Judges 20

Resolve to Punish the Guilty

1Then allH3605 the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478 from DanH1835 to BeershebaH884, including the landH776 of GileadH1568, cameH3318 out, and the congregationH5712 assembledH6950 as oneH259 manH376 to the LordH3068 at 1MizpahH4709. 2The 2chiefsH6438 of allH3605 the peopleH5971, even of allH3605 the tribesH7626 of IsraelH3478, tookH3320 their standH3320 in the assemblyH6951 of the peopleH5971 of GodH430, 400,000H702H3967H505 footH7273 3soldiersH376 4who drewH8025 the swordH2719. 3(Now the sonsH1121 of BenjaminH1144 heardH8085 that the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478 had goneH5927 up to MizpahH4709.) And the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478 saidH559, “TellH1696 us, howH351 did thisH2088 wickednessH7463 takeH1961 placeH1961?” 4So the LeviteH3881, the husbandH376 of the womanH802 who was murderedH7523, answeredH6030 and saidH559, “I cameH935 with my concubineH6370 to spendH3885 the nightH3885 at GibeahH1390 whichH834 belongs to BenjaminH1144. 5But the 5menH1167 of GibeahH1390 roseH6965 up againstH5921 me and surroundedH5437 the houseH1004 at nightH3915 becauseH5921 of me. They intendedH1819 to killH2026 me; instead, they 6ravishedH6031 my concubineH6370 so that she diedH4191. 6And I 7tookH270 holdH270 of my concubineH6370 and cutH5408 her in piecesH5408 and sentH7971 her throughoutH3605 the landH7704 of Israel’sH3478 inheritanceH5159; for 8they have committedH6213 a lewdH2154 and disgracefulH5039 actH5039 in IsraelH3478. 7BeholdH2009, allH3605 you sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478, 9giveH3051 your adviceH1697 and counselH6098 hereH1988.”

8Then allH3605 the peopleH5971 aroseH6965 as oneH259 manH376, sayingH559, “Not oneH376 of us will goH1980 to his tentH168, norH3808 will anyH376 of us returnH5493 to his houseH1004. 9But nowH6258 thisH2088 is the thingH1697 whichH834 we will doH6213 to GibeahH1390; we will go up againstH5921 it by lotH1486. 10And we will takeH3947 10H6235 menH376 out of 100H3967 throughoutH3605 the tribesH7626 of IsraelH3478, and 100H3967 out of 1,000H505, and 1,000H505 out of 10,000H6235H505 to 10supplyH3947 foodH6720 for the peopleH5971, that when they comeH935 to 11GibeahH1390 of BenjaminH1144, they may 12punishH6213 them for allH3605 the disgracefulH5039 actsH5039 that they have committedH6213 in IsraelH3478.” 11Thus allH3605 the menH376 of IsraelH3478 were gatheredH622 againstH413 the cityH5892, unitedH2270 as oneH259 manH376.

12Then the tribesH7626 of IsraelH3478 sentH7971 menH376 through the entireH3605 13tribeH7626 of BenjaminH1144, sayingH559, “WhatH4100 is thisH2088 wickednessH7463 that has takenH1961 placeH1961 among you? 13NowH6258 then, deliverH5414 up the menH376, the 1415worthlessH1100 fellowsH1121 in GibeahH1390, that we may putH4191 them to deathH4191 and 16removeH1197 this wickednessH7463 from IsraelH3478.” But the sonsH1121 of BenjaminH1144 wouldH14 not listenH8085 to the voiceH6963 of their brothersH251, the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478. 14The sonsH1121 of BenjaminH1144 gatheredH622 from the citiesH5892 to GibeahH1390, to goH3318 out to battleH4421 againstH5973 the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478. 15From the citiesH5892 on that dayH3117 the 17sonsH1121 of BenjaminH1144 were 18numberedH6485, 26,000H6242H8337H505 menH376 who drawH8025 the swordH2719, besidesH905H4480 the inhabitantsH3427 of GibeahH1390 who were 19numberedH6485, 700H7651H3967 choiceH977 menH376. 16Out of allH3605 theseH2088 peopleH5971 700H7651H3967 20choiceH977 menH376 were left-handedH334H3225H3027; eachH3605 oneH2088 could slingH7049 a stoneH68 at a hairH8185 and not missH2398.

17Then the menH376 of IsraelH3478 besidesH905H4480 BenjaminH1144 were 21numberedH6485, 400,000H702H3967H505 menH376 who drawH8025 the swordH2719; allH3605 theseH2088 were menH376 of warH4421.

Civil War, Benjamin Defeated

18Now the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478 aroseH6965, wentH5927 up to BethelH1008, and 22inquiredH7592 of GodH430 and saidH559, “WhoH4310 shall goH5927 up firstH8462 for us to battleH4421 againstH5973 the sonsH1121 of BenjaminH1144?” Then the LordH3068 saidH559, “JudahH3063 shall go up firstH8462.”

19So the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478 aroseH6965 in the morningH1242 and campedH2583 againstH5921 GibeahH1390. 20The menH376 of IsraelH3478 wentH3318 out to battleH4421 againstH5973 BenjaminH1144, and the menH376 of IsraelH3478 arrayedH6186 for battleH4421 againstH854 them at GibeahH1390. 21Then the sonsH1121 of BenjaminH1144 cameH3318 out of GibeahH1390 and 2324felledH7843 to the groundH776 on that dayH3117 22,000H8147H6242H505 menH376 of IsraelH3478. 22But the peopleH5971, the menH376 of IsraelH3478, encouragedH2388 themselves and arrayedH6186 for battleH4421 againH3254 in the placeH4725 whereH834H8033 they had arrayedH6186 themselves the firstH7223 dayH3117. 2325The sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478 wentH5927 up and weptH1058 beforeH6440 the LordH3068 untilH5704 eveningH6153, and 26inquiredH7592 of the LordH3068, sayingH559, “Shall we againH3254 drawH5066 nearH5066 for battleH4421 againstH5973 the sonsH1121 of my brotherH251 BenjaminH1144?” And the LordH3068 saidH559, “GoH5927 up againstH413 him.”

24Then the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478 27cameH7126 againstH413 the sonsH1121 of BenjaminH1144 the secondH8145 dayH3117. 25BenjaminH1144 wentH3318 out 28againstH7122 them from GibeahH1390 the secondH8145 dayH3117 and 29felledH7843 to the groundH776 againH5750 18,000H8083H6240H505 menH376 of the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478; allH3605 theseH428 drewH8025 the swordH2719. 26Then 30allH3605 the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478 and allH3605 the peopleH5971 wentH5927 up and cameH935 to BethelH1008 and weptH1058; thus they remainedH3427 thereH8033 beforeH6440 the LordH3068 and fastedH6684 that dayH3117 untilH5704 eveningH6153. And they offeredH5927 burntH5930 offeringsH5930 and peaceH8002 offeringsH8002 beforeH6440 the LordH3068. 27The sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478 31inquiredH7592 of the LordH3068 (for the arkH727 of the covenantH1285 of GodH430 was thereH8033 in thoseH1992 daysH3117, 28and PhinehasH6372 the sonH1121 of EleazarH499, Aaron’sH175 sonH1121, stoodH5975 beforeH6440 it to minister in thoseH1992 daysH3117), sayingH559, “Shall I yetH5750 againH3254 goH3318 out to battleH4421 againstH5973 the sonsH1121 of my brotherH251 BenjaminH1144, orH518 shall I ceaseH2308?” And the LordH3068 saidH559, “GoH5927 up, 32for tomorrowH4279 I will deliverH5414 them into your handH3027.”

2933So IsraelH3478 setH7760 men in ambushH693 aroundH5439 GibeahH1390. 30The sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478 wentH5927 up againstH413 the sonsH1121 of BenjaminH1144 on the thirdH7992 dayH3117 and arrayedH6186 themselves againstH413 GibeahH1390 as at otherH6471 timesH6471. 3134The sonsH1121 of BenjaminH1144 wentH3318 out 35againstH7122 the peopleH5971 and were drawnH5423 awayH5423 from the cityH5892, and they beganH2490 to strikeH5221 36and killH5221 someH4480 of the peopleH5971 as at otherH6471 timesH6471, on the highwaysH4546, oneH259 of whichH834 goesH5927 up to BethelH1008 and the otherH259 to GibeahH1390, and in the fieldH7704, about thirtyH7970 menH376 of IsraelH3478. 32The sonsH1121 of BenjaminH1144 saidH559, “They are struckH5062 downH5062 beforeH6440 us, as at the firstH7223.” But the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478 saidH559, “Let us fleeH5127 that we may drawH5423 them awayH5423 from the cityH5892 to the highwaysH4546.” 33Then allH3605 the menH376 of IsraelH3478 aroseH6965 from their placeH4725 and arrayedH6186 themselves at Baal-tamarH1193; 37and the men of IsraelH3478 in ambushH693 brokeH1518 out of their placeH4725, even out of Maareh-gebaH4626H1387. 34When tenH6235 thousandH505 choiceH977 menH376 from allH3605 IsraelH3478 cameH935 againstH5048 GibeahH1390, the battleH4421 becameH3513 38fierceH3513; 39but 40Benjamin did not knowH3045 that 41disasterH7463 was 42closeH5060 to them. 35And the LordH3068 struckH5062 BenjaminH1144 beforeH6440 IsraelH3478, so that the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478 destroyedH7843 25,100H6242H2568H505H3967 menH376 of BenjaminH1144 that dayH3117, allH3605 43whoH428 drawH8025 the swordH2719.

36So the sonsH1121 of BenjaminH1144 sawH7200 that they were 44defeatedH5062. 45When the menH376 of IsraelH3478 gaveH5414 46groundH4725 to BenjaminH1144 becauseH3588 they reliedH982 on the men in ambushH693 whomH834 they had setH7760 againstH413 GibeahH1390, 3747the men in ambushH693 hurriedH2363 and rushedH6584 againstH413 GibeahH1390; the men in ambushH693 also deployedH4900 and struckH5221 allH3605 the cityH5892 with the edgeH6310 of the swordH2719. 38Now the appointedH4150 signH4150 between the menH376 of IsraelH3478 and the men in ambushH693 was 48that they would make a greatH7235 cloudH4864 of smokeH6227 riseH5927 from the cityH5892. 39Then the menH376 of IsraelH3478 turnedH2015 in the battleH4421, and BenjaminH1144 beganH2490 to strikeH5221 49and killH5221H2491 about thirtyH7970 menH376 of IsraelH3478, 50for they saidH559, “SurelyH389H5062 they are 51defeatedH5062 beforeH6440 us, as in the firstH7223 battleH4421.” 40But when the cloudH4864 beganH2490 to riseH5927 from the cityH5892 in a columnH5982 of smokeH6227, BenjaminH1144 lookedH6437 52behindH310 them; and beholdH2009, the wholeH3632 cityH5892 was goingH5927 up in smoke to heavenH8064. 41Then the menH376 of IsraelH3478 turnedH2015, and the menH376 of BenjaminH1144 were terrifiedH926; for they sawH7200 that 5354disasterH7463 was 55closeH5060 to them. 42Therefore, they turnedH6437 their backs beforeH6440 the menH376 of IsraelH3478 56towardH413 the directionH1870 of the wildernessH4057, but the battleH4421 overtookH1692 them whileH834 those whoH834 came out of the citiesH5892 destroyedH7843 them in the midstH8432 of them. 4357They surroundedH3803 BenjaminH1144, pursuedH7291 them without restH4496 and trodH1869 them downH1869 oppositeH5227 GibeahH1390 towardH4480 the 58eastH4217H8121. 44Thus 18,000H8083H6240H505 menH376 of BenjaminH1144 fellH5307; allH3605 theseH428 were valiantH2428 warriorsH376. 4559The rest turnedH6437 and fledH5127 toward the wildernessH4057 to the rockH5553 of 60RimmonH7417, but they 61caughtH5953 5,000H2568H505 of them on the highwaysH4546 and overtookH1692 them 62at GidomH1440 and 63killedH5221 2,000H505 of them. 46So allH3605 of BenjaminH1144 who fellH5307 that dayH3117 were 25,000H2568H6242H505 menH376 who drawH8025 the swordH2719; allH3605 theseH428 were valiantH2428 warriorsH376. 47But 600H8337H3967 menH376 turnedH6437 and fledH5127 toward the wildernessH4057 to the rockH5553 of RimmonH7417, and they remainedH3427 at the rockH5553 of RimmonH7417 fourH702 monthsH2320. 48The menH376 of IsraelH3478 then turnedH7725 backH7725 againstH413 the sonsH1121 of BenjaminH1144 and struckH5221 them with the edgeH6310 of the swordH2719, bothH4480 the entireH4974 cityH5892 with the cattleH929 and allH3605 that they foundH4672; they alsoH1571 setH7971 on fireH784 allH3605 the citiesH5892 which they foundH4672.