Israel was so severely weakened by Midian that the Israelites cried out to the Lord for help.

Since the Lord God of Israel has driven out the Amorites before his people Israel, do you think you can just take it from them?

After him Elon the Zebulunite led Israel for ten years.

Abimelech commanded Israel for three years.

So Israel hid men in ambush outside Gibeah.

Israel sent messengers to King Sihon, the Amorite king who ruled in Heshbon, and said to him, “Please allow us to pass through your land to our land.”

But Sihon did not trust Israel to pass through his territory. He assembled his whole army, camped in Jahaz, and fought with Israel.

The Benjaminites heard that the Israelites had gone up to Mizpah. Then the Israelites said, “Explain how this wicked thing happened!”

The men of Israel marched out to fight Benjamin; they arranged their battle lines against Gibeah.

All the men of Israel got up from their places and took their positions at Baal Tamar, while the Israelites hiding in ambush jumped out of their places west of Gibeah.

My heart went out to Israel’s leaders, to the people who answered the call to war. Praise the Lord!

It was some time after this when the Ammonites fought with Israel.

After him Ibzan of Bethlehem led Israel.

After him Abdon son of Hillel the Pirathonite led Israel.

Samson led Israel for twenty years during the days of Philistine prominence.

The Israelites got up the next morning and moved against Gibeah.

So the Israelites marched toward the Benjaminites the next day.

The Lord God of Israel handed Sihon and his whole army over to Israel and they defeated them. Israel took all the land of the Amorites who lived in that land.

Whenever Israel was strong militarily, they forced the Canaanites to do hard labor, but they never totally conquered them.

When Joshua dismissed the people, the Israelites went to their allotted portions of territory, intending to take possession of the land.