Bible in 90 Days
13 And they answered him, saying, No, but we will bind thee and [a]deliver thee unto their hand, but we will not kill thee. And they bound him with two new cords, and brought him from the rock.
14 When he came to Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him, and the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms, became as flax that was burnt with fire: for the bands loosed from his hands.
15 And he found a [b]new jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hands, and caught it, and slew a thousand men therewith.
16 Then Samson said, With the jaw of an ass are heaps upon heaps: with the jaw of an ass have I slain a thousand men.
17 And when he had left speaking, he cast away the jawbone out of his hand, and called that place, [c]Ramath Lehi.
18 And he was sore athirst, and [d]called on the Lord, and said, Thou hast given this great deliverance into the hand of thy servant: and now shall I die for thirst, and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised?
19 Then God brake the cheek tooth, that was in the jaw, and water came there out: and when he had drunk, his spirit came again, and he was revived: wherefore the name thereof is called, [e]En Hakkore, which is in Lehi unto this day.
20 And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years.
16 3 Samson carrieth away the gates of Gaza. 18 He was deceived by Delilah. 30 He pulleth down the house upon the Philistines, and dieth with them.
1 Then went Samson to [f]Gaza, and saw there [g]an harlot, [h]and went in unto her.
2 And it was told to the Gazites, Samson is come hither. And they went about, and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city, and were quiet all the night, saying, Abide [i]till the morning early, and we shall kill him.
3 And Samson slept till midnight, and arose at midnight, and took the doors of the gates of the city and the two posts, and lifted them away with the bars, and put them upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of the mountain that is before Hebron.
4 And after this he loved a woman by the [j]river of Sorek, whose name was Delilah:
5 Unto whom came the princes of the Philistines, and said unto her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by what means we may overcome him, that we may bind him, and punish him, and every one of us shall give thee eleven hundred [k]shekels of silver.
6 ¶ And Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray thee, wherein thy great strength lieth, and wherewith thou mightest be bound, to do thee hurt.
7 Samson then answered unto her, If they bind me with seven [l]green cords, that were never dried, then shall I be weak, and be as another man.
8 And the princes of the Philistines brought her seven green cords that were not dry, and she bound him therewith.
9 (And she had [m]men lying in wait with her in the chamber) Then she said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he brake the cords, as a thread of tow is broken, when [n]it feeleth fire: so his strength was not known.
10 ¶ After Delilah said unto Samson, See, thou hast mocked me, and told me lies. I pray thee now, [o]tell me wherewith thou mightest be bound.
11 Then he answered her, If they bind me with new ropes that never were occupied, then shall I be weak, and be as another man.
12 Delilah therefore took new ropes, and bound him therewith, and said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson: (and men lay in wait in the chamber) and he brake them from his arms, as a thread.
13 ¶ Afterward Delilah said to Samson, Hitherto thou hast beguiled me, and told me lies: tell me how thou mightest be bound. [p]And he said unto her, If thou plattedst seven locks of mine head with the threads of the woof.
14 And she fastened it with a pin, and said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and went away with the [q]pin of the web, and the woof.
15 Again she said unto him, How canst thou say, [r]I love thee, when thine heart is not with me? thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth.
16 And because she was importunate upon him with her words continually, and vexed him, his soul was pained unto the death.
17 Therefore he told her all his [s]heart, and said unto her, There never came razor upon mine head: for I am a Nazirite unto God from my mother’s womb: therefore if I be shaven, my strength will go from me, and I shall be weak and be like all other men.
18 And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent, and called for the Princes of the Philistines, saying, Come up once again: for he hath showed me all his heart. Then the Princes of the Philistines came up unto her, and brought the money in their hands.
19 And she made him sleep upon her knees, and she called a man, and made him to shave off the seven locks of his head, and she began to vex him, and his strength was gone [t]from him.
20 Then she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and thought, I will go out now as at other times, and shake myself, but he knew not that the Lord was departed from him.
21 Therefore the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters: and he did grind in the prison house.
22 And the hair of his head began to [u]grow again after that it was shaven.
23 Then the Princes of the Philistines gathered them together for to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice: for they said, Our god hath delivered Samson our enemy into our hands.
24 Also when the people saw him, they praised their god: for they said, Our god hath delivered into our hands our enemy and destroyer of our country, which hath slain many of us.
25 And when their hearts were merry, they said, Call Samson, that he may make us pastime: So they called Samson out of the prison house, and he [v]was a laughing stock unto them, and they set him between the pillars.
26 Then Samson said unto the servant that led him by the hand, Lead me, that I may touch the pillars that the house standeth upon, and that I may lean to them.
27 (Now the house was full of men and women, and there were all the princes of the Philistines: also upon the roof were about three thousand men and women, that beheld while Samson [w]played)
28 Then Samson called unto the Lord, and said, O Lord God, I pray thee, think upon me: O God, I beseech thee, strengthen me at this time only, that I may be [x]at once [y]avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.
29 And Samson laid hold on the two middle pillars whereupon the house stood, and on which it was borne up: on the one with his right hand, and on the other with his left.
30 Then said Samson, [z]Let me lose my life with the Philistines: and he bowed him with all his might, and the house fell upon the princes, and upon all the people that were therein: so the dead which he slew at his death, were more than they which he had slain in his life.
31 Then his brethren, and all the house of his father came down and took him, and brought him up and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol, in the sepulcher of Manoah his father: now he had judged Israel twenty years.
17 3 Micah’s mother according to her vow, made her son two idols. 5 He made his son a Priest for his idols, 10 and after he hired a Levite.
1 There [aa]was a man of mount Ephraim, whose name was Micah,
2 And he said unto his mother, The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from thee, for the which thou cursedst, and spakedst it, even in mine hearing, behold, the silver is with me, I took it. Then his mother said, Blessed be my son of the Lord.
3 And when he had restored the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, his mother said, I had dedicate the silver to the Lord of mine hand for my son, to make [ab]a graven and molten image. Now therefore I will give it thee again.
4 And when he had restored the money unto his mother, his mother took two hundred shekels of silver, and gave them to the founder, which made thereof a graven and molten image, and it was in the house of Micah.
5 And this man Micah had an house of gods, and made an (A)[ac]Ephod, and (B)[ad]Teraphim, and [ae]consecrated one of his sons, who was his Priest.
6 (C)In those days there was no [af]King in Israel, but every man did that which was good in his own eyes.
7 ¶ There was also a young man out of Bethlehem Judah, [ag]of the family of Judah: who was a Levite, and sojourned there.
8 And the man departed out of the city, even out of Bethlehem Judah, to dwell where he could find a place: and as he journeyed, he came to mount Ephraim to the house of Micah.
9 And Micah said unto him, Whence comest thou? And the Levite answered him, [ah]I come from Bethlehem Judah, and go to dwell where I may find a place.
10 Then Micah said unto him, Dwell with me, and be unto me a father and a Priest, and I will give thee ten shekels of silver by year, and a suit of apparel, and thy meat and drink. So the Levite went in.
11 And the Levite was [ai]content to dwell with the man, and the young man was unto him as one of his own sons.
12 And Micah consecrated the Levite, and the young man was his Priest, and was in the house of Micah.
13 Then said Micah, Now I know that the Lord will be [aj]good unto me, seeing I have a Levite to my Priest.
18 2 The children of Dan send men to search the land. 11 Then come the six hundred and take the gods, and the Priest of Micah away. 27 They destroy Laish, 28 They build it again. 30 And set up Idolatry.
1 In those days there was no [ak]king in Israel, and at the same time the tribe of Dan sought them an inheritance to dwell in: for unto that time all their inheritance had not fallen unto them among the tribes of Israel.
2 Therefore the children of Dan sent of their family, five men out of their coasts, even men expert in war, out of Zorah and Eshtaol, to view the land and search it out, and said unto them, [al]Go, and search out the land. Then they came to mount Ephraim to the house of Micah and lodged there.
3 When they were in the house of Micah, they knew the [am]voice of the young man the Levite: and being turned in thither, they said unto him, Who brought thee hither? or what makest thou in this place? and what hast thou to do here?
4 And he answered them, Thus and thus dealeth Micah with me, and hath hired me, and I am his Priest.
5 Again they said unto him, Ask counsel now of God, that we may know whether the way which we go, shall be prosperous.
6 And the Priest said unto them, [an]Go in peace: for the Lord guideth your way which ye go.
7 Then the five men departed, and came to Laish, and saw the people that were therein, which dwelt careless, after the manner of the Sidonians, quiet and sure, because no man [ao]made any trouble in the land, or usurped any dominion: also they were far from the Sidonians, and had no business with other men.
8 ¶ So they came again unto their brethren to Zorah and Eshtaol: and their brethren said unto them, What have ye done?
9 And they answered, Arise, that we may go up against them: for we have seen the land, and surely it is very good, and [ap]do ye sit still? be not slothful to go and enter to possess the land:
10 (If ye will go, ye shall come unto a careless people, and the country is large) for God hath given it into your hand. It is a place which doth lack nothing that is in the world.
11 ¶ Then there departed thence of the family of the Danites, from Zorah and from Eshtaol, six hundred men appointed with instruments of war.
12 And they went up, and pitched in Kirjath Jearim in Judah: wherefore they called that place [aq]Mahaneh Dan unto this day: and it is behind Kirjath Jearim.
13 And they went thence unto mount Ephraim, and came to the house of Micah.
14 Then answered the five men that went to spy out the country of Laish, and said unto their brethren, [ar]Know ye not, that there is in these houses an Ephod, and Teraphim, and a graven and a molten image? Now therefore consider what ye have to do.
15 And they turned thitherward and came to the house of the young man the Levite, even unto the house of Micah, and saluted him peaceably.
16 And the six hundred men appointed with their weapons of war, which were of the children of Dan, stood by the entering of the gate.
17 Then the five men that went to spy out the land, went in thither, and took the [as]graven image and the Ephod, and the Teraphim, and the molten image: and the Priest stood in the entering of the gate with the six hundred men that were appointed with weapons of war.
18 And the other went into Micah’s house, and fet the graven image, the Ephod and the Teraphim, and the molten image. Then said the Priest unto them, What do ye?
19 And they answered him, Hold thy peace: lay thine hand upon thy mouth, and come with us to be our father and Priest. Whether is it better that thou shouldest be a Priest unto the house of one man, or that thou shouldest be a Priest unto a tribe and to a family in Israel?
20 And the Priest’s heart was glad, and he took the Ephod, and the Teraphim, and the graven image, and went among the [at]people.
21 And they turned and departed, and put the children, and the cattle, and the substance [au]before them.
22 ¶ When they were far off from the house of Micah, the men that were in the houses near to Micah’s house, gathered together, and pursued after the children of Dan,
23 And cried unto the children of Dan: who turned their faces, and said unto Micah, What aileth thee that thou makest an outcry?
24 And he said, Ye have taken away my [av]gods, which I made, and the Priest, and go your ways: and what have I more? how then say ye unto me, What aileth thee?
25 And the children of Dan said unto him, Let not thy voice be heard among us, lest [aw]angry fellows run upon thee, and thou lose thy life with the lives of thine household.
26 So the children of Dan went their ways: and when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back unto his house.
27 And they took the [ax]things which Micah had made, and the Priest which he had, and came unto Laish, unto a quiet people, and without mistrust, and smote them with the edge of the sword, and burnt the city with fire:
28 And there was none to [ay]help, because [az]Laish was far from Sidon, and they had no business with other men: also it was in the valley that lieth by Beth Rehob. After, they built the city, and dwelt therein,
29 (D)And called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, which was born unto Israel: howbeit the name of the city was Laish at the beginning.
30 Then the children of Dan set them up the [ba]graven image: and Jonathan the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, and his sons were the Priests in the tribe of the Danites, until the day of the [bb]captivity of the land.
31 So they set them up the graven image, which Micah had made, all the while the house of God was in Shiloh.
19 1 A Levite’s wife being an harlot forsook her husband, and he took her again. 25 At Gibeah she was most villainously abused to the death. 29 The Levite cutteth her in pieces, and sendeth her to the twelve tribes.
1 Also in those days, when there was no king in Israel, a certain Levite dwelt on the side of mount Ephraim, and took to wife a (E)concubine out of Bethlehem Judah,
2 And his concubine played the whore [bc]there, and went away from him unto her father’s house to Bethlehem Judah, and there continued the space of four months.
3 And her husband arose and went after her, to speak [bd]friendly unto her, and to bring her again: he had also his servant with him, and a couple of asses: and she brought him unto her father’s house, and when the young woman’s father saw him, he rejoiced [be]of his coming.
4 And his father-in-law, the young woman’s father received him: and he abode with him three days: so they did eat and drink, and lodged there.
5 ¶ And when the fourth day came, they arose early in the morning, and [bf]he prepared to depart: then the young woman’s father said unto his son-in-law, [bg]Comfort thine heart with a morsel of bread, and then go your way.
6 So they sat down and did eat and drink, both of them together. And the [bh]young woman’s father said unto the man, Be content, I pray thee, and tarry all night, and let thine heart be merry.
7 And when the man rose up to depart, his father-in-law [bi]was earnest: therefore he returned, and lodged there.
8 And he arose up early the fifth day to depart, and the young woman’s father said, [bj]Comfort thine heart, I pray thee: and they tarried until after midday, and they both did eat.
9 Afterward when the man arose to depart with his concubine and his servant, his father-in-law, the young woman’s father said unto him, Behold now, the day [bk]draweth toward even: I pray you, tarry all night: behold, the [bl]sun goeth to rest: lodge here, that thine heart may be merry, and tomorrow get you early upon your way, and go to the [bm]tent.
10 But the man would not tarry, but arose, and departed, and came over against Jebus, (which is Jerusalem) and his two asses laden, and his concubine were with him.
11 When they were near Jebus, the day [bn]was sore spent, and the servant said unto his master, Come, I pray thee, and let us turn unto this city of the Jebusites, and lodge all night there.
12 And his master answered him, [bo]We will not turn into the city of strangers that are not of the children of Israel, but we will go forth to Gibeah.
13 And he said unto his servant, Come, and let us draw near to one of these places, that we may lodge in Gibeah or in Ramah.
14 So they went forward upon their way, and the Sun went down upon them near to Gibeah, which is in Benjamin.
15 ¶ Then they turned thither to go in and lodge in Gibeah: and when he came, he sat him down in a street of the city: for there was no man that [bp]took them into his house to lodging.
16 And behold, there came an old man from his work out of the field at even, and the man was of mount Ephraim, but dwelt in Gibeah: and the men of the place were the children of [bq]Jemini.
17 And when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw a [br]wayfaring man in the streets of the city: then this old man said, Whither goest thou, and whence camest thou?
18 And he answered him, We came from Bethlehem Judah, unto the side of mount Ephraim: from thence am I: and I went to Bethlehem Judah, and go now to the [bs]house of the Lord: and no man receiveth me to house,
19 Although we have straw and provender for our asses, and also bread and wine for me and thine handmaid, and for the boy that is with thy servant: we lack nothing.
20 And the old man said, [bt]Peace be with thee: as for all that thou lackest, shalt thou find with me: only abide not in the street all night.
21 ¶ So he brought him into his house, and gave fodder unto the asses: and they washed their feet, and did eat and drink.
22 And as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, [bu]wicked men beset the house round about, and [bv]smote at the door, and spake to this old man the master of the house, saying, Bring forth the man that came into thine house that we may know him.
23 And (F)this man the master of the house went out unto them, and said unto them, Nay my brethren, do not so wickedly, I pray you, seeing that this man is come into mine house, do not this villainy.
24 Behold, here is my daughter, a virgin, and his concubine: them will I bring out now, [bw]and humble them, and do with them what seemeth you good: but to this man do not this villainy.
25 But the men would not hearken to him: therefore the man took his concubine, and brought her out unto them: and they knew her and abused her all the night unto the morning and when the day began to spring, they let her go.
26 So the woman came in the dawning of the day, and [bx]fell down at the door of the man’s house where her lord was, till the light day.
27 And her [by]lord arose in the morning, and opened the doors of the house, and went out to go his way, and behold, the woman his concubine was [bz]dead at the door of the house, and her hands lay upon the threshold.
28 And he said unto her, up, and let us go: but she answered not. Then he took her up upon the ass, and the man rose up, and went unto his [ca]place.
29 And when he was come to his house, he took a knife and laid hand on his concubine, and divided her in pieces with her bones into twelve parts, and sent her through all quarters of Israel.
30 And all that saw it, said, There was no [cb]such thing done or seen since the time that the children of Israel came up from the land of Egypt unto this day: consider the matter, consult and give sentence.
20 1 The Israelites assemble at Mizpah, to whom the Levite declareth his wrong. 13 They sent for them that aid the villain. 45 The Israelites are twice overcome, 46 And at length get the victory.
1 Then (G)all the children of Israel went out, and the Congregation was gathered together as [cc]one man, from Dan to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, unto the [cd]Lord in Mizpah.
2 And the [ce]chief of all the people, and all the tribes of Israel assembled in the Congregation of the people of God four hundred thousand footmen that [cf]drew sword.
3 (Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mizpah) Then, the children of Israel [cg]said, How is this wickedness committed?
4 And the same Levite, the woman’s husband that was slain, answered and said, I came unto Gibeah that is in Benjamin with my concubine to lodge,
5 And the [ch]men of Gibeah arose against me, and beset the house round about upon me by night, thinking to have slain me, and have forced my concubine that she is dead.
6 Then I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent [ci]her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel: for they have committed abomination and villainy in Israel.
7 Behold, ye are all children of Israel, give your advice, and counsel herein.
8 Then all the people arose as one man, saying, There shall not a man of us go to his tent, neither any turn into his [cj]house.
9 But now this is that thing which we will do to Gibeah: we will go up by lot against it.
10 And we will take ten men of the hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and an hundred of the thousand, and a thousand of ten thousand to bring [ck]victual for the people, that they may do (when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin) according to all the villainy, that it hath done in Israel.
11 ¶ So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together as one man.
12 And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the [cl]tribe of Benjamin, saying, What wickedness is this that is committed among you?
13 Now therefore deliver us those wicked men which are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel: but the children of Benjamin [cm]would not obey the voice of their brethren the children of Israel.
14 But the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together out of the cities unto Gibeah, to come out and fight against the children of Israel.
15 ¶ And the children of Benjamin were numbered at that time, out of the cities, six and twenty thousand men that drew sword, beside the inhabitants of Gibeah, which were numbered seven hundred chosen men.
16 Of all this people were seven hundred chosen men, being (H)left handed: all these could sling stones at an hair breadth, and not fail.
17 ¶ Also the men of Israel beside Benjamin, were numbered four hundred thousand men that drew sword, even all men of war.
18 And the children of Israel arose, and went up [cn]to the house of God, and asked of God, saying, Which of us shall go up first to fight against the children of Benjamin? and the Lord said, Judah shall be first.
19 Then the children of Israel arose up early and camped against Gibeah.
20 And the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin, and the men of Israel put themselves in array to fight against them beside Gibeah.
21 And the children of Benjamin came out of Gibeah, and slew down to the ground of the Israelites that day [co]two and twenty thousand men.
22 And the people, the men of Israel plucked up their hearts, and set their battle again in array in the place where they put them in array the first day.
23 (For the children of Israel had gone up and wept before the Lord unto the evening, and had asked of the Lord, saying, Shall I go again to battle against the children of Benjamin my brethren? and the Lord said, Go up against them.)
24 ¶ Then the children of Israel came near against the children of Benjamin the second day.
25 Also the second day Benjamin came forth to meet them out of Gibeah, and slew down to the ground of the children of Israel again eighteen thousand men: [cp]all they could handle the sword.
26 Then all the children of Israel went up, and all the people came also unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the Lord, and fasted that day unto the evening, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord.
27 And the children of Israel asked the Lord (for [cq]there was the Ark of the Covenant of God in those days,
28 And Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron [cr]stood before it at that time) saying, Shall I yet go anymore to battle against the children of Benjamin my brethren, or shall I cease? And the Lord said, Go up: for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand.
29 And Israel set men to lie in wait roundabout Gibeah.
30 And the children of Israel went up against the children of Benjamin the third day, and put themselves in array against Gibeah, as at other times.
31 Then the children of Benjamin coming out against the people, were [cs]drawn from the city: and they began to smite of the people and kill as at other times, even by the ways in the field (whereof one goeth up to the house of God, and the other to Gibeah) upon a thirty men of Israel.
32 (For the children of Benjamin said, They are fallen before us, as at the first. But the children of Israel said, Let us flee and pluck them away from the city unto the [ct]highways.)
33 And all the men of Israel rose up out of their place, and put themselves in array at Baal Tamar: and the men that lay in wait of the Israelites came forth of their place, even out of the meadows of Geba,
34 And they came over against Gibeah, ten thousand chosen men of all Israel, and the battle was sore: for they knew not that the [cu]evil was near them.
35 ¶ And the Lord smote Benjamin before Israel, and the children of Israel destroyed of the Benjamites the same day five and twenty thousand and an hundred men: all they could handle the sword.
36 So the children of Benjamin saw that they were stricken down: for the men of Israel [cv]gave place to the Benjamites, because they trusted to the men that lay in wait, which they had laid beside Gibeah.
37 And they that lay in wait hasted, and brake forth toward Gibeah, and the ambushment [cw]drew themselves along, and smote all the city with the edge of the sword.
38 Also the men of Israel had appointed a certain time with the ambushments, that they should make a great flame and smoke arise up out of the city.
39 And when the men of Israel retired in the battle, Benjamin began to [cx]smite and kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons: for they said, Surely they are stricken down before us, as in the first battle.
40 But when the flame began to rise out of the city as a pillar of smoke, the Benjamites looked back, and behold, the flame of the city began to ascend up to heaven.
41 Then the men of Israel turned [cy]again, and the men of Benjamin were astonished: for they saw that evil was near unto them.
42 Therefore they fled before the men of Israel unto the way of the wilderness, but the battle overtook them: also they which came out of the cities, slew them [cz]among them.
43 Thus they compassed the Benjamites about, and [da]chased them at ease, and overran them, even over against Gibeah on the East side.
44 And there were slain of Benjamin eighteen thousand men, which were all men of war.
45 And they turned and fled to the wilderness unto the rock of Rimmon: and the Israelites [db]gleaned of them by the way five thousand men, and pursued after them unto Gidom, and slew two thousand men of them,
46 So that all that were slain that day of Benjamin, were [dc]five and twenty thousand men that drew sword, which were all men of war.
47 (I)But six hundred men turned and fled to the wilderness unto the rock of Rimmon, and abode in the rock of Rimmon four months.
48 Then the men of Israel turned unto the children of Benjamin, and smote them with the edge of the sword, from the men of the city unto the beasts, and all that came to hand: also they set on fire all the [dd]cities that they could come by.
21 1 The Israelites swear that they will not marry their daughters to the Benjamites. 10 They slay them of Jabeth Gilead, and give their virgins to the Benjamites. 21 The Benjamites take the daughters of Shiloh.
1 Moreover, the men of Israel [de]sware in Mizpah, saying, None of us shall give his daughter unto the Benjamites to wife.
2 And the people came unto the house of God and abode there till even before God, and lifted up their voices, and wept with great lamentation,
3 And said, O Lord God of Israel, why is this come to pass in Israel, that this day one tribe of Israel should want?
4 ¶ And on the morrow the people rose up and made there an [df]altar, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.
5 Then the children of Israel said, Who is he among all the tribes of Israel, that came not up with the Congregation unto the Lord? for they had made a great oath concerning him that came not up to the Lord to Mizpah, saying, Let him die the death.
6 And the children of Israel [dg]were sorry for Benjamin their brother, and said, There is one tribe cut off from Israel this day.
7 How shall we do for wives to them that remain, seeing we have sworn by the Lord, that we will not give them of our daughters to wives?
8 Also they said, is there any of the tribes of Israel that [dh]came not up to Mizpah to the Lord? and behold, there came none of Jabesh Gilead unto the host, and to the Congregation.
9 For when the people were viewed, behold, none of the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead were there.
10 Therefore the Congregation sent thither twelve thousand men of the [di]most valiant, and commanded them, saying, Go and smite the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead with the edge of the sword, both women and children.
11 (J)And this is it that ye shall do: ye shall utterly destroy all the males, and all the women that have lain by men.
12 And they found among the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead four hundred maids, virgins that had known no man by lying with any male: and they brought them unto the host to Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.
13 ¶ Then the whole Congregation [dj]sent and spake with the children of Benjamin that were in the rock of Rimmon, and called [dk]peaceably unto them:
14 And Benjamin came again at that time, and they gave them wives which they had saved alive of the women of Jabesh Gilead: but they had not [dl]so enough for them.
15 And the people were sorry for Benjamin, because the Lord had made a breach in the tribes of Israel.
16 Therefore the Elders of the Congregation said, How shall we do for wives to the remnant? for the women of Benjamin are destroyed.
17 And they said, There must be [dm]an inheritance for them that be escaped of Benjamin, that a tribe be not destroyed out of Israel.
18 Howbeit we may not give them wives of our daughters: for the children of Israel had sworn, saying, Cursed be he that giveth a wife to Benjamin.
19 Therefore they said, Behold, there is a feast of the Lord every year in Shiloh, in a place, which is on the [dn]North side of Bethel, and on the East side of the way that goeth up from Bethel to Shechem, and on the South of Lebonah.
20 Therefore they commanded the children of Benjamin, saying, Go, and lie in wait in the vineyards.
21 And when ye see that the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in dances, then come ye out of the vineyards, and catch you every man a wife of the daughters of Shiloh, and go into the land of Benjamin.
22 And [do]when their fathers or their brethren come unto us to complain, we will say unto them, Have pity on them for our sakes, because we reserved not to each man his wife in the war, and because ye have not given unto them hitherto, ye have sinned.
23 And the children of Benjamin did so, and took wives of them that danced according to their [dp]number: which they took, and went away, and returned to their inheritance, and repaired the cities and dwelt in them.
24 So the children of Israel departed thence at that time, every man to his tribe, and to his family, and went out from thence every man to his inheritance.
25 (K)In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was good in his eyes.
The Book of Ruth
1 1 Elimelech goeth with his wife and children into the land of Moab. 3 He and his sons die. 19 Naomi and Ruth come to Bethlehem.
1 In the time that the Judges [dq]ruled, there was a dearth in the [dr]land, and a man of Bethlehem [ds]Judah went for to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.
2 And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife, Naomi, and the names of his two sons, Mahlon, and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem Judah: and when they came into the land of Moab, they continued there.
3 Then Elimelech the husband of Naomi died, and she remained with her two sons,
4 Which took them wives of the [dt]Moabites: the one’s name was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years.
5 And Mahlon and Chilion dieth also both twain: so the woman was left, destitute of her two sons, and of her husband.
6 ¶ Then she arose with her daughters-in-law, and returned from the country of Moab: for she had heard say in the country of Moab, that the Lord had [du]visited his people, and given them bread.
7 Wherefore she departed out of the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her, and they went on their way to return unto the land of Judah.
8 Then Naomi said unto her two daughters-in-law, Go, return each of you unto her own mother’s house: the Lord show favor unto you, as ye have done with the dead, and with me.
9 The Lord grant you, that you may find [dv]rest, either of you in the house of her husband. And when she kissed them, they lift up their voice and wept.
10 And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.
11 But Naomi said, Turn again my daughters: for what cause will ye go with me? are there any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
12 Turn again my daughters: go your way: for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, and if I had an husband this night: yea, and if I had borne sons,
13 Would ye tarry for them, till they were of age? would ye be deferred for them from taking of husbands? nay my daughters: for it grieveth me [dw]much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord is gone out against me.
14 Then they lift up their voice and wept again, and Orpah [dx]kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth abode still with her.
15 And Naomi said, Behold, thy sister-in-law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: [dy]return thou after thy sister-in-law.
16 And Ruth answered, Entreat me not to leave thee, nor to depart from thee: for whither thou goest, I will go: and where thou dwellest, I will dwell: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.
17 ¶ Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me and more also, if ought but death depart thee and me.
18 ¶ When she saw that she was steadfastly minded to go with her, she left speaking unto her.
19 So they went both until they came to Bethlehem: and when they were come to Bethlehem, it was [dz]noised of them through all the city, and they said, Is not this Naomi?
20 And she answered them, Call me not [ea]Naomi, but call me [eb]Mara: for the Almighty hath given me much bitterness.
21 I went out full, and the Lord hath caused me to return empty: why call ye me Naomi, seeing the Lord hath humbled me, and the Almighty hath brought me unto adversity?
22 So Naomi returned and Ruth the Moabitess her daughter-in-law with her, when she came out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of [ec]barley harvest.
2 2 Ruth gathered corn in the fields of Boaz. 8 The gentleness of Boaz toward her.
1 Then Naomi’s husband had a kinsman, one of great [ed]power of the family of Elimelech, and his name was Boaz.
2 And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, I pray thee, let me go to the field, and [ee]gather ears of corn after him, in whose sight I find favor. And she said unto her, Go my daughter.
3 ¶ And she went, and came and gleaned in the field after the reapers, and it came to pass, that she met with the portion of the field of Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.
4 And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, The Lord be with you: and they answered him, The Lord bless thee.
5 Then said Boaz unto his servant that was appointed over the reapers, Whose maid is this?
6 And the servant that was appointed over the reapers, answered, and said, It is the Moabitish maid, that came with Naomi out of the country of Moab:
7 And she said unto us, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers [ef]among the sheaves: so she came, and hath continued from that time in the morning unto now, save that she tarried a little in the house.
8 ¶ Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou, my daughter? go to none other field to gather, neither go from hence: but abide here by my maidens.
9 [eg]Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after the maidens. Have I not charged the servants, that they touch thee not? Moreover when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the servants hath drawn.
10 Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, How have I found favor in thine eyes, that thou shouldest know me, seeing I am a [eh]stranger?
11 And Boaz answered and said unto her, All is told and showed me that thou hast done unto thy mother-in-law, since the death of thine husband, and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land where thou wast born, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not in time past.
12 The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose [ei]wings thou art come to trust.
13 Then she said, Let me find favor in thy sight, my lord: for thou hast comforted me, and spoken comfortably unto thy maid, though I be not like to one of thy maids.
14 And Boaz said unto her, At the meal time come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers, and he reached her parched corn: and she did eat, and was sufficed, and [ej]left thereof.
15 ¶ And when she arose to glean, Boaz commanded his servants, saying, Let her gather among the sheaves, and do not rebuke her.
16 Also let fall some of the sheaves for her, and let it lie, that she may gather it up, and rebuke her not.
17 So she gleaned in the field until evening, and she threshed that she had gathered, and it was about an (L)Ephah of barley.
18 ¶ And she took it up, and went into the city, and her mother-in-law saw what she had gathered: Also she [ek]took forth, and gave to her that which she had reserved, when she was sufficed.
19 Then her mother-in-law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned today? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he, that knew thee. And she showed her mother-in-law, with whom she had wrought, and said, The man’s name with whom I wrought today, is Boaz.
20 And Naomi said unto her daughter-in-law, Blessed be he of the Lord: for he ceaseth not to do good to the living and to the [el]dead. Again Naomi said unto her, The man is near unto us, and of our affinity.
21 And Ruth the Moabitess said, He said also certainly unto me, Thou shalt be with my servants, until they have ended all mine harvest.
22 And Naomi answered unto Ruth her daughter-in-law, It is best, my daughter, that thou go out with his maids, that they [em]meet thee not in another field.
23 Then she kept her by the maids of Boaz, to gather unto the end of barley harvest, and of wheat harvest, and [en]dwelt with her mother-in-law.
3 1 Naomi giveth Ruth counsel. 8 She sleepeth at Boaz’s feet. 12 He acknowledgeth himself to be her kinsman.
1 Afterward Naomi her mother-in-law said unto her, My daughter, shall not I seek [eo]rest for thee, that thou mayest prosper?
2 Now also is not Boaz our kinsman, with whose maids thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley tonight in the [ep]floor.
3 Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: let not the [eq]man know of thee, until he have left eating and drinking.
4 And when he shall sleep, mark the place where he layeth him down, and go, and uncover the place of his feet, and lay thee down, and he shall tell thee what thou shalt do.
5 And she answered her, All that thou biddest me, I will do.
6 ¶ So she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother-in-law bade her.
7 And when Boaz had eaten and drunken, and [er]cheered his heart, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn, and she came softly, and uncovered the place of his feet, and lay down.
8 And at midnight the man was afraid [es]and caught hold: and lo, a woman lay at his feet.
9 Then he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore the wing of thy garment over thine handmaid: for thou art the kinsman.
10 Then he said, Blessed be thou of the Lord, my daughter: thou hast [et]showed more goodness in the latter end, than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, were they poor or rich.
11 And now, my daughter, fear not: I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.
12 And now, it is true that I am thy kinsman, howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I.
13 Tarry tonight, and when morning is come, if he [eu]will do the duty of a kinsman unto thee, well, let him do the kinsman’s duty: but if he will not do the kinsman’s part, then will I do the duty of a kinsman, as the Lord liveth: sleep until the morning.
14 ¶ And she lay at his feet until the morning: and she arose before one could know another: for he said, Let no man know, that a woman came into the floor.
15 Also he said, Bring the [ev]sheet that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid them on her, and she went into the city.
16 And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, [ew]Who art thou, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her,
17 And said, These six measures of barley gave he me: for he said to me, Thou shalt not come empty unto thy mother-in-law.
18 Then said she, My daughter, sit still, until thou know how the thing will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he hath finished the matter this same day.
4 1 Boaz speaketh to Ruth’s next kinsman touching her marriage. 7 The ancient custom in Israel. 10 Boaz marrieth Ruth, of whom he begetteth Obed. 18 The generation of Perez.
1 Then went Boaz up to the [ex]gate, and sat there, and behold, the kinsman, of whom Boaz had spoken, came by: and he said, [ey]Ho, such one, come, sit down here. And he turned, and sat down.
2 Then he took ten men of the Elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down.
3 And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, will sell a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech’s.
4 And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the [ez]assistants, and before the Elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, tell me: for I know that there is none [fa]besides thee to redeem it, and I am after thee. Then he answered, I will redeem it.
5 Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must also buy it of Ruth the Moabitess the wife of the dead, to stir up the name of the dead, upon his [fb]inheritance.
6 And the kinsman answered, I cannot redeem it, lest I destroy mine own inheritance: redeem my right to thee, for I can not redeem it.
7 Now this was the manner beforetime in Israel, concerning redeeming and changing for to stablish all things: a man did pluck off his shoe, and gave it his neighbor: and this was a sure [fc]witness in Israel.
8 Therefore the kinsman said to Boaz, Buy it for thee: and he drew off his shoe.
9 And Boaz said unto the Elders and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, of the hand of Naomi.
10 And moreover, Ruth the Moabitess the wife of Mahlon, have I bought to be my wife, to stir up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, and that the name of the dead be not put out from among his brethren, and from the gate of his [fd]place: ye are witnesses this day.
11 And all the people that were in the gate, and the Elders said, We are witnesses: the Lord make the wife that cometh into thine house, like Rachel and like Leah, which twain did build the house of Israel: and that thou mayest do worthily in [fe]Ephrathah, and be famous in Bethlehem.
12 And that thine house be like the house of Perez ((M)whom Tamar bare unto Judah) of the seed which the Lord shall give thee of this young woman.
13 ¶ So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the Lord gave that she conceived, and bare a son.
14 And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the Lord, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, and [ff]his name shall be continued in Israel.
15 And this shall bring thy life again, and cherish thine old age: for thy daughter-in-law which loveth thee, hath borne unto him, and she is better to thee than [fg]seven sons.
16 And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her lap, and became nurse unto it.
17 And the women her neighbors gave it a name, saying, There is a child born to Naomi, and called the name thereof Obed: the same was the father of Jesse, the father of David.
18 ¶ These now are the generations of (N)[fh]Perez: Perez begat Hezron,
19 And Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab,
20 And Amminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat Salmon,
21 And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed,
22 And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.
The First Book of Samuel
1 1 The genealogy of Elkanah father of Samuel. 2 His two wives. 5 Hannah was barren, and prayed to the Lord. 15 Her answer to Eli. 20 Samuel is born. 24 She doth dedicate him to the Lord.
1 There was a man of one of the two [fi]Ramathaim Zophim, of mount Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.
2 And he had two wives: the name of one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.
3 (O)And this man went up out of his city every year, to worship and to sacrifice unto the Lord of hosts in [fj]Shiloh, where were the two sons of Eli, Hophni, and Phinehas, Priests of the Lord.
4 And on a day, when Elkanah sacrificed, he gave to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters portions,
5 But unto Hannah he gave a worthy [fk]portion: for he loved Hannah, and the Lord had made her barren.
6 ¶ And her adversary vexed her sore, forasmuch as she upbraided her, because the Lord had made her barren.
7 (And so did he year by year) and as oft as she went up to the house of the Lord, thus she vexed her, that she wept and did not eat.
8 Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thine heart troubled? am not I better to thee than ten [fl]sons?
9 So Hannah rose up after that they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh (and Eli the Priest sat upon a stool by one of the posts of the [fm]Temple of the Lord)
10 And she was troubled in her mind, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore:
11 Also she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt look on the trouble of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but give unto thine handmaid a man-child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, (P)and there shall no razor come upon his head.
12 And as she continued praying before the Lord, Eli marked her mouth.
13 For Hannah spake in her heart: her lips did move only, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.
14 And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? Put away thy [fn]drunkenness from thee.
15 Then Hannah answered and said, Nay my lord, but I am a woman [fo]troubled in spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have (Q)poured out my soul before the Lord.
16 Count not thine handmaid [fp]for a wicked woman: for of the abundance of my complaint and my grief have I spoken hitherto.
17 Then Eli answered, and said, Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
18 She said again, Let thine handmaid find [fq]grace in thy sight: so the woman went her way, and did eat, and looked no more sad.
19 ¶ Then they rose up early, and worshipped before the Lord, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah. Now Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord [fr]remembered her.
20 For in process of time Hannah conceived and bare a son, and she called his name Samuel, Because, said she, I have asked him of the Lord.
21 ¶ So the man [fs]Elkanah and all his house, went up to offer unto the Lord the yearly sacrifice and his vow:
22 But Hannah went not up: for she said unto her husband, I will tarry until the child be weaned, then I will bring him that he may appear before the Lord, and there abide forever.
23 And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee best: tarry until thou hast weaned him: only the Lord accomplish his [ft]word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him.
24 ¶ And when she had weaned him, she took him with her with three bullocks and an Ephah of flour and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the Lord in Shiloh, and the child was [fu]young.
25 And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.
26 And she said, Oh my Lord, as thy [fv]soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood with thee here praying unto the Lord.
27 I prayed for this child, and the Lord hath given me my desire which I asked of him.
28 Therefore also I have [fw]given him unto the Lord: as long as he liveth he shall be given unto the Lord: and he [fx]worshipped the Lord there.
2 1 The song of Hannah. 12 The sons of Eli, wicked. 13 The new custom of the Priests. 18 Samuel ministereth before the Lord. 20 Eli blesseth Elkanah and his wife. 23 Eli reproveth his sons. 27 God sendeth a Prophet to Eli. 31 Eli is menaced for not chastising his children.
1 And Hannah [fy]prayed, and said, Mine heart rejoiceth in the Lord, mine [fz]horn is exalted in the Lord: my mouth is [ga]enlarged over mine enemies, because I rejoice in thy salvation.
2 There is none holy as the Lord: yea, there is none besides thee, and there is no god like our God.
3 Speak [gb]no more presumptuously: let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him enterprises are established.
4 The bow and the mighty men are broken, and the weak have girded themselves with strength.
5 They that were full, are hired forth for [gc]bread, and the hungry are no more hired, so that the barren hath borne [gd]seven: and she that had many children is feeble.
6 (R)The Lord killeth and maketh alive: bringeth down to the grave and raiseth up.
7 The Lord maketh poor and maketh rich: bringeth low, and exalteth.
8 (S)He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among [ge]princes, and to make them inherit the seat of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the [gf]Lord’s, and he hath set the world upon them.
9 He will keep the feet of his Saints, and the wicked shall keep silence in darkness: for in his own might shall no man be strong.
10 The Lord’s adversaries shall be destroyed, and out of heaven shall he (T)thunder upon them: the Lord shall judge the ends of the world, and shall give power unto his [gg]King, and exalt the horn of his Anointed.
11 And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house, and the child did minister unto the [gh]Lord before Eli the Priest.
12 ¶ Now the sons of Eli were wicked men, and [gi]knew not the Lord.
13 For the Priests’ custom toward the people was this: when any man offered sacrifice, the Priest’s [gj]boy came, while the flesh was seething, and a fleshhook with three teeth in his hand,
14 And thrust it into the kettle, or into the caldron, or into the pan, or into the pot: [gk]all that the fleshhook brought up, the Priest took for himself: thus they did unto all the Israelites, that came thither to Shiloh.
15 Yea, before they burnt the [gl]fat, the Priest’s boy came and said unto the man that offered, Give me flesh to roast for the Priest: for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw.
16 And if any man said unto him, Let them burn the fat according to the [gm]custom, then take as much as thine heart [gn]desireth: then he would answer, No, but thou shalt give it now: and if thou wilt not, I will take it by force.
17 Therefore the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord: for men [go]abhorred the offering of the Lord.
18 ¶ Now Samuel being a young child ministered before the Lord, girded with a linen (U)Ephod.
19 And his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband, to offer the yearly sacrifice.
20 And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The Lord give thee seed of this woman, for [gp]the petition that she asked of the Lord: and they departed unto their place.
21 And the Lord visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons, and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the Lord.
22 ¶ So Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel, and how they lay with the women that [gq]assembled at the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation.
23 And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for of all this people I hear evil reports of you.
24 Do no more, my sons: for it is no good report that I hear, which is, that ye make the Lord’s people to [gr]trespass.
25 If one man sin against another, the Judge shall judge it: but if a man sin against the Lord, who will plead for him? Notwithstanding they obeyed not the voice of their father, because the Lord [gs]would slay them.
26 ¶ (Now the child Samuel profited, and grew, and was in favor both with the Lord and also with men.)
27 And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Did not I plainly appear unto the house of thy [gt]father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh’s house?
28 And I chose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my Priest, to offer upon my altar, and to burn incense, and to wear an Ephod before me, and (V)I gave unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel.
29 Wherefore have you [gu]kicked against my sacrifice and mine offering, which I commanded in my Tabernacle, and honorest thy children above me, to make yourselves fat of the firstfruits of all the offerings of Israel my people?
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.