The Levites complaint.

С НА Р. XX.

Chap. xx. The Ifraelites war with Benjamin. children of Benjamin would not hearken to the voice of their brethren the children of Ifrael:

The Levite in a general affembly declareth his wrong. 8 Their decree. 26 The Benjamitas deftroyed.

TH

Hen all the children of Ifrael went out, and the congregation was gathered together, as one man, from Dan even to Becr-fheba, with the land of Gilead, unto the LORD in Mizpeh.

2 And the chief of all the people, even of all the tribes of Ifrael, prefented chemfelves in the affembly of the people of God, four hundred thoufand footmen that drew fword.

Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Ifrael were gone up to Mizpeh.) Then faid the children of Ifrael, Tell us how was this wickedness?

14 But the children of Benjamin gathered themfelves together out of the cities, unto Gibeah, to go out to battle against the children of Ifrael.

15 And the children of Benjamin were numbred at that time out of the cities, twenty and fix thousand men that drew fword, befide the inhabitants of Gibeah, which were numbred feven hundred chofen men.

16 Among all this people there were feven hundred chofen men left-handed, every one could fling ftones at an hairbreadth, and not mils.

17 And the men of Ifrael befide Ben jamin, were numbred four hundred choufand men that drew fword; all these were men of war.

And the children of Ifrael arofe,

4 And the Levite the husband of the woman that was flain, answered and faid, I came into Gibeah that belongeth18 to Benjamin, I & my concubine,to lodge. and went up to the houfe of God, and 5 And the men of Gibeah rofe against asked counfel of God, and faid, Which me, and befet the houfe round about of us fhall go up firft to the battle again ft upon me by night, and thought to have the children of Benjamin? And the flain me and my concubine have they LORD faid, Judah ball go up first. forced that the is dead.

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6 And 1 took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and fent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Ifrael: forthey have committed lewdnefs and folly in Ifrael.

7 Behold, ye are all children of Ifrael, give here your advice and counsel

8 And all the people arofe as one man, faying, We will not any of us go toshis rent, neither will we any of us tura into his house.

19 And the children of Ifrael rofeup in the morning, and encamped against Gibeah.

20 And the men of Ifrael went out to battle against Benjamin, and the men of Ifrael put themselves in aray to fight againft them at Gibeah

21 And the children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah, and deftroye 1 down to the ground of the Ifraelites that day, twenty and two thoufand men.

22 And the people the men of Ifrael encouraged themfelves, and fet their battle again in aray in the place where they put themfelves in aray the first day,

23 (And the children of Ifrael went up and wept before the LORD_until even, and asked counfel of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up again to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother? And the LORD faid, Go up a gainst him.)

24 And the children of Ifrael came near againft the children of Benjamin the fecond day.

25 And Benjamin went forth against them out of Gibeah the fecond day, and deftroyed down to the ground of the children of Ifrael again, eighteen thou fand men; all thefe drew the fword.

26 Then all the children of Ifrael, and all the people went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and fat there before the LORD, and lafted

The Ifraelites war with Benjamin. Judges.

Benjamins defolation.

that day until even, and offered burnt- red in the battle, Benjamin began to offerings, and peace-offerings before fmite and kill of the men of Ifrael about the LORD. thirty perfons; for they faid, Surely they are fmitten down before us, as in the firft battle.

27 And the children of Ifrael enquired of the LORD, (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in thofe days, 28 And Phinehas the fon of Eleazar, the fon of Aaron, ftood before it in thofe days) faying, Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or fhall I ceafe? And the LORD faid, Goup; for to morrow I will deliver them into thine hand.

29 And Ifrael fer liers in wait round about Gibeah.

30 And the children of Ifrael went up against the children of Benjamin on the third day, and put themfelves in alay againft Gibeah, as at other times.

31 And the children of Benjamin went out againft the people, and were drawn away from the city, and they began to fmite of the people, and kill as at other times, in the high-ways, of which one goeth up to the houfe of God, and the other to Gibeah in the field, about thirty men of Ifrael.

32 And the children of Benjamin faid, They are fmitten down before us as at the firft. But the children of Ifrael faid, Let us flee, and draw them from the city, unto the high-ways.

33 And all the men of Ifrael rofe up out of their place, and put themselves in aray at Baal-tamar: and the liers in wait of Ifrael came forth out of their places, even out of the meadows of Gibeah,

34 And there came againft Gibeah ten thousand chofen men out of all Ifrael, and the battle was fore: but they knew not that evil was near them.

35 And the LORD fmote Benjamin before Ifrael and the children of Ifrael deftroyed of the Benjamites that day, twenty and five thoufand and an hun dred men; all thefe drew the fword.

36 So the children of Benjamin faw that they were fmitten: for the men of Ifrael gave place to the Benjamites, becaufe they trafted unto the liers in wait which they had fet befide Gibeah.

37 And the liers in wait hafted, and rushed upon Gibeah,and the fiers in wait drew themfelves along, and fmote all the city with the edge of the fword.

38 Now there was an appointed fign between the men of Ifrael and the liers in wait, that they fhould make a great flame with fmoke to rife up out of the city.

39 And when the men of Ifrael reti

40 But when the flame began to arife up out of the city, with a pillar of fmoke, the Benjamites looked behind them, and behold, the flame of the city afcended up to heaven.

41 And when the men of Ifrael turned again, the men of Benjamin were a mazed: for they faw that evil was come upon them.

42 Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Ifrael, unto the way, of the wilderness, but the battle overs took them: and them which came out of the cities, they deftroyed in the midft of them.

43 Thus they inclofed the Benjamites round about, and chafed them, and trode them down with ease over against Gibeah toward the fun-rifing.

44 And there fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men ; all thefet were men of valour.

45 And they turned and fled toward the wilderness unto the rock of Rimmon and they gleaned of them in the high-ways, five thousand men, and purfued hard after them unto Gidom, and flew two thousand men of them.

46 So that all, which fell that day of Benjamin, were twenty and five thou fand men that drew the fword; all these were men of valour.

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47 But fix hundred men turned and fled to the wilderness unto the rock Rimmon, and abode in the rock Rimmon four months.

48 And the men of Ifrael turned again upon the children of Benjamin, and fmote them with the edge of the fword, as well the men of every city, as the beaft, and all that came to hand : alfo they fet on fire all the cities that they came to.

CHA P. XXI.

The people bewailing the defolation of Benjamin, 16 advise them to fur prize the virgins that danced at Shiloh.

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Ow the men of Ifrael had fworn in Mizpeh, faying, There shall not any of us give his daughter unto Benjamin to wife.

2 And the people came to the house of God, and abode there till even before God, and lift up their voices, and wept fore;

The deftruction of fabefb-gilead. Chap. xxi. The virgins furprized at Shiloh. 3 And fald, O LORD God of Ifrael, Jabefh-gilead: and yet fo they fufficed why is this come to pass in Ifrael, that them not. there fhould be to day one tribe lacking in Ifrael?

4 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people role early, and built there an altar,and offered burnt-offerings, and peace-offerings.

And the children of Ifrael faid, Who is there among all the tribes of If rael, that came not up with the congregation unto the Lord? for they had made a great oath concerning him that came not up to the LORD to Mizpeh, faying, He thall furely be put to death.

6 And the children of Ifrael repented them for Benjamin their brother, and faid, There is one tribe cut off from Ifrael this day:

7 How fhall we do for wives for them that remain, feeing we have fworn by the LORD that we will not give them of our daughters to wives?

8 And they faid, What one is there of the tribes of Ifrael that came not up to Mizpeh to the LORD? and behold, there came none to the camp from Jabefh gilead to the affembly.

9 For the people were numbred, and behold, there were none of the inhabitants of Jabefh-gilead there.

10 And the congregation fent thither twelve thousand men of the valianteft, and commanded them, faying, Go and fmite the inhabitants of Jabefh-gilead with the edge of the fword, with the women and the children.

11 And this is the thing that ye fhall do, Ye fhall utterly deftroy every male, and every woman that hach lien by

15 And the people repented them for Benjamin, becaufe that the LORD had made a breach in the tribes of If rael.

16Then the elders of the congrega tion faid, How fhall we do for wives for them that remain, feeing the women are deftroyed out of Benjamin? i

17 And they said, There must be an inheritance for them that be efcaped of Benjamin, that a tribe be not deftroyed out of Ifrael.

18 Howbeit we may not give them wives of our daughters: for the children of Ifrael have fworn, faying, Curfed be he that giveth a wife to Benjamin.

19 Then they faid, Behold, there is a feaft of the LORD in Shiloh yearly in a place which is on the north-fide of Bethel, on the caft-fide of the high-way that goeth up from Beth-el to Shechem, and on the fouth of Lebonah.

20 Therefore they commanded the children of Benjamin, faying, Go and lie in wait in the vineyards:

21 And fee, and behold, if the daugh ters of Shiloh come out to dance in dan ces, then come ye out of the vineyards, and catch you every man his wife of the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin.

22 And it fhall be, when their fathers or their brethren come unto us to complain, that we will fay unto them, Be favourable unto them for our fakes; because we referved not to each man his wife in the war: for ye did not give unto them at this time, that you should be guilty.

23 And the children of Benjamin did fo, and took them wives according to their number, of them that danced, whom they caughr: and they went and returned unto their inheritance, and repaired the cities, and dwelt in them.

24 And the children of Ifrael depart ed thence at that time, every man to his tribe, and to his family, and they went out from thence every man to his inheritance.

25 In thofe days there was no king in Ifrael: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

The

The Book of RUTH.

CHAP. I. Elimelech driven by famine into Moab, dieth there. 6 Naomi returning home, 14 Ruth accompanieth her.

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OW it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land: and a certain man of Bethlehem-judah went to fojourn in the Country of Moab, he and his wife, and his two fons.

2 And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two fons MahJon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem-judah: and they came into the country of Moab, and continued there. 3 And Elimelech Naomi's hufband died, and the was left, and her two fons. 4 And they took them wives of the women of Moab: the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten

years.

5 And Mahlon and Chilion died alfo both of them; and the woman was left of her two fons, and her husband.

6 Then the arofe with her daughters in law, that he might return from the country of Moab: for he had heard in the country of Mcab, how that the LORD bad vifited his people, in giving them bread.

7 Wherefore the went forth out of the place where fhe was, and her two daughters in law with her: and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. 8 And Naomi faid unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mothers boufe: the LORD deal kindly with you, we have dealt with the dead, and with me.

9 The LORD grant you that you may

13 Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye ftay for them from having husbands? nay, my daugh-| ters: for it grievech me much for your fakes, that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me.

14 And they lift up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kiffed her mother in law, but Ruth clave unto her.

15 And the faid, Behold, thy fifter in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy filter in law.

16 And Ruth faid, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goeft, I will go; and where thou lodgeft, I will lodge: thy people fall be my people, and thy God my God:

17 Where thou dieft, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do fo to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.

18 When the faw that fhe was ftedfaftly minded to go with her, then the left fpeaking unto her.

19 So they two went until they came to Beth-lehem. And it came to pafs when they were come to Bech-lehem; that all the city was moved about them, and they faid, Is this Naomi ?

20 And fhe faid unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.

21 I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty : why then call ye me Naomi, fecing the LORD hath teftified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?

22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitefs her daughter in law with her, Moab: and they came to Bethlehem f of barley-harvest.

Which round of the

find reft, each of you in the houfe of her the beginning A P. II.

hulband. Then the kiffed them: and they lift up their voice, and wept.

10 And they faid unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.

And Naomi faid, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any mo fons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?

12 Turn again, my daughters, go your way, for I am too old to have an hufband: if I fhould fay,I have hope, if I Thould have a husband alfo to night, and should also bear fons:

1 Ruth gleaneth in the fields of Boax: 4 He taking knowledge of her, 8 fbeweth her favour.

Nd Naomi had a kinfman of her

A husbands, a mighty man of wealth,

of the family of Elimelech ; and his name was Boaz.

2 And Ruth the Moabitefs faid unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him, in whofe fight I fhall find grace. And the faid unto her, Go, my daughter.

Boaz his kindness to Ruth.

Chap. ii, iii. 3 And he went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech.

4 And behold, Boaz came from Beth-lehem, and faid unto the reapers, The LORD be with you: and they anfwered him, The LORD bless thee.

5 Then faid. Boaz unto his fervant that was fet over the reapers, Whofe damfel is this?

6 And the fervant that was fet over the reapers, answered and faid, It is the Moabitifh damfel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Mcab:

7 And the faid, I pray you, let me glean, and gather after the reapers amongst the heaves: fo he came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house. 8 Then faid Boaz unto Ruth, Heareft thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here faft by my maidens.

9 Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men, that chey fhall not touch thee? and when thou art athirft, go unto the veffels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn.

10 Then the fell on her face, and bowed her felf to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou fhouldft take knowledge of me, feeing I am a ftranger?

I And Boaz anfwered and faid unto her, It hath fully been fhewed me, all that thou haft done unto thy mother in law fince the death of thine hufband: and how thou haft left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou kneweft not heretofore.

12 The LORD recompenfe thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Ifrael, under whofe wings thou art come to truft.

13 Then the faid, Let me find favour in thy fight, my lord, for that thou haft comforted me, and for that thou haft fpoken friendly unto thine handmaid, though I be not like unto one of thine handmaidens.

14 And Boaz faid unto her, At mealtime, come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morfel in the vinegar. And the fat befide the reapers; and he reached her parched corn, and the did cat, and was fufficed, and left.

Naomi in fructeth her.

15 And when he was rifen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, faying, Let her glean even among the heaves, and reproach her not.

16 And let fall alfo fome of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave theme that the may glean them, and rebuke her not.

17 So fhe gleaned in the field until even,and beat out that the had gleaned : and it was about an ephah of barley.

18 And she took it up, and went into the city: and her mother in law faw what the had gleaned and the brought forth, and gave to her that the had reserved, after the was fufficed.

19 Andher mother in law faid unto her, Where haft thou gleaned to day? and where wroughteft thou? bleffed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And fhe fhewed her mother in law with whom he had wrought, and faid, The mans name with whom I wrought to day, is Boaz.

20 And Naomi faid unto her daughter in law, Blefed be he of the LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi faid unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinfmen.

21 And Ruth the Moabitefs faid, He faid unto me alfo, Thou fhalt keep faft by my young men, until they have ended all my harvest.

22 And Naomi faid unto Ruth her daughter in law, I is good, my daugh ter, that thou go out with his maidens, that they meet thee not in any other field.

23 So fhe kept faft by the maidens of Boaz to glean, unto the end of barley-harveft, and of wheat-harveft; and dwelt with her mother in law.

CHAP. III.

1 By Naomi's infruction, 5 Ruth lieth at Boaz his feet. 8 Boaz acknowledgeth the right of a kinfman.

TH

Hen Naomi her mother in law faid unto her, My daughter, fhall I not feek reft for thee, that it may be well with thee?

2 And now is not Boaz of our kin dred, with whofe maidens thou waft? Behold he winnoweth barley to night in the threshing-floor.

3 Wash thy felftherefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thy felf known unto the man, until he fhall have done eating and drinking 4 And it shall be when he