1 And in the one hundred and fifth year of the life of Ya’aqoḇ, that is the ninth year of Ya’aqoḇ’s dwelling with his children in the land of Kena’an, he came from Paddan Aram.
2 And in those days Ya’aqoḇ journeyed with his children from Ḥeḇron, and they went and returned to the city of Sheḵem, they and all belonging to them, and they dwelt there, for the children of Ya’aqoḇ obtained good and fat pasture land for their cattle in the city of Sheḵem, the city of Sheḵem having then been rebuilt, and there were in it about three hundred men and women.
3 And Ya’aqoḇ and his children and all belonging to him dwelt in the part of the field which Ya’aqoḇ had bought from Ḥamor the father of Sheḵem, when he came from Paddan Aram before Shim’on and Lĕwi had smitten the city.
4 And all those sovereigns of the Kena’anites and Amorites that surrounded the city of Sheḵem, heard that the sons of Ya’aqoḇ had again come to Sheḵem and dwelt there.
5 And they said, “Shall the sons of Ya’aqoḇ the Iḇri again come to the city and dwell in it, after 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 sovereigns of Kena’an again assembled, and they came together to fight against Ya’aqoḇ and his sons.
7 And Yashuḇ sovereign of Taphnaḵ also sent to all his neighbouring sovereigns, to Elan sovereign of Ga’ash, and to Ihuri sovereign of Shiloh, and to Parathon sovereign of Ḥatsar, and to Susi sovereign of Sarton, and to Laḇan sovereign of Bĕyth Ḥoron, and to Shaḇir sovereign of Othnai-Mah, saying,
8 “Come up to me and assist me, and let us smite Ya’aqoḇ the Iḇri and his sons, and all belonging to him, for they have again come to Sheḵem to possess it and to slay its inhabitants as before.”
9 And all these sovereigns assembled together and came with all their armies, a people exceedingly numerous like the sand on the seashore, and they were all opposite to Taphnaḵ.
10 And Yashuḇ sovereign of Taphnaḵ went out to them with all his army, and he encamped with them opposite to Taphnaḵ outside the city, and all these sovereigns they divided into seven divisions, being seven camps against the sons of Ya’aqoḇ.
11 And they sent a declaration to Ya’aqoḇ and his son, saying, “Come out all of you to us that we may have a word together in the plain, and avenge the cause of the men of Sheḵem whom you slew in their city. And you will now again return to the city of Sheḵem and dwell therein, and slay its inhabitants as before.”
12 And the sons of Ya’aqoḇ heard this and their wrath was kindled exceedingly at the words of the sovereigns of Kena’an, and ten of the sons of Ya’aqoḇ hastened and rose up, and each of them girded on his weapons of battle. And there were one hundred and two of their servants with them equipped in battle array.
13 And all these men, the sons of Ya’aqoḇ with their servants, went toward these sovereigns, and Ya’aqoḇ their father was with them, and they all stood upon the heap of Sheḵem.
14 And Ya’aqoḇ prayed to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 for his sons, and he spread out his hands to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 and he said, “O Elohim, You are an Almighty Elohim! You are our Father. You formed us and we are the works of Your hands. Please deliver my sons through Your favour from the hand of their enemies, who are this day coming to fight against 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 to my sons, Your servants, strength of heart and might to fight against 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 Kena’an.
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 favour through the hands of Your servants, that they may not perish this day by the hands of the sovereigns of the Amorites.”
17 And when Ya’aqoḇ ceased praying to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 the earth shook from its place, and the sun darkened, and all these sovereigns were afraid and a great fear seized them.
18 And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 listened to the prayer of Ya’aqoḇ, and 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 impressed the hearts of all the sovereigns and their armies with the fear and awe of the sons of Ya’aqoḇ.
19 For 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 caused them to hear the sound of chariots, and the sound of mighty horses from the sons of Ya’aqoḇ, and the sound of a great army accompanying them.
20 And these sovereigns were seized with great fear at the sons of Ya’aqoḇ. And while they were standing in their borders, see, the sons of Ya’aqoḇ advanced upon them with one hundred and twelve men, with a great and mighty shouting.
21 And when the sovereigns saw the sons of Ya’aqoḇ advancing toward them, they were even more struck with fear, and they were inclined to retreat from before the sons of Ya’aqoḇ as at first, and not to fight against them.
22 But they did not retreat, saying, “It would be a disgrace to us even twice to retreat from before the Iḇrim.”
23 And the sons of Ya’aqoḇ came near and advanced against all these sovereigns and their armies, and they looked, and see, it was a very mighty people, numerous as the sand of the sea.
24 And the sons of Ya’aqoḇ called to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 and said, “Help us O 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄! Help us and answer us, for we trust in You, and let us not die by the hands of these uncircumcised men, who have come against us this day.”
25 And the sons of Ya’aqoḇ girded on their weapons of battle, and they took in their hands each man his shield and his spear, and they approached to battle.
26 And Yahuḏah, son of Ya’aqoḇ, ran first before his brothers, and ten of his servants with him, and he went toward these sovereigns.
27 And Yashuḇ, sovereign of Taphnaḵ, also came out first with his army before Yahuḏah. And Yahuḏah saw Yashuḇ and his army coming toward him, and Yahuḏah’s wrath was kindled, and his wrath burned within him, and he approached to battle in which Yahuḏah risked his life.
28 And Yashuḇ and all his army were advancing toward Yahuḏah, and he was riding upon a very strong and powerful horse. And Yashuḇ was a very mighty man, and covered from head to foot with iron and brass.
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 at which he aimed his arrows.
30 And when Yashuḇ came to fight against Yahuḏah, and was shooting many arrows against Yahuḏah, 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 bound the hand of Yashuḇ, and all the arrows that he shot rebounded upon his own men.
31 But however, Yashuḇ kept advancing toward Yahuḏah, to challenge him with the arrows, but the distance between them was about thirty ammah, and when Yahuḏah saw Yashuḇ shooting out his arrows against him, he ran toward him with his fierce might.
32 And Yahuḏah took up a large stone from the ground, and its weight was sixty sheqels. And Yahuḏah ran toward Yashuḇ, and struck him with the stone on his shield, so Yashuḇ was stunned with the blow, and fell from off his horse to the ground.
33 And the shield split in two out of the hand of Yashuḇ, and through the force of the blow sprang to the distance of about fifteen ammah, and the shield fell before the second army.
34 And the sovereigns that came with Yashuḇ saw at a distance the strength of Yahuḏah, son of Ya’aqoḇ, and what he had done to Yashuḇ, and they were greatly afraid of Yahuḏah.
35 And they assembled near Yashub’s army, seeing his confusion, and Yahuḏah drew his sword and smote forty-two men of the army of Yashuḇ. And the whole of Yashub’s army fled before Yahuḏah, and no man stood against him, and they left Yashuḇ and fled from him, and Yashuḇ was still face down on the ground.
36 And Yashuḇ seeing that all the men of his camp had fled from him, hastened and rose up with fear against Yahuḏah, and stood up on his feet opposite Yahuḏah.
37 And Yashuḇ had a one-on-one battle with Yahuḏah, placing shield toward shield, and Yashuḇ’s men all fled, for they were greatly afraid of Yahuḏah.
38 And Yashuḇ took his spear in his hand to strike Yahuḏah on his head, but Yahuḏah had quickly placed his shield to his head against Yashuḇ’s spear, so that the shield of Yahuḏah took the blow from Yashuḇ’s spear, and the shield was split in two.
39 And when Yahuḏah saw that his shield was split, he hastily drew his sword and smote Yashuḇ at his ankles, and cut off his feet so that Yashuḇ fell upon the ground, and the spear fell from his hand.
40 And Yahuḏah hastily picked up Yashuḇ’s spear, with which he cut off his head and threw it next to his feet.
41 And when the sons of Ya’aqoḇ saw what Yahuḏah had done to Yashuḇ, they all ran into the ranks of the other sovereigns, and the sons of Ya’aqoḇ fought with the army of Yashuḇ, and the armies of all the sovereigns that were there.
42 And the sons of Ya’aqoḇ 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 Yahuḏah was still standing by the body of Yashuḇ, and stripped Yashuḇ of his coat of armour.
44 And Yahuḏah also took off the iron and brass that was about Yashuḇ, and see, nine men of the captains of Yashuḇ approached to fight against Yahuḏah.
45 And Yahuḏah hurried and took up a stone from the ground, and with it smote one of them on the head, and split his skull, and the body also fell from the horse to the ground.
46 And the eight captains that remained, seeing the strength of Yahuḏah, were greatly afraid and they fled. And Yahuḏah with his ten men pursued them, and they overtook them and slew them.
47 And the sons of Ya’aqoḇ were still smiting the armies of the sovereigns, and they slew many of them. But those sovereigns boldly kept their stand with their captains, and did not retreat from their places, and they shouted against those of their armies that fled from before the sons of Ya’aqoḇ, but none would listen to them, for they were afraid for their lives lest they should die.
48 And all the sons of Ya’aqoḇ, after having smitten the armies of the sovereigns, returned and came before Yahuḏah. And Yahuḏah was still slaying the eight captains of Yashuḇ, and stripping off their garments.
49 And Lĕwi saw Ĕylon, sovereign of Ga’ash, advancing toward him, with his fourteen captains to smite him, but Lĕwi did not know it for certain.
50 And Ĕylon with his captains approached nearer, and Lĕwi looked back and saw that battle was given him behind. And Lĕwi ran with twelve of his servants, and they went and slew Ĕylon and his captains with the edge of the sword.