The Messengers Speak: Book Series: Judges, Ruth, Samuel & King

By E. Marie Ward

It has been written that anyone who attempts to write a Bible story is forced to explore his or her motives when face with the importance and weight that biblical messages carry.

The goal of The Messengers Speak is to provide viewers with profound biblical stories from the sixty-six books of the Holy Bible that can be presented through theatrical fellowship. These stories unfold with the characters in the bible being portrayed by an array of constantly revolving cast (messengers) consisting of individuals whose sole purpose is to deliver God's faith-based life-changing messages.

Introducing the Bible in the form of stories is not a new idea. When an adult wants to impact important information to a child, it is often best related in a story because it is more easily understood and enjoyed. The Messengers Speak is designed to deliver inspiring earthly stories that deliver heavenly messages and bring God's Holy Word to life.

The Messengers Speak uses the text from the Holy Bible. / It has been designed, written, formatted, and presented in the form of a movie script/play and is not intended to replace the reading of the original scriptures.

Although it is not totally possible to translate all sixty-six books of the Bible into a script/play, but through years of study, the use of various authorized Bible versions and an attempt to make the language simpler enough without deviating from the text nor sacrificing the dignity of God's message, The Messengers Speak is designed to be another innovated way to deliver God's Word.

God knows we can't do without one another. Some of the most important words used throughout the Bible are fellowship, partnership, communion, participation, and "giving to one another." God uses all kinds of tools and people to deliver His message to the world, The Messengers Speak, purpose and desire is to be one of God's successful tools.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 10, 2024
• ISBN: 9781638853589

Book preview

Table of Contents

Title

Copyright

The Messengers Speak

Introduction

Judges 1

Israel Fights the Remaining Canaanites

Judges 2

The Angel of the LORD at Boykin

The Death and Burial of Joshua

The LORD Raises Up Judges

Judges 3

The Nation Left to Test Israel

Judges 4

Deborah Judges Israel

Barak Defeats Sissera

Jael Kills Sisera

Judges 5

The Song of Deborah

The Song of Deborah

Judges 6

Midianite Raids on Israel

The Coming of a Prophet

Gideon Called by the LORD

Gideon's Offering Consumed

Gideon Destroys the Altar

Gideon Puts Out the Fleece

Judges 7

Gideon Defeats the Midianites

Spying of the Midianite Camp

The Defeat of the Midianites

Judges 8

Zebah and Zalmunna

Judges 10

Tola and Jair Judge Israel

Israel Cries for Deliverance

Judges 11

Israel Appeals to Jephthah

Jephthah and the Ammonite King

Jephthah's Vow

Jephthah's Daughter Sacrificed

Judges 12

Jephthah and Ephraim

Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon Judge Israel

Judges 13

The Birth of Samson

Judges 14

Samson's Marriage

Judges 15

Samson's Vengeance on the Philistines

Judges 16

Samson and Delilah

Delilah seeks Samson's Secret

Delilah's Second and Third Attempts

The Secret of Samson's Strength

Samson Captured and Imprisoned

Samson's Revenge and Death

Judges 17

Micah's Idols

Judges 18

The Report of the Danite Spies

Micah's Idols and Priest Seized

Judges 19

The Levite and His Concubine

The Night at Gibeah

The Abuse of the Concubine

Judges 20

Fight the Benjamites

Judges 21

Wives for the Benjamites

Ruth 1

The Move to Moab and Tragedy

Departure from Moab

Naomi Arrives in Bethlehem

Ruth 2

Ruth Gathers Grain in the Field of Boaz

Boaz Goes Over to Speak with Ruth

Ruth 3

Ruth at the Threshing Floor

Ruth Returns Home to Her Mother-in-Law

Ruth 4

Boaz Marries Ruth

The Genealogy of David

1 Samuel 1

Samuel's Birth

Hannah Gives Samuel to God One Year later

1 Samuel 2

Hannah Gives Thanks

Eli's Evil Sons

Samuel Grows Up

1 Samuel 3

God Calls Samuel

1 Samuel 4

The Philistines Capture the Ark of the Covenant

The Glory Is Gone

1 Samuel 5

Trouble for the Philistines

1 Samuel 6

The Ark of God Is Sent Home

1 Samuel 7

The LORD Saves the Israelites

Peace Comes to Israel

1 Samuel 8

Israel Asks for a King

1 Samuel 9

Saul Looks for His Father's Donkeys

Saul Meets Samuel

Saul Made King

Nahash, King of the Ammonites

1 Samuel 11

Saul Rescues the City of Jabesh

1 Samuel 12

Samuel's Farewell Speech

1 Samuel 13

Samuel Rebukes Saul

Israel without Weapons

1 Samuel 14

Jonathan Attacks the Philistines

Israel Routs the Philistines

Jonathan Eats Honey

Saul's Family Portrait

1 Samuel 15

The LORD Rejects Saul as King

1 Samuel 16

Samuel Anoints David

David in Saul's Service

1 Samuel 17

David and Goliath

1 Samuel 18

Saul's Jealousy of David

David—The Name on Everyone's Lips

1 Samuel 19

Saul Tries to Kill David

1 Samuel 20

David and Jonathan

1 Samuel 21

David at Nob

David at Gath

1 Samuel 22

David at Adullam and Mizpah

Saul Kills the Priests of Nob

1 Samuel 23

David at Keilah

Saul Chases David

1 Samuel 24

David Spares Saul's Life

1 Samuel 25

David and the Wife of Nabal

1 Samuel 26

David Spares Saul's Life a Second Time

1 Samuel 27

David Serves King Achish of Gath

1 Samuel 28

Saul Consults a Medium

1 Samuel 29

Philistines Reject David

1 Samuel 30

David Avenges the Destruction of Ziklag

1 Samuel 31

The Death of Saul and His Sons

2 Samuel 1

David Hears of Saul's Death

David's Lament for Saul and Jonathan

2 Samuel 2

David Anointed King Over Judah

War between the Houses of David and Saul

The Deadly Contest

Abner Kills Asahel

Joab and Abishai Chase Abner

2 Samuel 3

David's Sons Born in Hebron

Abner Joins Forces with David

Joab Murders Abner

Abner's Funeral

2 Samuel 4

The Murder of Ish-Bosheth

2 Samuel 5

David Becomes King Over Israel

David Conquers Jerusalem

David Defeats the Philistines

2 Samuel 6

The Ark Brought to Jerusalem

2 Samuel 7

God's Promise to David

David's Prayer

2 Samuel 8

David Wins Many Wars

2 Samuel 9

David Is Kind to Saul's Family

2 Samuel 10

Hanun Shames David's Men

2 Samuel 11

David Meets Bathsheba and Commits Adultery

David Has Uriah Killed

David Marries Bathsheba

2 Samuel 12

Nathan Rebukes David

David and Bathsheba's Baby Dies

Solomon Is Born

David Captures Rabbah

2 Samuel 13

Amnon and Tamar

Amnon Rapes Tamar

Two Years Later, Amnon Is Murdered

2 Samuel 14

Absalom Returns to Jerusalem

2 Samuel 15

Absalom's Conspiracy

2 Samuel 16

David and Ziba

Shimei Curses David

The Advice of Ahithophel and Hushai

2 Samuel 17

Hushai Saves David

2 Samuel 18

Absalom Killed

2 Samuel 19

Joab Rebukes David

2 Samuel 20

The Rebellion of Sheba

2 Samuel 21

The Gibeonites Avenged

Wars Against the Philistines

2 Samuel 22

David's Song of Praise

2 Samuel 23

David's Last Words

David's Mighty Warriors

2 Samuel 24

David Enrolls the Fighting Men

1 Kings 1

David in His Old Age

Adonijah Tries to Become King

Nathan Advises Bathsheba

Solomon Becomes King

1 Kings 2

David's Final Instructions to Solomon

The Death of Adonijah

1 Kings 3

The LORD Makes Solomon Wise

The Judgment of Solomon

1 Kings 4

Solomon's Officials

1 Kings 5

Solomon Asks Hiram to Help Build the Temple

Solomon's Workers

1 Kings 6

Solomon Builds the Temple

The Inside of the Temple Is Furnished

1 Kings 7

Solomon's Palace Is Built

Hiram Makes the Bronze Furnishings

1 Kings 8

The Ark Bought to the Temple

Solomon Speaks to the People

Solomon Prays at the Temple

Solomon Blesses the People

Solomon Dedicates the Temple

1 Kings 9

The LORD Appears to Solomon

Solomon's Other Activities

1 Kings 10

The Queen of Sheba Visits Solomon

Solomon's Wealth and Splendor

1 Kings 11

Solomon's Many Wives

Solomon's Adversaries

Jeroboam Rebels Against Solomon

Solomon's Death

1 Kings 12

Israel Rebels Against Rehoboam

Shemiah's Prophecy

Golden Calves at Bethel and Dan

1 Kings 13

The Man of God from Judah

1 Kings 14

Jeroboam's Son Dies

Rehoboam, King of Judah

1 Kings 15

Abijah, King of Judah

Asa of Judah

Nadab, King of Israel

Baasha, King of Israel

1 Kings 16

Prophecy Against Baasha

Elah, King of Israel

Zimri, King of Israel

Omri, King of Israel

Ahab, King of Israel

1 Kings 17

Elijah and the Time without Rain

1 Kings 18

Elijah and the Prophets of Baal

The Rain Comes Again

1 Kings 19

Elijah at Mount Horeb (Sinai)

Elisha Becomes a Prophet

1 Kings 20

Ben-Hadad and Ahab Go to War

1 Kings 21

Naboth's Vineyard

1 Kings 22

Micaiah Warns King Ahab

The Battle at Ramoth-Gilead

Summary of Jehoshaphat's Rule

Ahaziah, King of Israel

2 Kings 1

Elijah Confronts King Ahaziah

2 Kings 2

Elijah Taken into Heaven

Elisha's First Miracles

2 Kings 3

War between Israel and Moab

2 Kings 4

Elisha Helps a Poor Widow

Elisha and the Woman from Shunem

Miracles During a Famine

2 Kings 5

The Healing of Naaman

2 Kings 6

The Floating Ax Head

Elisha Traps the Arameans

Ben-Hadad Besieges Samaria

2 Kings7

Lepers Visit the Enemy Camp

Israel Plunders the Camp

2 Kings 8

The Woman from Shunem Returns Home

Hazael Murders Ben-Hadad

Jehoram Rules in Judah

Ahaziah Rules in Judah

2 Kings 9

Jehu Anointed King of Israel

Jehu Kills Joram and Ahaziah

The Death of Jezebel

2 Kings 10

Jehu Kills All of Ahab's Descendants

Jehu Kills All the Worshipers of Baal

Jehu Dies

2 Kings 11

Queen Athaliah of Judah

Jehoiada Makes Joash King of Judah

2 Kings 12

King Joash of Judah

The Death of Joash

2 Kings 13

King Jehoahaz of Israel

King Jehoash of Israel

Elisha the Prophet Dies

Israel Defeats Syria

2 Kings 14

King Amaziah of Judah

King Jeroboam the Second of Israel

2 Kings 15

King Azariah of Judah

King Zechariah of Israel

King Shallum of Israel

King Menahem of Israel

King Pekahiah of Israel

King Jotham of Judah

2 Kings 16

King Ahaz of Judah

2 Kings 17

King Hoshea of Israel

Samaria Is Destroyed, and the Israelites Are Taken to Assyria

Foreigners Resettled in Israel

2 Kings 18

King Hezekiah of Judah

2 Kings 19

Hezekiah Asks Isaiah the Prophet for Advice

Hezekiah Prays

The LORD'S Answer to Hezekiah

The Death of King Sennacherib

2 Kings 20

Hezekiah Gets Sick and Almost Dies

The LORD Is Still with Hezekiah

Hezekiah Dies

2 Kings 21

King Manasseh of Judah

King Amon of Judah

2 Kings 22

King Josiah of Judah

Hilkiah Finds the Book of God's Law

2 Kings 23

Josiah Reads the Book of God's Law

Josiah Follows the Teachings of God's Law

Josiah and the People of Judah Celebrate Passover

The LORD Is Still Angry at the People of Judah

Josiah Dies in Battle

King Jehoahaz of Judah

King Jehoiakim of Judah

2 Kings 24

Babylon Controls Jehoiakim

King Jehoiachin of Judah Is Taken to Babylon

King Zedekiah of Judah

2 Kings 25

Jerusalem Is Captured and Destroyed

Gedaliah Is Made Ruler of the People Left in Judah

Jehoiachin Is Set Free

About the Author

cover.jpg

The Messengers Speak

Book Series: Judges, Ruth, Samuel & King

E. Marie Ward

ISBN 978-1-63885-357-2 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-63885-358-9 (Digital)

Copyright © 2023 E. Marie Ward

All rights reserved

First Edition

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Covenant Books

11661 Hwy 707

Murrells Inlet, SC 29576

www.covenantbooks.com

The Messengers Speak

It has been written that anyone who attempts to write a bible story is force to explore his or her motives when face with the importance and weight that Biblical messages carry.

The Messengers Speak goal is to provide viewers with profound Biblical stories from the sixty-six books of the Holy Bible that can be presented through theatrical fellowship. These stories unfold with the characters in the bible being portrayed by an array of constantly revolving cast (Messengers) consisting of individuals whose sole purpose is to deliver God's faith based life changing messages.

Introducing the Bible in the form of stories is not a new idea, when an adult wants to impact important information to a child it is often best related in a story because it is more easily understood and enjoyed. The Messengers Speak is designed to deliver inspiring earthly stories that deliver heavenly-messages and bring God's holy word to life.

The Messengers Speak uses the text from the Holy Bible, it has been designed, written, formatted, and presented in the form of a movie script/play and is not intended to replace the reading of the original scriptures.

Although, It is not totally possible to translate all 66books of the bible into a script/play, but through years of study, the use of various authorized Bible versions, and an attempt to make the language simpler enough without deviating from the text nor sacrificing the dignity of God's message The Messengers Speak is designed to be another innovated way to deliver God's word.

God knows we can't do without one another. Some of the most important words used throughout the bible are fellowship, partnership, communion, participation, and "giving to one another. God uses all kinds of tools and people to deliver His message to the world, The Messengers Speak purpose and desire is to be one of God's successful tools.

Introduction

The Bible was written in sixty-six installments over a period of fifteen hundred years by over forty authors on three continents in three languages. It covers hundreds of subjects. Yet it's a perfectly unified book, its various sections fitting together into one consistent and cohesive tapestry, having a logical beginning, an unfolding drama, a fitting conclusion, and a central character around whom every part revolves – Jesus Christ.

The Bible is high-powered and life changing. It's the most loved book in the world, having improved more lives, strengthened more hearts, healed more homes, and motivated more humanitarian projects than any other book ever written.

Ironically, it's also the most banned, banished, and vilified book in history. No book has been more hated. It's been criticized for over two thousand years, yet it has an incredible way of outliving its enemies.

The Bible contains truths that are so simple even the youngest Christian can understand them, yet so profound that the most mature believer cannot fully plumb their depths. The Bible is essential to the Christian life. No man's education is complete if he does not know the Bible. No believer can live the full and effective life that God has for them. The Bible is God's final, complete, infallible, and authoritative revelation to man. When the Bible speaks, God speaks.

Book of Judges

Judges 1

Israel Fights the Remaining Canaanites

Narrator: After Joshua died, the people of Israel asked a question of the LORD.

Israelites: So now who will lead us in our wars against the armies of Canaan?

The LORD'S Voice (to the leaders of Judah): Judah will go and fight. See, I am giving the land into their hands. The tribe of Judah enlisted support from the tribe of Simeon.

Tribe of Judah: If you will help us fight for the land we were given in Canaan, we will do the same for you.

Narrator and Show: So the tribe of Simeon agreed to help them. So Judah and her ally went up to fight against Adoni-Bezek at the town of Bezek, and the LORD gave them victory over the Canaanites and the Perizzites. They killed 10,000 of them at Bezek; and although Adoni-Bezek tried to escape, they caught him and cut off his thumbs and big toes, which rendered him useless for basically anything.

Adoni-Bezek: In my time, I cut the thumbs and toes off seventy kings and left them to scramble for scraps under my table. And now God has done the same to me.

Narrator and Show: They carried him away to Jerusalem where he died. Then the people of Judah attacked Jerusalem; and when they had captured it, they killed many, burned the city, and destroyed it. After that, the people of Judah swept down upon the Canaanites remaining in the highlands and in the lowlands and in the southern desert. Judah campaigned against the Canaanites of Hebron where they defeated Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, and then they went out in battle against the people of Debir. It was about this battle that Caleb had made a vow.

Caleb: Whoever attacks and captures Kiriath-sepher will receive my daughter Achsah as his wife.

Narrator and Show: Othniel, the son of Caleb's younger brother, Kenaz, captured the city, so Caleb gave Othniel his daughter, Achsah, to marry. When she came to Othniel, she persuaded him to ask her father for a field. As she dismounted from her donkey, Caleb approached her.

Caleb: What do you wish?

Achsah (to Caleb): Here is what I would like as a wedding gift; since you have given me a place in the southern desert, also give me some springs of water.

Narrator: So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs. The people who descended from Moses's father-in-law went with the people of Judah from the city of palm trees into the wilderness of Judah and settled there with the people, the Amalekites, in the southern desert. Judah and Simeon defeated the Canaanites and destroyed them completely. They went on to take the cities of Gaza, Ashkelon, and Ekron and all the land surrounding them. God was with Judah, and the tribe conquered all of the highlands. Caleb received the land of Hebron as Moses had promised, and he drove out the three sons of Anak.

Narrator and Show: The tribe of Joseph went up against Bethel, and the LORD supported them. They sent out spies who intercepted a man leaving the city.

Spies: Show us the way into the city, and we'll spare you.

Narrator and Show: He showed them the way, and they destroyed the city with swords; but as they had promised, they let the man and his family go. This man went into the land of the Hittites, and there he established a city and called it Luz.

Narrator: The tribe of Manasseh failed to drive out the people who lived in the cities and surrounding villages. The Canaanites continued to live there; but when the people of Israel grew strong, they made the Canaanites their slaves and did not completely drive them out.

Judges 2

The Angel of the LORD at Boykin

Narrator and Show: One day, the Angel of the LORD arrived at Bochim, coming from Gilgal, and said to the people of Israel.

Angel of the LORD (to the people of Israel): I brought you out of Egypt into this land that I promised to your ancestors, and I said that I would never break my covenant with you, if you, on your part, would make no peace treaties with the people living in this land; I told you to destroy their heathen altars. Why have you not obeyed? And now, since you have broken the contract, it is no longer in effect, and I no longer promise to destroy the nations living in your land; rather, they shall be thorns in your sides, and their gods will be a constant temptation to you.

Narrator and Show: When God's messenger spoke these words to Israel, the people broke into tears as the angel finished speaking. So they named that place Bochim, which means weeping, and there they offered sacrifices to the LORD.

The Death and Burial of Joshua

Narrator: When Joshua finally disabled the armies of Israel, the tribes moved into their new territories and took possession of the land as inheritance. The people served the LORD as long as Joshua lived and through all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua—those who had seen all the great works that the LORD had done for Israel.

Narrator and Show: Joshua, son of Nun, the LORD'S servant, died at the age of 110 years and was buried within the borders of his inheritance in the hills of Ephraim. Now that whole generation—the generation that had walked with Moses, the generation that saw the walls of Jericho fall—that generation passed on, and another generation grew up after them, a generation that did not know the LORD and had not seen the great works He had done for Israel. Consequently, this new generation served the gods of Canaan—the Baals, as they were called—doing what the LORD considered evil. They abandoned the LORD, the true God of their ancestors, who brought them safely out of Egypt. Instead, they began to serve the gods of their neighbors, the Canaanites, bowing low before their images, causing God to burn with anger.

Narrator: The Israelites abandoned the worship of the LORD and turned to serve Baal and his consort, the moon goddess, Ashtaroth. So the LORD'S anger burned hot against them, and He caused them to be overcome by those around them, using their enemies to plunder them so that the Israelites could no longer stand against their enemies. Whenever they marched out to battle, the hand of the LORD was raised against them in evil as He had warned and promised them, and they were in anguish.

The LORD Raises Up Judges

Narrator: The LORD appointed judges among them, leaders, and liberators to save the Israelites from their enemies who plundered them. And yet the people of Israel did not listen to their judges. Yet, even then Israel would not listen to the judges, instead, they broke faith with Jehovah by worshiping other gods and bowing down to them. How quickly they turned from the true faith of their ancestors, for they refused to obey the LORD'S commandments.

Narrator: Still, whenever the LORD appointed judges among the Israelites, He was with each one, saving the Israelites from their enemies as long as that leader lived, for He was moved to compassion by the groans of His people when they were persecuted and oppressed. But when the judge died, the people would fall away from their faithfulness, and the next generation behaved even worse than their ancestors, pursuing and serving other gods and bowing down before them. They would not change their bad habits but clung to them stubbornly. So the LORD'S anger burned hot against the people of Israel and He said:

The LORD: Because these people have violated the covenant I gave as a commandment to their ancestors and no longer listen to My voice, I will no longer drive out from their path any of the nations who still remained in this land when Joshua died. I will put My people to the test to see whether or not they will walk the faithful way of the LORD as their ancestors did.

Narrator: So the LORD did as He promised. He left those pagan nations in the land of Canaan. He did not drive them away immediately, nor did He give them into the hands of Joshua and his armies.

Judges 3

The Nation Left to Test Israel

Narrator: After Joshua died, the people of Israel were left without a leader. How would they know what to do? They were surrounded by hostile people; there was still no land to be fought for and won. The people of God had some military success, but they were not able to drive out all the people of Canaan.

Narrator and Show: The people of Israel lived among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. They took the pagans' daughters as wives, gave their own daughters to the pagans' sons to marry, and worshiped pagan gods. Israel committed what the LORD considered evil; they forgot the LORD, their true God, and instead worshiped the Baal and Asherah deities, the various local gods of the people of Canaan.

Narrator and Show: The LORD'S anger burned against Israel, and He gave them into the hands of Cushan-rishathaim, a king of Mesopotamia. The Israelites labored like slaves for Cushan-rishathaim for eight years; but when they cried out to the LORD, He raised up a liberator from among them—Othniel, the son of Kenaz, the younger brother of Caleb. The Spirit of the LORD came upon Othniel, and he became a judge over Israel. In God's power, he emancipated Israel and went to war for them. The LORD delivered Cushan-rishathaim, king of Mesopotamia, to Othniel, and Othniel's army defeated him. Afterward, the territory had peace for forty years. Then Othniel died.

Narrator and Show: The people of Israel again did what was evil in the eyes of the LORD, so He gave Eglon, King of Moab, power against the Israelites because they did what He viewed as evil. Eglon allied with the Ammonites, and the Amalekites went to battle against Israel and defeated them and captured the city of palm trees. The Israelites toiled for Eglon, King of Moab, for eighteen years; but when the people of Israel cried to the LORD for relief, He raised up a left-handed liberator from among them: Ehud, son of Gera the Benjaminite.

Narrator and Show: The Israelites sent Ehud to bring tribute to Eglon, King of Moab. Before he set out, Ehud made for himself a double-edged sword about eighteen inches in length, and he fastened it onto his right thigh, hidden under his clothes. Ehud brought the tribute to Eglon, King of Moab, who was a very fat man; and when he was done with the presentation of the tribute to the king, he sent away those who carried it. Ehud stopped on his homeward journey at the engraved idols near Gilgal and returned to speak with Eglon.

Ehud (to King Eglon): I have a secret message for you, O king.

King Eglon (to Eglon): Be silent.

Narrator and Show: King Eglon sent his attendants away; and Ehud came in to the king who sat alone in a cool private upstairs room supported by beams.

Ehud (to King Ehud): I have here a message for you from the True God.

Narrator and Show: As the king got up from his throne, Ehud reached beneath his robes with his left hand and took the sword strapped to his right thigh and thrust it deep into Eglon's belly; so deep, in fact, that the hilt followed the blade, and he did not remove the sword because the fat closed over the blade, and the contents of King Eglon's intestines spilled out. Then Ehud locked the doors of the roof area himself and exited through the porch. After he had escaped, eventually, the servants came to check on their master. When they saw that the doors to the upstairs room were locked, they assumed Eglon was relieving himself in the upstairs chamber. So they stood around, waiting until their embarrassment grew too great. When Eglon didn't open the doors, at last, they opened the doors with the key, and there was their master lying dead on the floor.

Narrator and Show: Ehud took advantage of the delay. He passed the idols of Gilgal and escaped to Seirah. Reaching safety, he sounded the trumpet in the hill country of the tribe of Ephraim, and the Israelites followed him back down the mountain.

Ehud: Follow me because the LORD has given your enemies, the Moabites, into your hands.

Narrator and Show: So they followed him, and together, they captured the crossings of the River Jordan into Moab, not allowing anyone to pass. At that time, they killed an army of 10,000 Moabites, all of them strong and well-equipped warriors. No one escaped.

Narrator: Israel defeated Moab on that day, and this region experienced rest from war for eighty years. The next judge after Ehud was Shamgar, the son of Anath, who was also a liberator of Israel, killing 600 Philistines with an ox goad.

Judges 4

Deborah Judges Israel

Narrator: After Ehud died, the Israelites once again returned to doing what the LORD said was evil. So The LORD sold them into the hands of Jabin, King of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. Jabin's general of his army was a man named Sisera who lived in Harosheth Haggoyim. The people of Israel cried out to the LORD again for help. Sisera had 900 iron chariots, and he cruelly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years.

Narrator and Show: At that time, Deborah the prophetess, wife of Lappidoth, served as judge over Israel. She used to sit beneath the palm tree of Deborah, situated in the hill country of Ephraim between Ramah and Bethel, and the people would go up to her there to settle disputes. She urgently sent for Barak, the son of Abinoam, out of Kedesh-naphtali and said to him:

Deborah (to Barak): The LORD God of Israel commands you, Go and gather your men at Mount Tabor. Take 10,000 soldiers from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun. I will lure Sisera, Jabin's general, to meet you at the wadi Kishon with his chariots and his army, and I will deliver him to your hands.

Barak (to Deborah): I will do this if you will go with me; but if you won't, then I won't go either.

Deborah (to Barak): Very well, I will certainly go with you, but you should know from the beginning that because of the way you are going about this, the honor will not be yours. The LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.

Narrator and Show: Then Deborah got up and accompanied Barak to Kedesh. Barak summoned the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun, and they sent 10,000 men to follow him. With Deborah, they went to Kedesh.

Barak Defeats Sissera

Narrator and Show: Now Heber the Kenite separated himself from all the other Kenites and camped far away, under the great tree near Kedesh. When Sisera the general was told that Barak had gone up in force to Mount Tabor, he called out all 900 of his iron chariots and all the soldiers who were with him.

Deborah (to Barak): Get up! For this is the day that the LORD has given you victory over Sisera. In fact, He has already gone out ahead of you.

Narrator and Show: Barak went down from Mount Tabor with 10,000 warriors following. As Barak and his forces watched, the LORD threw Sisera and all his chariots and his entire army into a panic before them, and all of Sisera's army died by the sword. Sisera himself climbed down from his chariot and escaped on foot. Barak and his army pursued Sisera's chariots and army, and Sisera's warriors all perished by the sword.

Jael Kills Sisera

Narrator and Show: Sisera fled on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, and he must have thought to himself, Safe at last, since there was peace between Jabin, the king of Hazor, and Heber the Kenite. Jael came to meet Sisera and said to him:

Jael: Come in, my LORD, come in with me. There is nothing to be afraid of here.

Narrator and Show: So he came inside the tent with her, and she covered him with a rug, just in case some of Barak's soldiers came looking for him. And Sisera said:

Sisera: May I have a little water to drink, for I am thirsty?

Narrator and Show: So she opened a skin filled with milk and gave him a little, then covered him again.

Sisera: Stand and wait at the opening to the tent. If anybody comes and asks you, Is anyone inside? tell them no.

Narrator and Show: Sisera fell into a deep sleep, for he was weary. Jael, the wife of Heber, took a tent peg in one hand and a hammer in the other. She crept softly to his side. Then she drove the peg into his temple until it went down into the ground and killed him. When Barak came looking for Sisera, Jael went out to meet him.

Jael (to Barak): Come inside. I will show you the man you are seeking.

Narrator and Show: Barak went into the tent with her, and there lay Sisera, dead, with a tent peg driven through his head.

Narrator: It was on that day God vanquished Jabin, King of Canaan, before the people of Israel; and the Israelites bore down harder and harder on him until at last, Jabin, King of Canaan, was destroyed.

Judges 5

The Song of Deborah

Narrator: Then, that same day, Deborah and Barak, the son of Abinoam, sang a song in victory, and the leaders took the lead in Israel, and the people offered themselves willingly. Bless the LORD.

The Song of Deborah

The leaders of Israel stood up, and the people offered themselves willingly—praise the LORD!

Listen, all you kings, and pay attention,