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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 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。