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III.

Now these are the nations which the Lord spared to 2 prove Israel; with an intent moreover, in regard to all those who would be unacquainted with the wars of Chanaan, to instruct in the art of war, not only the present, but the succeed. 3 ing generations of the children of Israel, who knew not these

things-namely the five Satrapies of the Philistines, and all the Chananites, and the Sidonians, and the Evites who inha4 bited Libanus from mount Aermon to Laboemath. But while he was by them proving Israel, to know whether they would hearken to the commandments of the Lord, which he had given 5 in charge to their fathers by the hand of Moses, the children of Israel dwelt among the Chananites, and the Chettites, and the Amorites, and the Pherezites, and the Evites, and the Jebu6 sites, and they took their daughters to be their wives; and gave 7 their daughters to their sons, and served their gods. Thus the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord. They forgot the Lord their God, and served the Baalims and the bowers. And 8 the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of Cousarsathaim, king of Syrian Meso9 potamia, and the children of Israel served him eight years. But when the Israelites cried to the Lord, he raised up a saviour for them, and delivered them, namely Gothoniel the youngest son 10 of Kenez, Chaleb's brother. The Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war against Chousarsathaim, and the Lord delivered Chousarsathaim, king of 11 Syrian Mesopotamia, into his hands; and his hand prevailed against Chousarsathaim, and the land had rest. Forty years.

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But when Gothoniel son of Kenez died, the children of Israel proceeded to do evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord strengthened Eglon, king of Moab, against Israel, because they 13 did evil in the sight of the Lord; and he gathered to him all the Ammonites, and the Amalekites, and came and smote Is14 rael, and took possession of the city of palm trees; and the

children of Israel served Eglon king of Moab eighteen years. 15 But when the Israelites cried to the Lord, he raised up for them

a deliverer, namely Aod son of Gera, the Jeminite, a man who 16 could use both hands alike. When the children of Israel sent presents by him to Eglon king of Moab, Aod made for himself a two edged dagger, a span long, and girded it under his

military robe, on his right thigh, and went and presented the 18 gifts to Eglon king of Moab. Now Eglon was a very polite man. So when Aod had made an end of presenting the gifts, and had sent away the men who carried the presents, he himself returned from the sculptures which are back of Galgal. 19 And Aod said, I have a private message to thee, O king. 20 Whereupon Eglon said to him, Be silent. And when he had sent away from him all his attendants, Aod went in to him. Now he was sitting alone in his summer parlour, up stairs. And Aod said, I have a message of God to thee, O king. Upon 21 which Eglon arose from his seat, near him. And as he was

rising, Aod stretched forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and plunged it into his belly, and thrust 22 the haft in also after the blade, and the fat closed upon the 23 blade, for he did not draw the dagger out of his belly. Then

Aod went out by the stairs into the porch. He went out beyond the guards, having shut behind him the doors of the parlour, 24 and bolted them. And when he was gone, Eglon's servants

came, but finding the doors of the parlour bolted, they said, 25 Perhaps he is uncovering his feet in the summer parlour. And when they had waited till they were ashamed, and behold the parlour door is not opened, they took the key and opened it, 26 and behold their lord was fallen-dead upon the floor! But Aod escaped while they were in confusion, and none attended to him; and having passed the sculptures he got safe to Setei27 rotha. And when Aod came to the land of Israel, he sounded a horn on mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel went 28 down with him from the mountain, and he before them. And he said to them, Follow me down, for the Lord God hath delivered our enemies-Moab into our hands. So they followed him down, and took possession of the fords of the Jordan before 29 Moab, and suffered not a man to pass. And they slew of Moab

that day about ten thousand men, their whole strength, even 30 every man of valour. Not a man escaped. So Moab was hum

bled that day, under the hand of Israel, and the land had rest. 31 Eighty years. Now Aod judged them till he died. And after him arose Samegar, son of Dinach, who had slain of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad, and who also saved Israel.

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IV. But the children of Israel proceeded again to do evil in 2 the sight of the Lord, when Aod was dead, and the Lord delivered Israel into the hand of Jabin king of Chanaan, who reigned in Asor. Now the captain general of his army was Si3 sara, and he dwelt at Arisoth of the nations. And the children of Israel cried to the Lord, for he had nine hundred chariots of iron, and he oppressed Israel grievously, twenty years.

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Now Debbora, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, judged 5 Israel at that time, and had taken her seat under the palm grove of Debbora, between Rama and Baithel, on mount Ephraim; and 6 the children of Israel went up to her for judgment. And Debbora sent for Barak, son of Abineem, of Kades-Nephthaleim, and said to him, Hath not the Lord God of Israel commanded thee? Go therefore to mount Thabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Nephthaleim, and of the chil7 dren of Zabulon, and I will bring out to thee, to the brook Kison, Sisara the captain general of Jabin's army, with his cha8 riots, and his multitude, and deliver him into thy hands. Whereupon Barak said to her, If thou wilt go with me I will go; but if thou wilt not go, I will not go: for I do not know the day 9 when the Lord would prosper the angel with me. And she said I will certainly go with thee; but know, that in the journey which thou takest, the honour of the victory will not be thine; for the Lord will deliver Sisara into the hands of a woman. So 10 Debbora arose, and went with Barak, of Kades. And Barak

called out Zabulon and Nephthaleim from Kades, and there went up after him ten thousand men, and Debbora went up 11 with him. Now Chaber, the Kinite, had removed from Kaina, from among the children of Jobab, Moses' father in law, and had pitched his tent in the oak grove which is near Kades. 12 And when Sisara was told that Barak, son of Abineem, was 13 gone up to mount Thabor, he called out all his chariots, nine

hundred chariots of iron, and all his people with him, from Ari14 soth of the nations to the brook Kison. And Debbora said to

Barak, Arise, for this is the day, on which the Lord hath delivered Sisara into thy hand; for the Lord will march before 15 thee. So Barak went down from mount Thabor with ten thousand men after him; And the Lord discomfited Sisara, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword, be

16 fore Barak. And Sisara alighted from his chariot and fled on foot. And Barak pursued the chariots, and the army, to Arisoth of the nations. And the whole army of Sisara fell by the edge of the sword. There was not even a man left.

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Now Sisara had fled, on foot, to the tent of Jael, the wife of Chaber the Kinite; for there was peace between Jabin king 18 of Asor, and the house of Chaber the Kinite. And Jael went out to meet Sisara, and said to him, Turn in my lord'; turn in to me. Be not afraid. So he turned in to her-into the tent; 19 and she covered him with a mantle. And Sisara said to her

Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink, for I am thirsty. Whereupon she opened the milk vessel, and gave him drink, 20 and then covered him. And Sisara said to her, Stand, I pray

thee, at the door of the tent, and if any man come to thee and ask thee, saying, Is there a man here? thou shalt say, There is 21 not. Then Jael, the wife of Chaber, took the pin of the tent,

and a mallet in her hand, and went in softly to him, and drove the pin into his temple, and it went through into the ground. 22 And he fainted away, and was involved in darkness. And when he was dead, behold Barak came in pursuit of Sisara. And Jael went out to meet him, and said to him, Come, and I will shew thee the man whom thou seekest. So he went in with her, and behold Sisara lay dead with the pin in his temples. 23 So God, on that day, subdued Jabin king of Chanaan before the children of Israel, and the hand of the Israelites prospered, and prevailed against Jabin king of Chanaan, until they utterly destroyed him.

V.

3

4.

Then sung Debbora, and Barak son of Abineem, on that day, saying,

Revelation was revealed in Israel

When the people offered thank offerings;

Praise ye the Lord.

Hear, O kings! and give ear, O princes!

I will sing to I am, to the Lord I am;

I will sing to the Lord, the God of Israel.

O Lord! in thy march out of Seir,

When thou didst remove from the fields of Edom;
The earth trembled, and heaven distilled dew;

The clouds also distilled water.

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The mountains shook at the presence of the Lord Eloi,
That Sina, at the presence of the Lord God of Israel.

In the days of Samegar son of Anath-in the days of
Jael;

They forsook the high ways, and travelled in bye paths—
They travelled in crooked winding roads.

The mighty men of Israel were faint hearted;

They were faint hearted till Debbora arose—

Until there arose a mother in Israel.

They had chosen new gods;

Then was war made upon the cities of chiefs, if a buckler

was seen,

Or a spear among forty thousand in Israel.

My heart was fixed on what were enjoined Israel.
Ye among the people who offer thank offerings,

Praise ye the Lord.

10

Ye who have mounted your asses at noon day,
Ye who sit in the seat of judgment,

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12

14

Ye who travel the high ways to the publick assemblies,
Make proclamation on the road, on account of the voice

of them

Who shout amidst the drawers of water.

There let them rehearse gracious deliverances.

Increase, O Lord, gracious deliverances in Israel.
Then went the people of the Lord down to their cities.
Awake, awake, Debbora! Awake, awake, utter a
song.

Arise, Barak! And lead thy captivity captive, son of Abi-
neem!

13 Then went down a remnant to the mighty

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The Lord's people went down to him with my valiant men.
Ephraim rooted out them in Amelek;

After thee was Benjamin with thy people;

With me went down the scouting Machirites,

And from Zabulon, they who array with the marshal's staff.
The leaders in Issachar also were with Debbora and Barak.
Thus was Barak in the vales.

He had sent a courier to the factions of Reuben.
The bold hearted are just setting out.

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