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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
placed his army at the city Mizpeh； and sent a message to the
Ammonite ＇king＇； complaining of his unjust possession of their
land。 But that king sent a contrary message； and complained of
the exodus of the Israelites out of Egypt； and desired him to go
out of the land of the Amorites； and yield it up to him； as at
first his paternal inheritance。 But Jephtha returned this answer：
That he did not justly complain of his ancestors about the land
of the Amorites； and ought rather to thank them that they left
the land of the Ammonites to them； since Moses could have taken
it also； and that neither would he recede from that land of their
own； which God had obtained for them； and they had now inhabited
＇above＇ three hundred years； but would fight with them about it。
10。 And when he had given them this answer； he sent the
ambassadors away。 And when he had prayed for victory； and had
vowed to perform sacred offices； and if he came home in safety；
to offer in sacrifice what living creature soever should first
meet him； （17） he joined battle with the enemy； and gained a
great victory； and in his pursuit slew the enemies all along as
far as the city of Minnith。 He then passed over to the land of
the Ammonites； and overthrew many of their cities； and took their
prey； and freed his own people from that slavery which they had
undergone for eighteen years。 But as he came back； he fell into a
calamity no way correspondent to the great actions he had done；
for it was his daughter that came to meet him； she was also an
only child and a virgin： upon this Jephtha heavily lamented the
greatness of his affliction； and blamed his daughter for being so
forward in meeting him； for he had vowed to sacrifice her to God。
However； this action that was to befall her was not ungrateful to
her； since she should die upon occasion of her father's victory；
and the liberty of her fellow citizens： she only desired her
father to give her leave； for two months； to bewail her youth
with her fellow citizens； and then she agreed； that at the
forementioned thee he might do with her according to his vow。
Accordingly； when that time was over； he sacrificed his daughter
as a burnt…offering； offering such an oblation as was neither
conformable to the law nor acceptable to God； not weighing with
himself what opinion the hearers would have of such a practice。
11。 Now the tribe of Ephraim fought against him； because he did
not take them along with him in his expedition against the
Ammonites； but because he alone had the prey； and the glory of
what was done to himself。 As to which he said； first； that they
were not ignorant how his kindred had fought against him； and
that when they were invited； they did not come to his assistance；
whereas they ought to have come quickly； even before they were
invited。 And in the next place； that they were going to act
unjustly； for while they had not courage enough to fight their
enemies； they came hastily against their own kindred： and he
threatened them that； with God's assistance； he would inflict a
punishment upon them； unless they would grow wiser。 But when he
could not persuade them； he fought with them with those forces
which he sent for out of Gilead； and he made a great slaughter
among them； and when they were beaten； he pursued them； and
seized on the passages of Jordan by a part of his army which he
had sent before； and slew about forty…two thousand of them。
12。 So when Jephtha had ruled six years； he died； and was buried
in his own country； Sebee； which is a place in the land of
Gilead。
13。 Now when Jephtha was dead； Ibzan took the government； being
of the tribe of Judah； and of the city of Bethlehem。 He had sixty
children； thirty of them sons； and the rest daughters； all whom
he left alive behind him； giving the daughters in marriage to
husbands； and taking wives for his sons。 He did nothing in the
seven years of his administration that was worth recording； or
deserved a memorial。 So he died an old man； and was buried in his
own country。
14。 When Ibzan was dead after this manner； neither did Helon； who
succeeded him in the government； and kept it ten years； do any
thing remarkable： he was of the tribe of Zebulon。
15。 Abdon also； the son of Hilel； of the tribe of Ephraim； and
born at the city Pyrathon； was ordained their supreme governor
after Helon。 He is only recorded to have been happy in his
children； for the public affairs were then so peaceable； and in
such security； that neither did he perform any glorious action。
He had forty sons； and by them left thirty grandchildren； and he
marched in state with these seventy； who were all very skillful
in riding horses； and he left them all alive after him。 He died
an old man； and obtained a magnificent burial in Pyrathon。
CHAPTER 8。
Concerning The Fortitude Of Samson； And What Mischiefs He Brought
Upon The Philistines。
1。 After Abdon was dead； the Philistines overcame the Israelites；
and received tribute of them for forty years； from which distress
they were delivered after this manner： …