1 Assim, toda a nação de Israel, de toda a parte, de Dan até Berseba, e mesmo do outro lado do Jordão, da terra de Gileade, juntaram-se numa só vontade perante o Senhor em Mizpá. 2 Os chefes de todo o povo compareceram na assembleia do povo de Deus, uma tropa de 400 000 homens armados de espadas. 3 A notícia daquela mobilização em Mizpá depressa chegou aos ouvidos do povo de Benjamim. Entretanto, os líderes de Israel mandaram chamar o marido da mulher assassinada e quiseram saber como tinha acontecido.

4 "Chegámos de viagem a Gibeá, na terra de Benjamim, para ali passar a noite", começou ele. 5 "Nessa mesma noite, uns homens de Gibeá chegaram-se à casa onde estávamos e quiseram matar-me; violaram a minha mulher, que acabou por morrer. 6 Por isso, separei o corpo em doze pedaços que mandei por todo o Israel, pois essa gente cometeu um crime terrível. 7 Agora, filhos de Israel, digam o que pensam; deem-me um conselho!"

8 Todos unanimemente responderam: "Nem um só de nós regressará a casa, 9,10 antes de termos castigado a povoação de Gibeá. Um décimo do exército será escolhido, tirando à sorte, para nos fornecer mantimentos, e o resto irá destruir Gibeá, vingando esta horrível ação." 11 A nação inteira se uniu nesta tarefa.

12 Foram enviados mensageiros à tribo de Benjamim, perguntando: "Vocês estão ao corrente do que aconteceu de tão terrível no vosso meio? 13 Entreguem-nos essa gente má, da cidade de Gibeá, para que os executemos e expurguemos este mal de Israel."

No entanto, o povo de Benjamim não quis dar seguimento a esta mensagem. 14,15 Em vez disso, reuniram 26 000 homens armados, que foram juntar-se aos 700 guardas locais de Gibeá, para ajudá-los a defenderem-se do ataque do resto de Israel. 16 Entre estes havia também uns 700 homens canhotos, que eram esplêndidos atiradores com a mão esquerda. Eram capazes de acertar num simples cabelo e nunca erravam. 17 O exército de Israel, sem contar com Benjamim, eram 400 000 homens.

18 Antes da batalha, as tropas de Israel foram primeiro a Betel para pedir conselho a Deus: "Qual a tribo que nos conduzirá contra o povo de Benjamim?"

O Senhor respondeu-lhes: "Judá irá à frente."

19 O exército todo iniciou a marcha na manhã seguinte e acamparam perto da cidade. 20 Os soldados dispuseram em posição frontal à cidade. 21 O certo é que a tropa que defendia a cidade irrompeu corajosamente e conseguiu matar, só naquele dia, 22 000 israelitas. 22 Então os soldados israelitas encheram-se de coragem e tomaram as mesmas posições no local onde tinham lutado no dia anterior. 23 O exército de Israel lamentou-se perante o Senhor, até à noite, perguntando: "Será justo continuarmos a lutar contra os nossos irmãos de Benjamim?"

O Senhor respondeu-lhes: "Sim." 24 Então encetaram um novo ataque contra as tropas de Benjamim. 25 Mais uma vez, nesse dia, perderam 18 000 homens de guerra, todos experientes soldados.

26 Toda a nação foi chorar de novo perante o Senhor, em Betel, jejuando até ao anoitecer, oferecendo holocaustos e ofertas de paz. 27 Naqueles dias, a arca da aliança de Deus encontrava-se em Betel. 28 Fineias, filho de Eleazar, neto de Aarão, era o sacerdote. Os homens de Israel perguntaram ao Senhor: "Iremos de novo atacar os nossos irmãos de Benjamim ou suspendemos a luta?" A resposta foi: "Vão, pois amanhã serão vocês a derrotar Benjamim."

29 Os israelitas puseram emboscadas ao redor da cidade. 30 Atacaram uma terceira vez, formando em ordem de combate como habitualmente. 31 Quando os de Benjamim saíram da cidade para os enfrentar, a tropa de Israel recuou, com a intenção de afastar os benjamitas da cidade e, tal como antes, estes últimos começaram a matar alguns adversários, ao longo do caminho entre Betel e Gibeá; uns 30 homens morreram assim.

32 As tropas de Benjamim já gritavam: "Estamos a derrotá-los novamente!", mas não percebiam que se tratava de um movimento estratégico, combinado antecipadamente, fazendo com que os benjamitas, ao persegui-los, se afastassem da cidade.

33 Assim, enquanto o grosso do exército israelita batia em retirada e se reagrupava em Baal-Tamar, os homens que cercavam Gibeá saíram dos seus esconderijos, na área rochosa das imediações da cidade. 34 Especialmente escolhidos de todo o Israel, 10 000 atacaram Gibeá e a luta foi feroz. Os de Benjamim, porém, não pressentiram que iam ser esmagados. 35 O Senhor deu a Israel a vitória sobre o exército benjamita. Naquele dia, os israelitas mataram 25 100 soldados inimigos. 36 Os de Benjamim foram derrotados. Entretanto, a maior parte do exército israelita tinha fugido dos benjamitas, porque contava com os soldados escondidos à volta de Gibeá. 37 Estes correram rapidamente em direção a Gibeá, penetraram na cidade e mataram todos os que lhes apareceram. 38 O exército de Israel e estes soldados escondidos tinham combinado previamente um sinal: quando vissem uma grande nuvem de fumo subindo da cidade, os israelitas no campo de batalha deviam dar meia volta.

39 Entretanto, os benjamitas tinham já matado uns 30 israelitas e diziam entre si: "Derrotámo-los como da primeira vez." 40 Então surgiu o sinal: uma nuvem de fumo saía da cidade. Quando os benjamitas olharam para trás, ficaram surpreendidos com a cidade em chamas. 41 Os israelitas deram meia volta e os benjamitas entraram em pânico, ao descobrirem que estavam perdidos.

42 Fugindo dos israelitas, correram pelos campos em direção ao deserto, mas não puderam escapar. Foram alcançados entre a coluna principal e os homens que saíam nesse momento da cidade e foram derrotados. 43 Os israelitas tinham-nos apanhado na armadilha e perseguiram-nos sem dó, até ao extremo oriental de Gibeá, matando-os pelo caminho. 44 Perderam a vida 18 000 dos melhores soldados benjamitas. 45 Os restantes procuraram refúgio nos campos até ao rochedo de Rimom. Entre eles foram mortos 5000 e os israelitas não pararam no encalço dos restantes, até Gidom, matando ainda 2000.

46 Desta maneira, a tribo de Benjamim perdeu 25 000 bravos combatentes nesse dia. 47 Ficaram apenas uns 600 que escaparam refugiados no rochedo de Rimom, onde se esconderam durante quatro meses. 48 O exército de Israel regressou e matou toda a população de Benjamim: homens, mulheres, crianças e gado, incendiando todas as cidades e povoações da sua terra.

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