Judges Chapter 6
King James Version (KJV)
Other Translations
asv (asv) - eBible.org engASV USFM
1
Then was war in the gates:
2
Was there a shield or spear seen
3
Among forty thousand in Israel?
4
My heart is toward the governors of Israel,
5
That offered themselves willingly among the people:
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Bless ye Jehovah.
7
Tell
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of it, ye that ride on white asses,
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Ye that sit on rich carpets,
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And ye that walk by the way.
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Far from the noise of archers, in the places of drawing water,
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There shall they rehearse the righteous acts of Jehovah,
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Even the righteous acts of his rule in Israel.
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Then the people of Jehovah went down to the gates.
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Awake, awake, Deborah;
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Awake, awake, utter a song:
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Arise, Barak, and lead away thy captives, thou son of Abinoam.
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Then came down a remnant of the nobles
19
and the people;
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Jehovah came down for me against the mighty.
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Out of Ephraim
22
came down they whose root is in Amalek;
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After thee, Benjamin, among thy peoples;
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Out of Machir came down governors,
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And out of Zebulun they that handle the marshal’s staff.
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And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah;
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As was Issachar, so was Barak;
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Into the valley they rushed forth at his feet.
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By the watercourses of Reuben
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There were great resolves of heart.
31
Why sattest thou among the sheepfolds,
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To hear the pipings for the flocks?
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At the watercourses of Reuben
34
There were great searchings of heart.
35
Gilead abode beyond the Jordan:
36
And Dan, why did he remain in ships?
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Asher sat still at the haven of the sea,
38
And abode by his creeks.
39
Zebulun was a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death,
40
And Naphtali, upon the high places of the field.
darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext
1
And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of Jehovah; and Jehovah delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.
2
And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel. Because of the Midianites the children of Israel made for themselves the dens that are in the mountains, and the caves, and the strongholds.
3
And it came to pass when Israel sowed, that Midian came up, and Amalek, and the children of the east, and came up against them.
4
And they encamped against them, and destroyed the produce of the land, until thou come to Gazah, and they left no sustenance in Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass.
5
For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as locusts for multitude; both they and their camels were without number; and they entered into the land to destroy it.
6
And Israel was greatly impoverished because of Midian. And the children of Israel cried to Jehovah.
7
And it came to pass when the children of Israel cried to Jehovah because of Midian,
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that Jehovah sent a prophet to the children of Israel, who said to them, Thus saith Jehovah theGod of Israel: I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage;
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and I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drove them out from before you, and gave you their land,
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and I said to you, I am Jehovah yourGod; fear not thegods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell. But ye have not hearkened to my voice.
11
And an angel of Jehovah came and sat under the terebinth that was in Ophrah, that [belonged] to Joash the Abi-ezrite. And his son Gideon threshed wheat in the winepress, to secure [it] from the Midianites.
12
And the Angel of Jehovah appeared to him, and said to him, Jehovah is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.
13
And Gideon said to him, Ah my Lord, if Jehovah be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where are all his miracles that our fathers told us of, saying, Did not Jehovah bring us up from Egypt? And now Jehovah hath cast us off, and given us into the hand of Midian.
14
And Jehovah looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of Midian. Have not I sent thee?
15
And he said to him, Ah Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my thousand is the poorest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.
16
And Jehovah said to him, I will certainly be with thee; and thou shalt smite Midian as one man.
17
And he said to him, If now I have found favour in thine eyes, shew me a sign that it is thou who talkest with me.
18
Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come unto thee, and bring forth my present, and set it before thee. And he said, I will tarry until thou come again.
19
And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid of the goats, and an ephah of flour in unleavened cakes: the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out to him under the terebinth, and presented it.
20
And the Angel ofGod said to him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so.
21
And the Angel of Jehovah put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. And the Angel of Jehovah departed out of his sight.
22
And Gideon perceived that he was an angel of Jehovah; and Gideon said, Alas, Lord Jehovah! for because I have seen an angel of Jehovah face to face...
23
And Jehovah said to him, Peace be unto thee: fear not; thou shalt not die.
24
And Gideon built there an altar to Jehovah, and called it Jehovah-shalom. To this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abi-ezrites.
25
And it came to pass the same night, that Jehovah said to him, Take the young bullock, which thy father hath, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the Asherah that is by it;
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and build an altar to Jehovah thyGod upon the top of this strong place in the ordered manner, and take the second bullock, and offer up a burnt-offering with the wood of the Asherah that thou shalt cut down.
27
And Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as Jehovah had said to him. And it came to pass, because he feared his father's house, and the men of the city, if he did it by day, that he did it by night.
28
And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was broken down, and the Asherah was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered up upon the altar that was built.
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And they said one to another, Who has done this thing? And when they inquired and asked, they said, Gideon the son of Joash has done this thing.
30
And the men of the city said to Joash, Bring out thy son, that he may die, because he has broken down the altar of Baal, and because he has cut down the Asherah that was by it.
31
And Joash said to all that stood near him, Will ye contend for Baal? or will ye save him? he that contends for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning. If he be agod, let him plead for himself, because they have broken down his altar.
32
And on that day they called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal plead with him, because he has broken down his altar.
33
And all Midian and Amalek and the children of the east were gathered together, and went over, and encamped in the valley of Jezreel.
34
And the Spirit of Jehovah came upon Gideon, and he blew the trumpet, and the Abi-ezrites were gathered after him.
35
And he sent messengers throughout Manasseh, and they also were gathered after him; and he sent messengers to Asher, and to Zebulun, and to Naphtali; and they came up to meet them.
36
And Gideon said toGod, If thou wilt save Israel by my hand, as thou hast said,
37
behold, I put a fleece of wool on the threshing-floor; if dew shall be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the ground, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by my hand, as thou hast said.
38
And it was so. And when he rose up early on the morrow, he pressed the fleece together, and wrung dew out of the fleece, a bowl-full of water.
39
And Gideon said toGod, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once! Let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it, I pray thee, be dry upon the fleece only, and upon all the ground let there be dew.
40
AndGod did so that night, and it was dry upon the fleece only, but on all the ground there was dew.
lxxbrent (lxxbrent) - Septuagint (Brenton 1851) eBible USFM
1
And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord gave them into the hand of Madiam seven years.
2
And the hand of Madiam prevailed against Israel: and the children of Israel made for themselves because of Madiam the caves in the mountains, and the dens, and the holes in the rocks.
3
And it came to pass when the children of Israel sowed, that Madiam and Amalec went up, and the children of the east went up together with them.
4
And they encamped against them, and destroyed their fruits until they came to Gaza; and they left not the support of life in the land of Israel, not even ox or ass among the herds.
5
For they and their stock came up, and their tents were with them, as the locust in multitude, and there was no number to them and their camels; and they came to the land of Israel, and laid it waste.
6
And Israel was greatly impoverished because of Madiam.
7
And the children of Israel cried to the Lord because of Madiam.
8
And the Lord sent a prophet to the children of Israel; and he said to them, Thus says the Lord God of Israel, I am he that brought you up out of the land of Egypt, and I brought you up out of the house of your bondage.
9
And I delivered you out of the hand of Egypt, and out of the hand of all that afflicted you, and I cast them out before you; and I gave you their land.
10
And I said to you, I [am] the Lord your God: ye shall not fear the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell; but ye hearkened not to my voice.
11
And an angel of the Lord came, and sat down under the fir tree, which was in Ephratha in the land of Joas father of Esdri; and Gedeon his son [was] threshing wheat in a wine-press in order to escape from the face of Madiam.
12
And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, The Lord [is] with thee, thou mighty in strength.
13
And Gedeon said to him, [Be gracious] with me, my Lord: but if the Lord is with us, why have these evils found us? and where are all his miracles, which our fathers have related to us, saying, Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt? and now he has cast us out, and given us into the hand of Madiam.
14
And the angel of the Lord turned to him, and said, Go in this thy strength, and thou shalt save Israel out of the hand of Madiam: behold, I have sent thee.
15
And Gedeon said to him, [Be gracious] with me, my Lord: whereby shall I save Israel? behold, my thousand is weakened in Manasse, and I am the least in my father's house.
16
And the angel of the Lord said to him, The Lord shall be with thee, and thou shalt smite Madiam as one man.
17
And Gedeon said to him, If now I have found mercy in thine eyes, and thou wilt do this day for me all that thou hast spoken of with me,
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depart not hence until I come to thee, and I will bring forth an offering and offer it before thee: and he said, I will remain until thou return.
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And Gedeon went in, and prepared a kid of the goats, and an ephah of fine flour unleavened; and he put the flesh in the basket, and poured the broth into the pot, and brought them forth to him under the turpentine tree, and drew nigh.
20
And the angel of God said to him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and put them on that rock, and pour out the broth close by: and he did so.
21
And the angel of the Lord stretched out the end of the rod that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened bread; and fire came up out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened bread, and the angel of the Lord vanished from his sight.
22
And Gedeon saw that he was an angel of the Lord; and Gedeon said, Ah, ah, Lord my God! for I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face.
23
And the Lord said to him, Peace be to thee, fear not, thou shalt not die.
24
And Gedeon built there an altar to the Lord, and called it The peace of the Lord, until this day, as it is still in Ephratha of the father of Esdri.
25
And it came to pass in that night, that the Lord said to him, Take the young bullock which thy father has, even the second bullock of seven years old, and thou shalt destroy the altar of Baal which thy father has, and the grove which is by it thou shalt destroy.
26
And thou shalt build an altar to the Lord thy God on the top of this Maozi in the ordering [it], and thou shalt take the second bullock, and shalt offer up whole-burnt-offerings with the wood of the grove, which thou shalt destroy.
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And Gedeon took ten men of his servants, and did as the Lord spoke to him: and it came to pass, as he feared the house of his father and the men of the city if he should do it by day, that he did it by night.
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And the men of the city rose up early in the morning; and behold, the altar of Baal had been demolished, and the grove by it had been destroyed; and they saw the second bullock, which Gedeon offered on the altar that had been built.
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And a man said to his neighbour, Who has done this thing? and they enquired and searched, and learnt that Gedeon the son of Joas had done this thing.
30
And the men of the city said to Joas, Bring out thy son, and let him die, because he has destroyed the altar of Baal, and because he has destroyed the grove that is by it.
31
And Gedeon the son of Joas said to all the men who rose up against him, Do ye now plead for Baal, or will ye save him? whoever will plead for him, let him be slain this morning: if he be a god let him plead for himself, because [one] has thrown down his altar.
32
And he called it in that day Jerobaal, saying, Let Baal plead thereby, because his altar has been thrown down.
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And all Madiam, and Amalek, and the sons of the east gathered themselves together, and encamped in the valley of Jezrael.
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And the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gedeon, and he blew with the horn, and Abiezer came to help after him.
35
And [Gedeon] sent messengers into all Manasse, and into Aser, and into Zabulon, and into Nephthali; and he went up to meet them.
36
And Gedeon said to God, If thou wilt save Israel by my hand, as thou hast said,
37
behold, I put the fleece of wool in the threshing-floor: if there be dew on the fleece only, and drought on all the ground, I shall know that thou wilt save Israel by my hand, as thou hast said.
38
And it was so: and he rose up early in the morning, and wrung the fleece, and dew dropped from the fleece, a bowl full of water.
39
And Gedeon said to God, Let not, I pray thee, thine anger be kindled with me, and I will speak yet once; I will even yet make one trial more with the fleece: let now the drought be upon the fleece only, and let there be dew on all the ground.
40
And God did so in that night; and there was drought on the fleece only, and on all the ground there was dew.
vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)
1
Fecerunt autem filii Israel malum in conspectu Domini: qui tradidit illos in manu Madian septem annis,
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et oppressi sunt valde ab eis. Feceruntque sibi antra et speluncas in montibus, et munitissima ad repugnandum loca.
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Cumque sevisset Israel, ascendebat Madian et Amalec, ceterique Orientalium nationum:
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et apud eos figentes tentoria, sicut erant in herbis cuncta vastabant usque ad introitum Gazæ: nihilque omnino ad vitam pertinens relinquebant in Israel, non oves, non boves, non asinos.
5
Ipsi enim et universi greges eorum veniebant cum tabernaculis suis, et instar locustarum universa complebant, innumera multitudo hominum, et camelorum, quidquid tetigerant devastantes.
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Humiliatusque est Israel valde in conspectu Madian.
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Et clamavit ad Dominum postulans auxilium contra Madianitas.
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Qui misit ad eos virum prophetam, et locutus est: Hæc dicit Dominus Deus Israel: Ego vos feci conscendere de Ægypto, et eduxi vos de domo servitutis,
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et liberavi de manu Ægyptiorum, et omnium inimicorum, qui affligebant vos: eiecique eos ad introitum vestrum, et tradidi vobis Terram eorum.
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Et dixi: Ego Dominus Deus vester, ne timeatis deos Amorrhæorum, in quorum terra habitatis. Et noluistis audire vocem meam.
11
Venit autem Angelus Domini, et sedit sub quercu, quæ erat in Ephra, et pertinebat ad Ioas patrem familiæ Ezri. Cumque Gedeon filius eius excuteret atque purgaret frumenta in torculari, ut fugeret Madian,
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apparuit ei Angelus Domini, et ait: Dominus tecum virorum fortissime.
13
Dixitque ei Gedeon: Obsecro mi Domine, si Dominus nobiscum est, cur apprehenderunt nos hæc omnia? ubi sunt mirabilia eius, quæ narraverunt patres nostri, atque dixerunt: De Ægypto eduxit nos Dominus? Nunc autem dereliquit nos Dominus et tradidit in manu Madian.
14
Respexitque ad eum Dominus, et ait: Vade in hac fortitudine tua, et liberabis Israel de manu Madian: scito quod miserim te.
15
Qui respondens ait: Obsecro, mi Domine, in quo liberabo Israel? ecce familia mea infima est in Manasse, et ego minimus in domo patris mei.
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Dixitque ei Dominus: Ego ero tecum: et percuties Madian quasi unum virum.
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Et ille, Si inveni, inquit, gratiam coram te, da mihi signum quod tu sis qui loqueris ad me.
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Nec recedas hinc, donec revertar ad te, portans sacrificium, et offerens tibi. Qui respondit: Ego præstolabor adventum tuum.
19
Ingressus est itaque Gedeon, et coxit hœdum, et de farinæ modio azymos panes: carnesque ponens in canistro, et ius carnium mittens in ollam, tulit omnia sub quercu, et obtulit ei.
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Cui dixit Angelus Domini: Tolle carnes et azymos panes, et pone supra petram illam, et ius desuper funde. Cumque fecisset ita,
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extendit Angelus Domini summitatem virgæ, quam tenebat in manu, et tetigit carnes et panes azymos: ascenditque ignis de petra, et carnes, azymosque panes consumpsit: Angelus autem Domini evanuit ex oculis eius.
22
Vidensque Gedeon quod esset Angelus Domini, ait: Heu mi Domine Deus: quia vidi Angelum Domini facie ad faciem.
23
Dixitque ei Dominus: Pax tecum: ne timeas, non morieris.
24
Ædificavit ergo ibi Gedeon altare Domino, vocavitque illud, Domini pax, usque in præsentem diem. Cumque adhuc esset in Ephra, quæ est familiæ Ezri,
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nocte illa dixit Dominus ad eum: Tolle taurum patris tui, et alterum taurum annorum septem, destruesque aram Baal, quæ est patris tui: et nemus, quod circa aram est, succide:
26
et ædificabis altare Domino Deo tuo in summitate petræ huius, super quam ante sacrificium posuisti: tollesque taurum secundum, et offeres holocaustum super struem lignorum, quæ de nemore succideris.
27
Assumptis ergo Gedeon decem viris de servis suis, fecit sicut præceperat ei Dominus. Timens autem domum patris sui, et homines illius civitatis, per diem noluit id facere, sed omnia nocte complevit.
28
Cumque surrexissent viri oppidi eius mane, viderunt destructam aram Baal, lucumque succisum, et taurum alterum impositum super altare, quod tunc ædificatum erat.
29
Dixeruntque ad invicem: Quis hoc fecit? Cumque perquirerent auctorem facti, dictum est: Gedeon filius Ioas fecit hæc omnia.
30
Et dixerunt ad Ioas: Produc filium tuum huc, ut moriatur: quia destruxit aram Baal, et succidit nemus.
31
Quibus ille respondit: Numquid ultores estis Baal, ut pugnetis pro eo? qui adversarius est eius, moriatur antequam lux crastina veniat: si Deus est, vindicet se de eo, qui suffodit aram eius.
32
Ex illo die vocatus est Gedeon, Ierobaal, eo quod dixisset Ioas: Ulciscatur se de eo Baal, qui suffodit aram eius.
33
Igitur omnis Madian, et Amalec, et Orientales populi congregati sunt simul. et transeuntes Iordanem, castrametati sunt in valle Iezrael.
34
Spiritus autem Domini induit Gedeon, qui clangens buccina convocavit domum Abiezer, ut sequeretur se.
35
Misitque nuncios in universum Manassen, qui et ipse secutus est eum: et alios nuncios in Aser et Zabulon et Nephthali, qui occurrerunt ei.
36
Dixitque Gedeon ad Deum: Si salvum facis per manum meam Israel, sicut locutus es,
37
ponam hoc vellus lanæ in area: si ros in solo vellere fuerit, et in omni terra siccitas, sciam quod per manum meam, sicut locutus es, liberabis Israel.
38
Factumque est ita. Et de nocte consurgens expresso vellere, concham rore implevit.
39
Dixitque rursus ad Deum: Ne irascatur furor tuus contra me si adhuc semel tentavero, signum quærens in vellere. Oro ut solum vellus siccum sit, et omnis terra rore madens.
40
Fecitque Deus nocte illa ut postulaverat: et fuit siccitas in solo vellere, et ros in omni terra.
web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV
1
The children of Israel did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight, so the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.
2
The hand of Midian prevailed against Israel; and because of Midian the children of Israel made themselves the dens which are in the mountains, the caves, and the strongholds.
3
So it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites, the Amalekites, and the children of the east came up against them.
4
They encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, until you come to Gaza. They left no sustenance in Israel, and no sheep, ox, or donkey.
5
For they came up with their livestock and their tents. They came in as locusts for multitude. Both they and their camels were without number; and they came into the land to destroy it.
6
Israel was brought very low because of Midian; and the children of Israel cried to the LORD.
7
When the children of Israel cried to the LORD because of Midian,
8
The LORD sent a prophet to the children of Israel; and he said to them, “The LORD, the God of Israel, says, ‘I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you out of the house of bondage.
9
I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of all who oppressed you, and drove them out from before you, and gave you their land.
10
I said to you, “I am the LORD your God. You shall not fear the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell.” But you have not listened to my voice.’”
11
The LORD’s angel came and sat under the oak which was in Ophrah, that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite. His son Gideon was beating out wheat in the wine press, to hide it from the Midianites.
12
The LORD’s angel appeared to him, and said to him, “The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor!”
13
Gideon said to him, “Oh, my lord, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us? Where are all his wondrous works which our fathers told us of, saying, ‘Didn’t the LORD bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the LORD has cast us off, and delivered us into the hand of Midian.”
14
The LORD looked at him, and said, “Go in this your might, and save Israel from the hand of Midian. Haven’t I sent you?”
15
He said to him, “O Lord, how shall I save Israel? Behold, my family is the poorest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.”
16
The LORD said to him, “Surely I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.”
17
He said to him, “If now I have found favor in your sight, then show me a sign that it is you who talk with me.
18
Please don’t go away until I come to you, and bring out my present, and lay it before you.” He said, “I will wait until you come back.”
19
Gideon went in and prepared a young goat and unleavened cakes of an ephah of meal. He put the meat in a basket and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out to him under the oak, and presented it.
20
The angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened cakes, and lay them on this rock, and pour out the broth.” He did so.
21
Then the LORD’s angel stretched out the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the meat and the unleavened cakes; and fire went up out of the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened cakes. Then the LORD’s angel departed out of his sight.
22
Gideon saw that he was the LORD’s angel; and Gideon said, “Alas, Lord GOD! Because I have seen the LORD’s angel face to face!”
23
The LORD said to him, “Peace be to you! Don’t be afraid. You shall not die.”
24
Then Gideon built an altar there to the LORD, and called it “The LORD is Peace.” To this day it is still in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
25
That same night, the LORD said to him, “Take your father’s bull, even the second bull seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that your father has, and cut down the Asherah that is by it.
26
Then build an altar to the LORD your God on the top of this stronghold, in an orderly way, and take the second bull, and offer a burnt offering with the wood of the Asherah which you shall cut down.”
27
Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the LORD had spoken to him. Because he feared his father’s household and the men of the city, he could not do it by day, but he did it by night.
28
When the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was broken down, and the Asherah was cut down that was by it, and the second bull was offered on the altar that was built.
29
They said to one another, “Who has done this thing?” When they inquired and asked, they said, “Gideon the son of Joash has done this thing.”
30
Then the men of the city said to Joash, “Bring out your son, that he may die, because he has broken down the altar of Baal, and because he has cut down the Asherah that was by it.”
31
Joash said to all who stood against him, “Will you contend for Baal? Or will you save him? He who will contend for him, let him be put to death by morning! If he is a god, let him contend for himself, because someone has broken down his altar!”
32
Therefore on that day he named him Jerub-Baal, saying, “Let Baal contend against him, because he has broken down his altar.”
33
Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east assembled themselves together; and they passed over, and encamped in the valley of Jezreel.
34
But the LORD’s Spirit came on Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered together to follow him.
35
He sent messengers throughout all Manasseh, and they also were gathered together to follow him. He sent messengers to Asher, to Zebulun, and to Naphtali; and they came up to meet them.
36
Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand, as you have spoken,
37
behold, I will put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece only, and it is dry on all the ground, then I’ll know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you have spoken.”
38
It was so; for he rose up early on the next day, and pressed the fleece together, and wrung the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water.
39
Gideon said to God, “Don’t let your anger be kindled against me, and I will speak but this once. Please let me make a trial just this once with the fleece. Let it now be dry only on the fleece, and on all the ground let there be dew.”
40
God did so that night; for it was dry on the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.
ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8
1
And the sons of Israel do the evil thing in the eyes of Jehovah, and Jehovah giveth them into the hand of Midian seven years,
2
and the hand of Midian is strong against Israel, from the presence of Midian have the sons of Israel made for themselves the flowings which <FI>are<Fi> in the mountains, and the caves, and the strongholds.
3
And it hath been, if Israel hath sowed, that Midian hath come up, and Amalek, and the sons of the east, yea, they have come up against him,
4
and encamp against them, and destroy the increase of the land till thine entering Gaza; and they leave no sustenance in Israel, either sheep, or ox, or ass;
5
for they and their cattle come up, with their tents; they come in as the fulness of the locust for multitude, and of them and of their cattle there is no number, and they come into the land to destroy it.
6
And Israel is very weak from the presence of Midian, and the sons of Israel cry unto Jehovah.
7
And it cometh to pass when the sons of Israel have cried unto Jehovah, concerning Midian,
8
that Jehovah sendeth a man, a prophet, unto the sons of Israel, and he saith to them, `Thus said Jehovah, God of Israel, I--I have brought you up out of Egypt, and I bring you out from a house of servants,
9
and I deliver you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all your oppressors, and I cast them out from your presence, and I give to you their land,
10
and I say to you, I <FI>am<Fi> Jehovah your God, ye do not fear the gods of the Amorite in whose land ye are dwelling: --and ye have not hearkened to My voice.'
11
And the messenger of Jehovah cometh and sitteth under the oak which <FI>is<Fi> in Ophrah, which <FI>is<Fi> to Joash the Abi-Ezrite, and Gideon his son is beating out wheat in the wine-press, to remove <FI>it<Fi> from the presence of the Midianites;
12
and the messenger of Jehovah appeareth unto him, and saith unto him, `Jehovah <FI>is<Fi> with thee, O mighty one of valour.'
13
And Gideon saith unto him, `O, my lord--and Jehovah is with us! --and why hath all this found us? and where <FI>are<Fi> all His wonders which our fathers recounted to us, saying, Hath not Jehovah brought us up out of Egypt? and now Jehovah hath left us, and doth give us into the hand of Midian.'
14
And Jehovah turneth unto him and saith, `Go in this--thy power; and thou hast saved Israel out of the hand of Midian--have not I sent thee.'
15
And he saith unto him, `O, my lord, wherewith do I save Israel? lo, my chief <FI>is<Fi> weak in Manasseh, and I the least in the house of my father.'
16
And Jehovah saith unto him, `Because I am with thee--thou hast smitten the Midianites as one man.'
17
And he saith unto Him, `If, I pray Thee, I have found grace in Thine eyes, then Thou hast done for me a sign that Thou art speaking with me.
18
Move not, I pray Thee, from this, till my coming in unto Thee, and I have brought out my present, and put it before Thee;' and he saith, `I--I do abide till thy return.'
19
And Gideon hath gone in, and prepareth a kid of the goats, and of an ephah of flour unleavened things; the flesh he hath put in a basket, and the broth he hath put in a pot, and he bringeth out unto Him, unto the place of the oak, and bringeth <FI>it<Fi> nigh.
20
And the messenger of God saith unto him, `Take the flesh and the unleavened things, and place on this rock--and the broth pour out;' and he doth so.
21
And the messenger of Jehovah putteth forth the end of the staff which <FI>is<Fi> in His hand, and cometh against the flesh, and against the unleavened things, and the fire goeth up out of the rock and consumeth the flesh and the unleavened things--and the messenger of Jehovah hath gone from his eyes.
22
And Gideon seeth that He <FI>is<Fi> a messenger of Jehovah, and Gideon saith, `Alas, Lord Jehovah! because that I have seen a messenger of Jehovah face to face!'
23
And Jehovah saith to him, `Peace to thee; fear not; thou dost not die.'
24
And Gideon buildeth there an altar to Jehovah, and calleth it Jehovah-Shalom, unto this day it <FI>is<Fi> yet in Ophrah of the Abi-Ezrites.
25
And it cometh to pass, on that night, that Jehovah saith to him, `Take the young ox which <FI>is<Fi> to thy father, and the second bullock of seven years, and thou hast thrown down the altar of Baal which <FI>is<Fi> to thy father, and the shrine which <FI>is<Fi> by it thou dost cut down,
26
and thou hast built an altar to Jehovah thy God on the top of this stronghold, by the arrangement, and hast taken the second bullock, and caused to ascend a burnt-offering with the wood of the shrine which thou cuttest down.'
27
And Gideon taketh ten men of his servants, and doth as Jehovah hath spoken unto him, and it cometh to pass, because he hath been afraid of the house of his father, and the men of the city, to do <FI>it<Fi> by day, that he doth <FI>it<Fi> by night.
28
And the men of the city rise early in the morning, and lo, broken down hath been the altar of Baal, and the shrine which is by it hath been cut down, and the second bullock hath been offered on the altar which is built.
29
And they say one to another, `Who hath done this thing?' and they inquire and seek, and they say, `Gideon son of Joash hath done this thing.'
30
And the men of the city say unto Joash, `Bring out thy son, and he dieth, because he hath broken down the altar of Baal, and because he hath cut down the shrine which <FI>is<Fi> by it.'
31
And Joash saith to all who have stood against him, `Ye, do ye plead for Baal? ye--do ye save him? he who pleadeth for him is put to death during the morning; if he <FI>is<Fi> a god he himself doth plead against him, because he hath broken down his altar.'
32
And he calleth him, on that day, Jerubbaal, saying, `The Baal doth plead against him, because he hath broken down his altar.'
33
And all Midian and Amalek and the sons of the east have been gathered together, and pass over, and encamp in the valley of Jezreel,
34
and the Spirit of Jehovah hath clothed Gideon, and he bloweth with a trumpet, and Abi-Ezer is called after him;
35
and messengers he hath sent into all Manasseh, and it also is called after him; and messengers he hath sent into Asher, and into Zebulun, and into Naphtali, and they come up to meet them.
36
And Gideon saith unto God, `If Thou art Saviour of Israel by my hand, as Thou hast spoken,
37
lo, I am placing the fleece of wool in the threshing-floor: if dew is on the fleece alone, and on all the earth drought--then I have known that Thou dost save Israel by my hand, as Thou hast spoken;'
38
and it is so, and he riseth early on the morrow, and presseth the fleece, and wringeth dew out of the fleece--the fulness of the bowl, of water.
39
And Gideon saith unto God, `Let not Thine anger burn against me, and I speak only this time; let me try, I pray Thee, only this time with the fleece--let there be, I pray Thee, drought on the fleece alone, and on all the earth let there be dew.'
40
And God doth so on that night, and there is drought on the fleece alone, and on all the earth there hath been dew.
Explanations by Age Level
Explain Like I'm 5
A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!
Explain Like I'm 10
Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.
Explain Like I'm 15
Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).