_ʼArnōn and_unto the_Yaboq/(Jabbok) and_unto the_Yardēn/(Jordan) and_now restore DOM_it in/on/at/with_peace.

14 And_he_repeated again Yiftāḩ/(Jephthah) and_sent messengers to the_king_of the_people_of ˊAmmōn.

15 And_he/it_said to_him/it thus Yiftāḩ he_says not Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) it_has_taken DOM the_land_of Mōʼāⱱ¦118080 and_DOM the_land_of the_people_of ˊAmmōn.

16 If/because in/on/at/with_came_up_they from_Miʦrayim and_he/it_went Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) in/on/at/with_wilderness to the_sea_of reeds and_came Qādēsh_to.

17 And_ Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) _sent messengers to the_king_of ʼEdōm to_say let_me_pass please in/on/at/with_land_of_your and_not the_king_of he_listened of_ʼEdōm and_also to the_king_of Mōʼāⱱ¦118123 it_sent and_not he_was_willing and_ Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) _he/it_sat_down//remained//lived in/on/at/with_Qādēsh.

18 And_he/it_went in/on/at/with_wilderness and_went_around DOM the_land_of ʼEdōm and_DOM the_land_of Mōʼāⱱ¦118141 and_came to_rise_of the_sun of_land_of of_Mōʼāⱱ¦118147 and_camped in/on/at/with_other_side_of the_ʼArnōn and_not they_went in/on/at/with_territory_of Mōʼāⱱ¦118155 if/because the_ʼArnōn was_the_border_of Mōʼāⱱ¦118159.

19 And_ Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) _sent messengers to Şīḩōn the_king_of the_ʼAmorī the_king_of Ḩeshbōn and_he/it_said to_him/it Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) let_us_pass please in/on/at/with_land_of_your to country_of_our.

20 And_not Şīḩōn he_trusted DOM Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) to_pass in/on/at/with_territory_of_his and_ Şīḩōn _gathered DOM all_of people_of_his and_encamped in/on/at/with_Yahaʦ/(Yahaʦ/(Jahaz)) and_fought with Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel).

21 And_ YHWH _he/it_gave the_god_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) DOM Şīḩōn and_DOM all_of people_of_his in/on/at/with_hand_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_defeated_them and_ Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) _occupied DOM all_of the_land_of the_ʼAmorī who_was_dwelling the_earth/land the_that.

22 And_occupied DOM all_of the_territory_of the_ʼAmorī from_ʼArnōn and_unto the_Yaboq/(Jabbok) and_from the_wilderness and_unto the_Yardēn/(Jordan).

23 And_now YHWH the_god_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) he_has_dispossessed DOM the_ʼAmorī from_face/in_front_of people_of_his Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_you(ms) possess_it.

24 Not DOM that_which possess_you Kəmōsh/(Chemosh) god_of_your DOM_him will_you_take_possession_of and_DOM all_of that he_has_dispossessed YHWH god_of_our for_face/front_us DOM_it we_will_take_possession_of.

25 And_now to_be_better are_you_good you than_Bālāq the_son_of Tsipōr/(Zippor) the_king_of Mōʼāⱱ¦118293 to_quarrel did_he_quarrel with Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) or ever_(wage_war) did_he_wage_war in/on/at/with_them.

26 In/on/at/with_lived Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) in/on/at/with_Ḩeshbōn and_in/on/at/with_villages_of_its and_in/on/at/with_ˊArōˊēr and_in/on/at/with_villages_of_its and_on/over_all the_towns which were_on the_sides_of the_ʼArnōn three hundred(s) years and_why not did_you_all_recover_them in/on/at/with_time the_that.

27 And_I not I_have_sinned to/for_you(fs) and_you(ms) are_doing to_me evil by_making_war in/on/at/with_me YHWH may_he_judge the_judge the_day between the_people_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_between the_people_of ˊAmmōn.

28 And_not the_king_of he_listened of_the_people_of of_ˊAmmōn to the_messages_of Yiftāḩ/(Jephthah) which he_sent to_him/it.

29 and_it_became on Yiftāḩ the_spirit_of YHWH and_he/it_passed_through DOM the_Gilˊād and_DOM Mənashsheh and_passed_through DOM Miʦpāh of_Gilˊād and_from_Miʦpāh of_Gilˊād he_passed_on the_people_of ˊAmmōn.

30 And_ Yiftāḩ _made a_vow to/for_YHWH and_said if really_(give) you_will_give DOM the_people_of ˊAmmōn in/on/at/with_hand_of_my.

31 And_it_was the_one_coming_out which it_will_come_out of_doors_of house_of_my to_meet_me in/on/at/with_return_I in/on/at/with_peace from_(the)_sons of_ˊAmmōn and_it_was to/for_YHWH and_offer_it a_burnt_offering.

32 and_ Yiftāḩ _he/it_passed_through to the_people_of ˊAmmōn to_fight in/on/at/with_them and_gave_them\f + \fr 11:32 \ft OSHB note: Marks a place where we agree with BHQ against BHS in reading L.

\f*\f + \fr 11:32 \ft OSHB note: Marks an anomalous form.

\f*\f + \fr 11:32 \ft OSHB note: We read punctuation in L differently from BHS.

\f* YHWH in_his/its_hand.

33 And_defeated_them from_ˊArōˊēr and_unto entrance_you\f + \fr 11:33 \ft OSHB note: We read one or more accents in L differently from BHQ.

\f*\f + \fr 11:33 \ft OSHB note: We read one or more accents in L differently than BHS.

Often this notation indicates a typographical error in BHS.

\f* Minnit twenty cities and_unto Abel Keramim a_defeat great very and_ the_people_of _subdued of_ˊAmmōn from_face/in_front_of the_people_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel).

11:34 Yiftah’s daughter

Jephthah’s Daughter

34 ≈When Yiftah got back to his house in the Mizpah area, look, his daughter was coming out to meet him with tambourines and with dancing. She was &their only child—he didn’t have any son or daughter apart from her. 35 When he saw her, he tore his clothes and said, “Oh no! My daughter! Indeed, you’ve made me bow in grief, and you’re among those who cause me pain, because I ≈made a vow to Yahweh and I ≈can’t go back on it.”

36 Then she said to him, “My father, you’ve ≈made a vow to Yahweh. Do to me ≈whatever you promised, after what Yahweh has done for you—total vengeance against your ≈Ammonite enemies.” 37 ≈But she ≈asked her father, “≈Just do this one thing for me: release me for two months, so I can go away ≈and take some companions. I’ll fall prostrate on the hills and I’ll weep ≈because I’ll never have a chance to marry.” 38 He ≈agreed and then sent her away for two months. She went ≈with some companions, and she wept on the hills ≈because she’d never be a mother. 39 Then at the end of the two months, she returned to her father and he carried out his vow with respect to her ≈so indeed she ≈never had a chance to marry.

After that, it became a custom in Yisrael 40 that the ≈young women of Yisrael go to commemorate the daughter of Yiftah the Gileadite for four days during the year.

34 and_ Yiftāḩ/(Jephthah) _came the_Miʦpāh to home_of_his and_see/lo/see daughter_of_his was_coming_out to_meet_him in/on/at/with_tambourines and_in/on/at/with_dancing and_except she was_an_only_child there_belonged_not to_him/it from_him/it a_son or a_daughter.

35 And_he/it_was when_saw_he DOM_her and_tore DOM clothes_of_his and_he/it_said alas daughter_of_my exceedingly_(bring_low) devastated_me and_you you_are\f + \fr 11:35 \ft OSHB note: We agree with both BHS 1997 and BHQ on an unexpected reading.

\f* in/on/at/with_trouble_of_me and_I I_have_opened mouth_of_my to YHWH and_not I_am_able to_take_back.

36 And_she/it_said to_him/it father_of_my you_have_opened DOM mouth_of_your to YHWH do to_me just_as it_has_come_out of_mouth_of_you after that he_did to/for_yourself(m) YHWH vengeance(s) against_enemies_of_your from_(the)_sons of_ˊAmmōn.

37 And_she/it_said to father_of_her let_it_be_done to/for_me the_thing the_this refrain from_me two months and_go and_wander on the_mountains and_weep on virginity_of_my I and_companions_of_my\f + \fr 11:37 \ft OSHB variant note: ו/רעית/י: (x-qere) ’וְ/רֵעוֹתָֽ/י’: lemma_c/7464 n_0 morph_HC/Ncfpc/Sp1cs id_07gHx וְ/רֵעוֹתָֽ/י\f*.

38 And_he/it_said go and_sent_away DOM_her two_of months and_went she and_companions_of_her and_wept on virginity_of_her on the_mountains.

39 And_he/it_was from_the_end/extremity two months and_returned to father_of_her and_he/it_made to/for_her/it DOM vow_of_he which he_had_vowed and_she not she_had_known a_man and_it_became a_custom in/on/at/with_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel).

40 From_days to_days the_daughters_of they_go of_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) to_commemorate for_daughter_of Yiftāḩ/(Jephthah) the_Gilˊādite four_of days in/on/at/with_year.

12:1 Yiftah and the Efrayimites

Intertribal Dissension; Jephthah and Ephraim; Jephthah and the Ephraimites; Ephraim Fights with Jephthah

12 Now the men of Efrayim were summoned and they passed northward and they said to Yiftah, “Why did you pass through in order to fight against the ≈Ammonites, but you didn’t call us to go with you? We’re going to burn your house down over you!”

2 “≈I’ve been involved in very intense disputes—my people against the ≈Ammonites,” Yiftah told them. “When I summoned you all, you didn’t come and rescue me from ≈them. 3 ≈When I could see that you weren’t coming to assist, I took my life into my own hands. I ≈advanced against the ≈Ammonites, and Yahweh gave ≈me victory over them. ≈So why then have you all come ≈here to fight against me today?” 4 Then Yiftah assembled all of the men of Gilead and ≈they battled against Efrayim. The men of Gilead struck Efrayim because they had said, “≈You Gilead people are just fugitives from Efrayim—living here in the middle of Efrayim, in the middle of Menashsheh.” 5 The Gileadites captured the crossing places of the Jordan along Efrayim. Then when any of the survivors from Efrayim would say, “May I cross over,” the men of Gilead would ≈ask, “Are you an Efrayimite?” If he said, “No,” 6 then they’d ≈demand, “≈Now say: Shibboleth.” But if he said “Sibboleth” because he ≈didn’t have time to think to pronounce it correctly, they would seize him and would slaughter him at those crossing places of the Yordan. Forty-two thousand from Efrayim fell at that time.

7 Yiftah the Gileadite ≈led Yisrael for six years, then *he died and was buried among the cities of Gilead.

↑ 12  and_ the_man_of _called of_ʼEfrayim and_crossed zaphon_to and_they_said to_Yiftāḩ why did_you_pass_over to_fight in/on/at/with_sons_of ˊAmmōn and_to_us not you_summoned to_go with_you house_of_your we_will_burn over_you in/on/at/with_fire.

2 And_ Yiftāḩ _he/it_said to_them a_man_of strife I_was I and_people_of_my and_the_sons of_ˊAmmōn exceedingly and_called DOM_you_all and_not you_all_delivered DOM_me from_hand_of_their.

3 And_saw if/because_that not_you were_a_deliverer\f + \fr 12:3 \ft OSHB note: Marks a place where we agree with BHQ against BHS in reading L.

\f*\f + \fr 12:3 \ft OSHB note: Marks an anomalous form.

\f*\f + \fr 12:3 \ft OSHB note: We read one or more vowels in L differently from BHS.

\f* and_took life_of_my in/on/at/with_hands_of_my and_crossed_over against the_people_of ˊAmmōn and_gave_them YHWH in/on/at/with_hand_of_my and_to/for_why have_you_all_come_up to_me the_day the_this to_fight in/on/at/with_me.

4 And_ Yiftāḩ _gathered DOM all_of the_men_of Gilˊād and_fought with ʼEfrayim and_ the_men_of _defeated of_Gilˊād DOM ʼEfrayim if/because they_had_said are_fugitives_of ʼEfrayim you_all Oh_Gilˊād in_the_middle of_ʼEfrayim in_the_middle of_Mənashsheh.

5 And_ Gilˊād _captured DOM the_fords_of the_Yardēn/(Jordan) against_ʼEfrayim and_it_was if/because the_fugitives_of they_said of_ʼEfrayim let_me_pass_over and_they_said to_him/it the_men_of Gilˊād ʼEfrayimite are_you and_said no.

6 And_they_said to_him/it say please Shibboleth and_he/it_said Sibboleth and_not he_gave_attention to_pronounce right and_seized DOM_him and_executed_him to the_fords_of the_Yardēn and_fell in/on/at/with_time the_that of_ʼEfrayim forty and_two thousand.

7 And_ Yiftāḩ/(Jephthah) _judged DOM Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) six years and_ Yiftāḩ _he/it_died the_Gilˊādite and_buried in/on/at/with_cities_of Gilˊād.

12:8 Ibtsan, Elon, and Abdon

Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon; Ibzan Becomes Israel’s Judge; Ibzan, Elon and Abdon

8 Then after him, Ibtsan of Bethlehem ≈led Yisrael. 9 Now he had thirty sons. He ≈gave away thirty daughters to ≈be married to outsiders, and he brought in thirty daughters for his sons from the outside. @Ibtsan ≈led Yisrael for seven years, 10 and ≈when *he died, he was buried in Bethlehem.

Elon Becomes Israel’s Judge

11 After him, Elon the Zebulunite ≈led Yisrael for ten years. 12 ≈When *he died, he was buried in Ayyalon in the land of Zebulun.

Abdon Becomes Israel’s Judge

13 After him, Abdon, the son of Hillel the Piratonite ≈led Yisrael. 14 He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy young male donkeys. He ≈led Yisrael for eight years. 15 Then Abdon (the son of Hillel the Piratonite) died, and he was buried in Piraton in the land of Efrayim, in the hill country of the #Amalekites.

8 and_judged after_him DOM Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) ʼIⱱʦān of_Bēyt- leḩem.

9 And_he/it_was to_him/it thirty sons and_thirty daughters he_sent_away the_outside_to and_thirty daughters he_brought for_sons_of_his from the_outside and_judged DOM Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) seven years.

10 And_ ʼIⱱʦān _he/it_died and_buried in_house_of leḩem.

11 and_judged after_him DOM Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) ʼĒylōn the_Zəⱱulunite and_judged DOM Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) ten years.

12 And_ ʼĒylōn _he/it_died the_Zəⱱulunite and_buried in/on/at/with_ʼAyyālōn in_land of_Zəⱱulun.

13 and_judged after_him DOM Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) ˊAⱱdōn the_son_of Hillēl the_Pirˊātōnī.

14 And_he/it_was to_him/it forty sons and_thirty sons_of sons who_rode on seventy male_donkeys and_judged DOM Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) eight years.

15 And_ ˊAⱱdōn _he/it_died the_son_of Hillēl the_Pirˊātōnī and_buried in/on/at/with_Firˊātōn in_land of_ʼEfrayim in/on/at/with_hill_country_of the_ˊAmālēqites.

13:1 Shimshon’s birth

The Birth of Samson; Samson and the Philistines

13 The ≈Israelis continued to do ≈what Yahweh considered as evil, so *he ≈allowed the Philistines to oppress them for forty years. 2 ≈Now there was a man named Manoah from Zorah, of the families of the Danites. His wife was barren ≈so they had no children. 3 One day, Yahweh’s messenger appeared to the wife and told her, “Listen, please, you are barren and ≈have never given birth, but you will conceive and ≈have a son. 4 Now take care that you surely don’t drink wine or strong drink, and that you don’t eat anything ≈prohibited by our rules, 5 because you’ll definitely become pregnant and will ≈give birth to a son. ≈His hair must never be cut because *he’ll be a Nazirite to God from ≈his conception. He will begin to rescue Yisrael from the ≈oppression of the Philistines.”[ref]

6 Then the woman went and explained to her husband, “A man of God came to me. ≈He looked like one of God’s messengers—≈extremely terrifying—≈so I didn’t like to ask him ≈where he’d come from, and he didn’t ≈tell me his name. 7 Then he told me, ‘You’re definitely pregnant and you’ll ≈give birth to a son. So now, you mustn’t drink wine or strong drink, and you mustn’t eat anything ≈prohibited by our rules, because the boy will be a Nazirite to God from ≈conception until the day of his death.’ ”

8 Then Manoah prayed to Yahweh, “Oh please, my master, please let the man of God that you sent before, come back to us again so he can instruct us about what we must do for this boy who’s going to be born.” 9 The true God listened to Manoah’s ≈request, and God’s messenger came to the woman again when she was sitting out in the field, ≈but her husband Manoah wasn’t with her, 10 ≈so *she quickly ran and told her husband, “Look. The man has appeared again who came to me that day.” 11 ≈So Manoah ≈followed his wife, and when he came to the man, he ≈asked him, “Are you the man who spoke to ≈my wife before?”

“Yes, ≈it was me,” he replied.

12 “Now may your words come ≈true,” said Manoah. “≈How should we bring up the boy, and ≈what will his work be?”

13 “≈You wife must carefully follow everything I told her,” Yahweh’s messenger ≈replied. 14 “She mustn’t ≈eat or drink anything that comes from the grapevine. She mustn’t drink wine or strong drink, and she mustn’t eat anything ≈prohibited by our rules. She must do everything that I’ve instructed her.”

15 “Please ≈stay a little longer,” Manoah ≈asked Yahweh’s messenger, “so that we can prepare a ≈meal of tender goat meat to honour your presence.”

16 “Even if ≈I stayed longer, I wouldn’t eat your ≈food,” Yahweh’s messenger ≈replied. “≈But if you ≈wanted to prepare a burnt offering for Yahweh, you may offer it.” (Because Manoah didn’t know that ≈the messenger had come from Yahweh.) 17 “What’s your name,” Manoah ≈asked, “so that we can honour you when your words come ≈true?”

18 “Why are you asking about my name,” Yahweh’s messenger ≈replied. “≈You simply couldn’t understand.”

19 Then Manoah got their ≈young goat and the other requirements for the offering, and he ≈presented a sacrifice to Yahweh on the rock. Then ≈an amazing thing happened[fn] while Manoah and his wife watched—20 when the #flames went up into the sky from the altar, Yahweh’s messenger went up in the #flames while Manoah and his wife were watching. ≈When they saw that, they ≈quickly bowed right down to the ground. 21 After that, Manoah and his wife ≈never saw him again, ≈but now Manoah knew that he was Yahweh’s messenger.

22 Manoah said to his wife, “≈We’ll definitely die now because we’ve seen God!”

23 But his wife replied to him, “If Yahweh had wanted to kill us, he wouldn’t have ≈accepted the entire burnt offering and the grain offering. He wouldn’t have shown us all those things, and he wouldn’t have ≈given us those instructions.”

24 In due course, the woman gave birth to a son and she named him Shimshon (commonly misnamed as ‘Samson’ in English). The boy grew up and Yahweh blessed him, 25 and then Yahweh’s spirit began to stir him when he was in Mahaneh Dan—between Zorah and between Eshtaol.

↑ 13  and_ the_people_of _again of_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) for_doing the_evil in/on_both_eyes_of YHWH and_gave_them YHWH in/on/at/with_hand_of the_Fəlishtiy forty years.

2 and_he/it_was a_man one of_Tsārəˊāh/(Zorah) from_tribe_of the_Dānī and_his/its_name was_Mānōaḩ and_his/its_woman/wife was_barren and_not she_had_borne_children.

3 And_ the_messenger_of _appeared of_YHWH to the_woman and_he/it_said to_her/it here please you are_barren and_not you_have_borne_children and_conceive and_bear a_son.

4 And_now take_care please and_not drink wine and_strong_drink and_not eat any_of unclean_thing.

5 If/because see_you will_be_pregnant and_give_birth_to a_son and_(a)_razor not it_will_go_up on his/its_head if/because a_Nazirite_of god he_will_be the_boy from the_birth and_he he_will_begin to_deliver DOM Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) from_hand_of the_Fəlishtiy.

6 And_came the_woman and_she/it_said to/for_her/its_man/husband to_say (the)_man_of the_ʼElohīm he_came to_me and_appearance_of_his like_appearance_of (the)_messenger_of the_ʼElohīm awesome very and_not ask_him where from_there was_he and_DOM his/its_name not he_told to_me.

7 And_he/it_said to_me see_you will_be_pregnant and_give_birth_to a_son and_now do_not drink wine and_strong_drink and_not eat any_of uncleanness if/because a_Nazirite_of god he_will_be the_boy from the_birth until the_day_of death_of_his.

8 and_ Mānōaḩ _prayed to YHWH and_said pardon_me master_of_my the_man_of the_ʼElohīm whom you_sent let_him_come please again to_us and_teach_us what will_we_do concerning_the_boy the.

9 And_he/it_listened the_ʼElohīm in/on/at/with_voice_of Mānōaḩ and_ the_messenger_of _came the_ʼElohīm again to the_woman and_she was_sitting in_the_field and_Mānōaḩ her/its_husband/man not with_her/it.

10 And_quickly the_woman and_ran and_told to/for_her/its_man/husband and_she/it_said to_him/it here he_has_presented_himself to_me the_man who he_came in/on/at/with_day to_me.

11 And_he/it_rose_up and_he/it_went Mānōaḩ after his/its_wife/woman and_came to the_man and_he/it_said to_him/it you the_man who you_spoke to the_woman and_he/it_said I.

12 And_ Mānōaḩ _he/it_said now messages_of_your it_will_come what will_it_be the_manner_of the_boy’s and_work_of_his.

13 And_ the_messenger_of _he/it_said of_YHWH to Mānōaḩ from_all that I_said to the_woman she_will_take_care.

14 From_all that it_comes_forth from_vine_of the_grape not she_will_eat and_wine and_strong_drink not let_her_drink and_all uncleanness not let_her_eat all that commanded_her she_will_keep.

15 And_ Mānōaḩ _he/it_said to the_messenger_of YHWH let_us_detain please DOM_you and_prepare to_your_face a_kid_of goats.

16 And_ the_messenger_of _he/it_said of_YHWH to Mānōaḩ if detain_me not I_will_eat in/on/at/with_food_of_your and_if you_will_make a_burnt_offering to/for_YHWH offer_it if/because not Mānōaḩ he_knew if/because_that was_the_messenger_of YHWH it.

17 And_ Mānōaḩ _he/it_said to the_messenger_of YHWH who your(ms)_name if/because messages_of_your it_will_come\f + \fr 13:17 \ft OSHB variant note: דברי/ך: (x-qere) ’דְבָרְ/ךָ֖’: lemma_1697 n_0.

0 morph_HNcmsc/Pp2ms id_07LNG דְבָרְ/ךָ֖\f* and_honour_you.

18 And_he/it_said for_him/it\f + \fr 13:18 \ft OSHB note: Marks a place where we agree with BHQ against BHS in reading L.

\f*\f + \fr 13:18 \ft OSHB note: Marks an anomalous form.

\f*\f + \fr 13:18 \ft OSHB note: We read punctuation in L differently from BHS.

\f* the_messenger_of YHWH to/for_what this are_you_asking about_name_of_my and_he is_incomprehensible.

\f + \fr 13:18 \ft OSHB note: Marks a place where we agree with BHQ against BHS in reading L.

\f*\f + \fr 13:18 \ft OSHB note: We read one or more accents in L differently than BHS.

Often this notation indicates a typographical error in BHS.

\f*\f + \fr 13:18 \ft OSHB note: Marks an anomalous form.

\f* 19 and_ Mānōaḩ _he/it_took DOM the_kid_of the_goats and_DOM the_grain_offering and_he/it_ascended on the_rock to/for_YHWH and_wonders for_doing and_Mānōaḩ and_his/its_woman/wife were_looking.

20 And_he/it_was in/on/at/with_went_up the_flame from_under the_altar the_heaven_toward and_ the_messenger_of _he/it_ascended of_YHWH in/on/at/with_flame_of the_altar and_Mānōaḩ and_his/its_woman/wife were_looking and_fell on faces_of_their ground_to.

21 And_not he_repeated again the_messenger_of YHWH to_appear to Mānōaḩ and_near/to his/its_wife/woman then Mānōaḩ he_knew if/because_that was_the_messenger_of YHWH it.

22 And_ Mānōaḩ _he/it_said to his/its_wife/woman surely_(die) we_will_die if/because god we_have_seen.

23 And_she/it_said to_him/it his/its_wife/woman if he_had_desired YHWH to_kill_us not he_accepted from_hands_of_our a_burnt_offering and_grain_offering and_not shown_us DOM all_of these_things and_at_this_time not announced_us as_this.

24 And_she/it_gave_birth the_woman a_son and_she/it_called/named DOM his/its_name Shimshōn/(Samson) and_grew the_boy and_blessed_him YHWH.

25 And_ the_spirit_of _began of_YHWH to_stir_him in/on/at/with_Mahaneh- dan between Tsārəˊāh/(Zorah) and_between ʼEshtāʼol.

14:1 Shimshon and the woman from Timnah

Samson’s Riddle; Samson’s Marriage; Samson and the Woman from Timnah

14 One time when Shimshon went to Timnah, he ≈noticed a young, Philistine woman there, 2 and he went ≈back home and he reported to his ≈parents, “I saw a Philistine woman in Timnah ≈that I’d like you to get for me as my wife.”

3 “Isn’t there a woman among your relatives?” his ≈parents asked him, “Or among all of #our people? Why take a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?”

“Get her for me,” Shimshon said to his father, “because ≈I feel she’s right for me.”

4 ≈Now his parents didn’t know that Yahweh ≈was arranging this, because he was seeking an opportunity against the Philistines who were ≈oppressing Yisrael at that time.

5 Then Shimshon went to Timnah with his ≈parents and when they got to the vineyards *there, wow, a young lion roared ≈when it saw him. 6 Yahweh’s spirit ≈rose up in @Shimshon, and he tore @the lion to pieces ≈with his bare hands like butchering a young goat, ≈but he didn’t ≈mention to his parents what he’d done.

7 Then he ≈continued on and talked with the woman, and ≈he really liked her. 8 ≈Some time later when he returned for the wedding, he turned off the path to look for the lion’s carcass, and ≈to his surprise, a swarm of bees had nested in the carcass and there was honey there. 9 He ≈filled his cupped hands with honey, and ≈continued along—walking and eating as he went to ≈where his parents were. He even gave some to them ≈to try, but he didn’t tell them that he had scooped *it out of the carcass of a dead lion. 10 Then his father went ≈to visit the woman, and ≈in the custom of the young men of the time, Shimshon ≈held a party there. 11 ≈When they saw him, they brought thirty close friends to join him.[fn] 12 Samson said to them, “Let me suggest a riddle for you all. If you’re able to explain it to me during the seven days of the party and ≈you’ve worked it out correctly, I’ll give you all thirty linen coats and thirty sets of clothes. 13 But if you all can’t ≈explain it to me, then you yourselves must give me thirty linen coats and thirty sets of clothes.”

“≈Okay, we’re listening. Tell us the riddle.” they ≈answered.

14 ≈So he said,

“Food came out of the eater,

≈and sweetness came out of the strong one.”

But three days later, they ≈still couldn’t solve his riddle.

15 Then on the seventh day,[fn] they ≈pressured Shimshon’s wife, “Get your husband ≈to tell you the answer of the riddle, otherwise we’ll burn down your father’ house and you as well. ≈Did you invite us to the party just to impoverish us?”

16 Then Shimshon’s wife ≈put on a crying act and said, “You must hate me—you don’t love me because you’ve ≈created a riddle ≈for my relatives, yet you haven’t ≈even told me the answer.”

“Listen,” he ≈replied, “I haven’t even ≈told my own parents. Should I tell you?” 17 She continued to cry beside him throughout the seven-day party, and then finally on the seventh day, he gave in and told her because she kept nagging him, so in the end she ≈was able to reveal the answer to her relatives. 18 Then the men of the city said to @Shimshon before the sun went down on the seventh day,

“What is sweeter than honey?

And what’s stronger than a lion?”

≈So he said to them,

“If you all hadn’t ploughed with my heifer,

you wouldn’t have been able to solve my riddle.”

19 Then Yahweh’s spirit ≈rose up in him, and he went to Ashkelon and killed thirty men there. He took their possessions, and he gave the changes of clothes for the riddle. ≈But he was very angry, so he went ≈back to his parent’s home. 20 Then (unknown to Shimshon), *his wife ≈was given to the man who’d been his close friend and companion.

Samson’s Vengeance on the Philistines; Samson Defeats the Philistines

15 Some days later during the wheat harvest, Shimshon visited his wife with a young goat as a present for the family, because he said, “I’ll go into the bedroom with my wife.” ≈But her father wouldn’t allow him to go in, 2 and ≈pleaded, “Truly, I ≈I thought that you must hate her, so I gave her to your close friend. ≈But wouldn’t her younger sister be better anyway? Please, ≈would you take her instead.”

3 Shimshon ≈responded, “This time I’m blameless concerning the Philistines when I ≈cause trouble for them.” 4 Then *he went and captured three hundred foxes and ≈tied them in pairs—tail to tail. He took torches, and ≈tied one torch between ≈the tails of each pair. 5 He ≈lit the torches and let @the foxes loose into the grain ≈crops of the Philistines. As a result, he burnt both the standing grain plants and also the harvested #stacks of sheaves, and even a vineyard and an olive orchard. 6 ≈So the Philistines ≈asked, “Who did this?”

“Shimshon,” they ≈replied, “the son-in-law of the ≈man from Timnah, because he took @Shimshon’s wife and gave her to his close friend.” As a result, the Philistines went to Timnah and they burnt both @the woman and her father. 7 Then Shimshon told them, “Since you actually did that horrible thing, I certainly ≈won’t stop until I’ve avenged myself against you all.” 8 Then he attacked the Philistines and ≈crippled many of them, before going to Etam’s rock where he lived in a cave.

↑ 14  and_ Shimshōn _he/it_descended Timnāh_to and_he/it_saw a_woman in/on/at/with_Timnāh from_daughters_of the_Fəlishtiy.

2 And_he/it_ascended and_told to_father_of_his and_to_mother_of_his and_he/it_said a_woman I_have_seen in/on/at/with_Timnāh from_daughters_of the_Fəlishtiy and_now get DOM_her to/for_me to/for_(a)_woman.

3 And_he/it_said to_him/it his/its_father and_mother_of_his not in/on/at/with_daughters_of relatives_of_your and_on/over_all people_of_our a_woman (cmp) you are_going to_take/accept/receive a_wife from_Fəlishtiy the_uncircumcised and_ Shimshōn _he/it_said to his/its_father DOM_her get to_me if/because she she_is_pleasing in/on/at/with_eyes_of_me.

4 And_father_of_his and_mother_of_him not they_knew if/because_that from_LORD it if/because an_occasion he was_seeking against_Fəlishtiy and_in/on/at/with_time the_that the_Fəlishtiy were_ruling in/on/at/with_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel).

5 and_ Shimshōn _he/it_descended and_father_of_his and_mother_of_him Timnāh_to and_they_came to the_vineyards_of Timnāh and_see/lo/see a_young_lion_of lions was_roaring at_came_him.

6 And_rushed on/upon/above_him/it the_spirit_of YHWH and_tore_apart_him as_tear_apart the_young_goat and_anything there_was_not in_his/its_hand and_not he_told to_father_of_his and_to_mother_of_his DOM that_which he_had_done.

7 And_he/it_descended and_he/it_spoke to/for_the_woman/wife and_seemed_right in/on_both_eyes_of Shimshōn/(Samson).

8 And_returned from_days to_marry_her and_turned_aside to_see DOM the_carcass_of the_lion and_see/lo/see a_swarm_of bees in/on/at/with_body_of the_lion and_honey.

9 And_scraped_out_it into hands_of_his and_he/it_went going and_eating and_he/it_went to his/its_father and_near/to his/its_mother and_he/it_gave to/for_them and_ate and_not he_told to/for_them if/because_that from_carcass_of the_lion he_had_scraped_out the_honey.

10 father_of_his And_he/it_descended to the_woman and_he/it_made there Shimshōn a_feast if/because thus they_did the_young_men.

11 And_he/it_was when_saw_they DOM_him and_they_took thirty close_friends and_they_were with_him/it.

12 And_he/it_said to/for_them Shimshōn let_me_ask_a_riddle please to/for_you_all a_riddle if actually_(tell) you_all_will_tell DOM_it to_me the_seven_of the_days_of the_feast and_find_out and_give to/for_you_all thirty linen_garments and_thirty changes_of garments.

13 And_if not you_all_will_be_able to_announce to_me and_give you_all to_me thirty linen_garments and_thirty changes_of garments and_they_said to_him/it tell riddle_of_your and_hear_it.

14 And_he/it_said to/for_them out_of_the_eater it_came_out food and_out_of_strong it_came_out a_sweet_thing and_not they_were_able to_announce the_riddle three_of days.

15 And_he/it_was in_the_day the_seventh and_they_said to_wife_of Shimshōn/(Samson) entice DOM your(fs)_man/husband and_tell to/for_us DOM the_riddle lest we_should_burn DOM_you and_DOM the_house_of father’s_of_your in/on/at/with_fire the_to_rob_us did_you_all_invite to/for_us not.

16 And_ the_wife_of _wept of_Shimshōn on/upon/above_him/it and_she/it_said only hate_me and_not love_me the_riddle you_have_asked_the_riddle to_sons_of people_of_my and_to_me not you_have_told and_he/it_said to/for_her/it here to_father_of_my and_to_mother_of_my not I_have_told and_to_you will_I_tell.

17 And_wept on/upon/above_him/it the_seven_of the_days which it_belonged to/for_them the_feast and_he/it_was in_the_day the_seventh and_told to/for_her/it if/because nagged_him and_explained the_riddle to_sons_of people_of_her.

18 And_they_said to_him/it the_men_of the_city in_the_day the_seventh in/on/at/with_before it_went the_sun what is_sweet than_honey and_what is_strong than_lion and_he/it_said to/for_them if_not you_all_had_plowed in/on/at/with_heifer_of_my not you_all_found_out riddle_of_my.

19 And_rushed on/upon/above_him/it the_spirit_of YHWH and_he/it_descended ʼAshqəlōn and_killed from_them thirty man and_he/it_took DOM spoil_of_their and_he/it_gave the_garments to_explained_of the_riddle anger_of_his and_it_glowed/burned and_he/it_ascended the_house_of father’s_of_his.

20 and_it_became the_wife_of Shimshōn/(Samson) to_companion_of_his who he_was_a_special_friend to_him/it.

↑ 15  And_he/it_was from_days in/on/at/with_time_of the_harvest_of wheat(s) and_ Shimshōn _visited DOM his/its_wife/woman in/on/at/with_young_goat_of goats and_he/it_said let_me_go into wife’s_of_my the_room_in and_not let_him father_of_her to_enter.

2 father_of_her And_he/it_said really_(think) I_thought if/because_that utterly_(hate) hated_her and_gave_her to_companion_of_your not sister_of_her the_younger good from_her/it let_her_belong please to/for_yourself(m) instead_her.

3 And_he/it_said to/for_them Shimshōn I_will_be_free the_time//this_time in_regard_to_Fəlishtiy if/because am_about_to_do I to_them harm.

4 And_ Shimshōn _he/it_went and_caught three hundred(s) foxes and_he/it_took torches and_turned tail to tail and_he/it_assigned a_torch one between the_two_of the_tails in/on/at/with_middle.

5 And_he_lit fire in/on/at/with_torches and_let_go in/on/at/with_standing_grain_of the_Fəlishtiy and_burned to_shocks and_unto the_standing_grain and_unto the_vineyard_of olive_trees.

6 And_ the_Fəlishtiy _they_said who did_he_do this_thing and_they_said Shimshōn/(Samson) the_son-in-law_of the_Timnite if/because he_has_taken DOM his/its_wife/woman and_gave_her to_companion_of_his and_ the_Fəlishtiy _came_up and_burned DOM_her and_DOM father_of_her in/on/at/with_fire.

7 And_he/it_said to/for_them Shimshōn if do like_this if/because if I_have_avenged_myself in/on/at/with_you_all and_after I_will_cease.

8 And_struck_down DOM_them leg with thigh a_defeat great and_he/it_descended and_he/it_sat_down//remained//lived in/on/at/with_cleft_of the_rock_of ˊĒyţām.

15:9 Shimshon defeats the Philistines

Samson Defeats the Philistines

9 ≈However, the Philistine warriors went and camped in Yehudah, and spread out around the town of Lehi. 10 ≈But the men of Yehudah ≈asked , “Why have you all come ≈here to attack us?”

“We’ve come to ≈capture Shimshon,” they ≈replied. “To ≈give him some of his own back.” 11 Then three thousand men from Yehudah went down to the cleft of Etam’s rock, and told Shimshon, “Don’t you realise that the Philistines are ruling over us? ≈Why are you causing more trouble for us?”

“Just as they’ve done to me,” he ≈replied, “so I’ve done to them.”

12 “We’ve come ≈here to tie you up so we can hand you over to the Philistines,” they said.

“Okay,” Shimshon ≈responded. “But promise me that you all won’t ≈injure me yourselves.”

13 “No, however, we’ll certainly tie you up,” they ≈replied, “and we’ll hand you over to them. But truly we won’t kill you.” Then they tied him up with two new ropes and brought him up from the #rocks.

14 ≈When they’d taken him as far as Lehi, the Philistines shouted triumphantly ≈when they saw him. Then Yahweh’s spirit ≈rose in @Shimshon and the ropes ≈around his arms ≈just seemed as weak as burnt flax stalks ≈when he simply snapped them off him. 15 He saw a fresh donkey’s jawbone lying on the ground, and he reached out his hand and ≈grabbed it, and he slaughtered a thousand Philistine men with it. 16 Then Shimshon ≈declared,

“With a donkey’s jawbone, one heap, two heaps,

≈with a donkey’s jawbone, I’ve slaughtered a thousand men.”

17 When he finished ≈reciting that, he hurled the jawbone ≈away, and he called that place ‘Ramat -Lehi’ (which means ‘jawbone hill’).

18 Then he was very thirsty and cried out to Yahweh, “You yourself have given your servant this great victory, ≈but now must I die with this thirst and ≈get captured by those uncircumcised Philistines?” 19 ≈So God split open the little hollow that’s at Lehi, and water came out of it. When he drank, his ≈strength returned and he revived. Because of that, he called it ‘Eyn-Hakkore’ (which means ‘the fountain of the one who called out’), which is in Lehi to this day. 20 And so @Shimshon led Yisrael for twenty years at the time of the Philistine oppression.

9 and_ the_Fəlishtiy _went_up and_camped in/on/at/with_Yəhūdāh/(Judah) and_made_a_raid in/on/at/with_Leḩī.

10 And_ the_man_of _they_said of_Yəhūdāh to/for_why have_you_all_come_up against_us and_they_said to_bind DOM Shimshōn we_have_come_up for_doing to_him/it just_as he_did to/for_us.

11 And_went_down three_of thousand(s) man of_Yəhūdāh to the_cleft_of the_rock_of ˊĒyţām and_they_said to_Shimshōn not do_you_know if/because_that are_ruling in/on/at/with_us the_Fəlishtiy and_what this have_you_done to/for_ourselves and_he/it_said to/for_them just_as they_did to_me so I_have_done to/for_them.

12 And_they_said to_him/it to_bind_you we_have_come_down so_that_give_you in/on/at/with_hands_of the_Fəlishtiy and_he/it_said to/for_them Shimshōn/(Samson) swear to_me lest kill in/on/at/with_me you_all.

13 And_they_said to_him/it to_say no\f + \fr 15:13 \ft OSHB note: We read one or more accents in L differently from BHQ.

\f*\f + \fr 15:13 \ft OSHB note: We read one or more accents in L differently than BHS.

Often this notation indicates a typographical error in BHS.

\f* if/because only_(bind) we_will_tie_up_you and_give_you in/on/at/with_hands_of_their and_to_kill not kill_you and_bound_him in/on/at/with_two ropes new and_brought_up_him from the_rock.

14 He was_coming to Leḩī and_Fəlishtiy\f + \fr 15:14 \ft OSHB note: Marks a place where we agree with BHQ against BHS in reading L.

\f*\f + \fr 15:14 \ft OSHB note: Marks an anomalous form.

\f*\f + \fr 15:14 \ft OSHB note: We read one or more vowels in L differently from BHS.

\f* they_shouted to_meet_him and_rushed on/upon/above_him/it the_spirit_of YHWH and_became the_ropes which were_on arms_of_his like_the_flax which people_have_burned in/on/at/with_fire bonds_of_his and_melted from_under hands_of_his.

15 And_found a_jawbone_of a_donkey fresh and_reached_down his/its_hand and_took_it and_killed in/on/at/with_it a_thousand man.

16 And_ Shimshōn _he/it_said in/on/at/with_jawbone_of the_donkey a_heap two_heaps in/on/at/with_jawbone_of the_donkey I_struck_down a_thousand man.

17 And_he/it_was when_finished_he to_speaking and_threw_away the_jawbone from_hand_of_his and_he/it_called to_the_place (the)_that Ramath Leḩī.

18 And_was_thirsty very and_he/it_called to YHWH and_said you you_have_given in/on/at/with_hand_of servant_of_your DOM the_victory the_big/large/great(fs) the_this and_now I_will_die in/on/at/with_thirst and_fall in/on/at/with_hands_of the_uncircumcised.

19 And_ god _split DOM the_hollow_place which in/on/at/with_Leḩī and_they_went_out from_him/it waters and_drank his/its_breath/wind/spirit and_returned and_revived on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in yes/correct/thus/so he_called his/its_name En Hakkore which in/on/at/with_Leḩī until the_day the_this.

20 And_judged DOM Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) in/on/at/with_days_of the_Fəlishtiy twenty years.

16:1 Shimshon carries away the gates

Samson Removes Gaza’s Gates; Samson and Delilah; Samson at Gaza

16 Samson went to Gaza city and he saw a prostitute woman there ≈so he went in to spend the night with her. 2 ≈But the Gazites ≈passed around the news, “Shimshon’s ≈in town.” So they encircled the city gate and they laid in wait for him all night. They ≈stayed quiet the whole night, saying, “We’ll kill him ≈when it gets light.” 3 Samson ≈stayed with her until the middle of the night, then he got up. He picked up both the gates including the cross-bar and their posts, and hoisted them up onto his shoulders, and he carried them up to the top of the hill which is in front of Hebron.

↑ 16  and_ Shimshōn/(Samson) _he/it_went ˊAzzāh_to and_he/it_saw there a_woman a_prostitute and_went_in to_her.

2 To_the_Gazites to_say Shimshōn he_has_come here and_surrounded and_lay_in_wait to_him/it all_of the_night in/on/at/with_gate_of the_city and_kept_quiet all_of the_night to_say until the_light_of the_morning and_kill_him.

\f + \fr 16:2 \ft OSHB note: We agree with both BHS 1997 and BHQ on an unexpected reading.

\f* 3 and_ Shimshōn _lay until the_middle_of the_night and_he/it_rose_up in/on/at/with_middle_of the_night and_took_hold in/on/at/with_doors_of the_gate_of the_city and_in/on/at/with_two_of the_posts and_pulled_up_them with the_bar and_he/it_assigned on shoulders_of_his and_carried_them to the_top_of the_hill which is_on the_face_of Ḩeⱱrōn.

16:4 Shimshon and Delilah

Samson and Delilah

4 ≈Sometime after that, @Shimshon fell in love with a Philistine woman named Delilah who lived in the Sorek valley. 5 The Philistine leaders came to her and ≈requested, “Make him open up. ≈Find out what makes him strong, and how we can beat him, so that we can tie him up ≈to keep him in our power. Then we’ll each give you one thousand one hundred silver coins.”

6 So Delilah ≈asked Shimshon, “Please, tell me ≈what makes you so strong, and how ≈could someone tie you up to keep you in their power?”

7 “If they’d tie me up with seven green cords that haven’t been dried,” *he ≈replied, “then I’d become weak and be just like any other #man.”

8 ≈So the Philistine leaders brought her seven green cords that hadn’t been dried, and she tied him up with them. 9 Now she had an ambush group ≈ready in the next room when she said to him, “The Philistines are ≈here to get you, Shimshon!” But he tore the cords to shreds just like a strip of flax fiber is torn to shreds when ≈the fire reaches it, ≈thus ≈they didn’t find out the secret of his strength. 10 Then Delilah said to *him, “Listen, you deceived me and lied to me. Now tell me, please, ≈how could someone tie you up?”

11 “Actually, if they would tie me with new ropes ≈which have never been used,” he ≈replied, “I’d become weak and be just like any other #man.”

12 ≈So Delilah took new cords and tied him up with them. She said to him, “The Philistines are ≈here to get you, Shimshon!” with the ambush group staying in the next room. But he flicked them off his arms like they were just thread.

13 Then Delilah said to Shimshon, “≈So far you’ve just ≈been deceitful to me and told me lies. Now Tell me how you can be tied up.”

So he told her, “It’s if you just weave seven locks of my hair into the loom.”

14 ≈So she did it and fastened it with the pin, and ≈called out, “The Philistines are ≈here to get you, Shimshon!” Then he woke up and ≈ripped out the pin, the loom, and his hair from the fabric.

15 Then she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart isn’t with me? You’ve ≈been deceitful to me three times now, and you haven’t revealed to me ≈the secret of your amazing strength.” 16 ≈Day after day she nagged and pestered him until he was sick to death of hearing it. 17 ≈So finally he told her ≈his secret, “≈My hair has never been cut because I’ve been a Nazirite to God ≈since my birth. If ≈my head would be shaved, then my strength would leave me, and I’d become weak—I’d be just like any other #man.”

18 When Delilah perceived that he’d told her ≈his deepest secret, she summoned the Philistine leaders, “Come ≈here one more time, because he’s told me ≈his secret.” ≈So the Philistine leaders came, bringing the silver coins ≈with them. 19 Then she made him fall asleep on her knees, and she called in a man to shave off his seven locks ≈of hair, causing him to start to weaken, and his additional strength left him. 20 Then she said, “The Philistines are ≈here to get you, Shimshon!” He woke up and ≈thought to himself, “I’ll escape like ≈all the other times and I’ll shake myself loose.” But he didn’t know that Yahweh had left him. 21 ≈So the Philistines seized him, and they gouged out his eyes. They brought him to Gaza and chained him with a pair of bronze shackles, then ≈they put him to work in prison grinding grain. 22 ≈However, over time his hair began to grow back again.

4 and_he/it_was after thus and_fell_in_love_with a_woman in/on/at/with_valley_of Sōrēq and_name_of_whose was_Dilīlāh.

5 And_came_up to_her/it the_rulers_of the_Fəlishtiy and_they_said to/for_her/it entice DOM_him and_see in/on/at/with_what strength_of_his great and_in/on/at/with_what will_we_prevail to_him/it and_bind_him in_order_to_subdue_him and_us we_will_give to/for_you(fs) each one_thousand and_hundred silver.

6 And_ Dilīlāh _she/it_said to Shimshōn/(Samson) tell please to_me in/on/at/with_what strength_of_your great and_in/on/at/with_what will_you_be_bound so_that_subdue_you.

7 And_he/it_said to_her/it Shimshōn if bind_me in/on/at/with_seven cords fresh which not they_have_been_dried\f + \fr 16:7 \ft OSHB note: Marks a place where we agree with BHQ against BHS in reading L.

\f*\f + \fr 16:7 \ft OSHB note: We read one or more accents in L differently than BHS.

Often this notation indicates a typographical error in BHS.

\f* and_become_weak and_I_will_be like_one the_humankind.

8 And_brought to/for_her/it the_rulers_of the_Fəlishtiy seven cords fresh which not they_had_been_dried and_bound_him in/on/at/with_them.

9 And_the_ambush was_sitting to/for_her/it in/on/at/with_room and_she/it_said to_him/it the_Fəlishtiy upon_you Oh_Shimshōn and_snapped DOM the_bowstrings just_as it_is_torn_apart (the)_cord_of the_fiber in/on/at/with_touches_it fire and_not strength_of_his it_was_known.

10 And_ Dilīlāh _she/it_said to Shimshōn here you_have_deceived in/on/at/with_me and_told to_me lies now tell please to_me in/on/at/with_the_what will_you_be_bound.

11 And_he/it_said to_her/it if indeed_(bind) tie_up_me in/on/at/with_ropes new which not it_has_been_done in/among_them work and_become_weak and_I_will_be like_one the_humankind.

12 And_ Dilīlāh _she/it_took ropes new and_bound_him in/among_them and_she/it_said to_him/it the_Fəlishtiy upon_you Oh_Shimshōn/(Samson) and_the_lying_in_wait was_sitting in/on/at/with_room and_snapped_them from_under arms_of_his like_a_thread.

13 And_ Dilīlāh _she/it_said to Shimshōn until now you_have_deceived in/on/at/with_me and_told to_me lies tell to/for_me in/on/at/with_the_what will_you_be_bound and_he/it_said to_her/it if you_will_weave DOM seven the_plaits_of my_head with the_web.

14 And_fastened in/on/at/with_pin and_she/it_said to_him/it the_Fəlishtiy upon_you Oh_Shimshōn and_awoke from_sleep_of_his and_pulled_out DOM the_pin the_loom and_DOM the_web.

15 And_she/it_said to_him/it how will_you_say love_you and_heart_of_your not with_me this three times you_have_deceived in/on/at/with_me and_not you_have_told to/for_me in/on/at/with_what strength_of_your great.

16 And_he/it_was if/because she_pressed for_him/it in/on/at/with_messages_of_her all_of the_days and_pestered_him soul_of_his and_tired to_death.

17 And_told to/for_her/it DOM all_of his/its_heart and_he/it_said to/for_her/it a_razor not it_has_come_up on my_head if/because am_a_Nazirite_of god I from_womb_of mother’s_of_my if I_was_shaved and_leave from_me strength_of_my and_become_weak and_I_will_be like_any_of the_humankind.

18 And_ Dilīlāh _she/it_saw\f + \fr 16:18 \ft OSHB note: We read the punctuation in L differently from BHQ.

\f*\f + \fr 16:18 \ft OSHB note: We read punctuation in L differently from BHS.

\f* if/because_that he_had_told to/for_her/it DOM all_of his/its_heart and_sent and_she/it_called/named to_masters_of the_Fəlishtiy to_say come_up the_time//this_time if/because he_has_told to_me\f + \fr 16:18 \ft OSHB variant note: ל/ה: (x-qere) ’לִ֖/י’: lemma_l n_1.

0 morph_HR/Sp1cs id_07TmX לִ֖/י\f* DOM all_of his/its_heart and_came_up to_her/it the_rulers_of the_Fəlishtiy and_brought the_money in/on/at/with_hands_of_their.

19 And_fall_asleep_him on lap_of_her and_she/it_called/named for_the_man and_shave_off DOM seven the_plaits_of his/its_head and_began to_subdue_him strength_of_his and_left from_on_him.

20 And_she/it_said the_Fəlishtiy upon_you Oh_Shimshōn/(Samson) and_awoke from_sleep_of_his and_he/it_said I_will_go_out as_time in/on/at/with_time and_shake_free and_he not he_knew if/because_that YHWH he_had_departed from_on_him.

21 And_seized_him the_Fəlishtiy and_gouged_out DOM eyes_of_his and_brought_down DOM_him ˊAzzāh_to and_bound_him in/on/at/with_bronze_shackles and_he/it_was grinding in_house_of the_prisons\f + \fr 16:21 \ft OSHB variant note: ה/אסירים: (x-qere) ’הָ/אֲסוּרִֽים’: lemma_d/631 n_0 morph_HTd/Vqsmpa id_07oxz הָ/אֲסוּרִֽים\f*.

22 And_ the_hair_of _began his/its_head to_grow just_as it_had_been_shaved.

16:23 Shimshon’s death

The Death of Samson; Samson’s Death; Samson’s Final Victory

23 Some time later, the Philistine leaders gathered together for a celebration and to offer a large sacrifice to their god Dagon, saying, “Our god has ≈helped us capture our terrible enemy, Shimshon.” 24 When the people saw him, they praised their god, saying, “Our god has ≈helped us capture our enemy—the devastator of our region who ≈killed so many of us.” 25 ≈Later in the celebration when the drink had liberated their thinking, they said, “Call for Shimshon so he can ≈entertain us.” So they ≈brought Shimshon in from the ≈prison and taunted him ≈to get them all laughing. They made him stand among the pillars of the building 26 and *he ≈asked the servant who was ≈guiding him by the hand, “Place my hands against the two pillars holding up the building ≈so I can lean on them.” 27 The building was full of the men and the women, ≈including the Philistine leaders. On the roof there were about three thousand men and women watching the entertainment with Shimshon.

28 Then Shimshon called out to Yahweh, “My master Yahweh, please remember me. Strengthen me please, just this time, oh God, so that I can avenge myself by one last act of vengeance on the Philistines to make them pay for my two eyes.” 29 Then *he took hold of the two centre pillars on which the building depended, and ≈pressed out against them—one in his right hand and one in his left. 30 Then *he ≈exclaimed, “≈Let me die with the Philistines!” He stretched out with his strength and the building fell on &their leaders and all of the people in it. ≈So he killed more people at his death than he had killed during his life.

31 Then his brothers and all his father’s household went to Gaza and carried @his body back. They buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the burial place of his father Manoah. He had ≈helped Yisrael for twenty years.

23 and_masters_of the_Fəlishtiy they_gathered\f + \fr 16:23 \ft OSHB note: We agree with both BHS 1997 and BHQ on an unexpected reading.

\f* to_offer a_sacrifice great to_Dāgōn god_of_their and_to_rejoice and_they_said god_of_our he_has_given in/on/at/with_hand_of_our DOM Shimshōn enemy_of_our.

24 And_they_saw DOM_him/it the_people and_praised DOM god_of_their if/because they_said god_of_our he_has_given in/on/at/with_hand_of_our DOM enemy_of_our and_DOM land_of_our the_one_who_desolates_of and_which he_has_multiplied DOM dead_of_us.

25 And_he/it_was wwww wwww\f + \fr 16:25 \ft OSHB variant note: כי טוב: (x-qere) ’כְּ/ט֣וֹב’: lemma_k/2896 a morph_HR/Vqc id_07URH כְּ/ט֣וֹב\f* hearts_of_they and_they_said summon for_Shimshōn/(Samson) and_entertain to/for_us and_called for_Shimshōn from_house_of the_prisoners\f + \fr 16:25 \ft OSHB variant note: ה/אסירים: (x-qere) ’הָ/אֲסוּרִ֗ים’: lemma_d/631 n_0.

1 morph_HTd/Vqsmpa id_07yyH הָ/אֲסוּרִ֗ים\f* and_entertained to/for_before_of_them and_stand DOM_him between the_pillars.

26 And_ Shimshōn _he/it_said to the_servant the_held in_his/its_hand lead DOM_me and_feel_I\f + \fr 16:26 \ft OSHB variant note: ו/הימש/ני: (x-qere) ’וַ/הֲמִשֵׁ֨/נִי֙’: lemma_c/4184 n_1.

0 morph_HC/Vhv2ms/Sp1cs id_07nfk וַ/הֲמִשֵׁ֨/נִי֙\f* DOM the_pillars which the_house is_established on_them and_lean against_them.

27 And_the_house was_full the_men and_the_women and_there_at all_of the_rulers_of the_Fəlishtiy and_on the_roof about_three_of thousand(s) man and_women the_watching in/on/at/with_performed Shimshōn.

28 And_ Shimshōn _he/it_called to YHWH and_said my_master YHWH remember_me please and_strengthen_me please only the_time//this_time the_this the_ʼElohīm and_pay_back vengeance_of one for_two_of eyes_of_my on_Fəlishtiy.

29 And_ Shimshōn _grasped DOM the_two_of the_pillars_of the_middle which the_house was_established on_them and_leaned against_them one in/on/at/with_right_hand_of_his and_other in/on/at/with_left_of_his.

30 And_ Shimshōn _he/it_said life_of_me let_it_die with the_Fəlishtiy and_pushed in/on/at/with_might and_fell the_house on the_masters and_upon all_of the_people which in/on/over_him/it and_they_were the_dead whom he_killed in/on/at/with_death_of_his many than_those he_had_killed in/on/at/with_life_of_his.

31 brothers_of_his And_came_down and_all the_household_of father’s_of_his and_took DOM_him/it and_brought_up and_buried DOM_him between Tsārəˊāh/(Zorah) and_between ʼEshtāʼol in/on/at/with_tomb_of Mānōaḩ his/its_father and_he he_had_judged DOM Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) twenty years.

17:1 The false gods of Mikiyas

Micah and the Levite; Micah’s Idols

17 ≈Now there was a man named Micah from the hill country of Ephraim 2 who ≈admitted to his mother, “Those ≈eleven hundred silver coins that were taken from you—≈when you made a curse, and ≈even said it when I was listening, well listen, ≈I’ve got it all—I took it myself.”

His mother said, “May Yahweh bless you, my son.” 3 Then he brought back the ≈eleven hundred silver coins to his mother and *she ≈declared, “I will certainly consecrate the money to Yahweh ≈for my son’s benefit. ≈Take it and we’ll use it to have one statue carved and another cast.” 4 ≈So after the money had been returned, his mother gave two hundred silver coins to a silversmith. He made a carved figure and one cast from a mould, and they were placed in Micah’s house.

5 Now that Micah had a ≈shrine with gods in it, he made ≈some priestly robes and ≈some household gods, and consecrated one of his sons as his priest. 6 In those days, Yisrael didn’t have a king—each ≈person would do whatever ≈seemed right to them.

7 ≈Now there was a young Levite man from the family of Yehudah[fn] who’d been staying in Bethlehem (in Yehudah). 8 *He left Bethlehem to find another place to say, and on his way, he ≈ended up arriving at Micah’s place in the Efrayimite hill country. 9 “Where have you come from?” Micah ≈asked him.

“I’m a Levite from Bethlehem in Yehudah,” he ≈replied, “and I’m ≈trying to find a good place to stay a while.”

10 “Stay with me,” said Micah, “and be like a father and a priest to me. I’ll give you ten silver coins a year as well as ≈board and clothing.” So the Levite man went in 11 and agreed to stay with @Micah, eventually becoming like one of Micah’s own sons. 12 Micah ordained the Levite, and the young man became like a priest to him, and lived in *his house. 13 “Now I know that Yahweh will ≈make everything go well for me,” Micah said, “because I have this Levite as a priest.”

↑ 17  and_he/it_was a_man from_hill of_ʼEfrayim and_his/its_name was_Mīkāhū.

2 And_he/it_said to_mother_of_his one_thousand and_hundred the_pieces_of_silver which it_was_taken to/for_you(fs) and_you\f + \fr 17:2 \ft OSHB variant note: ו/אתי: (x-qere) ’וְ/אַ֤תְּ’: lemma_c/859 c morph_HC/Pp2fs id_07bTH וְ/אַ֤תְּ\f* you_uttered_a_curse and_also you_said in/on/at/with_hearing_of_my here the_silver with_me I took_it his/its_mother and_she/it_said son_of_my be_blessed to/for_YHWH.

3 And_returned DOM the_one_thousand and_hundred the_pieces_of_silver to_mother_of_his his/its_mother and_she/it_said surely_(consecrate) I_consecrate DOM the_silver to/for_YHWH from_hand_of_my for_son_of_my to_make a_carved_image and_throw_metal and_now give_back_it to/for_you(fs).

4 And_returned DOM the_silver to_mother_of_his his/its_mother and_she/it_took two_hundred silver and_gave_it to_the_silversmith and_made_it a_carved_image and_throw_metal and_he/it_was in_house_of Mīkāhū.

5 And_the_man Mīkāh to_him/it a_house_of god and_he/it_made an_ephod and_teraphim and_he_installed DOM the_hand_of one of_sons_of_his and_he/it_was to_him/it as_priest.

6 In_the_days the_those there_was_not a_king in/on/at/with_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) everyone the_right in/on/at/with_eyes_of_his_own he_did.

7 and_he/it_was a_young_man from_Bēyt- food/grain/bread Yəhūdāh/(Judah) of_clan_of of_Yəhūdāh and_he was_a_Lēviyyiy and_he was_sojourning there.

8 And_he/it_went the_man from_the_town of_Bēyt- food/grain/bread Yəhūdāh to_stay in/on/at/with_where he_will_find and_came the_hill_country_of ʼEfrayim to the_house_of Mīkāh for_doing its_road/course.

9 And_he/it_said to_him/it Mīkāh from_where do_you_come and_he/it_said to_him/it am_a_Lēviyyiy I from_Bēyt- food/grain/bread Yəhūdāh and_I am_going to_stay in/on/at/with_where I_will_find.

10 And_he/it_said to_him/it Mīkāh stay with_me and_be to_me as_father and_as_priest and_I I_will_give to/for_yourself(m) ten_of silver for_a_year and_a_set_of garments and_food_of_your and_he/it_went the_Lēviyyiy.

11 And_agreed the_Lēviyyiy to_stay with the_man and_he/it_was the_young_man to_him/it like_one of_sons_of_his.

12 And_ Mīkāh _he_installed DOM the_hand_of the_Lēviyyiy and_he/it_was to_him/it the_young_man as_priest and_he/it_was in_house_of Mīkāh.

13 And_ Mīkāh _he/it_said now I_know if/because_that he_will_do_good YHWH to_me if/because he_has_become to_me the_Lēviyyiy as_priest.

18:1 The Danites settle in Layish

The Danites settle in Layish; Micah and the Tribe of Dan; Idolatry in the Tribe of Dan; The Migration of Dan

18 In those days, Yisrael ≈didn’t have a king. The tribe of Dan was looking for land to settle in, because up ≈until then, ≈they hadn’t been able to claim their allocated region among the Israeli tribes. 2 ≈So the Danites sent out five capable men (from Zorah and from Eshtaol) to scout out the region and explore it. They had told them, “Go and explore the area.” They came to the Efrayimite hill country, as far as Micah’s house, and spent the night there. 3 They’d been near Micah’s house ≈when they recognized the voice of the young Levite man. So they’d ≈gone in there and they ≈asked him, “Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? What do you ≈get here?”

4 Then he told them what Micah had done for him, and how he’d hired him to be like his priest.

5 ≈So they ≈asked him, “Please find out from God if we’ll have success on this expedition we’re on.”

6 “≈Continue on in peace,” the priest said. “Yahweh has ≈prepared everything ahead of you all.”

7 Then the five men left and ≈went on to Layish. They saw that the people ≈there were living in confidence ≈just like the Tsidonians were—≈peacefully and feeling secure. No one in the region was causing ≈trouble for them and ≈they were very settled. They were far away from the Tsidonians and ≈didn’t interact with others. 8 Then they went back to their relatives in Tsorah and Eshtaol, who ≈asked them, “How ≈did it go?” 9 “Get ≈ready immediately,” they ≈said, “so that we can go to battle against them! Because we’ve seen the land and listen, it’s incredible good. ≈Don’t just still there—you all ≈need to take action to go in to ≈take possession of the land.

10 When you go, you’ll all come to a people living ≈without suspicion of attack, and the land is spacious in ≈all directions, because God ≈will hand it over to you—a place where there’s no lack of anything that’s on the earth.”

11 So six hundred Danite ≈warriors left Tsorah and Eshtaol, carrying their weapons. 12 They ≈set off and camped at Kiriat-Yearim in Yehudah. ≈That’s why they call that place Mahaneh-Dan (meaning ‘Dan’s camp’) to this day—it’s back behind Kiriat-Yearim. 13 From there, they crossed over into the Efrayimite hill country, eventually ≈arriving near Micah’s house.

14 Then the five men who had ≈been here previously scouting out the land said to their ≈group, “Do you know that there’s ≈a house here with a ≈gear for priests, family idols, a carved image, and a cast image? So now, consider what you should do.” 15 So they turned ≈off the main path and they came to the place with the young Levite man in Micah’s house, and they asked about his welfare. 16 The six hundred Danite men stayed outside at the gate, holding their weapons.

17 The five men who’d gone to scout out the land went in around the back. They took the carved image, the priest’s gear, the family idols, and the cast image, while the priest was standing at the entrance of the gate along with the six hundred armed men. 18 When the priest saw them bringing out ≈all the religious objects, he ≈demanded, “≈What’s going on?”

19 “Stay quiet,” they told him. “Put your hand over your mouth and come with us, and be like a father and a priest for us. Is it better to be a priest for only ≈one household, or to be a priest for a whole related tribe in Yisrael?” 20 The priest ≈liked that idea, so he went along with them—taking the ≈priestly gear and the ≈household idols, and the carved image.

21 Then they went back to the main path and continued on their way with the children, animals, and those carrying the valuable property going in front. 22 When they’d already gone ≈quite some distance from Micah’s house, Micah and ≈his neighbours gathered together, then the men ran in a group and caught up with the ≈Danites. 23 They called ≈out to the Danites who turned around ≈to face them and ≈asked Micah, “What’s ≈the matter? Why has this group come together?” 24 “You all took my gods that I made,” Micah ≈replied, “And the priest. Then you ≈disappeared and I had nothing left. ≈So how can you all ≈ask me what ≈the matter is!”

25 “≈I wouldn’t say too much if I was you,” he was told. “Otherwise some of our more fiery men might start to get a bit hostile, then you’d bring about your own death, and that of your companions!” 26 Then Micah realised that they were too strong for #them, so #they turned back around and went home.

The Danites Settle in Layish

≈So the Danites continued onward, 27 taking with them the things that Micah had made, as well as his priest. They came to Layish where the unsuspecting people were living peaceably, and they slaughtered them with their swords and burnt down the city. 28 ≈No one came to rescue them because it was ≈a long way from Tsidon and ≈they did have much involvement with them anyway. (@Layish was in the valley near Beyt-Rehob.) They rebuilt the city and then ≈moved into it. 29 They named the rebuilt city Dan (instead of Layish) in honour of their ancestor Dan who was one of Yisrael’s sons. 30 The Danites ≈mounted the carved image for themselves to worship. Yonatan (Gershom’s son from Menashsheh) became the priest for the Danites (and then his descendants until when the people were eventually exiled from the region). 31 ≈So they set up the carved image that Micah had made and worshipped it ≈the whole time that God’s tent was at Shiloh.

↑ 18  In_the_days the_those there_was_not a_king in/on/at/with_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_in/on/at/with_days the_those the_tribe_of the_Dānī was_seeking to_him/it an_inheritance to_live if/because not it_had_fallen for_him/it until the_day (the)_that in_the_middle the_tribes_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) in/on/at/with_territory.

2 and_ the_descendants_of _sent of_Dān from_clan_of_their five men from_whole_of_their men sons_of strength from_Tsārəˊāh/(Zorah) and_from_ʼEshtāʼol to_spy_out DOM the_earth/land and_to_explore_it and_they_said to_them go explore DOM the_earth/land and_they_came the_hill_country_of ʼEfrayim to the_house_of Mīkāh and_spent_the_night there.

3 They were_near the_house_of Mīkāh and_they they_recognized DOM the_voice_of the_young the_Lēviyyiy and_turned_aside there and_they_said to_him/it who brought_you here and_what are_you doing in/on/at/with_this and_what have_you here.

4 And_he/it_said to_them as_this and_as_such he_has_done to_me Mīkāh and_hired_me and_become to_him/it as_priest.

5 And_they_said to_him/it enquire please in/on/at/with_god and_know whether_successful journey_of_our which we are_going on_her.

6 And_he/it_said to/for_them the_priest/officer go in_peace is_in_front_of YHWH journey_of_you_all which you_all_go in/on/at/with_her.

7 and_left the_five_of the_men and_they_came Layish_to and_they_saw DOM the_people which in/on/at/with_midst_of_it dwelling in_security after_manner_of the_Tsīdonī/(Sidonians) at_peace and_unsuspecting and_there_was_no one_who_put_to_shame anything on_the_earth one_who_possessed oppression and_far they from_Tsīdonī and_dealings there_was_not to/for_them with anyone.

8 And_they_came to brothers_of_their Tsārəˊāh/(Zorah) and_ʼEshtāʼol and_they_said to/for_them brothers_of_their what you_all.

9 And_they_said come and_go_up against_them if/because we_have_seen DOM the_earth/land and_see/lo/see it_is_good very and_you_all are_being_inactive do_not hesitate to_go to_enter_in to_possess DOM the_earth/land.

10 When_go_you_all you_all_will_come to a_people secure and_the_earth is_broad_of both_sides if/because given_it god in/on/at/with_hands_of_your_all’s a_place where there_is_not there lack_of any_of thing which on_the_earth.

11 And_set_out from_there from_clan_of the_Dānī from_Tsārəˊāh and_from_ʼEshtāʼol six hundred(s) man girded weapons_of war.

12 And_went_up and_encamped in/on/at/with_Qiryat- yəˊārīm/(jearim) in/on/at/with_Yəhūdāh/(Judah) on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in yes/correct/thus/so they_called to_the_place (the)_that Mahaneh Dān until the_day the_this there behind Qiryat Yəˊārīm/(Jearim).

13 And_passed_on from_there the_hill_country_of ʼEfrayim and_they_came to the_house_of Mīkāh.

14 And_responded the_five_of the_men the_gone to_spy_out DOM the_earth/land Layish and_they_said to brothers_of_their the_know if/because_that there_are in/on/at/with_houses the_these an_ephod and_household_gods and_carved_image and_throw_metal and_now consider what will_you_all_do.

15 And_turned there_in_that_direction and_they_came to the_house_of the_young the_Lēviyyiy the_house_of Mīkāh and_asked to_him/it of_welfare.

16 And_six hundred(s) man girded the_weapons_of war_of_their were_standing the_entrance_of the_gate who from_(the)_sons of_Dān.

17 And_went_up the_five_of the_men the_gone to_spy_out DOM the_earth/land they_went there_inside they_took DOM the_carved_image and_DOM the_ephod and_DOM the_teraphim and_DOM the_molten_image and_the_priest was_standing the_entrance_of the_gate and_six hundred(s) the_man the_armed the_weapons_of the_war.

18 And_these they_went the_house_of Mīkāh and_they_took DOM the_carved_image_of the_ephod and_DOM the_teraphim and_DOM the_molten_image and_he/it_said to_them the_priest/officer what are_you_all doing.

19 And_they_said to_him/it keep_quiet put hand_of_your over mouth_of_your and_come with_us and_be to/for_us as_father and_as_priest better be_you a_priest to_house_of a_man one or be_you a_priest to_tribe and_for_clan in/on/at/with_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel).

20 And_ the_heart_of _accepted the_priest/officer and_he/it_took DOM the_ephod and_DOM the_teraphim and_DOM the_carved_image and_went in/on/at/with_among_of the_people.

21 And_turned and_departed and_putting DOM the_little_ones and_DOM the_livestock and_DOM the_possessions in_front_of_them.

22 They they_had_gone_far_away from_house_of Mīkāh and_the_men who in/on/at/with_houses which were_near the_house_of Mīkāh they_were_called_together and_overtook DOM the_descendants_of Dān.

23 And_shouted to the_descendants_of Dān and_turned face_of_them and_they_said to_Mīkāh what with_you (cmp) you_have_been_called_together.

24 And_he/it_said DOM gods_of_my which I_made you_all_have_taken and_DOM the_priest/officer and_went_away and_what to/for_me still and_how this are_you_all_saying to_me what with_you.

25 And_they_said to_him/it the_descendants_of Dān do_not make_heard voice_of_your among_us lest they_should_fall in/on/at/with_you_all men bitter_of self and_lose life_of_your and_lives_of household_of_your.

26 And_ the_descendants_of _went of_Dān on_way_of_their and_ Mīkāh _he/it_saw if/because_that were_too_strong they from_him/it and_turned and_went_back to home_of_his.

27 And_they they_took DOM that_which he_had_made Mīkāh and_DOM the_priest/officer who he_belonged to_him/it and_they_came to Layish to a_people at_peace and_unsuspecting and_struck DOM_them with_edge_of the_sword and_DOM the_city they_burned in/on/at/with_fire.

28 And_there_was_no a_deliverer if/because was_far it from_Tsīdōn/(Sidon) and_dealings there_belonged_not to/for_them with anyone and_she in/on/at/with_valley which near_Bēyt- rehob and_rebuilt DOM the_city and_they_lived in/on/at/with_it.

29 And_called the_name_of the_city Dān in/on_name_of Dān ancestor_of_their who he_was_born to_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_but was_Layish the_name_of the_city at_the_first.

30 And_set_up to/for_them the_descendants_of Dān DOM the_carved_image and_Yōnātān/(Jonathan) the_son_of Gērəshom the_son_of wwww\f + \fr 18:30 \ft OSHB note: Suspended letter(s).

Shown as suspended letters without a superscript note number.

\f* he/it and they_were wwww to/for the until day wwww the_earth/land.

31 And_set_up to/for_them DOM the_carved_image_of Mīkāh which he_had_made all_of the_days_of the_being of_the_house_of the_ʼElohīm in_Shiloh.

19:1 The Levite and his slave-wife

The Levite and His Concubine; A Levite and His Concubine; The Levite’s Concubine

19 In those days when there was no king over Yisrael, there was a Levite man who was staying in the remotest parts of the hill country of Efrayim. He took a slave-wife for himself from Bethlehem in Yehudah. 2 ≈However, *she started sleeping around, and then she left him and went to her father’s house in Bethlehem where she ended up staying for four months. 3 Then her husband ≈got organised and went after her—to ≈sweet-talk her and persuade her to return with him. He took a young servant man and a team of donkeys. She invited @her husband into her father’s house, and when *her father saw him, he was glad to meet him. 4 His father-in-law (her father) insisted ≈on offering hospitality, so they ate and drank, and he stayed the night, and ended up staying for three days. 5 Then on the fourth day, they got up early and @the Levite prepared to leave, but his father-in-law ≈urged him to eat before they left.

6 ≈So the two of them ate and drank together, and then the woman’s father said, “Please stay another night. ≈Relax and have a good time.”

7 The man got ready to leave, however his father-in-law persisted, so he stayed another night there. 8 He got up early in the morning on the fifth day to get ready to leave, but the father of the young woman said, “≈Get some energy first.” So they waited until later in the day, and then the two of them ate.

9 ≈When the man stood up to go with his slave-wife and his young man, his father-in-law said, “Listen, the day’s ≈coming to an end soon. Please stay the night. See, ≈it’ll be getting dark soon. Spend the night here and ≈be happy. Then make an early start tomorrow for your journey ≈home.”

10 ≈But the man from the tribe of Levi didn’t want to stay another night. He put saddles on his two donkeys, and started to go with his slave-wife and his servant toward Yebus city (now called Yerushalem).

11 They got close to Yebus and the daylight had ≈mostly gone, so the young man said to his master, “Come, please, we should turn aside into this city of the Yebusites so we can spend the night there.” 12 “We won’t ≈go into a into a city of #foreigners, his master ≈replied. “There’s no ≈Israelis there. ≈Better to keep going until we reach Gibeah.” 13 Then he ≈added, “≈Yes, let’s keep going to reach either Gibeah or Ramah to spend the night in.” 14 So they passed Yebus and went on, ≈but the sun went down as they neared Gibeah (in Benyamite territory) 15 ≈so they went into Gibeah to spend the night there. They went and sat in the open plaza of the city, ≈but no one ≈invited them into their home for the night.

16 ≈But then in late evening, an old man came in from his work in the field. *He was from the Efrayimite hill country ≈but currently staying in the Gibeah area ≈where the ≈residents were Benyamites. 17 He ≈looked up and ≈noticed them in the open plaza of the city and ≈asked the man, “Where are you going, and where have you come from?”

18 “We’re passing through from Bethlehem in Yehudah,” @the Levite ≈replied. “Going to the remote parts of the Efrayimite hill country ≈where I’m from. I went to Bethlehem, and I’m going to Shiloh where Yahweh’s house is. ≈However, no one ≈here has invited us into their home. 19 We have our own food and straw for our donkeys, and enough food and wine for ≈the three of us so we don’t need anything else.

20 “Peace to you all,” said the old man. “≈Let me supply everything you need—only don’t spend the night here in the square.” 21 Then he took #them to his house and fed &their donkeys. They washed their feet, and they all ate and drank.

Gibeah’s Crime

22 They were ≈having a good time, but suddenly the men of the city—wicked men—had ≈surrounded the house—pounding repeatedly on the door. They ≈called out to the old man ≈who owned the house, “Hey, bring out the man who came to your ≈place, so we ≈can have fun with him.”[fn][ref] 23 The man ≈who owned the house went out to them and said to them, “No, my brothers, please you mustn’t act wickedly. ≈That man is a guest in my house—you all mustn’t do this disgraceful thing. 24 My virgin daughter and his slave-wife are here. Please let me bring them out so you can ravish them and do ≈whatever you want to them. But don’t do that wicked thing to that man.” 25 But the men weren’t willing to listen to him, so the man ≈pushed his slave-wife out to them and they ≈raped her and abused her the whole night until the morning, ≈when they ≈discarded her ≈as it began to dawn.

26 The woman ≈managed to get herself back to the house where her master was, and ≈collapsed at the entrance until ≈it got light. 27 ≈When her master got up and he opened the door to go ≈and continue on his trip, look, his slave-wife had fallen at the entrance and her hands were on the threshold. 28 “Get up,” he told her. “Let’s go.” But she didn’t answer, so he put her on his donkey and ≈headed home. 29 When he ≈arrived, he got a knife and hacked his wife’s body into twelve pieces (≈including the bones), and he sent #them ≈to various places spread across all of Yisrael’s territory. 30 Then everyone who saw @a piece said, “Nothing has ever happened like this before—we’ve never seen anything like this from the time that the ≈Israelis left Egypt until ≈now. ≈What do we need to do about it? Speak up and make a plan.”

↑ 19  and_he/it_was in_the_days the_those and_king there_was_not in/on/at/with_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_he/it_was a_man a_Lēviyyiy sojourning in/on/at/with_remote_part_of the_hill_country_of ʼEfrayim and_he/it_took to_him/it a_woman a_concubine from_Bēyt- food/grain/bread Yəhūdāh/(Judah).

2 And_unfaithful on/upon/above_him/it concubine_of_his and_went_away from_with_him to the_house_of father’s_of_her to Bēyt- leḩem Yəhūdāh and_it_became there days four months.

3 her/its_husband/man And_he/it_rose_up and_he/it_went after_her to_speak to her/its_heart in_order_to_bring_back_her\f + \fr 19:3 \ft OSHB variant note: ל/השיב/ו: (x-qere) ’לַ/הֲשִׁיבָ֔/הּ’: lemma_l/7725 n_1.

1 morph_HR/Vhc/Sp3fs id_079hY לַ/הֲשִׁיבָ֔/הּ\f* and_servant_of_his with_him/it and_pair_of donkeys and_brought_him the_house_of father’s_of_her and_saw_him the_father_of the_girl’s and_gladly to_meet_him.

4 And_made_stay in/on/over_him/it father-in-law_of_his the_father_of the_girl’s and_he/it_sat_down//remained//lived with_him/it three_of days and_ate and_drank and_spent_the_night there.

5 And_he/it_was in_the_day the_fourth and_got_up_early in/on/at/with_morning and_he/it_rose_up to_go and_ the_father_of _he/it_said the_girl’s to son-in-law_of_his sustain heart_of_yourself a_piece_of bread and_after you_all_will_go.

6 And_they_lived and_ate both_of_them together and_drank and_ the_father_of _he/it_said the_girl’s to the_man be_willing please and_spend_the_night and_enjoy heart_of_your.

7 And_he/it_rose_up the_man to_go and_persuaded in/on/over_him/it father-in-law_of_his and_again and_spent_the_night there.

8 And_got_up_early in/on/at/with_morning in_the_day the_fifth to_go and_he/it_said the_father_of the_girl’s sustain please heart_of_your and_wait until declines the_day and_ate two_of_them.

9 And_he/it_rose_up the_man to_go he and_concubine_of_his and_servant_of_his and_he/it_said to_him/it father-in-law_of_his the_father_of the_girl’s here please it_is_sinking the_day to_evening spend_the_night please here to_decline the_day spend_the_night here heart_of_your and_enjoy and_arise_early tomorrow for_journey_of_your_all’s and_go to_home_of_your.

10 And_not he_was_willing the_man to_spend_the_night and_he/it_rose_up and_he/it_went and_went to opposite Yəⱱūş/(Jebus) that is_Yərūshālam/(Jerusalem) and_with_him a_pair_of donkeys saddled and_concubine_of_his with_him/it.

11 They were_near Yəⱱūş/(Jebus) and_the_day it_had_gone_down exceedingly and_he/it_said the_servant to master_of_his come please and_turn_aside to the_city_of the_Yəⱱūşī the_this and_spend_the_night in/on/at/with_it.

12 And_he/it_said to_him/it master_of_his not we_will_turn_aside to a_city foreign who not from_(the)_sons of_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) they and_go_on to Giⱱˊāh.

13 And_he/it_said to_servant_of_his come\f + \fr 19:13 \ft OSHB note: Marks a place where we agree with BHQ against BHS in reading L.

\f*\f + \fr 19:13 \ft OSHB note: We have abandoned or added a ketib/qere relative to BHS.

In doing this we agree with L against BHS.

\f* and_reach in/on/at/with_one_of the_places and_spend_the_night in/on/at/with_Giⱱˊāh or in/on/at/with_Rāmāh.

14 And_passed_on and_went and_set to/for_them the_sun beside the_Giⱱˊāh which belongs_to_Binyāmīn.

15 And_turned_aside there to_go_in to_spend_the_night in/on/at/with_Giⱱˊāh and_went_in and_he/it_sat_down//remained//lived in/on/at/with_open_square_of the_city and_no anyone who_was_receiving DOM_them the_home_into to_spend_the_night.

16 And_see/lo/see a_man old was_coming from work_of_his from the_field in/on/at/with_evening and_the_man from_hill of_ʼEfrayim and_he was_sojourning in/on/at/with_Giⱱˊāh and_men_of the_place were_Ben-_of jaminites.

17 And_lifted_up eyes_of_his and_he/it_saw DOM the_man the_traveler in/on/at/with_open_square_of the_city and_he/it_said the_man\f + \fr 19:17 \ft OSHB note: Marks a place where we agree with BHQ against BHS in reading L.

\f*\f + \fr 19:17 \ft OSHB note: We read one or more accents in L differently than BHS.

Often this notation indicates a typographical error in BHS.

\f* the_old where are_you_going and_from_where are_you_coming.

18 And_he/it_said to_him/it are_passing we from_Bēyt- food/grain/bread Yəhūdāh/(Judah) to the_remotest_parts_of the_hill_country_of ʼEfrayim from_there I and_went to Bēyt- leḩem Yəhūdāh and_DOM the_house_of YHWH I am_going and_no anyone who_was_receiving DOM_me the_house_into.

19 And_also straw as_well_as fodder there_are for_donkeys_of_our and_also food and_wine there_are to_me and_for_maidservant_of_your and_for_the_young_man with your_servants there_is_not lack_of any_of thing.

20 And_he/it_said the_man the_old peace to/for_you(fs) certainly all_of need_of_your with_me only in/on/at/with_square do_not spend_the_night.

21 And_brought_him into_house_of_his and_fed\f + \fr 19:21 \ft OSHB note: Marks a place where we agree with BHQ against BHS in reading L.

\f*\f + \fr 19:21 \ft OSHB note: Marks an anomalous form.

\f*\f + \fr 19:21 \ft OSHB note: We have abandoned or added a ketib/qere relative to BHS.

In doing this we agree with L against BHS.

\f* for_THE_donkeys and_washed feet_of_their and_ate and_drank.

22 They were_making_good DOM hearts_of_themselves and_see/lo/see the_men_of the_city men_of sons_of worthlessness they_surrounded DOM the_house beating_violently on the_door and_they_said to the_man the_master_of the_house the_old to_say bring_out DOM the_man who he_came to house_of_your and_have_sex_with_him.

23 And_he/it_went_out to_them the_man the_master_of the_house and_he/it_said to_them no brothers_of_my do_not do_evil please after that he_has_come the_man the_this not house_of_my\f + \fr 19:23 \ft OSHB note: We agree with both BHS 1997 and BHQ on an unexpected reading.

\f* do_not do DOM the_disgraceful_thing the_this.

24 Here daughter_of_my the_virgin and_concubine_of_his let_me_bring_out please DOM_them and_ravish DOM_them and_do to/for_them the_good in/on/at/with_eyes_of_you_all and_against_the_man the_this not you_all_must_do the_thing_of the_disgraceful the_such.

25 And_not they_were_willing the_men to_listen to_him/it and_seized the_man in/on/at/with_concubine_of_his and_put to_them the_out and_they_knew DOM_her and_abused in/on/at/with_her all_of the_night until the_morning and_let_go_her in/on/at/with_break\f + \fr 19:25 \ft OSHB variant note: ב/עלות: (x-qere) ’כַּ/עֲל֥וֹת’: lemma_k/5927 morph_HR/Vqc id_07mev כַּ/עֲל֥וֹת\f* the_dawn.

26 And_came the_woman as_appeared the_morning and_fell_down the_entrance_of the_house_of the_man where master_of_her was_there until the_light.

27 master_of_her And_he/it_rose_up in/on/at/with_morning and_opened the_doors_of the_house and_he/it_went_out to_go on_way_of_his and_see/lo/see the_woman concubine_of_his was_falling the_entrance_of the_house and_hands_of_her were_on the_threshold.

28 And_he/it_said to_her/it get_up and_go and_there_was_no one_who_answered and_put_her on the_donkey and_he/it_rose_up the_man and_he/it_went for_home_of_his.

29 And_entered to house_of_his and_he/it_took DOM the_knife and_grasping in/on/at/with_concubine_of_his and_cut_her by_limbs_of_her into_two ten pieces and_sent_her in/on/at/with_all_of the_territory_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel).

30 And_it_was every_of the_saw and_saying(ms) not it_has_occurred and_not it_has_been_seen like_this to/for_since_day_of came_up the_people_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) from_land_of Miʦrayim/(Egypt) until the_day the_this set to/for_you_all on/upon_it(f) make_a_plan and_speak_up.

20:1 The preparation of Israelis of war

Israelites Fight the Benjamites; The Other Tribes Attack Benjamin; Israel Prepares for War; Israel’s War with Benjamin; The Benjamites

20 Then all the Israelis from Dan in the north to Beer-Sheva in the south, and even from Gilead across the Yordan, came and assembled before Yahweh at Mitspah with ≈one single, united purpose. 2 The leaders of all the Israeli tribes ≈also came out to show their agreement with the assembly of the people of the true God: four hundred thousand warriors all carrying swords.

3 ≈Meanwhile, the ≈Benyamites had heard that the ≈Israelis had gathered at Mitspah, and ≈everyone asked, “Explain how this wicked thing ≈came to happen.”

4 ≈So the Levite man (the husband of the woman who had been murdered) answered, “I went to the Gibeah region (in Benyamin) with my slave-wife to spend the night. 5 The citizens of Gibeah ≈conspired together against me. They surrounded the house at night because of me, intending to kill me. Instead, they assaulted and abused my slave-wife ≈so that she died. 6 I took my slave-wife’s body back home and cut her in pieces, and I sent #them out into every ≈section of the territory that God gave Yisrael, because they’ve committed a heinous crime, and a disgrace to Yisrael. 7 Listen, all of you Israelis, ≈what’s your advice? What should we do about it?.”

8 All the people ≈agreed together and started saying, “We won’t go back to our ≈families. We won’t return to our houses. 9 ≈rather this is what we must do to Gibeah: ≈choose by lot who will fight against #them. 10 ≈Choose a tenth of our men to go and get supplies for the other warriors to travel to Gibeah in Benyamin after what they did that outraged Yisrael. 11 ≈So all Yisrael was united together against that city.

12 Then the Israeli tribes sent men ≈across the Benyamite region to ask, “What’s this ≈evil thing that’s been done among you? 13 ≈So now, hand over those worthless men from the Gibeah region so that we can put them to death and purge Yisrael of that evil.” But the Benyamites weren’t willing to ≈take the advice of their Israeli relatives. 14 *They came out of their cities and assembled at Gibeah to the battle against the ≈Israelis. 15 The ≈Benyamites mobilised together twenty-six thousand men from their cities on that day, all carrying #swords. In addition, seven hundred chosen men had been mobilised from the Gibeah region. 16 Among all of those people were seven hundred chosen left-handers, each of whom could sling a stone at a hair without missing. 17 The Israelis (excluding Benyamites) mustered up for themselves four hundred thousand men—all ≈expert warriors and all carrying #swords.

↑ 20  and_ all_of _they_went_out the_people_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_assembled the_congregation as_man one at_from_Dān and_unto Bəʼēr Sheⱱaˊ and_land_of the_Gilˊād to YHWH the_Miʦpāh.

2 And_presented the_corners_of all_of the_people all_of the_tribes_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) in/on/at/with_assembly_of the_people_of the_ʼElohīm four hundred(s) thousand man on_foot who_drew a_sword.

3 and_ the_descendants_of _they_heard of_Binyāmīn if/because_that the_people_of they_had_gone_up of_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) the_Miʦpāh and_ the_people_of _they_said of_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) speak how did_it_occur the_evil the_this.

4 And_answered the_man the_Lēviyyiy the_husband_of the_woman the_murdered and_said the_Giⱱˊāh_to which belongs_to_Binyāmīn I_came I and_concubine_of_my to_spend_the_night.

5 And_rose_up against_me the_citizens_of the_Giⱱˊāh and_surrounded because_of_me DOM the_house night DOM_me they_intended to_kill and_DOM concubine_of_my they_abused and_died.

6 And_took in/on/at/with_concubine_of_my and_cut_intopieces_her and_sent_her in_all the_land_of the_inheritance_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) if/because they_have_done wickedness and_outrage in/on/at/with_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel).

7 Here all_of_you_all Oh_people_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) give to/for_you_all a_message and_counsel here.

8 And_ all_of _he/it_rose_up the_people as_man one to_say not we_will_go anyone to_tent_of_his and_not we_will_depart anyone to_house_of_his.

9 And_now this the_thing which we_will_do to_the_Giⱱˊāh on/upon_it(f) in/on/at/with_lot.

10 And_take ten men of_the_hundred to_all/each/any/every the_tribes_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_a_hundred of_the_a_thousand and_a_thousand of_the_ten_thousand to_take/accept/receive provisions for_the_troops for_doing when_come_they to_Giⱱˊāh of_Binyāmīn for_all_of the_outrage which it_did in/on/at/with_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel).

11 And_gathered every_of (the)_man_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) to the_city as_man one united.

12 and_ the_tribes_of _sent of_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) men in_all the_tribes_of Binyāmīn to_say what the_wickedness the_this which it_has_happened in/on/at/with_you_all.

13 And_now give_up DOM the_men sons_of worthlessness who in/on/at/with_Giⱱˊāh and_put_todeath_them and_purge evil from_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_not they_were_willing\f + \fr 20:13 \ft OSHB variant note: (x-qere) ’בְּנֵ֣י’: lemma_1121 a morph_HNcmpc id_07Kvd בְּנֵ֣י\f*\f + \fr 20:13 \ft OSHB note: Adaptations to a Qere which L and BHS, by their design, do not indicate.

\f* of_Binyāmīn to_listen in/on/at/with_voice_of fellow_of_their the_people_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel).

14 And_ the_descendants_of _came_together of_Binyāmīn from the_cities the_Giⱱˊāh_to to_go_out to_the_battle with the_people_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel).

15 And_mustered the_descendants_of Binyāmīn in_the_day (the)_that from_the_cities twenty and_six thousand man who_drew a_sword to/for_aside from_inhabitants_of the_Giⱱˊāh who_they_were_mustered seven hundred(s) man chosen.

16 From_all the_troops the_this seven hundred(s) man chosen impeded_of the_hand_of right_of_him all_of this was_slinging in/on/at/with_stone to the_hair and_not he_missed.

17 and_men_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) they_were_mustered to/for_apart from_Binyāmīn four hundred(s) thousand man who_drew a_sword all_of this was_man_of war.

20:18 The war to punish the Benyamites

The War against the Benjaminites

18 The ≈Israelis got ready and went to Beyt-El and asked God, “Who should ≈lead us into battle with the ≈Benyamites?”

“It should be Yehudah ≈out front,” Yahweh ≈responded.

19 ≈So the ≈Israelis set out in the morning and made camp near Gibeah. 20 Then *they went out to battle against the Benyamites—setting themselves up for the battle against them at Gibeah.

21 ≈But the Benyamites led a surprise attack out of Gibeah and killed twenty-two thousand of the ≈Israeli warriors. 22 ≈However the Israelis strengthened themselves and they continued to set up for battle ≈the next day at the ≈same place.

23 Then the ≈Israelis assembled and wept before Yahweh until evening. They asked *him, “Should #we continue to attack and battle against #our ≈cousins the Benyamites?”

“Go ≈back against #them,” Yahweh ≈replied. 24 ≈So the Israelis went back to battle against the Benyamites again on the second day. 25 Again the Benyamites came out from Gibeah, and this time they killed eighteen thousand ≈Israeli swordsmen. 26 Then the ≈Israeli warriors and all the people went ≈back to Beyt-El. They wept, and they sat there before Yahweh. They fasted that day until the evening, then they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings to Yahweh. 27 *They asked Yahweh (because the box containing the agreement with the true God was there in those days 28 and Finehas (son of Aharon’s son Eleazar) was serving before it in those days), “Should #we continue to go to the battle once more against the our ≈cousins the Benyamites, or should #we stop?”

“Go ≈back again, because tomorrow I’ll give ≈you victory over them,” Yahweh ≈responded.

29 ≈So the Israelis placed ≈groups of warriors in ambush all around Gibeah. 30 Then *they ≈took their positions now for the third day against the Benyamites in Gibeah. 31 ≈When the Benyamites came out from the city, they were lured away as they began to strike down their enemies like the time before. Around thirty ≈Israelis were killed on the two roads—one going to Beyt-El and the other to Gibeah through the countryside. 32 Then the ≈Benyamites said, “≈We’re starting to defeat them, just ≈like before.”

But the ≈Israelis had said, “Let’s flee so that we can draw #them away from the city and onto the roads.” 33 Then the main group of ≈Israelis retreated and set up battle lines at Baal-Tamar, ≈as the ones hiding in ambush ≈made a surprise attack from #their places in Maareh-Gibeah. 34 Ten thousand ≈chosen Israeli warriors came out in the sight of the Gibeah region, and the battle was fierce, ≈but @the Benyamites hadn’t yet realised that ≈disaster was about to hit them. 35 Yahweh helped the Israelis to defeat the Benyamites that day, and ≈over twenty-five thousand Benyamite ≈swordsmen were killed 36 and *they saw that they were defeated.

How the Israelites Won

The ≈Israelis had given ground to the ≈Benyamites because they had relied on the ambush placed around Gibeah. 37 Then the group hiding in ambush had rushed out and spread out around Gibeah, then had gone in and ≈attacked the entire city with their swords. 38 Then they started a fire as the ≈prearranged signal was to be the rising column of smoke up out of the city.

39 Meanwhile the main ≈Israeli force had retreated, and the Benyamites had attacked and killed around thirty men, thinking that they were winning like they’d done twice before. 40 ≈But when the pillar of smoke began to rise from the city, the ≈Benyamites looked behind them and were shocked to see ≈their city going up in smoke. 41 Then the main ≈Israeli force stopped retreating and turned back to attack again. The ≈Benyamites were horrified because #they now saw that disaster had struck them. 42 They retreated away from the ≈Israelis into the wilderness, but the battle overtook #them, plus @the Israelis were coming back out of the cities ≈getting right in amongst them to fight. 43 They surrounded ≈the Benyamites as they tried to flee, and easily ran #them down as ≈they tried to escape from the Gibeah region towards the east. 44 Eighteen thousand strong ≈Benyamite warriors were killed, 45 and the rest turned and fled into the wilderness towards the Rimmon rock. ≈Another five thousand men were killed along the trails. They chased them ≈all the way to Gidom, and killed another two thousand men, 46 ≈so the total number of Benyamite swordsmen who were killed came to twenty-five thousand—all strong ≈warriors.

47 ≈But six hundred men ≈made it to Rimmon rock, and they stayed there for four months. 48 ≈Meanwhile, the Israelis went back to the Benyamite region and killed the people with their swords—entire cities including cattle and everything else—then the cities were set on fire.

18 And_arose and_went_up Bēyt- ^ʼēl and_inquired in/on/at/with_god and_ the_people_of _they_said of_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) who will_he_go_up to/for_ourselves in/on/at/with_first to_the_battle with the_descendants_of Binyāmīn and_ YHWH _he/it_said Yəhūdāh/(Judah) in/on/at/with_first.

19 And_ the_people_of _got_up of_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) in/on/at/with_morning and_encamped on the_Giⱱˊāh.

20 and_ the_man_of _he/it_went_out of_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) to_the_battle with Binyāmīn and_drew_up with_them the_man_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) battle to the_Giⱱˊāh.

21 And_ the_descendants_of _they_went_out of_Binyāmīn from the_Giⱱˊāh and_struck_down in/on/at/with_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) in_the_day (the)_that two and_twenty thousand man ground_on.

22 And_encouraged the_troops the_man_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_again to_formed_line battle in/on/at/with_place where they_had_deployed there in_the_day the_first.

23 And_ the_people_of _went_up of_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_wept to_(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before YHWH until the_evening and_inquired in/on/at/with_master to_say again to_draw_near to_the_battle with the_descendants_of Binyāmīn my_brother/kindred and_ YHWH _he/it_said go_up to_him/it.

24 and_ the_people_of _advanced of_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) to the_descendants_of Binyāmīn in_the_day the_second.

25 And_ Binyāmīn _he/it_went_out to_meet_them from the_Giⱱˊāh in_the_day the_second and_struck_down in/on/at/with_sons_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) again eight-_of teen thousand man ground_to all_of these were_drawers_of a_sword.

26 And_ all_of _went_up the_people_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_all the_army and_they_came Bēyt- ^ʼēl and_wept and_they_lived there to_(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before YHWH and_fasted in/on/at/with_day (the)_that until the_evening and_offered burnt_offerings and_fellowship_offerings to_(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before YHWH.

27 And_ the_people_of _inquired of_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) in/on/at/with_LORD and_there the_box_of the_covenant_of the_ʼElohīm in_the_days the_those.

28 And_Pinḩāş the_son_of ʼElˊāzār the_son_of ʼAhₐron was_standing before_face/front_it in_the_days the_those to_say shall_I_repeat again to_go_out to_the_battle with the_descendants_of Binyāmīn my_brother/kindred or will_I_cease and_ YHWH _he/it_said go_up if/because tomorrow give_them in/on/at/with_hand_of_your.

29 And_ Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) _he/it_assigned ambushers to the_Giⱱˊāh round_about.

30 and_ the_people_of _went_up of_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) against the_descendants_of Binyāmīn in_the_day the_third and_took_up_positions against the_Giⱱˊāh as_time in/on/at/with_time.

31 And_ the_descendants_of _they_went_out of_Binyāmīn to_meet the_people they_were_drawn_away from the_city and_began to_inflict on_the_troops fatally_wounded as_time in/on/at/with_time in/on/at/with_highways which one is_going_up Bēyt- ^ʼēl and_other Giⱱˊāh_to in_the_field about_thirty man in/on/at/with_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel).

32 And_ the_descendants_of _they_said of_Binyāmīn are_defeated they before_face/front_us as_in/on/at/with_first and_the_sons of_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) they_said let_us_flee and_draw_away_them from the_city to the_highways.

33 And_all/each/any/every (the)_man_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) they_rose from_places_of_their and_took_up_positions in/on/at/with_Baˊal- tamar and_ambush_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) was_bursting_forth out_of_place_of_their from_west_of Geⱱaˊ.

34 And_they_came against_against against_the_Giⱱˊāh ten_of thousand(s) man chosen from_all Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_the_battle it_was_heavy and_they not they_knew if/because_that was_about_to_touch upon_them the_disaster.

35 and_ YHWH _defeated DOM Binyāmīn to_(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_ the_people_of _destroyed of_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) in/on/at/with_Binyāmīn in_the_day (the)_that twenty and_five thousand and_one_hundred man all_of these was_one_who_drew a_sword.

36 And_ the_descendants_of _they_saw of_Binyāmīn if/because_that they_were_defeated and_ the_man_of _gave of_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) place to_Binyāmīn if/because they_trusted to the_ambush whom they_had_set against the_Giⱱˊāh.

37 And_the_ambush they_made_haste and_rushed against the_Giⱱˊāh and_advanced the_men_in_ambush and_put DOM all_of the_city to_edge_of the_sword.

38 And_the_agreement which_it_belonged for_men_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) with the_ambush was_do_much that_sent_up_they the_rising_of the_smoke from the_city.

39 And_ the_man_of _turn of_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) in/on/at/with_battle and_Binyāmīn it_began to_inflict fatally_wounded in/on/at/with_men_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) about_thirty man if/because they_said surely totally_(defeated) is_defeated it before_face/front_us as_the_battle the_first.

40 And_the_cloud_of_smoke it_began to_rise from the_city a_pillar_of smoke and_ Binyāmīn _looked behind_them and_see/lo/see it_went_up the_entirety_of the_city the_heaven_to.

41 And_men_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) he_turned and_ the_man_of _dismayed of_Binyāmīn if/because he_saw if/because_that it_had_touched on/upon/above_him/it the_disaster.

42 And_retreated to_(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before the_man_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) to the_way_of the_wilderness and_the_battle overtook_them and_which out_of_the_cities were_destroying DOM_them in/on/at/with_midst_of_them.

43 They_surrounded DOM Binyāmīn pursued_them rest trod_down_them to opposite the_Giⱱˊāh toward_rise_of the_sun.

44 And_they_fell from_Binyāmīn eight- teen thousand man DOM all_of these were_men_of strength.

45 And_turned and_fled the_wilderness_toward to the_rock_of the_Rimmōn and_cut_down_them in/on/at/with_highways five_of thousand(s) man and_pursued after_them to Gidˊom and_struck_down from_him/it two_thousand man.

46 And_ all_of _he/it_was the_fell of_Binyāmīn were_twenty and_five thousand man a_sword who_drew in_the_day (the)_that DOM all_of these were_men_of strength.

47 And_turned and_fled the_wilderness_toward to the_rock_of the_Rimmōn six hundred(s) man and_they_lived in/on/at/with_rock_of Rimmōn four months.

48 And_men_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) they_turned_back against the_descendants_of Binyāmīn and_struck_them with_edge_of the_sword from_city_of soundness unto animal unto every_of the_found also all_of the_cities the_found they_sent in/on/at/with_fire.

21:1 Wives for the Benyamites

The Benjaminites Saved from Extinction; Wives for the Tribe of Benjamin; Wives for the Benjamites; Israel Provides Wives for Benjamin

21 ≈Now back in Mitspah, the Israeli men had promised never to allow their daughters ≈to marry a Benyamite man. 2 ≈But now the Israelis went to Beyt-El and sat there before God until evening—calling out and crying loudly, 3 ≈asking, “Oh Yahweh, God of Yisrael (Israel), why has this happened to Yisrael—for one tribe ≈to be missing from Yisrael ≈now?”

4 The next day, the people got up early and built an altar there, and they offered up burnt offerings and peace offerings. 5 Then the ≈Israelis asked, “Among all the Israeli tribes serving Yahweh, ≈was there any group who didn’t join the battle?” (They asked that because they had ≈previously decided that anyone who didn’t go to Mitspah to fight for Yahweh would be put to death.) 6 ≈Now the Israelis felt sorry for their Benyamite cousins, saying, “An entire tribe has been ≈hacked off Yisrael today. 7 ≈How can we find wives for any Benyamite men that are left because we’ve promised to Yahweh not to give our daughters to them ≈to marry?

8 ≈So they ≈asked, “Is there any ≈from our tribes who didn’t ≈show up for Yahweh at Mitspah?” Then listen, no one from Yabesh-Gilead had ≈joined their assembly there. 9 (≈When the people had ≈checked around themselves, they’d realised that no one from Yabesh-Gilead was there.) 10 ≈So the Israelis sent twelve thousand ≈warriors there, commanding them to use their swords to kill the inhabitants of Yabesh-Gilead, including married women and ≈children—11 specifically they had to kill every male, and every woman who’s ≈slept with a male. 12 That way they discovered four hundred young virgin women among the inhabitants of Yabesh-Gilead, and brought them back to their camp at Shiloh (in the Canaan region).

13 Then the entire assembly sent a message to the ≈Benyamites at Rimmon rock, ≈saying that they were now ready for peace. 14 So the ≈Benyamites returned and were given the young women from Yabesh-Gilead, ≈but there wasn’t enough of them.

15 The people still felt sorry for the ≈Benyamites, because Yahweh had ≈caused a gap among Yisrael’s tribes, 16 ≈so the leaders asked, “How can we provide wives for the remaining @Benyamite men since the other Benyamite women ≈were wiped out?” 17 Because they said, “≈They must be able to procreate so that an entire Israeli tribe isn’t blotted out. 18 ≈But we can’t be the ones to give our daughters to them to marry because we made an oath that anyone who did that would be cursed.”

19 They said, “Listen, there’s a celebration for Yahweh from time to time at Shiloh, which is on the north of Beyt-El, east of the road that goes from Beyt-El uphill to Shechem, and on the south of Lebonah.” 20 ≈So they ≈told the Benyamites, “Go and hide in those vineyards 21 and watch. ≈When the Shiloh girls come out to ≈perform in the dances, come out of the vineyards and you can each catch a wife for yourselves, then go back home to Benyamin. 22 ≈When their fathers or brothers complain to us, we’ll tell them, “≈Let them have them since we didn’t find you for them. And you all won’t be guilty of giving them to the Benyamites because they stole them.

23 ≈So that’s what the Benyamites did—they grabbed enough dancing girls to be their wives, then they returned to their ≈allocated land and rebuilt their cities and lived in them. 24 The other ≈Israelis went back to their tribes and their families in the areas that ≈had been allocated to them.

25 In those days, there was no king in Yisrael—everyone would just do ≈what seemed right to them.[ref]

↑ 21  and_men_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) he_had_sworn in/on/at/with_Miʦpāh to_say anyone from_him/it not he_will_give daughter_of_his to_Binyāmīn to/for_(a)_woman.

2 And_came the_people Bēyt- ^ʼēl and_they_lived there until the_evening to_(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before the_ʼElohīm and_lifted_up voices_of_their and_they_wept weeping great.

3 And_they_said to/for_why Oh_YHWH the_god_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) has_it_happened this_thing in/on/at/with_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) that_missing the_day from_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) a_tribe one.

4 And_he/it_was on_next_day and_got_up_early the_people and_built there an_altar and_offered burnt_offerings and_fellowship_offerings.

5 and_ the_people_of _they_said of_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) who is_the_one_who not he_went_up in/on/at/with_assembly from_all the_tribes_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) to YHWH if/because the_oath the_solemn it_was concerning_whoever not he_went_up to YHWH the_Miʦpāh to_say surely_(die) he_will_be_put_to_death.

6 And_ the_people_of _had_compassion of_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) to Binyāmīn his/its_woman and_they_said it_has_been_cut_off the_day a_tribe one from_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel).

7 What will_we_do to/for_them for_those_left for_wives and_we we_have_sworn in/on/at/with_LORD to_not to_give to/for_them any_of_daughters_of_our as_wives.

8 And_they_said who is_the_one of_tribes_of of_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) which not it_went_up to YHWH the_Miʦpāh and_see/lo/see not he_had_come anyone to the_camp from_Yāⱱēsh/(Jabesh)- gilead to the_assembly.

9 And_counted the_people and_see/lo/see there_was_not there anyone of_inhabitants_of of Yāⱱēsh.

10 And_sent there the_congregation two_plus ten thousand man from_(the)_sons the_fight and_commanded DOM_them to_say go and_strike DOM the_inhabitants_of Yāⱱēsh with_edge_of the_sword and_the_women and_the_little_ones.

11 And_this the_thing which you_all_will_do every_of male and_all woman who_has_known lying_of a_male you_all_will_totally_destroy.

12 And_found among_inhabitants_of Yāⱱēsh four hundred(s) young_woman virgins who not she_had_known a_man by_lying_of a_male and_brought DOM_them to the_camp Shiloh which in_land of_Kinaˊan/(Canaan).

13 and_ all_of _sent the_congregation and_they_spoke to the_descendants_of Binyāmīn who in/on/at/with_rock_of Rimmōn and_proclaimed to/for_them peace.

14 And_ Binyāmīn _returned in/on/at/with_time the_that and_gave to/for_them the_women whom they_had_preserved_alive from_women_of Yāⱱēsh and_not they_found to/for_them so.

15 And_the_people it_had_compassion for_Binyāmīn if/because YHWH he_had_made a_breach in/on/at/with_tribes_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel).

16 And_they_said the_elders_of the_congregation what will_we_do for_those_left for_wives if/because she_is_destroyed of_Binyāmīn woman.

17 And_they_said a_possession_of the_escaped_remnant of_Binyāmīn and_not a_tribe it_will_be_wiped_out from_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel).

18 And_we not we_are_able to_give to/for_them wives of_daughters_of_our if/because the_people_of they_had_sworn of_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) to_say be_cursed a_wife one_who_gives to_Binyāmīn.

19 and_they_said here the_festival_of YHWH in/on/at/with_Shiloh from_days to_days which to_north of_Bēyt- ^ʼēl rise_of_on the_sun of_highway the_goes_up from_Bēyt- ^ʼēl Shəkem_to and_to_south of_Ləⱱōʼnah.

20 And_instructed\f + \fr 21:20 \ft OSHB variant note: ו/יצו: (x-qere) ’וַ/יְצַוּ֕וּ’: lemma_c/6680 n_1.

1 morph_HC/Vpw3mp id_07VKr וַ/יְצַוּ֕וּ\f*\f + \fr 21:20 \ft OSHB note: Adaptations to a Qere which L and BHS, by their design, do not indicate.

\f* DOM the_descendants_of Binyāmīn to_say go and_hide in/on/at/with_vineyards.

21 And_watch and_see/lo/see if they_will_come_out the_daughters_of Shiloh to_dance in/on/at/with_dances and_come_out from the_vineyards and_seize to/for_you_all each_man his/its_wife/woman from_daughters_of Shiloh and_go the_land_of Binyāmīn.

22 And_it_was if/because fathers_of_their they_will_come or brothers_of_their to_complain\f + \fr 21:22 \ft OSHB variant note: ל/רוב: (x-qere) ’לָ/רִ֣יב’: lemma_l/7378 n_1.

0 morph_HR/Vqc id_0752H לָ/רִ֣יב\f* to_us and_say to_them generous_us DOM_them if/because not we_took each_man his/its_wife/woman in/on/at/with_battle if/because not you_all you_all_gave_them to/for_them at_the_time you_all_will_be_guilty.

23 and_did thus the_descendants_of Binyāmīn and_took wives for_number_of_their from the_dancers whom they_seized and_went and_returned to inheritance_of_their and_rebuilt DOM the_cities and_they_lived in/on/at/with_them.

24 And_departed from_there the_people_of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) in/on/at/with_time the each_man to_tribe_of_his and_to_family_of_him and_they_went_out from_there each_man to_inheritance_of_his_own.

25 In_the_days the_those there_was_not a_king in/on/at/with_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) each_man the_right in/on/at/with_eyes_of_his_own he_will_do.

Readers’ Version

Literal Version

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