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士师记 17-21
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)
士师记 17-21
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)
米迦的神像
17 以法莲山区住了一个名叫米迦的人。 2 他对母亲说：“你那一千一百块银子丢了，我还听见你咒诅小偷。看啊，银子在我这里，是我拿去的。”他母亲说：“我儿啊，愿耶和华赐福给你！” 3 米迦把一千一百块银子还给母亲。他母亲说：“我要为你把这些银子献给耶和华，用来雕刻、铸造神像。现在这银子还是你的。” 4 米迦把银子还给母亲后，他母亲拿出二百块银子交给银匠雕刻、铸造神像，放在米迦的房子里。 5 米迦有一个神庙，他制造了一件以弗得和一些家庭神像，并指派他的一个儿子做祭司。 6 那时，以色列没有王，人人各行其是。
7 犹大的伯利恒住着一个年轻的利未人。 8 他离开伯利恒想到别的地方居住，一路走到以法莲山区米迦的家。 9 米迦问他：“你从哪里来？”他回答说：“我是从犹大 伯利恒来的利未人，我要找一个住的地方。” 10 米迦说：“你就住在我这里吧，做我的师父和祭司。我每年给你十块银子，还为你提供衣服和膳食。”利未人就进了米迦的家， 11 住了下来。米迦待他就像待自己的儿子一样。 12 这样，米迦派他做祭司，让他住在自己家里。 13 米迦说：“现在我有一个利未人做我的祭司，耶和华一定会赐福给我。”
米迦和但支派
18 那时以色列没有王。但支派的人正在寻找可以居住的地方，因为他们在以色列各支派中还没有得到属于自己的土地。 2 但支派的人从琐拉和以实陶派本族的五名勇士去打探、察看那个地方。他们吩咐说：“你们去察看那个地方。”他们到了以法莲山区，在米迦家里借宿。 3 他们听出那利未青年的口音，就问他：“谁带你来这里的？你在这里做什么？你为什么在这里？” 4 那青年便把米迦聘他做祭司的事告诉了他们。 5 他们说：“请你求问上帝，看看我们是否一路顺利。” 6 祭司说：“你们安心去吧，耶和华会一路眷顾你们。”
7 五人启程来到拉亿，发现当地人像西顿人一样无忧无虑，生活安宁，毫无防范，繁荣富足。他们离西顿很远，与外界没有来往。
8 五人回到琐拉和以实陶后，族人问他们：“你们有什么发现吗？” 9 他们回答说：“我们前去攻取那地方吧！我们已经打探清楚了，那地方非常好。你们还等什么？要赶快去占领那地方。 10 你们到了那里，会看见当地的居民毫无防范，那里地大物博，一无所缺。上帝已经把那地方赐给我们了。”
11 但支派便从琐拉和以实陶派出六百个全副武装的人。 12 他们来到犹大 基列·耶琳的西边安营。因此，那地方至今仍叫玛哈尼·但[a]。 13 然后，他们去以法莲山区，来到米迦的家。
14 侦察过拉亿的五个人对其余的人说：“你们知道吗？这家有以弗得、一些家庭神像、一个雕刻的偶像和一个金属铸像。想一想我们该怎么办。” 15 那五个人就进入米迦的家里，到年轻的利未人房间向他问安， 16 随行的六百人带着兵器留在门口。 17 当时祭司也和那六百个全副武装的人站在门口。那五个人进去拿走了雕刻的偶像、以弗得、家庭神像及金属铸像。 18 祭司见那五人进入米迦家拿走雕刻的偶像、以弗得、家庭神像及金属铸像，就问他们：“你们在做什么？”
19 他们说：“安静，别作声，跟我们来做我们的师父和祭司吧。做以色列一个支派、一个宗族的祭司难道不比做一家人的祭司更好吗？” 20 祭司听了非常高兴，就带着以弗得、家庭神像及雕刻的偶像跟随了他们。 21 他们转身离去，儿女、牲畜和财物在队伍的前面。
22 他们离开米迦的家一段路后，米迦召集邻居赶了上来， 23 向他们大喊。但支派的人转身问米迦：“你们召集这么多人来做什么？” 24 米迦说：“你们带走了我的神像和祭司，把我洗劫一空，还问我想做什么！” 25 但支派的人说：“别再多说了，不然我们当中性情暴躁的人会攻击你们，使你全家丧命。” 26 但支派的人继续赶路。米迦见对方人多势众，就回家去了。
27 但支派的人带着米迦的神像和他的祭司来到拉亿，那里的人生活安宁，毫无防范。他们杀掉当地的居民，放火烧了城。 28 拉亿离西顿很远，当地的居民与外界没有来往，以致孤立无援。这城位于伯·利合附近的山谷中，但支派的人重建该城，住在那里。 29 这座城原来叫拉亿，他们用祖先以色列的儿子但的名字为该城重新命名。 30 但支派的人把神像竖立起来，又指派摩西的孙子、革舜的儿子约拿单及其子孙做但支派的祭司，直到该城的人被敌人掳走为止。 31 上帝的会幕设立在示罗期间，米迦的神像一直竖立在但。
利未人和他的妾
19 那时候，以色列没有王。有一个利未人住在以法莲山区的偏远地带，他娶了犹大 伯利恒的一个女子为妾。 2 那女子不忠，离开丈夫回到犹大 伯利恒的父亲家，住了四个月。 3 后来，她丈夫带着一个仆人和两头驴去见她，用好话劝她回去。那女子带他去见自己的父亲。她父亲看见女婿来了，便热情地接待他， 4 留他在家里小住。他便在那里住了三天，一起吃住。 5 第四天，他清早起来准备回家，岳父对他说：“吃点东西补充体力后再走吧。” 6 于是，二人坐下来一起吃喝。岳父对他说：“再住一夜，高兴高兴吧。” 7 他不肯答应，起来要走，但岳父一再挽留，他就又住了一夜。 8 第五天清早起来，他准备回家，岳父对他说：“吃点东西，太阳偏西再走吧。”于是，二人一同吃饭。 9 他带着妾和仆人起来要走的时候，岳父对他说：“看啊，太阳偏西了，天色已晚，再住一夜高兴高兴，明天一早再走吧。”
10 可是，他不愿意再留一夜，就备好两头驴，带着他的妾走了，来到耶布斯附近。耶布斯就是耶路撒冷。 11 他们临近耶布斯时，天快黑了，仆人对主人说：“我们不如就在耶布斯人的城里住宿吧。” 12 主人说：“我们不可在没有以色列人住的外邦城邑住宿，不如赶到基比亚。” 13 他又说：“我们前往基比亚或拉玛住宿吧。” 14 于是，他们继续前行，到便雅悯境内的基比亚时，天已经黑了。 15 他们决定在那里过夜。因为没有人接待他们，他们只好在城中的广场露宿。
16 那时，有一个老人从田间工作回来，经过那里。他本来是以法莲山区的人，现在住在便雅悯境内的基比亚。 17 他看见有人在城中的广场露宿，就问：“你们从哪里来，要到哪里去？” 18 利未人回答说：“我们从犹大的伯利恒来，正要回家去。我住在以法莲山区的偏远地带。我现在要去耶和华的殿。这里没有人接待我。 19 其实我有粮草喂驴，我和我的妾及仆人也有饼和酒，什么也不缺。” 20 那老人说：“到我家来吧，我会供应你们的需要，千万不可在街头露宿。” 21 于是，那老人带他们回家，喂他们的驴。他们洗完脚后，便一起吃喝。
22 他们正欢快的时候，城里的一群无赖前来围住房子，连连叩门，对老人说：“把你家里的客人交出来，我们要跟他性交。” 23 老人出去对他们说：“弟兄们啊，不要做这种恶事！这人是我的客人，不要干这种卑鄙的事！ 24 我有个女儿，仍是处女，还有这人的妾，我把她们交出来，任你们玩弄，只是不要对这人干这种卑鄙的事。” 25 他们却不肯听。利未人就把自己的妾推出去交给他们。他们强暴她，终夜凌辱她，直到天快亮才放她走。 26 她回到丈夫住宿的房子门前，就扑倒在地。
27 早晨，她丈夫起来打开房门要上路，发现她倒卧在门前，双手搭在门槛上， 28 就对她说：“起来，我们走吧！”她却没有反应。于是，他就把她的尸体放在驴背上启程回家。 29 回到家里，他用刀把尸体切成十二块，派人送往以色列全境。 30 看见的人都说：“自从以色列人离开埃及以来，这种事从未发生过，也从未见过。我们必须商量一下，看看该怎么办。”
讨伐基比亚
20 于是，从但到别示巴以及基列的全体以色列人万众一心，来到米斯巴，聚集在耶和华面前。 2 以色列各支派的首领都参加了这次上帝子民的聚会，当时有四十万持刀的步兵。 3 便雅悯人也听见以色列人聚集在米斯巴的消息。以色列人问那个利未人：“请告诉我们，这件邪恶的事是怎么发生的？” 4 那利未人，就是被害女子的丈夫说：“我和我的妾到便雅悯的基比亚住宿。 5 那天晚上，基比亚人包围我们住宿的房子，要杀死我。他们把我的妾蹂躏致死。 6 我就把她的尸体切成块，送到以色列的各个地区，让以色列人都知道基比亚人做了邪恶、无耻的事。 7 以色列人啊，你们看该怎么处理吧！”
8 众人起来异口同声地说：“我们谁也不回帐篷，谁也不回家。 9 现在我们要抽签去攻打基比亚。 10 我们要从各支派中抽出十分之一的人负责运粮，等军队到达基比亚后，就可以讨伐在以色列做出这种卑鄙之事的基比亚人。” 11 于是，以色列人团结一致，一起去攻打那城。
12 他们派人去对便雅悯各地的人说：“你们中间怎么发生了这种邪恶的事！ 13 现在把那些基比亚的无赖交出来，我们要处死他们，从以色列铲除罪恶。”便雅悯人却充耳不闻， 14 还从各城聚集到基比亚跟以色列人打仗。 15 便雅悯人从各城召集了两万六千刀兵，还从基比亚召集了七百精兵。 16 军中有七百精兵善用左手甩石，毫发不差。 17 其他十一个以色列支派则召集了四十万善战的刀兵。
18 以色列人到伯特利去求问上帝，说：“我们当中哪个支派应当先去攻打便雅悯人呢？”耶和华说：“犹大支派。”
19 第二天清早，以色列人就在基比亚附近安营， 20 摆开阵势，准备攻打便雅悯人。 21 便雅悯人从基比亚出来，当天杀了以色列军两万二千人。 22 以色列人重整士气，仍在第一天列阵的地方列阵。 23 列阵之前，他们在耶和华面前一直哀哭到晚上。他们求问耶和华，说：“我们应该再去攻打我们的同胞便雅悯人吗？”耶和华说：“可以去。”
24 第二天，以色列人前去攻打便雅悯人。 25 便雅悯人从基比亚出来迎战，又杀了以色列军一万八千刀兵。 26 以色列全军来到伯特利，坐在耶和华面前哀哭，那天他们一直禁食到晚上，又在耶和华面前献上燔祭和平安祭。 27-28 那时，上帝的约柜就在那里，亚伦的孙子、以利亚撒的儿子非尼哈任祭司。以色列人求问耶和华，说：“我们应该再去攻打我们的同胞便雅悯人吗？还是退兵？”耶和华说：“去攻打吧，因为明天我必把他们交在你们手中。”
29 以色列人在基比亚周围设下伏兵。 30 第三天，以色列人又像前两次一样在基比亚列阵，攻打便雅悯人。 31 便雅悯人前来迎战，被以色列人诱到城外。他们又像前两次一样击杀以色列人，大约三十名以色列人死在通往基比亚和伯特利的两条路上。 32 便雅悯人说：“我们又打败他们了。”但以色列人已经商议好，用诈败的方法诱敌离城到大路上来。 33 以色列全军在巴力·他玛列阵反攻，埋伏在基比亚西面的以色列人也冲了出来。 34 有一万以色列精兵从正面攻打基比亚，战事非常激烈。便雅悯人大祸临头了仍懵然不知。 35 耶和华帮助以色列人战胜了便雅悯人。那天，以色列人杀了便雅悯两万五千一百刀兵。 36 便雅悯人这才意识到自己战败了。
原来以色列人在便雅悯人面前诈败，因为他们已在基比亚附近设下伏兵。 37 那些伏兵迅速冲进基比亚，杀了全城的人。 38 以色列人和伏兵已有约定，伏兵在城内点起一股浓烟时， 39 以色列人便转身杀回。便雅悯人杀了诈败的以色列军大约三十人，以为像以前一样打败了他们。 40 这时基比亚城已浓烟滚滚，便雅悯人回头观望，只见全城浓烟四起。 41 以色列人转身杀了回来，便雅悯人大惊失色，知道大祸临头了。 42 他们从以色列人面前转身逃往旷野，却无法逃脱。以色列人从各城出来夹攻他们。 43 以色列人围攻便雅悯人，一路追杀他们直到基比亚的东边。 44 便雅悯人共死了一万八千名勇士。 45 余下的人都逃往旷野的临门岩，沿途有五千人被杀。以色列人追杀他们，一直追到基顿，又消灭了他们两千人。 46 那天，便雅悯人共死了两万五千名英勇的刀兵， 47 只有六百人逃到了临门岩，在那里住了四个月。 48 以色列人回师便雅悯境内，将各城的男女老少以及牲畜全部杀死，又放火烧毁所有的城邑。
为便雅悯支派娶妻
21 以色列人曾在米斯巴起誓不把女儿嫁给便雅悯人。 2 他们来到伯特利，坐在上帝面前放声痛哭，直到黄昏。 3 他们说：“以色列的上帝耶和华啊，以色列为何少了一个支派呢？为何发生了这样的事呢？” 4 第二天，众人清早起来在那里筑了一座祭坛，献上燔祭和平安祭。 5 他们彼此议论说：“我们到米斯巴聚集在耶和华面前的时候，各支派中谁没有来呢？”原来，他们曾经起誓说：凡不到米斯巴聚集在耶和华面前的人都要被处死。 6 以色列人为他们的同胞便雅悯人难过，说：“如今以色列绝了一个支派。 7 我们曾经在耶和华面前起誓，决不把女儿嫁给便雅悯人，现在我们应该怎么办才能使他们剩下来的人得到妻子呢？”
8 他们又查问各支派中谁没有到米斯巴聚集在耶和华面前，结果发现基列·雅比人缺席， 9 因为点兵的时候，没有一个基列·雅比人在场。 10 于是，会众派出一万二千精兵，命令他们杀掉基列·雅比人及其妇女和孩子。 11 他们对精兵说：“你们所要做的就是消灭所有的男子和已婚妇女。” 12 他们在基列·雅比的居民中找到四百名处女，把她们带回迦南的示罗营地。
13 全体会众又派人到临门岩去跟便雅悯人讲和。 14 于是，便雅悯人返回了家乡，以色列人把从基列·雅比居民中留下来的四百个处女给他们做妻子，但还是不够。 15 众人为便雅悯支派难过，因为耶和华使以色列少了一个支派。
16 会众的长老说：“便雅悯支派的女子都死了，我们应该怎么办才能使余下的人有妻子呢？ 17 便雅悯的余民必须成家立后，以免以色列失去一个支派。 18 可是我们又不能把女儿嫁给他们，因为我们曾经起誓，‘把女儿嫁给便雅悯人的必受咒诅。’” 19 有人想起在示罗每年都有耶和华的节期。示罗在利波拿以南、伯特利以北至示剑的大路东面。 20 于是，他们对便雅悯人说：“你们埋伏在葡萄园里， 21 见到示罗的女子出来跳舞时，就冲出去各自抢一个，带回便雅悯做妻子。 22 倘若她们的父亲或弟兄前来抱怨，我们会说，‘求你们恩待我们，因为我们从战场上带回的女子不够分给他们做妻子。何况又不是你们把女儿嫁给他们的，所以罪不在你们。’” 23 便雅悯人就依计行事，从跳舞的女子中各自抢了一个，带回自己的家乡做妻子。他们重建城邑，住在其中。 24 于是，以色列人离开那里，各回自己的支派、宗族和家园。
25 那时候，以色列人没有王，人人各行其是。
Footnotes
- 18:12 “玛哈尼·但”意思是“但的军营”。
Judges 17-21
New International Version
Judges 17-21
New International Version
Micah’s Idols
17 Now a man named Micah(A) from the hill country of Ephraim 2 said to his mother, “The eleven hundred shekels[a] of silver that were taken from you and about which I heard you utter a curse—I have that silver with me; I took it.”
Then his mother said, “The Lord bless you,(B) my son!”
3 When he returned the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, she said, “I solemnly consecrate my silver to the Lord for my son to make an image overlaid with silver.(C) I will give it back to you.”
4 So after he returned the silver to his mother, she took two hundred shekels[b] of silver and gave them to a silversmith, who used them to make the idol.(D) And it was put in Micah’s house.
5 Now this man Micah had a shrine,(E) and he made an ephod(F) and some household gods(G) and installed(H) one of his sons as his priest.(I) 6 In those days Israel had no king;(J) everyone did as they saw fit.(K)
7 A young Levite(L) from Bethlehem in Judah,(M) who had been living within the clan of Judah, 8 left that town in search of some other place to stay. On his way[c] he came to Micah’s house in the hill country of Ephraim.
9 Micah asked him, “Where are you from?”
“I’m a Levite from Bethlehem in Judah,(N)” he said, “and I’m looking for a place to stay.”
10 Then Micah said to him, “Live with me and be my father(O) and priest,(P) and I’ll give you ten shekels[d] of silver a year, your clothes and your food.” 11 So the Levite agreed to live with him, and the young man became like one of his sons to him. 12 Then Micah installed(Q) the Levite, and the young man became his priest(R) and lived in his house. 13 And Micah said, “Now I know that the Lord will be good to me, since this Levite has become my priest.”(S)
The Danites Settle in Laish
18 In those days Israel had no king.(T)
And in those days the tribe of the Danites was seeking a place of their own where they might settle, because they had not yet come into an inheritance among the tribes of Israel.(U) 2 So the Danites(V) sent five of their leading men(W) from Zorah and Eshtaol to spy out(X) the land and explore it. These men represented all the Danites. They told them, “Go, explore the land.”(Y)
So they entered the hill country of Ephraim and came to the house of Micah,(Z) where they spent the night. 3 When they were near Micah’s house, they recognized the voice of the young Levite;(AA) so they turned in there and asked him, “Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? Why are you here?”
4 He told them what Micah had done for him, and said, “He has hired me and I am his priest.(AB)”
5 Then they said to him, “Please inquire of God(AC) to learn whether our journey will be successful.”
6 The priest answered them, “Go in peace(AD). Your journey has the Lord’s approval.”
7 So the five men(AE) left and came to Laish,(AF) where they saw that the people were living in safety, like the Sidonians, at peace and secure.(AG) And since their land lacked nothing, they were prosperous.[e] Also, they lived a long way from the Sidonians(AH) and had no relationship with anyone else.[f]
8 When they returned to Zorah and Eshtaol, their fellow Danites asked them, “How did you find things?”
9 They answered, “Come on, let’s attack them! We have seen the land, and it is very good. Aren’t you going to do something? Don’t hesitate to go there and take it over.(AI) 10 When you get there, you will find an unsuspecting people and a spacious land that God has put into your hands, a land that lacks nothing(AJ) whatever.(AK)”
11 Then six hundred men(AL) of the Danites,(AM) armed for battle, set out from Zorah and Eshtaol. 12 On their way they set up camp near Kiriath Jearim(AN) in Judah. This is why the place west of Kiriath Jearim is called Mahaneh Dan[g](AO) to this day. 13 From there they went on to the hill country of Ephraim and came to Micah’s house.(AP)
14 Then the five men who had spied out the land of Laish(AQ) said to their fellow Danites, “Do you know that one of these houses has an ephod,(AR) some household gods and an image overlaid with silver?(AS) Now you know what to do.” 15 So they turned in there and went to the house of the young Levite at Micah’s place and greeted him. 16 The six hundred Danites,(AT) armed for battle, stood at the entrance of the gate. 17 The five men who had spied out the land went inside and took the idol, the ephod and the household gods(AU) while the priest and the six hundred armed men(AV) stood at the entrance of the gate.
18 When the five men went into Micah’s house and took(AW) the idol, the ephod and the household gods,(AX) the priest said to them, “What are you doing?”
19 They answered him, “Be quiet!(AY) Don’t say a word. Come with us, and be our father and priest.(AZ) Isn’t it better that you serve a tribe and clan(BA) in Israel as priest rather than just one man’s household?” 20 The priest was very pleased. He took the ephod, the household gods and the idol and went along with the people. 21 Putting their little children, their livestock and their possessions in front of them, they turned away and left.
22 When they had gone some distance from Micah’s house, the men who lived near Micah were called together and overtook the Danites. 23 As they shouted after them, the Danites turned and said to Micah, “What’s the matter with you that you called out your men to fight?”
24 He replied, “You took(BB) the gods I made, and my priest, and went away. What else do I have? How can you ask, ‘What’s the matter with you?’”
25 The Danites answered, “Don’t argue with us, or some of the men may get angry and attack you, and you and your family will lose your lives.” 26 So the Danites went their way, and Micah, seeing that they were too strong for him,(BC) turned around and went back home.
27 Then they took what Micah had made, and his priest, and went on to Laish, against a people at peace and secure.(BD) They attacked them with the sword and burned(BE) down their city.(BF) 28 There was no one to rescue them because they lived a long way from Sidon(BG) and had no relationship with anyone else. The city was in a valley near Beth Rehob.(BH)
The Danites rebuilt the city and settled there. 29 They named it Dan(BI) after their ancestor Dan, who was born to Israel—though the city used to be called Laish.(BJ) 30 There the Danites set up for themselves the idol, and Jonathan son of Gershom,(BK) the son of Moses,[h] and his sons were priests for the tribe of Dan until the time of the captivity of the land. 31 They continued to use the idol Micah had made,(BL) all the time the house of God(BM) was in Shiloh.(BN)
A Levite and His Concubine
19 In those days Israel had no king.
Now a Levite who lived in a remote area in the hill country of Ephraim(BO) took a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah.(BP) 2 But she was unfaithful to him. She left him and went back to her parents’ home in Bethlehem, Judah. After she had been there four months, 3 her husband went to her to persuade her to return. He had with him his servant and two donkeys. She took him into her parents’ home, and when her father saw him, he gladly welcomed him. 4 His father-in-law, the woman’s father, prevailed on him to stay; so he remained with him three days, eating and drinking,(BQ) and sleeping there.
5 On the fourth day they got up early and he prepared to leave, but the woman’s father said to his son-in-law, “Refresh yourself(BR) with something to eat; then you can go.” 6 So the two of them sat down to eat and drink together. Afterward the woman’s father said, “Please stay tonight and enjoy yourself.(BS)” 7 And when the man got up to go, his father-in-law persuaded him, so he stayed there that night. 8 On the morning of the fifth day, when he rose to go, the woman’s father said, “Refresh yourself. Wait till afternoon!” So the two of them ate together.
9 Then when the man, with his concubine and his servant, got up to leave, his father-in-law, the woman’s father, said, “Now look, it’s almost evening. Spend the night here; the day is nearly over. Stay and enjoy yourself. Early tomorrow morning you can get up and be on your way home.” 10 But, unwilling to stay another night, the man left and went toward Jebus(BT) (that is, Jerusalem), with his two saddled donkeys and his concubine.
11 When they were near Jebus and the day was almost gone, the servant said to his master, “Come, let’s stop at this city of the Jebusites(BU) and spend the night.”
12 His master replied, “No. We won’t go into any city whose people are not Israelites. We will go on to Gibeah.” 13 He added, “Come, let’s try to reach Gibeah or Ramah(BV) and spend the night in one of those places.” 14 So they went on, and the sun set as they neared Gibeah in Benjamin.(BW) 15 There they stopped to spend the night.(BX) They went and sat in the city square,(BY) but no one took them in for the night.
16 That evening(BZ) an old man from the hill country of Ephraim,(CA) who was living in Gibeah (the inhabitants of the place were Benjamites), came in from his work in the fields. 17 When he looked and saw the traveler in the city square, the old man asked, “Where are you going? Where did you come from?”(CB)
18 He answered, “We are on our way from Bethlehem in Judah to a remote area in the hill country of Ephraim where I live. I have been to Bethlehem in Judah and now I am going to the house of the Lord.[i](CC) No one has taken me in for the night. 19 We have both straw and fodder(CD) for our donkeys(CE) and bread and wine(CF) for ourselves your servants—me, the woman and the young man with us. We don’t need anything.”
20 “You are welcome at my house,” the old man said. “Let me supply whatever you need. Only don’t spend the night in the square.” 21 So he took him into his house and fed his donkeys. After they had washed their feet, they had something to eat and drink.(CG)
22 While they were enjoying themselves,(CH) some of the wicked men(CI) of the city surrounded the house. Pounding on the door, they shouted to the old man who owned the house, “Bring out the man who came to your house so we can have sex with him.(CJ)”
23 The owner of the house went outside(CK) and said to them, “No, my friends, don’t be so vile. Since this man is my guest, don’t do this outrageous thing.(CL) 24 Look, here is my virgin daughter,(CM) and his concubine. I will bring them out to you now, and you can use them and do to them whatever you wish. But as for this man, don’t do such an outrageous thing.”
25 But the men would not listen to him. So the man took his concubine and sent her outside to them, and they raped her(CN) and abused her(CO) throughout the night, and at dawn they let her go. 26 At daybreak the woman went back to the house where her master was staying, fell down at the door and lay there until daylight.
27 When her master got up in the morning and opened the door of the house and stepped out to continue on his way, there lay his concubine, fallen in the doorway of the house, with her hands on the threshold. 28 He said to her, “Get up; let’s go.” But there was no answer. Then the man put her on his donkey and set out for home.
29 When he reached home, he took a knife(CP) and cut up his concubine, limb by limb, into twelve parts and sent them into all the areas of Israel.(CQ) 30 Everyone who saw it was saying to one another, “Such a thing has never been seen or done, not since the day the Israelites came up out of Egypt.(CR) Just imagine! We must do something! So speak up!(CS)”
The Israelites Punish the Benjamites
20 Then all Israel(CT) from Dan to Beersheba(CU) and from the land of Gilead came together as one(CV) and assembled(CW) before the Lord in Mizpah.(CX) 2 The leaders of all the people of the tribes of Israel took their places in the assembly of God’s people, four hundred thousand men(CY) armed with swords. 3 (The Benjamites heard that the Israelites had gone up to Mizpah.) Then the Israelites said, “Tell us how this awful thing happened.”
4 So the Levite, the husband of the murdered woman, said, “I and my concubine came to Gibeah(CZ) in Benjamin to spend the night.(DA) 5 During the night the men of Gibeah came after me and surrounded the house, intending to kill me.(DB) They raped my concubine, and she died.(DC) 6 I took my concubine, cut her into pieces and sent one piece to each region of Israel’s inheritance,(DD) because they committed this lewd and outrageous act(DE) in Israel. 7 Now, all you Israelites, speak up and tell me what you have decided to do.(DF)”
8 All the men rose up together as one, saying, “None of us will go home. No, not one of us will return to his house. 9 But now this is what we’ll do to Gibeah: We’ll go up against it in the order decided by casting lots.(DG) 10 We’ll take ten men out of every hundred from all the tribes of Israel, and a hundred from a thousand, and a thousand from ten thousand, to get provisions for the army. Then, when the army arrives at Gibeah[j] in Benjamin, it can give them what they deserve for this outrageous act done in Israel.” 11 So all the Israelites got together and united as one against the city.(DH)
12 The tribes of Israel sent messengers throughout the tribe of Benjamin, saying, “What about this awful crime that was committed among you?(DI) 13 Now turn those wicked men(DJ) of Gibeah over to us so that we may put them to death and purge the evil from Israel.(DK)”
But the Benjamites would not listen to their fellow Israelites. 14 From their towns they came together at Gibeah to fight against the Israelites. 15 At once the Benjamites mobilized twenty-six thousand swordsmen from their towns, in addition to seven hundred able young men from those living in Gibeah. 16 Among all these soldiers there were seven hundred select troops who were left-handed,(DL) each of whom could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.
17 Israel, apart from Benjamin, mustered four hundred thousand swordsmen, all of them fit for battle.
18 The Israelites went up to Bethel[k](DM) and inquired of God.(DN) They said, “Who of us is to go up first(DO) to fight(DP) against the Benjamites?”
The Lord replied, “Judah(DQ) shall go first.”
19 The next morning the Israelites got up and pitched camp near Gibeah. 20 The Israelites went out to fight the Benjamites and took up battle positions against them at Gibeah. 21 The Benjamites came out of Gibeah and cut down twenty-two thousand Israelites(DR) on the battlefield that day. 22 But the Israelites encouraged one another and again took up their positions where they had stationed themselves the first day. 23 The Israelites went up and wept before the Lord(DS) until evening,(DT) and they inquired of the Lord.(DU) They said, “Shall we go up again to fight(DV) against the Benjamites, our fellow Israelites?”
The Lord answered, “Go up against them.”
24 Then the Israelites drew near to Benjamin the second day. 25 This time, when the Benjamites came out from Gibeah to oppose them, they cut down another eighteen thousand Israelites,(DW) all of them armed with swords.
26 Then all the Israelites, the whole army, went up to Bethel, and there they sat weeping before the Lord.(DX) They fasted(DY) that day until evening and presented burnt offerings(DZ) and fellowship offerings(EA) to the Lord.(EB) 27 And the Israelites inquired of the Lord.(EC) (In those days the ark of the covenant of God(ED) was there, 28 with Phinehas son of Eleazar,(EE) the son of Aaron, ministering before it.)(EF) They asked, “Shall we go up again to fight against the Benjamites, our fellow Israelites, or not?”
The Lord responded, “Go, for tomorrow I will give them into your hands.(EG)”
29 Then Israel set an ambush(EH) around Gibeah. 30 They went up against the Benjamites on the third day and took up positions against Gibeah as they had done before. 31 The Benjamites came out to meet them and were drawn away(EI) from the city. They began to inflict casualties on the Israelites as before, so that about thirty men fell in the open field and on the roads—the one leading to Bethel(EJ) and the other to Gibeah. 32 While the Benjamites were saying, “We are defeating them as before,”(EK) the Israelites were saying, “Let’s retreat and draw them away from the city to the roads.”
33 All the men of Israel moved from their places and took up positions at Baal Tamar, and the Israelite ambush charged out of its place(EL) on the west[l] of Gibeah.[m] 34 Then ten thousand of Israel’s able young men made a frontal attack on Gibeah. The fighting was so heavy that the Benjamites did not realize(EM) how near disaster was.(EN) 35 The Lord defeated Benjamin(EO) before Israel, and on that day the Israelites struck down 25,100 Benjamites, all armed with swords. 36 Then the Benjamites saw that they were beaten.
Now the men of Israel had given way(EP) before Benjamin, because they relied on the ambush(EQ) they had set near Gibeah. 37 Those who had been in ambush made a sudden dash into Gibeah, spread out and put the whole city to the sword.(ER) 38 The Israelites had arranged with the ambush that they should send up a great cloud of smoke(ES) from the city,(ET) 39 and then the Israelites would counterattack.
The Benjamites had begun to inflict casualties on the Israelites (about thirty), and they said, “We are defeating them as in the first battle.”(EU) 40 But when the column of smoke began to rise from the city, the Benjamites turned and saw the whole city going up in smoke.(EV) 41 Then the Israelites counterattacked,(EW) and the Benjamites were terrified, because they realized that disaster had come(EX) on them. 42 So they fled before the Israelites in the direction of the wilderness, but they could not escape the battle. And the Israelites who came out of the towns cut them down there. 43 They surrounded the Benjamites, chased them and easily[n] overran them in the vicinity of Gibeah on the east. 44 Eighteen thousand Benjamites fell, all of them valiant fighters.(EY) 45 As they turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon,(EZ) the Israelites cut down five thousand men along the roads. They kept pressing after the Benjamites as far as Gidom and struck down two thousand more.
46 On that day twenty-five thousand Benjamite(FA) swordsmen fell, all of them valiant fighters. 47 But six hundred of them turned and fled into the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, where they stayed four months. 48 The men of Israel went back to Benjamin and put all the towns to the sword, including the animals and everything else they found. All the towns they came across they set on fire.(FB)
Wives for the Benjamites
21 The men of Israel had taken an oath(FC) at Mizpah:(FD) “Not one of us will give(FE) his daughter in marriage to a Benjamite.”
2 The people went to Bethel,[o] where they sat before God until evening, raising their voices and weeping bitterly. 3 “Lord, God of Israel,” they cried, “why has this happened to Israel? Why should one tribe be missing(FF) from Israel today?”
4 Early the next day the people built an altar and presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings.(FG)
5 Then the Israelites asked, “Who from all the tribes of Israel(FH) has failed to assemble before the Lord?” For they had taken a solemn oath that anyone who failed to assemble before the Lord at Mizpah was to be put to death.
6 Now the Israelites grieved for the tribe of Benjamin, their fellow Israelites. “Today one tribe is cut off from Israel,” they said. 7 “How can we provide wives for those who are left, since we have taken an oath(FI) by the Lord not to give them any of our daughters in marriage?” 8 Then they asked, “Which one of the tribes of Israel failed to assemble before the Lord at Mizpah?” They discovered that no one from Jabesh Gilead(FJ) had come to the camp for the assembly. 9 For when they counted the people, they found that none of the people of Jabesh Gilead were there.
10 So the assembly sent twelve thousand fighting men with instructions to go to Jabesh Gilead and put to the sword those living there, including the women and children. 11 “This is what you are to do,” they said. “Kill every male(FK) and every woman who is not a virgin.(FL)” 12 They found among the people living in Jabesh Gilead four hundred young women who had never slept with a man, and they took them to the camp at Shiloh(FM) in Canaan.
13 Then the whole assembly sent an offer of peace(FN) to the Benjamites at the rock of Rimmon.(FO) 14 So the Benjamites returned at that time and were given the women of Jabesh Gilead who had been spared. But there were not enough for all of them.
15 The people grieved for Benjamin,(FP) because the Lord had made a gap in the tribes of Israel. 16 And the elders of the assembly said, “With the women of Benjamin destroyed, how shall we provide wives for the men who are left? 17 The Benjamite survivors must have heirs,” they said, “so that a tribe of Israel will not be wiped out.(FQ) 18 We can’t give them our daughters as wives, since we Israelites have taken this oath:(FR) ‘Cursed be anyone who gives(FS) a wife to a Benjamite.’ 19 But look, there is the annual festival of the Lord in Shiloh,(FT) which lies north of Bethel(FU), east of the road that goes from Bethel to Shechem,(FV) and south of Lebonah.”
20 So they instructed the Benjamites, saying, “Go and hide in the vineyards 21 and watch. When the young women of Shiloh come out to join in the dancing,(FW) rush from the vineyards and each of you seize one of them to be your wife. Then return to the land of Benjamin. 22 When their fathers or brothers complain to us, we will say to them, ‘Do us the favor of helping them, because we did not get wives for them during the war. You will not be guilty of breaking your oath because you did not give(FX) your daughters to them.’”
23 So that is what the Benjamites did. While the young women were dancing,(FY) each man caught one and carried her off to be his wife. Then they returned to their inheritance(FZ) and rebuilt the towns and settled in them.(GA)
24 At that time the Israelites left that place and went home to their tribes and clans, each to his own inheritance.
25 In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.(GB)
Footnotes
- Judges 17:2 That is, about 28 pounds or about 13 kilograms
- Judges 17:4 That is, about 5 pounds or about 2.3 kilograms
- Judges 17:8 Or To carry on his profession
- Judges 17:10 That is, about 4 ounces or about 115 grams
- Judges 18:7 The meaning of the Hebrew for this clause is uncertain.
- Judges 18:7 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts with the Arameans
- Judges 18:12 Mahaneh Dan means Dan’s camp.
- Judges 18:30 Many Hebrew manuscripts, some Septuagint manuscripts and Vulgate; many other Hebrew manuscripts and some other Septuagint manuscripts Manasseh
- Judges 19:18 Hebrew, Vulgate, Syriac and Targum; Septuagint going home
- Judges 20:10 One Hebrew manuscript; most Hebrew manuscripts Geba, a variant of Gibeah
- Judges 20:18 Or to the house of God; also in verse 26
- Judges 20:33 Some Septuagint manuscripts and Vulgate; the meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
- Judges 20:33 Hebrew Geba, a variant of Gibeah
- Judges 20:43 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
- Judges 21:2 Or to the house of God
Judges 17-21
King James Version
Judges 17-21
King James Version
17 And there was a man of mount Ephraim, whose name was Micah.
2 And he said unto his mother, The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from thee, about which thou cursedst, and spakest of also in mine ears, behold, the silver is with me; I took it. And his mother said, Blessed be thou of the Lord, my son.
3 And when he had restored the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, his mother said, I had wholly dedicated the silver unto the Lord from my hand for my son, to make a graven image and a molten image: now therefore I will restore it unto thee.
4 Yet he restored the money unto his mother; and his mother took two hundred shekels of silver, and gave them to the founder, who made thereof a graven image and a molten image: and they were in the house of Micah.
5 And the man Micah had an house of gods, and made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.
6 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
7 And there was a young man out of Bethlehemjudah of the family of Judah, who was a Levite, and he sojourned there.
8 And the man departed out of the city from Bethlehemjudah to sojourn where he could find a place: and he came to mount Ephraim to the house of Micah, as he journeyed.
9 And Micah said unto him, Whence comest thou? And he said unto him, I am a Levite of Bethlehemjudah, and I go to sojourn where I may find a place.
10 And Micah said unto him, Dwell with me, and be unto me a father and a priest, and I will give thee ten shekels of silver by the year, and a suit of apparel, and thy victuals. So the Levite went in.
11 And the Levite was content to dwell with the man; and the young man was unto him as one of his sons.
12 And Micah consecrated the Levite; and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah.
13 Then said Micah, Now know I that the Lord will do me good, seeing I have a Levite to my priest.
18 In those days there was no king in Israel: and in those days the tribe of the Danites sought them an inheritance to dwell in; for unto that day all their inheritance had not fallen unto them among the tribes of Israel.
2 And the children of Dan sent of their family five men from their coasts, men of valour, from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land, and to search it; and they said unto them, Go, search the land: who when they came to mount Ephraim, to the house of Micah, they lodged there.
3 When they were by the house of Micah, they knew the voice of the young man the Levite: and they turned in thither, and said unto him, Who brought thee hither? and what makest thou in this place? and what hast thou here?
4 And he said unto them, Thus and thus dealeth Micah with me, and hath hired me, and I am his priest.
5 And they said unto him, Ask counsel, we pray thee, of God, that we may know whether our way which we go shall be prosperous.
6 And the priest said unto them, Go in peace: before the Lord is your way wherein ye go.
7 Then the five men departed, and came to Laish, and saw the people that were therein, how they dwelt careless, after the manner of the Zidonians, quiet and secure; and there was no magistrate in the land, that might put them to shame in any thing; and they were far from the Zidonians, and had no business with any man.
8 And they came unto their brethren to Zorah and Eshtaol: and their brethren said unto them, What say ye?
9 And they said, Arise, that we may go up against them: for we have seen the land, and, behold, it is very good: and are ye still? be not slothful to go, and to enter to possess the land.
10 When ye go, ye shall come unto a people secure, and to a large land: for God hath given it into your hands; a place where there is no want of any thing that is in the earth.
11 And there went from thence of the family of the Danites, out of Zorah and out of Eshtaol, six hundred men appointed with weapons of war.
12 And they went up, and pitched in Kirjathjearim, in Judah: wherefore they called that place Mahanehdan unto this day: behold, it is behind Kirjathjearim.
13 And they passed thence unto mount Ephraim, and came unto the house of Micah.
14 Then answered the five men that went to spy out the country of Laish, and said unto their brethren, Do ye know that there is in these houses an ephod, and teraphim, and a graven image, and a molten image? now therefore consider what ye have to do.
15 And they turned thitherward, and came to the house of the young man the Levite, even unto the house of Micah, and saluted him.
16 And the six hundred men appointed with their weapons of war, which were of the children of Dan, stood by the entering of the gate.
17 And the five men that went to spy out the land went up, and came in thither, and took the graven image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image: and the priest stood in the entering of the gate with the six hundred men that were appointed with weapons of war.
18 And these went into Micah's house, and fetched the carved image, the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image. Then said the priest unto them, What do ye?
19 And they said unto him, Hold thy peace, lay thine hand upon thy mouth, and go with us, and be to us a father and a priest: is it better for thee to be a priest unto the house of one man, or that thou be a priest unto a tribe and a family in Israel?
20 And the priest's heart was glad, and he took the ephod, and the teraphim, and the graven image, and went in the midst of the people.
21 So they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the cattle and the carriage before them.
22 And when they were a good way from the house of Micah, the men that were in the houses near to Micah's house were gathered together, and overtook the children of Dan.
23 And they cried unto the children of Dan. And they turned their faces, and said unto Micah, What aileth thee, that thou comest with such a company?
24 And he said, Ye have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest, and ye are gone away: and what have I more? and what is this that ye say unto me, What aileth thee?
25 And the children of Dan said unto him, Let not thy voice be heard among us, lest angry fellows run upon thee, and thou lose thy life, with the lives of thy household.
26 And the children of Dan went their way: and when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back unto his house.
27 And they took the things which Micah had made, and the priest which he had, and came unto Laish, unto a people that were at quiet and secure: and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and burnt the city with fire.
28 And there was no deliverer, because it was far from Zidon, and they had no business with any man; and it was in the valley that lieth by Bethrehob. And they built a city, and dwelt therein.
29 And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born unto Israel: howbeit the name of the city was Laish at the first.
30 And the children of Dan set up the graven image: and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land.
31 And they set them up Micah's graven image, which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.
19 And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the side of mount Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Bethlehemjudah.
2 And his concubine played the whore against him, and went away from him unto her father's house to Bethlehemjudah, and was there four whole months.
3 And her husband arose, and went after her, to speak friendly unto her, and to bring her again, having his servant with him, and a couple of asses: and she brought him into her father's house: and when the father of the damsel saw him, he rejoiced to meet him.
4 And his father in law, the damsel's father, retained him; and he abode with him three days: so they did eat and drink, and lodged there.
5 And it came to pass on the fourth day, when they arose early in the morning, that he rose up to depart: and the damsel's father said unto his son in law, Comfort thine heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward go your way.
6 And they sat down, and did eat and drink both of them together: for the damsel's father had said unto the man, Be content, I pray thee, and tarry all night, and let thine heart be merry.
7 And when the man rose up to depart, his father in law urged him: therefore he lodged there again.
8 And he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart; and the damsel's father said, Comfort thine heart, I pray thee. And they tarried until afternoon, and they did eat both of them.
9 And when the man rose up to depart, he, and his concubine, and his servant, his father in law, the damsel's father, said unto him, Behold, now the day draweth toward evening, I pray you tarry all night: behold, the day groweth to an end, lodge here, that thine heart may be merry; and to morrow get you early on your way, that thou mayest go home.
10 But the man would not tarry that night, but he rose up and departed, and came over against Jebus, which is Jerusalem; and there were with him two asses saddled, his concubine also was with him.
11 And when they were by Jebus, the day was far spent; and the servant said unto his master, Come, I pray thee, and let us turn in into this city of the Jebusites, and lodge in it.
12 And his master said unto him, We will not turn aside hither into the city of a stranger, that is not of the children of Israel; we will pass over to Gibeah.
13 And he said unto his servant, Come, and let us draw near to one of these places to lodge all night, in Gibeah, or in Ramah.
14 And they passed on and went their way; and the sun went down upon them when they were by Gibeah, which belongeth to Benjamin.
15 And they turned aside thither, to go in and to lodge in Gibeah: and when he went in, he sat him down in a street of the city: for there was no man that took them into his house to lodging.
16 And, behold, there came an old man from his work out of the field at even, which was also of mount Ephraim; and he sojourned in Gibeah: but the men of the place were Benjamites.
17 And when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw a wayfaring man in the street of the city: and the old man said, Whither goest thou? and whence comest thou?
18 And he said unto him, We are passing from Bethlehemjudah toward the side of mount Ephraim; from thence am I: and I went to Bethlehemjudah, but I am now going to the house of the Lord; and there is no man that receiveth me to house.
19 Yet there is both straw and provender for our asses; and there is bread and wine also for me, and for thy handmaid, and for the young man which is with thy servants: there is no want of any thing.
20 And the old man said, Peace be with thee; howsoever let all thy wants lie upon me; only lodge not in the street.
21 So he brought him into his house, and gave provender unto the asses: and they washed their feet, and did eat and drink.
22 Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about, and beat at the door, and spake to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man that came into thine house, that we may know him.
23 And the man, the master of the house, went out unto them, and said unto them, Nay, my brethren, nay, I pray you, do not so wickedly; seeing that this man is come into mine house, do not this folly.
24 Behold, here is my daughter a maiden, and his concubine; them I will bring out now, and humble ye them, and do with them what seemeth good unto you: but unto this man do not so vile a thing.
25 But the men would not hearken to him: so the man took his concubine, and brought her forth unto them; and they knew her, and abused her all the night until the morning: and when the day began to spring, they let her go.
26 Then came the woman in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of the man's house where her lord was, till it was light.
27 And her lord rose up in the morning, and opened the doors of the house, and went out to go his way: and, behold, the woman his concubine was fallen down at the door of the house, and her hands were upon the threshold.
28 And he said unto her, Up, and let us be going. But none answered. Then the man took her up upon an ass, and the man rose up, and gat him unto his place.
29 And when he was come into his house, he took a knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her, together with her bones, into twelve pieces, and sent her into all the coasts of Israel.
30 And it was so, that all that saw it said, There was no such deed done nor seen from the day that the children of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt unto this day: consider of it, take advice, and speak your minds.
20 Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was gathered together as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 Baaltamar: 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.
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.
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.
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.
41 And when the men of Israel turned again, the men of Benjamin were amazed: for they saw that evil was come upon 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.
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.
21 Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpeh, saying, There shall not any of us give his daughter unto Benjamin to wife.
2 And the people came to the house of God, and abode there till even before God, and lifted up their voices, and wept sore;
3 And said, O Lord God of Israel, why is this come to pass in Israel, that there should be to day one tribe lacking in Israel?
4 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people rose early, and built there an altar, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.
5 And the children of Israel said, Who is there among all the tribes of Israel that came not up with the congregation unto the Lord? For they had made a great oath concerning him that came not up to the Lord to Mizpeh, saying, He shall surely be put to death.
6 And the children of Israel repented them for Benjamin their brother, and said, There is one tribe cut off from Israel this day.
7 How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing we have sworn by the Lord that we will not give them of our daughters to wives?
8 And they said, What one is there of the tribes of Israel that came not up to Mizpeh to the Lord? And, behold, there came none to the camp from Jabeshgilead to the assembly.
9 For the people were numbered, and, behold, there were none of the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead there.
10 And the congregation sent thither twelve thousand men of the valiantest, and commanded them, saying, Go and smite the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead with the edge of the sword, with the women and the children.
11 And this is the thing that ye shall do, Ye shall utterly destroy every male, and every woman that hath lain by man.
12 And they found among the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead four hundred young virgins, that had known no man by lying with any male: and they brought them unto the camp to Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.
13 And the whole congregation sent some to speak to the children of Benjamin that were in the rock Rimmon, and to call peaceably unto them.
14 And Benjamin came again at that time; and they gave them wives which they had saved alive of the women of Jabeshgilead: and yet so they sufficed them not.
15 And the people repented them for Benjamin, because that the Lord had made a breach in the tribes of Israel.
16 Then the elders of the congregation said, How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?
17 And they said, There must be an inheritance for them that be escaped of Benjamin, that a tribe be not destroyed out of Israel.
18 Howbeit we may not give them wives of our daughters: for the children of Israel have sworn, saying, Cursed be he that giveth a wife to Benjamin.
19 Then they said, Behold, there is a feast of the Lord in Shiloh yearly in a place which is on the north side of Bethel, on the east side of the highway that goeth up from Bethel to Shechem, and on the south of Lebonah.
20 Therefore they commanded the children of Benjamin, saying, Go and lie in wait in the vineyards;
21 And see, and, behold, if the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in dances, then come ye out of the vineyards, and catch you every man his wife of the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin.
22 And it shall be, when their fathers or their brethren come unto us to complain, that we will say unto them, Be favourable unto them for our sakes: because we reserved not to each man his wife in the war: for ye did not give unto them at this time, that ye should be guilty.
23 And the children of Benjamin did so, and took them wives, according to their number, of them that danced, whom they caught: and they went and returned unto their inheritance, and repaired the cities, and dwelt in them.
24 And the children of Israel departed thence at that time, every man to his tribe and to his family, and they went out from thence every man to his inheritance.
25 In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
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