Judges 20 – Bible | Equip God’s People

World English Bible Classic

^[1] Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was assembled as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, to Yahweh at Mizpah. ^[2] The chiefs 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 who drew sword. ^[3] (Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.) The children of Israel said, “Tell us, how did this wickedness happen?” ^[4] The Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered, “I came into Gibeah that belongs to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to spend the night. ^[5] The men of Gibeah rose against me, and surrounded the house by night. They intended to kill me and they raped my concubine, and she is dead. ^[6] 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, you children of Israel, all of you, give here your advice and counsel.” ^[8] All the people arose as one man, saying, “None of us will go to his tent, neither will any of us turn to his house. ^[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 of one hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and one hundred of one thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand to get food for the people, that they may do, when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, according to all the folly that the men of Gibeah have done in Israel.” ^[11] So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together as one man. ^[12] The tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, “What wickedness is this that has happened among you? ^[13] Now therefore deliver up the men, the wicked fellows who are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death and put away evil from Israel.”But Benjamin would not listen to the voice of their brothers, the children of Israel. ^[14] The children of Benjamin gathered themselves together out of the cities to Gibeah, to go out to battle against the children of Israel. ^[15] The children of Benjamin were counted on that day out of the cities twenty-six thousand men who drew the sword, in addition to the inhabitants of Gibeah, who were counted seven hundred chosen men. ^[16] Among all these soldiers there were seven hundred chosen men who were left-handed. Every one of them could sling a stone at a hair and not miss. ^[17] The men of Israel, besides Benjamin, were counted four hundred thousand men who drew sword. All these were men of war. ^[18] The children of Israel arose, went up to Bethel, and asked counsel of God. They asked, “Who shall go up for us first to battle against the children of Benjamin?”Yahweh said, “Judah first.” ^[19] The children of Israel rose up in the morning and encamped against Gibeah. ^[20] The men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin; and the men of Israel set the battle in array against them at Gibeah. ^[21] The children of Benjamin came out of Gibeah, and on that day destroyed twenty-two thousand of the Israelite men down to the ground. ^[22] The people, the men of Israel, encouraged themselves, and set the battle again in array in the place where they set themselves in array the first day. ^[23] The children of Israel went up and wept before Yahweh until evening; and they asked of Yahweh, saying, “Shall I again draw near to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother?”Yahweh said, “Go up against him.” ^[24] The children of Israel came near against the children of Benjamin the second day. ^[25] Benjamin went out 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 to Bethel, and wept, and sat there before Yahweh, and fasted that day until evening; then they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before Yahweh. ^[27] The children of Israel asked Yahweh (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?”Yahweh said, “Go up; for tomorrow I will deliver him into your hand.” ^[29] Israel set ambushes all around Gibeah. ^[30] The children of Israel went up against the children of Benjamin on the third day, and set themselves in array against Gibeah, as at other times. ^[31] The children of Benjamin went out against the people, and were drawn away from the city; and they began to strike and kill of the people as at other times, in the highways, of which one goes up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah, in the field, about thirty men of Israel. ^[32] The children of Benjamin said, “They are struck down before us, as at the first.” But the children of Israel said, “Let’s flee, and draw them away from the city to the highways.” ^[33] All the men of Israel rose up out of their place and set themselves in array at Baal Tamar. Then the ambushers of Israel broke out of their place, even out of Maareh Geba. ^[34] Ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel came over against Gibeah, and the battle was severe; but they didn’t know that disaster was close to them. ^[35] Yahweh struck Benjamin before Israel; and the children of Israel destroyed of Benjamin that day twenty-five thousand one hundred men. All these drew the sword. ^[36] So the children of Benjamin saw that they were struck, for the men of Israel yielded to Benjamin because they trusted the ambushers whom they had set against Gibeah. ^[37] The ambushers hurried, and rushed on Gibeah; then the ambushers spread out, and struck all the city with the edge of the sword. ^[38] Now the appointed sign between the men of Israel and the ambushers was that they should make a great cloud of smoke rise up out of the city. ^[39] The men of Israel turned in the battle, and Benjamin began to strike and kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons; for they said, “Surely they are struck down before us, as in the first battle.” ^[40] But when the cloud began to arise up out of the city in a pillar of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them; and behold, the whole city went up in smoke to the sky. ^[41] The men of Israel turned, and the men of Benjamin were dismayed; for they saw that disaster had come on them. ^[42] Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel to the way of the wilderness, but the battle followed hard after them; and those who came out of the cities destroyed them in the middle of it. ^[43] They surrounded the Benjamites, chased them, and trod them down at their resting place, as far as near Gibeah toward the sunrise. ^[44] Eighteen thousand men of Benjamin fell; all these were men of valor. ^[45] They turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon. They gleaned five thousand men of them in the highways, and followed hard after them to Gidom, and struck two thousand men of them. ^[46] So that all who fell that day of Benjamin 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 stayed in the rock of Rimmon four months. ^[48] The men of Israel turned again on the children of Benjamin, and struck them with the edge of the sword—including the entire city, the livestock, and all that they found. Moreover they set all the cities which they found on fire.

King James Version

^[1] Then all the childrenH1121 of IsraelH3478 went out,H3318(QalImpf) and the congregationH5712 was gathered togetherH6950(NiphImpf) as oneH259 man,H376 from DanH1835 even to Beersheba,H884 with the landH776 of Gilead,H1568 unto the LordH3068 in Mizpeh.H4709 ^[2] And the chiefH6438 of all the people,H5971 [even] of all the tribesH7626 of Israel,H3478 presentedH3320(HithImpf) themselves in the assemblyH6951 of the peopleH5971 of God,H430 fourH702 hundredH3967 thousandH505 footmenH376 that drewH8025(QalActPtc) sword.H2719 ^[3] (Now the childrenH1121 of BenjaminH1144 heardH8085(QalImpf) that the childrenH1121 of IsraelH3478 were gone upH5927(QalPerf) to Mizpeh.H4709) Then saidH559(QalImpf) the childrenH1121 of Israel,H3478 TellH1696(PielImpv) [us], how wasH1961(NiphPerf) this wickedness?H7451 ^[4] And the Levite,H3881 the husbandH376 of the womanH802 that was slain,H7523(NiphPtc) answeredH6030(QalImpf) and said,H559(QalImpf) I cameH935(QalPerf) into GibeahH1390 that [belongeth] to Benjamin,H1144 I and my concubine,H6370 to lodge.H3885(QalInf) ^[5] And the menH1167 of GibeahH1390 roseH6965(QalImpf) against me, and besetH5437 the houseH1004 round aboutH5437(QalImpf) upon me by night,H3915 [and] thoughtH1819(PielPerf) to have slainH2026(QalInf) me: and my concubineH6370 have they forced,H6031(PielPerf) that she is dead.H4191(QalImpf) ^[6] And I tookH270(QalImpf) my concubine,H6370 and cut her in pieces,H5408(PielImpf) and sentH7971(PielImpf) her throughout all the countryH7704 of the inheritanceH5159 of Israel:H3478 for they have committedH6213(QalPerf) lewdnessH2154 and follyH5039 in Israel.H3478 ^[7] Behold, ye [are] all childrenH1121 of Israel;H3478 giveH3051(QalImpv) hereH1988 your adviceH1697 and counsel.H6098 ^[8] And all the peopleH5971 aroseH6965(QalImpf) as oneH259 man,H376 saying,H559(QalInf) We will not anyH376 [of us] goH3212(QalImpf) to his tent,H168 neither will we anyH376 [of us] turnH5493(QalImpf) into his house.H1004 ^[9] But now this [shall be] the thingH1697 which we will doH6213(QalImpf) to Gibeah;H1390 [we will go up] by lotH1486 against it; ^[10] And we will takeH3947(QalPerf) tenH6235 menH582 of an hundredH3967 throughout all the tribesH7626 of Israel,H3478 and an hundredH3967 of a thousand,H505 and a thousandH505 out of ten thousand,H7233 to fetchH3947(QalInf) victualH6720 for the people,H5971 that they may do,H6213(QalInf) when they comeH935(QalInf) to GibeahH1387 of Benjamin,H1144 according to all the follyH5039 that they have wroughtH6213(QalPerf) in Israel.H3478 ^[11] So all the menH376 of IsraelH3478 were gatheredH622(NiphImpf) against the city,H5892 knit togetherH2270 as oneH259 man.H376 ^[12] And the tribesH7626 of IsraelH3478 sentH7971(QalImpf) menH582 through all the tribeH7626 of Benjamin,H1144 saying,H559(QalInf) What wickednessH7451 [is] this that is doneH1961(NiphPerf) among you? ^[13] Now therefore deliverH5414(QalImpv) [us] the men,H582 the childrenH1121 of Belial,H1100 which [are] in Gibeah,H1390 that we may put them to death,H4191(HiphImpf) and put awayH1197(PielImpf) evilH7451 from Israel.H3478 But the childrenH1121 of BenjaminH1144 wouldH14(QalPerf) not hearkenH8085(QalInf) to the voiceH6963 of their brethrenH251 the childrenH1121 of Israel:H3478 ^[14] But the childrenH1121 of BenjaminH1144 gathered themselves togetherH622(NiphImpf) out of the citiesH5892 unto Gibeah,H1390 to go outH3318(QalInf) to battleH4421 against the childrenH1121 of Israel.H3478 ^[15] And the childrenH1121 of BenjaminH1144 were numberedH6485(HithImpf) at that timeH3117 out of the citiesH5892 twentyH6242 and sixH8337 thousandH505 menH376 that drewH8025(QalActPtc) sword,H2719 beside the inhabitantsH3427(QalActPtc) of Gibeah,H1390 which were numberedH6485(HithPerf) sevenH7651 hundredH3967 chosenH977(QalPasPtc) men.H376 ^[16] Among all this peopleH5971 [there were] sevenH7651 hundredH3967 chosenH977(QalPasPtc) menH376 lefthanded;H334 every one could slingH7049(QalActPtc) stonesH68 at an hairH8185 [breadth], and not miss.H2398(HiphImpf) ^[17] And the menH376 of Israel,H3478 beside Benjamin,H1144 were numberedH6485(HithPerf) fourH702 hundredH3967 thousandH505 menH376 that drewH8025(QalActPtc) sword:H2719 all these [were] menH376 of war.H4421 ^[18] And the childrenH1121 of IsraelH3478 arose,H6965(QalImpf) and went upH5927(QalImpf) to the houseH1004 of God,H430(QK) and askedH7592(QalImpf) counsel of God,H430 and said,H559(QalImpf) WhichH4310 of us shall go upH5927(QalImpf) firstH8462 to the battleH4421 against the childrenH1121 of Benjamin?H1144 And the LordH3068 said,H559(QalImpf) JudahH3063 [shall go up] first.H8462 ^[19] And the childrenH1121 of IsraelH3478 rose upH6965(QalImpf) in the morning,H1242 and encampedH2583(QalImpf) against Gibeah.H1390 ^[20] And the menH376 of IsraelH3478 went outH3318(QalImpf) to battleH4421 against Benjamin;H1144 and the menH376 of IsraelH3478 put themselves in arrayH6186(QalImpf) to fightH4421 against them at Gibeah.H1390 ^[21] And the childrenH1121 of BenjaminH1144 came forthH3318(QalImpf) out of Gibeah,H1390 and destroyed downH7843(HiphImpf) to the groundH776 of the IsraelitesH3478 that dayH3117 twentyH6242 and twoH8147 thousandH505 men.H376 ^[22] And the peopleH5971 the menH376 of IsraelH3478 encouragedH2388(HithImpf) themselves, and set their battleH4421 againH3254(HiphImpf) in arrayH6186(QalInf) in the placeH4725 where they put themselves in arrayH6186(QalPerf) the firstH7223 day.H3117 ^[23] (And the childrenH1121 of IsraelH3478 went upH5927(QalImpf) and weptH1058(QalImpf) beforeH6440 the LordH3068 until even,H6153 and askedH7592(QalImpf) counsel of the Lord,H3068 saying,H559(QalInf) Shall I go upH5066(QalInf) againH3254(HiphImpf) to battleH4421 against the childrenH1121 of BenjaminH1144 my brother?H251 And the LordH3068 said,H559(QalImpf) Go upH5927(QalImpv) against him.) ^[24] And the childrenH1121 of IsraelH3478 came nearH7126(QalImpf) against the childrenH1121 of BenjaminH1144 the secondH8145 day.H3117 ^[25] And BenjaminH1144 went forthH3318(QalImpf) againstH7125(QalInf) them out of GibeahH1390 the secondH8145 day,H3117 and destroyed downH7843(HiphImpf) to the groundH776 of the childrenH1121 of IsraelH3478 again eighteenH8083 thousandH505 men;H376 all these drewH8025(QalActPtc) the sword.H2719 ^[26] Then all the childrenH1121 of Israel,H3478 and all the people,H5971 went up,H5927(QalImpf) and cameH935(QalImpf) unto the houseH1004 of God,H430(QK) and wept,H1058(QalImpf) and satH3427(QalImpf) there beforeH6440 the Lord,H3068 and fastedH6684(QalImpf) that dayH3117 until even,H6153 and offeredH5927(HiphImpf) burnt offeringsH5930 and peace offeringsH8002 beforeH6440 the Lord.H3068 ^[27] And the childrenH1121 of IsraelH3478 enquiredH7592(QalImpf) of the Lord,H3068 (for the arkH727 of the covenantH1285 of GodH430 [was] there in those days,H3117 ^[28] And Phinehas,H6372 the sonH1121 of Eleazar,H499 the sonH1121 of Aaron,H175 stoodH5975(QalActPtc) beforeH6440 it in those days,H3117) saying,H559(QalInf) Shall I yet againH3254(HiphImpf) go outH3318(QalInf) to battleH4421 against the childrenH1121 of BenjaminH1144 my brother,H251 or shall I cease?H2308(QalImpf) And the LordH3068 said,H559(QalImpf) Go up;H5927(QalImpv) for to morrowH4279 I will deliverH5414(QalImpf) them into thine hand.H3027 ^[29] And IsraelH3478 setH7760(QalImpf) liers in waitH693(QalActPtc) round aboutH5439 Gibeah.H1390 ^[30] And the childrenH1121 of IsraelH3478 went upH5927(QalImpf) against the childrenH1121 of BenjaminH1144 on the thirdH7992 day,H3117 and put themselves in arrayH6186(QalImpf) against Gibeah,H1390 as at other times.H6471 ^[31] And the childrenH1121 of BenjaminH1144 went outH3318(QalImpf) againstH7125(QalInf) the people,H5971 [and] were drawn awayH5423(HophPerf) from the city;H5892 and they beganH2490(HiphImpf) to smiteH5221(HiphInf) of the people,H5971 [and] kill,H2491 as at other times,H6471 in the highways,H4546 of which oneH259 goeth upH5927(QalActPtc) to the houseH1004 of God,H430(QK) and the otherH259 to GibeahH1390 in the field,H7704 about thirtyH7970 menH376 of Israel.H3478 ^[32] And the childrenH1121 of BenjaminH1144 said,H559(QalImpf) They [are] smitten downH5062(NiphPtc) beforeH6440 us, as at the first.H7223 But the childrenH1121 of IsraelH3478 said,H559(QalPerf) Let us flee,H5127(QalImpf) and drawH5423(QalPerf) them from the cityH5892 unto the highways.H4546 ^[33] And all the menH376 of IsraelH3478 rose upH6965(QalPerf) out of their place,H4725 and put themselves in arrayH6186(QalImpf) at Baaltamar:H1193 and the liers in waitH693(QalActPtc) of IsraelH3478 came forthH1518(HiphPtc) out of their places,H4725 [even] out of the meadowsH4629 of Gibeah.H1387 ^[34] And there cameH935(QalImpf) againstH5048 GibeahH1390 tenH6235 thousandH505 chosenH977(QalPasPtc) menH376 out of all Israel,H3478 and the battleH4421 was sore:H3513(QalPerf) but they knewH3045(QalPerf) not that evilH7451 [was] nearH5060(QalActPtc) them. ^[35] And the LordH3068 smoteH5062(QalImpf) BenjaminH1144 beforeH6440 Israel:H3478 and the childrenH1121 of IsraelH3478 destroyedH7843(HiphImpf) of the BenjamitesH1145 that dayH3117 twentyH6242 and fiveH2568 thousandH505 and an hundredH3967 men:H376 all these drewH8025(QalActPtc) the sword.H2719 ^[36] So the childrenH1121 of BenjaminH1144 sawH7200(QalImpf) that they were smitten:H5062(NiphPerf) for the menH376 of IsraelH3478 gaveH5414(QalImpf) placeH4725 to the Benjamites,H1145 because they trustedH982(QalPerf) unto the liers in waitH693(QalActPtc) which they had setH7760(QalPerf) beside Gibeah.H1390 ^[37] And the liers in waitH693(QalActPtc) hasted,H2363(HiphPerf) and rushedH6584(QalImpf) upon Gibeah;H1390 and the liers in waitH693(QalActPtc) drew [themselves] along,H4900(QalImpf) and smoteH5221(HiphImpf) all the cityH5892 with the edgeH6310 of the sword.H2719 ^[38] Now there was an appointed signH4150 between the menH376 of IsraelH3478 andH5973 the liers in wait,H693(QalActPtc) that they should make a greatH7235(HiphImpv) flameH4864 with smokeH6227 rise upH5927(HiphInf) out of the city.H5892 ^[39] And when the menH376 of IsraelH3478 retiredH2015(QalImpf) in the battle,H4421 BenjaminH1144 beganH2490(HiphPerf) to smiteH5221(HiphInf) [and] killH2491 of the menH376 of IsraelH3478 about thirtyH7970 persons:H376 for they said,H559(QalPerf) SurelyH5062(NiphInf) they are smitten downH5062(NiphPtc) beforeH6440 us, as [in] the firstH7223 battle.H4421 ^[40] But when the flameH4864 beganH2490(HiphPerf) to arise upH5927(QalInf) out of the cityH5892 with a pillarH5982 of smoke,H6227 the BenjamitesH1145 lookedH6437(QalImpf) behindH310 them, and, behold, the flameH3632 of the cityH5892 ascended upH5927(QalPerf) to heaven.H8064 ^[41] And when the menH376 of IsraelH3478 turned again,H2015(QalPerf) the menH376 of BenjaminH1144 were amazed:H926(NiphImpf) for they sawH7200(QalPerf) that evilH7451 was comeH5060(QalPerf) upon them. ^[42] Therefore they turnedH6437(QalImpf) [their backs] beforeH6440 the menH376 of IsraelH3478 unto the wayH1870 of the wilderness;H4057 but the battleH4421 overtookH1692(HiphPerf) them; and them which [came] out of the citiesH5892 they destroyedH7843(HiphPtc) in the midstH8432 of them. ^[43] [Thus] they inclosedH3803(PielPerf) the BenjamitesH1145 round about,H3803(PielPerf) [and] chasedH7291(HiphPerf) them, [and] trode them downH1869(HiphPerf) with easeH4496 over againstH5227 GibeahH1390 toward the sunrising.H4217 ^[44] And there fellH5307(QalImpf) of BenjaminH1144 eighteenH8083 thousandH505 men;H376 all these [were] menH582 of valour.H2428 ^[45] And they turnedH6437(QalImpf) and fledH5127(QalImpf) toward the wildernessH4057 unto the rockH5553 of Rimmon:H7417 and they gleanedH5953(PoelImpf) of them in the highwaysH4546 fiveH2568 thousandH505 men;H376 and pursuedH1692(HiphImpf) hard afterH310 them unto Gidom,H1440 and slewH5221(HiphImpf) two thousandH505 menH376 of them. ^[46] So that all which fellH5307(QalActPtc) that dayH3117 of BenjaminH1144 were twentyH6242 and fiveH2568 thousandH505 menH376 that drewH8025(QalActPtc) the sword;H2719 all these [were] menH582 of valour.H2428 ^[47] But sixH8337 hundredH3967 menH376 turnedH6437(QalImpf) and fledH5127(QalImpf) to the wildernessH4057 unto the rockH5553 Rimmon,H7417 and abodeH3427(QalImpf) in the rockH5553 RimmonH7417 fourH702 months.H2320 ^[48] And the menH376 of IsraelH3478 turned againH7725(QalPerf) upon the childrenH1121 of Benjamin,H1144 and smoteH5221(HiphImpf) them with the edgeH6310 of the sword,H2719 as well the menH4974 of [every] city,H5892 asH5704 the beast,H929 and all that came to hand:H4672(NiphPtc) also they setH7971(PielPerf) on fireH784 all the citiesH5892 that they came to.H4672(NiphPtc)

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