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CHAP. V. [ G]
How the people were againe made subiect to the Moabites, and how by Iodes they were exempt from seruitude.
AFter whose death (the gouernment and seate being voide) the affaires of the Israelites be∣gan againe to fall to ruine, and the rather for that they neither yeelded due honour vnto God, neither obedience to the lawes: whence it came to passe, that Eglon king of the Moa∣bites (seeing the disorder of their pollicie) set them at nought, so that he waged warre against them, and ouercame them many times. And for that he was a prince of greater forecast then any of his predecessors, he fought against them and weakened their forces, and constrained them to [ H] pay tribute.
This man (translating his court to Iericho, and proud in his victories) omitted no meanes whereby he might vexe and molest the people: so that they liued for the space of 18. yeares in great miserie. But God (being moued with their calamities, and supplications) deliuered them from their intolerable thraldome after this manner. Iodes the sonne of Gera of the tribe of Ben∣iamin (a yong man, both addressed by valour of minde, and strength of hand to attempt any worthy action) dwelt at Iericho. This man insinuated himselfe into Eglons familiaritie, and by presents and gifts entertained and courted him in such sort, as he was well beloued and estee∣med amongst all those courtiers that were neerest about the king. It chanced one day, that bea∣ring certaine presents vnto the king (attended by two of his houshold seruants) he secretly girt a [ I] dagger to his right thigh, at such time as he entred into the king: now it was about midsommer and mid-day likewise, whereby the watch was growne the more carelesse and slothfull, partly by reason of the heate, and partly for that the guard were occupied about their dinner. The yong man therefore offering his presents vnto Eglon (who at that time disported himselfe in a certaine sommer chamber) began to discourse with him. Now they were both alone (by reason that the king resoluing to talke familiarlie with Iodes, had sent away his guard, and sate him downe in a seate:) but Iodes fearing, least failing to stab home enough, he should not giue him a fatall and deadly wound, required him to rise, telling him that he had a dreame to report vnto him by the commandement of God. Whereat he reioicing very much, leapt from his seate; whereupon Iodes stabd him to the heart: and leauing the poiniard sticking in his wound, he escaped and loc∣ked [ K] the doore after him; the guard making no noise at all, supposing that the king had laide him downe to rest. But Iodes giuing priuate notice hereof to them of Iericho, offered himselfe to be their leader in the recouerie of their former libertie: who (willingly accepting thereof) pre∣sently tooke armes, and sent trumpets to publish the same thorow the whole countrey: (for after that manner were they woont to assemble the people.) They that were about Eglon were wholy ignorant of that which had hapned: but about the eeuen-tide (fearing least some mishap had be∣fallen him) they entred into the place where he was, & found him dead; wherat they were greatly astonished, so as they knew not what to doe. For before they had assembled their forces togither, the Israelites fiercely charged them, and some they killed instantly; the rest that were ten thou∣sand [ L] in number, betooke then selues to flie, vnder hope to recouer their countrey of Moab: but the Israelites (hauing before that, laide and fortified the passages of Iordan) pursued them and slew them: so that diuers of them perished in the Ferrie, and not one of them remained that es∣caped their hands. By this meanes the Israelites were deliuered from the seruitude of the Moa∣bites: and for this cause Iodes was aduanced to the gouernment of the people. Finally, after he had liued for the space of fourescore yeares, he died. A man (besides the act of late rehearsed) worthy of praise in all other things. After him Sanagar the sonne of Anath was elected gouer∣nour, and in the first yeare of his raigne, he left this life to partake the fruition of another.