SHUPATA’YM (SHOO’PATA’YM) 𐤔𐤅𐤐𐤈𐤉𐤌
JUDGES
CHAPTER 1
1 And it came to be, after the death of Yahusha, the children of Yashar'AL asked of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), saying, "Who should go up for us first against the Kanan'ya, to fight against them?"
2 And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) said, "Yahudah shall go up. Behold, I have given the land into his hand."
3 And Yahudah said to Shama'un (Shama’oon) his brother, "Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight against the Kanan'ya; and I also will go with you into your lot." So Shama'un went with him.
4 And Yahudah went up; and 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) gave the Kanan'ya and the Paraz'ya into their hand: and they struck of them in Bazaq ten thousand men.
5 And they found Adan'ya-Bazaq in Bazaq; and they fought against him, and they struck the Kanan'ya and the Paraz'ya.
6 But Adan'ya-Bazaq fled; and they pursued after him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes.
7 And Adan'ya-Bazaq said, "Seventy kings, having their thumbs and their great toes cut off, gathered food under my table: as I have done, so ALUAH has requited me." They brought him to Yaru'shalam, and he died there.
8 And the children of Yahudah fought against Yaru'shalam, and took it, and struck it with the edge of the sword, and put the city on fire.
9 Afterward the children of Yahudah went down to fight against the Kanan'ya who dwelled in the mountain, and in the South, and in the lowland.
10 And Yahudah went against the Kanan'ya who dwelled in Kha'brun (Kha’broon), now the name of Kha'brun before was Qara’yath Arba, and they struck Shash'ya, and Akh'yaman, and Thalama'ya.
11 And from there he went against the inhabitants of Dab'yar. Now the name of Dab'yar before was Qara’yath Sapar.
12 And Kalab said, "He who strikes Qara’yath Sapar, and takes it, to him will I give Ak'sah my daughter as wife."
13 And Athan'ya'AL son of Qanaz, Kalab's younger brother, took it: and he gave him Ak'sah his daughter as wife.
14 And it came to be, when she came in, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she alighted from off her donkey; and Kalab said to her, "What is the matter?”
15 And she said to him, "Give me a Barakah; for that you have placed me in the land of the South, give me also springs of water." Then Kalab gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.
16 And the children of the Qayan'ya, father-in-law of Mashah, went up out of the city of palm trees with the children of Yahudah into the wilderness of Yahudah, which is in the south of Arad; and they went and dwelled with the people.
17 And Yahudah went with Shama'un his brother, and they struck the Kanan'ya who inhabited Tsapath, and utterly destroyed it. The name of the city was called Kharamah.
18 Also Yahudah took Azah with its border, and Ash'qalun (Ash’qaloon) with its border, and Aq'run (Aq’roon) with its border.
19 And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) was with Yahudah; and took possession of the mountain; but they could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron.
20 And they gave Kha'brun to Kalab, as Mashah had spoken: and he drove out there the three sons of Anaq.
21 And the children of Ban'yaman* did not drive out the Yabus'ya (Yaboos’ya) who inhabited Yaru'shalam; but the Yabus'ya dwell with the children of Ban'yaman in Yaru'shalam to this day.
*In the Masoretic, Benjamin has different versions on how his name is pronounced (sometimes including the extra yad, other times not.) For this version, we will reference as close to the Text as possible
22 And the house of Yahu'sap, they also went up against Bayath AL; and 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) was with them.
23 And the house of Yahu'sap sent to spy out Bayath AL. Now the name of the city before was Luz.
24 Andhe watchers saw a man come forth out of the city, and they said to him, "Please show us the entrance into the city, and we will deal kindly with you."
25 So he showed them the entrance into the city; and they struck the city with the edge of the sword; but they let the man go and all his family.
26 And the man went into the land of the Khat'ym, and built a city, and called its name Luz, which is its name to this day.
27 And Mana'shah did not drive out Bayath Sha’an and its towns, nor Thanak and its towns, nor the inhabitants of Dur and its towns, nor the inhabitants of Yabalam and its towns, nor the inhabitants of Maga'du and its towns; but the Kanan'ya would dwell in that land.
28 And it came to be, when Yashar'AL had grown strong, that they put the Kanan'ya to forced labor, and did not utterly drive them out.
29 And Apara’ym did not drive out the Kanan'ya who dwelled in Azahr; but the Kanan'ya lived in Azahr among them.
30 Zabulan did not drive out the inhabitants of Qatar'un (Qatar’oon), nor the inhabitants of Na’halal; but the Kanan'ya lived among them, and became subject to forced labor.
*In the Masoretic, Zebulon has at least three different variations to his name. See above note regarding names on verse 21
31 Ashar did not drive out the inhabitants of Aku, nor the inhabitants of Tsa'yadun (Tsa’ya’doon), nor of Akh’lab, nor of Akh’zayab, nor of Kha’labah, nor of Ap’yaq, nor of Rakhab;
32 but the AShara’ya dwelled among the Kanan'ya, the inhabitants of the land; for they did not drive them out.
33 Nap'thal'ya did not drive out the inhabitants of Bayath Shamash, nor the inhabitants of Bayath Anath; but he dwelled among the Kanan'ya, the inhabitants of the land: nevertheless the inhabitants of Bayath Shamash and of Bayath Anath became subject to forced labor.
34 And the Amar'ya forced the children of Dan (Dahn) into the mountain; for they would not allow them to come down to the valley;
35 but the Amar'ya would dwell in Mount Kharas, in Aya'lun (Aya’loon), and in Shaal’bayam: yet the hand of the house of Yahu'sap prevailed, so that they became subject to forced labor.
36 And the border of the Amar'ya was from the ascent of A’qarab’ym*, from the rock, and upward.
*This Yahud’yath word means scorpions
CHAPTER 2
1 And the messenger of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) came up from Gal'gal to Bak'ym. He said, "I made you to go up out of Ma’tsara’ym, and have brought you to the land which I swore to your fathers; and I said, 'I will never break my Bar’yath (covenant) with you:
2 and you shall make no Bar’yath (covenant) with the inhabitants of this land; you shall break down their altars.' But you have not listened to My Voice: what is this you have done?
3 Therefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be to your sides, and their idols shall be a snare to you."
4 And it came to pass, when the messenger of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) spoke these words to all the children of Yashar'AL, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept.
5 They called the name of that place Bak'ym: and they offered there to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH).
6 Now when Yahusha had sent the people away, the children of Yashar'AL went every man to his inheritance to possess the land.
7 And the people served 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) all the days of Yahusha, and all the days of the elders who out-dwelled Yahushua, who had seen all the great work of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) that he had worked for Yashar'AL.
*The Masoretic uses the shua for his name in two places: Here and Deut 3:21. However, his restored name is Yahusha (Joshua), sharing the same name as Our Masha’yakh (Messiah)
8 And Yahusha son of Nun (Noon), the servant of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), died, being one hundred ten years old.
9 And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Thaman’tha Kharas, in the mountain of Apara’ym, on the north of the mountain of Gash.
10 Also all that generation were gathered to their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, who did not know 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), nor yet the work which he had worked for Yashar'AL.
11 Then the children of Yashar'AL did that which was evil in the sight of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), and served the ba'al'ym;
12 and they forsook 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), the ALUAH of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Ma’tsara’ym, and followed other idols, of the idols of the peoples who were around them, and bowed themselves down to them: and they provoked 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) to anger.
13 So they forsook 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), and served ba'al and the ash'thuruth (ash’thoo’rooth).
14 And the anger of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) was kindled against Yashar'AL, and He brought them into the hands of spoilers who despoiled them; and He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.
15 Wherever they went out, The Hand of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) was against them for evil, as 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) had spoken, and as 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) had sworn to them: and they were very distressed.
16 Then 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who despoiled them.
17 Yet they did not listen to their judges; for they whored after other idols, and bowed themselves down to them: they turned aside quickly out of the way in which their fathers walked, obeying the commandments of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH); they did not do so.
18 When 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) raised them up judges, then 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) was with the judge, and saved them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it grieved 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) because of their groaning by reason of those who oppressed them and troubled them.
19 But And it came to be, when the judge was dead, that they turned back, and dealt more corruptly than their fathers, in following other idols to serve them, and to bow down to them; they did not cease from their doings, nor from their stubborn way.
20 The anger of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) was kindled against Yashar'AL; and he said, "Because this nation have transgressed my Bar’yath (covenant) which I commanded their fathers, and have not listened to my voice;
21 I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations that Yahusha left when he died;
22 that by them I may prove Yashar'AL, whether they will keep the way of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not."
23 So 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) left those nations, without driving them out hastily; neither brought them into the hand of Yahusha.
CHAPTER 3
1 Now these are the nations which 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) left, to prove Yashar'AL by them, even as many as had not known all the wars of Kanan;
2 only that the generations of the children of Yashar'AL might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing of it:
3 the five sovereigns of the Palash'tha'ym, and all the Kanan'ya, and the Tsa'yadan'ya, and the Khu'ya (Khoo’ya) who dwelled on Mount Laba'nun (Laba’noon), from Mount Ba'al Khar'mun (Khar’moon) to the entrance of Khamath.
4 They were to prove Yashar'AL by them, to know whether they would listen to the commandments of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), which He commanded their fathers by Mashah.
5 The children of Yashar'AL dwelled among the Kanan'ya, the Khat'ym, and the Amar'ya, and the Paraz'ya, and the Khu'ya, and the Yabus'ya:
6 and they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their own daughters to their sons and served their idols.
7 The children of Yashar'AL did that which was evil in the sight of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), and forgot 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) their ALUAH, and served the ba'al'ym and the ash'ruth.
8 Therefore the anger of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) was kindled against Yashar'AL, and he sold them into the hand of Kushan Rasha'tha'ym king of Aram Nahara'ym: and the children of Yashar'AL served Kushan Rasha'tha'ym eight years.
9 When the children of Yashar'AL cried to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) raised up a savior to the children of Yashar'AL, who saved them, even Athan'ya'AL son of Qanaz, Kalab's younger brother.
10 And The RUKH of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) came on him, and he judged Yashar'AL; and he went out to war, and 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) brought Kushan Rasha'tha'ym king of Aram into his hand: and his hand prevailed against Kushan Rasha'tha'ym.
11 And the land had rest forty years. Athan'ya'AL son of Qanaz died.
12 And the children of Yashar'AL again did that which was evil in the sight of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH): and 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) strengthened Ag'lun (Ag’loon) the king of Mu'ab against Yashar'AL, because they had done that which was evil in the sight of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH).
13 And he gathered to him the children of Amun and Amalaq; and he went and struck Yashar'AL, and they possessed the city of palm trees.
14 And the children of Yashar'AL served Ag'lun the king of Mu'ab eighteen years.
15 But when the children of Yashar'AL cried to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) raised them up a savior, Aha'ud (Aha’ood) son of Gara, the Ban Ha’mayan’ya, a man restricted in his right hand. The children of Yashar'AL sent tribute by him to Ag'lun the king of Mu'ab.
16 And Aha'ud made him a sword which had two edges, a cubit in length; and he wore it under his clothing on his right thigh.
17 And he offered the tribute to Ag'lun king of Mu'ab: now Ag'lun was a very fat man.
18 When he had made an end of offering the tribute, he sent away the people who bore the tribute.
19 But he himself turned back from the quarries that were by Gal'gal, and said, "I have a secret errand to you, king." The king said, "Keep silence!" All who stood by him went out from him.
20 And Aha'ud came to him; and he was sitting by himself alone in the cool upper room. Aha'ud said, "I have a message from ALUAH to you." He arose out of his seat.
21 And Aha'ud put forth his left hand, and took the sword from his right thigh, and thrust it into his body:
22 and the handle also went in after the blade; and the fat closed on the blade, for he did not draw the sword out of his body; and it came out behind.
23 Then Aha'ud went forth into the porch, and shut the doors of the upper room on him, and locked them.
24 Now when he was gone out, his servants came; and they saw, and behold, the doors of the upper room were locked; and they said, "Surely he is covering his feet in the upper room."
25 And they waited until they were ashamed; and behold, he did not open the doors of the upper room: therefore they took the key, and opened [them], and behold, their sovereign was fallen down dead on the earth.
26 But Aha'ud escaped while they waited, and passed beyond the quarries, and escaped to Sha’ya’rathah.
27 And it came to be, when he had come, that he blew a ram’s horn in the mountain of Apara’ym; and the children of Yashar'AL went down with him from the mountain, and he before them.
28 And he said to them, "Follow me; for 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) has brought your enemies the Mu'abites into your hand." They followed him, and took the fords of the Yardan against the Mu'ab, and did not allow any man to pass over.
29 And they struck of Mu'ab at that time about ten thousand men, every lusty man, and every man of valor; and there escaped not a man.
30 So Mu'ab was subdued that day under the hand of Yashar'AL. The land had rest eighty years.
31 After him was Sham'gar son of Anath, who struck of the Palash'tha'ym six hundred men with an ox goad: and he also saved Yashar'AL.
CHAPTER 4
1 And the children of Yashar'AL again did that which was evil in the sight of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), when Aha'ud was dead.
2 And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) sold them into the hand of Yaba'yan king of Kanan, who reigned in Kha'tsur; the captain of whose army was Saya'sara, who dwelled in Khar'shath Ha'Gu'ym.
3 And the children of Yashar'AL cried to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH): for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Yashar'AL.
4 Now Daburah (Da'boor'ah), a nab’ya’ah (prophetess), the wife of Lap’ya’duth (Lap’ya’dooth), she judged Yashar'AL at that time.
5 And she dwelled under the palm tree of Daburah between Ramah and Bayath AL in the mountain of Apara’ym: and the children of Yashar'AL came up to her for judgment.
6 And she sent and called Baraq son of Ab'ya'nam out of Qadash Nap'thal'ya, and said to him, "Hasn't 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), the ALUAH of Yashar'AL, commanded, 'Go and draw to Mount Tha'bur (Tha’boor), and take with you ten thousand men of the children of Nap'thal'ya and of the children of Zabal’un?
7 And I will draw to you, to the river Qaya'shun (Qaya’shoon), Saya'sara, the captain of Yaba'yan's army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will give him into your hand.'"
8 And Baraq said to her, "If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go."
9 And she said, "I will surely go with you: nevertheless, the journey that you take shall not be for your esteem; for 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) will sell Saya'sara into the hand of a woman." So Daburah arose, and went with Baraq to Qadash.
10 And Baraq called Zabulan and Nap'thal'ya together to Qadash; and there went up ten thousand men at his feet: and Daburah went up with him.
11 Now Khabar the Qayan'ya had separated himself from the Qayan, even from the sons of Khabab the father-in-law of Mashah, and had pitched his tent as far as the oak in Tsanan’ym, which is by Qadash.
12 And they told Saya'sara that Baraq son of Ab'ya'nam was gone up to Mount Tha'bur.
13 So Saya'sara gathered together all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people who were with him, from Khar'shath Ha'Gu'ym, to the river Qaya'shun.
14 And Daburah said to Baraq, "Go; for this is the day in which 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) has brought Saya'sara into your hand. Hasn't 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) gone out before you?" So Baraq went down from Mount Tha'bur, and ten thousand men after him.
15 And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) confused Saya'sara, and all his chariots, and all his army, with the edge of the sword before Baraq; and Saya'sara alighted from his chariot, and fled away on his feet.
16 But Baraq pursued after the chariots, and after the army, to Khar'shath Ha'Gu'ym: and all the army of Saya'sara fell by the edge of the sword; there was not a man left.
17 However, Saya'sara fled away on his feet to the tent of Yal (Yuhl) the wife of Khabar the Qayan'ya; for there was shalum (peace) between Yaba'yan the king of Kha'tsur and the house of Khabar the Qayan'ya.
18 And Yal went out to meet Saya'sara, and said to him, "Turn in, my sovereign, turn in to me; don't be afraid." He came in to her into the tent, and she covered him with a rug.
19 And he said to her, "Please give me a little water to drink; for I am thirsty." She opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him.
20 And he said to her, "Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man comes and inquires of you, and says, 'Is there any man here?' that you shall say, 'No.'"
21 Then Yal, Khabar's wife, took a tent peg, and took a hammer in her hand, and went softly to him, and struck the pin into the side of his head, and it pierced through into the ground; for he was in a deep sleep; so he swooned and died.
22 Behold, as Baraq pursued Saya'sara, Yal came out to meet him, and said to him, "Come, and I will show you the man whom you seek." He came to her; and behold, Saya'sara lay dead, and the tent peg was in the side of his head.
23 So ALUAH subdued on that day Yaba'yan the king of Kanan before the children of Yashar'AL.
24 And the hand of the children of Yashar'AL prevailed more and more against Yaba'yan the king of Kanan, until they had destroyed Yaba'yan king of Kanan.
CHAPTER 5
1 Then Daburah and Baraq son of Ab'ya'nam sang on that day, saying,
2 "Because the leaders took the lead in Yashar'AL, because the people offered themselves willingly, Barak 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH)!
3 "Hear, you kings! Give ear, you princes! I, I will sing to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH). I will sing praise to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), The ALUAH OF Yashar'AL.
4 “𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), when you went forth out of Sha'yar, when you marched out of the field of Adum (Adoom), the earth trembled, and the sky also dropped, and the clouds dropped water.
5 The mountains quaked before 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), even Sayan'ya, before 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), The ALUAH OF Yashar'AL.
6 "In the days of Sham'gar son of Anath, in the days of Yal, the highways were unoccupied. The travelers walked through byways.
7 The rulers ceased in Yashar'AL. They ceased until I, Daburah, arose; Until I arose a mother in Yashar'AL.
8 They chose new idols. Then war was in the gates. Was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Yashar'AL?
9 My heart is toward the governors of Yashar'AL, who offered themselves willingly among the people. Barak 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH)!
10 “You who ride on white donkeys, you who sit on rich carpets, and you who walk by the way.
11 Far from the noise of archers, in the places of drawing water, there they will rehearse the righteous acts of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), the righteous acts of his rule in Yashar'AL. "Then the people of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) went down to the gates.
12 'Awake, awake, Daburah! Awake, awake, utter a song! Arise, Baraq, and lead away your captives, you son of Ab'ya'nam.'
13 "Then a remnant of the nobles, the people came down. 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) came down for me against the mighty.
14 Those whose root is in Amalaq came out of Apara’ym, after you, Ban’yama’yan, among your peoples. Governors come down out of Machir. Those who handle the marshal's staff came out of Zabulan.
15 The princes of Ya'shasha'kar were with Daburah. As was Ya'shasha'kar, so was Baraq. They rushed into the valley at his feet. By the watercourses of Rau'ban (Ra’oo’ban), there were great resolves of heart.
16 Why did you sit among the sheepfolds, To hear the whistling for the flocks? At the watercourses of Rau'ban There were great searchings of heart.
17 Gal'ad dwelled beyond the Yardan. Why did Dan remain in ships? Ashar sat still at the haven of the sea, and dwelled by his creeks.
18 Zabal’un was a people that jeopardized their lives to the deaths; Nap'thal'ya also, on the high places of the field.
19 "The kings came and fought, then the kings of Kanan fought at Thanak by the waters of Maga'du. They took no plunder of silver.
20 From the sky the stars fought. From their courses, they fought against Saya'sara.
21 The river Qaya'shun swept them away, that ancient river, the river Qaya'shun. My being, march on with strength!
22 Then the horse hoofs stamped because of the prancings, the prancings of their strong ones.
23 'Curse Maruz (Mar’ooz),’ said the messenger of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH). 'Curse bitterly its inhabitants, because they did not come to help 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), to help 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) against the mighty.'
24 "Yal shall be Barak above women, the wife of Khabar the Qayan'ya; Barak shall she be above women in the tent.
25 He asked for water. She gave him milk. She brought him butter in a sovereignly dish.
26 She put her hand to the tent peg, and her right hand to the workmen's hammer. With the hammer she struck Saya'sara. She struck through his head, she pierced and struck through the side of his head.
27 At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay. At her feet he bowed, he fell. Where he bowed, there he fell down dead.
28 "Through the window she looked out, and cried: Saya'sara's mother looked through the lattice. 'Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why do the wheels of his chariots wait?'
29 Her discerned ladies answered her, Yes, she returned answer to herself,
30 'Have they not found, have they not divided the spoil? A lady, two ladies to every man; to Saya'sara a spoil of dyed garments, a spoil of dyed garments embroidered, of dyed garments embroidered on both sides, on the necks of the spoil?'
31 "So let all your enemies perish, 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), but let those who love him be as the sun when it rises forth in its strength." Then the land had rest forty years.
CHAPTER 6
1 And the children of Yashar'AL did that which was evil in the sight of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH): and 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) brought them into the hand of Mada'yan seven years.
2 And the hand of Mada'yan prevailed against Yashar'AL; and because of Mada'yan the children of Yashar'AL made them the dens which are in the mountains, and the caves, and the strongholds.
3 So it was, when Yashar'AL had sown, that the Mada'yan came up, and the Amalaq, and the children of the east; they came up against them;
4 and they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, until you come to Azah, and left no sustenance in Yashar'AL, neither sheep, nor ox, nor donkey.
5 For they came up with their livestock and their tents; they came in as locusts for multitude; both they and their camels were without number: and they came into the land to destroy it.
6 Thus Yashar'AL was brought very low because of Mada'yan; and the children of Yashar'AL cried to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH).
7 And it came to be, when the children of Yashar'AL cried to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) because of Mada'yan,
8 that 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) sent a nab’ya (prophet) to the children of Yashar'AL: and he said to them, "Thus says 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), the ALUAH of Yashar'AL, 'I brought you up from Ma’tsara’ym, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage;
9 and I brought you out of the hand of the Ma’tsara’ym, and out of the hand of all who oppressed you, and drove them out from before you, and gave you their land;
10 and I said to you, "I AM 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) Your ALUAH; you shall not fear the idols of the Amar'ya, in whose land you dwell." But you have not listened to My Voice.'"
11 And the messenger of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) came, and sat under the oak which was in Aparah, that pertained to Yahu'ash the Ab'ya Ha'azar'ya: and his son Gada'un (Gada’oon) was beating out wheat in the winepress, to hide it from the Mada'yan.
12 And the messenger of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) appeared to him, and said to him, "𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) is with you, you mighty man of valor!"
13 And Gada'un said to him, "Oh, my sovereign, if 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) is with us, why then has all this happened to us? Where are all his wondrous works which our fathers told us of, saying, 'did not 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) bring us up from Ma’tsara’ym?' But now 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) has cast us off, and brought us into the hand of Mada'yan."
14 And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) looked at him, and said, "Go in this your might, and save Yashar'AL from the hand of Mada'yan. Haven't I sent you?"
15 He said to him, "O sovereign, how shall I save Yashar'AL? Behold, my family is the poorest in Mana'shah, and I am the least in my father's house."
16 And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) said to him, "Surely I will be with you, and you shall strike the Mada'yan as one man."
17 And he said to Him, "If now I have found favor in your sight, then show me a sign that it is You who talk with me.
18 Please don't go away, until I come to you, and bring out my gift, and lay it before you." He said, "I will wait until you come back."
19 And Gada'un went in, and prepared a young goat, and unleavened cakes of a measure of meal. He put the meat in a basket and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out to him under the oak, and showed it.
20 And the messenger of ALUAH said to him, "Take the meat and the unleavened cakes, and lay them on this rock, and pour out the broth." And he did so.
21 Then the messenger of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) stretched out the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the meat and the unleavened cakes; and fire went up out of the rock, and consumed the meat and the unleavened cakes; and the messenger of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) departed out of his sight.
22 And when Gada'un saw that he was the messenger of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH); Gada'un said, "Alas, sovereign 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH)! Because I have seen the messenger of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) face to face!"
23 And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) said to him, “Shalum (Peace) be to you! Don't be afraid. You shall not die."
24 Then Gada'un built an altar there to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), and called it "𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) IS Shalum (Peace).” To this day it is still in Aparah of the Ab'ya Ha'azar'yas.
25 And it came to be the same night, that 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) said to him, "Take your father's bull, even the second bull seven years old, and throw down the altar of ba'al that your father has, and cut down the asharah that is by it;
26 and build an altar to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) your ALUAH on the top of this stronghold, in an orderly way, and take the second bull, and offer a burnt offering with the wood of the asharah which you shall cut down."
27 Then Gada'un took ten men of his servants, and did as 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) had spoken to him: and And it came to be, because he feared his father's household and the men of the city, so that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night.
28 And when the men of the city arose early in the rising, behold, the altar of ba'al was broken down, and the asharah was cut down that was by it, and the second bull was offered on the altar that was built.
29 And they said one to another, "Who has done this thing?" When they inquired and asked, they said, "Gada'un son of Yahu'ash has done this thing."
30 Then the men of the city said to Yahu'ash, "Bring out your son, that he may die, because he has broken down the altar of ba'al, and because he has cut down the asharah that was by it."
31 And Yahu'ash said to all who stood against him, "Will you contend for ba'al? Or will you save him? He who will contend for him, let him be put to death by rising. If he is a mighty one, let him contend for himself, because someone has broken down his altar."
32 Therefore on that day he named him Yara-ba'al, saying, "Let ba'al contend against him, because he has broken down his altar."
33 Then all the Mada'yan and the Amalaq and the children of the east assembled themselves together; and they passed over, and encamped in the valley of Yazara'AL.
34 But the RUKH of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) came on Gada'un; and he blew a ram’s horn; and Ab'ya'azar was gathered together after him.
35 And he sent messengers throughout all Mana'shah; and they also were gathered together after him: and he sent messengers in Ashar, and in Zabal’un, and in Nap'thal'ya; and they came up to meet them.
36 And Gada'un said to ALUAH, "If You will save Yashar'AL by my hand, as You have spoken,
37 Behold, I will put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor; if there be dew on the fleece only, and it be dry on all the ground, then shall I know that You will save Yashar'AL by my hand, as You have spoken."
38 And it was so; for he rose up early on the next day, and pressed the fleece together, and wrung the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water.
39 And Gada'un said to ALUAH, "Don't let Your anger be kindled against me, and I will speak but this once. Please let me make a trial just this once with the fleece. Let it now be dry only on the fleece, and on all the ground let there be dew."
40 And ALUAH did so that night: for it was dry on the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.
CHAPTER 7
1 Then Yara'bal, who is Gada'un, and all the people who were with him, rose up early, and encamped beside the fountain of Kharad: and the camp of Mada'yan was on the north side of them, by the hill of Murah, in the valley.
2 And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) said to Gada'un, "The people who are with you are too many for me to give the Mada'yan into their hand, lest Yashar'AL vaunt themselves against me, saying, 'My own hand has saved me.'
3 Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, 'Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return and depart from Mount Gal'ad.'" Twenty-two thousand of the people returned, and ten thousand remained.
4 And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) said to Gada'un, "The people are still too many. Bring them down to the water, and I will test them for you there. It shall be, that of whom I tell you, 'This shall go with you,' the same shall go with you; and of whoever I tell you, 'This shall not go with you,' the same shall not go."
5 So he brought down the people to the water; and 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) said to Gada'un, "Everyone who laps of the water with his tongue, like a dog laps, you shall set him by himself; also everyone who bows down on his knees to drink."
6 And the number of those who lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, was three hundred men; but all the rest of the people bowed down on their knees to drink water.
7 And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) said to Gada'un, "By the three hundred men who lapped will I save you, and bring the Mada'yan into your hand. Let all the other people go, each to his own place."
8 So the people took food in their hand, and their ram’s horns; and he sent all the men of Yashar'AL every man to his tent, but retained the three hundred men: and the camp of Mada'yan was beneath him in the valley.
9 And it came to be the same night, that 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) said to him, "Arise, go down into the camp; for I have given it into your hand.
10 But if you are afraid to go down, go with Parah your servant down to the camp:
11 and you shall hear what they say; and afterward your hands will be strengthened to go down into the camp." Then went he down with Parah his servant to the outermost part of the armed men who were in the camp.
12 And the Mada'yan and the Amalaq and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like locusts for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand which is on the seashore for multitude.
13 When Gada'un had come, behold, there was a man telling a dream to his fellow; and he said, "Behold, I dreamed a dream; and behold, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Mada'yan, and came to the tent, and struck it so that it fell, and turned it upside down, so that the tent lay flat."
14 And his fellow answered, "This is nothing other than the sword of Gada'un son of Yahu'ash, a man of Yashar'AL. ALUAH has given Mada'yan into his hand, with all the army."
15 And it came to be, when Gada'un heard the telling of the dream, and its interpretation, that he worshiped; and he returned into the camp of Yashar'AL, and said, "Arise; for 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) has given the army of Mada'yan into your hand!"
16 And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put into the hands of all of them ram’s horns, and empty pitchers, with torches within the pitchers.
17 He said to them, "Watch me, and do also. Behold, when I come to the outermost part of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so you shall do.
18 And when I blow the ram's horn, I and all who are with me, then blow the ram's horns also on every side of all the camp, and shout, 'For 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) and for Gada'un!'"
19 So Gada'un, and the hundred men who were with him, came to the outermost part of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch, when they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the ram's horns, and broke in pieces the pitchers that were in their hands.
20 And the three companies blew the ram's horns, and broke the pitchers, and held the torches in their left hands, and the ram's horns in their right hands with which to blow; and they shouted, "The sword of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) and of Gada'un!"
21 And they stood every man in his place around the camp; and all the army ran; and they shouted, and put [them] to flight.
22 And they blew the three hundred ram's horns, and 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) placed every man's sword against his fellow, and against all the army; and the army fled as far as Bayath Ha’Shatah toward Zarar’tha’ah, as far as the border of Abal Makhulah, by Tabath.
23 And the men of Yashar'AL were gathered together out of Nap'thal'ya, and out of Ashar, and out of all Mana'shah, and pursued after Mada'yan.
24 And Gada'un sent messengers throughout all the mountain of Apara’ym, saying, "Come down against Mada'yan, and take before them the waters, as far as Bayath Barah, even the Yardan!" So all the men of Apara’ym were gathered together, and took the waters as far as Bayath Barah, even the Yardan.
25 They took the two princes of Mada'yan, Arab and Zab; and they slayed Arab at the rock of Arab, and Zab they slayed at the winepress of Zab, and pursued Mada'yan: and they brought the heads of Arab and Zab to Gada'un beyond the Yardan.
CHAPTER 8
1 And the men of Apara’ym said to him, "Why have you treated us this way, that you did not call us, when you went to fight with Mada'yan?" They rebuked him sharply.
2 And he said to them, "What have I now done in comparison with you? Isn't the gleaning of the grapes of Apara’ym better than the vintage of Ab'ya'azar?
3 ALUAH has brought into your hand the princes of Mada'yan, Arab and Zab! What was I able to do in comparison with you?" Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that.
4 And Gada'un came to the Yardan, passed over, he, and the three hundred men who were with him, faint, yet pursuing.
5 And he said to the men of Sakuth (Sakooth), "Please give loaves of bread to the people who follow me; for they are faint, and I am pursuing after Zabakh and Tsal'mana, the kings of Mada'yan."
6 And the princes of Sakuth said, "Are the hands of Zabakh and Tsal'mana now in your hand, that we should give bread to your army?"
7 And Gada'un said, "Therefore when 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) has given Zabakh and Tsal'mana into my hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers."
8 And he went up there to Panu'AL, and spoke to them in the same way; and the men of Panu'AL answered him as the men of Sakuth had answered.
9 And he spoke also to the men of Panu'AL, saying, "When I come again in shalum (peace), I will break down this tower."
10 Now Zabakh and Tsal'mana were in Qar’qar, and their armies with them, about fifteen thousand men, all who were left of all the army of the children of the east; for there fell one hundred twenty thousand men who drew sword.
11 And Gada'un went up by the way of those who dwelled in tents on the east of Nabakh and Yagabah’ah, and struck the army; for the army was secure.
12 And Zabakh and Tsal'mana fled; and he pursued after them; and he took the two kings of Mada'yan, Zabakh and Tsal'mana, and confused all the army.
13 And Gada'un son of Yahu'ash returned from the battle from the ascent of Kharas.
14 And he caught a young man of the men of Sakuth, and inquired of him: and he described for him the princes of Sakuth, and its elders, seventy-seven men.
15 And he came to the men of Sakuth, and said, "See Zabakh and Tsal'mana, concerning whom you taunted me, saying, 'Are the hands of Zabakh and Tsal'mana now in your hand, that we should give bread to your men who are weary?'"
16 And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Sakuth.
17 And he broke down the tower of Panu'AL, and slayed the men of the city.
18 Then he said to Zabakh and Tsal'mana, "What kind of men were they whom you slayed at Tha'bur?" So they answered, "They were like you. Each one resembled the children of a king."
19 And he said, "They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) Abides, if you had let them keep living, I would not slay you."
20 And he said to Yathar his firstborn, "Get up, and slay them!" But the youth did not draw his sword; for he was afraid, because he was yet a youth.
21 Then Zabakh and Tsal'mana said, "Rise and fall on us; for as the man is, so is his strength." Gada'un arose, and slayed Zabakh and Tsal'mana, and took the crescents that were on their camels' necks.
22 Then the men of Yashar'AL said to Gada'un, "Rule over us, both you, and your son, and your son's son also; for you have saved us out of the hand of Mada'yan."
23 But Gada'un said to them, "I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you. 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) shall Rule over you."
24 And Gada'un said to them, "I would make a request of you, that you would give me every man the earrings of his spoil." (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)
25 And they answered, "We will willingly give them." They spread a garment, and every man threw the earrings of his spoil into it.
26 And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was one thousand and seven hundred of gold, besides the crescents, and the pendants, and the purple clothing that was on the kings of Mada'yan, and besides the chains that were about their camels' necks.
27 And Gada'un made a garment of it, and put it in his city, even in Aparah: and all Yashar'AL whored after it there; and it became a snare to Gada'un, and to his house.
28 So Mada'yan was subdued before the children of Yashar'AL, and they lifted up their heads no more. The land had rest forty years in the days of Gada'un.
29 And Yara'bal son of Yahu'ash went and dwelled in his own house.
30 And Gada'un had seventy sons conceived from his loins; for he had many wives.
31 His concubine who was in Shakam, she also bore him a son, and he named him Ab'ya'malak.
32 And Gada'un son of Yahu'ash died in a good old age, and was buried in the tomb of Yahu'ash his father, in Aparah of the Ab'ya Ha'azar'yas.
33 And it came to be, as soon as Gada'un was dead, that the children of Yashar'AL turned again, and whored after the ba'al'ym, and made ba'al Bar’yath their idol.
34 Thus the children of Yashar'AL did not remember 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) their ALUAH, who had brought them out of the hand of all their enemies on every side;
35 Neither did they show kindness to the house of Yara'bal, Gada'un, according to all the goodness which he had shown to Yashar'AL.
CHAPTER 9
1 And Ab'ya'malak son of Yara'bal went to Shakam to his mother's brothers, and spoke with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying,
2 "Please speak in the ears of all the men of Shakam, 'Is it better for you that all the sons of Yara'bal, who are seventy persons, rule over you, or that one rule over you?' Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh."
3 And his mother's brothers spoke of him in the ears of all the men of Shakam all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow Ab'ya'malak; for they said, "He is our brother."
4 And they gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of ba'al Bar’yath, with which Ab'ya'malak hired vain and light fellows, who followed him.
5 And he went to his father's house at Aparah, and slayed his brothers the sons of Yara'bal, being seventy persons, on one stone: but Yahu'tham the youngest son of Yara'bal was left; for he hid himself.
6 All the men of Shakam assembled themselves together, and all the house of Malu'a (Maloo’a), and went and made Ab'ya'malak king, by the oak of the pillar that was in Shakam.
7 When they told it to Yahu'tham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Garaz'ym, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said to them, "Listen to me, you men of Shakam, that ALUAH may listen to you.
8 The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said to the olive tree, 'Reign over us.'
9 "But the olive tree said to them, 'Should I leave my fatness, with which by me they esteem ALUAH and man, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?'
10 "The trees said to the fig tree, 'Come and reign over us.'
11 "But the fig tree said to them, 'Should I leave my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?'
12 "The trees said to the vine, 'Come and reign over us.'
13 "The vine said to them, 'Should I leave my new wine, which cheers mighty ones and man, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?'
14 "Then all the trees said to the bramble, 'Come and reign over us.'
15 "The bramble said to the trees, 'If in truth you anoint me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Laba'nun.'
16 "Now therefore, if you have dealt truly and righteously, in that you have made Ab'ya'malak king, and if you have dealt well with Yara'bal and his house, and have done to him according to the deserving of his hands
17 for my father fought for you, and risked his being, and rescued you out of the hand of Mada'yan:
18 and you have risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons, seventy persons, on one stone, and have made Ab'ya'malak, son of his female servant, king over the men of Shakam, because he is your brother);
19 if you then have dealt truly and righteously with Yara'bal and with his house this day, then rejoice in Ab'ya'malak, and let him also rejoice in you:
20 but if not, let fire come out from Ab'ya'malak, and devour the men of Shakam, and the house of Malu'a; and let fire come out from the men of Shakam, and from the house of Malu'a, and devour Ab'ya'malak."
21 Yahu'tham ran away, and fled, and went to Bar, and lived there, for fear of Ab'ya'malak his brother.
22 And Ab'ya'malak was prince over Yashar'AL three years.
23 And ALUAH sent an evil rukh between Ab'ya'malak and the men of Shakam; and the men of Shakam dealt treacherously with Ab'ya'malak:
24 that the violence done to the seventy sons of Yara'bal might come, and that their blood might be laid on Ab'ya'malak their brother, who slayed them, and on the men of Shakam, who strengthened his hands to slay his brothers.
25 And the men of Shakam set an ambush for him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all who came along that way by them: and it was told Ab'ya'malak.
26 And Gal (Guhl) son of Abad came with his brothers, and went over to Shakam; and the men of Shakam put their trust in him.
27 And they went out into the field, and gathered their vineyards, and trod out, and held a festival, and went into the house of their idol, and did eat and drink, and cursed Ab'ya'malak.
28 And Gal son of Abad said, "Who is Ab'ya'malak, and who is Shakam, that we should serve him? Isn't he son of Yara'bal? and Zabal his officer? Serve the men of Khamur the father of Shakam: but why should we serve him?
29 Would that this people were under my hand! Then I would remove Ab'ya'malak." He said to Ab'ya'malak, "Increase your army, and come out!"
30 When Zabal the ruler of the city heard the words of Gal son of Abad, his anger was kindled.
31 And he sent messengers to Ab'ya'malak craftily, saying, "Behold, Gal son of Abad and his brothers are come to Shakam; and behold, they constrain the city [to take part] against you.
32 Now therefore, go up by night, you and the people who are with you, and lie in wait in the field:
33 and it shall be, that in the rising, as soon as the sun is up, you shall rise early, and rush on the city; and behold, when he and the people who are with him come out against you, then may you do to them as you shall find occasion."
34 And Ab'ya'malak rose up, and all the people who were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shakam in four companies.
35 And Gal son of Abad went out, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city: and Ab'ya'malak rose up, and the people who were with him, from the ambush.
36 When Gal saw the people, he said to Zabal, "Behold, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains." Zabal said to him, "You see the shadow of the mountains as if they were men."
37 Gal spoke again and said, "Behold, people are coming down by the middle of the land, and one company comes by the way of the oak of diviners’.”
38 Then Zabal said to him, "Now where is your mouth, that you said, 'Who is Ab'ya'malak, that we should serve him?' Isn't this the people that you have despised? Please go out now and fight with them."
39 And Gal went out before the men of Shakam, and fought with Ab'ya'malak.
40 And Ab'ya'malak chased him, and he fled before him, and many fell wounded, even to the entrance of the gate.
41 And Ab'ya'malak dwelled at Arumah: and Zabal drove out Gal and his brothers, that they should not dwell in Shakam.
42 And it came to be on the next day, that the people went out into the field; and they told Ab'ya'malak.
43 And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field; and he looked, and behold, the people came forth out of the city; He rose up against them, and struck them.
44 And Ab'ya'malak, and the companies that were with him, rushed forward, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city: and the two companies rushed on all who were in the field, and struck them.
45 And Ab'ya'malak fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slayed the people who were therein: and he beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.
46 When all the men of the tower of Shakam heard of it, they entered into the stronghold of the house of AL Bar’yath.
47 And it was told Ab'ya'malak that all the men of the tower of Shakam were gathered together.
48 And Ab'ya'malak went up to Mount Tsal’mun (Tsal’moon), he and all the people who were with him; and Ab'ya'malak took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it up, and laid it on his shoulder: and he said to the people who were with him, "What you have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done!"
49 And all the people also each cut down his bough, and followed Ab'ya'malak, and put them at the base of the stronghold, and set the stronghold on fire on them; so that all the people of the tower of Shakam died also, about a thousand men and women.
50 Then went Ab'ya'malak to Tha'bats, and encamped against Tha'bats, and took it.
51 But there was a strong tower within the city, and there fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut themselves in, and went up to the roof of the tower.
52 And Ab'ya'malak came to the tower, and fought against it, and drew near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
53 And a certain woman cast an upper millstone on Ab'ya'malak's head, and broke his skull.
54 Then he called hastily to the young man his armor bearer, and said to him, "Draw your sword, and slay me, that men not say of me, 'A woman slayed him.' His young man thrust him through, and he died."
55 When the men of Yashar'AL saw that Ab'ya'malak was dead, they departed every man to his place.
56 Thus ALUAH requited the wickedness of Ab'ya'malak, which he did to his father, in slaying his seventy brothers;
57 and all the wickedness of the men of Shakam did ALUAH requite on their heads: and on them came the curse of Yahu'tham son of Yara'bal.
CHAPTER 10
1 After Ab'ya'malak there arose to save Yashar'AL, Thu’la (Thoo’la), son of Pua’ah, son of Dudu, a man of Ya'shasha'kar; and he dwelled in Sham'yar in the mountain of Apara’ym.
2 And he judged Yashar'AL twenty-three years, and died, and was buried in Sham'yar.
3 After him arose Ya’ayar, the Gal'ad'ya; and he judged Yashar'AL twenty-two years.
4 And he had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkey colts, and they had thirty cities, which are called Khuth (Khooth) Ya’ayar to this day, which are in the land of Gal'ad.
5 And Ya’ayar died, and was buried in Qamun (Qa’moon).
6 And the children of Yashar'AL again did that which was evil in the sight of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), and served the ba'al'ym, and the ash'thuruth, and the idols of Aram, and the idols of Tsa'yadun, and the idols of Mu'ab, and the idols of the children of Amun, and the idols of the Palash'tha'ym; and they forsook 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), and did not serve Him.
7 And the anger of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) was kindled against Yashar'AL, and He sold them into the hand of the Palash'tha'ym, and into the hand of the children of Amun.
8 And they troubled and oppressed the children of Yashar'AL that year: eighteen years all the children of Yashar'AL that were beyond the Yardan in the land of the Amar'ya, which is in Gal'ad.
9 And the children of Amun passed over the Yardan to fight also against Yahudah, and against Ban’yama’yan, and against the house of Apara’ym; so that Yashar'AL was very distressed.
10 And the children of Yashar'AL cried to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), saying, "We have transgressed against You, even because we have forsaken our ALUAH, and have served the ba'al'ym."
11 And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) said to the children of Yashar'AL, "did not I save you from Ma’tsara’ym, and from the Amar'ya, from the children of Amun, and from the Palash'tha'ym?
12 The Tsa'yadan'ya also, and the Amalaq, and the Ma’un, did oppress you; and you cried to me, and I saved you out of their hand.
13 Yet you have forsaken Me, and served idols: therefore I will save you no more.
14 Go and cry to the idols which you have chosen. Let them save you in the time of your distress!"
15 And the children of Yashar'AL said to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), "We have transgressed: Do You to us as all the good in Your eyes, only rescue us, please, this day."
16 And they put away the foreign idols from among them, and served 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH); and His Being was grieved for the misery of Yashar'AL.
17 Then the children of Amun were gathered together, and encamped in Gal'ad. The children of Yashar'AL assembled themselves together, and encamped in Ma'tsapah.
18 And the people, the princes of Gal'ad, said one to another, "What man is he who will begin to fight against the children of Amun? He shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gal'ad."
CHAPTER 11
1 Now Yapa'thakh the Gal'ad'ya was a mighty man of valor, and he was son of a whore: and Gal'ad became the father of Yapa'thakh.
2 And Gal'ad's wife bore him sons; and when his wife's sons grew up, they drove out Yapa'thakh, and said to him, "You shall not inherit in our father's house; for you are son of another woman."
3 Then Yapa'thakh fled from his brothers, and dwelled in the land of Tub (Toob): and there were gathered vain fellows to Yapa'thakh, and they went out with him.
4 And it came to be after a while, that the children of Amun made war against Yashar'AL.
5 And it was so, that when the children of Amun made war against Yashar'AL, the elders of Gal'ad went to get Yapa'thakh out of the land of Tub (Toob);
6 and they said to Yapa'thakh, "Come and be our chief, that we may fight with the children of Amun."
7 And Yapa'thakh said to the elders of Gal'ad, "did not you hate me, and drive me out of my father's house? Why have you come to me now when you are in distress?"
8 And the elders of Gal'ad said to Yapa'thakh, "Therefore we have turned again to you now, that you may go with us, and fight with the children of Amun; and you shall be our head over all the inhabitants of Gal'ad."
9 And Yapa'thakh said to the elders of Gal'ad, "If you bring me home again to fight with the children of Amun, and 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) bring them before me, shall I be your head?"
10 And the elders of Gal'ad said to Yapa'thakh, "𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) shall be witness between us; surely according to your word so will we do."
11 Then Yapa'thakh went with the elders of Gal'ad, and the people made him head and chief over them: and Yapa'thakh spoke all his words before 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) in Ma'tsapah.
12 And Yapa'thakh sent messengers to the king of the children of Amun, saying, "What have you to do with me, that you have come to me to fight against my land?"
13 And the king of the children of Amun answered to the messengers of Yapa'thakh, "Because Yashar'AL took away my land, when he came up out of Ma’tsara’ym, from the Ar'nun (Ar’noon) even to the Yabaq, and to the Yardan: now therefore restore those lands again in shalum (peace).”
14 And Yapa'thakh sent messengers again to the king of the children of Amun;
15 and he said to him, "Thus says Yapa'thakh: Yashar'AL did not take away the land of Mu'ab, nor the land of the children of Amun,
16 but when they came up from Ma’tsara’ym, and Yashar'AL went through the wilderness to the sea of reeds, and came to Qadash;
17 then Yashar'AL sent messengers to the king of Adum, saying, 'Please let me pass through your land;' but the king of Adum did not listen. In the same way, he sent to the king of Mu'ab; but he would not: and Yashar'AL stayed in Qadash.
18 Then they went through the wilderness, and went around the land of Adum, and the land of Mu'ab, and came by the east side of the land of Mu'ab, and they encamped on the other side of the Ar'nun; but they did not come within the border of Mu'ab, for the Ar'nun was the border of Mu'ab.
19 And Yashar'AL sent messengers to Saya'khun (Saya’khoon) king of the Amar'ya, the king of Khash'bun (Khash’boon); and Yashar'AL said to him, 'Please let us pass through your land to my place.'
20 But Saya'khun did not trust Yashar'AL to pass through his border; but Saya'khun gathered all his people together, and encamped in Yah’tsah, and fought against Yashar'AL.
21 And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), The ALUAH OF Yashar'AL, brought Saya'khun and all his people into the hand of Yashar'AL, and they struck them: so Yashar'AL possessed all the land of the Amar'ya, the inhabitants of that country.
22 Thus they possessed all the border of the Amar'ya, from the Ar'nun even to the Yabaq, and from the wilderness even to the Yardan.
23 So now 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), The ALUAH OF Yashar'AL, has dispossessed the Amar'ya from before his people Yashar'AL, and should you possess them?
24 Do you not possess that which Kamush (Kamoosh) your idol gives you to possess? So whoever 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) our ALUAH has dispossessed from before us, them will we possess.
25 Now are you anything better than Balaq son of Tsa’pur, king of Mu'ab? Did he ever strive against Yashar'AL, or did he ever fight against them?
26 While Yashar'AL dwelled in Khash'bun and its towns, and in Ara'ur (Ara’oor)* and its towns, and in all the cities that are along by the side of the Ar'nun, three hundred years; why did not you recover them within that time?
*See Note On Verse 33
27 I therefore have not transgressed against you, but you do me wrong to war against me. 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), the Judge, be judge this day between the children of Yashar'AL and the children of Amun."
28 However, the king of the children of Amun did not heArken to the words of Yapa'thakh which he sent him.
29 Then the RUKH of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) came on Yapa'thakh, and he passed over Gal'ad and Mana'shah, and passed over Ma'tsapah of Gal'ad, and from Ma'tsapah of Gal'ad he passed over to the children of Amun.
30 And Yapa'thakh vowed a vow to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), and said, "If you will indeed rescue the children of Amun into my hand,
31 then it shall be, that whatever comes forth from the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in shalum (peace) from the children of Amun, it shall be 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH)'s, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering."
32 So Yapa'thakh passed over to the children of Amun to fight against them; and 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) gave them into his hand.
33 And he struck them from Aru’ar* as far as Man’yath, even twenty cities, and to Abal Karam’ym, with a very great slaughter. So the children of Amun were subdued before the children of Yashar'AL.
*Note how the Masoretic flipped the oo and ayan letters from Verse 26
34 And Yapa'thakh came to Ma'tsapah to his house; and behold, his daughter came out to meet him with tambourines and with dances: and she was his only child; besides her he had neither son nor daughter.
35 And it came to be, when he saw her, that he tore his clothes, and said, "Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low, and you are one of those who trouble me; for I have opened my mouth to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), and I canot go back."
36 And she said to him, "My father, you have opened your mouth to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH); do to me according to that which has proceeded out of your mouth, because 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) has taken vengeance for you on your enemies, even on the children of Amun."
37 And she said to her father, "Let this thing be done for me: let me alone two months, that I may depart and go down on the mountains, and bewail my virginity, I and my companions."
38 And he said, "Go." He sent her away for two months: and she departed, she and her companions, and mourned her virginity on the mountains.
39 And it came to be at the end of two months, that she returned to her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed: and she was a virgin. It was a custom in Yashar'AL,
40 that the daughters of Yashar'AL went yearly to lament the daughter of Yapa'thakh the Gal'ad'ya four days in a year.
CHAPTER 12
1 And the men of Apara’ym were gathered together, and passed northward; and they said to Yapa'thakh, "Why did you pass over to fight against the children of Amun, and did not call us to go with you? We will burn your house around you with fire!"
2 And Yapa'thakh said to them, "I and my people were at great strife with the children of Amun; and when I called you, you did not save me out of their hand.
3 And when I saw that you did not save me, I put my being in my hand, and passed over against the children of Amun, and 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) gave them into my hand. Why then have you come up to me this day, to fight against me?"
4 Then Yapa'thakh gathered together all the men of Gal'ad, and fought with Apara’ym; and the men of Gal'ad struck Apara’ym, because they said, "You are fugitives of Apara’ym, you Gal'ad'ya, in the midst of Apara’ym, in the midst of Mana'shah."
5 And the Gal'ad'ya took the fords of the Yardan against the Apara’ym. It was so, that when [any of] the fugitives of Apara’ym said, Let me go over, the men of Gal'ad said to him, "Are you an Apar’tha’ya?” If he said, "No;"
6 then they said to him, "Now say 'Shabalath;'" and he said "Sabalath;" for he could not manage to pronounce it right: then they laid hold of him, and slayed him at the fords of the Yardan. At that time, forty-two thousand of Apara’ym fell.
7 And Yapa'thakh judged Yashar'AL six years. Then died Yapa'thakh the Gal'ad'ya, and was buried in the cities of Gal'ad.
8 And after him Ab'tsan of Bayath Lakham judged Yashar'AL.
9 And he had thirty sons; and thirty daughters he sent abroad, and thirty daughters he brought in from abroad for his sons. He judged Yashar'AL seven years.
10 And Ab'tsan died, and was buried at Bayath Lakham.
11 And after him Ayalun (Ayaloon) the Zabulan’ya judged Yashar'AL; and he judged Yashar'AL ten years.
12 And Ayalun the Zabulan’ya died, and was buried in Aya'lun in the land of Zabulan.
13 And after him Abada’un (Abada’oon) son of Halal the Parath’un’ya (Parath’oon’ya) judged Yashar'AL.
14 And he had forty sons and thirty sons' sons, who rode on seventy donkey colts: and he judged Yashar'AL eight years.
15 And Abada’un son of Halal the Parath’un’ya died, and was buried in Parath’un in the land of Apara’ym, in the mountain of the Amalaq.
CHAPTER 13
1 And the children of Yashar'AL again did that which was evil in the sight of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH); and 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) gave them into the hand of the Palash'tha'ym forty years.
2 And there was a certain man of Tsara'ah, of the family of the Dan'ya, whose name was Manukh (Ma’nookh); and his wife was barren, and did not bear.
3 And a messenger of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) appeared to the woman, and said to her, "See now, you are barren, and don't bear; but you shall conceive, and bear a son.
4 Now therefore please beware and drink no wine nor strong drink, and do not eat any unclean thing:
5 for, behold, you shall conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head; for the child shall be a Naza'yar to ALUAH from the womb: and he shall begin to save Yashar'AL out of the hand of the Palash'tha'ym."
6 Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, "A Man of ALUAH came to me, and his face was like the face of the messenger of ALUAH, very awesome; and I did not ask Him where He was from, neither did He tell me His name:
7 but He said to me, 'Behold, you shall conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing; for the child shall be a Naza'yar to ALUAH from the womb to the day of his death.'"
8 Then Manukh entreated 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), and said, "Oh, Sovereign, please let the man of ALUAH whom You did send come again to us, and teach us what we shall do to the child who shall be born."
9 And ALUAH listened to the voice of Manukh; and the messenger of ALUAH came again to the woman as she sat in the field: but Manukh, her husband, was not with her.
10 And the woman made haste, and ran, and informed her husband, and said to him, "Behold, the man has appeared to me, who came to me the other day."
11 And Manukh arose, and went after his wife, and came to the Man, and said to Him, "Are you the Man who spoke to the woman?" He said, "I am."
12 And Manukh said, "Now let Your words happen. What shall be the ordering of the child, and his work?”
13 And the messenger of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) said to Manukh, "Of all that I said to the woman let her beware.
14 She may not eat of anything that comes of the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing; all that I commanded her let her observe."
15 And Manukh said to the messenger of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), "Please, let us detain You, that we may make a young goat ready for You."
16 And the messenger of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) said to Manukh, "Though you detain me, I eat not of your bread; and if you will prepare a burnt offering, you must offer it to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH)." For Manukh did not know that He was the messenger of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH).
17 Then Manukh said to the messenger of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), "What is Your name, that when Your words happen, we may esteem You?"
18 The messenger of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) said to him, "Why do you ask about My Name, since it is wonderful?"
19 So Manukh took the young goat with the meal offering, and offered it on the rock to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH): and He did wondrously, and Manukh and his wife looked on.
20 And it came to be, when the flame went up toward the sky from off the altar, that the messenger of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) ascended in the flame of the altar: and Manukh and his wife looked on; and they fell on their faces to the ground.
21 But the messenger of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) did no more appear to Manukh or to his wife. Then Manukh knew that He was the messenger of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH).
22 And Manukh said to his wife, "We shall surely die, because we have seen ALUAH."
23 But his wife said to him, "If 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) were pleased to slay us, He would not have received a burnt offering and a meal offering at our hand, neither would He have shown us all these nor would at this time have told such as these."
24 And the woman bore a son, and named him Sham'shun (Sham'shoon): and the child grew, and 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) Barak him.
25 And The RUKH OF 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) began to move him in Ma'khanah Dan, between Tsara'ah and Ash'tha'AL.
CHAPTER 14
1 And Sham'shun (Sham'shoon) went down to Thaman'thah, and saw a woman in Thaman'thah of the daughters of the Palash'tha'ym.
2 And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, "I have seen a woman in Thaman'thah of the daughters of the Palash'tha'ym: now therefore get her for me as wife."
3 And then his father and his mother said to him, "Is there never a woman among the daughters of your brothers, or among all my people, that you go to take a wife of the uncircumcised Palash'tha'ym?" And Sham'shun (Sham'shoon) said to his father, "Get her for me; for she pleases me well."
4 But his father and his mother did not know that it was of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH); for He sought an occasion against the Palash'tha'ym. Now at that time the Palash'tha'ym had rule over Yashar'AL.
5 Then went Sham'shun (Sham'shoon) down, and his father and his mother, to Thaman'thah, and came to the vineyards of Thaman'thah: and behold, a young lion roared against him.
6 And The RUKH OF 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) came mightily on him, and he tore him as he would have torn a young goat; and he had nothing in his hand: but he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done.
7 And he went down, and talked with the woman, and she pleased Sham'shun (Sham'shoon) well.
8 And after a while he returned to take her; and he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion: and behold, there was a swarm of bees in the body of the lion, and honey.
9 And he took it into his hands, and went on, eating as he went; and he came to his father and mother, and gave to them, and they ate: but he did not tell them that he had taken the honey out of the body of the lion.
10 And his father went down to the woman: and Sham'shun (Sham'shoon) made there a feast; for so used the young men to do.
11 And it came to be, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him.
12 And Sham'shun (Sham'shoon) said to them, "Let me tell you a riddle now. If you can declare it to me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing;
13 but if you can't declare it to me, then you shall give me thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing." And they said to him, "Put forth your riddle, that we may hear it."
14 And he said to them, "Out of the eater came forth food. Out of the strong came forth sweetness." They could not in three days declare the riddle.
15 And it came to be on the seventh day, that they said to Sham'shun (Sham'shoon)'s wife, "Entice your husband, that he may declare to us the riddle, lest we burn you and your father's house with fire. Have you called us to impoverish us? Is it not?"
16 And Sham'shun (Sham'shoon)'s wife wept before him, and said, "You only hate me, and do not love me. You have put forth a riddle to the children of my people, and have not told it me." And he said to her, "Behold, I have not told it my father nor my mother, and shall I tell you?"
17 And she wept before him the seven days, while their feast lasted: and it came to be on the seventh day, that he told her, because she pressed him severely; and she told the riddle to the children of her people.
18 And the men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down, "What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?" And he said to them, "If you had not plowed with my heifer, you would not have found out my riddle."
19 And The RUKH OF 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) came mightily on him, and he went down to Ash'qalun, and struck thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave the changes of garments to those who declared the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father's house.
20 But Sham'shun (Sham'shoon)'s wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his friend.
CHAPTER 15
1 And it came to be after a while, in the time of wheat harvest, that Sham'shun (Sham'shoon) visited his wife with a young goat; and he said, "I will go in to my wife into the room." But her father would not allow him to go in.
2 And her father said, "I most certainly thought that you had utterly hated her; therefore I gave her to your companion. Is not her younger sister more beautiful than she? Please take her, instead."
3 And Sham'shun (Sham'shoon) said to them, "This time I will be blameless in regard of the Palash'tha'ym, when I do them harm.”
4 And Sham'shun (Sham'shoon) went and caught three hundred foxes, and took torches, and turned tail to tail, and put a torch in the midst between every two tails.
5 And when he had put the brands on fire, he let them go into the standing grain of the Palash'tha'ym, and burnt up both the shocks and the standing grain, and also the olive groves.
6 Then the Palash'tha'ym said, "Who has done this?" And they said, "Sham'shun (Sham'shoon), the son-in-law of the Thaman’ya, because he has taken his wife, and given her to his companion." Then the Palash'tha'ym came up, and burnt her and her father with fire.
7 And Sham'shun (Sham'shoon) said to them, "If you behave like this, surely I will be avenged of you, and after that I will cease."
8 And he struck them hip and thigh with a great slaughter: and he went down and lived in the cleft of the rock of Ayatam.
9 Then the Palash'tha'ym went up, and encamped in Yahudah, and spread themselves in Lakha'ya.
10 And the men of Yahudah said, "Why have you come up against us?" They said, "We have come up to bind Sham'shun (Sham'shoon), to do to him as he has done to us."
11 Then three thousand men of Yahudah went down to the cleft of the rock of Ayatam, and said to Sham'shun (Sham'shoon), "Don't you know that the Palash'tha'ym are rulers over us? What then is this that you have done to us?" He said to them, "As they did to me, so have I done to them."
12 And they said to him, "We have come down to bind you, that we may bring you into the hand of the Palash'tha'ym." And Sham'shun (Sham'shoon) said to them, "Swear to me that you will not fall on me yourselves."
13 And they spoke to him, saying, "No, but we will bind you fast, and bring you into their hand; but surely we will not slay you." And they bound him with two new ropes, and brought him up from the rock.
14 When he came to Lakha'ya, the Palash'tha'ym shouted as they met him: and THE RUKH OF 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) came mightily on him, and the ropes that were on his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands dropped from off his hands.
15 And he found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, and put forth his hand, and took it, and struck a thousand men therewith.
16 And Sham'shun (Sham'shoon) said, "With the jawbone of a donkey, heaps on heaps; with the jawbone of a donkey I have struck a thousand men!”
17 And it came to be, when he had made an end of speaking, that he cast away the jawbone out of his hand; and that place was called Ramath Lakha'ya.
18 And he became very thirsty, and called on 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), and said, "You have given this great rescue by the hand of Your servant; and now shall I die for thirst, and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised?"
19 But ALUAH split the hollow place that is in Lakha'ya, and water came out of it. When he had drunk, his rukh came again, and he revived: therefore its name was called Ayan Ha’Qura, which is in Lakha'ya, to this day.
20 And he judged Yashar'AL in the days of the Palash'tha'ym twenty years.
CHAPTER 16
1 And Sham'shun (Sham'shoon) went to Azah, and saw there a whore, and went in to her.
2 To the Azath’ym, for saying, "Sham'shun (Sham'shoon) is here!" They surrounded him, and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city, and were quiet all the night, saying, until rising light, then we will slay him.
3 Now Sham'shun (Sham'shoon) lay until midnight, and arose at midnight, and laid hold of the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and plucked them up, bar and all, and put them on his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of the mountain that is before Kha'brun.
4 And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sharaq, whose name was Dala'yalah.
5 And the sovereigns of the Palash'tha'ym came up to her, and said to her, "Entice him, and see in which his great strength lies, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him; and we will each give you eleven hundred pieces of silver."
6 And Dala'yalah said to Sham'shun (Sham'shoon), "Please tell me where your great strength lies, and what you might be bound to afflict you."
7 And Sham'shun (Sham'shoon) said to her, "If they bind me with seven green cords that were never dried, then shall I become weak, and be as another man."
8 Then the sovereigns of the Palash'tha'ym brought up to her seven green cords which had not been dried, and she bound him with them.
9 Now she had an ambush waiting in the inner room. And she said to him, "The Palash'tha'ym are on you, Sham'shun (Sham'shoon)!" He broke the cords, as a string of tow is broken when it touches the fire. So his strength was not known.
10 And Dala'yalah said to Sham'shun (Sham'shoon), "Behold, you have mocked me, and told me lies: now please tell me with which you might be bound."
11 And he said to her, "If they only bind me with new ropes with which no work has been done, then shall I become weak, and be as another man."
12 So Dala'yalah took new ropes, and bound him therewith, and said to him, "The Palash'tha'ym are on you, Sham'shun (Sham'shoon)!" The ambush was waiting in the inner room. He broke them off his arms like a thread.
13 And Dala'yalah said to Sham'shun (Sham'shoon), "Until now, you have mocked me and told me lies. Tell me with what you might be bound." And he said to her, "If you weave the seven locks of my head with the web."
14 And she fastened it with the pin, and said to him, "The Palash'tha'ym are on you, Sham'shun (Sham'shoon)!" And he awakened out of his sleep, and plucked away the pin of the beam, and the web.
15 And she said to him, "How can you say, 'I love you,' when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times, and have not told me where your great strength lies."
16 And it came to be, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, that his being was wearied to death.
17 And he told her all his heart, and said to her, "No razor has ever come on my head; for I have been a Naza'yar to ALUAH from my mother's womb. If I am shaved, then my strength will go from me, and I will become weak, and be like any other man."
18 When Dala'yalah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the sovereigns of the Palash'tha'ym, saying, "Come up this once, for he has told me all his heart." Then the sovereigns of the Palash'tha'ym came up to her, and brought the money in their hand.
19 And she made him sleep on her knees; and she called for a man, and shaved off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him.
20 And she said, "The Palash'tha'ym are upon you, Sham'shun (Sham'shoon)!" He awoke out of his sleep, and said, "I will go out as at other times, and shake myself free." But he did not know that 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) had departed from him.
21 So the Palash'tha'ym laid hold on him, and put out his eyes; and they brought him down to Azah, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he grinded the mill in the prison.
22 However, the hair of his head began to grow again after he was shaved.
23 And the sovereigns of the Palash'tha'ym gathered them together to offer a great offering to Dagun (Dagoon) their idol, and to rejoice; for they said, "Our idol has brought Sham'shun (Sham'shoon) our enemy into our hand."
24 When the people saw him, they praised their idol; for they said, "Our idol has brought our enemy and the destroyer of our country, who has slain many of us, into our hand."
25 And it came to be, when their hearts were cheerful, that they said, "Call for Sham'shun (Sham'shoon), that he may entertain us." And they called for Sham'shun (Sham'shoon) out of the prison; and he performed before them. And they placed him between the pillars;
26 and Sham'shun (Sham'shoon) said to the boy who held him by the hand, "Allow me to feel the pillars whereupon the house rests, that I may lean on them."
27 Now the house was full of men and women; and all the sovereigns of the Palash'tha'ym were there; and there were on the roof about three thousand men and women, who saw while Sham'shun (Sham'shoon) performed.
28 And Sham'shun (Sham'shoon) called to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), and said, “O Sovereign 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), remember me, please, and strengthen me, please, only this once, ALUAH, that I may be at once avenged of the Palash'tha'ym for my two eyes."
29 And Sham'shun (Sham'shoon) took hold of the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and leaned on them, the one with his right hand, and the other with his left.
30 And Sham'shun (Sham'shoon) said, "Let me die with the Palash'tha'ym!" And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell on the sovereigns, and on all the people who were therein. So the dead that he slayed at his death were more than those who he slayed in his khaYah (life).
31 Then his brothers and all the house of his father came down, and took him, and brought him up, and buried him between Tsara'ah and Ash'tha'AL in the burial site of Manukh his father. And he judged Yashar'AL twenty years.
CHAPTER 17
1 And there was a man of the mountain of Apara’ym, whose name was Mayaka'Yahu.
*See Note On Verse 5
2 And he said to his mother, "The eleven hundred pieces of silver that were taken from you, about which you uttered a curse, and also spoke it in my ears, behold, the silver is with me; I took it." His mother said, "Baruk be my son of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH)."
3 And he restored the eleven hundred pieces of silver to his mother; and his mother said, "I most certainly dedicate the silver to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) from my hand for my son, to make an engraved image and a molten image. Now therefore I will restore it to you."
4 And when he restored the money to his mother, his mother took two hundred pieces of silver, and gave them to the founder, who made of it an engraved image and a molten image: and it was in the house of Mayaka'Yahu.
5 Now the man Maya’kah* had a house of idols, and he made a shoulder garment, and house idols, and made apart one of his sons, who became his ka’ahn (priest).
*The Masoretic switches his name at this verse and uses this version
6 In those days there was no king in Yashar'AL: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
7 And there was a young man out of Bayath Lakham Yahudah, of the family of Yahudah, who was a Lu'ya (Loo’ya); and he dwelled there.
8 And he man departed out of the city, out of Bayath Lakham Yahudah, to dwell where he could find a place, and he came to the mountain of Apara’ym to the house of Maya’kah, as he traveled.
9 And Maya’kah said to him, "Where did you come from?" He said to him, "I am a Lu'ya of Bayath Lakham Yahudah, and I am looking for a place to dwell.”
10 And Maya’kah said to him, "Dwell with me, and be to me a father and a ka’ahn (priest), and I will give you ten pieces of silver per year, a suit of clothing, and your food." So the Lu'ya went in.
11 So the Lu'ya agreed to dwell with the man; and the young man was to him as one of his sons.
12 And Maya’kah made apart the Lu'ya, and the young man became his ka’ahn (priest), and was in the house of Maya’kah.
13 Then Maya’kah said, "Now know I that 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) will do good to me, since I have a Lu'ya to my ka’ahn (priest.)”
CHAPTER 18
1 In those days there was no king in Yashar'AL: and in those days the tribe of the Dan'ya sought them an inheritance to dwell in; for to that day their inheritance had not fallen to them among the tribes of Yashar'AL.
2 And the children of Dan sent of their family five men from their whole number, men of valor, from Tsara'ah, and from Ash'tha'AL, to spy out the land, and to search it; and they said to them, "Go, explore the land!" So they came to the mountain of Apara’ym, to the house of Maya’kah, and lodged there.
3 When they were by the house of Maya’kah, they knew the voice of the young man the Lu'ya; and they turned aside there, and said to him, "Who brought you here? What do you do in this place? What do you have here?"
4 And he said to them, "Thus and thus has Maya’kah dealt with me, and he has hired me, and I am become his ka’ahn (priest).”
5 And they said to him, "Please ask counsel of ALUAH, that we may know whether our way which we go shall be prosperous."
6 And the ka’ahn (priest) said to them, "Go in shalum (peace). Your way in which you go is before 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH)."
7 Then the five men departed, and came to La'yash, and saw the people who were therein, how they dwelled in security, in the way of the Tsa'yadan'ya, quiet and secure; for there was none in the land, possessing authority, that might put to shame in anything, and they were far from the Tsa'yadan'ya, and had no dealings with any man.
8 And they came to their brothers to Tsara'ah and Ash'tha'AL: and their brothers said to them, "What do you say?"
9 And they said, "Arise, and let us go up against them; for we have seen the land, and behold, it is very good. Do you stand still? Do not be slothful to go and to enter in to possess the land.
10 When you go, you shall come to a secure people, and the land is large; for ALUAH has given it into your hand, a place where there is no want of anything that is in the earth."
11 There put forth from there of the family of the Dan'ya, out of Tsara'ah and out of Ash'tha'AL, six hundred men girt with weapons of war.
12 And they went up, and encamped in Qara’yath Ya’ara’ym, in Yahudah: therefore they called that place Ma'khanah Dan, to this day; behold, it is behind Qara’yath Ya’ara’ym.
13 And they passed there to the mountain of Apara’ym, and came to the house of Maya’kah.
14 Then the five men who went to spy out the country of La'yash answered, and said to their brothers, "Do you know that there is in these houses a shoulder garment, and house idols, and an engraved image, and a molten image? Now therefore consider what you have to do."
15 And they turned aside there, and came to the house of the young man the Lu'ya, even to the house of Maya’kah, and asked him of his welfare.
16 And the six hundred men girt with their weapons of war, who were of the children of Dan, stood by the entrance of the gate.
17 And the five men who went to spy out the land went up, and came in there, and took the engraved image, and the shoulder garment, and the house idols, and the molten image: and the ka’ahn (priest) stood by the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men girt with weapons of war.
18 When these went into Maya’kah's house, and fetched the engraved image, the shoulder garment, and the house idols, and the molten image, the ka’ahn (priest) said to them, "What are you doing?"
19 And they said to him, “Keep silent, put your hand on your mouth, and go with us, and be to us a father and a ka’ahn (priest). Is it better for you to be ka’ahn (priest) to the house of one man, or to be ka’ahn (priest) to a tribe and a family in Yashar'AL?"
20 And the ka’ahn (priest’s) heart was glad, and he took the shoulder garment, and the house idols, and the engraved image, and went in the midst of the people.
21 So they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the livestock and the goods before them.
22 And when they were a good way from the house of Maya’kah, the men who were in the houses near to Maya’kah's house were gathered together, and overtook the children of Dan.
23 And they cried to the children of Dan. They turned their faces, and said to Maya’kah, "What ails you, that you come with such a company?"
24 And he said, "You have taken away my idols which I made, and the ka’ahn (priest), and have gone away, and what more do I have? How then do you say to me, 'What ails you?'"
25 And the children of Dan said to him, "Do not let your voice be heard among us, lest angry fellows fall on you, and you lose your being, with the beings of your household."
26 And the children of Dan went their way: and when Maya’kah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back to his house.
27 Then they took that which Maya’kah had made, and the ka’ahn (priest) whom he had, and came to La'yash, to a people quiet and secure, and struck them with the edge of the sword; and they burnt the city with fire.
28 And there was no rescuer, because it was far from Tsa'yadun, and they had no dealings with any man; and it was in the valley that lies by Bayath Rakhub (Rakhoob). They built the city and abided therein.
29 And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born to Yashar'AL: however the name of the city was La'yash at the first.
30 And the children of Dan made up for themselves the engraved image: and Yahu’nathan, son of Gar’sham, son of Mana’shah, he and his sons were ka’ahn’ym (priests) to the tribe of the Dan'ya until the day of the captivity of the land.
31 So they placed them up Maya’kah's engraved image which he made, all the time that the house of ALUAH was in Shalah.
CHAPTER 19
1 And it came to be in those days, when there was no king in Yashar'AL, that there was a certain Lu'ya dwelling on the farther side of the mountain of Apara’ym, who took to him a concubine from Bayath Lakham Yahudah.
2 And his concubine whored against him, and went away from him to her father's house to Bayath Lakham Yahudah, and was there the space of four months.
3 And her husband arose, and went after her, to speak kindly to her, to bring her again, having his servant with him, and a couple of donkeys: and she brought him into her father's house; and when the father of the young lady saw him, he rejoiced to meet him.
4 And his father-in-law, the young lady's father, retained him; and he stayed with him three days: so they ate and drink, and lodged there.
5 And it came to be on the fourth day, that they arose early in the rising, and he rose up to depart: and the young lady's father said to his son-in-law, "Strengthen your heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward you shall go your way."
6 So they sat down, ate, and drank, both of them together: and the young lady's father said to the man, "Please agree to stay all night, and let your heart be cheerful.”
7 And the man rose up to depart; but his father-in-law urged him, and he lodged there again.
8 And he arose early in the rising on the fifth day to depart; and the young lady's father said, "Please strengthen your heart and stay until the day declines;" and they both ate.
9 And the man rose up to depart, he, and his concubine, and his servant, his father-in-law, the young lady's father, said to him, "Behold, now the day draws toward evening, please stay all night: behold, the day grows to an end, lodge here, that your heart may be merry; and tomorrow go on your way early, that you may go home."
10 But the man would not stay that night, but he rose up and departed, and came over against Yabus (Yaboos), the same is Yaru'shalam: and there were with him a couple of donkeys saddled; his concubine also was with him.
11 And when they were by Yabus (Yaboos), the day was far spent; and the servant said to his sovereign, "Please come and let us turn aside into this city of the Yabus'ya, and lodge in it."
12 His master said to him, "We won't turn aside into the city of a foreigner, that is not of the children of Yashar'AL; but we will pass over to Gaba'ah."
13 And he said to his servant, "Come and let us draw near to one of these places; and we will lodge in Gaba'ah, or in Ramah."
14 So they passed on and went their way; and the sun went down on them near to Gaba'ah, which belongs to Ban’yaman.
15 And they turned aside there, to go in to lodge in Gaba'ah: and he went in, and sat him down in the street of the city; for there was no man who took them into his house to lodge.
16 But behold, there came an old man from his work out of the field at evening: now the man was of the mountain of Apara’ym, and he lived in Gaba'ah; but the men of the place were Ban’yama’yan’ya.
17 And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the wayfaring man in the street of the city; and the old man said, "Where are you going? Where did you come from?"
18 And he said to him, "We are passing from Bayath Lakham Yahudah to the farther side of the mountain of Apara’ym. I am from there, and I went to Bayath Lakham Yahudah. I am going to the house of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH); and there is no man who takes me into his house.
19 Yet there is both straw and provender for our donkeys; and there is bread and wine also for me, and for your handmaid, and for the young man who is with your servants: there is no want of anything."
20 And the old man said, “Shalum (Peace) be to you; howsoever let all your wants lie on me; only do not lodge in the street."
21 So he brought him into his house, and gave the donkeys fodder; and they washed their feet, and ate and drink.
22 And as they were making their hearts cheerful, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of bal’yal, surrounded the house, beating at the door; and they spoke to the sovereign of the house, the old man, saying, "Bring out the man who came into your house, that we may know* him!"
*Most translations use this in a sexual context
23 But the man, the sovereign of the house, went out to them, and said to them, "No, my brothers, please do no evil; since this man is come into my house, do not do this folly.
24 Behold, here is my virgin daughter and his concubine. I will bring them out now. Humble them, and do with them what is good in your eyes; but to this man do not do any such folly."
25 But the men would not listen to him: so the man laid hold of his concubine, and brought her out to them; and they raped her, and abused her all night until the rising: and when the day began to dawn, they let her go.
26 And then came the woman in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of the man's house where her sovereign was, until it was light.
27 And her sovereign rose up in the risng, and opened the doors of the house, and went out to go his way; and behold, the woman his concubine was fallen down at the door of the house, with her hands on the threshold.
28 And he said to her, "Get up, and let us be going!" but no one answered. Then he took her up on the donkey; and the man rose up, and went to his place.
29 And when he was come into his house, he took a knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her, limb by limb, into twelve pieces, and sent her throughout all the borders of Yashar'AL.
30 And it was so, that all who saw it said, "There was no such deed done nor seen from the day that the children of Yashar'AL came up out of the land of Ma’tsara’ym to this day! Consider it, take counsel, and speak."
CHAPTER 20
1 Then all the children of Yashar'AL went out, and the congregation was assembled as one man, from Dan even to Ba'ar Shaba, with the land of Gal'ad, to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) at Ma'tsapah.
2 And the chiefs of all the people, even of all the tribes of Yashar'AL, showed themselves in the assembly of the people of ALUAH, four hundred thousand footmen who drew sword.
3 Now the children of Ban’yaman heard that the children of Yashar'AL had gone up to Ma'tsapah. The children of Yashar'AL said, "Tell us, how did this wickedness happen?"
4 And the Lu'ya, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered, "I came into Gaba'ah that belongs to Ban’yaman, I and my concubine, to lodge.
5 And the men of Gaba'ah rose against me, and surrounded the house by night. They thought to have slain me, and they forced my concubine, and she is dead.
6 Then I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Yashar'AL; for they have committed wickedness and folly in Yashar'AL.
7 Behold, you children of Yashar'AL, all of you, give here your advice and counsel."
8 And all the people arose as one man, saying, "We will not any of us go to his tent, neither will we any of us turn to his house.
9 But now this is the thing which we will do to Gaba'ah: go against it by lot;
10 and we will take ten men of one hundred throughout all the tribes of Yashar'AL, and one hundred of one thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand, to get food for the people, that they may do, when they come to Gaba'ah of Ban’yaman, according to all the folly that they have worked in Yashar'AL."
11 So all the men of Yashar'AL were gathered against the city, knit together as one man.
12 And the tribes of Yashar'AL sent men through all the tribe of Ban’yaman, saying, "What wickedness is this that is happen among you?
13 Now therefore bring up the men, the sons of bal’yal, who are in Gaba'ah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Yashar'AL." But Ban’yaman would not listen to the voice of their brothers the children of Yashar'AL.
14 So the children of Ban'yaman gathered themselves together out of the cities to Gaba'ah, to go out to battle against the children of Yashar'AL.
15 And the children of Ban'yaman were numbered on that day out of the cities twenty-six thousand men who drew the sword, besides the inhabitants of Gaba'ah, who were numbered seven hundred chosen men.
16 Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men left handed; everyone could sling stones at a hair breadth, and not miss.
17 And the men of Yashar'AL, besides Ban'yaman, were numbered four hundred thousand men who drew sword: all these were men of war.
18 And the children of Yashar'AL arose, and went up to Bayath AL, and asked counsel of ALUAH; and they said, "Who shall go up for us first to battle against the children of Ban'yaman?" And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) said, "Yahudah first."
19 And the children of Yashar'AL rose up in the rising, and encamped against Gaba'ah.
20 And the men of Yashar'AL went out to battle against Ban'yaman; and the men of Yashar'AL put the battle in array against them at Gaba'ah.
21 And the children of Ban'yaman came forth out of Gaba'ah, and destroyed down to the ground of the Yashar'AL on that day twenty-two thousand men.
22 But the people, the men of Yashar'AL, encouraged themselves, and put the battle again in array in the place where they placed themselves in array the first day.
23 And the children of Yashar'AL went up and wept before 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) until evening; and they asked of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), saying, "Shall I again draw near to battle against the children of Ban'yaman my brother?" And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) said, "Go up against him."
24 And the children of Yashar'AL came near against the children of Ban'yaman the second day.
25 And Ban'yaman went forth against them out of Gaba'ah the second day, and destroyed down to the ground of the children of Yashar'AL again eighteen thousand men; all these drew the sword.
26 Then all the children of Yashar'AL, and all the people, went up, and came to Bayath AL, and wept, and sat there before 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), and fasted that day until evening; and they offered burnt offerings and shalam (peace) offerings before 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH).
27 And the children of Yashar'AL asked of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), for the Ark of the Bar’yath (covenant) of ALUAH was there in those days,
28 and Payana'khas, son of AL'azar, son of A'haran, stood before it in those days, saying, "Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Ban'yaman my brother, or shall I cease?" And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) said, "Go up; for tomorrow I will give him into your hand."
29 And Yashar'AL placed ambushes all around Gaba'ah.
30 And the children of Yashar'AL went up against the children of Ban'yaman on the third day, and placed themselves in array against Gaba'ah, as at other times.
31 And the children of Ban'yaman went out against the people, and were drawn away from the city; and they began to strike and slay of the people, as at other times, in the highways, of which one goes up to Bayath AL, and the other to Gaba'ah, in the field, about thirty men of Yashar'AL.
32 And the children of Ban'yaman said, "They are struck down before us, as at the first." But the children of Yashar'AL said, "Let us flee, and draw them away from the city to the highways."
33 And all the men of Yashar'AL rose up out of their place, and set themselves in array at Ba'al Tamar: and the ambushers of Yashar'AL broke forth out of their place, even out of Meadow Gaba.
34 And there came over against Gaba'ah ten thousand chosen men out of all Yashar'AL, and the battle was severe; but they did not know that evil was upon them.
35 And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) struck Ban'yaman before Yashar'AL; and the children of Yashar'AL destroyed of Ban'yaman that day twenty-five thousand one hundred men: all these drew the sword.
36 So the children of Ban'yaman saw that they were struck; for the men of Yashar'AL gave place to Ban'yaman, because they trusted the ambushers whom they had set against Gaba'ah.
37 And the ambushers hurried, and rushed on Gaba'ah; and the ambushers drew themselves along, and struck all the city with the edge of the sword.
38 Now the appointed sign between the men of Yashar'AL and the ambushers was that they should make a great cloud of smoke rise up out of the city.
39 And the men of Yashar'AL turned in the battle, and Ban'yaman began to strike and slay of the men of Yashar'AL about thirty men; for they said, "Surely they are struck down before us, as in the first battle."
40 But when the cloud began to arise up out of the city in a pillar of smoke, the Ban'yaman looked behind them; and behold, the whole of the city went up in smoke to the sky.
41 And the men of Yashar'AL turned, and the men of Ban'yaman were dismayed; for they saw that evil had come on them.
42 Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Yashar'AL to the way of the wilderness; but the battle followed hard after them; and those who came out of the cities destroyed them in its midst.
43 They surrounded the Ban'yaman, [at] resting place, and trod them down with ease, as far as over against Gaba'ah toward the sunrise.
44 And there fell of Ban'yaman eighteen thousand men; all these men of valor.
45 And they turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Ramun (Ramoon): and they gleaned of them in the highways five thousand men, and followed hard after them to Gadam, and struck of them two thousand men.
46 So that all who fell that day of Ban'yaman were twenty-five thousand men who drew the sword; all these men of valor.
47 But six hundred men turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Ramun (Ramoon), and stayed in the rock of Ramun (Ramoon) four months.
48 And the men of Yashar'AL turned again on the children of Ban'yaman, and struck them with the edge of the sword, both the entire city, and the livestock, and all that they found: moreover all the cities which they found they placed on fire.
CHAPTER 21
1 Now the men of Yashar'AL had sworn in Ma'tsapah, saying, "There shall not any of us give his daughter to Ban'yaman as wife."
2 So the people came to Bayath AL, and sat there until evening before ALUAH, and lifted up their voices, and wept severely.
3 And they said, "𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH), the ALUAH of Yashar'AL, why has this happened in Yashar'AL, that there should be today one tribe lacking in Yashar'AL?"
4 And it came to be on the next day that the people rose early, and built there an altar, and offered burnt offerings and shalam (peace) offerings.
5 And the children of Yashar'AL said, "Who is there among all the tribes of Yashar'AL who did not come up in the assembly to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH)?" For they had made a great oath concerning him who did not come up to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) to Ma'tsapah, saying, "He shall surely be put to death."
6 The children of Yashar'AL grieved for Ban'yaman their brother, and said, "There is one tribe cut off from Yashar'AL this day.
7 How shall we provide wives for those who remain, since we have sworn by 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) that we will not give them of our daughters to wives?"
8 And they said, "What one is there of the tribes of Yashar'AL who did not come up to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) to Ma'tsapah?" Behold, there came none to the camp from Yaba’yash* Gal'ad to the assembly.
*See Note On Verse 9
9 For when the people were numbered, behold, there were none of the inhabitants of Yabash* Gal'ad there.
*As noted before, the Masoretic omits the extra yad in this name from verse 8
10 And the congregation sent there twelve thousand men of the most valiant, and commanded them, saying, "Go and strike the inhabitants of Yabash Gal'ad with the edge of the sword, with the women and the little ones.
11 And this is the thing that you shall do: you shall utterly destroy every male, and every woman who has lain with a man."
12 And they found among the inhabitants of Yaba’yash Gal'ad four hundred young virgins, who had not known man by lying with him; and they brought them to the camp to Shalah, which is in the land of Kanan.
13 Then the whole congregation sent and spoke to the children of Ban'yaman who were in the rock of Ramun (Ramoon), and proclaimed shalum (peace) to them.
14 And Ban'yaman returned at that time; and they gave them the women whom they had saved living of the women of Yabash Gal'ad: and yet so they weren't enough for them.
15 And the people relented for Ban'yaman, because that 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) had made a breach in the tribes of Yashar'AL.
16 And then the elders of the congregation said, "How shall we provide wives for those who remain, since the women are destroyed out of Ban'yaman?"
17 And they said, "There must be an inheritance for those who are escaped of Ban'yaman, that a tribe not be blotted out from Yashar'AL.
18 However, we may not give them wives of our daughters, for the children of Yashar'AL had sworn, saying, 'Cursed is he who gives a wife to Ban'yaman.'"
19 And they said, "Behold, there is a feast of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) from year [to] year in Shalah, which is on the north of Bayath AL, on the east side of the highway that goes up from Bayath AL to Shakam, and on the south of Labunah (Laboonah).”
20 And they commanded the children of Ban'yaman, saying, "Go and lie in wait in the vineyards,
21 and see, and behold, if the daughters of Shalah come out to dance in the dances, then come out of the vineyards, and each man catch his wife of the daughters of Shalah, and go to the land of Ban'yaman.
22 And it shall be, when their fathers or their brothers come to complain to us, that we will say to them, ‘Favor us with them, because we did not take for each man his wife in battle, neither did you give them to them, else you would now be guilty.'"
23 And the children of Ban'yaman did so, and took them wives, according to their number, of those who danced, whom they carried off. They went and returned to their inheritance, built the cities, and dwelled in them.
24 And the children of Yashar'AL departed there at that time, every man to his tribe and to his family, and they went out from there every man to his inheritance.
25 In those days there was no king in Yashar'AL: every man did what was right in his own eyes.