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Judges 19:22-20:48
New American Standard Bible

22 While they were [a]celebrating, behold, (A)the men of the city, certain [b](B)worthless men, surrounded the house, pushing one another at the door; and they spoke to the owner of the house, the old man, saying, “Bring out the man who entered your house that we may [c]have relations with him.” 23 Then the man, the owner of the house, went out to them and said to them, “No, my brothers, please do not act so wickedly. Since this man has come into my house, (C)do not commit this vile sin. 24 (D)Here is my virgin daughter and [d]the man’s concubine. Please let me bring them out, then rape them and do to them [e]whatever you wish. But do not commit this act of vile sin against this man.” 25 But the men would not listen to him. So the man seized his concubine and brought her outside to them; and they [f]raped her and abused her all night until morning, then let her go at the approach of dawn. 26 [g]As the day began to dawn, the woman came and fell down at the doorway of the man’s house where her master was, until full daylight.

27 When her master got up in the morning and opened the doors of the house and went out to go on his way, then behold, his concubine was lying at the doorway of the house with her hands on the threshold. 28 And he said to her, “Get up and let’s go,” (E)but there was no answer. Then he put her on the donkey; and the man set out and went to his [h]home. 29 When he entered his house, he took a knife and seized his concubine, and (F)cut her in twelve pieces, limb by limb. Then he sent her throughout the territory of Israel. 30 All who saw it said, “Nothing like this has ever happened or been seen from the day when the sons of Israel came up from the land of Egypt to this day. Consider it, [i](G)make a plan, and speak up!”

Resolve to Punish the Guilty

20 Then all the sons of Israel from Dan to Beersheba, including the land of Gilead, came out, and the congregation assembled as one person to the Lord at (H)Mizpah. 2 And the [j]leaders of all the people, all the tribes of Israel, took their stand in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand foot [k]soldiers (I)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 take place?” 4 So the Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered and said, “I came with my concubine to spend the night at Gibeah which belongs to Benjamin. 5 But the [l](J)citizens of Gibeah rose up against me and surrounded the house at night, [m]threatening me. They intended to kill me; instead, they (K)raped my concubine so that she died. 6 And I (L)took hold of my concubine and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout the land of Israel’s inheritance; for (M)they have committed an outrageous sin and vile act in Israel. 7 Behold, all you sons of Israel, (N)give your [n]response and advice here.”

8 Then all the people rose up as one person, saying, “Not one of us will go to his tent, nor will any of us go home. 9 But now this is the thing which we will do to Gibeah; we will go up against it by lot. 10 And we will take ten men out of a hundred throughout the tribes of Israel, and a hundred out of a thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand to [o]supply provisions for the people, so that when they come to [p]Gibeah of Benjamin, they may [q]punish them for all the vile sin that they have committed in Israel.” 11 So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, [r]united as one man.

12 Then the tribes of Israel sent men through the entire [s]tribe of Benjamin, saying, “What is this wickedness that has taken place among you? 13 Now then, turn over the men, the [t](O)worthless men who are in Gibeah, so that we may put them to death and (P)remove this wickedness from Israel.” But the sons of Benjamin would not listen to the voice of their brothers, the sons of Israel. 14 Instead, the sons of Benjamin gathered from the cities to Gibeah, to go out to battle against the sons of Israel. 15 From the cities on that day the (Q)sons of Benjamin were [u]counted, twenty-six thousand men who drew the sword, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah who were [v]counted, seven hundred choice men. 16 Out of all these people seven hundred (R)choice men were left-handed; each one could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.

17 Then the men of Israel besides Benjamin were [w]counted, four hundred thousand men who drew the sword; all of these were men of war.

Civil War, Benjamin Defeated

18 Now the sons of Israel set out, went up to Bethel, and (S)inquired of God and said, “Who shall go up first for us to battle against the sons of Benjamin?” Then the Lord said, “Judah shall go up first.”

19 So the sons of Israel got up in the morning and camped against Gibeah. 20 The men of Israel went to battle against Benjamin, and the men of Israel lined up for battle against them at Gibeah. 21 Then the sons of Benjamin came out of Gibeah and [x](T)struck to the ground on that day twenty-two thousand men of Israel. 22 But the people, the men of Israel, showed themselves courageous and lined up for battle again in the place where they had lined themselves up on the first day. 23 And (U)the sons of Israel went up and wept before the Lord until evening, and (V)inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall we again advance for battle against the sons of my brother Benjamin?” And the Lord said, “Go up against him.”

24 So the sons of Israel [y]came against the sons of Benjamin on the second day. 25 And Benjamin went out against them from Gibeah the second day and struck to the ground again eighteen thousand men of the sons of Israel; all of these drew the sword. 26 Then (W)all the sons of Israel and all the people went up and came to Bethel, and they wept and remained there before the Lord, and fasted that day until evening. And they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. 27 And the sons of Israel (X)inquired of the Lord (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days, 28 and Phinehas the son of Eleazar, Aaron’s son, stood before it to minister in those days), saying, “Shall I yet again go out to battle against the sons of my brother Benjamin, or shall I stop?” And the Lord said, “Go up, (Y)for tomorrow I will hand them over to you.”

29 (Z)So Israel set men in ambush around Gibeah. 30 And the sons of Israel went up against the sons of Benjamin on the third day and lined up against Gibeah as at other times. 31 (AA)When the sons of Benjamin went out against the people, they were lured away from the city, and they began to strike and kill some of the people as at other times, on the roads (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 said, “They are defeated before us, like the first time.” But the sons of Israel said, “Let’s flee, so that we may draw them away from the city to the roads.” 33 Then all the men of Israel rose from their place and lined up at Baal-tamar; (AB)and the men of Israel in ambush charged from their place, from Maareh-geba. 34 When ten thousand choice men from all Israel came against Gibeah, the battle became [z]fierce; (AC)but [aa]Benjamin did not know that disaster was [ab]close to them. 35 And the Lord struck Benjamin before Israel, so that the sons of Israel destroyed 25,100 men of Benjamin that [ac]day, all who drew the sword.

36 So the sons of Benjamin saw that they were [ad]defeated. (AD)When the men of Israel gave [ae]ground to Benjamin because they relied on the men in ambush whom they had set against Gibeah, 37 (AE)the men in ambush hurried and rushed against Gibeah; the men in ambush also deployed and struck all the city with the edge of the sword. 38 Now the agreed sign between the men of Israel and the men in ambush was (AF)that they would make a great cloud of smoke rise from the city. 39 Then the men of Israel turned in the battle, and Benjamin began to strike and kill about thirty men of Israel, (AG)for they said, “Undoubtedly they are [af]defeated before us, as in the first battle.” 40 But when the cloud began to rise from the city in a column of smoke, Benjamin looked (AH)behind them; and behold, the entire city was going up in smoke to heaven. 41 Then the men of Israel turned, and the men of Benjamin were terrified; for they saw that (AI)disaster was [ag]close to them. 42 Therefore, they turned their backs before the men of Israel to flee in the (AJ)direction of the wilderness, but the battle overtook them while those who attacked from the cities were annihilating them in the midst of them. 43 (AK)They surrounded Benjamin, pursued them without rest, and trampled them down opposite Gibeah toward the [ah]east. 44 So eighteen thousand men of Benjamin fell; all of these were valiant men. 45 [ai]The rest turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of (AL)Rimmon, but they [aj]caught five thousand of them on the roads and overtook them [ak]at Gidom, and [al]killed two thousand of them. 46 So all those of Benjamin who fell that day were twenty-five thousand men who drew the sword; all of these were valiant men. 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 The men of Israel then turned back against the sons of Benjamin and struck them with the edge of the sword, both the entire city with the cattle and all that they found; they also set on fire all the cities which they found.

Footnotes

  1. Judges 19:22 Lit making their hearts glad
  2. Judges 19:22 Lit sons of Belial
  3. Judges 19:22 Lit know him
  4. Judges 19:24 Lit his
  5. Judges 19:24 Lit the good in your eyes
  6. Judges 19:25 Lit knew her (carnally)
  7. Judges 19:26 Lit At the turning of the morning
  8. Judges 19:28 Lit place
  9. Judges 19:30 Or take counsel
  10. Judges 20:2 Lit cornerstones
  11. Judges 20:2 Lit men
  12. Judges 20:5 Or landowners
  13. Judges 20:5 Lit against me
  14. Judges 20:7 Lit word
  15. Judges 20:10 Lit take
  16. Judges 20:10 Heb Geba
  17. Judges 20:10 Lit do
  18. Judges 20:11 Lit companions as
  19. Judges 20:12 Lit tribes
  20. Judges 20:13 Lit sons of Belial
  21. Judges 20:15 Or mustered
  22. Judges 20:15 Or mustered
  23. Judges 20:17 Or mustered
  24. Judges 20:21 Lit destroyed
  25. Judges 20:24 Lit approached
  26. Judges 20:34 Lit heavy
  27. Judges 20:34 Lit they
  28. Judges 20:34 Lit touching
  29. Judges 20:35 Lit day; all these drew
  30. Judges 20:36 Lit struck
  31. Judges 20:36 Lit place
  32. Judges 20:39 Lit struck
  33. Judges 20:41 Lit touching
  34. Judges 20:43 Lit sunrise
  35. Judges 20:45 As in LXX; Heb And they
  36. Judges 20:45 Lit gleaned
  37. Judges 20:45 Lit as far as
  38. Judges 20:45 Lit struck
Listen to Judges 19:22-20:48
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Judges 19:22-20:48
New International Version

22 While they were enjoying themselves,(A) some of the wicked men(B) 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.(C)”

23 The owner of the house went outside(D) and said to them, “No, my friends, don’t be so vile. Since this man is my guest, don’t do this outrageous thing.(E) 24 Look, here is my virgin daughter,(F) 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(G) and abused her(H) 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(I) and cut up his concubine, limb by limb, into twelve parts and sent them into all the areas of Israel.(J) 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.(K) Just imagine! We must do something! So speak up!(L)”

The Israelites Punish the Benjamites

20 Then all Israel(M) from Dan to Beersheba(N) and from the land of Gilead came together as one(O) and assembled(P) before the Lord in Mizpah.(Q) 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(R) 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(S) in Benjamin to spend the night.(T) 5 During the night the men of Gibeah came after me and surrounded the house, intending to kill me.(U) They raped my concubine, and she died.(V) 6 I took my concubine, cut her into pieces and sent one piece to each region of Israel’s inheritance,(W) because they committed this lewd and outrageous act(X) in Israel. 7 Now, all you Israelites, speak up and tell me what you have decided to do.(Y)”

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.(Z) 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.(AA)

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

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,(AE) 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](AF) and inquired of God.(AG) They said, “Who of us is to go up first(AH) to fight(AI) against the Benjamites?”

The Lord replied, “Judah(AJ) 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(AK) 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(AL) until evening,(AM) and they inquired of the Lord.(AN) They said, “Shall we go up again to fight(AO) 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,(AP) 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.(AQ) They fasted(AR) that day until evening and presented burnt offerings(AS) and fellowship offerings(AT) to the Lord.(AU) 27 And the Israelites inquired of the Lord.(AV) (In those days the ark of the covenant of God(AW) was there, 28 with Phinehas son of Eleazar,(AX) the son of Aaron, ministering before it.)(AY) 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.(AZ)”

29 Then Israel set an ambush(BA) 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(BB) 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(BC) and the other to Gibeah. 32 While the Benjamites were saying, “We are defeating them as before,”(BD) 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(BE) 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(BF) how near disaster was.(BG) 35 The Lord defeated Benjamin(BH) 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(BI) before Benjamin, because they relied on the ambush(BJ) 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.(BK) 38 The Israelites had arranged with the ambush that they should send up a great cloud of smoke(BL) from the city,(BM) 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.”(BN) 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.(BO) 41 Then the Israelites counterattacked,(BP) and the Benjamites were terrified, because they realized that disaster had come(BQ) 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.(BR) 45 As they turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon,(BS) 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(BT) 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.(BU)

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.
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Judges 18
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