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THE FIRST PART

OF THE

HISTORY

OF THE

WORLD:

ENTREATING OF THE

TIMES FROM THE BIRTH OF ABRAHAM TO THE DESTRUCTION OF THE TEMPLE OF SOLOMON.

BOOK II. CONTINUED.

CHAP. XIII.

Of the memorable things that happened in the world from the death of Joshua to the war of Troy; which was about the time of Jephtha.

SECT. V.

Of Gideon, and of Dædalus, Sphinx, Minos, and others that lived in this age.

DEBORA and Barac being dead, the Midianites, assisted by the Amalekites, infested Israel. For when under a judge who had held them in the fear of the Lord, they had enjoyed any quiet or prosperity, the judge was no sooner dead, than they turned to their former impious idolatry. Therefore now the neighbouring nations did so master them in a short time, (the hand of God being withheld from their defence,) as to save themselves they Pcrept into caves of ⚫ Judg. vi.

RALEGH, HIST. WORLD. VOL. II.

D d

the mountains, and other the like places of hardest access; their enemies possessing all the plains and fruitful valleys; and in harvest time by themselves, and the multitude of their cattle, destroying all that grew up, covering the fields as thick as grasshoppers; which servitude lasted seven years.

Then the Lord by his angel stirred up 4 Gideon the son of Joash, afterwards called Jerubbaal; whose fear and un`willingness, and how it pleased God to hearten him in his enterprise, it is both largely and precisely set down in the holy scriptures: as also how it pleased God by a few select persons, 'namely 300 out of 32,000 men, to make them know that he only was the Lord of hosts. Each of these 300, by Gideon's appointment, carried a trumpet, and light in a pitcher, instruments of more terror than force, with which he gave the great army of their enemies an alarum ; who hearing so loud a noise, and seeing (at the crack of so many pitchers broken) so many lights about them, esteeming the army of Israel to be infinite, and strucken with a sudden fear, they all fled without a stroke stricken; and were slaughtered in great numbers, two of their princes being made prisoners and slain. In his return, the Ephraimites began to quarrel with Gideon, because he made war without their assistance, being then greedy of glory, the victory being gotten; who, if Gideon had failed, and fallen in the enterprise, would no doubt have held themselves happy by being neglected. But Gideon appeasing them with a mild answer, followed after the enemy, in which pursuit being tired with travel, and weary even with the slaughtering of his enemies, he desired relief from the inhabitants of Succoth, to the end that (his men being refreshed) he might overtake the other two kings of the Midianites, which had saved themselves by flight. For they were four princes of the nations which had invaded and wasted Israel; to wit, Oreb and Zeeb, which were taken already, and Zebah and Salmunna, which fled.

Gideon being denied by them of Succoth, sought the like

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relief from the inhabitants of Penuel, who in like sort refused to succour him. To both of these places he threatened therefore the revenge, which in his return from the prosecution of the other two princes he performed; to wit, that he would tear the flesh of those of Succoth with thorns and briers, and destroy the inhabitants and city of Penuel. Now why the people of these two cities should refuse relief to their brethren the Israelites, especially after so great a victory, if I may presume to make conjecture, it seems likely, first, that those cities set over Jordan, and in the way of all invasions to be made by the Moabites, and Ammonites, and Midianites into Israel, had either made their own peace with those nations, and were not spoiled by them; or else they knowing that Zeba and Salmunna were escaped with a great part of their army, might fear their revenge in the future. Secondly, it may be laid to the condition and dispositions of these men, as it is not rare to find of the like humour in all ages. For there are multitudes of men, especially of those which follow the war, that both envy and malign others, if they perform any praiseworthy actions for the honour and safety of their own country, though themselves may be assured to bear a part of the smart of contrary success. And such malicious hearts can rather be contented that their prince and country should suffer hazard, and want, than that such men as they mislike should be the authors or actors of any glory or good to either.

Now Gideon, how or wheresoever it were that he refreshed himself and his weary and hungry soldiers, yet he followed the opportunity, and pursued his former victory to the uttermost: and finding Zeba and Salmunna in s Karkor, (suspecting no further attempt upon them,) he again surprised them, and slaughtered those 15,000 remaining; having put to the sword in the former attempt 120,000, and withal he took Zeba and Salmunna prisoners; whom, because themselves had executed Gideon's brethren before at Tabor, he caused to be slain; or (as it is written) at their own request slew them with his own hands: his son, whom A place in Basan, as it is thought, Judg. viii. 10.

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