1 So all the sons of Israel came out, from Dan to Beer-sheba, as well as from the land of Gilead, and the congregation assembled as one man, unto Jehovah at Mizpah.
2 And the chiefs of all the people of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen who drew the sword.
3 (Now the sons of Benjamin heard that the sons of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.) And the sons of Israel said, Tell us, how did this wickedness happen?
4 And the Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered and said, My concubine and I went into Gibeah, which belongs to Benjamin, to lodge.
5 And the men of Gibeah rose against me, and surrounded the house at night because of me. They had thought to kill me, but instead they have humbled my concubine so that she died.
6 So I took hold of my concubine, cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the land of the inheritance of Israel, because they have committed lewdness and disgraceful folly in Israel.
7 Behold, all of you are sons of Israel; give here your advice and counsel.
8 And all the people rose up as one man, saying, None of us shall go to his tent, nor shall any turn away to his house;
9 but now this is the thing which we shall do to Gibeah: We shall go up against it by lot.
10 We shall take ten men out of every hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, a hundred out of every thousand, and a thousand out of every ten thousand, to carry provisions for the people, that when they come to Gibeah in Benjamin, they may repay all the disgrace that they have done in Israel.
11 So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, united as one man.
12 And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, What is this evil that has been done among you?
13 Now therefore, deliver up the men, the sons of wickedness who are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death and remove the evil from Israel! But the sons of Benjamin would not listen to the voice of their brethren, the sons of Israel.
14 And the sons of Benjamin gathered together from their cities to Gibeah, to go to battle against the sons of Israel.
15 And from their cities at that time the sons of Benjamin numbered twenty-six thousand men who drew the sword, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah, who numbered seven hundred choice men.
16 Among all this people were seven hundred choice men who were left-handed; every one could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.
17 Now besides Benjamin, the men of Israel numbered four hundred thousand men who drew the sword; all of these were men of war.
18 And the sons of Israel arose and went up to the house of God to inquire of God. They said, Which of us shall go up first to battle against the sons of Benjamin? And Jehovah said, Judah first!
19 And the sons of Israel arose 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 sons of Benjamin came out of Gibeah, and on that day destroyed down to the ground twenty-two thousand men of Israel.
22 And the people, the men of Israel, encouraged themselves and again set the battle in array at the place where they had put themselves in array on the first day.
23 And the sons of Israel went up and wept before Jehovah until evening, and asked counsel of Jehovah, saying, Shall I again draw near for battle against the sons of my brother Benjamin? And Jehovah said, Go up against him.
24 So the sons of Israel approached the sons of Benjamin on the second day.
25 And Benjamin went out against them from Gibeah on the second day, and destroyed down to the ground eighteen thousand men of the sons of Israel; all these drew the sword.
26 And all the children of Israel, all the people, went up and came to the house of God and wept. They sat there before Jehovah and fasted that day until evening; and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before Jehovah.
27 And the sons of Israel inquired of Jehovah (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 sons of my brother Benjamin, or shall I cease? And Jehovah said, Go up, for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand.
29 And Israel set men in ambush all around Gibeah.
30 And the sons of Israel went up against the sons of Benjamin on the third day, and put themselves in battle array against Gibeah as at the other times.
31 And the sons of Benjamin went out against the people, and were drawn away from the city. They began to strike down and kill some of the people, as at the other times, in the highways (one of which goes up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah) and in the field, about thirty men of Israel.
32 And the sons of Benjamin thought, They are struck down before us, as at first. But the sons of Israel had said, Let us flee and draw them away from the city into the highways.
33 So all the men of Israel rose from their place and put themselves in battle array at Baal Tamar. Then Israels men in ambush burst forth from their places in the plain of Geba.
34 And ten thousand choice men from all Israel came against Gibeah, and the battle was heavy. But the Benjamites did not know that evil was upon them.
35 And Jehovah struck down Benjamin before Israel. And the sons of Israel destroyed that day twenty-five thousand one hundred of Benjamin; all who drew the sword.
36 So the sons of Benjamin saw that they were struck down. And the men of Israel had given ground to the Benjamites, because they had trusted on the men in ambush whom they had set against Gibeah.
37 And the men in ambush quickly rushed upon Gibeah; the men in ambush drew out and struck the whole city with the edge of the sword.
38 Now the appointed signal between the men of Israel and the men in ambush was that they would make a great cloud of smoke rise up from the city,
39 whereupon the men of Israel turned around in battle. Now Benjamin had begun to strike and kill about thirty of the men of Israel. For they thought, Surely they are struck down before us, as in the first battle.
40 But when the cloud began to rise from the city in a column of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them, and behold the whole city had gone up in smoke to the heavens.
41 And when the men of Israel turned back, the men of Benjamin were dismayed, for they saw that evil had come upon them.
42 Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel in the direction of the wilderness; and the battle overtook them, and whoever came out of the cities they destroyed in their midst.
43 They surrounded Benjamin, chased them, and easily trampled them down as far as the front of Gibeah toward the rising sun.
44 And eighteen thousand men of Benjamin fell; all these were men of valor.
45 And they turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon; and they thrust upon five thousand of them on the highways; and pursued them to Gidom, and killed two thousand men.
46 So all who fell of Benjamin that day were twenty-five thousand men who drew the sword; all these were men of valor.
47 But six hundred men turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, and they remained at the rock of Rimmon for four months.
48 And the men of Israel turned back against the sons of Benjamin, and struck them down with the edge of the sword; entire cities, beasts, and all who were found. They also set fire to every city they found.
1 ENTÃO todos os filhos de Israel saíram, e a congregação se ajuntou, como se fora um só homem, desde Dã até Berseba, como também a terra de Gileade, ao Senhor em Mizpá. 2 E dos cantos de todo o povo se apresentaram de todas as tribos de Israel na congregação do povo de Deus quatrocentos mil homens de pé que arrancavam 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 se retirará à sua casa. 9 Porém isto é o que faremos a Gibeá: procederemos contra ela por sorte. 10 E tomaremos dez homens de cem de todas as tribos de Israel, e cem de mil, e mil de dez mil, para tomarem mantimento para o povo: para que, vindo eles 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, aliados 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 arrancavam 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 todos atiravam com a funda uma pedra a um cabelo, e não erravam. 17 E contaram-se dos homens de Israel, afora os de Benjamim, quatrocentos mil homens que arrancavam da espada, e todos eles homens de guerra. 18 E levantaram-se os filhos de Israel, e subiram a Betel, e perguntaram a Deus, e disseram: Quem dentre nós subirá o primeiro a pelejar contra 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 ordenaram os homens de Israel contra eles a peleja ao pé de Gibeá. 21 Então os filhos de Benjamim saíram de Gibeá, e derribaram por terra naquele dia vinte e dois mil homens de Israel. 22 Porém esforçou-se o povo dos 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 derribaram ainda por terra mais dezoito mil homens, todos dos que arrancavam 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 do concerto de Deus estava ali naqueles dias; 28 E Fineias, filho de Eleazar, filho de Aarão, estava perante ele naqueles dias), dizendo: Sairei ainda mais 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), alguns trinta dos homens de Israel. 32 Então os filhos de Benjamim disseram: Vão 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 engraveceu: porém eles não sabiam que o mal lhes tocaria. 35 Então feriu o Senhor a Benjamim diante de Israel; e desfizeram os filhos de Israel naquele dia vinte e cinco mil e cem homens de Benjamim, todos dos que arrancavam 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 fazerem levantar da cidade uma grande nuvem de fumo. 39 Viraram-se pois os homens de Israel na peleja: e já Benjamim começava a ferir, dos homens de Israel, quase trinta homens, atravessando-os, porque diziam: já infalivelmente estão derrotados diante de nós, como na peleja passada. 40 Então a nuvem de fumo se começou a levantar da cidade, como uma coluna de fumo: e, virando-se Benjamim a olhar para trás de si, eis que o fumo 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 das cidades os desfizeram no meio deles. 43 E cercaram a Benjamim, e o seguiram, e à vontade o 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; apanharam ainda deles pelos caminhos uns cinco mil homens: e de perto os seguiram até Gideom, e feriram deles dois mil homens. 46 E foram todos os que de Benjamim naquele dia caíram vinte e cinco mil homens que arrancavam 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, tudo quanto ali se achava, e também a todas as cidades quantas se acharam puseram a fogo.