The Message Bible MSG
New International Version NIV
1 A time came after the death of Joshua when the People of Israel asked God, "Who will take the lead in going up against the Canaanites to fight them?"
1
After the death of Joshua, the Israelites asked the LORD, “Who of us is to go up first to fight against the Canaanites?”
2 And God said, "Judah will go. I've given the land to him."
2
The LORD answered, “Judah shall go up; I have given the land into their hands.”
3 The men of Judah said to those of their brother Simeon, "Go up with us to our territory and we'll fight the Canaanites. Then we'll go with you to your territory." And Simeon went with them.
3
The men of Judah then said to the Simeonites their fellow Israelites, “Come up with us into the territory allotted to us, to fight against the Canaanites. We in turn will go with you into yours.” So the Simeonites went with them.
4 So Judah went up. God gave them the Canaanites and the Perizzites. They defeated them at Bezek - ten military units!
4
When Judah attacked, the LORD gave the Canaanites and Perizzites into their hands, and they struck down ten thousand men at Bezek.
5 They caught up with My-Master-Bezek there and fought him. They smashed the Canaanites and the Perizzites.
5
It was there that they found Adoni-Bezek and fought against him, putting to rout the Canaanites and Perizzites.
6 My-Master-Bezek ran, but they gave chase and caught him. They cut off his thumbs and big toes.
6
Adoni-Bezek fled, but they chased him and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and big toes.
7 My-Master-Bezek said, "Seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off used to crawl under my table, scavenging. Now God has done to me what I did to them." They brought him to Jerusalem and he died there.
7
Then Adoni-Bezek said, “Seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off have picked up scraps under my table. Now God has paid me back for what I did to them.” They brought him to Jerusalem, and he died there.
8 The people of Judah attacked and captured Jerusalem, subduing the city by sword and then sending it up in flames.
8
The men of Judah attacked Jerusalem also and took it. They put the city to the sword and set it on fire.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.