YASHAR 75 (Jasher 75)

1 At that time, in the hundred and eightieth year of the Yisra’ĕlites going down to Mitsrayim, there went out from Mitsrayim thirty thousand mighty men on foot, from the children of Yisra’ĕl, who were all of the tribe of Yosĕph, of the children of Ephrayim son of Yosĕph.

2 For they said the period was completed which 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 had appointed to the children of Yisra’ĕl in the times of old, which he had spoken to Aḇraham.

3 And these men girded themselves, and each man put his sword at his side, and every man his armour upon him, and they trusted to their strength, and went out together from Mitsrayim with a mighty hand.

4 But they brought no food for the journey, only silver and gold, they did not even bring bread for that day in their hands, for they thought of getting their food for payment from the Pelishtites, and if not they would take it by force.

5 And these men were very great and mighty men, one man could pursue a thousand and two could put ten thousand to flight, so they trusted to their strength and went together as they were.

6 And they directed their course toward the land of Gath, and went down and found the shepherds of Gath feeding the cattle of the children of Gath.

7 And they said to the shepherds, “Give us some of the sheep for payment, that we may eat, for we are hungry, for we have eaten no bread today.”

8 And the shepherds said, “Are they our sheep or cattle that we should give them to you even for payment?” so the children of Ephrayim approached to take them by force.

9 And the shepherds of Gath shouted over them so that their cry was heard at a distance, so all the children of Gath went out to them.

10 And when the children of Gath saw the evil deeds of the children of Ephrayim, they returned and assembled the men of Gath, and each man put on his armour, and came out to the children of Ephrayim for battle.

11 And they engaged with them in the valley of Gath, and the battle was fierce, and they smote from each other a great many on that day.

12 And on the second day the children of Gath sent to all the cities of the Pelishtites that they should come to their help, saying,

13 “Come up to us and help us, that we may smite the children of Ephrayim who have come out from Mitsrayim to take our cattle, and to fight against us without cause.”

14 Now the beings of the children of Ephrayim were exhausted with hunger and thirst, for they had eaten no bread for three days. And forty thousand men went out from the cities of the Pelishtites to the assistance of the men of Gath.

15 And these men were engaged in battle with the children of Ephrayim, and 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 delivered the children of Ephrayim into the hands of the Pelishtites.

16 And they smote all the children of Ephrayim, all who had gone out from Mitsrayim. None were remaining but ten men who had run away from the battle.

17 For this evil was from 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 against the children of Ephrayim, for they transgressed the word of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 in going out from Mitsrayim, before the time had arrived which 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 in the days of old had appointed to Yisra’ĕl.

18 And of the Pelishtites also there fell a great many, about twenty thousand men, and their brothers carried them and buried them in their cities.

19 And the slain of the children of Ephrayim remained forsaken in the valley of Gath for many days and years, and were not brought to burial, and the valley was filled with men’s bones.

20 And the men who had escaped from the battle came to Mitsrayim, and told all the children of Yisra’ĕl all that had befallen them.

21 And their father Ephrayim mourned over them for many days, and his brothers came to console him.

22 And he came to his wife and she bore a son, and he called his name Beri’ah, for she was unfavoured in his house.