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 TlneT^ook 0? JudtfeS. 
 
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 j\-ndreW Johnson 
 

 THE 
 
 BOOK OF JUDGES. 
 
 ■k 1 
 

64 
 
 Eater I bo Oo 
 
 l Lerl 's Office of the District Court of the 
 for the Soul 
 
 
 THE BOOK OF JUDGES. 
 
 "t 
 
 1. Now, after the death of Abraham, it came 
 
 the people cried unto their officers and their judges, even 
 the assembled wisdom of the land, asking who shall g 
 and rule over us ? 
 
 2. And they answered unto them saying-, Andrew shall 
 go up ; for so hath it been written in the law. 
 
 have delivered the land into his hand. 
 
 8. And Andrew said unto Salmon and Gideon and the 
 
 a unto 'the counsellors which had served Abraham, 
 
 Come up with me unto my lot, that we may rule over this 
 
 people as it may seem good for them. For the llors 
 
 had found favor before the people. 
 
 4. And they went up with him and ruled over the people, 
 and they sent out word through all the land that the pe 
 do mourning in every city and in every town, and in all the 
 houses thereof, for the lamented Abraham ; And his body 
 
brought in procession through the land, and the people 
 
 all cam;' out to do hira honor. 
 
 ."». And when it was come to the land of Gotham, they 
 crowded in the streets and on the li usetops, and in all the 
 public places, to catch bul a glimpse of the body. 
 
 6. And throughout tho land was a voice heard, lameuta - 
 tion and weeping and great mourning, the Radikels wee] 
 
 for their chief, and would not he comforted because he was 
 not. 
 
 7. And they brought him through the land of the Massas- 
 sitcs to the far west, toward the land of the Minnesotas, and 
 h' was buried in Spring-Field, in the ground which he had 
 purchased from the men of the town. 
 
 8. And thus did they delight to do him honor after he 
 had been gathered to his fathers. 
 
II. 
 
 1. Now Hiram the son of Jesse, and captain of* all the 
 hosts of Coloinba, was a great man and honorable, because 
 that he had overcome the Tehivalrce which had rebelled 
 against Abraham and the judges of the land. 
 
 2. And Hiram was a mighty man in valor and fearful 
 unto his enemies the Tehivalrce, for he smote them with the 
 edge of the sword, and slew them with great slaughter: 
 Wherefore was he called Butcher by his enemies who liked 
 him not, the Coppureds and the Dimmeekrats. 
 
 3. And Hiram had under him many mighty men of valor 
 and captains of great renown. 
 
 4. And there was one, even Benjamin, which before had 
 stood up among the doctors of the law, arguing aloud with 
 the rest, and expounding unto the people those things that 
 were written in the law. 
 
 5. And he was a great man with his master, Abraham, 
 and honorable, because in him was no guile : Wherefore did 
 he set him over a province. 
 
 6. And he stood upright among this people, lie had no 
 fear in him. Neither did he owe any man. There was no 
 evil in his eye. 
 
7. But this dark and sullen people murmured among them- 
 selves, and they that were rich in cattle and in worldly g 
 said cm' unto another, Wherefore cometh this stranger to 
 rule over us? Ami they thought evil of him in their hearts. 
 
 ■ s . Yet did they speak him fair words, and they said unto 
 him, <) master! wherefore have thy servants 'merited so great 
 consideration at thy hands that thou com est thus far to a 
 strange land lo do them benefit? Do not thus violence, we 
 beseech thee, to thy feelings, for we arc not worthy that 
 thou shouldsl enter under our roof. 
 
 9. And Benjamin said unto them, Entreat me not to leave 
 thee or return from following after thee, for whither thou 
 
 i 1 will go, and where thou lodgest I will lodge: thy 
 paper shall be my paper, and thy gold my gold. 
 
 10. And when that he had ruled well over the province 
 that was given unto him, he found yet greater favor before 
 Abraham: Wherefore was he made captain of a host. 
 
 11. And he went out to battle at the head of all his men, 
 and they fell uj»on the enemy with the edge of the sword, 
 and they Bmote them with great slaughter. 
 
 12. Bui b scause they had not obeyed the Lord they were 
 not able to stand against their enemies, and they fled from 
 
 e tli>' lace of their enemies, and thus was the host of 
 jamin overcome. 
 
 13. Ami when ence again that Benjamin led them out to 
 do battle with their enemies, behold they had not yet found 
 
favor before the Lord, and they fled from before the face of 
 their enemies.- 
 
 14. And now did those foolish people cry out against 
 Benjamin because he had not fought against the Lord, and 
 the wrath of Benjamin was kindled against them, and filled 
 with a holy indignation he departed from amongst them. 
 
XIX. 
 
 1. And when Andrew went op to govern over this people lie 
 dwelt in t'.ic Kapitol by the banks of the river Po-to-mac, 
 and while he dwelt there he ruled over the people in pei 
 as seemed good for them. 
 
 •J. But he showed countenance to the enemies of the 
 Lord, even to the Tchivalree, whereat the judges of the land 
 were exceeding wroth against him, and they sware that it 
 would go hard with their enemies the Tehivalrce, because of 
 the thing that they had done. 
 
 :'). Then did Andrew wax wroth against the people which 
 were judges of the land, and lie cried out against them, and 
 thus he plcadeth for the Tchivalree, which were sore op- 
 pressed by their enemies the Radikels : 
 
 4. And be it indeed that they have erred, their error re- 
 mained with them. 
 
 ."). II' indeed ye will magnify yourself against me. and 
 plead my reproach, know that God hath overthrown them. 
 and compassed them with his net, with sore affliction hath 
 he visited them. 
 
 6. He hath put their brethren far from them, and their 
 acquaintances are verily estranged from them. 
 
 7. Miserable comforters are ye all. 
 
 < >h that my words were now written, oh that they 
 were printed in a book ! 
 
 i 
 
1. But the judges of the land answered unto him, sav- 
 ing : 
 
 2. Behold God is great and we know him not. His 
 justice and judgment have taken hold on our enemies. 
 
 8. As man sewctli so shall lie reap. 
 
 4. This rebellious people must we bind hand and foot 
 that we make them powerless for evil. 
 
 5. For behold an evil spirit possesseth them. 
 
 6. And they cursed him for an idolator and an apostate. 
 
 7. And they bore enmity to the chief ruler over all the 
 land, and they held no peace with him. 
 
 8. And Andrew journeyed westward, even to the tomb of 
 Stephen, the same which had been as a prophet unto the 
 Dimmeekrats. 
 
 9. And behold great multitudes came to hearken unto 
 the words of wisdom which fell from his lips and he said 
 unto them 
 
 10. Hear me y„e wisemen and give ear unto me, ye that 
 have knowledge. 
 
 11. Let us choose to us judgment; let us know among 
 ourselves what is good. 
 
U. For behold judgment is not with your judges, neither 
 
 are their ways righteous. Their works 'arc the works of 
 iniquity. 
 
 L3. i only am your judge and ruler. 
 
 14. And his auger waxed hot against the judges of the 
 hind, and lie was a man of fierce speech, and lie spoke harsh 
 words of them. 
 
 15. And the people which had hearkened unto him said 
 
 10. Dehold this man spcaketh sedition. And they turned 
 away from him in disgust. 
 
 17. And as he journeyed backward to the Kapitol, yet 
 other multitudes came out to hear those things he had to say 
 unto them. 
 
 18. And he spoke unto them all those things concerning 
 the j of the laud. 
 
 19. And some among them murmured to themselves, and 
 ithers laid up those things that lie saith unto them in their 
 hearts. 
 
V. 
 
 And when Andrew was conic once mere into the Kapitol, 
 the judges were exceeding wroth against him, and they rent 
 their garments saying, 
 
 '2. He hath spoken blasphemy: What farther need have 
 we for witnesses ? Behold now we have heard his blas- 
 phemy ! 
 
 3. Hath he not wished to stir up the people to sedition? 
 And they answered, Yea, he is guilty of death ! 
 
 4. And Andrew went into the Kapitol, and finding that 
 his counsellor of War, even Edwincm, had denied him, and 
 was gone over to his enemies, even the judges of the land, 
 he drove him out in wrath. 
 
 5. And when the judges and the riders saw all these 
 things which he did, they were sore displeased. 
 
 0. And they asked by what authority hath he done this 
 thing ? Is it thus it hath been written in the law ': 
 
 7. And then they said, If so be it, then shall we sign a 
 law whereby we shall find occasion against him. 
 
 8. And the captains and the rulers and the chiefs of the 
 people consulted together for a law, and they assembled 
 together to the judges and said to them, judges, live for- 
 
10 
 
 ever! Behold we have consulted together to establish a 
 statute concerning the thing that was done. 
 
 9. Establish this decree and sign the writing, that it may 
 he well with the people of the land. Wherefore they signed 
 the writing, and thus did it come to be a law for all the land. 
 
11 
 
 1. And now they sware that they would bring him to 
 trial for the things that ho had done, and a day was set 
 apart by them whereon he should appear before them, to 
 make answer concerning those things that they charged 
 against him. 
 
 ■2. And when the day was come that he was to stand up 
 for judgment, he appeared before them with his counsellors 
 and his defenses. 
 
 3. Now when the friends of the Radikels heard the thing 
 that they had done, they came every one from his own place, 
 Benjamin the Massasite, John the Bingamite, and Thaddeus 
 the Commonite, that was old and stricken in years, and he 
 came as one risen from the dead. 
 
 4. And they made the charges which were laid to Andrew. 
 for they had made an appointment together to aid in bring- 
 ing him to judgment. 
 
 5. And when they had drawn up their charges, and read 
 them aloud before all the judges of the land, and the wise 
 men and the men of knowledge that were g ithcrcd together to 
 hear those things that were said concerning their ruler. 
 Behold the counsellors of Andrew, which were great men 
 
12 
 
 and aged and learned in the law, pleaded his case with a 
 loud voice and many arguments which were of great effect. 
 
 it. And when the people heard the good that was spoken 
 Lndrew, they said one to another, Wherefore do the 
 judges thus persecute this innocent man? 
 
 7. Is lie not the annointed of the Lord ': 
 
 8. Then was kindled the -wrath of Benjamin the Massa- 
 site, the same which had been set over a province and was 
 captain of a host. 
 
 9. Be too was learned in the law, and was wont to ex- 
 pound to the people those things that were written in the 
 law. 
 
 1'). Now Benjamin had waited till the others had 
 they were elder than he: And he answered 
 
 and said. 
 
 1 1 . 1 am young and you are very old, wherefore was 1 
 afraid and durst not shew you mine opinion. 
 
 12. But there is a spirit in man. and the inspiration of 
 the Almighty givcth him understanding. 
 
 men are not always wise, neither do the aged 
 rstand judgment. 
 
 11. Behold I waited for your words, 1 gave ear to your 
 ' you searched out \\ hal to say. 
 
 1.",. Yea, 1 attended unto you. and behold there was none 
 
13 
 
 of you thai convinced this faithful people of the innoc snee 
 of thai man which abideth at the other end of the Are-nue. 
 
 L6. When I had waited 1 said 1 will answer also my part, 
 I also will show mine opinion. For I am full of matter; 
 my belly is as wine which hath no vent, it is ready to burst 
 like new bottles ! 
 
 17. 1 will speak that I may be refreshed. If ye can 
 answer me, set ye your words in order before me stand up. 
 
 18. My words shall be of the uprighteousness of my heart, 
 and my lips shall utter knowledge. 
 
 L9. I am clean without transgression, 1 am innocent. 
 Neither is their iniquity mine. 
 
 20. But this man secketh to stir up the people to sedition. 
 I!e seeketh to lead them to revolt against the judges of the 
 laud. 
 
 21. Behold an evil spirit possesseth him. 
 
 22. Have we not heard him speak blasphemy ? What 
 then do we want of witnesses ? Yea, he is guilty of death ! 
 
 23. And the people cried, Deliver unto us this man that 
 we may stone him. even the people which before had mur- 
 mured against, the judges for persecution. 
 
 24. Then rose Wilumcm, the same which was chief coun- 
 sellor of Andrew, and he said : 
 
 23. Behold they have set a trap for this innocent man ; 
 
 even as before did they make him drunken with wine, that 
 he might be as a mock and a ieer unto his enemies. 
 
II 
 
 And because he has stumbled do they seek his life. 
 
 27. He is a plain, blunt man, tha nt on thathe 
 
 - know. 
 
 2 . [s it just that we pass laws but to find occasion against 
 another? Shall this just man suffer because of the 
 crafl of his enemies? Is not hii heart found with the poor 
 and the oppressed whercsover they be? 
 
 29. And behold the hearts of the people were touched, 
 and they cried shame upon the judges for this their persecu- 
 tion of an innocent man. 
 
 80. But now rose John the Bingamite, which was a 
 great man among the Ratlikels, because he had made many 
 speeches of eloquence before them, and he said : 
 
 81. Behold you have called this man innocent !, Yet has 
 he disregarded the law which was sacred unto our fathers. 
 
 32. Hath he not sought to'lej loose our enemies upon us? 
 Would he not cut down the green tree of victory wide!: has 
 been moisened by the blood of good men, and casl ii into 
 the fire as one thai was barren and bare no fruit. 
 
 33. Verily I say unto you he is guilty of death. 
 
 . i. An I the people were sore puzzled at these tl 
 thai were said unto them, and they murmured among them- 
 Belves, Baying, When doctors differ, how shall we i 
 
15 
 
 VII 
 
 1. Xow the number of the judges which sal in judgment on 
 the chief ruler over all the land was fifty-four, whereof eleven 
 were ranked among the Dimmeekrats, and forty-three which 
 remained were Radikels. 
 
 '2. And now that they had hearkened unto the argr.ni> uts 
 of the counsellors and the doctors of the law, the judges 
 voted among themselves to find if he was innocent or guilty 
 in their understanding. 
 
 : '>. And two-thirds of all their number was necessary to 
 find sentence against him, holding him guilty before the 
 people. 
 
 4. Xow the eleven judges which were Dimmeekrats said 
 We are just men, and stand upright before the Lord, con- 
 cerning this thing. This man shall we find innoc 
 
 f>. Behold, if there be but eight just men amqng the Radi- 
 kels, we can save this innocent man from his enemies. 
 
 6. But so many were not to be found among them. 
 
 7. And the Radikels, fearing disorder in their ranks 
 cried cut, To thy tents, Israel! and they withdrew from 
 the judgment hall to weigh among themselves all these things 
 that they had heard. 
 
16 
 
 8. And when again they came together in the hall of 
 judgment, and when all that sat in judgment on Andrew, 
 asked for sentence upon him, Behold there were found eight 
 men among the Radikels which found him guiltless in their 
 understanding. 
 
 9. And thus was the chief ruler over all the land escaped 
 fif>m his enemies.. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 .] Dicks.. ii, Printer, 1. -J, 8 .v I Try on Row, Nov 
 
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