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20 Yna holl feibion Israel a aethant allan; a’r gynulleidfa a ymgasglodd ynghyd fel un dyn, o Dan hyd Beerseba, a gwlad Gilead, at yr Arglwydd, i Mispa. A phenaethiaid yr holl bobl, o holl lwythau Israel, a safasant yng nghynulleidfa pobl Dduw; sef pedwar can mil o wŷr traed yn tynnu cleddyf. (A meibion Benjamin a glywsant fyned o feibion Israel i Mispa.) Yna meibion Israel a ddywedasant, Dywedwch, pa fodd y bu y drygioni hyn? A’r gŵr y Lefiad, gŵr y wraig a laddesid, a atebodd ac a ddywedodd, I Gibea eiddo Benjamin y deuthum i, mi a’m gordderch, i letya. A gwŷr Gibea a gyfodasant i’m herbyn, ac a amgylchynasant y tŷ yn fy erbyn liw nos, ac a amcanasant fy lladd i; a threisiasant fy ngordderch, fel y bu hi farw. A mi a ymeflais yn fy ngordderch, ac a’i derniais hi, ac a’i hanfonais hi trwy holl wlad etifeddiaeth Israel: canys gwnaethant ffieidd‐dra ac ynfydrwydd yn Israel. Wele, meibion Israel ydych chwi oll; moeswch rhyngoch air a chyngor yma.

A’r holl bobl a gyfododd megis un gŵr, gan ddywedyd, Nac eled neb ohonom i’w babell, ac na throed neb ohonom i’w dŷ. Ond yn awr, hyn yw y peth a wnawn ni i Gibea: Nyni a awn i fyny i’w herbyn wrth goelbren; 10 A ni a gymerwn ddengwr o’r cant trwy holl lwythau Israel, a chant o’r mil, a mil o’r deng mil, i ddwyn lluniaeth i’r bobl; i wneuthur, pan ddelont i Gibea Benjamin, yn ôl yr holl ffieidd‐dra a wnaethant hwy yn Israel. 11 Felly yr ymgasglodd holl wŷr Israel yn erbyn y ddinas yn gytûn fel un gŵr.

12 A llwythau Israel a anfonasant wŷr trwy holl lwythau Benjamin, gan ddywedyd, Beth yw y drygioni yma a wnaethpwyd yn eich mysg chwi? 13 Ac yn awr rhoddwch y gwŷr, meibion Belial, y rhai sydd yn Gibea, fel y lladdom hwynt, ac y dileom ddrygioni o Israel. Ond ni wrandawai meibion Benjamin ar lais eu brodyr meibion Israel: 14 Eithr meibion Benjamin a ymgynullasant o’r dinasoedd i Gibea, i fyned allan i ryfel yn erbyn meibion Israel. 15 A chyfrifwyd meibion Benjamin y dydd hwnnw, o’r dinasoedd, yn chwe mil ar hugain o wŷr yn tynnu cleddyf, heblaw trigolion Gibea, y rhai a gyfrifwyd yn saith gant o wŷr etholedig. 16 O’r holl bobl hyn yr oedd saith gant o wŷr etholedig yn chwithig; pob un ohonynt a ergydiai â charreg at y blewyn, heb fethu. 17 Gwŷr Israel hefyd a gyfrifwyd, heblaw Benjamin, yn bedwar can mil yn tynnu cleddyf; pawb ohonynt yn rhyfelwyr.

18 A meibion Israel a gyfodasant, ac a aethant i fyny i dŷ Dduw, ac a ymgyngorasant â Duw, ac a ddywedasant, Pwy ohonom ni a â i fyny yn gyntaf i’r gad yn erbyn meibion Benjamin? A dywedodd yr Arglwydd, Jwda a â yn gyntaf. 19 A meibion Israel a gyfodasant y bore, ac a wersyllasant yn erbyn Gibea. 20 A gwŷr Israel a aethant allan i ryfel yn erbyn Benjamin; a gwŷr Israel a ymosodasant i ymladd i’w herbyn hwy wrth Gibea. 21 A meibion Benjamin a ddaethant allan o Gibea, ac a ddifethasant o Israel y dwthwn hwnnw ddwy fil ar hugain o wŷr hyd lawr. 22 A’r bobl gwŷr Israel a ymgryfhasant, ac a ymosodasant drachefn i ymladd, yn y lle yr ymosodasent ynddo y dydd cyntaf. 23 (A meibion Israel a aethent i fyny, ac a wylasent gerbron yr Arglwydd hyd yr hwyr: ymgyngorasent hefyd â’r Arglwydd, gan ddywedyd, A af fi drachefn i ryfel yn erbyn meibion Benjamin fy mrawd? A dywedasai yr Arglwydd, Dos i fyny yn ei erbyn ef.) 24 A meibion Israel a nesasant yn erbyn meibion Benjamin yr ail ddydd. 25 A Benjamin a aeth allan o Gibea i’w herbyn hwythau yr ail ddydd; a hwy a ddifethasant o feibion Israel eilwaith dair mil ar bymtheg o wŷr hyd lawr: y rhai hyn oll oedd yn tynnu cleddyf.

26 Yna holl feibion Israel a’r holl bobl a aethant i fyny ac a ddaethant i dŷ Dduw, ac a wylasant, ac a arosasant yno gerbron yr Arglwydd, ac a ymprydiasant y dwthwn hwnnw hyd yr hwyr, ac a offrymasant boethoffrymau ac offrymau hedd gerbron yr Arglwydd. 27 A meibion Israel a ymgyngorasant â’r Arglwydd, (canys yno yr oedd arch cyfamod Duw yn y dyddiau hynny; 28 A Phinees mab Eleasar, mab Aaron, oedd yn sefyll ger ei bron hi yn y dyddiau hynny;) gan ddywedyd, A chwanegaf fi mwyach fyned allan i ryfel yn erbyn meibion Benjamin fy mrawd, neu a beidiaf fi? A dywedodd yr Arglwydd, Ewch i fyny; canys yfory y rhoddaf ef yn dy law di. 29 Ac Israel a osododd gynllwynwyr o amgylch Gibea. 30 A meibion Israel a aethant i fyny yn erbyn meibion Benjamin y trydydd dydd, ac a ymosodasant wrth Gibea, fel cynt. 31 A meibion Benjamin a aethant allan yn erbyn y bobl; a thynnwyd hwynt oddi wrth y ddinas: a hwy a ddechreuasant daro rhai o’r bobl yn archolledig, fel cynt, yn y priffyrdd, o’r rhai y mae y naill yn myned i fyny i dŷ Dduw, a’r llall i Gibea yn y maes, ynghylch dengwr ar hugain o Israel. 32 A meibion Benjamin a ddywedasant, Cwympwyd hwynt o’n blaen ni, fel ar y cyntaf. Ond meibion Israel a ddywedasant, Ffown, fel y tynnom hwynt oddi wrth y ddinas i’r priffyrdd. 33 A holl wŷr Israel a gyfodasant o’u lle, ac a fyddinasant yn Baal‐tamar: a’r sawl a oedd o Israel yn cynllwyn, a ddaeth allan o’u mangre, sef o weirgloddiau Gibea. 34 A daeth yn erbyn Gibea ddeng mil o wŷr etholedig o holl Israel; a’r gad a fu dost: ond ni wyddent fod drwg yn agos atynt. 35 A’r Arglwydd a drawodd Benjamin o flaen Israel: a difethodd meibion Israel o’r Benjaminiaid, y dwthwn hwnnw, bum mil ar hugain a channwr; a’r rhai hyn oll yn tynnu cleddyf. 36 Felly meibion Benjamin a welsant mai eu lladd yr oeddid: canys gwŷr Israel a roddasant le i’r Benjaminiaid; oherwydd hyderu yr oeddynt ar y cynllwynwyr, y rhai a osodasent yn ymyl Gibea. 37 A’r cynllwynwyr a frysiasant, ac a ruthrasant ar Gibea: a’r cynllwynwyr a utganasant yn hirllaes, ac a drawsant yr holl ddinas â min y cleddyf. 38 Ac yr oedd amser nodedig rhwng gwŷr Israel a’r cynllwynwyr; sef peri ohonynt i fflam fawr a mwg ddyrchafu o’r ddinas. 39 A phan drodd gwŷr Israel eu cefnau yn y rhyfel, Benjamin a ddechreuodd daro yn archolledig o wŷr Israel ynghylch dengwr ar hugain: canys dywedasant, Diau gan daro eu taro hwynt o’n blaen ni, fel yn y cyntaf. 40 A phan ddechreuodd y fflam ddyrchafu o’r ddinas â cholofn o fwg, Benjamin a edrychodd yn ei ôl; ac wele fflam y ddinas yn dyrchafu i’r nefoedd. 41 Yna gwŷr Israel a droesant drachefn; a gwŷr Benjamin a frawychasant: oherwydd hwy a ganfuant fod drwg wedi dyfod arnynt. 42 Am hynny hwy a droesant o flaen gwŷr Israel, tua ffordd yr anialwch; a’r gad a’u goddiweddodd hwynt: a’r rhai a ddaethai o’r dinasoedd, yr oeddynt yn eu difetha yn eu canol. 43 Felly yr amgylchynasant y Benjaminiaid; erlidiasant hwynt, a sathrasant hwynt yn hawdd hyd yng nghyfer Gibea, tua chodiad haul. 44 A lladdwyd o Benjamin dair mil ar bymtheg o wŷr: y rhai hyn oll oedd wŷr nerthol. 45 A hwy a droesant, ac a ffoesant tua’r anialwch i graig Rimmon. A’r Israeliaid a loffasant ohonynt ar hyd y priffyrdd, bum mil o wŷr: erlidiasant hefyd ar eu hôl hwynt hyd Gidom, ac a laddasant ohonynt ddwy fil o wŷr. 46 A’r rhai oll a gwympodd o Benjamin y dwthwn hwnnw, oedd bum mil ar hugain o wŷr yn tynnu cleddyf: hwynt oll oedd wŷr nerthol. 47 Eto chwe channwr a droesant, ac a ffoesant i’r anialwch i graig Rimmon, ac a arosasant yng nghraig Rimmon bedwar mis. 48 A gwŷr Israel a ddychwelasant ar feibion Benjamin, ac a’u trawsant hwy â min y cleddyf, yn ddyn o bob dinas, ac yn anifail, a pheth bynnag a gafwyd: yr holl ddinasoedd hefyd a’r a gafwyd, a losgasant hwy â thân.

The Israelites Punish the Benjamites

20 Then all Israel(A) from Dan to Beersheba(B) and from the land of Gilead came together as one(C) and assembled(D) before the Lord in Mizpah.(E) 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(F) armed with swords. (The Benjamites heard that the Israelites had gone up to Mizpah.) Then the Israelites said, “Tell us how this awful thing happened.”

So the Levite, the husband of the murdered woman, said, “I and my concubine came to Gibeah(G) in Benjamin to spend the night.(H) During the night the men of Gibeah came after me and surrounded the house, intending to kill me.(I) They raped my concubine, and she died.(J) I took my concubine, cut her into pieces and sent one piece to each region of Israel’s inheritance,(K) because they committed this lewd and outrageous act(L) in Israel. Now, all you Israelites, speak up and tell me what you have decided to do.(M)

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. But now this is what we’ll do to Gibeah: We’ll go up against it in the order decided by casting lots.(N) 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[a] 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.(O)

12 The tribes of Israel sent messengers throughout the tribe of Benjamin, saying, “What about this awful crime that was committed among you?(P) 13 Now turn those wicked men(Q) of Gibeah over to us so that we may put them to death and purge the evil from Israel.(R)

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,(S) 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[b](T) and inquired of God.(U) They said, “Who of us is to go up first(V) to fight(W) against the Benjamites?”

The Lord replied, “Judah(X) 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(Y) 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(Z) until evening,(AA) and they inquired of the Lord.(AB) They said, “Shall we go up again to fight(AC) 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,(AD) 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.(AE) They fasted(AF) that day until evening and presented burnt offerings(AG) and fellowship offerings(AH) to the Lord.(AI) 27 And the Israelites inquired of the Lord.(AJ) (In those days the ark of the covenant of God(AK) was there, 28 with Phinehas son of Eleazar,(AL) the son of Aaron, ministering before it.)(AM) 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.(AN)

29 Then Israel set an ambush(AO) 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(AP) 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(AQ) and the other to Gibeah. 32 While the Benjamites were saying, “We are defeating them as before,”(AR) 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(AS) on the west[c] of Gibeah.[d] 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(AT) how near disaster was.(AU) 35 The Lord defeated Benjamin(AV) 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(AW) before Benjamin, because they relied on the ambush(AX) 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.(AY) 38 The Israelites had arranged with the ambush that they should send up a great cloud of smoke(AZ) from the city,(BA) 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.”(BB) 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.(BC) 41 Then the Israelites counterattacked,(BD) and the Benjamites were terrified, because they realized that disaster had come(BE) 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[e] overran them in the vicinity of Gibeah on the east. 44 Eighteen thousand Benjamites fell, all of them valiant fighters.(BF) 45 As they turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon,(BG) 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(BH) 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.(BI)

Footnotes

  1. Judges 20:10 One Hebrew manuscript; most Hebrew manuscripts Geba, a variant of Gibeah
  2. Judges 20:18 Or to the house of God; also in verse 26
  3. Judges 20:33 Some Septuagint manuscripts and Vulgate; the meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
  4. Judges 20:33 Hebrew Geba, a variant of Gibeah
  5. Judges 20:43 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.