Judges 20

1 Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was gathered together as one man, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, with the land of Gilead, unto the LORD in Mizpeh. 2 And the chief of all the people, even of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen that drew sword. 3 (Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mizpeh.) Then said the children of Israel, Tell us, how was this wickedness? 4 And the Levite, the husband of the woman that was slain, answered and said, I came into Gibeah that belongeth to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge.*20.4 the Levite: Heb. the man the Levite 5 And the men of Gibeah rose against me, and beset the house round about upon me by night, and thought to have slain me: and my concubine have they forced, that she is dead.*20.5 forced: Heb. humbled 6 And I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel: for they have committed lewdness and folly in Israel. 7 Behold, ye are all children of Israel; give here your advice and counsel.

8 And all the people arose as one man, saying, We will not any of us go to his tent, neither will we any of us turn into his house. 9 But now this shall be the thing which we will do to Gibeah; we will go up by lot against it; 10 And we will take ten men of an hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and an hundred of a thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand, to fetch victual for the people, that they may do, when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, according to all the folly that they have wrought in Israel. 11 So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together as one man.*20.11 knit…: Heb. fellows

12 And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, What wickedness is this that is done among you? 13 Now therefore deliver us the men, the children of Belial, which are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel. But the children of Benjamin would not hearken to the voice of their brethren the children of Israel: 14 But the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together out of the cities unto Gibeah, to go out to battle against the children of Israel. 15 And the children of Benjamin were numbered at that time out of the cities twenty and six thousand men that drew sword, beside the inhabitants of Gibeah, which were numbered seven hundred chosen men. 16 Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men lefthanded; every one could sling stones at an hair breadth, and not miss. 17 And the men of Israel, beside Benjamin, were numbered four hundred thousand men that drew sword: all these were men of war.

18 And the children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of God, and asked counsel of God, and said, Which of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And the LORD said, Judah shall go up first. 19 And the children of Israel rose up in the morning, and encamped against Gibeah. 20 And the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin; and the men of Israel put themselves in array to fight against them at Gibeah. 21 And the children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah, and destroyed down to the ground of the Israelites that day twenty and two thousand men. 22 And the people the men of Israel encouraged themselves, and set their battle again in array in the place where they put themselves in array the first day. 23 (And the children of Israel went up and wept before the LORD until even, and asked counsel of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up again to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother? And the LORD said, Go up against him.) 24 And the children of Israel came near against the children of Benjamin the second day. 25 And Benjamin went forth against them out of Gibeah the second day, and destroyed down to the ground of the children of Israel again eighteen thousand men; all these drew the sword.

26 Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. 27 And the children of Israel enquired of the LORD, (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days, 28 And Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days,) saying, Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease? And the LORD said, Go up; for to morrow I will deliver them into thine hand. 29 And Israel set liers in wait round about Gibeah. 30 And the children of Israel went up against the children of Benjamin on the third day, and put themselves in array against Gibeah, as at other times. 31 And the children of Benjamin went out against the people, and were drawn away from the city; and they began to smite of the people, and kill, as at other times, in the highways, of which one goeth up to the house of God, and the other to Gibeah in the field, about thirty men of Israel.*20.31 to smite…: Heb. to smite of the people wounded as at, etc*20.31 the house…: or, Beth-el 32 And the children of Benjamin said, They are smitten down before us, as at the first. But the children of Israel said, Let us flee, and draw them from the city unto the highways. 33 And all the men of Israel rose up out of their place, and put themselves in array at Baal-tamar: and the liers in wait of Israel came forth out of their places, even out of the meadows of Gibeah. 34 And there came against Gibeah ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and the battle was sore: but they knew not that evil was near them. 35 And the LORD smote Benjamin before Israel: and the children of Israel destroyed of the Benjamites that day twenty and five thousand and an hundred men: all these drew the sword. 36 So the children of Benjamin saw that they were smitten: for the men of Israel gave place to the Benjamites, because they trusted unto the liers in wait which they had set beside Gibeah. 37 And the liers in wait hasted, and rushed upon Gibeah; and the liers in wait drew themselves along, and smote all the city with the edge of the sword.*20.37 drew…: or, made a long sound with the trumpet 38 Now there was an appointed sign between the men of Israel and the liers in wait, that they should make a great flame with smoke rise up out of the city.*20.38 sign: or, time*20.38 and: Heb. with*20.38 flame: Heb. elevation 39 And when the men of Israel retired in the battle, Benjamin began to smite and kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons: for they said, Surely they are smitten down before us, as in the first battle.*20.39 to smite…: Heb. to smite the wounded 40 But when the flame began to arise up out of the city with a pillar of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them, and, behold, the flame of the city ascended up to heaven.*20.40 the flame of: Heb. the whole consumption of 41 And when the men of Israel turned again, the men of Benjamin were amazed: for they saw that evil was come upon them.*20.41 was come…: Heb. touched them 42 Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel unto the way of the wilderness; but the battle overtook them; and them which came out of the cities they destroyed in the midst of them. 43 Thus they inclosed the Benjamites round about, and chased them, and trode them down with ease over against Gibeah toward the sunrising.*20.43 with ease…: or, from Menuchah, etc*20.43 over…: Heb. unto over against 44 And there fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men; all these were men of valour. 45 And they turned and fled toward the wilderness unto the rock of Rimmon: and they gleaned of them in the highways five thousand men; and pursued hard after them unto Gidom, and slew two thousand men of them. 46 So that all which fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and five thousand men that drew the sword; all these were men of valour. 47 But six hundred men turned and fled to the wilderness unto the rock Rimmon, and abode in the rock Rimmon four months. 48 And the men of Israel turned again upon the children of Benjamin, and smote them with the edge of the sword, as well the men of every city, as the beast, and all that came to hand: also they set on fire all the cities that they came to.*20.48 came to hand: Heb. was found*20.48 they came…: Heb. were found

Os israelitas vingam o ultraje feito ao levita

1 Então todos os filhos de Israel saíram, e a congregação se ajuntou, perante o Senhor em Mizpá, como se fora um só homem, desde Dã até Berseba, como também a terra de Gileade. 2 E os principais de todo o povo, de todas as tribos de Israel, se apresentaram na congregação do povo de Deus; quatrocentos mil homens de pé que tiravam a espada 3 (Ouviram, pois, os filhos de Benjamim que os filhos de Israel haviam subido a Mizpá). E disseram os filhos de Israel: Falai, como sucedeu esta maldade?

4 Então respondeu o homem levita, marido da mulher que fora morta, e disse: Cheguei com a minha concubina a Gibeá, cidade de Benjamim, para passar a noite.

5 E os cidadãos de Gibeá se levantaram contra mim, e cercaram a casa de noite; intentaram matar-me, e violaram a minha concubina, de maneira que morreu. 6 Então peguei na minha concubina, e fi-la em pedaços, e a enviei por toda a terra da herança de Israel; porquanto fizeram tal malefício e loucura em Israel. 7 Eis que todos sois filhos de Israel; dai aqui a vossa palavra e conselho.

8 Então todo o povo se levantou como um só homem, dizendo: Nenhum de nós irá à sua tenda nem nenhum de nós voltará à sua casa.

9 Porém isto é o que faremos a Gibeá: procederemos contra ela por sorte. 10 E de todas as tribos de Israel, tomaremos dez homens de cada cem, e cem de cada mil, e mil de cada dez mil, para providenciarem mantimento para o povo; para que, vindo ele a Gibeá de Benjamim, lhe façam conforme a toda a loucura que tem feito em Israel.

11 Assim ajuntaram-se contra esta cidade todos os homens de Israel, unidos como um só homem.

12 E as tribos de Israel enviaram homens por toda a tribo de Benjamim, dizendo: Que maldade é esta que se fez entre vós?

13 Dai-nos, pois, agora aqueles homens, filhos de Belial, que estão em Gibeá, para que os matemos, e tiremos de Israel o mal. Porém os filhos de Benjamim não quiseram ouvir a voz de seus irmãos, os filhos de Israel.

14 Antes os filhos de Benjamim se ajuntaram das cidades em Gibeá, para saírem a pelejar contra os filhos de Israel. 15 E contaram-se naquele dia os filhos de Benjamim, das cidades, vinte e seis mil homens que tiravam a espada, afora os moradores de Gibeá, de que se contaram setecentos homens escolhidos. 16 Entre todo este povo havia setecentos homens escolhidos, canhotos, os quais atiravam com a funda uma pedra em um cabelo, e não erravam. 17 E contaram-se dos homens de Israel, afora os de Benjamim, quatrocentos mil homens que tiravam da espada, e todos eles homens de guerra.

18 E levantaram-se os filhos de Israel, e subiram a Betel; e consultaram a Deus, dizendo: Quem dentre nós subirá primeiro a pelejar contra os filhos de Benjamim? E disse o Senhor: Judá subirá primeiro.

19 Levantaram-se, pois, os filhos de Israel pela manhã, e acamparam-se contra Gibeá. 20 E os homens de Israel saíram à peleja contra Benjamim; e os homens de Israel ordenaram a batalha contra eles, ao pé de Gibeá. 21 Então os filhos de Benjamim saíram de Gibeá, e derrubaram por terra, naquele dia, vinte e dois mil homens de Israel. 22 Porém esforçou-se o povo, isto é, os homens de Israel, e tornaram a ordenar a peleja no lugar onde no primeiro dia a tinham ordenado. 23 E subiram os filhos de Israel, e choraram perante o Senhor até à tarde, e perguntaram ao Senhor, dizendo: Tornar-me-ei a chegar à peleja contra os filhos de Benjamim, meu irmão? E disse o Senhor: Subi contra ele.

24 Chegaram-se, pois, os filhos de Israel aos filhos de Benjamim, no dia seguinte. 25 Também os de Benjamim no dia seguinte lhes saíram ao encontro fora de Gibeá, e derrubaram ainda por terra dos filhos de Israel mais dezoito mil homens, todos dos que tiravam a espada. 26 Então todos os filhos de Israel, e todo o povo, subiram, e vieram a Betel e choraram, e estiveram ali perante o Senhor, e jejuaram aquele dia até à tarde; e ofereceram holocaustos e ofertas pacíficas perante o Senhor. 27 E os filhos de Israel perguntaram ao Senhor (porquanto a arca da aliança de Deus estava ali naqueles dias; 28 E Fineias, filho de Eleazar, filho de Arão, estava perante ele naqueles dias), dizendo: Tornarei ainda a pelejar contra os filhos de Benjamim, meu irmão, ou pararei? E disse o Senhor: Subi, que amanhã eu to entregarei na mão.

29 Então Israel pôs emboscadas em redor de Gibeá. 30 E subiram os filhos de Israel ao terceiro dia contra os filhos de Benjamim, e ordenaram a peleja junto a Gibeá, como das outras vezes. 31 Então os filhos de Benjamim saíram ao encontro do povo, e desviaram-se da cidade; e começaram a ferir alguns do povo, atravessando-os, como das outras vezes, pelos caminhos (um dos quais sobe para Betel, e o outro para Gibeá pelo campo), uns trinta dos homens de Israel. 32 Então os filhos de Benjamim disseram: Estão derrotados diante de nós como dantes. Porém os filhos de Israel disseram: Fujamos, e desviemo-los da cidade para os caminhos.

33 Então todos os homens de Israel se levantaram do seu lugar, e ordenaram a peleja em Baal-Tamar; e a emboscada de Israel saiu do seu lugar, da caverna de Gibeá. 34 E dez mil homens escolhidos de todo o Israel vieram contra Gibeá, e a peleja se agravou; porém eles não sabiam o mal que lhes tocaria. 35 Então feriu o Senhor a Benjamim diante de Israel; e destruíram os filhos de Israel, naquele dia, vinte e cinco mil e cem homens de Benjamim, todos dos que tiravam a espada. 36 E viram os filhos de Benjamim que estavam feridos; porque os homens de Israel deram lugar aos benjamitas, porquanto estavam confiados na emboscada que haviam posto contra Gibeá.

37 E a emboscada se apressou, e acometeu a Gibeá; e a emboscada arremeteu contra ela, e feriu ao fio da espada toda a cidade. 38 E os homens de Israel tinham um sinal determinado com a emboscada, que era fazer levantar da cidade uma grande nuvem de fumaça. 39 Viraram-se, pois, os homens de Israel na peleja; e já Benjamim começava a ferir, dos homens de Israel, quase trinta homens, pois diziam: Já infalivelmente estão derrotados diante de nós, como na peleja passada.

40 Então a nuvem de fumaça começou a se levantar da cidade, como uma coluna; e, virando-se Benjamim a olhar para trás de si, eis que a fumaça da cidade subia ao céu. 41 E os homens de Israel viraram os rostos, e os homens de Benjamim pasmaram; porque viram que o mal lhes tocaria. 42 E viraram as costas diante dos homens de Israel, para o caminho do deserto; porém a peleja os apertou; e os que saíam das cidades os destruíram no meio deles. 43 E cercaram aos de Benjamim, e os perseguiram, e à vontade os pisaram, até diante de Gibeá, para o nascente do sol. 44 E caíram de Benjamim dezoito mil homens, todos estes sendo homens valentes. 45 Então viraram as costas, e fugiram para o deserto, à penha de Rimom; colheram ainda deles pelos caminhos uns cinco mil homens; e de perto os seguiram até Gidom, e feriram deles dois mil homens. 46 E, todos os que caíram de Benjamim, naquele dia, foram vinte e cinco mil homens que tiravam a espada, todos eles homens valentes.

47 Porém seiscentos homens viraram as costas, e fugiram para o deserto, à penha de Rimom; e ficaram na penha de Rimom quatro meses. 48 E os homens de Israel voltaram para os filhos de Benjamim, e os feriram ao fio da espada, desde os homens da cidade até aos animais, até a tudo quanto se achava, como também a todas as cidades, quantas acharam, puseram fogo.