Do this: exterminate every male, as well as every woman who has had sexual relations with a male. But spare the lives of any virgins.” So they did as instructed.

These were the nations the Lord permitted to remain so he could use them to test Israel – he wanted to test all those who had not experienced battle against the Canaanites.

That day they killed about ten thousand Moabites – all strong, capable warriors; not one escaped.

When I and all who are with me blow our trumpets, you also blow your trumpets all around the camp. Then say, ‘For the Lord and for Gideon!’”

All the leaders of Shechem and Beth Millo assembled and then went and made Abimelech king by the oak near the pillar in Shechem.

The leaders of all the people from all the tribes of Israel took their places in the assembly of God’s people, which numbered four hundred thousand sword-wielding foot soldiers.

Among this army were seven hundred specially-trained left-handed soldiers. Each one could sling a stone and hit even the smallest target.

That day twenty-five thousand sword-wielding Benjaminites fell in battle, all of them capable warriors.

Abimelech heard that all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem were in one place.

The people worshiped the Lord throughout Joshua’s lifetime and as long as the elderly men who outlived him remained alive. These men had witnessed all the great things the Lord had done for Israel.

She should not drink anything that the grapevine produces. She must not drink wine or beer, and she must not eat any food that will make her ritually unclean. She should obey everything I commanded her to do.”

All the Midianites, Amalekites, and the people from the east assembled. They crossed the Jordan River and camped in the Jezreel Valley.

They stood in order all around the camp. The whole army ran away; they shouted as they scrambled away.

Israelites from Naphtali, Asher, and Manasseh answered the call and chased the Midianites.

“So all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘You come and be our king!’

So Abimelech and all his men came up at night and set an ambush outside Shechem – they divided into four units.

When all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem heard the news, they went to the stronghold of the temple of El-Berith.

They took all the Amorite territory from the Arnon River on the south to the Jabbok River on the north, from the desert in the east to the Jordan in the west.

Now be careful! Do not drink wine or beer, and do not eat any food that will make you ritually unclean.

The Lord’s messenger told Manoah, “Your wife should pay attention to everything I told her.