3When the brothers repeated all this to the citizens of Shechem, they were inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is our brother.” 4They gave him seventy shekels[37] of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith,† and Abimelech used it to hire reckless adventurers,† who became his followers. 5He went to his father’s home in Ophrah and on one stone murdered his seventy brothers,† the sons of Jerub-Baal. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerub-Baal, escaped by hiding.† 6Then all the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo gathered beside the great tree at the pillar in Shechem to crown Abimelech king.

7When Jotham was told about this, he climbed up on the top of Mount Gerizim† and shouted to them, “Listen to me, citizens of Shechem, so that God may listen to you. 8One day the trees went out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Be our king.’

9“But the olive tree answered, ‘Should I give up my oil, by which both gods and men are honored, to hold sway over the trees?’

10“Next, the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and be our king.’

11“But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I give up my fruit, so good and sweet, to hold sway over the trees?’

12“Then the trees said to the vine, ‘Come and be our king.’

13“But the vine answered, ‘Should I give up my wine,† which cheers both gods and men, to hold sway over the trees?’

14“Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and be our king.’

15“The thornbush said to the trees, ‘If you really want to anoint me king over you, come and take refuge in my shade;† but if not, then let fire come out† of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon!’†

16“Now if you have acted honorably and in good faith when you made Abimelech king, and if you have been fair to Jerub-Baal and his family, and if you have treated him as he deserves— 17and to think that my father fought for you, risked his life to rescue you from the hand of Midian 18(but today you have revolted against my father’s family, murdered his seventy sons† on a single stone, and made Abimelech, the son of his slave girl, king over the citizens of Shechem because he is your brother)— 19if then you have acted honorably and in good faith toward Jerub-Baal and his family today, may Abimelech be your joy, and may you be his, too! 20But if you have not, let fire come out† from Abimelech and consume you, citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and let fire come out from you, citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and consume Abimelech!”

21Then Jotham fled, escaping to Beer, and he lived there because he was afraid of his brother Abimelech.

22After Abimelech had governed Israel three years, 23God sent an evil spirit† between Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem, who acted treacherously against Abimelech. 24God did this in order that the crime against Jerub-Baal’s seventy sons, the shedding† of their blood, might be avenged† on their brother Abimelech and on the citizens of Shechem, who had helped him† murder his brothers. 25In opposition to him these citizens of Shechem set men on the hilltops to ambush and rob everyone who passed by, and this was reported to Abimelech.

26Now Gaal son of Ebed moved with his brothers into Shechem, and its citizens put their confidence in him. 27After they had gone out into the fields and gathered the grapes and trodden† them, they held a festival in the temple of their god.† While they were eating and drinking, they cursed Abimelech. 28Then Gaal son of Ebed said, “Who† is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should be subject to him? Isn’t he Jerub-Baal’s son, and isn’t Zebul his deputy? Serve the men of Hamor,† Shechem’s father! Why should we serve Abimelech? 29If only this people were under my command!† Then I would get rid of him. I would say to Abimelech, ‘Call out your whole army!’ ”[38]

30When Zebul the governor of the city heard what Gaal son of Ebed said, he was very angry. 31Under cover he sent messengers to Abimelech, saying, “Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem and are stirring up the city against you. 32Now then, during the night you and your men should come and lie in wait† in the fields. 33In the morning at sunrise, advance against the city. When Gaal and his men come out against you, do whatever your hand finds to do.† ”

34So Abimelech and all his troops set out by night and took up concealed positions near Shechem in four companies. 35Now Gaal son of Ebed had gone out and was standing at the entrance to the city gate just as Abimelech and his soldiers came out from their hiding place.†

36When Gaal saw them, he said to Zebul, “Look, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains!”

Zebul replied, “You mistake the shadows of the mountains for men.”

37But Gaal spoke up again: “Look, people are coming down from the center of the land, and a company is coming from the direction of the soothsayers’ tree.”

38Then Zebul said to him, “Where is your big talk now, you who said, ‘Who is Abimelech that we should be subject to him?’ Aren’t these the men you ridiculed?† Go out and fight them!”

39So Gaal led out[39] the citizens of Shechem and fought Abimelech. 40Abimelech chased him, and many fell wounded in the flight—all the way to the entrance to the gate. 41Abimelech stayed in Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers out of Shechem.

42The next day the people of Shechem went out to the fields, and this was reported to Abimelech. 43So he took his men, divided them into three companies† and set an ambush in the fields. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he rose to attack them. 44Abimelech and the companies with him rushed forward to a position at the entrance to the city gate. Then two companies rushed upon those in the fields and struck them down. 45All that day Abimelech pressed his attack against the city until he had captured it and killed its people. Then he destroyed the city† and scattered salt† over it.

46On hearing this, the citizens in the tower of Shechem went into the stronghold of the temple† of El-Berith. 47When Abimelech heard that they had assembled there, 48he and all his men went up Mount Zalmon.† He took an ax and cut off some branches, which he lifted to his shoulders. He ordered the men with him, “Quick! Do what you have seen me do!” 49So all the men cut branches and followed Abimelech. They piled them against the stronghold and set it on fire over the people inside. So all the people in the tower of Shechem, about a thousand men and women, also died.

50Next Abimelech went to Thebez† and besieged it and captured it. 51Inside the city, however, was a strong tower, to which all the men and women—all the people of the city—fled. They locked themselves in and climbed up on the tower roof. 52Abimelech went to the tower and stormed it. But as he approached the entrance to the tower to set it on fire, 53a woman dropped an upper millstone on his head and cracked his skull.†

54Hurriedly he called to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and kill me,† so that they can’t say, ‘A woman killed him.’ ” So his servant ran him through, and he died. 55When the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they went home.

56Thus God repaid the wickedness that Abimelech had done to his father by murdering his seventy brothers. 57God also made the men of Shechem pay for all their wickedness.† The curse of Jotham son of Jerub-Baal came on them.


Judges 10

Tola

1After the time of Abimelech a man of Issachar,† Tola son of Puah,† the son of Dodo, rose to save† Israel. He lived in Shamir, in the hill country of Ephraim. 2He led[40] Israel twenty-three years; then he died, and was buried in Shamir.




Jair

3He was followed by Jair of Gilead, who led Israel twenty-two years. 4He had thirty sons, who rode thirty donkeys. They controlled thirty towns in Gilead, which to this day are called Havvoth Jair.[41] † 5When Jair died, he was buried in Kamon.

Jephthah

6Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD.† They served the Baals and the Ashtoreths,† and the gods of Aram, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites and the gods of the Philistines.† And because the Israelites forsook the LORD† and no longer served him, 7he became angry† with them. He sold them† into the hands of the Philistines and the Ammonites, 8who that year shattered and crushed them. For eighteen years they oppressed all the Israelites on the east side of the Jordan in Gilead, the land of the Amorites. 9The Ammonites also crossed the Jordan to fight against Judah, Benjamin and the house of Ephraim; and Israel was in great distress. 10Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD, “We have sinned against you, forsaking our God and serving the Baals.”†

11The LORD replied, “When the Egyptians,† the Amorites, the Ammonites,† the Philistines,† 12the Sidonians, the Amalekites and the Maonites[42] oppressed you† and you cried to me for help, did I not save you from their hands? 13But you have forsaken me and served other gods, so I will no longer save you. 14Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you when you are in trouble!† ”

15But the Israelites said to the LORD, “We have sinned. Do with us whatever you think best,† but please rescue us now.” 16Then they got rid of the foreign gods among them and served the LORD.† And he could bear Israel’s misery† no longer.†

17When the Ammonites were called to arms and camped in Gilead, the Israelites assembled and camped at Mizpah.† 18The leaders of the people of Gilead said to each other, “Whoever will launch the attack against the Ammonites will be the head† of all those living in Gilead.”


Judges 11

1Jephthah† the Gileadite was a mighty warrior.† His father was Gilead; his mother was a prostitute. 2Gilead’s wife also bore him sons, and when they were grown up, they drove Jephthah away. “You are not going to get any inheritance in our family,” they said, “because you are the son of another woman.” 3So Jephthah fled from his brothers and settled in the land of Tob,† where a group of adventurers† gathered around him and followed him.




4Some time later, when the Ammonites† made war on Israel, 5the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah from the land of Tob. 6“Come,” they said, “be our commander, so we can fight the Ammonites.”

7Jephthah said to them, “Didn’t you hate me and drive me from my father’s house?† Why do you come to me now, when you’re in trouble?”

8The elders of Gilead said to him, “Nevertheless, we are turning to you now; come with us to fight the Ammonites, and you will be our head† over all who live in Gilead.”

9Jephthah answered, “Suppose you take me back to fight the Ammonites and the LORD gives them to me—will I really be your head?”

10The elders of Gilead replied, “The LORD is our witness;† we will certainly do as you say.” 11So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and commander over them. And he repeated all his words before the LORD in Mizpah.†

12Then Jephthah sent messengers to the Ammonite king with the question: “What do you have against us that you have attacked our country?”

13The king of the Ammonites answered Jephthah’s messengers, “When Israel came up out of Egypt, they took away my land from the Arnon to the Jabbok,† all the way to the Jordan. Now give it back peaceably.”

14Jephthah sent back messengers to the Ammonite king, 15saying:

“This is what Jephthah says: Israel did not take the land of Moab† or the land of the Ammonites.† 16But when they came up out of Egypt, Israel went through the desert to the Red Sea[43] † and on to Kadesh.† 17Then Israel sent messengers† to the king of Edom, saying, ‘Give us permission to go through your country,’† but the king of Edom would not listen. They sent also to the king of Moab, and he refused.† So Israel stayed at Kadesh.

18“Next they traveled through the desert, skirted the lands of Edom† and Moab, passed along the eastern side† of the country of Moab, and camped on the other side of the Arnon.† They did not enter the territory of Moab, for the Arnon was its border.

19“Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon, and said to him, ‘Let us pass through your country to our own place.’† 20Sihon, however, did not trust Israel[44] to pass through his territory. He mustered all his men and encamped at Jahaz and fought with Israel.†

21“Then the LORD, the God of Israel, gave Sihon and all his men into Israel’s hands, and they defeated them. Israel took over all the land of the Amorites who lived in that country, 22capturing all of it from the Arnon to the Jabbok and from the desert to the Jordan.†

23“Now since the LORD, the God of Israel, has driven the Amorites out before his people Israel, what right have you to take it over? 24Will you not take what your god Chemosh† gives you? Likewise, whatever the LORD our God has given us, we will possess. 25Are you better than Balak son of Zippor,† king of Moab? Did he ever quarrel with Israel or fight with them?† 26For three hundred years Israel occupied† Heshbon, Aroer, the surrounding settlements and all the towns along the Arnon. Why didn’t you retake them during that time? 27I have not wronged you, but you are doing me wrong by waging war against me. Let the LORD, the Judge,[45] † decide† the dispute this day between the Israelites and the Ammonites.”

28The king of Ammon, however, paid no attention to the message Jephthah sent him.

29Then the Spirit† of the LORD came upon Jephthah. He crossed Gilead and Manasseh, passed through Mizpah of Gilead, and from there he advanced against the Ammonites. 30And Jephthah made a vow† to the LORD: “If you give the Ammonites into my hands, 31whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites will be the LORD ’s, and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering.”

32Then Jephthah went over to fight the Ammonites, and the LORD gave them into his hands. 33He devastated twenty towns from Aroer to the vicinity of Minnith,† as far as Abel Keramim. Thus Israel subdued Ammon.

34When Jephthah returned to his home in Mizpah, who should come out to meet him but his daughter, dancing to the sound of tambourines!† She was an only child. Except for her he had neither son nor daughter. 35When he saw her, he tore his clothes and cried, “Oh! My daughter! You have made me miserable and wretched, because I have made a vow to the LORD that I cannot break.† ”

36“My father,” she replied, “you have given your word to the LORD. Do to me just as you promised,† now that the LORD has avenged you of your enemies,† the Ammonites. 37But grant me this one request,” she said. “Give me two months to roam the hills and weep with my friends, because I will never marry.”

38“You may go,” he said. And he let her go for two months. She and the girls went into the hills and wept because she would never marry. 39After the two months, she returned to her father and he did to her as he had vowed. And she was a virgin.

From this comes the Israelite custom 40that each year the young women of Israel go out for four days to commemorate the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite.


Judges 12

Jephthah and Ephraim

1The men of Ephraim called out their forces, crossed over to Zaphon and said to Jephthah, “Why did you go to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you?† We’re going to burn down your house over your head.”




2Jephthah answered, “I and my people were engaged in a great struggle with the Ammonites, and although I called, you didn’t save me out of their hands. 3When I saw that you wouldn’t help, I took my life in my hands† and crossed over to fight the Ammonites, and the LORD gave me the victory over them. Now why have you come up today to fight me?”

4Jephthah then called together the men of Gilead and fought against Ephraim. The Gileadites struck them down because the Ephraimites had said, “You Gileadites are renegades from Ephraim and Manasseh.” 5The Gileadites captured the fords of the Jordan† leading to Ephraim, and whenever a survivor of Ephraim said, “Let me cross over,” the men of Gilead asked him, “Are you an Ephraimite?” If he replied, “No,” 6they said, “All right, say ‘Shibboleth.’ ” If he said, “Sibboleth,” because he could not pronounce the word correctly, they seized him and killed him at the fords of the Jordan. Forty-two thousand Ephraimites were killed at that time.

7Jephthah led[46] Israel six years. Then Jephthah the Gileadite died, and was buried in a town in Gilead.

Ibzan, Elon and Abdon

8After him, Ibzan of Bethlehem led Israel. 9He had thirty sons and thirty daughters. He gave his daughters away in marriage to those outside his clan, and for his sons he brought in thirty young women as wives from outside his clan. Ibzan led Israel seven years. 10Then Ibzan died, and was buried in Bethlehem.

11After him, Elon the Zebulunite led Israel ten years. 12Then Elon died, and was buried in Aijalon in the land of Zebulun.

13After him, Abdon son of Hillel, from Pirathon, led Israel. 14He had forty sons and thirty grandsons,† who rode on seventy donkeys.† He led Israel eight years. 15Then Abdon son of Hillel died, and was buried at Pirathon in Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites.†


Judges 13

The Birth of Samson

1Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, so the LORD delivered them into the hands of the Philistines† for forty years.




2A certain man of Zorah,† named Manoah, from the clan of the Danites, had a wife who was sterile and remained childless. 3The angel of the LORD† appeared to her† and said, “You are sterile and childless, but you are going to conceive and have a son.† 4Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean,† 5because you will conceive and give birth to a son. No razor† may be used on his head, because the boy is to be a Nazirite,† set apart to God from birth, and he will begin† the deliverance of Israel from the hands of the Philistines.”

6Then the woman went to her husband and told him, “A man of God† came to me. He looked like an angel of God,† very awesome. I didn’t ask him where he came from, and he didn’t tell me his name. 7But he said to me, ‘You will conceive and give birth to a son. Now then, drink no wine or other fermented drink and do not eat anything unclean, because the boy will be a Nazirite of God from birth until the day of his death.’ ”

8Then Manoah prayed to the LORD: “O Lord, I beg you, let the man of God you sent to us come again to teach us how to bring up the boy who is to be born.”

9God heard Manoah, and the angel of God came again to the woman while she was out in the field; but her husband Manoah was not with her. 10The woman hurried to tell her husband, “He’s here! The man who appeared to me the other day!”

11Manoah got up and followed his wife. When he came to the man, he said, “Are you the one who talked to my wife?”

“I am,” he said.

12So Manoah asked him, “When your words are fulfilled, what is to be the rule for the boy’s life and work?”

13The angel of the LORD answered, “Your wife must do all that I have told her. 14She must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, nor drink any wine or other fermented drink† nor eat anything unclean.† She must do everything I have commanded her.”

15Manoah said to the angel of the LORD, “We would like you to stay until we prepare a young goat† for you.”

16The angel of the LORD replied, “Even though you detain me, I will not eat any of your food. But if you prepare a burnt offering,† offer it to the LORD.” (Manoah did not realize that it was the angel of the LORD.)

17Then Manoah inquired of the angel of the LORD, “What is your name,† so that we may honor you when your word comes true?”

18He replied, “Why do you ask my name?† It is beyond understanding.[47] ” 19Then Manoah took a young goat, together with the grain offering, and sacrificed it on a rock† to the LORD. And the LORD did an amazing thing while Manoah and his wife watched: 20As the flame† blazed up from the altar toward heaven, the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame. Seeing this, Manoah and his wife fell with their faces to the ground.† 21When the angel of the LORD did not show himself again to Manoah and his wife, Manoah realized† that it was the angel of the LORD.

22“We are doomed† to die!” he said to his wife. “We have seen† God!”

23But his wife answered, “If the LORD had meant to kill us, he would not have accepted a burnt offering and grain offering from our hands, nor shown us all these things or now told us this.”†

24The woman gave birth to a boy and named him Samson.† He grew† and the LORD blessed him,† 25and the Spirit of the LORD began to stir† him while he was in Mahaneh Dan,† between Zorah and Eshtaol.


Judges 14

Samson’s Marriage

1Samson went down to Timnah† and saw there a young Philistine woman. 2When he returned, he said to his father and mother, “I have seen a Philistine woman in Timnah; now get her for me as my wife.”†




3His father and mother replied, “Isn’t there an acceptable woman among your relatives or among all our people?† Must you go to the uncircumcised† Philistines to get a wife?† ”

But Samson said to his father, “Get her for me. She’s the right one for me.” 4(His parents did not know that this was from the LORD, who was seeking an occasion to confront the Philistines;† for at that time they were ruling over Israel.)† 5Samson went down to Timnah together with his father and mother. As they approached the vineyards of Timnah, suddenly a young lion came roaring toward him. 6The Spirit of the LORD came upon him in power† so that he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as he might have torn a young goat. But he told neither his father nor his mother what he had done. 7Then he went down and talked with the woman, and he liked her.

8Some time later, when he went back to marry her, he turned aside to look at the lion’s carcass. In it was a swarm of bees and some honey, 9which he scooped out with his hands and ate as he went along. When he rejoined his parents, he gave them some, and they too ate it. But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey from the lion’s carcass.

10Now his father went down to see the woman. And Samson made a feast there, as was customary for bridegrooms. 11When he appeared, he was given thirty companions.

12“Let me tell you a riddle,† ” Samson said to them. “If you can give me the answer within the seven days of the feast,† I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes.† 13If you can’t tell me the answer, you must give me thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes.”

“Tell us your riddle,” they said. “Let’s hear it.”

14He replied,

“Out of the eater, something to eat;

out of the strong, something sweet.”

For three days they could not give the answer.

15On the fourth[48] day, they said to Samson’s wife, “Coax† your husband into explaining the riddle for us, or we will burn you and your father’s household to death.† Did you invite us here to rob us?”

16Then Samson’s wife threw herself on him, sobbing, “You hate me! You don’t really love me.† You’ve given my people a riddle, but you haven’t told me the answer.”

“I haven’t even explained it to my father or mother,” he replied, “so why should I explain it to you?” 17She cried the whole seven days† of the feast. So on the seventh day he finally told her, because she continued to press him. She in turn explained the riddle to her people.

18Before sunset on the seventh day the men of the town said to him,

“What is sweeter than honey?

What is stronger than a lion?Ӡ

Samson said to them,

“If you had not plowed with my heifer,

you would not have solved my riddle.”

19Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon him in power.† He went down to Ashkelon, struck down thirty of their men, stripped them of their belongings and gave their clothes to those who had explained the riddle. Burning with anger,† he went up to his father’s house. 20And Samson’s wife was given to the friend† who had attended him at his wedding.


Judges 15

Samson’s Vengeance on the Philistines

1Later on, at the time of wheat harvest, Samson took a young goat† and went to visit his wife. He said, “I’m going to my wife’s room.” But her father would not let him go in.

2“I was so sure you thoroughly hated her,” he said, “that I gave her to your friend.† Isn’t her younger sister more attractive? Take her instead.”

3Samson said to them, “This time I have a right to get even with the Philistines; I will really harm them.” 4So he went out and caught three hundred foxes and tied them tail to tail in pairs. He then fastened a torch to every pair of tails, 5lit the torches and let the foxes loose in the standing grain of the Philistines. He burned up the shocks and standing grain, together with the vineyards and olive groves.

6When the Philistines asked, “Who did this?” they were told, “Samson, the Timnite’s son-in-law, because his wife was given to his friend.”

So the Philistines went up and burned her and her father to death.† 7Samson said to them, “Since you’ve acted like this, I won’t stop until I get my revenge on you.” 8He attacked them viciously and slaughtered many of them. Then he went down and stayed in a cave in the rock of Etam.

9The Philistines went up and camped in Judah, spreading out near Lehi.† 10The men of Judah asked, “Why have you come to fight us?”

“We have come to take Samson prisoner,” they answered, “to do to him as he did to us.”

11Then three thousand men from Judah went down to the cave in the rock of Etam and said to Samson, “Don’t you realize that the Philistines are rulers over us?† What have you done to us?”

He answered, “I merely did to them what they did to me.”

12They said to him, “We’ve come to tie you up and hand you over to the Philistines.”

Samson said, “Swear to me that you won’t kill me yourselves.”

13“Agreed,” they answered. “We will only tie you up and hand you over to them. We will not kill you.” So they bound him with two new ropes and led him up from the rock. 14As he approached Lehi, the Philistines came toward him shouting. The Spirit of the LORD came upon him in power.† The ropes on his arms became like charred flax, and the bindings dropped from his hands. 15Finding a fresh jawbone of a donkey, he grabbed it and struck down a thousand men.†

16Then Samson said,

“With a donkey’s jawbone

I have made donkeys of them.[49]

With a donkey’s jawbone

I have killed a thousand men.”

17When he finished speaking, he threw away the jawbone; and the place was called Ramath Lehi.[50]

18Because he was very thirsty, he cried out to the LORD,† “You have given your servant this great victory. Must I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?” 19Then God opened up the hollow place in Lehi, and water came out of it. When Samson drank, his strength returned and he revived.† So the spring was called En Hakkore,[51] and it is still there in Lehi.

20Samson led[52] Israel for twenty years† in the days of the Philistines.


Judges 16

Samson and Delilah

1One day Samson went to Gaza, where he saw a prostitute. He went in to spend the night with her. 2The people of Gaza were told, “Samson is here!” So they surrounded the place and lay in wait for him all night at the city gate.† They made no move during the night, saying, “At dawn we’ll kill him.”




3But Samson lay there only until the middle of the night. Then he got up and took hold of the doors of the city gate, together with the two posts, and tore them loose, bar and all. He lifted them to his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill that faces Hebron.†

4Some time later, he fell in love† with a woman in the Valley of Sorek whose name was Delilah. 5The rulers of the Philistines† went to her and said, “See if you can lure† him into showing you the secret of his great strength and how we can overpower him so we may tie him up and subdue him. Each one of us will give you eleven hundred shekels[53] of silver.”†

6So Delilah said to Samson, “Tell me the secret of your great strength and how you can be tied up and subdued.”

7Samson answered her, “If anyone ties me with seven fresh thongs[54] that have not been dried, I’ll become as weak as any other man.”

8Then the rulers of the Philistines brought her seven fresh thongs that had not been dried, and she tied him with them. 9With men hidden in the room,† she called to him, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” But he snapped the thongs as easily as a piece of string snaps when it comes close to a flame. So the secret of his strength was not discovered.

10Then Delilah said to Samson, “You have made a fool of me;† you lied to me. Come now, tell me how you can be tied.”

11He said, “If anyone ties me securely with new ropes† that have never been used, I’ll become as weak as any other man.”

12So Delilah took new ropes and tied him with them. Then, with men hidden in the room, she called to him, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” But he snapped the ropes off his arms as if they were threads.

13Delilah then said to Samson, “Until now, you have been making a fool of me and lying to me. Tell me how you can be tied.”

He replied, “If you weave the seven braids of my head into the fabric [on the loom] and tighten it with the pin, I’ll become as weak as any other man.” So while he was sleeping, Delilah took the seven braids of his head, wove them into the fabric 14and[55] tightened it with the pin.

Again she called to him, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!”† He awoke from his sleep and pulled up the pin and the loom, with the fabric.

15Then she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’† when you won’t confide in me? This is the third time† you have made a fool of me and haven’t told me the secret of your great strength.† ” 16With such nagging she prodded him day after day until he was tired to death.

17So he told her everything.† “No razor has ever been used on my head,” he said, “because I have been a Nazirite† set apart to God since birth. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as any other man.”

18When Delilah saw that he had told her everything, she sent word to the rulers of the Philistines†, “Come back once more; he has told me everything.” So the rulers of the Philistines returned with the silver in their hands. 19Having put him to sleep on her lap, she called a man to shave off the seven braids of his hair, and so began to subdue him.[56] And his strength left him.†

20Then she called, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!”

He awoke from his sleep and thought, “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the LORD had left him.†

21Then the Philistines† seized him, gouged out his eyes† and took him down to Gaza. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding† in the prison. 22But the hair on his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.

The Death of Samson

23Now the rulers of the Philistines assembled to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon† their god and to celebrate, saying, “Our god has delivered Samson, our enemy, into our hands.”

24When the people saw him, they praised their god,† saying,

“Our god has delivered our enemy

into our hands,†

the one who laid waste our land

and multiplied our slain.”

25While they were in high spirits,† they shouted, “Bring out Samson to entertain us.” So they called Samson out of the prison, and he performed for them.

When they stood him among the pillars, 26Samson said to the servant who held his hand, “Put me where I can feel the pillars that support the temple, so that I may lean against them.” 27Now the temple was crowded with men and women; all the rulers of the Philistines were there, and on the roof† were about three thousand men and women watching Samson perform. 28Then Samson prayed to the LORD,† “O Sovereign LORD, remember me. O God, please strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge† on the Philistines for my two eyes.” 29Then Samson reached toward the two central pillars on which the temple stood. Bracing himself against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other, 30Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived.

31Then his brothers and his father’s whole family went down to get him. They brought him back and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of Manoah† his father. He had led[57] † Israel twenty years.†


Judges 17

Micah’s Idols

1Now a man named Micah† from the hill country of Ephraim 2said to his mother, “The eleven hundred shekels[58] of silver that were taken from you and about which I heard you utter a curse—I have that silver with me; I took it.”




Then his mother said, “The LORD bless you,† my son!”

3When he returned the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, she said, “I solemnly consecrate my silver to the LORD for my son to make a carved image and a cast idol.† I will give it back to you.”

4So he returned the silver to his mother, and she took two hundred shekels[59] of silver and gave them to a silversmith, who made them into the image and the idol.† And they were put in Micah’s house.

5Now this man Micah had a shrine,† and he made an ephod† and some idols† and installed† one of his sons as his priest.† 6In those days Israel had no king;† everyone did as he saw fit.†

7A young Levite from Bethlehem in Judah,† who had been living within the clan of Judah, 8left that town in search of some other place to stay. On his way[60] he came to Micah’s house in the hill country of Ephraim.

9Micah asked him, “Where are you from?”

“I’m a Levite from Bethlehem in Judah,” he said, “and I’m looking for a place to stay.”

10Then Micah said to him, “Live with me and be my father and priest,† and I’ll give you ten shekels[61] of silver a year, your clothes and your food.” 11So the Levite agreed to live with him, and the young man was to him like one of his sons. 12Then Micah installed† the Levite, and the young man became his priest and lived in his house. 13And Micah said, “Now I know that the LORD will be good to me, since this Levite has become my priest.”


Judges 18

Danites Settle in Laish

1In those days Israel had no king.†




And in those days the tribe of the Danites was seeking a place of their own where they might settle, because they had not yet come into an inheritance among the tribes of Israel.† 2So the Danites† sent five warriors from Zorah and Eshtaol to spy out the land and explore it. These men represented all their clans. They told them, “Go, explore the land.”†

The men entered the hill country of Ephraim and came to the house of Micah,† where they spent the night. 3When they were near Micah’s house, they recognized the voice of the young Levite; so they turned in there and asked him, “Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? Why are you here?”

4He told them what Micah had done for him, and said, “He has hired me and I am his priest.† ”

5Then they said to him, “Please inquire of God† to learn whether our journey will be successful.”

6The priest answered them, “Go in peace†. Your journey has the LORD ’s approval.”

7So the five men left and came to Laish,† where they saw that the people were living in safety, like the Sidonians, unsuspecting and secure. And since their land lacked nothing, they were prosperous.[62] Also, they lived a long way from the Sidonians† and had no relationship with anyone else.[63]

8When they returned to Zorah and Eshtaol, their brothers asked them, “How did you find things?”

9They answered, “Come on, let’s attack them! We have seen that the land is very good. Aren’t you going to do something? Don’t hesitate to go there and take it over.† 10When you get there, you will find an unsuspecting people and a spacious land that God has put into your hands, a land that lacks nothing† whatever.† ”

11Then six hundred men† from the clan of the Danites,† armed for battle, set out from Zorah and Eshtaol. 12On their way they set up camp near Kiriath Jearim in Judah. This is why the place west of Kiriath Jearim is called Mahaneh Dan[64] † to this day. 13From there they went on to the hill country of Ephraim and came to Micah’s house.

14Then the five men who had spied out the land of Laish said to their brothers, “Do you know that one of these houses has an ephod, other household gods, a carved image and a cast idol?† Now you know what to do.” 15So they turned in there and went to the house of the young Levite at Micah’s place and greeted him. 16The six hundred Danites,† armed for battle, stood at the entrance to the gate. 17The five men who had spied out the land went inside and took the carved image, the ephod, the other household gods† and the cast idol while the priest and the six hundred armed men stood at the entrance to the gate.

18When these men went into Micah’s house and took† the carved image, the ephod, the other household gods and the cast idol, the priest said to them, “What are you doing?”

19They answered him, “Be quiet!† Don’t say a word. Come with us, and be our father and priest.† Isn’t it better that you serve a tribe and clan in Israel as priest rather than just one man’s household?” 20Then the priest was glad. He took the ephod, the other household gods and the carved image and went along with the people. 21Putting their little children, their livestock and their possessions in front of them, they turned away and left.

22When they had gone some distance from Micah’s house, the men who lived near Micah were called together and overtook the Danites. 23As they shouted after them, the Danites turned and said to Micah, “What’s the matter with you that you called out your men to fight?”

24He replied, “You took the gods I made, and my priest, and went away. What else do I have? How can you ask, ‘What’s the matter with you?’ ”

25The Danites answered, “Don’t argue with us, or some hot-tempered men will attack you, and you and your family will lose your lives.” 26So the Danites went their way, and Micah, seeing that they were too strong for him,† turned around and went back home.

27Then they took what Micah had made, and his priest, and went on to Laish, against a peaceful and unsuspecting people.† They attacked them with the sword and burned down their city.† 28There was no one to rescue them because they lived a long way from Sidon† and had no relationship with anyone else. The city was in a valley near Beth Rehob.†

The Danites rebuilt the city and settled there. 29They named it Dan† after their forefather Dan, who was born to Israel—though the city used to be called Laish.† 30There the Danites set up for themselves the idols, and Jonathan son of Gershom,† the son of Moses,[65] and his sons were priests for the tribe of Dan until the time of the captivity of the land. 31They continued to use the idols Micah had made, all the time the house of God† was in Shiloh.†


Judges 19

A Levite and His Concubine

1In those days Israel had no king.




Now a Levite who lived in a remote area in the hill country of Ephraim† took a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah.† 2But she was unfaithful to him. She left him and went back to her father’s house in Bethlehem, Judah. After she had been there four months, 3her husband went to her to persuade her to return. He had with him his servant and two donkeys. She took him into her father’s house, and when her father saw him, he gladly welcomed him. 4His father-in-law, the girl’s father, prevailed upon him to stay; so he remained with him three days, eating and drinking,† and sleeping there.

5On the fourth day they got up early and he prepared to leave, but the girl’s father said to his son-in-law, “Refresh yourself† with something to eat; then you can go.” 6So the two of them sat down to eat and drink together. Afterward the girl’s father said, “Please stay tonight and enjoy yourself.† ” 7And when the man got up to go, his father-in-law persuaded him, so he stayed there that night. 8On the morning of the fifth day, when he rose to go, the girl’s father said, “Refresh yourself. Wait till afternoon!” So the two of them ate together.

9Then when the man, with his concubine and his servant, got up to leave, his father-in-law, the girl’s father, said, “Now look, it’s almost evening. Spend the night here; the day is nearly over. Stay and enjoy yourself. Early tomorrow morning you can get up and be on your way home.” 10But, unwilling to stay another night, the man left and went toward Jebus† (that is, Jerusalem), with his two saddled donkeys and his concubine.

11When they were near Jebus and the day was almost gone, the servant said to his master, “Come, let’s stop at this city of the Jebusites† and spend the night.”

12His master replied, “No. We won’t go into an alien city, whose people are not Israelites. We will go on to Gibeah.” 13He added, “Come, let’s try to reach Gibeah or Ramah† and spend the night in one of those places.” 14So they went on, and the sun set as they neared Gibeah in Benjamin.† 15There they stopped to spend the night. They went and sat in the city square,† but no one took them into his home for the night.

16That evening† an old man from the hill country of Ephraim,† who was living in Gibeah (the men of the place were Benjamites), came in from his work in the fields. 17When he looked and saw the traveler in the city square, the old man asked, “Where are you going? Where did you come from?”†

18He answered, “We are on our way from Bethlehem in Judah to a remote area in the hill country of Ephraim where I live. I have been to Bethlehem in Judah and now I am going to the house of the LORD.† No one has taken me into his house. 19We have both straw and fodder† for our donkeys and bread and wine† for ourselves your servants—me, your maidservant, and the young man with us. We don’t need anything.”

20“You are welcome at my house,” the old man said. “Let me supply whatever you need. Only don’t spend the night in the square.” 21So he took him into his house and fed his donkeys. After they had washed their feet, they had something to eat and drink.†

22While they were enjoying themselves,† some of the wicked men† of the city surrounded the house. Pounding on the door, they shouted to the old man who owned the house, “Bring out the man who came to your house so we can have sex with him.† ”

23The owner of the house went outside† and said to them, “No, my friends, don’t be so vile. Since this man is my guest, don’t do this disgraceful thing.† 24Look, here is my virgin daughter,† and his concubine. I will bring them out to you now, and you can use them and do to them whatever you wish. But to this man, don’t do such a disgraceful thing.”

25But the men would not listen to him. So the man took his concubine and sent her outside to them, and they raped her and abused her† throughout the night, and at dawn they let her go. 26At daybreak the woman went back to the house where her master was staying, fell down at the door and lay there until daylight.

27When her master got up in the morning and opened the door of the house and stepped out to continue on his way, there lay his concubine, fallen in the doorway of the house, with her hands on the threshold. 28He said to her, “Get up; let’s go.” But there was no answer. Then the man put her on his donkey and set out for home.

29When he reached home, he took a knife† and cut up his concubine, limb by limb, into twelve parts and sent them into all the areas of Israel.† 30Everyone who saw it said, “Such a thing has never been seen or done, not since the day the Israelites came up out of Egypt.† Think about it! Consider it! Tell us what to do!† ”


Judges 20

Israelites Fight the Benjamites

1Then all the Israelites† from Dan to Beersheba† and from the land of Gilead came out as one man† and assembled† before the LORD in Mizpah. 2The leaders of all the people of the tribes of Israel took their places in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand soldiers† armed with swords. 3(The Benjamites heard that the Israelites had gone up to Mizpah.) Then the Israelites said, “Tell us how this awful thing happened.”




4So the Levite, the husband of the murdered woman, said, “I and my concubine came to Gibeah† in Benjamin to spend the night.† 5During the night the men of Gibeah came after me and surrounded the house, intending to kill me.† They raped my concubine, and she died.† 6I took my concubine, cut her into pieces and sent one piece to each region of Israel’s inheritance,† because they committed this lewd and disgraceful act† in Israel. 7Now, all you Israelites, speak up and give your verdict.† ”

8All the people rose as one man, saying, “None of us will go home. No, not one of us will return to his house. 9But now this is what we’ll do to Gibeah: We’ll go up against it as the lot directs.† 10We’ll take ten men out of every hundred from all the tribes of Israel, and a hundred from a thousand, and a thousand from ten thousand, to get provisions for the army. Then, when the army arrives at Gibeah[66] in Benjamin, it can give them what they deserve for all this vileness done in Israel.” 11So all the men of Israel got together and united as one man† against the city.

12The tribes of Israel sent men throughout the tribe of Benjamin, saying, “What about this awful crime that was committed among you? 13Now surrender those wicked men† of Gibeah so that we may put them to death and purge the evil from Israel.† ”

But the Benjamites would not listen to their fellow Israelites. 14From their towns they came together at Gibeah to fight against the Israelites. 15At once the Benjamites mobilized twenty-six thousand swordsmen from their towns, in addition to seven hundred chosen men from those living in Gibeah. 16Among all these soldiers there were seven hundred chosen men who were left-handed,† each of whom could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.

17Israel, apart from Benjamin, mustered four hundred thousand swordsmen, all of them fighting men.

18The Israelites went up to Bethel[67] and inquired of God.† They said, “Who of us shall go first to fight† against the Benjamites?”

The LORD replied, “Judah shall go first.”

19The next morning the Israelites got up and pitched camp near Gibeah. 20The men of Israel went out to fight the Benjamites and took up battle positions against them at Gibeah. 21The Benjamites came out of Gibeah and cut down twenty-two thousand Israelites† on the battlefield that day. 22But the men of Israel encouraged one another and again took up their positions where they had stationed themselves the first day. 23The Israelites went up and wept before the LORD until evening,† and they inquired of the LORD. They said, “Shall we go up again to battle† against the Benjamites, our brothers?”

The LORD answered, “Go up against them.”

24Then the Israelites drew near to Benjamin the second day. 25This time, when the Benjamites came out from Gibeah to oppose them, they cut down another eighteen thousand Israelites,† all of them armed with swords.

26Then the Israelites, all the people, went up to Bethel, and there they sat weeping before the LORD.† They fasted that day until evening and presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings[68] to the LORD.† 27And the Israelites inquired of the LORD. (In those days the ark of the covenant of God† was there, 28with Phinehas son of Eleazar,† the son of Aaron, ministering before it.)† They asked, “Shall we go up again to battle with Benjamin our brother, or not?”

The LORD responded, “Go, for tomorrow I will give them into your hands.† ”

29Then Israel set an ambush† around Gibeah. 30They went up against the Benjamites on the third day and took up positions against Gibeah as they had done before. 31The Benjamites came out to meet them and were drawn away† from the city. They began to inflict casualties on the Israelites as before, so that about thirty men fell in the open field and on the roads—the one leading to Bethel and the other to Gibeah.

32While the Benjamites were saying, “We are defeating them as before,”† the Israelites were saying, “Let’s retreat and draw them away from the city to the roads.”

33All the men of Israel moved from their places and took up positions at Baal Tamar, and the Israelite ambush charged out of its place† on the west[69] of Gibeah.[70] 34Then ten thousand of Israel’s finest men made a frontal attack on Gibeah. The fighting was so heavy that the Benjamites did not realize† how near disaster was.† 35The LORD defeated Benjamin† before Israel, and on that day the Israelites struck down 25,100 Benjamites, all armed with swords. 36Then the Benjamites saw that they were beaten.

Now the men of Israel had given way† before Benjamin, because they relied on the ambush they had set near Gibeah. 37The men who had been in ambush made a sudden dash into Gibeah, spread out and put the whole city to the sword.† 38The men of Israel had arranged with the ambush that they should send up a great cloud of smoke† from the city, 39and then the men of Israel would turn in the battle.

The Benjamites had begun to inflict casualties on the men of Israel (about thirty), and they said, “We are defeating them as in the first battle.”† 40But when the column of smoke began to rise from the city, the Benjamites turned and saw the smoke of the whole city going up into the sky.† 41Then the men of Israel turned on them, and the men of Benjamin were terrified, because they realized that disaster had come upon them. 42So they fled before the Israelites in the direction of the desert, but they could not escape the battle. And the men of Israel who came out of the towns cut them down there. 43They surrounded the Benjamites, chased them and easily[71] overran them in the vicinity of Gibeah on the east. 44Eighteen thousand Benjamites fell, all of them valiant fighters.† 45As they turned and fled toward the desert to the rock of Rimmon,† the Israelites cut down five thousand men along the roads. They kept pressing after the Benjamites as far as Gidom and struck down two thousand more.

46On that day twenty-five thousand Benjamite swordsmen fell, all of them valiant fighters. 47But six hundred men turned and fled into the desert to the rock of Rimmon, where they stayed four months. 48The men of Israel went back to Benjamin and put all the towns to the sword, including the animals and everything else they found. All the towns they came across they set on fire.†


Judges 21

Wives for the Benjamites

1The men of Israel had taken an oath† at Mizpah:† “Not one of us will give† his daughter in marriage to a Benjamite.”




2The people went to Bethel,[72] where they sat before God until evening, raising their voices and weeping bitterly. 3“O LORD, the God of Israel,” they cried, “why has this happened to Israel? Why should one tribe be missing from Israel today?”

4Early the next day the people built an altar and presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings.[73] †

5Then the Israelites asked, “Who from all the tribes of Israel† has failed to assemble before the LORD?” For they had taken a solemn oath that anyone who failed to assemble before the LORD at Mizpah should certainly be put to death.

6Now the Israelites grieved for their brothers, the Benjamites. “Today one tribe is cut off from Israel,” they said. 7“How can we provide wives for those who are left, since we have taken an oath† by the LORD not to give them any of our daughters in marriage?” 8Then they asked, “Which one of the tribes of Israel failed to assemble before the LORD at Mizpah?” They discovered that no one from Jabesh Gilead† had come to the camp for the assembly. 9For when they counted the people, they found that none of the people of Jabesh Gilead were there.

10So the assembly sent twelve thousand fighting men with instructions to go to Jabesh Gilead and put to the sword those living there, including the women and children. 11“This is what you are to do,” they said. “Kill every male and every woman who is not a virgin.† ” 12They found among the people living in Jabesh Gilead four hundred young women who had never slept with a man, and they took them to the camp at Shiloh† in Canaan.

13Then the whole assembly sent an offer of peace† to the Benjamites at the rock of Rimmon.† 14So the Benjamites returned at that time and were given the women of Jabesh Gilead who had been spared. But there were not enough for all of them.

15The people grieved for Benjamin,† because the LORD had made a gap in the tribes of Israel. 16And the elders of the assembly said, “With the women of Benjamin destroyed, how shall we provide wives for the men who are left? 17The Benjamite survivors must have heirs,” they said, “so that a tribe of Israel will not be wiped out. 18We can’t give them our daughters as wives, since we Israelites have taken this oath: ‘Cursed be anyone who gives† a wife to a Benjamite.’ 19But look, there is the annual festival of the LORD in Shiloh,† to the north of Bethel, and east of the road that goes from Bethel to Shechem, and to the south of Lebonah.”

20So they instructed the Benjamites, saying, “Go and hide in the vineyards 21and watch. When the girls of Shiloh come out to join in the dancing,† then rush from the vineyards and each of you seize a wife from the girls of Shiloh and go to the land of Benjamin. 22When their fathers or brothers complain to us, we will say to them, ‘Do us a kindness by helping them, because we did not get wives for them during the war, and you are innocent, since you did not give† your daughters to them.’ ”

23So that is what the Benjamites did. While the girls were dancing, each man caught one and carried her off to be his wife. Then they returned to their inheritance and rebuilt the towns and settled in them.†

24At that time the Israelites left that place and went home to their tribes and clans, each to his own inheritance.

25In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.†

RUTH

Author, Place and Date of Writing

The author of this little book is unknown. Some scholars have attributed it to Samuel, but its literary style suggests that it may date to the period of the monarchy, years after the events it describes.

Audience

Generations of Israelites after the time of the judges read Ruth. The book offered the Israelites a view of true faith and piety during a time of national disunity, foreign oppression and religious and moral degeneracy.

Cultural Facts and Highlights

During Ruth’s day the Israelites alternated between pleading with God for help during desperate times and forgetting all about the Lord and participating in the debauchery of neighboring cultures. Yet God, working behind the scenes, continued to fulfill his plan of redemption. In a surprising way he used Ruth, a faithful, courageous—and female—foreigner, not only to impact the Jews but also to exercise a key role in changing the world through Jesus.

Timeline

As You Read

Notice the motif of faithful love among God’s people—Ruth’s loyalty to Naomi, the acceptance of Ruth by the citizens of Bethlehem and Boaz’s kindness toward both widows (chs. 2–4). Observe how God orchestrated seemingly insignificant details to work out his overriding purpose. Follow Naomi’s transformation from emptiness to fullness (3:17). Finally, discover the story’s true significance at the end of the book (cf. Mt 1:5–6, 16): Ruth, a foreigner whose faith touched God’s heart, is listed in the lineage of Jesus, who completed God’s redemptive work and fulfilled the promised blessings of God’s kingdom.

Did You Know?


Themes

The book of Ruth contains the following themes:

  1. Acceptance. Ruth demonstrates the truth that participation in the family of God is not based on birth or nationality but on faith in, and obedience to, God.
  2. Kindness and faithfulness. Naomi’s transformation from a woman in despair (1:20) to a joyful person (4:14–16) through the selfless loyalty and kindness of Ruth and Boaz reflects that God’s provision often comes through the love and faithfulness of his obedient people (2:20; 3:10; Lev 19:9–10; Dt 24:19–22).
  3. Redemption. Boaz’s actions to redeem the land (Lev 25:25–29), marry Ruth (Dt 25:5–10) and father a child to keep Naomi’s family line alive (Dt 25:6)—all are symbolic of Christ’s redemption of his bride, the church (Eph 5:25–27; Rev 19:1–8; 22:17), and of his people (Tit 2:14).

Outline

I. Introduction: Naomi Emptied (1:1–5)

II. Naomi Returns From Moab (1:6–22)

III. Ruth and Boaz Meet in the Harvest Fields (2)

IV. Ruth Goes to Boaz (3)

V. Boaz Arranges to Marry Ruth (4:1–12)

VI. Conclusion: Naomi Filled (4:13–17)

VII. Epilogue: Genealogy of David (4:18–22


Ruth 1

Naomi and Ruth

1In the days when the judges ruled,[1] † there was a famine in the land,† and a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab.† 2The man’s name was Elimelech, his wife’s name Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem,† Judah. And they went to Moab and lived there.

3Now Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons. 4They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth.† After they had lived there about ten years, 5both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband.

6When she heard in Moab that the LORD had come to the aid of his people† by providing food† for them, Naomi and her daughters-in-law prepared to return home from there. 7With her two daughters-in-law she left the place where she had been living and set out on the road that would take them back to the land of Judah.

8Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back, each of you, to your mother’s home. May the LORD show kindness† to you, as you have shown to your dead† and to me. 9May the LORD grant that each of you will find rest† in the home of another husband.”

Then she kissed them and they wept aloud 10and said to her, “We will go back with you to your people.”

11But Naomi said, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? Am I going to have any more sons, who could become your husbands?† 12Return home, my daughters; I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me—even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons— 13would you wait until they grew up? Would you remain unmarried for them? No, my daughters. It is more bitter for me than for you, because the LORD’s hand has gone out against me!†”

14At this they wept again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law† good-by, but Ruth clung to her.†

15“Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods.† Go back with her.”

16But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you† or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.† 17Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely,† if anything but death separates you and me.” 18When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.†

19So the two women went on until they came to Bethlehem. When they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred† because of them, and the women exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?”

20“Don’t call me Naomi,[2] ” she told them. “Call me Mara,[3] because the Almighty[4] † has made my life very bitter.† 21I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty.† Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted[5] me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.”

22So Naomi returned from Moab accompanied by Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, arriving in Bethlehem as the barley harvest† was beginning.†


Ruth 2

Ruth Meets Boaz

1Now Naomi had a relative† on her husband’s side, from the clan of Elimelech,† a man of standing, whose name was Boaz.†