Judges 20read and compare multiple versions of the Bible
World English Bible
Judges 20 (WEBP)
[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.
Scripture quotations are taken from The World English Bible™ of eBible.org, 2020 stable text edition. It is in the public domain.
King James w/Strong’s #s
Judges 20 (KJVS)
[1] Then all the children H1121 of Israel H3478 went out H3318 (8799), and the congregation H5712 was gathered together H6950 (8735) as one H259 man H376, from Dan H1835 even to Beersheba H884, with the land H776 of Gilead H1568, unto the LORD H3068 in Mizpeh H4709.
[2] And the chief H6438 of all the people H5971, [even] of all the tribes H7626 of Israel H3478, presented H3320 (8691) themselves in the assembly H6951 of the people H5971 of God H430, four H702 hundred H3967 thousand H505 footmen H376 H7273 that drew H8025 (8802) sword H2719.
[3] (Now the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144 heard H8085 (8799) that the children H1121 of Israel H3478 were gone up H5927 (8804) to Mizpeh H4709.) Then said H559 (8799) the children H1121 of Israel H3478, Tell H1696 (8761) [us], how was H1961 (8738) this wickedness H7451?
[4] And the Levite H3881 H376, the husband H376 of the woman H802 that was slain H7523 (8737), answered H6030 (8799) and said H559 (8799), I came H935 (8804) into Gibeah H1390 that [belongeth] to Benjamin H1144, I and my concubine H6370, to lodge H3885 (8800).
[5] And the men H1167 of Gibeah H1390 rose H6965 (8799) against me, and beset H5437 the house H1004 round about H5437 (8799) upon me by night H3915, [and] thought H1819 (8765) to have slain H2026 (8800) me: and my concubine H6370 have they forced H6031 (8765), that she is dead H4191 (8799).
[6] And I took H270 (8799) my concubine H6370, and cut her in pieces H5408 (8762), and sent H7971 (8762) her throughout all the country H7704 of the inheritance H5159 of Israel H3478: for they have committed H6213 (8804) lewdness H2154 and folly H5039 in Israel H3478.
[7] Behold, ye [are] all children H1121 of Israel H3478; give H3051 (8798) here H1988 your advice H1697 and counsel H6098.
[8] And all the people H5971 arose H6965 (8799) as one H259 man H376, saying H559 (8800), We will not any H376 [of us] go H3212 (8799) to his tent H168, neither will we any H376 [of us] turn H5493 (8799) into his house H1004.
[9] But now this [shall be] the thing H1697 which we will do H6213 (8799) to Gibeah H1390; [we will go up] by lot H1486 against it;
[10] And we will take H3947 (8804) ten H6235 men H582 of an hundred H3967 throughout all the tribes H7626 of Israel H3478, and an hundred H3967 of a thousand H505, and a thousand H505 out of ten thousand H7233, to fetch H3947 (8800) victual H6720 for the people H5971, that they may do H6213 (8800), when they come H935 (8800) to Gibeah H1387 of Benjamin H1144, according to all the folly H5039 that they have wrought H6213 (8804) in Israel H3478.
[11] So all the men H376 of Israel H3478 were gathered H622 (8735) against the city H5892, knit together H2270 as one H259 man H376.
[12] And the tribes H7626 of Israel H3478 sent H7971 (8799) men H582 through all the tribe H7626 of Benjamin H1144, saying H559 (8800), What wickedness H7451 [is] this that is done H1961 (8738) among you?
[13] Now therefore deliver H5414 (8798) [us] the men H582, the children H1121 of Belial H1100, which [are] in Gibeah H1390, that we may put them to death H4191 (8686), and put away H1197 (8762) evil H7451 from Israel H3478. But the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144 would H14 (8804) not hearken H8085 (8800) to the voice H6963 of their brethren H251 the children H1121 of Israel H3478:
[14] But the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144 gathered themselves together H622 (8735) out of the cities H5892 unto Gibeah H1390, to go out H3318 (8800) to battle H4421 against the children H1121 of Israel H3478.
[15] And the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144 were numbered H6485 (8691) at that time H3117 out of the cities H5892 twenty H6242 and six H8337 thousand H505 men H376 that drew H8025 (8802) sword H2719, beside the inhabitants H3427 (8802) of Gibeah H1390, which were numbered H6485 (8694) seven H7651 hundred H3967 chosen H977 (8803) men H376.
[16] Among all this people H5971 [there were] seven H7651 hundred H3967 chosen H977 (8803) men H376 lefthanded H334 H3027 H3225; every one could sling H7049 (8802) stones H68 at an hair H8185 [breadth], and not miss H2398 (8686).
[17] And the men H376 of Israel H3478, beside Benjamin H1144, were numbered H6485 (8694) four H702 hundred H3967 thousand H505 men H376 that drew H8025 (8802) sword H2719: all these [were] men H376 of war H4421.
[18] And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 arose H6965 (8799), and went up H5927 (8799) to the house H1004 of God H430 (8677) H1008, and asked H7592 (8799) counsel of God H430, and said H559 (8799), Which H4310 of us shall go up H5927 (8799) first H8462 to the battle H4421 against the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144? And the LORD H3068 said H559 (8799), Judah H3063 [shall go up] first H8462.
[19] And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 rose up H6965 (8799) in the morning H1242, and encamped H2583 (8799) against Gibeah H1390.
[20] And the men H376 of Israel H3478 went out H3318 (8799) to battle H4421 against Benjamin H1144; and the men H376 of Israel H3478 put themselves in array H6186 (8799) to fight H4421 against them at Gibeah H1390.
[21] And the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144 came forth H3318 (8799) out of Gibeah H1390, and destroyed down H7843 (8686) to the ground H776 of the Israelites H3478 that day H3117 twenty H6242 and two H8147 thousand H505 men H376.
[22] And the people H5971 the men H376 of Israel H3478 encouraged H2388 (8691) themselves, and set their battle H4421 again H3254 (8686) in array H6186 (8800) in the place H4725 where they put themselves in array H6186 (8804) the first H7223 day H3117.
[23] (And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 went up H5927 (8799) and wept H1058 (8799) before H6440 the LORD H3068 until even H6153, and asked H7592 (8799) counsel of the LORD H3068, saying H559 (8800), Shall I go up H5066 (8800) again H3254 (8686) to battle H4421 against the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144 my brother H251? And the LORD H3068 said H559 (8799), Go up H5927 (8798) against him.)
[24] And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 came near H7126 (8799) against the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144 the second H8145 day H3117.
[25] And Benjamin H1144 went forth H3318 (8799) against H7125 (8800) them out of Gibeah H1390 the second H8145 day H3117, and destroyed down H7843 (8686) to the ground H776 of the children H1121 of Israel H3478 again eighteen H8083 H6240 thousand H505 men H376; all these drew H8025 (8802) the sword H2719.
[26] Then all the children H1121 of Israel H3478, and all the people H5971, went up H5927 (8799), and came H935 (8799) unto the house H1004 of God H430 (8677) H1008, and wept H1058 (8799), and sat H3427 (8799) there before H6440 the LORD H3068, and fasted H6684 (8799) that day H3117 until even H6153, and offered H5927 (8686) burnt offerings H5930 and peace offerings H8002 before H6440 the LORD H3068.
[27] And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 enquired H7592 (8799) of the LORD H3068, (for the ark H727 of the covenant H1285 of God H430 [was] there in those days H3117,
[28] And Phinehas H6372, the son H1121 of Eleazar H499, the son H1121 of Aaron H175, stood H5975 (8802) before H6440 it in those days H3117,) saying H559 (8800), Shall I yet again H3254 (8686) go out H3318 (8800) to battle H4421 against the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144 my brother H251, or shall I cease H2308 (8799)? And the LORD H3068 said H559 (8799), Go up H5927 (8798); for to morrow H4279 I will deliver H5414 (8799) them into thine hand H3027.
[29] And Israel H3478 set H7760 (8799) liers in wait H693 (8802) round about H5439 Gibeah H1390.
[30] And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 went up H5927 (8799) against the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144 on the third H7992 day H3117, and put themselves in array H6186 (8799) against Gibeah H1390, as at other times H6471.
[31] And the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144 went out H3318 (8799) against H7125 (8800) the people H5971, [and] were drawn away H5423 (8717) from the city H5892; and they began H2490 (8686) to smite H5221 (8687) of the people H5971, [and] kill H2491, as at other times H6471, in the highways H4546, of which one H259 goeth up H5927 (8802) to the house H1004 of God H430 (8677) H1008, and the other H259 to Gibeah H1390 in the field H7704, about thirty H7970 men H376 of Israel H3478.
[32] And the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144 said H559 (8799), They [are] smitten down H5062 (8737) before H6440 us, as at the first H7223. But the children H1121 of Israel H3478 said H559 (8804), Let us flee H5127 (8799), and draw H5423 (8804) them from the city H5892 unto the highways H4546.
[33] And all the men H376 of Israel H3478 rose up H6965 (8804) out of their place H4725, and put themselves in array H6186 (8799) at Baaltamar H1193: and the liers in wait H693 (8802) of Israel H3478 came forth H1518 (8688) out of their places H4725, [even] out of the meadows H4629 of Gibeah H1387.
[34] And there came H935 (8799) against H5048 Gibeah H1390 ten H6235 thousand H505 chosen H977 (8803) men H376 out of all Israel H3478, and the battle H4421 was sore H3513 (8804): but they knew H3045 (8804) not that evil H7451 [was] near H5060 (8802) them.
[35] And the LORD H3068 smote H5062 (8799) Benjamin H1144 before H6440 Israel H3478: and the children H1121 of Israel H3478 destroyed H7843 (8686) of the Benjamites H1145 that day H3117 twenty H6242 and five H2568 thousand H505 and an hundred H3967 men H376: all these drew H8025 (8802) the sword H2719.
[36] So the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144 saw H7200 (8799) that they were smitten H5062 (8738): for the men H376 of Israel H3478 gave H5414 (8799) place H4725 to the Benjamites H1145, because they trusted H982 (8804) unto the liers in wait H693 (8802) which they had set H7760 (8804) beside Gibeah H1390.
[37] And the liers in wait H693 (8802) hasted H2363 (8689), and rushed H6584 (8799) upon Gibeah H1390; and the liers in wait H693 (8802) drew [themselves] along H4900 (8799), and smote H5221 (8686) all the city H5892 with the edge H6310 of the sword H2719.
[38] Now there was an appointed sign H4150 between the men H376 of Israel H3478 and H5973 the liers in wait H693 (8802), that they should make a great H7235 (8685) flame H4864 with smoke H6227 rise up H5927 (8687) out of the city H5892.
[39] And when the men H376 of Israel H3478 retired H2015 (8799) in the battle H4421, Benjamin H1144 began H2490 (8689) to smite H5221 (8687) [and] kill H2491 of the men H376 of Israel H3478 about thirty H7970 persons H376: for they said H559 (8804), Surely H5062 (8736) they are smitten down H5062 (8737) before H6440 us, as [in] the first H7223 battle H4421.
[40] But when the flame H4864 began H2490 (8689) to arise up H5927 (8800) out of the city H5892 with a pillar H5982 of smoke H6227, the Benjamites H1145 looked H6437 (8799) behind H310 them, and, behold, the flame H3632 of the city H5892 ascended up H5927 (8804) to heaven H8064.
[41] And when the men H376 of Israel H3478 turned again H2015 (8804), the men H376 of Benjamin H1144 were amazed H926 (8735): for they saw H7200 (8804) that evil H7451 was come H5060 (8804) upon them.
[42] Therefore they turned H6437 (8799) [their backs] before H6440 the men H376 of Israel H3478 unto the way H1870 of the wilderness H4057; but the battle H4421 overtook H1692 (8689) them; and them which [came] out of the cities H5892 they destroyed H7843 (8688) in the midst H8432 of them.
[43] [Thus] they inclosed H3803 (8765) the Benjamites H1145 round about H3803 (8765), [and] chased H7291 (8689) them, [and] trode them down H1869 (8689) with ease H4496 over against H5227 Gibeah H1390 toward the sunrising H4217 H8121.
[44] And there fell H5307 (8799) of Benjamin H1144 eighteen H8083 H6240 thousand H505 men H376; all these [were] men H582 of valour H2428.
[45] And they turned H6437 (8799) and fled H5127 (8799) toward the wilderness H4057 unto the rock H5553 of Rimmon H7417: and they gleaned H5953 (8779) of them in the highways H4546 five H2568 thousand H505 men H376; and pursued H1692 (8686) hard after H310 them unto Gidom H1440, and slew H5221 (8686) two thousand H505 men H376 of them.
[46] So that all which fell H5307 (8802) that day H3117 of Benjamin H1144 were twenty H6242 and five H2568 thousand H505 men H376 that drew H8025 (8802) the sword H2719; all these [were] men H582 of valour H2428.
[47] But six H8337 hundred H3967 men H376 turned H6437 (8799) and fled H5127 (8799) to the wilderness H4057 unto the rock H5553 Rimmon H7417, and abode H3427 (8799) in the rock H5553 Rimmon H7417 four H702 months H2320.
[48] And the men H376 of Israel H3478 turned again H7725 (8804) upon the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144, and smote H5221 (8686) them with the edge H6310 of the sword H2719, as well the men H4974 of [every] city H5892, as H5704 the beast H929, and all that came to hand H4672 (8737): also they set H7971 (8765) on fire H784 all the cities H5892 that they came to H4672 (8737).
Young’s Literal Translation
Judges 20 (YLT)
[1] And all the sons of Israel go out, and the company is assembled as one man, from Dan even unto Beer-Sheba, and the land of Gilead, unto Jehovah, at Mizpeh.
[2] And the chiefs of all the people, of all the tribes of Israel, station themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen drawing sword.
[3] And the sons of Benjamin hear that the sons of Israel have gone up to Mizpeh. And the sons of Israel say, ‘Speak ye, how hath this evil been?’
[4] And the man, the Levite, husband of the woman who hath been murdered, answereth and saith, ‘Into Gibeah (which is to Benjamin) I have come, I and my concubine, to lodge;
[5] and rise against me do the masters of Gibeah-and they go round the house against me by night-me they thought to slay, and my concubine they have humbled, and she dieth;
[6] and I lay hold on my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and send her into all the country of the inheritance of Israel; for they have done wickedness and folly in Israel;
[7] lo, ye are all sons of Israel; give for you a word and counsel here.’
[8] And all the people rise as one man, saying, ‘None of us doth go to his tent, and none of us doth turn aside to his house;
[9] and now, this is the thing which we do to Gibeah-against it by lot!
[10] and we have taken ten men of a hundred, of all the tribes of Israel, and a hundred of a thousand, and a thousand of a myriad, to receive provision for the people, to do, at their coming to Gibeah of Benjamin, according to all the folly which it hath done in Israel.’
[11] And every man of Israel is gathered unto the city, as one man-companions.
[12] And the tribes of Israel send men among all the tribes of Benjamin, saying, ‘What is this evil which hath been among you?
[13] And now, give up the men-sons of worthlessness-which are in Gibeah, and we put them to death, and we put away evil from Israel.’ And the sons of Benjamin have not been willing to hearken to the voice of their brethren, the sons of Israel;
[14] and the sons of Benjamin are gathered out of the cities to Gibeah, to go out to battle with the sons of Israel.
[15] And the sons of Benjamin number themselves on that day; out of the cities are twenty and six thousand men drawing sword, apart from the inhabitants of Gibeah, who numbered themselves, seven hundred chosen men;
[16] among all this people are seven hundred chosen men, bound of their right hand, each of these slinging with a stone at the hair, and he doth not err.
[17] And the men of Israel numbered themselves, apart from Benjamin, four hundred thousand men, drawing sword, each of these a man of war.
[18] And they rise and go up to Beth-El, and ask of God, and the sons of Israel say, ‘Who doth go up for us at the commencement to battle with the sons of Benjamin?’ and Jehovah saith, ‘Judah-at the commencement.’
[19] And the sons of Israel rise in the morning, and encamp against Gibeah,
[20] and the men of Israel go out to battle with Benjamin, and the men of Israel set themselves in array with them, for battle against Gibeah,
[21] and the sons of Benjamin come out from Gibeah, and destroy in Israel on that day two and twenty thousand men-to the earth.
[22] And the people, the men of Israel, strengthen themselves, and add to set the battle in array in the place where they arranged themselves on the first day.
[23] And the sons of Israel go up and weep before Jehovah till the evening, and ask of Jehovah, saying, ‘Do I add to draw nigh to battle with the sons of Benjamin, my brother?’ And Jehovah saith, ‘Go up against him.’
[24] And the sons of Israel draw near unto the sons of Benjamin on the second day,
[25] and Benjamin cometh out to meet them from Gibeah on the second day, and destroy among the sons of Israel again eighteen thousand men-to the earth; all these are drawing sword.
[26] And all the sons of Israel go up, even all the people, and come in to Beth-El, and weep, and sit there before Jehovah, and fast on that day till the evening, and cause to ascend burnt-offerings and peace-offerings before Jehovah.
[27] And the sons of Israel ask of Jehovah,-and there is the ark of the covenant of God in those days,
[28] and Phinehas son of Eleazar, son of Aaron, is standing before it in those days-saying, ‘Do I add again to go out to battle with the sons of Benjamin, my brother, or do I cease?’ And Jehovah saith, ‘Go up, for to-morrow I give him into thy hand.’
[29] And Israel setteth liers in wait against Gibeah, round about,
[30] and the sons of Israel go up against the sons of Benjamin, on the third day, and arrange themselves against Gibeah, as time by time.
[31] And the sons of Benjamin come out to meet the people; they have been drawn away out of the city, and begin to smite some of the people-wounded as time by time, in the highways (of which one is going up to Beth-El, and the other to Gibeah in the field), are about thirty men of Israel.
[32] And the sons of Benjamin say, ‘They are smitten before us as at the beginning;’ but the sons of Israel said, ‘Let us flee, and draw them away out of the city, unto the highways.’
[33] And all the men of Israel have risen from their place, and arrange themselves at Baal-Tamar, and the ambush of Israel is coming forth out of its place, out of the meadow of Gibeah.
[34] And they come in over against Gibeah-ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel-and the battle is grievous, and they have not known that the evil is striking against them.
[35] And Jehovah smiteth Benjamin before Israel, and the sons of Israel destroy in Benjamin, on that day, twenty and five thousand, and a hundred men; all these are drawing sword.
[36] And the sons of Benjamin see that they have been smitten-and the men of Israel give place to Benjamin, for they have trusted unto the ambush which they had set against Gibeah,
[37] and the ambush have hasted, and push against Gibeah, and the ambush draweth itself out, and smiteth the whole of the city by the mouth of the sword.
[38] And there was the appointed sign to the men of Israel with the ambush-their causing to go up a great volume of smoke from the city.
[39] And the men of Israel turn in battle, and Benjamin hath begun to smite the wounded among the men of Israel, about thirty men, for they said, ‘Surely they are utterly smitten before us, as at the first battle;
[40] and the volume hath begun to go up from the city-a pillar of smoke-and Benjamin turneth behind, and lo, gone up hath the perfection of the city toward the heavens.
[41] And the men of Israel have turned, and the men of Benjamin are troubled, for they have seen that the evil hath stricken against them-
[42] and they turn before the men of Israel unto the way of the wilderness, and the battle hath followed them; and those who are from the city are destroying them in their midst;
[43] they have compassed the Benjamites-they have pursued them-with ease they have trodden them down till over-against Gibeah, at the sun-rising.
[44] And there fall of Benjamin eighteen thousand men-the whole of these are men of valour;
[45] and they turn and flee toward the wilderness, unto the rock of Rimmon; and they glean of them in the highways five thousand men, and follow after them unto Gidom, and smite of them two thousand men.
[46] And all those falling of Benjamin are twenty and five thousand men drawing sword, on that day-the whole of these are men of valour;
[47] and there turn and flee into the wilderness, unto the rock of Rimmon six hundred men, and they dwell in the rock Rimmon four months.
[48] And the men of Israel have turned back unto the sons of Benjamin, and smite them by the mouth of the sword out of the city,-men unto cattle, unto all that is found; also all the cities which are found they have sent into fire.