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but the upper city was not to be taken without great difficulty；
through the strength of its walls； and the nature of the place。
3。 For which reason they removed their camp to Hebron； and when
they had taken it； they slew all the inhabitants。 There were till
then left the race of giants； who had bodies so large； and
countenances so entirely different from other men； that they were
surprising to the sight； and terrible to the hearing。 The bones
of these men are still shown to this very day； unlike to any
credible relations of other men。 Now they gave this city to the
Levites as an extraordinary reward； with the suburbs of two
thousand cities； but the land thereto belonging they gave as a
free gift to Caleb； according to the injunctions of Moses。 This
Caleb was one of the spies which Moses sent into the land of
Canaan。 They also gave land for habitation to the posterity of
Jethro； the Midianite； who was the father…in…law to Moses； for
they had left their own country； and followed them； and
accompanied them in the wilderness。
4。 Now the tribes of Judah and Simeon took the cities which were
in the mountainous part of Canaan； as also Askelon and Ashdod； of
those that lay near the sea； but Gaza and Ekron escaped them； for
they； lying in a flat country； and having a great number of
chariots； sorely galled those that attacked them。 So these
tribes； when they were grown very rich by this war； retired to
their own cities； and laid aside their weapons of war。
5。 But the Benjamites； to whom belonged Jerusalem； permitted its
inhabitants to pay tribute。 So they all left off； the one to
kill； and the other to expose themselves to danger； and had time
to cultivate the ground。 The rest of the tribes imitated that of
Benjamin； and did the same； and； contenting themselves with the
tributes that were paid them； permitted the Canaanites to live in
peace。
6。 However； the tribe of Ephraim； when they besieged Bethel； made
no advance； nor performed any thing worthy of the time they
spent； and of the pains they took about that siege； yet did they
persist in it； still sitting down before the city； though they
endured great trouble thereby： but； after some time； they caught
one of the citizens that came to them to get necessaries； and
they gave him some assurances that； if he would deliver up the
city to them； they would preserve him and his kindred； so he
aware that； upon those terms； he would put the city into their
hands。 Accordingly； he that； thus betrayed the city was preserved
with his family； and the Israelites slew all the inhabitants； and
retained the city for themselves。
7。 After this； the Israelites grew effeminate as to fighting any
more against their enemies； but applied themselves to the
cultivation of the land； which producing them great plenty and
riches； they neglected the regular disposition of their
settlement； and indulged themselves in luxury and pleasures； nor
were they any longer careful to hear the laws that belonged to
their political government： whereupon God was provoked to anger；
and put them in mind； first； how； contrary to his directions；
they had spared the Canaanites； and； after that； how those
Canaanites； as opportunity served； used them very barbarously。
But the Israelites； though they were in heaviness at these
admonitions from God； yet were they still very unwilling to go to
war； and since they got large tributes from the Canaanites； and
were indisposed for taking pains by their luxury； they suffered
their aristocracy to be corrupted also； and did not ordain
themselves a senate； nor any other such magistrates as their laws
had formerly required； but they were very much given to
cultivating their fields； in order to get wealth； which great
indolence of theirs brought a terrible sedition upon them； and
they proceeded so far as to fight one against another； from the
following occasion： …
8。 There was a Levite （12） a man of a vulgar family； that
belonged to the tribe of Ephraim； and dwelt therein： this man
married a wife from Bethlehem； which is a place belonging to the
tribe of Judah。 Now he was very fond of his wife； and overcome
with her beauty； but he was unhappy in this； that he did not meet
with the like return of affection from her； for she was averse to
him； which did more inflame his passion for her； so that they
quarreled one with another perpetually； and at last the woman was
so disgusted at these quarrels； that she left her husband； and
went to her parents in the fourth month。 The husband being very
uneasy at this her departure； and that out of his fondness for
her； came to his father and mother…in…law； and made up their
quarrels； and was reconciled to her； and lived with them there
four days； as being kindly treated by her parents。 On the fifth
day he resolved to go home； and went away in the evening； for his
wife's parents were loath to part with their daughter； and
delayed the time till the day was gone。 Now they had one servant
that followed them； and an ass on which the woman rode； and when
they were near Jerusalem； having gone already thirty furlongs；
the servant advised them to take up their lodgings some where；
lest some misfortune should befall them if they traveled in the
night； especially since they were not far off enemies； that
season often giving reason for suspicion of dangers from even
such as are friends； but the husband was not pleased with this
advice； nor was he willing to take up his lodging among
strangers； for the city belonged to the Canaanites； but desired
rather to go twenty furlongs farther； and so to take their
lodgings in some Israelite city。 Accordingly； he obtained his
purpose； and came to Gibeah； a city of the tribe of Benjamin；
when it was just dark； and while no one that lived in the
market…place invited him to lodge with him； there came an old man
out of the field； one that was indeed of the tribe of Ephraim；
but resided in Gibeah； and met him； and asked him who he was； and
for what reason he came thither so late； and why he was looking
out for provisions for supper when it was dark？ To which he
replied； that he was a Levite； and was bringing his wife from her
parents； and was going home； but he told him his habitation was
in the tribe of Ephraim： so the old man； as well because of their
kindred as because they lived in the same tribe； and also because
they had thus accidentally met together； took him in to lodge
with him。 Now certain young men of the inhabitants of Gibeah；
having seen the woman in the market…place； and admiring her
beauty； when they understood that she lodged with the old man；
came to the doors； as contemning the weakness and fewness of the
old man's family； and when the old man desired them to go away；
and not to offer any violence or abuse there； they desired him to
yield them up the strange woman； and then he should have no harm
done to him： and when the old man alleged that the Levite was of
his kindred； and that they would be guilty of horrid wickedness
if they suffered themselves to be overcome by their pleasures；
and so offend against their laws； they despised his righteous
admonition； and laughed him to scorn。 They also threatene