Aggada -- Translations into English; Bible. Old Testament -- Legends; Jewish legends; Midrash -- Translations into English
After these preparations Kenaz took the field against the enemy, with
three hundred thousand men. (15) The first day he slew eight thousand
of the foe, and the second day five thousand. But not all the people
were devoted to Kenaz. Some murmured against him, and calumniating him,
said: "Kenaz stays at home, while we expose ourselves on the field."
The servants of Kenaz reported these words to him. He ordered the
thirty-seven (16) men who had railed against him to be incarcerated,
and he swore to kill them, if God would but grant him assistance for
the sake of His people.
Thereupon he assembled three hundred men of his attendants, supplied
them with horses, and bade them be prepared to make a sudden attack
during the night, but to tell none of the plans he harbored in his
mind. The scouts sent ahead to reconnoitre reported that the Amorites
were too powerful for him to risk an engagement. Kenaz, however,
refused to be turned away from his intention. At midnight he and his
three hundred trusty attendants advanced upon the Amorite camp. Close
upon it, he commanded his men to halt, but to resume their march and
follow him when they should hear the notes of the trumpet. If the
trumpet was not sounded, they were to return home.
Alone Kenaz ventured into the very camp of the enemy. Praying to God
fervently, he asked that a sign be given him: "Let this be the sign of
the salvation Thou wilt accomplish for me this day: I shall draw my
sword from its sheath, and brandish it so that it glitters in the camp
of the Amorites. If the enemy recognize it as the sword of Kenaz, then
I shall know Thou wilt deliver them into my hand; if not, I shall
understand Thou hast not granted my prayer, but dost purpose to deliver
me into the hand of the enemy for my sins."
He heard the Amorites say: "Let us proceed to give battle to the
Israelites, for our sacred gods, the nymphs, are in their hands, and
will cause their defeat." When he heard these words, the spirit of God
came over Kenaz. He arose and swung his sword above his head. Scarce
had the Amorites seen it gleam in the air when they exclaimed: "Verily,
this is the sword of Kenaz, who has come to inflict wounds and pain.
But we know that our gods, who are held by the Israelites, will deliver
them into our hands. Up, then, to battle!" Knowing that God had heard
his petition, Kenaz threw himself upon the Amorites, and mowed down
forty-five thousand of them, and as many perished at the hands of their
own brethren, for God had sent the angel Gabriel (17) to his aid, and
he had struck the Amorites blind, so that they fell upon one another.
On account of the vigorous blows dealt by Kenaz on all sides, his sword
stuck to his hand. A fleeing Amorite, whom he stopped, to ask him how
to loose it, advised him to slay a Hebrew, and let his warm blood flow
over his hand. Kenaz accepted his advice, but only in part: instead of
a Hebrew, he slew the Amorite himself, and his blood freed his hand
from the sword. (18)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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