The Assyrians； And How God Delivered Them By Othniel； Who Ruled
Over The Forty Years。
1。 Now it happened that the tribe of Dan suffered in like manner
with the tribe of Benjamin； and it came to do so on the occasion
following： … When the Israelites had already left off the
exercise of their arms for war； and were intent upon their
husbandry； the Canaanites despised them； and brought together an
army； not because they expected to suffer by them； but because
they had a mind to have a sure prospect of treating the Hebrews
ill when they pleased； and might thereby for the time to come
dwell in their own cities the more securely； they prepared
therefore their chariots； and gathered their soldiery together；
their cities also combined together； and drew over to them
Askelon and Ekron； which were within the tribe of Judah； and many
more of those that lay in the plain。 They also forced the Danites
to fly into the mountainous country； and left them not the least
portion of the plain country to set their foot on。 Since then
these Danites were not able to fight them； and had not land
enough to sustain them； they sent five of their men into the
midland country； to seek for a land to which they might remove
their habitation。 So these men went as far as the neighborhood of
Mount Libanus； and the fountains of the Lesser Jordan； at the
great plain of Sidon； a day's journey from the city； and when
they had taken a view of the land； and found it to be good and
exceeding fruitful； they acquainted their tribe with it；
whereupon they made an expedition with the army； and built there
the city Dan； of the same name with the son of Jacob； and of the
same name with their own tribe。
2。 The Israelites grew so indolent； and unready of taking pains；
that misfortunes came heavier upon them； which also proceeded in
part from their contempt of the Divine worship； for when they had
once fallen off from the regularity of their political
government； they indulged themselves further in living according
to their own pleasure； and according to their own will； till they
were full of the evil doings that were common among the
Canaanites。 God therefore was angry with them； and they lost that
their happy state which they had obtained by innumerable labors；
by their luxury； for when Chushan； king of the Assyrians； had
made war against them； they lost many of their soldiers in the
battle； and when they were besieged； they were taken by force；
nay； there were some who； out of fear； voluntarily submitted to
him； and though the tribute laid upon them was more than they
could bear； yet did they pay it； and underwent all sort of
oppression for eight years； after which thee they were freed from
them in the following manner： …
3。 There was one whose name was Othniel； the son of Kenaz； of the
tribe of Judah； an active man and of great courage。 He had an
admonition from God not to overlook the Israelites in such a
distress as they were now in； but to endeavor boldly to gain them
their liberty； so when he had procured some to assist him in this
dangerous undertaking； （and few they were； who； either out of
shame at their present circumstances； or out of a desire of
changing them； could be prevailed on to assist him；） he first of
all destroyed that garrison which Chushan had set over them； but
when it was perceived that he had not failed in his first
attempt； more of the people came to his assistance； so they
joined battle with the Assyrians； and drove them entirely before
them； and compelled them to pass over Euphrates。 Hereupon
Othniel； who had given such proofs of his valor； received from
the multitude authority tojudge the people； and when he had ruled
over them forty years； he died。
CHAPTER 4。
How Our People Served The Moabites Eighteen Years； And Were Then
Delivered From Slavery By One Ehud Who Retained The Dominion
Eighty Years。
1。 When Othniel was dead； the affairs of the Israelites fell
again into disorder： and while they neither paid to God the honor
due to him； nor were obedient to the laws； their afflictions
increased； till Eglon； king of the Moabites； did so greatly
despise them on account of the disorders of their political
government； that he made war upon them； and overcame them in
several battles； and made the most courageous to submit； and
entirely subdued their army； and ordered them to pay him tribute。
And when he had built him a royal palace at Jericho； （14） he
omitted no method whereby he might distress them； and indeed he
reduced them to poverty for eighteen years。 But when God had once
taken pity of the Israelites； on account of their afflictions；
and was moved to compassion by their supplications put up to him；
he freed them from the hard usage they had met with under the
Moabites。 This liberty he procured for them in the following
manner； …
2。 There was a young man of the tribe of Benjamin； whose name was
Ehud； the son of Gera； a man of very great courage in bold
undertakings； and of a very strong body； fit for hard labor； but
best skilled in using his left hand； in which was his whole
strength； and he also dwelt at Jericho。 Now this man became
familiar with Eglon； and that by means of presents； with which he
obtained his favor； and insinuated himself into his good opinion；
whereby he was also beloved of those that were about the king。
Now； when on a time he was bringing presents to the king； and had
two servants with him； he put a dagger on his right thigh
secretly； and went in to him： it was then summer thee； and the
middle of the day； when the guards were not strictly on their
watch； both because of the heat； and because they were gone to
dinner。 So the young man； when he had offered his presents to the
king； who then resided in a small parlor that stood conveniently
to avoid the heat； fell into discourse with him； for they were
now alone； the king having bid his servants that attended him to
go their ways； because he had a mind to talk with Ehud。 He was
now sitting on his throne； and fear seized upon Ehud lest he
should miss his stroke； and not give him a deadly wound； so he
raised himself up； and said he had a dream to impart to him by
the command of God； upon which the king leaped out of his throne
for joy of the dream； so Ehud smote him to the heart； and leaving
his dagger in his body； he went out and shut the door after him。
Now the king's servants were very still； as supposing that the
king had composed himself to sleep。
3。 Hereupon Ehud informed the people of Jericho privately of what
he had done； and exhorted them to recover their liberty； who
heard him gladly； and went to their arms； and sent messengers
over the country； that should sound trumpets of rams' horns； for
it was our custom to call the people together by them。 Now the
attendants of Eglon were ignorant of what misfortune had befallen
him for a great while； but； towards the evening； fearing some
uncommon accident had happened； they entered into his parlor； and
when they found him dead； they were in great disorder； and knew
not what to do； and before the guards could be got together； the
multitude of the Israelites came upon them； so that some of them
were slain immediately； and some were put to flight； and ran away
toward the country of Moab； in order to save themselves。 Their
number was above ten thousand。 The Israelites seized upon the
ford of Jordan； and pursued them； and slew them； and many of them
they killed at the ford； nor did one of them escape out of their
hands； and by this means it was that the Hebrews freed themselves
from slavery under the Moabites。 Ehud also was on this account
dignified with the government over all the multitude； and died
after he had held the government eighty years （15） He was a man
worthy of commendation； even besides what he deserved for the
forementioned act of his。 After him Shamgat； the son of Anath；
was elected for their governor； but died in the first year of his
government。
CHAPTER 5。
How The Canaanites Brought The Israelites Under Slavery For
Twenty Years； After Which They Were Delivered By Barak And
Deborah； Who Ruled Over Them For Forty Years。
1。 And now it was that the Israelites； taking no warning by their
former misfortunes to amend their manners； and neither
worshipping God nor submitting to the laws； were brought under
slavery by Jabin； the king of the Canaanites； and that before
they had a short breathing time after the slavery under the
Moabites； for this Jabin out of Hazor； a city that was situate
over the Semechonitis； and had in pay three hundred footmen； and
ten thousand horsemen； with fewer than three thousand chariots。
Sisera was commander of all his army； and was the principal
person in the king's favor。 He so sorely beat the Israelites when
they fought with him； that he ordered them to pay tribute。
2。 So they continued to that hardship for twenty years； as not
good enough of themselves to grow wise by their misfortunes。 God
was willing also hereby the more to subdue their obstinacy and
ingratitude towards himself： so when at length they were become
penitent； and were so wise as to learn that their calamities
arose from their contempt of the laws； they besought Deborah； a
certain prophetess among them； （which name in the Hebrew tongue
signifies a Bee；） to pray to God to take pity on them； and not to
overlook them； now they were ruined by the Canaanites。 So God
granted them deliverance； and chose them a general； Barak； one
that was of the tribe of Naphtali。 Now Barak； in the Hebrew
tongue； signifies Lightning。
3。 So Deborah sent for Barak； and bade him choose out ten
thousand young men to go against the enemy； because God had said
that that number was sufficient； and promised them victory。 But
when Barak said that he would not be the general unless she would
also go as a general with him； she had indignation at what he
said 'Thou； O Barak； deliverest up meanly that authority which
God hath given thee into the hand of a woman； and I do not reject
it！〃 So they collected ten thousand men； and pitched their camp
at Mount Tabor； where； at the king's command； Sisera met them；
and pitched his camp not far from the enemy； whereupon the
Israelites； and Barak him