And after him Elon, a Zebulonite, judged Israel; and he judged Israel ten years. And the children of Israel went up against the children of Benjamin on the third day, and put themselves in array against Gibeah, as at other times. They chose new gods; then was war in the gates: was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel? My heart is toward the governors of Israel, that offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless ye the LORD.
So the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years. And the children of Benjamin were numbered at that time out of the cities twenty and six thousand men that drew sword, beside the inhabitants of Gibeah, which were numbered seven hundred chosen men. Howbeit the king of the children of Ammon hearkened not unto the words of Jephthah which he sent him. And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the LORD blessed him. For it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven from off the altar, that the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of the altar. And Manoah and his wife looked on it, and fell on their faces to the ground. And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.