enough to sustain them, they sent five of their men into the
midland country, to seek for a land to which they might remove
their habitation. So these men went as far as the neighborhood of
Mount Libanus, and the fountains of the Lesser Jordan, at the
great plain of Sidon, a day's journey from the city; and when
they had taken a view of the land, and found it to be good and
exceeding fruitful, they acquainted their tribe with it,
whereupon they made an expedition with the army, and built there
the city Dan, of the same name with the son of Jacob, and of the
same name with their own tribe.

2. The Israelites grew so indolent, and unready of taking pains,
that misfortunes came heavier upon them, which also proceeded in
part from their contempt of the Divine worship; for when they had
once fallen off from the regularity of their political
government, they indulged themselves further in living according
to their own pleasure, and according to their own will, till they
were full of the evil doings that were common among the
Canaanites. God therefore was angry with them, and they lost that
their happy state which they had obtained by innumerable labors,
by their luxury; for when Chushan, king of the Assyrians, had
made war against them, they lost many of their soldiers in the
battle, and when they were besieged, they were taken by force;
nay, there were some who, out of fear, voluntarily submitted to
him, and though the tribute laid upon them was more than they
could bear, yet did they pay it, and underwent all sort of
oppression for eight years; after which thee they were freed from
them in the following manner: -

3. There was one whose name was Othniel, the son of Kenaz, of the