Judges 1
1After the death of Joshua, the Israelites asked the LORD, "Which tribe should go first to attack the Canaanites?"H310H4194H3091H1121H3478H7592H3068H559H5927H3669H8462H38982The LORD answered, "Judah, for I have given them victory over the land."H3068H559H3063H5927H5414H776H30273The men of Judah said to their relatives from the tribe of Simeon, "Join with us to fight against the Canaanites living in the territory allotted to us. Then we will help you conquer your territory." So the men of Simeon went with Judah.H3063H559H8095H251H5927H1486H3898H3669H1980H1486H8095H32124When the men of Judah attacked, the LORD gave them victory over the Canaanites and Perizzites, and they killed 10,000 enemy warriors at the town of Bezek.H3063H5927H3068H5414H3669H6522H3027H5221H966H6235H505H3765While at Bezek they encountered King Adoni-bezek and fought against him, and the Canaanites and Perizzites were defeated.H4672H137H966H3898H5221H3669H65226Adoni-bezek escaped, but the Israelites soon captured him and cut off his thumbs and big toes.H137H5127H7291H310H270H7112H931H3027H72727Adoni-bezek said, "I once had seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off, eating scraps from under my table. Now God has paid me back for what I did to them." They took him to Jerusalem, and he died there.H137H559H7657H4428H931H3027H7272H7112H3950H7979H6213H430H7999H935H3389H41918The men of Judah attacked Jerusalem and captured it, killing all its people and setting the city on fire.H1121H3063H3898H3389H3920H5221H6310H2719H7971H5892H7849Then they went down to fight the Canaanites living in the hill country, the Negev, and the western foothills.H310H1121H3063H3381H3898H3669H3427H2022H5045H821910Judah marched against the Canaanites in Hebron (formerly called Kiriath-arba), defeating the forces of Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai.H3063H3212H3669H3427H2275H8034H2275H6440H7153H5221H8344H289H852611From there they went to fight against the people living in the town of Debir (formerly called Kiriath-sepher).H3212H3427H1688H8034H1688H6440H715812Caleb said, "I will give my daughter Acsah in marriage to the one who attacks and captures Kiriath-sepher."H3612H559H5221H7158H3920H5414H5915H1323H80213Othniel, the son of Caleb's younger brother, Kenaz, was the one who conquered it, so Acsah became Othniel's wife.H6274H1121H7073H3612H6996H251H3920H5414H5915H1323H80214When Acsah married Othniel, she urged him to ask her father for a field. As she got down off her donkey, Caleb asked her, "What's the matter?"H935H5496H7592H1H7704H6795H2543H3612H55915She said, "Let me have another gift. You have already given me land in the Negev; now please give me springs of water, too." So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs.H559H3051H1293H5414H5045H776H5414H1543H4325H3612H5414H5942H1543H8482H154316When the tribe of Judah left Jericho—the city of palms—the Kenites, who were descendants of Moses' father-in-law, traveled with them into the wilderness of Judah. They settled among the people there, near the town of Arad in the Negev.H1121H7017H4872H2859H5927H5892H8558H5899H1121H3063H4057H3063H5045H6166H3212H3427H854H597117Then Judah joined with Simeon to fight against the Canaanites living in Zephath, and they completely destroyed the town. So the town was named Hormah.H3063H3212H8095H251H5221H3669H3427H6857H2763H8034H5892H7121H276718In addition, Judah captured the towns of Gaza, Ashkelon, and Ekron, along with their surrounding territories.H3063H3920H5804H1366H831H1366H6138H136619The LORD was with the people of Judah, and they took possession of the hill country. But they failed to drive out the people living in the plains, who had iron chariots.H3068H3063H3423H2022H3808H3423H3427H6010H7393H127020The town of Hebron was given to Caleb as Moses had promised. And Caleb drove out the people living there, who were descendants of the three sons of Anak.H5414H2275H3612H4872H1696H3423H7969H1121H606121The tribe of Benjamin, however, failed to drive out the Jebusites, who were living in Jerusalem. So to this day the Jebusites live in Jerusalem among the people of Benjamin.H1121H1144H3423H2983H3427H3389H2983H3427H1121H1144H3389H311722The descendants of Joseph attacked the town of Bethel, and the LORD was with them.H1004H3130H5927H1008H306823They sent men to scout out Bethel (formerly known as Luz).H1004H3130H8446H1008H8034H5892H6440H387024They confronted a man coming out of the town and said to him, "Show us a way into the town, and we will have mercy on you."H8104H7200H376H3318H5892H559H7200H3996H5892H6213H261725So he showed them a way in, and they killed everyone in the town except that man and his family.H7200H3996H5892H5221H5892H6310H2719H7971H376H494026Later the man moved to the land of the Hittites, where he built a town. He named it Luz, which is its name to this day.H376H3212H776H2850H1129H5892H7121H8034H3870H8034H311727The tribe of Manasseh failed to drive out the people living in Beth-shan, Taanach, Dor, Ibleam, Megiddo, and all their surrounding settlements, because the Canaanites were determined to stay in that region.H4519H3423H1052H1323H8590H1323H3427H1756H1323H3427H2991H1323H3427H4023H1323H3669H2974H3427H77628When the Israelites grew stronger, they forced the Canaanites to work as slaves, but they never did drive them completely out of the land.H3478H2388H7760H3669H4522H3423H342329The tribe of Ephraim failed to drive out the Canaanites living in Gezer, so the Canaanites continued to live there among them.H669H3423H3669H3427H1507H3669H3427H1507H713030The tribe of Zebulun failed to drive out the residents of Kitron and Nahalol, so the Canaanites continued to live among them. But the Canaanites were forced to work as slaves for the people of Zebulun.H2074H3423H3427H7003H3427H5096H3669H3427H7130H452231The tribe of Asher failed to drive out the residents of Acco, Sidon, Ahlab, Aczib, Helbah, Aphik, and Rehob.H836H3423H3427H5910H3427H6721H303H392H2462H663H734032Instead, the people of Asher moved in among the Canaanites, who controlled the land, for they failed to drive them out.H843H3427H7130H3669H3427H776H342333Likewise, the tribe of Naphtali failed to drive out the residents of Beth-shemesh and Beth-anath. Instead, they moved in among the Canaanites, who controlled the land. Nevertheless, the people of Beth-shemesh and Beth-anath were forced to work as slaves for the people of Naphtali.H5321H3423H3427H1053H3427H1043H3427H7130H3669H3427H776H3427H1053H1043H452234As for the tribe of Dan, the Amorites forced them back into the hill country and would not let them come down into the plains.H567H3905H1121H1835H2022H5414H3381H601035The Amorites were determined to stay in Mount Heres, Aijalon, and Shaalbim, but when the descendants of Joseph became stronger, they forced the Amorites to work as slaves.H567H2974H3427H2022H2776H357H8169H3027H1004H3130H3513H452236The boundary of the Amorites ran from Scorpion Pass to Sela and continued upward from there.H1366H567H4608H4610H5553H4605
Judges 2
2The angel of the LORD went up from Gilgal to Bokim and said to the Israelites, "I brought you out of Egypt into this land that I swore to give your ancestors, and I said I would never break my covenant with you.H4397H3068H5927H1537H1066H559H5927H4714H935H776H7650H1H559H5769H6565H1285 2For your part, you were not to make any covenants with the people living in this land; instead, you were to destroy their altars. But you disobeyed my command. Why did you do this?H3772H1285H3427H776H5422H4196H8085H6963H6213 3So now I declare that I will no longer drive out the people living in your land. They will be thorns in your sides, and their gods will be a constant temptation to you."H559H1644H6440H6654H430H4170 4When the angel of the LORD finished speaking to all the Israelites, the people wept loudly.H4397H3068H1696H1697H1121H3478H5971H5375H6963H1058 5So they called the place Bokim (which means "weeping"), and they offered sacrifices there to the LORD.H7121H8034H4725H1066H2076H3068 6After Joshua sent the people away, each of the tribes left to take possession of the land allotted to them.H3091H5971H7971H1121H3478H3212H376H5159H3423H776 7And the Israelites served the LORD throughout the lifetime of Joshua and the leaders who outlived him—those who had seen all the great things the LORD had done for Israel.H5971H5647H3068H3117H3091H3117H2205H748H3117H310H3091H7200H1419H4639H3068H6213H3478 8Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died at the age of 110.H3091H1121H5126H5650H3068H4191H3967H6235H8141H1121 9They buried him in the land he had been allocated, at Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.H6912H1366H5159H8556H2022H669H6828H2022H1608 10After that generation died, another generation grew up who did not acknowledge the LORD or remember the mighty things he had done for Israel.H1755H622H1H6965H312H1755H310H3045H3068H4639H6213H3478 11The Israelites did evil in the LORD's sight and served the images of Baal.H1121H3478H6213H7451H5869H3068H5647H1168 12They abandoned the LORD, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They went after other gods, worshiping the gods of the people around them. And they angered the LORD.H5800H3068H430H1H3318H776H4714H3212H310H312H430H430H5971H5439H7812H3068H3707 13They abandoned the LORD to serve Baal and the images of Ashtoreth.H5800H3068H5647H1168H6252 14This made the LORD burn with anger against Israel, so he handed them over to raiders who stole their possessions. He turned them over to their enemies all around, and they were no longer able to resist them.H639H3068H2734H3478H5414H3027H8154H8155H4376H3027H341H5439H3201H5750H5975H6440H341 15Every time Israel went out to battle, the LORD fought against them, causing them to be defeated, just as he had warned. And the people were in great distress.H3318H3027H3068H7451H3068H1696H3068H7650H3966H3334 16Then the LORD raised up judges to rescue the Israelites from their attackers.H3068H6965H8199H3467H3027H8154 17Yet Israel did not listen to the judges but prostituted themselves by worshiping other gods. How quickly they turned away from the path of their ancestors, who had walked in obedience to the LORD's commands.H8085H8199H2181H310H312H430H7812H5493H4118H1870H1H1980H8085H4687H3068H6213 18Whenever the LORD raised up a judge over Israel, he was with that judge and rescued the people from their enemies throughout the judge's lifetime. For the LORD took pity on his people, who were burdened by oppression and suffering.H3068H6965H8199H3068H8199H3467H3027H341H3117H8199H5162H3068H6440H5009H3905H1766 19But when the judge died, the people returned to their corrupt ways, behaving worse than those who had lived before them. They went after other gods, serving and worshiping them. And they refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways.H8199H4194H7725H7843H1H3212H310H312H430H5647H7812H5307H4611H7186H1870 20So the LORD burned with anger against Israel. He said, "Because these people have violated my covenant, which I made with their ancestors, and have ignored my commands,H639H3068H2734H3478H559H1471H5674H1285H6680H1H8085H6963 21I will no longer drive out the nations that Joshua left unconquered when he died.H3254H3423H376H6440H1471H3091H5800H4191 22I did this to test Israel—to see whether or not they would follow the ways of the LORD as their ancestors did."H5254H3478H8104H1870H3068H3212H1H8104 23That is why the LORD left those nations in place. He did not quickly drive them out or allow Joshua to conquer them all.H3068H3240H1471H1115H3423H4118H5414H3027H3091
Judges 3
3These are the nations that the LORD left in the land to test those Israelites who had not experienced the wars of Canaan.H1471H3068H3240H5254H3478H3045H4421H36672He did this to teach warfare to generations of Israelites who had no experience in battle.H7535H1755H1121H3478H3045H3925H4421H6440H30453These are the nations: the Philistines (those living under the five Philistine rulers), all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites living in the mountains of Lebanon from Mount Baal-hermon to Lebo-hamath.H2568H5633H6430H3669H6722H2340H3427H2022H3844H2022H1179H935H25744These people were left to test the Israelites—to see whether they would obey the commands the LORD had given to their ancestors through Moses.H5254H3478H3045H8085H4687H3068H6680H1H3027H48725So the people of Israel lived among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites,H1121H3478H3427H7130H3669H2850H567H6522H2340H29836and they intermarried with them. Israelite sons married their daughters, and Israelite daughters were given in marriage to their sons. And the Israelites served their gods.H3947H1323H802H5414H1323H1121H5647H4307The Israelites did evil in the LORD's sight. They forgot about the LORD their God, and they served the images of Baal and the Asherah poles.H1121H3478H6213H7451H5869H3068H7911H3068H430H5647H1168H8428Then the LORD burned with anger against Israel, and he turned them over to King Cushan-rishathaim of Aram-naharaim. And the Israelites served Cushan-rishathaim for eight years.H639H3068H2734H3478H4376H3027H3573H4428H763H1121H3478H5647H3573H8083H81419But when the people of Israel cried out to the LORD for help, the LORD raised up a rescuer to save them. His name was Othniel, the son of Caleb's younger brother, Kenaz.H1121H3478H2199H3068H3068H6965H3467H1121H3478H3467H6274H1121H7073H3612H6996H25110The Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he became Israel's judge. He went to war against King Cushan-rishathaim of Aram, and the LORD gave Othniel victory over him.H7307H3068H8199H3478H3318H4421H3068H5414H3573H4428H763H3027H3027H5810H357311So there was peace in the land for forty years. Then Othniel son of Kenaz died.H776H8252H705H8141H6274H1121H7073H419112Once again the Israelites did evil in the LORD's sight, and the LORD gave King Eglon of Moab control over Israel because of their evil.H1121H3478H6213H7451H3254H5869H3068H3068H2388H5700H4428H4124H3478H6213H7451H5869H306813Eglon enlisted the Ammonites and Amalekites as allies, and then he went out and defeated Israel, taking possession of Jericho, the city of palms.H622H1121H5983H6002H3212H5221H3478H3423H5892H8558H589914And the Israelites served Eglon of Moab for eighteen years.H1121H3478H5647H5700H4428H4124H8083H6240H814115But when the people of Israel cried out to the LORD for help, the LORD again raised up a rescuer to save them. His name was Ehud son of Gera, a left-handed man of the tribe of Benjamin. The Israelites sent Ehud to deliver their tribute money to King Eglon of Moab.H1121H3478H2199H3068H3068H6965H3467H164H1121H1617H1145H376H334H3225H3027H1121H3478H7971H4503H5700H4428H412416So Ehud made a double-edged dagger that was about a foot long, and he strapped it to his right thigh, keeping it hidden under his clothing.H164H6213H2719H8147H6366H1574H753H2296H4055H3225H340917He brought the tribute money to Eglon, who was very fat.H7126H4503H5700H4428H4124H5700H3966H1277H37618After delivering the payment, Ehud started home with those who had helped carry the tribute.H3615H7126H4503H7971H5971H5375H450319But when Ehud reached the stone idols near Gilgal, he turned back. He came to Eglon and said, "I have a secret message for you." So the king commanded his servants, "Be quiet!" and he sent them all out of the room.H7725H6456H1537H559H5643H1697H4428H559H2013H5975H331820Ehud walked over to Eglon, who was sitting alone in a cool upstairs room. And Ehud said, "I have a message from God for you!" As King Eglon rose from his seat,H164H935H3427H4747H5944H164H559H1697H430H6965H367821Ehud reached with his left hand, pulled out the dagger strapped to his right thigh, and plunged it into the king's belly.H164H7971H8040H3027H3947H2719H3225H3409H8628H99022The dagger went so deep that the handle disappeared beneath the king's fat. So Ehud did not pull out the dagger, and the king's bowels emptied.H5325H935H310H3851H2459H5462H1157H3851H8025H2719H990H6574H331823Then Ehud closed and locked the doors of the room and escaped down the latrine.H164H3318H4528H5462H1817H5944H527424After Ehud was gone, the king's servants returned and found the doors to the upstairs room locked. They thought he might be using the latrine in the room,H3318H5650H935H7200H1817H5944H5274H559H5526H7272H4747H231525so they waited. But when the king didn't come out after a long delay, they became concerned and got a key. And when they opened the doors, they found their master dead on the floor.H2342H954H6605H1817H5944H3947H4668H6605H113H5307H4191H77626While the servants were waiting, Ehud escaped, passing the stone idols on his way to Seirah.H164H4422H4102H5674H6456H4422H816727When he arrived in the hill country of Ephraim, Ehud sounded a call to arms. Then he led a band of Israelites down from the hills.H935H8628H7782H2022H669H1121H3478H3381H2022H644028"Follow me," he said, "for the LORD has given you victory over Moab your enemy." So they followed him. And the Israelites took control of the shallow crossings of the Jordan River across from Moab, preventing anyone from crossing.H559H7291H310H3068H5414H341H4124H3027H3381H310H3920H4569H3383H4124H5414H376H567429They attacked the Moabites and killed about 10,000 of their strongest and most able-bodied warriors. Not one of them escaped.H5221H4124H6256H6235H505H376H8082H376H2428H4422H37630So Moab was conquered by Israel that day, and there was peace in the land for eighty years.H4124H3665H3117H3027H3478H776H8252H8084H814131After Ehud, Shamgar son of Anath rescued Israel. He once killed 600 Philistines with an ox goad.H310H8044H1121H6067H5221H6430H8337H3967H376H1241H4451H3467H3478
Psalms 70
70[For the choir director: A psalm of David, asking God to remember him.] Please, God, rescue me! Come quickly, Lord, and help me.H5329H1732H2142H430H5337H2363H5833H30682May those who try to kill me be humiliated and put to shame. May those who take delight in my trouble be turned back in disgrace.H954H2659H1245H5315H5472H268H3637H2655H74513Let them be horrified by their shame, for they said, “Aha! We’ve got him now!”H7725H6118H1322H559H1889H18894But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, “God is great!”H1245H7797H8055H157H3444H559H8548H430H14315But as for me, I am poor and needy; please hurry to my aid, O God. You are my helper and my savior; O Lord, do not delay.H6041H34H2363H430H5828H6403H3068H309
Dublin, OH
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