first edition No Binding
1250 · France
by [ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT]
France: np, 1250. 1st Edition. No Binding. Very Good. Fine Illuminated Manuscript Leaf from a 13th Century Bible. Text from Judges Chapters III-V. The vellum used for this leaf is particularly fine and almost certainly uterine vellum - the finest tissue-thin vellum found in some medieval manuscripts. Exceptionally clean, uterine vellum lacks the usual hair follicles that often discolor ordinary vellum. Although long thought to be made from the skins of premature calves or sheep, researchers have recently discovered its origin is far more impressive-the product of master craftsmen using calf and sheep skin. How the parchment makers of the middle ages created such magically thin vellum remains largely a mystery.
The text in this leaf is from Judges, Chapters 3 and 4. It is in chapter 4 that we meet the great judge Deborah, the only woman among the judges in the Old Testament. Deborah, also a prophet, is an important reminder that women could hold powerful roles and be the chosen vessels of God.
Leaf is from a 13th century Bible written in Latin in a fine gothic script with black ink. Two columns of text with large initials opening each chapter (3 total). Size: 139 x 190 mm (approx 5.4 x 7.5 inches). Leaf is very clean and bright with particularly large margins.
The text in Latin beginning at the large "H" on the left column (Chapter 3)
hae sunt gentes quas Dominus dereliquit ut erudiret in eis Israhelem et omnes qui non noverant bella Chananeorum et postea discerent filii eorum certare cum hostibus et habere consuetudinem proeliandi quinque satrapas Philisthinorum omnemque Chananeum et Sidonium atque Eveum qui habitabat in monte Libano de monte Baalhermon usque ad introitum Emath dimisitque eos ut in ipsis experiretur Israhelem utrum audiret mandata Domini quae praeceperat patribus eorum per manum Mosi an non itaque filii Israhel habitaverunt in medio Chananei et Hetthei et Amorrei et Ferezei et Evei et Iebusei et duxerunt uxores filias eorum ipsique filias suas eorum filiis tradiderunt et servierunt diis eorum feceruntque malum in conspectu Domini et obliti sunt Dei sui servientes Baalim et Astharoth iratusque Dominus contra Israhel tradidit eos in manus Chusanrasathaim regis Mesopotamiae servieruntque ei octo annis et clamaverunt ad Dominum qui suscitavit eis salvatorem et liberavit eos Othonihel videlicet filium Cenez fratrem Chaleb minorem fuitque in eo spiritus Domini et iudicavit Israhel egressusque est ad pugnam et tradidit Dominus in manu eius Chusanrasathaim regem Syriae et oppressit eum quievitque terra quadraginta annis et mortuus est Othonihel filius Cenez addiderunt autem filii Israhel facere malum in conspectu Domini qui confortavit adversum eos Eglon regem Moab quia fecerunt malum in conspectu eius et copulavit ei filios Ammon et Amalech abiitque et percussit Israhel atque possedit urbem Palmarum servieruntque filii Israhel Eglon regi Moab decem et octo annis et postea clamaverunt ad Dominum qui suscitavit eis salvatorem vocabulo Ahoth filium Gera filii Iemini qui utraque manu utebatur pro dextera miseruntque filii Israhel per illum munera Eglon regi Moab qui fecit sibi gladium ancipitem habentem in medio capulum longitudinis palmae manus et accinctus est eo subter sagum in dextro femore obtulitque munera Eglon regi Moab erat autem Eglon crassus nimis cumque obtulisset ei munera prosecutus est socios qui cum eo venerant et reversus de Galgalis ubi erant idola dixit ad regem verbum secretum habeo ad te o rex et ille imperavit silentium egressisque omnibus qui circa eum erant ingressus est Ahoth ad eum sedebat autem in aestivo cenaculo solus dixitque verbum Dei habeo ad te qui statim surrexit de throno extenditque Ahoth manum sinistram et tulit sicam de dextro femore suo infixitque eam in ventre eius tam valide ut capulus ferrum sequeretur in vulnere ac pinguissimo adipe stringeretur nec eduxit gladium sed ita ut percusserat reliquit in corpore statimque per secreta naturae alvi stercora proruperunt Ahoth autem clausis diligentissime ostiis cenaculi et obfirmatis sera per posticam egressus est servique regis ingressi viderunt clausas fores cenaculi atque dixerunt forsitan purgat alvum in aestivo cubiculo expectantesque diu donec erubescerent et videntes quod nullus aperiret tulerunt clavem et aperientes invenerunt dominum suum iacentem in terra mortuum Ahoth autem dum illi turbarentur effugit et pertransiit locum Idolorum unde reversus fuerat venitque in Seirath et statim insonuit bucina in monte Ephraim descenderuntque cum eo filii Israhel ipso in fronte gradiente qui dixit ad eos sequimini me tradidit enim Dominus inimicos nostros Moabitas in manus nostras descenderuntque post eum et occupaverunt vada Iordanis quae transmittunt in Moab et non dimiserunt transire quemquam sed percusserunt Moabitas in tempore illo circiter decem milia omnes robustos et fortes viros nullus eorum evadere potuit humiliatusque est Moab die illo sub manu Israhel et quievit terra octoginta annis post hunc fuit Samgar filius Anath qui percussit de Philisthim sescentos viros vomere et ipse quoque defendit Israhel.
English Translation
These are the nations which the Lord left, that by them he might instruct Israel, and all that had not known the wars of the Chanaanites: That afterwards their children might learn to fight with their enemies, and to be trained up to war: The five princes of the Philistines, and all the Chanaanites, and the Sidonians, and the Hevites that dwelt in Mount Libanus, from Mount Baal Hermon to the entering into Emath. And he left them, that he might try Israel by them, whether they would hear the commandments of the Lord, which he had commanded their fathers, by the hand of Moses, or not. So the children of Israel dwelt in the midst of the Chanaanite, and the Hethite, and the Amorrhite, and the Pherezite, and the Hevite, and the Jebusite: And they took their daughters to wives, and they gave their own daughters to their sons, and they served their gods. And they did evil in the sight of the Lord, and they forgot their God, and served Baalim and Astaroth. And the Lord being angry with Israel, delivered them into the hands of Chusan Rasathaim, king of Mesopotamia, and they served him eight years. And they cried to the Lord, who raised them up a saviour, and delivered them; to wit, Othoniel, the son of Cenez, the younger brother of Caleb: And the spirit of the Lord was in him, and he judged Israel. And he went out to fight, and the Lord delivered Chusan Rasathaim, king of Syria, and he overthrew him: And the land rested forty years, and Othoniel, the son of Cenez, died. And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord: who strengthened against them Eglon, king of Moab: because they did evil in his sight. And he joined to him the children of Ammon, and Amalec: and he went and overthrew Israel, and possessed the city of palm trees. And the children of Israel served Eglon, king of Moab, eighteen years. And afterwards they cried to the Lord, who raised them up a saviour, called Aod, the son of Cera, the son of Jemini, who used the left hand as well as the right. And the children of Israel sent presents to Eglon, king of Moab, by him. And he made himself a two-edged sword, with a haft in the midst of the length of the palm of the hand, and was girded therewith, under his garment, on the right thigh. And he presented the gifts to Eglon, king of Moab Now Eglon was exceeding fat. And when he had presented the gifts unto him he followed his companions that came along with him. Then returning from Galgal, where the idols were, he said to the king: I have a secret message to thee, O king. And he commanded silence: and all being gone out that were about him, Aod went in to him: now he was sitting in a summer parlour alone, and he said: I have a word from God to thee. And he forthwith rose up from his throne. And Aod put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly, With such force that the haft went in after the blade into the wound, and was closed up with the abundance of fat. So that he did not draw out the dagger, but left it in the body as he had struck it in: and forthwith, by the secret parts of nature, the excrements of the belly came out. And Aod carefully shutting the doors of the parlour, and locking them, Went out by a postern door. And the king's servants going in, saw the doors of the parlour shut, and they said: Perhaps he is easing nature in his summer parlour. And waiting a long time, till they were ashamed, and seeing that no man opened the door, they took a key: and opening, they found their lord lying dead on the ground. But Aod, while they were in confusion, escaped, and passed by the place of the idols from whence he had returned. And he came to Seirath: And forthwith he sounded the trumpet in Mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel went down with him, he himself going in the front. And he said to them: Follow me: for the Lord hath delivered our enemies, the Moabites, into our hands. And they went down after him, and seized upon the fords of the Jordan, which are in the way to Moab: and they suffered no man to pass over: But they slew of the Moabites at that time, about ten thousand, all strong and valiant men: none of them could escape. And Moab was humbled that day under the hand of Israel: and the land rested eighty years. After him was Samgar, the son of Anath, who slew of the Philistines six hundred men with a ploughshare: and he also defended Israel.
The text in Latin beginning at the large "A" on the right column (Chapter 4)
addideruntque filii Israhel facere malum in conspectu Domini post mortem Ahoth et tradidit illos Dominus in manu Iabin regis Chanaan qui regnavit in Asor habuitque ducem exercitus sui nomine Sisaram ipse autem habitabat in Aroseth gentium clamaveruntque filii Israhel ad Dominum nongentos enim habebat falcatos currus et per viginti annos vehementer oppresserat eos erat autem Debbora prophetis uxor Lapidoth quae iudicabat populum in illo tempore et sedebat sub palma quae nomine illius vocabatur inter Rama et Bethel in monte Ephraim ascendebantque ad eam filii Israhel in omne iudicium quae misit et vocavit Barac filium Abinoem de Cedes Nepthalim dixitque ad eum praecepit tibi Dominus Deus Israhel vade et duc exercitum in montem Thabor tollesque tecum decem milia pugnatorum de filiis Nepthalim et de filiis Zabulon ego autem ducam ad te in loco torrentis Cison Sisaram principem exercitus Iabin et currus eius atque omnem multitudinem et tradam eos in manu tua dixitque ad eam Barac si venis mecum vadam si nolueris venire non pergam quae dixit ad eum ibo quidem tecum sed in hac vice tibi victoria non reputabitur quia in manu mulieris tradetur Sisara surrexit itaque Debbora et perrexit cum Barac in Cedes qui accitis Zabulon et Nepthalim ascendit cum decem milibus pugnatorum habens Debboram in comitatu suo Aber autem Cineus recesserat quondam a ceteris Cineis fratribus suis filiis Obab cognati Mosi et tetenderat tabernacula usque ad vallem quae vocatur Sennim et erat iuxta Cedes nuntiatumque est Sisarae quod ascendisset Barac filius Abinoem in montem Thabor et congregavit nongentos falcatos currus omnemque exercitum de Aroseth gentium ad torrentem Cison dixitque Debbora ad Barac surge haec est enim dies in qua tradidit Dominus Sisaram in manus tuas en ipse ductor est tuus descendit itaque Barac de monte Thabor et decem milia pugnatorum cum eo perterruitque Dominus Sisaram et omnes currus eius universamque multitudinem in ore gladii ad conspectum Barac in tantum ut Sisara de curru desiliens pedibus fugeret et Barac persequeretur fugientes currus et exercitum usque ad Aroseth gentium et omnis hostium multitudo usque ad internicionem caderet Sisara autem fugiens pervenit ad tentorium Iahel uxoris Aber Cinei erat enim pax inter Iabin regem Asor et domum Aber Cinei egressa igitur Iahel in occursum Sisarae dixit ad eum intra ad me domine mi intra ne timeas qui ingressus tabernaculum eius et opertus ab ea pallio dixit ad eam da mihi obsecro paululum aquae quia valde sitio quae aperuit utrem lactis et dedit ei bibere et operuit illum dixitque Sisara ad eam sta ante ostium tabernaculi et cum venerit aliquis interrogans te et dicens numquid hic est aliquis respondebis nullus est tulit itaque Iahel uxor Aber clavum tabernaculi adsumens pariter malleum et ingressa abscondite et cum silentio posuit supra tempus capitis eius clavum percussumque malleo defixit in cerebrum usque ad terram qui soporem morti socians defecit et mortuus est et ecce Barac sequens Sisaram veniebat egressaque Iahel in occursum eius dixit ei veni et ostendam tibi virum quem quaeris qui cum intrasset ad eam vidit Sisaram iacentem mortuum et clavum infixum in tempore eius humiliavit ergo Deus in die illo Iabin regem Chanaan coram filiis Israhel qui crescebant cotidie et forti manu opprimebant Iabin regem Chanaan donec delerent eum
English Translation:
And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord after the death of Aod:And the Lord delivered them up into the hands of Jabin, king of Chanaan, who reigned in Asor: and he had a general of his army named Sisara, and he dwelt in Haroseth of the Gentiles. And the children of Israel cried to the Lord: for he had nine hundred chariots set with scythes and for twenty years had grievously oppressed them. And there was at that time Debbora, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, who judged the people. And she sat under a palm tree, which was called by her name, between Rama and Bethel, in Mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for all judgment. And she sent and called Barac, the Son of Abinoem, out of Cedes, in Nephthali: and she said to him: The Lord God of Israel hath commanded thee: Go, and lead an army to Mount Thabor, and thou shalt take with thee ten thousand fighting men of the children of Nephthali, and of the children of Zabulon: And I will bring unto thee in the place of the torrent Cison, Sisara, the general of Jabin's army, and his chariots, and all his multitude, and will deliver them into thy hand. And Barac said to her: If thou wilt come with me, I will go: if thou wilt not come with me, I will not go. She said to him: I will go, indeed, with thee, but at this time the victory shall not be attributed to thee, because Sisara shall be delivered into the hand of a woman. Deborah therefore arose, and went with Barac to Cedes. And he called unto him Zabulon and Nephthali, and went up with ten thousand fighting men, having Deborah in his company. Now Haber, the Cinite, had some time before departed from the rest of the Cinites, his brethren, the sons of Hobab, the kinsman of Moses: and had pitched his tents unto the valley, which is called Sennim, and was near Cedes. And it was told Sisara, that Barac, the son of Abinoem, was gone up to Mount Thabor: And he gathered together his nine hundred chariots armed with scythes, and all his army, from Haroseth of the Gentiles, to the torrent Cison. And Deborah said to Barac: Arise, for this is the day wherein the Lord hath delivered Sisara into thy hands: behold, he is thy leader. And Barac went down from Mount Thabor, and ten thousand fighting men with him. And the Lord struck a terror into Sisara, and all his chariots, and all his multitude, with the edge of the sword, at the sight of Barac; insomuch, that Sisara leaping down from off his chariot, fled away on foot, And Barac pursued after the fleeing chariots, and the army, unto Haroseth of the Gentiles; and all the multitude of the enemies was utterly destroyed. But Sisara fleeing, came to the tent of Jahel, the wife of Haber, the Cinite, for there was peace between Jabin, the king of Asor, and the house of Haber, the Cinite. And Jahel went forth to meet Sisara, and said to him: Come in to me, my lord; come in, fear not. He went into her tent, and being covered by her with a cloak Said to her: Give me, I beseech thee, a little water, for I am very thirsty. She opened a bottle of milk, and gave him to drink, and covered him. And Sisara said to her: Stand before the door of the tent, and when any shall come and inquire of thee, saying: Is there any man here? thou shalt say: There is none. So Jahel, Haber's wife, took a nail of the tent, and taking also a hammer: and going in softly, and with silence, she put the nail upon the temples of his head, and striking it with the hammer, drove it through his brain fast into the ground: and so passing from deep sleep to death, he fainted away and died. And behold, Barac came pursuing after Sisara: and Jahel went out to meet him, and said to him: Come, and I will shew thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her tent, he saw Sisara lying dead, and the nail fastened in his temples. So God that day humbled Jabin, the king of Chanaan, before the children of Israel: Who grew daily stronger, and with a mighty hand overpowered Jabin, king of Chanaan, till they quite destroyed him. (Inventory #: 2856)
The text in this leaf is from Judges, Chapters 3 and 4. It is in chapter 4 that we meet the great judge Deborah, the only woman among the judges in the Old Testament. Deborah, also a prophet, is an important reminder that women could hold powerful roles and be the chosen vessels of God.
Leaf is from a 13th century Bible written in Latin in a fine gothic script with black ink. Two columns of text with large initials opening each chapter (3 total). Size: 139 x 190 mm (approx 5.4 x 7.5 inches). Leaf is very clean and bright with particularly large margins.
The text in Latin beginning at the large "H" on the left column (Chapter 3)
hae sunt gentes quas Dominus dereliquit ut erudiret in eis Israhelem et omnes qui non noverant bella Chananeorum et postea discerent filii eorum certare cum hostibus et habere consuetudinem proeliandi quinque satrapas Philisthinorum omnemque Chananeum et Sidonium atque Eveum qui habitabat in monte Libano de monte Baalhermon usque ad introitum Emath dimisitque eos ut in ipsis experiretur Israhelem utrum audiret mandata Domini quae praeceperat patribus eorum per manum Mosi an non itaque filii Israhel habitaverunt in medio Chananei et Hetthei et Amorrei et Ferezei et Evei et Iebusei et duxerunt uxores filias eorum ipsique filias suas eorum filiis tradiderunt et servierunt diis eorum feceruntque malum in conspectu Domini et obliti sunt Dei sui servientes Baalim et Astharoth iratusque Dominus contra Israhel tradidit eos in manus Chusanrasathaim regis Mesopotamiae servieruntque ei octo annis et clamaverunt ad Dominum qui suscitavit eis salvatorem et liberavit eos Othonihel videlicet filium Cenez fratrem Chaleb minorem fuitque in eo spiritus Domini et iudicavit Israhel egressusque est ad pugnam et tradidit Dominus in manu eius Chusanrasathaim regem Syriae et oppressit eum quievitque terra quadraginta annis et mortuus est Othonihel filius Cenez addiderunt autem filii Israhel facere malum in conspectu Domini qui confortavit adversum eos Eglon regem Moab quia fecerunt malum in conspectu eius et copulavit ei filios Ammon et Amalech abiitque et percussit Israhel atque possedit urbem Palmarum servieruntque filii Israhel Eglon regi Moab decem et octo annis et postea clamaverunt ad Dominum qui suscitavit eis salvatorem vocabulo Ahoth filium Gera filii Iemini qui utraque manu utebatur pro dextera miseruntque filii Israhel per illum munera Eglon regi Moab qui fecit sibi gladium ancipitem habentem in medio capulum longitudinis palmae manus et accinctus est eo subter sagum in dextro femore obtulitque munera Eglon regi Moab erat autem Eglon crassus nimis cumque obtulisset ei munera prosecutus est socios qui cum eo venerant et reversus de Galgalis ubi erant idola dixit ad regem verbum secretum habeo ad te o rex et ille imperavit silentium egressisque omnibus qui circa eum erant ingressus est Ahoth ad eum sedebat autem in aestivo cenaculo solus dixitque verbum Dei habeo ad te qui statim surrexit de throno extenditque Ahoth manum sinistram et tulit sicam de dextro femore suo infixitque eam in ventre eius tam valide ut capulus ferrum sequeretur in vulnere ac pinguissimo adipe stringeretur nec eduxit gladium sed ita ut percusserat reliquit in corpore statimque per secreta naturae alvi stercora proruperunt Ahoth autem clausis diligentissime ostiis cenaculi et obfirmatis sera per posticam egressus est servique regis ingressi viderunt clausas fores cenaculi atque dixerunt forsitan purgat alvum in aestivo cubiculo expectantesque diu donec erubescerent et videntes quod nullus aperiret tulerunt clavem et aperientes invenerunt dominum suum iacentem in terra mortuum Ahoth autem dum illi turbarentur effugit et pertransiit locum Idolorum unde reversus fuerat venitque in Seirath et statim insonuit bucina in monte Ephraim descenderuntque cum eo filii Israhel ipso in fronte gradiente qui dixit ad eos sequimini me tradidit enim Dominus inimicos nostros Moabitas in manus nostras descenderuntque post eum et occupaverunt vada Iordanis quae transmittunt in Moab et non dimiserunt transire quemquam sed percusserunt Moabitas in tempore illo circiter decem milia omnes robustos et fortes viros nullus eorum evadere potuit humiliatusque est Moab die illo sub manu Israhel et quievit terra octoginta annis post hunc fuit Samgar filius Anath qui percussit de Philisthim sescentos viros vomere et ipse quoque defendit Israhel.
English Translation
These are the nations which the Lord left, that by them he might instruct Israel, and all that had not known the wars of the Chanaanites: That afterwards their children might learn to fight with their enemies, and to be trained up to war: The five princes of the Philistines, and all the Chanaanites, and the Sidonians, and the Hevites that dwelt in Mount Libanus, from Mount Baal Hermon to the entering into Emath. And he left them, that he might try Israel by them, whether they would hear the commandments of the Lord, which he had commanded their fathers, by the hand of Moses, or not. So the children of Israel dwelt in the midst of the Chanaanite, and the Hethite, and the Amorrhite, and the Pherezite, and the Hevite, and the Jebusite: And they took their daughters to wives, and they gave their own daughters to their sons, and they served their gods. And they did evil in the sight of the Lord, and they forgot their God, and served Baalim and Astaroth. And the Lord being angry with Israel, delivered them into the hands of Chusan Rasathaim, king of Mesopotamia, and they served him eight years. And they cried to the Lord, who raised them up a saviour, and delivered them; to wit, Othoniel, the son of Cenez, the younger brother of Caleb: And the spirit of the Lord was in him, and he judged Israel. And he went out to fight, and the Lord delivered Chusan Rasathaim, king of Syria, and he overthrew him: And the land rested forty years, and Othoniel, the son of Cenez, died. And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord: who strengthened against them Eglon, king of Moab: because they did evil in his sight. And he joined to him the children of Ammon, and Amalec: and he went and overthrew Israel, and possessed the city of palm trees. And the children of Israel served Eglon, king of Moab, eighteen years. And afterwards they cried to the Lord, who raised them up a saviour, called Aod, the son of Cera, the son of Jemini, who used the left hand as well as the right. And the children of Israel sent presents to Eglon, king of Moab, by him. And he made himself a two-edged sword, with a haft in the midst of the length of the palm of the hand, and was girded therewith, under his garment, on the right thigh. And he presented the gifts to Eglon, king of Moab Now Eglon was exceeding fat. And when he had presented the gifts unto him he followed his companions that came along with him. Then returning from Galgal, where the idols were, he said to the king: I have a secret message to thee, O king. And he commanded silence: and all being gone out that were about him, Aod went in to him: now he was sitting in a summer parlour alone, and he said: I have a word from God to thee. And he forthwith rose up from his throne. And Aod put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly, With such force that the haft went in after the blade into the wound, and was closed up with the abundance of fat. So that he did not draw out the dagger, but left it in the body as he had struck it in: and forthwith, by the secret parts of nature, the excrements of the belly came out. And Aod carefully shutting the doors of the parlour, and locking them, Went out by a postern door. And the king's servants going in, saw the doors of the parlour shut, and they said: Perhaps he is easing nature in his summer parlour. And waiting a long time, till they were ashamed, and seeing that no man opened the door, they took a key: and opening, they found their lord lying dead on the ground. But Aod, while they were in confusion, escaped, and passed by the place of the idols from whence he had returned. And he came to Seirath: And forthwith he sounded the trumpet in Mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel went down with him, he himself going in the front. And he said to them: Follow me: for the Lord hath delivered our enemies, the Moabites, into our hands. And they went down after him, and seized upon the fords of the Jordan, which are in the way to Moab: and they suffered no man to pass over: But they slew of the Moabites at that time, about ten thousand, all strong and valiant men: none of them could escape. And Moab was humbled that day under the hand of Israel: and the land rested eighty years. After him was Samgar, the son of Anath, who slew of the Philistines six hundred men with a ploughshare: and he also defended Israel.
The text in Latin beginning at the large "A" on the right column (Chapter 4)
addideruntque filii Israhel facere malum in conspectu Domini post mortem Ahoth et tradidit illos Dominus in manu Iabin regis Chanaan qui regnavit in Asor habuitque ducem exercitus sui nomine Sisaram ipse autem habitabat in Aroseth gentium clamaveruntque filii Israhel ad Dominum nongentos enim habebat falcatos currus et per viginti annos vehementer oppresserat eos erat autem Debbora prophetis uxor Lapidoth quae iudicabat populum in illo tempore et sedebat sub palma quae nomine illius vocabatur inter Rama et Bethel in monte Ephraim ascendebantque ad eam filii Israhel in omne iudicium quae misit et vocavit Barac filium Abinoem de Cedes Nepthalim dixitque ad eum praecepit tibi Dominus Deus Israhel vade et duc exercitum in montem Thabor tollesque tecum decem milia pugnatorum de filiis Nepthalim et de filiis Zabulon ego autem ducam ad te in loco torrentis Cison Sisaram principem exercitus Iabin et currus eius atque omnem multitudinem et tradam eos in manu tua dixitque ad eam Barac si venis mecum vadam si nolueris venire non pergam quae dixit ad eum ibo quidem tecum sed in hac vice tibi victoria non reputabitur quia in manu mulieris tradetur Sisara surrexit itaque Debbora et perrexit cum Barac in Cedes qui accitis Zabulon et Nepthalim ascendit cum decem milibus pugnatorum habens Debboram in comitatu suo Aber autem Cineus recesserat quondam a ceteris Cineis fratribus suis filiis Obab cognati Mosi et tetenderat tabernacula usque ad vallem quae vocatur Sennim et erat iuxta Cedes nuntiatumque est Sisarae quod ascendisset Barac filius Abinoem in montem Thabor et congregavit nongentos falcatos currus omnemque exercitum de Aroseth gentium ad torrentem Cison dixitque Debbora ad Barac surge haec est enim dies in qua tradidit Dominus Sisaram in manus tuas en ipse ductor est tuus descendit itaque Barac de monte Thabor et decem milia pugnatorum cum eo perterruitque Dominus Sisaram et omnes currus eius universamque multitudinem in ore gladii ad conspectum Barac in tantum ut Sisara de curru desiliens pedibus fugeret et Barac persequeretur fugientes currus et exercitum usque ad Aroseth gentium et omnis hostium multitudo usque ad internicionem caderet Sisara autem fugiens pervenit ad tentorium Iahel uxoris Aber Cinei erat enim pax inter Iabin regem Asor et domum Aber Cinei egressa igitur Iahel in occursum Sisarae dixit ad eum intra ad me domine mi intra ne timeas qui ingressus tabernaculum eius et opertus ab ea pallio dixit ad eam da mihi obsecro paululum aquae quia valde sitio quae aperuit utrem lactis et dedit ei bibere et operuit illum dixitque Sisara ad eam sta ante ostium tabernaculi et cum venerit aliquis interrogans te et dicens numquid hic est aliquis respondebis nullus est tulit itaque Iahel uxor Aber clavum tabernaculi adsumens pariter malleum et ingressa abscondite et cum silentio posuit supra tempus capitis eius clavum percussumque malleo defixit in cerebrum usque ad terram qui soporem morti socians defecit et mortuus est et ecce Barac sequens Sisaram veniebat egressaque Iahel in occursum eius dixit ei veni et ostendam tibi virum quem quaeris qui cum intrasset ad eam vidit Sisaram iacentem mortuum et clavum infixum in tempore eius humiliavit ergo Deus in die illo Iabin regem Chanaan coram filiis Israhel qui crescebant cotidie et forti manu opprimebant Iabin regem Chanaan donec delerent eum
English Translation:
And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord after the death of Aod:And the Lord delivered them up into the hands of Jabin, king of Chanaan, who reigned in Asor: and he had a general of his army named Sisara, and he dwelt in Haroseth of the Gentiles. And the children of Israel cried to the Lord: for he had nine hundred chariots set with scythes and for twenty years had grievously oppressed them. And there was at that time Debbora, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, who judged the people. And she sat under a palm tree, which was called by her name, between Rama and Bethel, in Mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for all judgment. And she sent and called Barac, the Son of Abinoem, out of Cedes, in Nephthali: and she said to him: The Lord God of Israel hath commanded thee: Go, and lead an army to Mount Thabor, and thou shalt take with thee ten thousand fighting men of the children of Nephthali, and of the children of Zabulon: And I will bring unto thee in the place of the torrent Cison, Sisara, the general of Jabin's army, and his chariots, and all his multitude, and will deliver them into thy hand. And Barac said to her: If thou wilt come with me, I will go: if thou wilt not come with me, I will not go. She said to him: I will go, indeed, with thee, but at this time the victory shall not be attributed to thee, because Sisara shall be delivered into the hand of a woman. Deborah therefore arose, and went with Barac to Cedes. And he called unto him Zabulon and Nephthali, and went up with ten thousand fighting men, having Deborah in his company. Now Haber, the Cinite, had some time before departed from the rest of the Cinites, his brethren, the sons of Hobab, the kinsman of Moses: and had pitched his tents unto the valley, which is called Sennim, and was near Cedes. And it was told Sisara, that Barac, the son of Abinoem, was gone up to Mount Thabor: And he gathered together his nine hundred chariots armed with scythes, and all his army, from Haroseth of the Gentiles, to the torrent Cison. And Deborah said to Barac: Arise, for this is the day wherein the Lord hath delivered Sisara into thy hands: behold, he is thy leader. And Barac went down from Mount Thabor, and ten thousand fighting men with him. And the Lord struck a terror into Sisara, and all his chariots, and all his multitude, with the edge of the sword, at the sight of Barac; insomuch, that Sisara leaping down from off his chariot, fled away on foot, And Barac pursued after the fleeing chariots, and the army, unto Haroseth of the Gentiles; and all the multitude of the enemies was utterly destroyed. But Sisara fleeing, came to the tent of Jahel, the wife of Haber, the Cinite, for there was peace between Jabin, the king of Asor, and the house of Haber, the Cinite. And Jahel went forth to meet Sisara, and said to him: Come in to me, my lord; come in, fear not. He went into her tent, and being covered by her with a cloak Said to her: Give me, I beseech thee, a little water, for I am very thirsty. She opened a bottle of milk, and gave him to drink, and covered him. And Sisara said to her: Stand before the door of the tent, and when any shall come and inquire of thee, saying: Is there any man here? thou shalt say: There is none. So Jahel, Haber's wife, took a nail of the tent, and taking also a hammer: and going in softly, and with silence, she put the nail upon the temples of his head, and striking it with the hammer, drove it through his brain fast into the ground: and so passing from deep sleep to death, he fainted away and died. And behold, Barac came pursuing after Sisara: and Jahel went out to meet him, and said to him: Come, and I will shew thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her tent, he saw Sisara lying dead, and the nail fastened in his temples. So God that day humbled Jabin, the king of Chanaan, before the children of Israel: Who grew daily stronger, and with a mighty hand overpowered Jabin, king of Chanaan, till they quite destroyed him. (Inventory #: 2856)
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