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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 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