Jasher, Chapter 37

Year 2213
1 And in the one hundred and fifth year of the life of Yacob, that is the ninth year of Yacob's dwelling with his children in the land of Canaan, he came from Padan-aram.
2 And in those days Yacob journeyed with his children from Hebron, and they went and returned to the city of Shechem, they and all belonging to them, and they dwelt there, for the children of Yacob obtained good and fat pasture land for their cattle in the city of Shechem, the city of Shechem having then been rebuilt, and there were in it about three hundred men and women.
3 And Yacob and his children and all belonging to him dwelt in the part of the field which Yacob had bought from Hamor the father of Shechem, when he came from Padan-aram before Simeon and Levi had smitten the city.
4 And all those kings of the Canaanites and Amorites that surrounded the city of Shechem, heard that the sons of Yacob had again come to Shechem and dwelt there.
5 And they said, Shall the sons of Yacob the Hebrew again come to the city and dwell therein, after that they have smitten its inhabitants and driven them out? shall they now return and also drive out those who are dwelling in the city or slay them?
6 And all the kings of Canaan again assembled, and they came together to make war with Yacob and his sons.
7 And Jashub king of Tapnach sent also to all his neighboring kings, to Elan king of Gaash, and to Ihuri king of Shiloh, and to Parathon king of Chazar, and to Susi king of Sarton, and to Laban king of Bethchoran, and to Shabir king of Othnay-mah, saying,
8 Come up to me and assist me, and let us smite Yacob the Hebrew and his sons, and all belonging to him, for they are again come to Shechem to possess it and to slay its inhabitants as before.
9 And all these kings assembled together and came with all their camps, a people exceedingly plentiful like the sand upon the sea shore, and they were all opposite to Tapnach.
10 And Jashub king of Tapnach went forth to them with all his army, and he encamped with them opposite to Tapnach without the city, and all these kings they divided into seven divisions, being seven camps against the sons of Yacob.
11 And they sent a declaration to Yacob and his son, saying, Come you all forth to us that we may have an interview together in the plain, and revenge the cause of the men of Shechem whom you slew in their city, and you will now again return to the city of Shechem and dwell therein, and slay its inhabitants as before.
12 And the sons of Yacob heard this and their anger was kindled exceedingly at the words of the kings of Canaan, and ten of the sons of Yacob hastened and rose up, and each of them girt on his weapons of war; and there were one hundred and two of their servants with them equipped in battle array.
13 And all these men, the sons of Yacob with their servants, went toward these kings, and Yacob their father was with them, and they all stood upon the heap of Shechem.
14 And Yacob prayed to YAHWEH for his sons, and he spread forth his hands to YAHWEH, and he said, O YAHWEH, you are an Almighty YAHWEH, you are our father, you didst form us and we are the works of your hands; I pray you deliver my sons through your mercy from the hand of their enemies, who are this day coming to fight with them and save them from their hand, for in your hand is power and might, to save the few from the many.
15 And give unto my sons, your servants, strength of heart and might to fight with their enemies, to subdue them, and make their enemies fall before them, and let not my sons and their servants die through the hands of the children of Canaan.
16 But if it seems good in your eyes to take away the lives of my sons and their servants, take them in your great mercy through the hands of your ministers, that they may not perish this day by the hands of the kings of the Amorites.
17 And when Yacob ceased praying to YAHWEH the earth shook from its place, and the sun darkened, and all these kings were terrified and a great consternation seized them.
18 And YAHWEH hearkened to the prayer of Yacob, and YAHWEH impressed the hearts of all the kings and their hosts with the terror and awe of the sons of Yacob.
19 For YAHWEH caused them to hear the voice of chariots, and the voice of mighty horses from the sons of Yacob, and the voice of a great army accompanying them.
20 And these kings were seized with great terror at the sons of Yacob, and while they were standing in their quarters, behold the sons of Yacob advanced upon them, with one hundred and twelve men, with a great and tremendous shouting.
21 And when the kings saw the sons of Yacob advancing toward them, they were still more panic struck, and they were inclined to retreat from before the sons of Yacob as at first, and not to fight with them.
22 But they did not retreat, saying, It would be a disgrace to us thus twice to retreat from before the Hebrews.
23 And the sons of Yacob came near and advanced against all these kings and their armies, and they saw, and behold it was a very mighty people, numerous as the sand of the sea.
24 And the sons of Yacob called unto YAHWEH and said, Help us O YAHWEH, help us and answer us, for we trust in you, and let us not die by the hands of these uncircumcised men, who this day have come against us.
25 And the sons of Yacob girt on their weapons of war, and they took in their hands each man his shield and his javelin, and they approached to battle.
26 And Yahudah, the son of Yacob, ran first before his brethren, and ten of his servants with him, and he went toward these kings.
27 And Jashub, king of Tapnach, also came forth first with his army before Yahudah, and Yahudah saw Jashub and his army coming toward him, and Yahudah's wrath was kindled, and his anger burned within him, and he approached to battle in which Yahudah ventured his life.
28 And Jashub and all his army were advancing toward Yahudah, and he was riding upon a very strong and powerful horse, and Jashub was a very valiant man, and covered with iron and brass from head to foot.
29 And while he was upon the horse, he shot arrows with both hands from before and behind, as was his manner in all his battles, and he never missed the place to which he aimed his arrows.
30 And when Jashub came to fight with Yahudah, and was darting many arrows against Yahudah, YAHWEH bound the hand of Jashub, and all the arrows that he shot rebounded upon his own men.
31 And notwithstanding this, Jashub kept advancing toward Yahudah, to challenge him with the arrows, but the distance between them was about thirty cubits, and when Yahudah saw Jashub darting forth his arrows against him, he ran to him with his wrath-excited might.
32 And Yahudah took up a large stone from the ground, and its weight was sixty shekels, and Yahudah ran toward Jashub, and with the stone struck him on his shield, that Jashub was stunned with the blow, and fell off from his horse to the ground.
33 And the shield burst asunder out of the hand of Jashub, and through the force of the blow sprang to the distance of about fifteen cubits, and the shield fell before the second camp.
34 And the kings that came with Jashub saw at a distance the strength of Yahudah, the son of Yacob, and what he had done to Jashub, and they were terribly afraid of Yahudah.
35 And they assembled near Jashub's camp, seeing his confusion, and Yahudah drew his sword and smote forty-two men of the camp of Jashub, and the whole of Jashub's camp fled before Yahudah, and no man stood against him, and they left Jashub and fled from him, and Jashub was still prostrate upon the ground.
36 And Jashub seeing that all the men of his camp had fled from him, hastened and rose up with terror against Yahudah, and stood upon his legs opposite Yahudah.
37 And Jashub had a single combat with Yahudah, placing shield toward shield, and Jashub's men all fled, for they were greatly afraid of Yahudah.
38 And Jashub took his spear in his hand to strike Yahudah upon his head, but Yahudah had quickly placed his shield to his head against Jashub's spear, so that the shield of Yahudah received the blow from Jashub's spear, and the shield was split in too.
39 And when Yahudah saw that his shield was split, he hastily drew his sword and smote Jashub at his ankles, and cut off his feet that Jashub fell upon the ground, and the spear fell from his hand.
40 And Yahudah hastily picked up Jashub's spear, with which he severed his head and cast it next to his feet.
41 And when the sons of Yacob saw what Yahudah had done to Jashub, they all ran into the ranks of the other kings, and the sons of Yacob fought with the army of Jashub, and the armies of all the kings that were there.
42 And the sons of Yacob caused fifteen thousand of their men to fall, and they smote them as if smiting at gourds, and the rest fled for their lives.
43 And Yahudah was still standing by the body of Jashub, and stripped Jashub of his coat of mail.
44 And Yahudah also took off the iron and brass that was about Jashub, and behold nine men of the captains of Jashub came along to fight against Yahudah.
45 And Yahudah hastened and took up a stone from the ground, and with it smote one of them upon the head, and his skull was fractured, and the body also fell from the horse to the ground.
46 And the eight captains that remained, seeing the strength of Yahudah, were greatly afraid and they fled, and Yahudah with his ten men pursued them, and they overtook them and slew them.
47 And the sons of Yacob were still smiting the armies of the kings, and they slew many of them, but those kings daringly kept their stand with their captains, and did not retreat from their places, and they exclaimed against those of their armies that fled from before the sons of Yacob, but none would listen to them, for they were afraid of their lives lest they should die.
48 And all the sons of Yacob, after having smitten the armies of the kings, returned and came before Yahudah, and Yahudah was still slaying the eight captains of Jashub, and stripping off their garments.
49 And Levi saw Elon, king of Gaash, advancing toward him, with his fourteen captains to smite him, but Levi did not know it for certain.
50 And Elon with his captains approached nearer, and Levi looked back and saw that battle was given him in the rear, and Levi ran with twelve of his servants, and they went and slew Elon and his captains with the edge of the sword.

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Jasher, Chapter 34

1 And the number of all the males that were circumcised, were six hundred and forty-five men, and two hundred and forty-six children.
2 But Chiddekem, son of Pered, the father of Hamor, and his six brothers, would not listen unto Shechem and his father Hamor, and they would not be circumcised, for the proposal of the sons of Yacob was loathsome in their sight, and their anger was greatly roused at this, that the people of the city had not hearkened to them.
3 And in the evening of the second day, they found eight small children who had not been circumcised, for their mothers had concealed them from Shechem and his father Hamor, and from the men of the city.
4 And Shechem and his father Hamor sent to have them brought before them to be circumcised, when Chiddekem and his six brothers sprang at them with their swords, and sought to slay them.
5 And they sought to slay also Shechem and his father Hamor and they sought to slay Dinah with them on account of this matter.
6 And they said unto them, What is this thing that you have done? are there no women amongst the daughters of your brethren the Canaanites, that you wish to take unto yourselves daughters of the Hebrews, whom ye knew not before, and will do this act which your fathers never commanded you?
7 Do you imagine that you will succeed through this act which you have done? and what will you answer in this affair to your brethren the Canaanites, who will come tomorrow and ask you concerning this thing?
8 And if your act shall not appear just and good in their sight, what will you do for your lives, and me for our lives, in your not having hearkened to our voices?
9 And if the inhabitants of the land and all your brethren the children of Ham, shall hear of your act, saying,
10 On account of a Hebrew woman did Shechem and Hamor his father, and all the inhabitants of their city, do that with which they had been unacquainted and which their ancestors never commanded them, where then will you fly or where conceal your shame, all your days before your brethren, the inhabitants of the land of Canaan?
11 Now therefore we cannot bear up against this thing which you have done, neither can we be burdened with this yoke upon us, which our ancestors did not command us.
12 Behold tomorrow we will go and assemble all our brethren, the Canaanitish brethren who dwell in the land, and we will all come and smite you and all those who trust in you, that there shall not be a remnant left from you or them.
13 And when Hamor and his son Shechem and all the people of the city heard the words of Chiddekem and his brothers, they were terribly afraid of their lives at their words, and they repented of what they had done.
14 And Shechem and his father Hamor answered their father Chiddekem and his brethren, and they said unto them, All the words which you spoke unto us are true.
15 Now do not say, nor imagine in your hearts that on account of the love of the Hebrews we did this thing that our ancestors did not command us.
16 But because we saw that it was not their intention and desire to accede to our wishes concerning their daughter as to our taking her, except on this condition, so we hearkened to their voices and did this act which you saw, in order to obtain our desire from them.
17 And when we shall have obtained our request from them, we will then return to them and do unto them that which you say unto us.
18 We beseech you then to wait and tarry until our flesh shall be healed and we again become strong, and we will then go together against them, and do unto them that which is in your hearts and in ours.
19 And Dinah the daughter of Yacob heard all these words which Chiddekem and his brothers had spoken, and what Hamor and his son Shechem and the people of their city had answered them.
20 And she hastened and sent one of her maidens, that her father had sent to take care of her in the house of Shechem, to Yacob her father and to her brethren, saying:
21 Thus did Chiddekem and his brothers advise concerning you, and thus did Hamor and Shechem and the people of the city answer them.
22 And when Yacob heard these words he was filled with wrath, and he was indignant at them, and his anger was kindled against them.
23 And Simeon and Levi swore and said, As YAHWEH liveth, the ALMIGHTY of the whole earth, by this time tomorrow, there shall not be a remnant left in the whole city.
24 And twenty young men had concealed themselves who were not circumcised, and these young men fought against Simeon and Levi, and Simeon and Levi killed eighteen of them, and two fled from them and escaped to some lime pits that were in the city, and Simeon and Levi sought for them, but could not find them.
25 And Simeon and Levi continued to go about in the city, and they killed all the people of the city at the edge of the sword, and they left none remaining.
26 And there was a great consternation in the midst of the city, and the cry of the people of the city ascended to heaven, and all the women and children cried aloud.
27 And Simeon and Levi slew all the city; they left not a male remaining in the whole city.
28 And they slew Hamor and Shechem his son at the edge of the sword, and they brought away Dinah from the house of Shechem and they went from there.
29 And the sons of Yacob went and returned, and came upon the slain, and spoiled all their property which was in the city and the field.
30 And while they were taking the spoil, three hundred men stood up and threw dust at them and struck them with stones, when Simeon turned to them and he slew them all with the edge of the sword, and Simeon turned before Levi, and came into the city.
31 And they took away their sheep and their oxen and their cattle, and also the remainder of the women and little ones, and they led all these away, and they opened a gate and went out and came unto their father Yacob with vigor.
32 And when Yacob saw all that they had done to the city, and saw the spoil that they took from them, Yacob was very angry at them, and Yacob said unto them, What is this that you have done to me? behold I obtained rest amongst the Canaanitish inhabitants of the land, and none of them meddled with me.
33 And now you have done to make me obnoxious to the inhabitants of the land, amongst the Canaanites and the Perizzites, and I am but of a small number, and they will all assemble against me and slay me when they hear of your work with their brethren, and I and my household will be destroyed.
34 And Simeon and Levi and all their brothers with them answered their father Yacob and said unto him, Behold we live in the land, and shall Shechem do this to our sister? why are you silent at all that Shechem has done? and shall he deal with our sister as with a harlot in the streets?
35 And the number of women whom Simeon and Levi took captives from the city of Shechem, whom they did not slay, was eighty-five who had not known man.
36 And amongst them was a young damsel of beautiful appearance and well favored, whose name was Bunah, and Simeon took her for a wife, and the number of the males which they took captives and did not slay, was forty-seven men, and the rest they slew.
37 And all the young men and women that Simeon and Levi had taken captives from the city of Shechem, were servants to the sons of Yacob and to their children after them, until the day of the sons of Yacob going forth from the land of Egypt.
38 And when Simeon and Levi had gone forth from the city, the two young men that were left, who had concealed themselves in the city, and did not die amongst the people of the city, rose up, and these young men went into the city and walked about in it, and found the city desolate without man, and only women weeping, and these young men cried out and said, Behold, this is the evil which the sons of Yacob the Hebrew did to this city in their having this day destroyed one of the Canaanitish cities, and were not afraid of their lives of all the land of Canaan.
39 And these men left the city and went to the city of Tapnach, and they came there and told the inhabitants of Tapnach all that had befallen them, and all that the sons of Yacob had done to the city of Shechem.
40 And the information reached Jashub king of Tapnach, and he sent men to the city of Shechem to see those young men, for the king did not believe them in this account, saying, How could two men lay waste such a large town as Shechem?
41 And the messengers of Jashub came back and told him, saying, We came unto the city, and it is destroyed, there is not a man there; only weeping women; neither is any flock or cattle there, for all that was in the city the sons of Yacob took away.
42 And Jashub wondered at this, saying, How could two men do this thing, to destroy so large a city, and not one man able to stand against them?
43 For the like has not been from the days of Nimrod, and not even from the remotest time, has the like taken place; and Jashub, king of Tapnach, said to his people, Be courageous and we will go and fight against these Hebrews, and do unto them as they did unto the city, and we will avenge the cause of the people of the city.
44 And Jashub, king of Tapnach, consulted with his counsellors about this matter, and his advisers said unto him, Alone you wilt not prevail over the Hebrews, for they must be powerful to do this work to the whole city.
45 If two of them laid waste the whole city, and no one stood against them, surely if you wilt go against them, they will all rise against us and destroy us likewise.
46 But if you wilt send to all the kings that surround us, and let them come together, then we will go with them and fight against the sons of Yacob; then wilt you prevail against them.
47 And Jashub heard the words of his counsellors, and their words pleased him and his people, and he did so; and Jashub king of Tapnach sent to all the kings of the Amorites that surrounded Shechem and Tapnach, saying,
48 Go up with me and assist me, and we will smite Yacob the Hebrew and all his sons, and destroy them from the earth, for thus did he do to the city of Shechem, and do you not know of it?
49 And all the kings of the Amorites heard the evil that the sons of Yacob had done to the city of Shechem, and they were greatly astonished at them.
50 And the seven kings of the Amorites assembled with all their armies, about ten thousand men with drawn swords, and they came to fight against the sons of Yacob; and Yacob heard that the kings of the Amorites had assembled to fight against his sons, and Yacob was greatly afraid, and it distressed him.
51 And Yacob exclaimed against Simeon and Levi, saying, What is this act that you did? why have you injured me, to bring against me all the children of Canaan to destroy me and my household? for I was at rest, even I and my household, and you have done this thing to me, and provoked the inhabitants of the land against me by your proceedings.
52 And Yahudah (Judah) answered his father, saying, Was it for naught my brothers Simeon and Levi killed all the inhabitants of Shechem? Surely it was because Shechem had humbled our sister, and transgressed the command of our ALMIGHTY to Noah and his children, for Shechem took our sister away by force, and committed adultery with her.
53 And Shechem did all this evil and not one of the inhabitants of his city interfered with him, to say, Why wilt you do this? surely for this my brothers went and smote the city, and YAHWEH delivered it into their hands, because its inhabitants had transgressed the commands of our ALMIGHTY. Is it then for naught that they have done all this?
54 And now why are you afraid or distressed, and why are you displeased at my brothers, and why is your anger kindled against them?
55 Surely our YAHWEH who delivered into their hand the city of Shechem and its people, he will also deliver into our hands all the Canaanitish kings who are coming against us, and we will do unto them as my brothers did unto Shechem.
56 Now be tranquil about them and cast away your fears, but trust in YAHWEH our ALMIGHTY, and pray unto him to assist us and deliver us, and deliver our enemies into our hands.
57 And Yahudah called to one of his father's servants, Go now and see where those kings, who are coming against us, are situated with their armies.
58 And the servant went and looked far off, and went up opposite Mount Sihon, and saw all the camps of the kings standing in the fields, and he returned to Yahudah and said, Behold the kings are situated in the field with all their camps, a people exceedingly numerous, like unto the sand upon the sea shore.
59 And Yahudah said unto Simeon and Levi, and unto all his brothers, Strengthen yourselves and be sons of valor, for YAHWEH our ALMIGHTY is with us, do not fear them.
60 Stand forth each man, girt with his weapons of war, his bow and his sword, and we will go and fight against these uncircumcised men; YAHWEH is our ALMIGHTY, He will save us.
61 And they rose up, and each girt on his weapons of war, great and small, eleven sons of Yacob, and all the servants of Yacob with them.
62 And all the servants of Yitschaq who were with Yitschaq in Hebron, all came to them equipped in all sorts of war instruments, and the sons of Yacob and their servants, being one hundred and twelve men, went towards these kings, and Yacob also went with them.
63 And the sons of Yacob sent unto their father Yitschaq the son of Abraham to Hebron, the same is Kireath-arba, saying,
64 Pray we beseech you for us unto YAHWEH our ALMIGHTY, to protect us from the hands of the Canaanites who are coming against us, and to deliver them into our hands.
65 And Yitschaq the son of Abraham prayed unto YAHWEH for his sons, and he said, O YAHWEH the ALMIGHTY, you didst promise my father, saying, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and you didst also promise me, and establish you your word, now that the kings of Canaan are coming together, to make war with my children because they committed no violence.
66 Now therefore, O YAHWEH the ALMIGHTY, YAHWEH of the whole earth, pervert, I pray you, the counsel of these kings that they may not fight against my sons.
67 And impress the hearts of these kings and their people with the terror of my sons and bring down their pride, and that they may turn away from my sons.
68 And with your strong hand and outstretched arm deliver my sons and their servants from them, for power and might are in your hands to do all this.
69 And the sons of Yacob and their servants went toward these kings, and they trusted in YAHWEH their ALMIGHTY, and while they were going, Yacob their father also prayed unto YAHWEH and said, O YAHWEH the ALMIGHTY, powerful and exalted YAHWEH, who has reigned from days of old, from thence till now and forever;
70 You are He who stirs up wars and causes them to cease, in your hand are power and might to exalt and to bring down; O may my prayer be acceptable before you that you may turn to me with your mercies, to impress the hearts of these kings and their people with the terror of my sons, and terrify them and their camps, and with your great kindness deliver all those that trust in you, for it is you who canst bring people under us and reduce nations under our power.

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