and pitched his camp not far from the enemy； whereupon the
Israelites； and Barak himself； were so aftrighted at the
multitude of those enemies； that they were resolved to march off；
had not Deborah retained them； and commanded them to fight the
enemy that very day； for that they should conquer them； and God
would be their assistance。
4。 So the battle began； and when they were come to a close fight；
there came down from heaven a great storm； with a vast quantity
of rain and hail； and the wind blew the rain in the face of the
Canaanites； and so darkened their eyes； that their arrows and
slings were of no advantage to them； nor would the coldness of
the air permit the soldiers to make use of their swords； while
this storm did not so much incommode the Israelites； because it
came in their backs。 They also took such courage； upon the
apprehension that God was assisting them； that they fell upon the
very midst of their enemies； and slew a great number of them； so
that some of them fell by the Israelites； some fell by their own
horses； which were put into disorder； and not a few were killed
by their own chariots。 At last Sisera； as soon as he saw himself
beaten； fled away； and came to a woman whose name was Jael； a
Kenite； who received him； when he desired to be concealed； and
when he asked for somewhat to drink； she gave him sour milk； of
which he drank so unmeasurably that he fell asleep； but when he
was asleep； Jael took an iron nail； and with a hammer drove it
through his temples into the floor； and when Barak came a little
afterward； she showed Sisera nailed to the ground： and thus was
this victory gained by a woman； as Deborah had foretold。 Barak
also fought with Jabin at Hazor； and when he met with him； he
slew him： and when the general was fallen； Barak overthrew the
city to the foundation； and was the commander of the Israelites
for forty years。
CHAPTER 6。
How The Midianites And Other Nations Fought Against The
Israelites And Beat Them； And Afflicted Their Country For Seven
Years； How They Were Delivered By Gideon； Who Ruled Over The
Multitude For Forty Years。
1。 Now when Barak and Deborah were dead； whose deaths happened
about the same time； afterwards the Midianites called the
Amalekites and Arabians to their assistance； and made war against
the Israelites； and were too hard for those that fought against
them； and when they had burnt the fruits of the earth； they
carried off the prey。 Now when they had done this for three
years； the multitude of the Israelites retired to the mountains；
and forsook the plain country。 They also made themselves hollows
under ground； and caverns； and preserved therein whatsoever had
escaped their enemies； for the Midianites made expeditions in
harvest…time； but permitted them to plough the land in winter；
that so； when the others had taken the pains； they might have
fruits for them to carry away。 Indeed； there ensued a famine and
a scarcity of food； upon which they betook themselves to their
supplications to God； and besought him to save them。
2。 Gideon also； the son of Joash； one of the principal persons of
the tribe of Manasseh； brought his sheaves of corn privately； and
thrashed them at the wine…press； for he was too fearful of their
enemies to thrash them openly in the thrashing…floor。 At this
time somewhat appeared to him in the shape of a young man； and
told him that he was a happy man； and beloved of God。 To which he
immediately replied； 〃A mighty indication of God's favor to me；
that I am forced to use this wine…press instead of a
thrashing…floor！〃 But the appearance exhorted him to be of good
courage； and to make an attempt for the recovery of their
liberty。 He answered； that it was impossible for him to recover
it； because the tribe to which he belonged was by no means
numerous； and because he was but young himself； and too
inconsiderable to think of such great actions。 But the other
promised him； that God would supply what he was defective in； and
would afford the Israelites victory under his conduct。
3。 Now； therefore； as Gideon was relating this to some young men；
they believed him； and immediately there was an army of ten
thousand men got ready for fighting。 But God stood by Gideon in
his sleep； and told him that mankind were too fond of themselves；
and were enemies to such as excelled in virtue。 Now that they
might not pass God over； but ascribe the victory to him； and
might not fancy it obtained by their own power； because they were
a great many； and able of themselves to fight their enemies； but
might confess that it was owing to his assistance； he advised him
to bring his army about noon； in the violence of the heat； to the
river； and to esteem those that bent down on their knees； and so
drank； to be men of courage； but for all those that drank
tumultuously； that he should esteem them to do it out of fear；
and as in dread of their enemies。 And when Gideon had done as God
had suggested to him； there were found three hundred men that
took water with their hands tumultuously； so God bid him take
these men； and attack the enemy。 Accordingly they pitched their
camp at the river Jordan； as ready the next day to pass over it。
4。 But Gideon was in great fear； for God had told him beforehand
that he should set upon his enemies in the night…time； but God；
being willing to free him from his fear； bid him take one of his
soldiers； and go near to the Midianites' tents； for that he
should from that very place have his courage raised； and grow
bold。 So he obeyed； and went and took his servant Phurah with
him； and as he came near to one of the tents； he discovered that
those that were in it were awake； and that one of them was
telling to his fellow soldier a dream of his own； and that so
plainly that Gideon could hear him。 The dream was this： … He
thought he saw a barley…cake； such a one as could hardly be eaten
by men； it was so vile； rolling through the camp； and
overthrowing the royal tent； and the tents of all the soldiers。
Now the other soldier explained this vision to mean the
destruction of the army； and told them what his reason was which
made him so conjecture； viz。 That the seed called barley was all
of it allowed to be of the vilest sort of seed； and that the
Israelites were known to be the vilest of all the people of Asia；
agreeably to the seed of barley； and that what seemed to look big
among the Israelites was this Gideon and the army that was with
him； 〃and since thou sayest thou didst see the cake overturning
our tents； I am afraid lest God hath granted the victory over us
to Gideon。〃
5。 When Gideon had heard this dream； good hope and courage came
upon him； and he commanded his soldiers to arm themselves； and
told them of this vision of their enemies。 They also took courage
at what was told them； and were ready to perform what he should
enjoin them。 So Gideon divided his army into three parts； and
brought it out about the fourth watch of the night； each part
containing a hundred men： they all bare empty pitchers and
lighted lamps in their hands； that their onset might not be
discovered by their enemies。 They had also each of them a ram's
horn in his right hand； which he used instead of a trumpet。 The
enemy's camp took up a large space of ground； for it happened
that they had a great many camels； and as they were divided into
different nations； so they were all contained in one circle。 Now
when the Hebrews did as they were ordered beforehand； upon their
approach to their enemies； and； on the signal given； sounded with
their rams' horns； and brake their pitchers； and set upon their
enemies with their lamps； and a great shout； and cried； 〃Victory
to Gideon； by God's assistance；〃 a disorder and a fright seized
upon the other men while they were half asleep； for it was
night…time； as God would have it； so that a few of them were
slain by their enemies； but the greatest part by their own
soldiers； on account of the diversity of their language； and when
they were once put into disorder； they killed all that they met
with； as thinking them to be enemies also。 Thus there was a great
slaughter made。 And as the report of Gideon's victory came to the
Israelites； they took their weapons and pursued their enemies；
and overtook them in a certain valley encompassed with torrents；
a place which these could not get over； so they encompassed them；
and slew them all； with their kings； Oreb and Zeeb。 But the
remaining captains led those soldiers that were left； which were
about eighteen thousand； and pitched their camp a great way off
the Israelites。 However； Gideon did not grudge his pains； but
pursued them with all his army； and joining battle with them； cut
off the whole enemies' army； and took the other leaders； Zeba and
Zalmuna； and made them captives。 Now there were slain in this
battle of the Midianites； and of their auxiliaries the Arabians；
about a hundred and twenty thousand； and the Hebrews took a great
prey； gold； and silver； and garments； and camels； and asses。 And
when Gideon was come to his own country of Ophrah； he slew the
kings of the Midianites。
6。 However； the tribe of Ephraim was so displeased at the good
success of Gideon； that they resolved to make war against him；
accusing him because he did not tell them of his expedition
against their enemies。 But Gideon； as a man of temper； and that
excelled in every virtue； pleaded； that it was not the result of
his own authority or reasoning； that made him attack the enemy
without them； but that it was the command of God； and still the
victory belonged to them as well as those in the army。 And by
this method of cooling their passions； he brought more advantage
to the Hebrews； than by the success he had against these enemies；
for he thereby delivered them from a sedition which was arising
among them； yet did this tribe afterwards suffer the punishment
of this their injurious treatment of Gideon； of which we will
give an account in due time。
7。 Hereupon Gideon would have laid down the government； but was
over…persuaded to take it； which he enjoyed forty years； and
distributed justice to them； as the people came to him in their
differences； and what he determined was este