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And there they found Adoni-bezek and fought against him, striking down the Canaanites and Perizzites.

As Adoni-bezek fled, they pursued him, seized him, and cut off his thumbs and big toes.

Then Adoni-bezek said, "Seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off have gathered the scraps under my table. As I have done, so God has repaid me." And they brought him to Jerusalem, where he died.

Then the men of Judah fought against Jerusalem and captured it. They put the city to the sword and set it on fire.

Judah also marched against the Canaanites who were living in Hebron (formerly known as Kiriath-arba), and they struck down Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai.

The LORD was with Judah, and they took possession of the hill country; but they could not drive out the inhabitants of the plains, because they had chariots of iron.

and when the spies saw a man coming out of the city, they said to him, "Please show us how to get into the city, and we will treat you kindly."

So the man showed them the entrance to the city, and they put the city to the sword but released that man and all his family.

And the Amorites were determined to dwell in Mount Heres, Aijalon, and Shaalbim. But when the house of Joseph grew in strength, they pressed the Amorites into forced labor.

So now I tell you that I will not drive out these people before you; they will be thorns in your sides, and their gods will be a snare to you."

So they called that place Bochim and offered sacrifices there to the LORD.

Thus they forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and they followed after various gods of the people all around them. They bowed down to them and provoked the LORD to anger,

for they forsook Him and served Baal and the Ashtoreths.

Then the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He handed them over to raiders who plundered them. He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, whom they were no longer able to resist.

Israel, however, did not listen to their judges. Instead, they prostituted themselves with other gods and bowed down to them. They quickly turned from the way of their fathers, who had walked in obedience to the LORD's commandments; they did not do as their fathers had done.

But when the judge died, the Israelites became even more corrupt than their fathers, going after other gods to serve them and bow down to them. They would not turn from their evil practices and stubborn ways.

And they took the daughters of these people in marriage, gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods.

So the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD; they forgot the LORD their God and served the Baals and the Asherahs.

And again they cried out to the LORD, and He raised up Ehud son of Gera, a left-handed Benjamite, as their deliverer. So they sent him with tribute to Eglon king of Moab.

After Ehud was gone, Eglon's servants came in and found the doors of the upstairs room locked. "He must be relieving himself in the cool room," they said.