Portal:Bible/Featured chapter/Judges
Chapters from the Book of Judges will be displayed on the front page of Portal:Bible.
Judges 1
Judah and Simeon join forces against the inhabitants of their territories. Othniel‘s victory over Debir is recounted followed by the failed campaigns of the other tribes.
PEOPLE: Joshua - Children of Israel - יהוה YHVH God - Canaanites - Tribe of Judah - Tribe of Simeon - Perizzites - Adonibezek - Sheshai - Ahiman - Talmai - Caleb - Achsah - Othniel Ben Kenaz - Kenite - Anakim - Tribe of Benjamin - Jebusites - Tribe of Joseph - Biblical Hittites - Tribe of Manasseh - Tribe of Ephraim - Tribe of Zebulun - Tribe of Asher - Tribe of Naphtali - Amorites - Tribe of Dan
PLACES: Bezek - Jerusalem - Hebron - Kiryat Arba - Debir - Kirjathsepher - Negev - Zephath (Hormah) - Gaza - Ashkelon - Ekron - Bethel - Luz - Beit She'an - Taanach - Dor - Ibleam - Megiddo - Gezer - Kitron - Nahalol - Accho - Zidon - Ahlab - Achzib - Helbah - Aphik - Rehob - Bethshemesh - Bethanath - Mount Heres - Aijalon - Shaalbim - Akrabbim
RELATED ARTICLES: Kenaz - Donkey - Blessing - Moses - List of surviving and destroyed Canaanite cities
ENGLISH TEXT: American Standard - Douay–Rheims - Free - King James - Jewish Publication Society - Tyndale - World English - WycliffeJudges 2
An angel of the Lord appears at Gilgal and warns them about living with the inhabitants of Canaan. The Israelites quickly repent, but soon fall into idolatry.
PEOPLE: Angel of the Lord – Children of Israel – יהוה YHVH God – Joshua
PLACES: Gilgal – Bochim – Timnath-heres – Mount Ephraim – Gaash
RELATED ARTICLES: Ancient Egypt – Nun (biblical figure) – Idolatry – Baalim – Baal – Ashtaroth
ENGLISH TEXT: American Standard – Douay–Rheims – Free – King James – Jewish Publication Society – Tyndale – World English – WycliffeJudges 3
The Israelites fall into heathen practices time and again. God raises up Othniel and then Ehud to deliver them from their enemies.
PEOPLE: יהוה YHVH - Children of Israel - Philistines - Canaanites - Sidonian - Hivites - Biblical Hittites - Amorites - Perizzites - Jebusites - Cushan-rishathaim - Othniel Ben Kenaz - Spirit of YHVH - Eglon - Children of Ammon - Amalekite - Ehud - Shamgar
PLACES: Mount Lebanon - Mount Baalhermon - Hamath - Mesopotamia - Moab - Gilgal - Seirath - Jordan River
RELATED ARTICLES: Mitzvah - Moses - Idolatry - Baalim - Kenaz - Caleb - Gera - Tribe of Benjamin - Left-handed - Gift - Dagger - Cubit - Obesity - Quarry - Assassination - Mount Ephraim - Ford - Anath - Goad
ENGLISH TEXT: American Standard - Douay–Rheims - Free - King James - Jewish Publication Society - Tyndale - World English - WycliffeJudges 4
The Israelites are oppressed by Jabin, king of Canaan. Judge Deborah sends Barak and ten thousand men to defeat Jabin‘s army. They are successful, but Sisera the captain of the army escapes, hiding with his ally Heber. While Sisera is sleeping, Heber‘s wife, Yael drives a stake through his temples.
PEOPLE: Children of Israel - יהוה YHVH God - Jabin - Sisera - Deborah - Lapidoth - Barak - Tribe of Naphtali - Tribe of Zebulun - Heber - Yael
PLACES: Canaan - Hazor - Harosheth - Ramah - Bethel - Mount Ephraim - Kedeshnaphtali - Mount Tabor - Kishon River - Zaanaim
RELATED ARTICLES: Ehud - Goy - Chariot - Iron - Prophetess - Biblical judges - Abinoam - Kenite - Hobab - Milk
ENGLISH TEXT: American Standard - Douay–Rheims - Free - King James - Jewish Publication Society - Tyndale - World English - WycliffeJudges 5
Deborah and Barak sing about the recent defeat of Sisera and his army, praising God for the victory and lamenting that some of the tribes refused to help fight.
PEOPLE: Deborah - Barak - יהוה YHVH God - Jael - Tribe of Ephraim - Amalekite - Tribe of Benjamin - Machir - Tribe of Zebulun - Tribe of Issachar - Tribe of Reuben - Tribe of Dan - Tribe of Asher - Tribe of Naphtali - Sisera - Angel of the Lord
PLACES: Land of Israel - Seir - Edom - Biblical Mount Sinai - Gilead - Canaan - Taanach - Megiddo - Kishon River - Meroz
RELATED ARTICLES: Abinoam - Shamgar - Anath - Idolatry - Shield - Spear - Donkey - Archery - City gate - Heber - Kenite - Milk - Butter - Chariot - Needlework
ENGLISH TEXT: American Standard - Douay-Rheims - Free - King James - Jewish Publication Society - Tyndale - World English - WycliffeJudges 6
After forty years of peace, the Israelites again turn away from God are attacked by Midianites and Amalekites. God chooses Gideon, to destroy the altar of Baal. He gathers men from the tribes of Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, as well as his own tribe Manasseh in order to meet the Midianites and the Amalekites.
PEOPLE: Children of Israel - יהוה YHVH God - Midianite - Amalekite - Angel of the Lord - Joash the Abiezrite - Gideon - Tribe of Manasseh - Spirit of the Lord - Tribe of Asher - Tribe of Zebulun - Tribe of Naphtali
PLACES: Land of Israel - Ophrah - Valley of Jezreel
RELATED ARTICLES: Ancient Egypt - Matzo - Ephah - Flour - Jehovahshalom - Baal - Korban - Jerubbaal - Abieezer
ENGLISH TEXT: American Standard - Douay-Rheims - Free - King James - Jewish Publication Society - Tyndale - World English - WycliffeJudges 7
God instructs Gideon to narrow the number of men from 32,000 to 300 so that Gideon's army cannot claim the victory as their own, but give credit to God. At night they surround the camp, each man with a torch hidden inside a jar. At Gideon's signal, every man blows his trumpet and brakes his jar. God confuses the Midianites, and makes them turn on one another. The survivors run and continue to retreat across Israel.
PEOPLE: Jerubbaal (Gideon) - Midianites - יהוה YHVH God - Phurah - Amalekites - Oreb - Zeeb
PLACES: Harod - Moreh - Mount Gilead - Bethshittah - Zererath - Abelmeholah - Tabbath - Mount Ephraim - Bethbarah - Jordan River
RELATED ARTICLES: Shofar - Tribe of Naphtali - Tribe of Asher - Tribe of Manasseh - Tribe of Ephraim
ENGLISH TEXT: American Standard - Douay-Rheims - Free - King James - Jewish Publication Society - Tyndale - World English - WycliffeJudges 8
Gideon pursues the Midianites and kills Zebah and Zalmunna, the two Midianite kings. The Israelites plead with Gideon to be their king, but he refuses, telling them that only God is their ruler. He makes an ephod out of the gold won in battle, which causes the whole of Israel again to turn away from God. Gideon has a concubine who bears him a son that he names Abimelech. There is peace in Israel for forty years during the life of Gideon.
PEOPLE: Tribe of Ephraim – Gideon (Jerubbaal) – יהוה YHVH God – Zebah – Zalmunna – Jether – Israelites – Ishmaelites – Abimelech
PLACES: Jordan River – Succoth – Penuel – Karkor – Nobah – Jogbehah – Ophrah – Shechem
RELATED ARTICLES: Midianites – Abiezer – Oreb – Zeeb – Joash – Ephod – Abiezrites – Baalim – Baalberith
ENGLISH TEXT: American Standard – Douay–Rheims – Free – King James – Jewish Publication Society – Tyndale – World English – WycliffeJudges 9
Abimelech rises as a king in Israel and murders all of his brothers except Jotham, who escapes. A revolt, led by Gaal, results in Abimalech's death.
PEOPLE: Abimelech - Jotham - God - Gaal - Zebul
PLACES: Shechem - Ophrah - Mount Gerizim - Beer - Meonenim - Arumah - Mount Zalmon - Thebez
RELATED ARTICLES: Jerubbaal (Gideon) - Baalberith - Millo - Mashal - Parable - Evil spirit (רוח רעה) - Ebed, father of Gaal - City gate
ENGLISH TEXT: American Standard - Douay-Rheims - Free - King James - Jewish Publication Society - Tyndale - World English - WycliffeJudges 10
The Israelites again fall into idolatry and as a result are invaded by Philistines and Ammonites. They cry unto God, but God tells them He will not deliver them and to cry unto their false gods for deliverance. The Israelites put away their false gods and prepare for battle.
PEOPLE: Tola - Jair - Children of Israel - יהוה YHVH
PLACES: Israel - Shamir - Mount Ephraim - Havoth-Jair - Gilead - Camon - Jordan River - Mizpeh
RELATED ARTICLES: Abimelech - Tribe of Issachar - Baalim - Astaroth - Syria (Atargatis) - Sidon (Eshmun) - Moab (Chemosh) - Ammonites (Moloch) - Philistines - Amorites - Tribe of Judah - Tribe of Benjamin - Tribe of Ephraim - Amalekite - Maonite
ENGLISH TEXT: American Standard - Douay–Rheims - Free - King James - Jewish Publication Society - Tyndale - World English - WycliffeJudges 11
Jephthah is driven out by his half-brothers. The elders of Gilead ask him to be their leader in the campaign against the Ammonites. Relying on the might of God, Jephthah challenges the Ammonites. The spirit of God comes upon Jephthah and he swears an oath: "Whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me ... I will offer it up for a burnt offering". The victorious Jephthah is met on his return by his daughter, his only child.
PEOPLE: Jephthah - Children of Ammon - Israel - יהוה YHVH - Spirit of the YHVH
PLACES: Tob - Mizpeh - Gilead - Manasseh - Aroer - Minnith
RELATED ARTICLES: Gilead - Egypt - Arnon - Jabbok - Jordan River - Moab - Red Sea - Kadesh - Edom - Sihon - Amorites - Heshbon - Jahaz - Chemosh - Balak - Zippor
ENGLISH TEXT: American Standard - Douay–Rheims - Free - King James - Jewish Publication Society - Tyndale - World English - WycliffeJudges 12
Jephthah goes to war against the Ephraimites, who refuse to acknowledge him. The story is remembered for the killing of 42,000 fugitive Ephraimites who were identified by their accent; they said the Hebrew word shibboleth as sibboleth. Three other lesser judges are also mentioned.
PEOPLE: Tribe of Ephraim - Jephthah - Gileadites - יהוה YHVH - Tribe of Manasseh - Ibzan - Elon - Tribe of Zebulun - Abdon - Pirathonites
PLACES: Jordan River - Bethlehem - Aijalon - Pirathon
RELATED ARTICLES: Biblical judges - Ammonites - Shibboleth - Hillel - Amalekites
ENGLISH TEXT: American Standard - Douay-Rheims - Free - King James - Jewish Publication Society - Tyndale - World English - WycliffeJudges 13
An Angel of the Lord appears to Manoah's wife, who is barren, and tells her that she will give birth to a son, who is to be dedicated from the womb as a Nazirite. Manoah prays for angel to return to instruct the both of them. The angel returns and Manoah offers a burnt sacrifice. The angel ascends to heaven in the flame.
PEOPLE: Children of Israel - יהוה YHVH God - Philistines - Tribe of Dan - Manoah - Angel of the Lord - Samson - Spirit of the Lord
RELATED ARTICLES: Nazirite - Korban
ENGLISH TEXT: American Standard - Douay-Rheims - Free - King James - Jewish Publication Society - Tyndale - World English - WycliffeJudges 14
Samson falls in love with a Philistine woman. On the way to ask for the woman's hand in marriage, Samson is attacked by an Asiatic Lion and kills it. Later he notices that bees have nested in the carcass and made honey. At the wedding-feast, Samson tells a riddle to the Philistine groomsmen: "Out of the eater, something to eat; out of the strong, something sweet." The thirty groomsmen threaten to burn Samson's new wife and her father's household if she does not discover the answer and tell them. At the tearful imploring of his bride, Samson tells her the solution.
PEOPLE: Samson – Samson's wife – Samson's father – Samson's mother – יהוה YHVH – Spirit of the Lord
RELATED ARTICLES: Philistines – Riddle
ENGLISH TEXT: American Standard – Douay–Rheims – Free – King James – Jewish Publication Society – Tyndale – World English – WycliffeJudges 15
Samson attaches torches to the tails of three hundred foxes, which run through the fields of the Philistines, burning all in their wake. The Philistines burn Samson's wife and father-in-law to death. In revenge, Samson slaughters many more Philistines, and then takes refuge in a cave in the rock of Etam. An army of Philistines demands from the men of Judah to deliver them Samson. With Samson's consent, they tie him with two new ropes and are about to hand him over to the Philistines when he breaks free. Using the jawbone of a donkey, he slays one thousand Philistines.
PEOPLE: Samson - Samson's wife - Samson's father-in-law - Samson's sister-in-law - Philistines - Men of Judah - Spirit of the Lord - יהוה YHVH
PLACES: Rock of Etam - Ramathlehi - Enhakkore
RELATED ARTICLES: Timnite
ENGLISH TEXT: American Standard - Douay-Rheims - Free - King James - Jewish Publication Society - Tyndale - World English - WycliffeJudges 16
At Gaza, Samson's enemies ambush him, but he escapes. He then falls in love with Delilah. The Philistines induce Delilah to find the secret of his strength. Eventually he tells her that he will lose his strength with the loss of his hair. She calls for a servant to shave Samson, and he is captured by the Philistines. When he Philistine leaders assemble in a temple for a religious sacrifice to their god, they summon Samson to entertain them. Once inside the temple, Samson, his hair having grown long again, prays to the Lord, and removes the two pillars holding up the temple, destroying it and killing himself and everyone inside.
PEOPLE: Samson - Gazites - Delilah - Philistines - יהוה YHVH God
PLACES: Gaza - Hebron - Sorek - Zorah - Eshtaol
RELATED ARTICLES: City gate - Nazarite - Dagon - Manoah
ENGLISH TEXT: American Standard - Douay-Rheims - Free - King James - Jewish Publication Society - Tyndale - World English - WycliffeJudges 17
An Ephraimite named Micah restores to his mother a large amount of silver he had stolen, and she commissions an idol to be made from it. After this, a wandering Levite visits Micah, and he hires him as his personal priest.
PEOPLE: Micah - Tribe of Ephraim - יהוה YHVH - Levites - Jonathan
PLACES: Bethlehem - Mount Ephraim
RELATED ARTICLES: Ephod - Micah's Idol - Teraphim
ENGLISH TEXT: American Standard - Douay-Rheims - Free - King James - Jewish Publication Society - Tyndale - World English - WycliffeJudges 18
The Tribe of Dan sends five scouts, and consequently 600 warriors to attack Laish, wherein is Micah's house. They steal Micah's idol, ephod, teraphim, and carved image, and persuade the priest go with them. When Micah discovers what has happened, he pursues the warriors, and is threatened with violence. The warriors burn Laish to the ground and then rebuild the town, renaming it Dan, and install the idols, which remain in use until the captivity of the land.
PEOPLE: Tribe of Dan - Levite - יהוה YHVH God - Micah - Jonathan
PLACES: Zorah - Eshtaol - Mount Ephraim - Laish - Kiriath-Jearim | Kiryat Ye'arim - Bethrehob - Shiloh
RELATED ARTICLES: Micah's Idol - Ephod - Teraphim - Idol - Kohen - Gershom - Manasseh
ENGLISH TEXT: American Standard - Douay-Rheims - Free - King James - Jewish Publication Society - Tyndale - World English - WycliffeJudges 19
A Levite and his concubine traveling from Bethlehem enter Gibeah and lodge in the street. An old man persuades them to come into his house. The men outside shout to the old man to bring the traveler out. Instead the concubine is brought out and the men of Gibeah rape and kill her. The Levite traveler then cuts the concubine into twelve pieces and sends one piece to each of the tribes of Israel.
PEOPLE: Levite - יהוה YHVH - sons of Belial
PLACES: Land of Israel - Mount Ephraim - Bethlehem, Judah - Jebus - Jerusalem - Gibeah - Ramah
RELATED ARTICLES: Concubine - Jebusites - Children of Israel - Tribe of Benjamin
ENGLISH TEXT: American Standard - Douay-Rheims - Free - King James - Jewish Publication Society - Tyndale - World English - WycliffeJudges 20
When the murder of the Levite traveler's concubine becomes known, the children of Israel rise up against the tribe of Benjamin, and civil war ensues.
PEOPLE: Children of Israel - יהוה YHVH God - Tribe of Benjamin - Levite - Children of Belial - Tribe of Judah - Phinehas
PLACES: Dan - Beersheba - Gilead - Mizpah - Gibeah - Baaltamar - Rock of Rimmon
RELATED ARTICLES: Battle of Gibeah - Sling - Eleazar - Aaron
ENGLISH TEXT: American Standard - Douay-Rheims - Free - King James - Jewish Publication Society - Tyndale - World English - WycliffeJudges 21
The Israelites in Mizpeh decide that the tribe of Benjamin, which was nearly extinguished, shall be allowed to survive, and all the men from another town are slaughtered, so that their wives can be re-wed to the surviving men of Benjamin.
PEOPLE: Children of Israel - Tribe of Benjamin - יהוה YHVH God
PLACES: Mizpeh - Jabesh-Gilead - Shiloh, Canaan - Rimmon - Bethel - Shechem - Lebonah
RELATED ARTICLES: Vineyard - Capital punishment
ENGLISH TEXT: King James - World English - American Standard - Wycliffe