lim in the groves; 8. Therefore his anger became hot against Israel, and he delivered them eight years into the hand of Cushanrishathaim, king of Mesopotamia, (or Syria, between the rivers Tigris and Euphrates). 9. But they crying to the Eternal, he rais ed up saviours, who delivered them, even (1.) Othniel son of Kenez, Caleb's younger brother. 10. The Eternal's spirit was with him; he judged Israel, and led them to war, and the Eternal delivered the king of Mesopotamia into his hand. 11. Then the land had rest from bondage and war forty years, and Othniel died.

12. But the Israelites did evil again in the Eternal's sight; and he prospered Eglon, king of Moab, against them. 13. Who, with the Amonites and Amalakites aid, smote Israel, and possessed Jericho, the city of Palm Trees. 14. They served him eighteen years.

15. But when they cried to the Eternal, he raised up a deliverer, even (2.) Ehud, Gera's son,a Benjamite, lame in his right hand, by whom the Israelites sent a present to the king of Moab. 16. Ehud made him a two-edged dagger, a cubit long, and girded it under his robe on his right thigh; 17. And thus brought the present to the king of Moab, who was a very fat man. 18. And having offered the present, he sent away the people that bare it. 19. But he returned from the images by Gilgal; and to the king he said, privately, I have a secret errand to thee, O king; then all that were with him retired.

20. Then Ehud came near him, sitting in his summer parlour, made for himself, and said, I have a message from God to thee. Then he rose from his seat: And Ehud, with his left hand, took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into the king's belly. 22. The handle also went in after the blade, which the fat closed up, so that it could not be drawn out, but went through behind.

· 23. Then Ehud went through the porch, having shut and locked the chamber doors. 24. When he was gone, the servants came; but when they saw the doors shut, and made fast, they said, Surely he reposeth in his summer chamber. 25. And having delayed till they were ashamed, as he opened not the parlour doors, they opened them, and found their lord lying dead on the earth.

26. And Ehud escaped beyond the idols to Seira, during their delay. 27. So being returned, he caused blow a trumpet in mount Ephraim, and the Israelites followed him down from the mountain; 28. Saying to them, Follow me, for the Eternal hath delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand. And following him, they occupied the fords of Jordan, opposite to Moab, so that none could pass over. 29. And they slew then about ten thousand brave and valiant men; none escaped. 30. So Moab was subdued then by Israel, and the land had rest eighty years.

31.After Ehud, (3.) Shamgar, Anath's son, deliver ed Israel: he slew six hundred Philistines with a ploughing instrument, and rescued Israel from them the third time.

CHAP. IV.

DEBORAH AND BARAK DELIVER ISRAEL.

AFTER the death of Ehud, the Israelites did evil in the Eternal's sight. 2. And he delivered them into the power of Jabin, a king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor, the captain of whose host was Sisera, who dwelt in Harosheth, of the nations. 3. He had nine hundred iron chariots, and oppressed Israel greatly twenty years; and they cried to the Eternal.

4. Deborah a prophetess, Lapidoth's wife, judged Israel at that time: 5. And she sat to judge under

the palm tree of Deborah, (as usual of old), between Ramath and Bethel, on mount Ephraim; and thither the Israelites came to her for judgment. 6. And she sent for Barak, Abinoam's son, from Kedesh-Naphtali, and said to him, The Eternal the God of Israel hath commanded you to go to mount Tabor, and to take with thee ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulon; 7. And I will draw Sisera, the captain of Jabin's army, to thee at the river Kishon, with his chariots and his multitude, and will deliver him into thine hand.

8. Then Barak replied to her, I will go if thou wilt go with me, but I will not go without thee. 9. And she said, I will surely go with thee; but thon wilt not have the honour of this undertaking, for the Eternal will deliver Sisera into a woman's hand. So Deborah went quickly to Kedesh with Barak; 10. Who took with him ten thousand men of the tribes of Zebulon and Naphtali. 11. Now Heber the Kenite, Hobab's descendant, Moses' father-inlaw, had separated from the Kenites, and pitched his tent in the plain of Zaanaim, by Kedesh of Naphtali.

12. And Siserah being informed that Barak, Abinoam's son, was come to mount Tabor, 13. He called together all his people, from Harosheth of the Gentiles unto the river Kishon, with nine hundred iron chariots. 14. And Deborah said to Barak, Make haste, for this day the Eternal hath delivered Sisera into thine hand; the Eternal goeth before thee. So Barak desended from mount Tabor with ten thousand men. 15. And the Eternal overthrew Sisera, with all his host, and his chariots, and fled on foot. 16. But Barak pursued Sisera's host, with their chariots, unto Harosheth of the Gentiles, and all the host was overthrown.

17. But Sisera fled on foot to the tent of Jael, Heber the Kenite's wife; for there was peace between him and Jabin king of Hazor. 18. Then

Jael said to Siserah, come into my tent; and she covered him with a mantle. 19. Then he said to her, Give me water, for I am thirsty; but she gave him a bottle of milk, and covered him. 20. He said also to her, Stand in the tent door, and if any come and ask, Is there any man here? say, No. 21. And being weary, he fell into a deep sleep. Then Jael went softly to him, with a hammer and a nail, which she struck through his temples into the ground, and he died.

22. And as Barak pursued after him, she went out and said to him, Come and I will shew thee the man whom thou seekest; and having come into the tent, he found Siserah dead, with the nail in his temples. 23. So God overthrew on that day Jabin, a king of Canaan, before the Israelites, 24. Who prevailed entirely over him, and prospered.

CHAP. V.

SONG OF DEBORAH AND BARAK.

On that day Deborah and Barak sang, saying, 2. Praise ye the Eternal for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly offered themselves. 3. Hearken and consider this ye kings and princes, while I sing to the Eternal the God of Israel.

4. O Eternal, on thy coming from Seir, (Deut. iv. 11.) of Edom, the earth trembled, the clouds were dissolved, and the heavens distilled water. 5. The mountains moved before the Eternal, even Sinai, before the God of Israel. 6. In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, and of Jael, the highways were infested, and travellers walked in private ways. 7. The villages in Israel were also forsaken, till I Deborah arose a mother in Israel. 8. The Israelites allowed false gods, and their cities were taken, and themselves disarmed by their enemies.

9. My heart is towards the chiefs amongst the people of Israel, who offered themselves willingly to

deliver and defend their nation. Bless ye the Eternal, who gave you a heart and ability to do it.

10. Ye nobles that ride on whitish asses, and sit in judgment, and ye that walk in the way, rehearse this. 11.The noise of the archers among the watering places ceased, they rehearsed the Eternal's righteous acts, in avenging Israel's villages; then shall the Eternal's people go in and out of their gates in safety.

12. Awake, arise Deborah, sing with heart and voice; sing aloud joyfully; awake, arise, bring back thy captives, Barak, thou son of Abinoam, 13. Then descended the residue of the nobles of the people.

11. Out of Ephraim came forth power against Amalek, after thee, O Benjamin, among thy people; out of Manasseh came forth governors, and out of Zebulon the learned and wise, sceptre bearers.

15. The princes of Issachar were with Deborah and Barak, who went on foot into the valley (by the brook); in the districts of Rueben were great deliberations only concerning this attempt. 16. Why abode ye in (your barriers) the sheep folds, O Reubenites, hearing the bleetings of the flocks: 17. And the Gileadites also abode beyond Jordan, and Dan by his ships, and Asher also in his sea ports. 18. Zebulon and Naphtali hazarded their lives in defence of their country. 19. The kings of Canaan 'came and fought in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; but got no spoil which they expected.

20. The heavens with their star-hosts fought against Sisera (the stars in an eclipse appeared); 21. That renowned river Kishon swept away the carcases. O my might thou hast overthrown their strength. 22. The horse hoofs of their mighty ones were broken by their prancing retreats.

23. Curse ye Meroz, said the Eternal's angel, curse bitterly its inhabitants; because they came not to assist in the Eternal's cause among the mighty.