From: "FamilyNet Direct" 

Bible Reading for March 21

Judges 9
[1] And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother's
brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family of the house of
his mother's father, saying,
[2] Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether is
better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, which are threescore
and ten persons, reign over you, or that one reign over you? remember also
that I am your bone and your flesh. [3] And his mother's brethren spake of
him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words: and their hearts
inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, He is our brother.
[4] And they gave him threescore and ten pieces of silver out of the house
of Baal-berith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light persons, which
followed him.
[5] And he went unto his father's house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren
the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone:
notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he
hid himself.
[6] And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of
Millo, and went, and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that
was in Shechem.
[7] And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount
Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken
unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you. [8] The trees
went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the
olive tree, Reign thou over us. [9] But the olive tree said unto them,
Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go
to be promoted over the trees? [10] And the trees said to the fig tree,
Come thou, and reign over us. [11] But the fig tree said unto them, Should
I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the
trees? [12] Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over
us. [13] And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which
cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? [14] Then said
all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us. [15] And the
bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then
come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the
bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon. [16] Now therefore, if ye have
done truly and sincerely, in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye
have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him
according to the deserving of his hands; [17] (For my father fought for
you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of
Midian: [18] And ye are risen up against my father's house this day, and
have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have
made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem,
because he is your brother;)
[19] If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his
house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in
you:
[20] But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of
Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of
Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech. [21] And Jotham
ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of
Abimelech his brother.
[22] When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel, [23] Then God sent
an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of
Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech: [24] That the cruelty done to
the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be
laid upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them; and upon the men of
Shechem, which aided him in the killing of his brethren. [25] And the men
of Shechem set liers in wait for him in the top of the mountains, and they
robbed all that came along that way by them: and it was told Abimelech.
[26] And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to
Shechem: and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him. [27] And they
went out into the fields, and gathered their vineyards, and trode the
grapes, and made merry, and went into the house of their god, and did eat
and drink, and cursed Abimelech. [28] And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is
Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? is not he the son
of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? serve the men of Hamor the father of
Shechem: for why should we serve him?
[29] And would to God this people were under my hand! then would I remove
Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase thine army, and come out.
[30] And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son
of Ebed, his anger was kindled.
[31] And he sent messengers unto Abimelech privily, saying, Behold, Gaal
the son of Ebed and his brethren be come to Shechem; and, behold, they
fortify the city against thee.
[32] Now therefore up by night, thou and the people that is with thee, and
lie in wait in the field:
[33] And it shall be, that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, thou
shalt rise early, and set upon the city: and, behold, when he and the
people that is with him come out against thee, then mayest thou do to them
as thou shalt find occasion.
[34] And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by
night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies. [35] And Gaal
the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entering of the gate of the
city: and Abimelech rose up, and the people that were with him, from lying
in wait.
[36] And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there come
people down from the top of the mountains. And Zebul said unto him, Thou
seest the shadow of the mountains as if they were men. [37] And Gaal spake
again and said, See there come people down by the middle of the land, and
another company come along by the plain of Meonenim. [38] Then said Zebul
unto him, Where is now thy mouth, wherewith thou saidst, Who is Abimelech,
that we should serve him? is not this the people that thou hast despised?
go out, I pray now, and fight with them. [39] And Gaal went out before the
men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech. [40] And Abimelech chased him,
and he fled before him, and many were overthrown and wounded, even unto the
entering of the gate. [41] And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul thrust
out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem. [42] And
it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and
they told Abimelech.
[43] And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and
laid wait in the field, and looked, and, behold, the people were come forth
out of the city; and he rose up against them, and smote them. [44] And
Abimelech, and the company that was with him, rushed forward, and stood in
the entering of the gate of the city: and the two other companies ran upon
all the people that were in the fields, and slew them. [45] And Abimelech
fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the
people that was therein, and beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.
[46] And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that, they entered
into an hold of the house of the god Berith. [47] And it was told
Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.
[48] And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that
were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough
from the trees, and took it, and laid it on his shoulder, and said unto the
people that were with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, and do as I
have done.
[49] And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed
Abimelech, and put them to the hold, and set the hold on fire upon them; so
that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men
and women.
[50] Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.
[51] But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the
men and women, and all they of the city, and shut it to them, and gat them
up to the top of the tower.
[52] And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and went
hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire. [53] And a certain
woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech's head, and all to brake
his skull.
[54] Then he called hastily unto the young man his armourbearer, and said
unto him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A woman slew
him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died. [55] And when the
men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his
place.
[56] Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his
father, in slaying his seventy brethren: [57] And all the evil of the men
of Shechem did God render upon their heads: and upon them came the curse of
Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.

Judges 10
[1] And after Abimelech there arose to defend Israel Tola the son of Puah,
the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; and he dwelt in Shamir in mount
Ephraim. [2] And he judged Israel twenty and three years, and died, and was
buried in Shamir.
[3] And after him arose Jair, a Gileadite, and judged Israel twenty and two years.
[4] And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts, and they had
thirty cities, which are called Havoth-jair unto this day, which are in the
land of Gilead.
[5] And Jair died, and was buried in Camon. [6] And the children of Israel
did evil again in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth,
and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the
gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook
the LORD, and served not him. [7] And the anger of the LORD was hot against
Israel, and he sold them into the hands of the Philistines, and into the
hands of the children of Ammon. [8] And that year they vexed and oppressed
the children of Israel: eighteen years, all the children of Israel that
were on the other side Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in
Gilead. [9] Moreover the children of Ammon passed over Jordan to fight also
against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim; so
that Israel was sore distressed.
[10] And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, saying, We have sinned
against thee, both because we have forsaken our God, and also served
Baalim. [11] And the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Did not I
deliver you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of
Ammon, and from the Philistines?
[12] The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress
you; and ye cried to me, and I delivered you out of their hand. [13] Yet ye
have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no
more.
[14] Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in
the time of your tribulation.
[15] And the children of Israel said unto the LORD, We have sinned: do thou
unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee,
this day.
[16] And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the
LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel. [17] Then the
children of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in Gilead. And the
children of Israel assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpeh.
[18] And the people and princes of Gilead said one to another, What man is
he that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? he shall be head
over all the inhabitants of Gilead.

Judges 11
[1] Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour, and he was the
son of an harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah. [2] And Gilead's wife bare him
sons; and his wife's sons grew up, and they thrust out Jephthah, and said
unto him, Thou shalt not inherit in our father's house; for thou art the
son of a strange woman. [3] Then Jephthah fled from his brethren, and dwelt
in the land of Tob: and there were gathered vain men to Jephthah, and went
out with him. [4] And it came to pass in process of time, that the children
of Ammon made war against Israel.
[5] And it was so, that when the children of Ammon made war against Israel,
the elders of Gilead went to fetch Jephthah out of the land of Tob: [6] And
they said unto Jephthah, Come, and be our captain, that we may fight with
the children of Ammon.
[7] And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, Did not ye hate me, and
expel me out of my father's house? and why are ye come unto me now when ye
are in distress?
[8] And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, Therefore we turn again to
thee now, that thou mayest go with us, and fight against the children of
Ammon, and be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead. [9] And Jephthah
said unto the elders of Gilead, If ye bring me home again to fight against
the children of Ammon, and the LORD deliver them before me, shall I be your
head?
[10] And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, The LORD be witness
between us, if we do not so according to thy words. [11] Then Jephthah went
with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and captain over
them: and Jephthah uttered all his words before the LORD in Mizpeh.
[12] And Jephthah sent messengers unto the king of the children of Ammon,
saying, What hast thou to do with me, that thou art come against me to
fight in my land?
[13] And the king of the children of Ammon answered unto the messengers of
Jephthah, Because Israel took away my land, when they came up out of Egypt,
from Arnon even unto Jabbok, and unto Jordan: now therefore restore those
lands again peaceably.
[14] And Jephthah sent messengers again unto the king of the children of Ammon:
[15] And said unto him, Thus saith Jephthah, Israel took not away the land
of Moab, nor the land of the children of Ammon: [16] But when Israel came
up from Egypt, and walked through the wilderness unto the Red sea, and came
to Kadesh; [17] Then Israel sent messengers unto the king of Edom, saying,
Let me, I pray thee, pass through thy land: but the king of Edom would not
hearken thereto. And in like manner they sent unto the king of Moab: but he
would not consent: and Israel abode in Kadesh. [18] Then they went along
through the wilderness, and compassed the land of Edom, and the land of
Moab, and came by the east side of the land of Moab, and pitched on the
other side of Arnon, but came not within the border of Moab: for Arnon was
the border of Moab. [19] And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the
Amorites, the king of Heshbon; and Israel said unto him, Let us pass, we
pray thee, through thy land into my place.
[20] But Sihon trusted not Israel to pass through his coast: but Sihon
gathered all his people together, and pitched in Jahaz, and fought against
Israel.
[21] And the LORD God of Israel delivered Sihon and all his people into the
hand of Israel, and they smote them: so Israel possessed all the land of
the Amorites, the inhabitants of that country. [22] And they possessed all
the coasts of the Amorites, from Arnon even unto Jabbok, and from the
wilderness even unto Jordan. [23] So now the LORD God of Israel hath
dispossessed the Amorites from before his people Israel, and shouldest thou
possess it? [24] Wilt not thou possess that which Chemosh thy god giveth
thee to possess? So whomsoever the LORD our God shall drive out from before
us, them will we possess.
[25] And now art thou any thing better than Balak the son of Zippor, king
of Moab? did he ever strive against Israel, or did he ever fight against
them, [26] While Israel dwelt in Heshbon and her towns, and in Aroer and
her towns, and in all the cities that be along by the coasts of Arnon,
three hundred years? why therefore did ye not recover them within that
time? [27] Wherefore I have not sinned against thee, but thou doest me
wrong to war against me: the LORD the Judge be judge this day between the
children of Israel and the children of Ammon.
[28] Howbeit the king of the children of Ammon hearkened not unto the words
of Jephthah which he sent him.
[29] Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, and he passed over
Gilead, and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of
Gilead he passed over unto the children of Ammon. [30] And Jephthah vowed a
vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the
children of Ammon into mine hands, [31] Then it shall be, that whatsoever
cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace
from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD's, and I will offer it
up for a burnt offering. [32] So Jephthah passed over unto the children of
Ammon to fight against them; and the LORD delivered them into his hands.
[33] And he smote them from Aroer, even till thou come to Minnith, even
twenty cities, and unto the plain of the vineyards, with a very great
slaughter. Thus the children of Ammon were subdued before the children of
Israel.
[34] And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter
came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only
child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter. [35] And it came to
pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes, and said, Alas, my
daughter! thou hast brought me very low, and thou art one of them that
trouble me: for I have opened my mouth unto the LORD, and I cannot go back.
[36] And she said unto him, My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth unto
the LORD, do to me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth;
forasmuch as the LORD hath taken vengeance for thee of thine enemies, even
of the children of Ammon.
[37] And she said unto her father, Let this thing be done for me: let me
alone two months, that I may go up and down upon the mountains, and bewail
my virginity, I and my fellows.
[38] And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months: and she went
with her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains. [39]
And it came to pass at the end of two months, that she returned unto her
father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed: and she
knew no man. And it was a custom in Israel, [40] That the daughters of
Israel went yearly to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four
days in a year.

Judges 12
[1] And the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and went
northward, and said unto Jephthah, Wherefore passedst thou over to fight
against the children of Ammon, and didst not call us to go with thee? we
will burn thine house upon thee with fire.
[2] And Jephthah said unto them, I and my people were at great strife with
the children of Ammon; and when I called you, ye delivered me not out of
their hands.
[3] And when I saw that ye delivered me not, I put my life in my hands, and
passed over against the children of Ammon, and the LORD delivered them into
my hand: wherefore then are ye come up unto me this day, to fight against
me?
[4] Then Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead, and fought with
Ephraim: and the men of Gilead smote Ephraim, because they said, Ye
Gileadites are fugitives of Ephraim among the Ephraimites, and among the
Manassites.
[5] And the Gileadites took the passages of Jordan before the Ephraimites:
and it was so, that when those Ephraimites which were escaped said, Let me
go over; that the men of Gilead said unto him, Art thou an Ephraimite? If
he said, Nay;
[6] Then said they unto him, Say now Shibboleth: and he said Sibboleth: for
he could not frame to pronounce it right. Then they took him, and slew him
at the passages of Jordan: and there fell at that time of the Ephraimites
forty and two thousand.
[7] And Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then died Jephthah the Gileadite,
and was buried in one of the cities of Gilead. [8] And after him Ibzan of
Bethlehem judged Israel. [9] And he had thirty sons, and thirty daughters,
whom he sent abroad, and took in thirty daughters from abroad for his sons.
And he judged Israel seven years.
[10] Then died Ibzan, and was buried at Bethlehem. [11] And after him Elon,
a Zebulonite, judged Israel; and he judged Israel ten years.
[12] And Elon the Zebulonite died, and was buried in Aijalon in the country
of Zebulun.
[13] And after him Abdon the son of Hillel, a Pirathonite, judged Israel.
[14] And he had forty sons and thirty nephews, that rode on threescore and
ten ass colts: and he judged Israel eight years. [15] And Abdon the son of
Hillel the Pirathonite died, and was buried in Pirathon in the land of
Ephraim, in the mount of the Amalekites.

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