Study Desk

Jael went out to greet Sisera and said to him, "Come in, my lord. Come in with me. Do not be afraid." So he went into her tent, and she covered him with a blanket.

Sisera said to her, "Please give me a little water to drink, for I am thirsty." So she opened a container of milk, gave him a drink, and covered him again.

When Barak arrived in pursuit of Sisera, Jael went out to greet him and said to him, "Come, and I will show you the man you are seeking." So he went in with her, and there lay Sisera dead, with a tent peg through his temple.

Sisera's mother looked through the window; she peered through the lattice and lamented: 'Why is his chariot so long in coming? What has delayed the clatter of his chariots?'

So may all your enemies perish, O LORD, But may those who love You shine like the sun at its brightest." And the land had rest for forty years.

Again the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD; so He handed them over to Midian for seven years,

So Gideon went in and prepared a young goat and unleavened bread and an ephah of flour. He placed the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot and brought them out to present to Him under the oak.

And the Angel of God said to him, "Take the meat and the unleavened bread, lay them on this rock, and pour out the broth." And Gideon did so.

So Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and called it The LORD is Peace. To this day it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as the LORD had told him. But because he was too afraid of his father's household and the men of the city, he did it by night rather than in the daytime.

So on that day Gideon was called Jerubbaal, that is to say, "Let Baal contend with him," because he had torn down his altar.

So the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, who blew the trumpet and rallied the Abiezrites behind him.

Calling them to arms, Gideon sent messengers throughout Manasseh, as well as Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, so that they came up to meet him.

And that night God did so. Only the fleece was dry, and dew covered the ground.

Now, therefore, proclaim in the hearing of the people: 'Whoever is fearful and trembling may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.'" So twenty-two thousand of them turned back, but ten thousand remained.

So Gideon brought the people down to the water, and the LORD said to him, "Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel to drink."

So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites to their tents but kept the three hundred men, who took charge of the provisions and trumpets of the others. And the camp of Midian lay below him in the valley.

But if you are afraid to do so, then go down to the camp with your servant Purah

and listen to what they are saying. Then your hands will be strengthened to attack the camp." So he went with Purah his servant to the outposts where armed men were guarding the camp.

And as Gideon arrived, a man was telling his friend about a dream. "Behold, I had a dream," he said, "and I saw a loaf of barley bread come tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent so hard that the tent overturned and collapsed."