And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and he said, Because that this people hath transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice; I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died: That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not. Then he made him that remaineth have dominion over the nobles among the people: the LORD made me have dominion over the mighty. Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. And Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then died Jephthah the Gileadite, and was buried in one of the cities of Gilead. And Ehud escaped while they tarried, and passed beyond the quarries, and escaped unto Seirath. And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcase of the lion: and, behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcase of the lion.
And when the man rose up to depart, his father in law urged him: therefore he lodged there again. And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that, they entered into an hold of the house of the god Berith. And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go. The river of Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. O my soul, thou hast trodden down strength. And afterward the children of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites, that dwelt in the mountain, and in the south, and in the valley.
And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the LORD. And his father in law, the damsel’s father, retained him; and he abode with him three days: so they did eat and drink, and lodged there. And after him Abdon the son of Hillel, a Pirathonite, judged Israel.