1
And in the one hundred and fifth year of the life of Ya’aqov, that is the ninth year of Ya’aqov's dwelling with his children in the land of Kena’an, he came from Padan-aram.
2
And in those days Ya’aqov journeyed with his children from Chevron, and they went and returned to the city of Shekhem, they and all belonging to them, and they lived there, for the children of Ya’aqov obtained good and fat pasture land for their cattle in the city of Shekhem, the city of Shekhem having then been rebuilt, and there were in it about three hundred men and women.
3
And Ya’aqov and his children and all belonging to him lived in the part of the field which Ya’aqov had bought from Hamor the father of Shekhem, when he came from Padan-aram before Shim’on and Levi had smitten the city.
4
And all those kings of the Kena’aniym and Emoriym that surrounded the city of Shekhem, heard that the sons of Ya’aqov had again come to Shekhem and lived there.
5
And they said, Shall the sons of Ya’aqov the Ivri again come to the city and dwell in it, after that 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 kings of Kena’an again assembled, and they came together to make war with Ya’aqov and his sons.
7
And Yashuv king of Tapnach sent also to all his neighboring kings, to Elan king of Gaash, and to Ihuri king of Shiloh, and to Parathon king of Chazar, and to Susi king of Sarton, and to Lavan king of Bethchoran, and to Shabir king of Othnay-mah, saying,
8
Come up to me and assist me, and let us smite Ya’aqov the Ivri and his sons, and all belonging to him, for they are again come to Shekhem to possess it and to slay its inhabitants as before.
9
And all these kings assembled together and came with all their camps, a people exceedingly plentiful like the sand upon the sea shore, and they were all opposite to Tapnach.
10
And Yashuv king of Tapnach went forth to them with all his army, and he encamped with them opposite to Tapnach without the city, and all these kings they divided into seven divisions, being seven camps against the sons of Ya’aqov.
11
And they sent a declaration to Ya’aqov and his son, saying, Come you all forth to us that we may have an interview together in the plain, and revenge the cause of the men of Shekhem whom you killed in their city, and you will now again return to the city of Shekhem and dwell in it, and slay its inhabitants as before.
12
And the sons of Ya’aqov heard this and their anger was kindled exceedingly at the words of the kings of Kena’an, and ten of the sons of Ya’aqov hastened and rose up, and each of them girt on his weapons of war; 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’aqov with their servants, went toward these kings, and Ya’aqov their father was with them, and they all stood upon the heap of Shekhem.
14
And Ya’aqov prayed to Yahuah for his sons, and he spread forth his hands to Yahuah, and he said, O Elohim, you are an Almighty Elohim, you are our father, you did form us and we are the works of your hands; I pray you deliver my sons through your mercy from the hand of their enemies, who are this day coming to fight with 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 with 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 mercy through the hands of your ministers, that they may not perish this day by the hands of the kings of the Emoriym.
17
And when Ya’aqov ceased praying to Yahuah the earth shook from its place, and the sun darkened, and all these kings were terrified and a great consternation seized them.
18
And Yahuah listened to the prayer of Ya’aqov, and Yahuah impressed the hearts of all the kings and their hosts with the terror and awe of the sons of Ya’aqov.
19
For Yahuah caused them to hear the voice of chariots, and the voice of mighty horses from the sons of Ya’aqov, and the voice of a great army accompanying them.
20
And these kings were seized with great terror at the sons of Ya’aqov, and while they were standing in their quarters, behold the sons of Ya’aqov advanced upon them, with one hundred and twelve men, with a great and tremendous shouting.
21
And when the kings saw the sons of Ya’aqov advancing toward them, they were still more panic struck, and they were inclined to retreat from before the sons of Ya’aqov as at first, and not to fight with them.
22
But they did not retreat, saying, It would be a disgrace to us thus twice to retreat from before the Ivrim.
23
And the sons of Ya’aqov came near and advanced against all these kings and their armies, and they saw, and behold it was a very mighty people, numerous as the sand of the sea.
24
And the sons of Ya’aqov called to Yahuah and said, Help us O Yahuah, help us and answer us, for we trust in you, and let us not die by the hands of these uncircumcised men, who this day have come against us.
25
And the sons of Ya’aqov girt on their weapons of war, and they took in their hands each man his shield and his javelin, and they approached to battle.
26
And Yehudah, the son of Ya’aqov, ran first before his brethren, and ten of his servants with him, and he went toward these kings.
27
And Yashuv, king of Tapnach, also came forth first with his army before Yehudah, and Yehudah saw Yashuv and his army coming toward him, and Yehudah's wrath was kindled, and his anger burned within him, and he approached to battle in which Yehudah ventured his life.
28
And Yashuv and all his army were advancing toward Yehudah, and he was riding upon a very strong and powerful horse, and Yashuv was a very valiant man, and covered with iron and brass from head to foot.
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 to which he aimed his arrows.
30
And when Yashuv came to fight with Yehudah, and was darting many arrows against Yehudah, Yahuah bound the hand of Yashuv, and all the arrows that he shot rebounded upon his own men.
31
And notwithstanding this, Yashuv kept advancing toward Yehudah, to challenge him with the arrows, but the distance between them was about thirty cubits, and when Yehudah saw Yashuv darting forth his arrows against him, he ran to him with his wrath-excited might.
32
And Yehudah took up a large stone from the ground, and its weight was sixty shekels, and Yehudah ran toward Yashuv, and with the stone struck him on his shield, that Yashuv was stunned with the blow, and fell off from his horse to the ground.
33
And the shield burst asunder out of the hand of Yashuv, and through the force of the blow sprang to the distance of about fifteen cubits, and the shield fell before the second camp.
34
And the kings that came with Yashuv saw at a distance the strength of Yehudah, the son of Ya’aqov, and what he had done to Yashuv, and they were terribly afraid of Yehudah.
35
And they assembled near Yashuv's camp, seeing his confusion, and Yehudah drew his sword and struck forty-two men of the camp of Yashuv, and the whole of Yashuv's camp fled before Yehudah, and no man stood against him, and they left Yashuv and fled from him, and Yashuv was still prostrate upon the ground.
36
And Yashuv seeing that all the men of his camp had fled from him, hastened and rose up with terror against Yehudah, and stood upon his legs opposite Yehudah.
37
And Yashuv had a single combat with Yehudah, placing shield toward shield, and Yashuv's men all fled, for they were greatly afraid of Yehudah.
38
And Yashuv took his spear in his hand to strike Yehudah upon his head, but Yehudah had quickly placed his shield to his head against Yashuv's spear, so that the shield of Yehudah received the blow from Yashuv's spear, and the shield was split in too.
39
And when Yehudah saw that his shield was split, he hastily drew his sword and struck Yashuv at his ankles, and cut off his feet that Yashuv fell upon the ground, and the spear fell from his hand.
40
And Yehudah hastily picked up Yashuv's spear, with which he severed his head and cast it next to his feet.
41
And when the sons of Ya’aqov saw what Yehudah had done to Yashuv, they all ran into the ranks of the other kings, and the sons of Ya’aqov fought with the army of Yashuv, and the armies of all the kings that were there.
42
And the sons of Ya’aqov caused fifteen thousand of their men to fall, and they struck them as if smiting at gourds, and the rest fled for their lives.
43
And Yehudah was still standing by the body of Yashuv, and stripped Yashuv of his coat of mail.
44
And Yehudah also took off the iron and brass that was about Yashuv, and behold nine men of the captains of Yashuv came along to fight against Yehudah.
45
And Yehudah hastened and took up a stone from the ground, and with it struck one of them upon the head, and his skull was fractured, and the body also fell from the horse to the ground.
46
And the eight captains that remained, seeing the strength of Yehudah, were greatly afraid and they fled, and Yehudah with his ten men pursued them, and they overtook them and killed them.
47
And the sons of Ya’aqov were still smiting the armies of the kings, and they killed many of them, but those kings daringly kept their stand with their captains, and did not retreat from their places, and they exclaimed against those of their armies that fled from before the sons of Ya’aqov, but none would listen to them, for they were afraid of their lives lest they should die.
48
And all the sons of Ya’aqov, after having smitten the armies of the kings, returned and came before Yehudah, and Yehudah was still slaying the eight captains of Yashuv, and stripping off their garments.
49
And Levi saw Elon, king of Gaash, advancing toward him, with his fourteen captains to smite him, but Levi did not know it for certain.
50
And Elon with his captains approached nearer, and Levi looked back and saw that battle was given him in the rear, and Levi ran with twelve of his servants, and they went and killed Elon and his captains with the edge of the sword.