distributed justice to them； as the people came to him in their
differences； and what he determined was esteemed valid by all。
And when he died； he was buried in his own country of Ophrah。
CHAPTER 8。
That The Judges Who Succeeded Gideon Made War With The Adjoining
Nations For A Long Time。
1。 Now Gideon had seventy sons that were legitimate； for he had
many wives； but he had also one that was spurious； by his
concubine Drumah； whose name was Abimelech； who； after his
father's death； retired to Shecbem to his mother's relations； for
they were of that place： and when he had got money of such of
them as were eminent for many instances of injustice； he came
with them to his father's house； and slew all his brethren；
except Jotham； for he had the good fortune to escape and be
preserved； but Abimelech made the government tyrannical； and
constituted himself a lord； to do what he pleased； instead of
obeying the laws； and he acted most rigidly against those that
were the patrons of justice。
2。 Now when； on a certain time； there was a public festival at
Shechem； and all the multitude was there gathered together；
Jotham his brother； whose escape we before related； went up to
Mount Gerizzim； which hangs over the city Shechem； and cried out
so as to be heard by the multitude； who were attentive to him。 He
desired they would consider what he was going to say to them： so
when silence was made； he said； That when the trees had a human
voice； and there was an assembly of them gathered together； they
desired that the fig…tree would rule over them； but when that
tree refused so to do； because it was contented to enjoy that
honor which belonged peculiarly to the fruit it bare； and not
that which should be derived to it from abroad； the trees did not
leave off their intentions to have a ruler； so they thought
proper to make the offer of that honor to the vine； but when the
vine was chosen； it made use of the same words which the fig…tree
had used before； and excused itself from accepting the
government： and when the olive…tree had done the same； the brier；
whom the trees had desired to take the kingdom； （it is a sort of
wood good for firing；） it promised to take the government； and to
be zealous in the exercise of it； but that then they must sit
down under its shadow； and if they should plot against it to
destroy it； the principle of fire that was in it should destroy
them。 He told them； that what he had said was no laughing matter；
for that when they had experienced many blessings from Gideon；
they overlooked Abimelech； when he overruled all； and had joined
with him in slaying his brethren； and that he was no better than
a fire himself。 So when he had said this； he went away； and lived
privately in the mountains for three years； out of fear of
Abimelech。
3。 A little while after this festival； the Shechemites； who had
now repented themselves of having slain the sons of Gideon； drove
Abimelech away； both from their city and their tribe； whereupon
he contrived how he might distress their city。 Now at the season
of vintage； the people were afraid to go out and gather their
fruits； for fear Abimelech should do them some mischief。 Now it
happened that there had come to them a man of authority； one
Gaal； that sojourned with them； having his armed men and his
kinsmen with him； so the Shechemites desired that he would allow
them a guard during their vintage； whereupon he accepted of their
desires； and so the people went out； and Gaal with them at the
head of his soldiery。 So they gathered their fruit with safety；
and when they were at supper in several companies； they then
ventured to curse Abimelech openly； and the magistrates laid
ambushes in places about the city； and caught many of Abimelech's
followers； and destroyed them。
4。 Now there was one Zebul； a magistrate of the Shechemites； that
had entertained Abimelech。 He sent messengers； and informed him
how much Gaal had irritated the people against him； and excited
him to lay ambushes before the city； for that he would persuade
Gaal to go out against him； which would leave it in his power to
be revenged on him； and when that was once done； he would bring
him to be reconciled to the city。 So Abimelech laid ambushes； and
himself lay with them。 Now Gaal abode in the suburbs； taking
little care of himself； and Zebul was with him。 Now as Gaal saw
the armed men coming on； he said to Zebul； That some armed men
were coming； but the other replied； They were only shadows of
huge stones： and when they were come nearer； Gaal perceived what
was the reality； and said； They were not shadows； but men lying
in ambush。 Then said Zebul； 〃Didst not thou reproach Abimelech
for cowardice？ why dost thou not then show how very courageous
thou art thyself； and go and fight him？〃 So Gaal； being in
disorder； joined battle with Abimelech； and some of his men fell；
whereupon he fled into the city； and took his men with him。 But
Zebul managed his matters so in the city； that he procured them
to expel Gaal out of the city； and this by accusing him of
cowardice in this action with the soldiers of Ahimelech。 But
Abimelech； when he had learned that the Shechemites were again
coming out to gather their grapes； placed ambushes before the
city； and when they were coming out； the third part of his army
took possession of the gates； to hinder the citizens from
returning in again； while the rest pursued those that were
scattered abroad； and so there was slaughter every where； and
when he had overthrown the city to the very foundations； for it
was not able to bear a siege； and had sown its ruins with salt；
he proceeded on with his army till all the Shechemites were
slain。 As for those that were scattered about the country； and so
escaped the danger； they were gathered together unto a certain
strong rock； and settled themselves upon it； and prepared to
build a wall about it： and when Abimelech knew their intentions；
he prevented them； and came upon them with his forces； and laid
faggots of dry wood round the place； he himself bringing some of
them； and by his example encouraging the soldiers to do the same。
And when the rock was encompassed round about with these faggots；
they set them on fire； and threw in whatsoever by nature caught
fire the most easily： so a mighty flame was raised； and nobody
could fly away from the rock； but every man perished； with their
wives and children； in all about fifteen hundred men； and the
rest were a great number also。 And such was the calamity which
fell upon the Shechemites； and men's grief on their account had
been greater than it was； had they not brought so much mischief
on a person who had so well deserved of them； and had they not
themselves esteemed this as a punishment for the same。
5。 Now Abimelech； when he had aftrighted the Israelites with the
miseries he had brought upon the Shechemites； seemed openly to
affect greater authority than he now had； and appeared to set no
bounds to his violence； unless it were with the destruction of
all。 Accordingly he marched to Thebes； and took the city on the
sudden； and there being a great tower therein； whereunto the
whole multitude fled； he made preparation to besiege it。 Now as
he was rushing with violence near the gates； a woman threw a
piece of a millstone upon his head； upon which Abimelech fell
down； and desired his armor…bearer to kill him lest his death
should be thought to be the work of a woman： … who did what he
was bid to do。 So he underwent this death as a punishment for the
wickedness he had perpetrated against his brethren； and his
insolent barbarity to the Shechemites。 Now the calamity that
happened to those Shechemites was according to the prediction of
Jotham； However； the army that was with Abimelech； upon his fall；
was scattered abroad； and went to their own homes。
6。 Now it was that Jair the Gileadite； （16） of the tribe of
Manasseh； took the government。 He was a man happy in other
respects also； but particularly in his children； who were of a
good character。 They were thirty in number； and very skillful in
riding on horses； and were intrusted with the government of the
cities of Gilead。 He kept the government twenty…two years； and
died an old man； and he was buried in Camon； a city of Gilead。
7。 And now all the affairs of the Hebrews were managed
uncertainly； and tended to disorder； and to the contempt of God
and of the laws。 So the Ammonites and Philistines had them in
contempt； and laid waste the country with a great army； and when
they had taken all Perea； they were so insolent as to attempt to
gain the possession of all the rest。 But the Hebrews； being now
amended by the calamities they had undergone； betook themselves
to supplications to God； and brought sacrifices to him；
beseeching him not to be too severe upon them； but to be moved by
their prayers to leave off his anger against them。 So God became
more merciful to them； and was ready to assist them。
8。 When the Ammonites had made an expedition into the land of
Gilead； the inhabitants of the country met them at a certain
mountain； but wanted a commander。 Now there was one whose name
was Jephtha； who； both on account of his father's virtue； and on
account of that army which he maintained at his own expenses； was
a potent man： the Israelites therefore sent to him； and entreated
him to come to their assistance； and promised him the dominion
over them all his lifetime。 But he did not admit of their
entreaty； and accused them； that they did not come to his
assistance when he was unjustly treated； and this in an open
manner by his brethren； for they cast him off； as not having the
same mother with the rest； but born of a strange mother； that was
introduced among them by his father's fondness； and this they did
out of a contempt of his inability ＇to vindicate himself＇。 So he
dwelt in the country of Gilead； as it is called； and received all
that came to him； let them come from what place soever； and paid
them wages。 However； when they pressed him to accept the
dominion； and sware they would grant him the government over them
all his life； he led them to the war。
9。 And when Jephtha had taken immediate care of their affairs； he