1 Então todos os israelitas, de Dã a Berseba, e de Gileade, saíram como um só homem e se reuniram em assembléia perante o Senhor em Mispá.2 Os líderes de todo o povo das tribos de Israel tomaram seus lugares na assembléia do povo de Deus, quatrocentos mil soldados armados de espada.3 ( Os benjamitas souberam que os israelitas haviam subido a Mispá. ) Os israelitas perguntaram: "Como aconteceu essa perversidade? "4 Então o levita, marido da mulher assassinada, disse: "Eu e a minha concubina chegamos a Gibeá de Benjamim para passar a noite.5 Durante a noite os homens de Gibeá vieram para atacar-me e cercaram a casa, com a intenção de matar-me. Então violentaram minha concubina, e ela morreu.6 Peguei minha concubina, cortei-a em pedaços e enviei um pedaço a cada região da herança de Israel, pois eles cometeram essa perversidade e esse ato vergonhoso em Israel.7 Agora, todos vocês israelitas, manifestem-se e dêem o seu veredicto".8 Todo o povo se levantou como se fosse um só homem, dizendo: "Nenhum de nós irá para casa. Nenhum de nós voltará para o seu lar.9 Mas é isto que faremos agora contra Gibeá: Separaremos, por sorteio, de todas as tribos de Israel,10 de cada cem homens dez homens, de cada mil homens cem, de cada dez mil homens mil, para conseguirem provisões para o exército poder chegar a Gibeá de Benjamim e dar a eles o que merecem por todo esse ato vergonhoso cometido em Israel".11 E todos os israelitas se ajuntaram e se uniram como um só homem contra a cidade.12 As tribos de Israel enviaram homens a toda a tribo de Benjamim, dizendo: "O que vocês dizem dessa maldade terrível que foi cometido no meio de vocês?13 Agora, entreguem esses canalhas de Gibeá, para que os matemos e eliminemos esse mal de Israel". Mas os benjamitas não quiseram ouvir seus irmãos israelitas.14 Vindos de suas cidades, reuniram-se em Gibeá para lutar contra os israelitas.15 Naquele dia os benjamitas mobilizaram vinte e seis mil homens armados de espada que vieram das suas cidades, além dos setecentos melhores soldados que viviam em Gibeá.16 Dentre todos esses soldados havia setecentos canhotos, muito hábeis, e cada um deles podia atirar uma pedra com a funda num cabelo sem errar.17 Israel, sem contar os de Benjamim, convocou quatrocentos mil homens armados de espada, todos eles homens de guerra.18 Os israelitas subiram a Betel e consultaram a Deus. "Quem de nós irá lutar primeiro contra os benjamitas? ", perguntaram. O Senhor respondeu: "Judá irá primeiro".19 Na manhã seguinte os israelitas se levantaram e armaram acampamento perto de Gibeá.20 Os homens de Israel saíram para lutar contra os benjamitas e tomaram posição de combate contra eles em Gibeá.21 Os benjamitas saíram de Gibeá e naquele dia mataram vinte e dois mil israelitas no campo de batalha.22 Mas os homens de Israel procuraram animar-se uns aos outros, e novamente ocuparam as mesmas posições do primeiro dia.23 Os israelitas subiram e choraram perante o Senhor até a tarde, e consultaram o Senhor: "Devemos atacar de novo os nossos irmãos benjamitas? " O Senhor respondeu: "Vocês devem atacar".24 Então os israelitas avançaram contra os benjamitas no segundo dia.25 Dessa vez, quando os benjamitas saíram de Gibeá para enfrentá-los, derrubaram outros dezoito mil israelitas, todos eles armados de espada.26 Então todos os israelitas subiram a Betel, e ali se assentaram, chorando perante o Senhor. Naquele dia jejuaram até à tarde e apresentaram holocaustos e ofertas de comunhão ao Senhor.27 E os israelitas consultaram ao Senhor. ( Naqueles dias a arca da aliança estava ali,28 e Finéias, filho de Eleazar, filho de Arão, ministrava perante ela. ) Perguntaram: "Sairemos de novo ou não, para lutar contra os nossos irmãos benjamitas? " O Senhor respondeu: "Vão, pois amanhã eu os entregarei nas suas mãos".29 Então os israelitas armaram uma emboscada em torno de Gibeá.30 Avançaram contra os benjamitas no terceiro dia e tomaram posição contra Gibeá, como tinham feito antes.31 Os benjamitas saíram para enfrentá-los e foram atraídos para longe da cidade. Começaram a ferir alguns dos israelitas como tinham feito antes, e uns trinta homens foram mortos em campo aberto e nas estradas, uma que vai para Betel e a outra que vai para Gibeá.32 Enquanto os benjamitas diziam: "Nós os derrotamos como antes", os israelitas diziam: "Vamos retirar-nos e atraí-los para longe da cidade, para as estradas".33 Todos os homens de Israel saíram dos seus lugares e ocuparam posições em Baal-Tamar, e a emboscada israelita atacou da sua posição a oeste de Gibeá.34 Então dez mil dos melhores soldados de Israel iniciaram um ataque frontal contra Gibeá. O combate foi duro, e os benjamitas não perceberam que a desgraça estava próxima deles.35 O Senhor derrotou Benjamim perante Israel, e naquele dia os israelitas feriram vinte e cinco mil e cem benjamitas, todos armados de espada.36 Então os benjamitas viram que estavam derrotados. Os israelitas bateram em retirada diante de Benjamim, pois confiavam na emboscada que tinham preparado perto de Gibeá.37 Os da emboscada avançaram repentinamente para dentro de Gibeá, espalharam-se e mataram todos os habitantes da cidade à espada.38 Os israelitas tinham combinado com os da emboscada que estes fariam subir da cidade uma grande nuvem de fumaça,39 e então os israelitas voltariam a combater. Os benjamitas tinham começado a ferir os israelitas, matando cerca de trinta deles, e disseram: "Nós os derrotamos como na primeira batalha".40 Mas, quando a coluna de fumaça começou a se levantar da cidade, os benjamitas se viraram e viram a fumaça subindo ao céu.41 Então os israelitas se voltaram contra eles, e os homens de Benjamim ficaram apavorados, pois perceberam que a sua desgraça havia chegado.42 Assim, fugiram da presença dos israelitas tomando o caminho do deserto, mas não conseguiram escapar do combate. E os homens de Israel que saíram das cidades os mataram ali.43 Cercaram os benjamitas e os perseguiram, e facilmente os alcançaram nas proximidades de Gibeá, no lado leste.44 Dezoito mil benjamitas morreram, todos eles soldados valentes.45 Quando se viraram e fugiram rumo ao deserto, para a rocha de Rimom, os israelitas abateram cinco mil homens ao longo das estradas. Até Gidom eles pressionaram os benjamitas e mataram mais de dois mil homens.46 Naquele dia vinte e cinco mil benjamitas que portavam espada morreram, todos eles soldados valentes.47 Seiscentos homens, porém, viraram as costas e fugiram para o deserto, para a rocha de Rimom, onde ficaram durante quatro meses.48 Os israelitas voltaram a Benjamim e passaram todas as cidades à espada, matando inclusive os animais e tudo o que encontraram nelas. E incendiaram todas as cidades por onde passaram.

1 The people of Israel came from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, as well as from the land of Gilead in the east. They were united in Jehovah’s presence at Mizpah.2 The leaders of all the tribes of Israel were present at this gathering of God’s people. There were four hundred thousand foot soldiers.3 Now the people of Benjamin heard that all the other Israelites had gathered at Mizpah. The Israelites asked: »Tell us, how did this wicked deed happen?«4 »The Levite whose concubine had been murdered answered: »My concubine and I went to Gibeah in the territory of Benjamin to spend the night.5 »The men of Gibeah came to get me. They surrounded the house at night. They intended to kill me. Instead they raped my concubine, and she died.6 »I took her body and cut it in pieces. Then I sent one piece to each of the twelve tribes of Israel for these people have committed an evil and immoral act.7 »What are you Israelites going to do about this?«8 The people stood together and said: »None of us, whether he lives in a tent or in a house, will go home.9 »This is what we will do: We will draw lots and choose some men to attack Gibeah.10 »One tenth of the men in Israel will provide food for the army. The others will go and punish Gibeah for this immoral act they committed in Israel.«11 The men of Israel assembled with one purpose, to attack the town.12 The tribes of Israel sent messengers through the territory of the tribe of Benjamin to say: »What is this crime that you have committed?13 »Hand over those perverts in Gibeah, so that we can kill them and remove this evil from Israel.« But the people of Benjamin would not listen to their brothers.14 People from all the cities of Benjamin came to Gibeah to fight the other people of Israel.15 They mobilized twenty-six thousand soldiers from their cities that day.16 Besides these, the citizens of Gibeah gathered seven hundred specially chosen men who were left-handed. Every one of them could sling a stone at a strand of hair and never miss.17 Not including the tribe of Benjamin, the well-trained soldiers of Israel numbered four hundred thousand.18 The Israelites went to the house of God at Bethel, and there they asked God: »Which of us should attack the Benjaminites first?« Jehovah answered: »The tribe of Judah.«19 So the Israelites started out the next morning and camped near the city of Gibeah.20 They went to attack the army of Benjamin, and placed the soldiers in battle array to fight against Gibeah.21 The army of Benjamin came out of the city. That day they killed twenty-two thousand Israelite soldiers.22 The Israelite army was encouraged as they placed the soldiers in position again at the place where they put themselves the first day.23 They mourned in the presence of Jehovah until evening. They asked him if they should go again in battle against their brothers the Benjaminites? Jehovah’s answer was: »Yes.«24 The Israelites marched against the army of Benjamin a second time.25 The second time the Benjaminites came out of Gibeah. This time they killed eighteen thousand trained Israelite soldiers.26 The people of Israel went up to Bethel and mourned. They sat there in Jehovah’s presence and fasted until evening. They offered fellowship sacrifices and burned some sacrifices whole in the presence of Jehovah.27 The Ark of the Covenant was there at Bethel in those days. Phinehas, the son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron, was in charge of it.28 The people asked Jehovah: »Should we go to battle against our brothers the Benjaminites again, or should we cease?« Jehovah answered: »Fight. Tomorrow I will give you victory over them.«29 The Israelites hid some soldiers around Gibeah.30 Then for the third straight day they marched against the army of Benjamin. They placed their soldiers in battle position facing Gibeah, as they had done before.31 The Benjaminites came out to fight and were drawn away from the city. Just as before they killed some Israelites in the open country, on the road to Bethel and on the road to Gibeah. They killed about thirty Israelites.32 The Benjaminites said: »They are defeated just as before. But the Israelites planned to retreat and lead them away from the city onto the roads.«33 The main army of the Israelites pulled back and regrouped at Baaltamar. The men surrounding Gibeah suddenly rushed out of hiding in the rocky country around the city.34 Ten thousand, specially chosen men, out of all Israel, attacked Gibeah, and the fighting was fierce. The Benjaminites did not realize they were about to be destroyed.35 Jehovah gave Israel victory over the army of Benjamin. The Israelites killed twenty five thousand one hundred of the enemy that day,36 The Benjaminites knew they were defeated. The main body of the Israelite army had retreated from the Benjaminites. This is because they relied on the men that were hiding around Gibeah.37 These men ran quickly toward Gibeah. They spread out and killed everyone there.38 The main Israelite army and the men in hiding had a prearranged signal. When they saw a big cloud of smoke going up from the town,39 the Israelites out on the battlefield were to turn around. By this time the Benjaminites had already killed the thirty Israelites. They told themselves: »We have beaten them.«40 The signal appeared. A cloud of smoke rose above the town. The Benjaminites looked behind them to see the whole city going up in flames.41 Then the Israelites turned around. The Benjaminites were thrown into panic because they could see that they were about to be destroyed.42 They retreated from the Israelites. They ran toward the open country and could not escape. They were caught between the main army and the men now coming out of the city. They were destroyed.43 The Israelites trapped the enemy. Without stopping they pursued them as far as a point east of Gibeah. They killed them as they advanced.44 Eighteen thousand of the best Benjaminite soldiers were killed.45 The others turned and ran to the open country to Rimmon Rock. Five thousand of them were killed on the roads. The Israelites continued to pursue the rest to Gidom, killing two thousand.46 In all, twenty-five thousand brave Benjaminites were killed that day.47 Six hundred men were able to escape to the open country to Rimmon Rock. They stayed there four months.48 The Israelites turned back against the rest of the Benjaminites and killed them all, men and women, children and animals as well. They burned every town in the area.