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Judges 20
1599 Geneva Bible

20 1 The Israelites assemble at Mizpah, to whom the Levite declareth his wrong. 13 They sent for them that aid the villain. 45 The Israelites are twice overcome, 46 And at length get the victory.

1 Then (A)all the children of Israel went out, and the Congregation was gathered together as [a]one man, from Dan to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, unto the [b]Lord in Mizpah.

2 And the [c]chief of all the people, and all the tribes of Israel assembled in the Congregation of the people of God four hundred thousand footmen that [d]drew sword.

3 (Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mizpah) Then, the children of Israel [e]said, How is this wickedness committed?

4 And the same Levite, the woman’s husband that was slain, answered and said, I came unto Gibeah that is in Benjamin with my concubine to lodge,

5 And the [f]men of Gibeah arose against me, and beset the house round about upon me by night, thinking to have slain me, and have forced my concubine that she is dead.

6 Then I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent [g]her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel: for they have committed abomination and villainy in Israel.

7 Behold, ye are all children of Israel, give your advice, and counsel herein.

8 Then all the people arose as one man, saying, There shall not a man of us go to his tent, neither any turn into his [h]house.

9 But now this is that thing which we will do to Gibeah: we will go up by lot against it.

10 And we will take ten men of the hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and an hundred of the thousand, and a thousand of ten thousand to bring [i]victual for the people, that they may do (when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin) according to all the villainy, that it hath done 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 [j]tribe of Benjamin, saying, What wickedness is this that is committed among you?

13 Now therefore deliver us those wicked men which are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel: but the children of Benjamin [k]would not obey 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 come out and fight against the children of Israel.

15 ¶ And the children of Benjamin were numbered at that time, out of the cities, six and twenty thousand men that drew sword, beside the inhabitants of Gibeah, which were numbered seven hundred chosen men.

16 Of all this people were seven hundred chosen men, being (B)left handed: all these could sling stones at an hair breadth, and not fail.

17 ¶ Also the men of Israel beside Benjamin, were numbered four hundred thousand men that drew sword, even all men of war.

18 And the children of Israel arose, and went up [l]to the house of God, and asked of God, saying, Which of us shall go up first to fight against the children of Benjamin? and the Lord said, Judah shall be first.

19 Then the children of Israel arose up early and camped 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 beside Gibeah.

21 And the children of Benjamin came out of Gibeah, and slew down to the ground of the Israelites that day [m]two and twenty thousand men.

22 And the people, the men of Israel plucked up their hearts, and set their battle again in array in the place where they put them in array the first day.

23 (For the children of Israel had gone up and wept before the Lord unto the evening, and had asked of the Lord, saying, Shall I go again to battle against the children of Benjamin my brethren? and the Lord said, Go up against them.)

24 ¶ Then the children of Israel came near against the children of Benjamin the second day.

25 Also the second day Benjamin came forth to meet them out of Gibeah, and slew down to the ground of the children of Israel again eighteen thousand men: [n]all they could handle the sword.

26 Then all the children of Israel went up, and all the people came also unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the Lord, and fasted that day unto the evening, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord.

27 And the children of Israel asked the Lord (for [o]there was the Ark of the Covenant of God in those days,

28 And Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron [p]stood before it at that time) saying, Shall I yet go anymore to battle against the children of Benjamin my brethren, or shall I cease? And the Lord said, Go up: for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand.

29 And Israel set men to lie in wait roundabout Gibeah.

30 And the children of Israel went up against the children of Benjamin the third day, and put themselves in array against Gibeah, as at other times.

31 Then the children of Benjamin coming out against the people, were [q]drawn from the city: and they began to smite of the people and kill as at other times, even by the ways in the field (whereof one goeth up to the house of God, and the other to Gibeah) upon a thirty men of Israel.

32 (For the children of Benjamin said, They are fallen before us, as at the first. But the children of Israel said, Let us flee and pluck them away from the city unto the [r]highways.)

33 And all the men of Israel rose up out of their place, and put themselves in array at Baal Tamar: and the men that lay in wait of the Israelites came forth of their place, even out of the meadows of Geba,

34 And they came over against Gibeah, ten thousand chosen men of all Israel, and the battle was sore: for they knew not that the [s]evil was near them.

35 ¶ And the Lord smote Benjamin before Israel, and the children of Israel destroyed of the Benjamites the same day five and twenty thousand and an hundred men: all they could handle the sword.

36 So the children of Benjamin saw that they were stricken down: for the men of Israel [t]gave place to the Benjamites, because they trusted to the men that lay in wait, which they had laid beside Gibeah.

37 And they that lay in wait hasted, and brake forth toward Gibeah, and the ambushment [u]drew themselves along, and smote all the city with the edge of the sword.

38 Also the men of Israel had appointed a certain time with the ambushments, that they should make a great flame and smoke arise up out of the city.

39 And when the men of Israel retired in the battle, Benjamin began to [v]smite and kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons: for they said, Surely they are stricken down before us, as in the first battle.

40 But when the flame began to rise out of the city as a pillar of smoke, the Benjamites looked back, and behold, the flame of the city began to ascend up to heaven.

41 Then the men of Israel turned [w]again, and the men of Benjamin were astonished: for they saw that evil was near unto them.

42 Therefore they fled before the men of Israel unto the way of the wilderness, but the battle overtook them: also they which came out of the cities, slew them [x]among them.

43 Thus they compassed the Benjamites about, and [y]chased them at ease, and overran them, even over against Gibeah on the East side.

44 And there were slain of Benjamin eighteen thousand men, which were all men of war.

45 And they turned and fled to the wilderness unto the rock of Rimmon: and the Israelites [z]gleaned of them by the way five thousand men, and pursued after them unto Gidom, and slew two thousand men of them,

46 So that all that were slain that day of Benjamin, were [aa]five and twenty thousand men that drew sword, which were all men of war.

47 (C)But six hundred men turned and fled to the wilderness unto the rock of Rimmon, and abode in the rock of Rimmon four months.

48 Then the men of Israel turned unto the children of Benjamin, and smote them with the edge of the sword, from the men of the city unto the beasts, and all that came to hand: also they set on fire all the [ab]cities that they could come by.

Footnotes

  1. Judges 20:1 That is, all with one consent.
  2. Judges 20:1 To ask counsel.
  3. Judges 20:2 Hebrew, corners.
  4. Judges 20:2 Meaning, men able to handle their weapons.
  5. Judges 20:3 To the Levite.
  6. Judges 20:5 Or, chief, or lord.
  7. Judges 20:6 That is, her pieces, to every tribe a piece, Judg. 19:29.
  8. Judges 20:8 Before we have revenged this wickedness.
  9. Judges 20:10 These only should have the charge to provide for vittles for the rest.
  10. Judges 20:12 That is, every family of the tribe.
  11. Judges 20:13 Because they would not suffer the wicked to be punished, they declared themselves to maintain them in their evil, and therefore were all justly punished.
  12. Judges 20:18 That is, to the Ark, which was in Shiloh some think in Mizpah, as verse 1.
  13. Judges 20:21 This God permitted, because the Israelites partly in their strength, and partly God would by this means punish their sins.
  14. Judges 20:25 All they drawing the sword.
  15. Judges 20:27 To wit, in Shiloh.
  16. Judges 20:28 Or, served in the Priest’s office at those days: for the Jews write, that he lived three hundred years.
  17. Judges 20:31 By the policy of the children of Israel.
  18. Judges 20:32 Meaning, crossways or paths to divers places.
  19. Judges 20:34 They knew not that God’s judgment was at hand to destroy them.
  20. Judges 20:36 Retired to draw them after.
  21. Judges 20:37 Or, made a long sound with a trumpet.
  22. Judges 20:39 For they were waxen hardy by the two former victories.
  23. Judges 20:41 And withstood their enemies.
  24. Judges 20:42 For they were compassed in on every side.
  25. Judges 20:43 Or, drove them from their rest.
  26. Judges 20:45 They slew them by one and one, as they were scattered abroad.
  27. Judges 20:46 Besides eleven hundred that had been slain in the former battles.
  28. Judges 20:48 If they belonged to the Benjamites.
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Judges 20
New International Version

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) 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(F) 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(G) in Benjamin to spend the night.(H) 5 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) 6 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. 7 Now, all you Israelites, speak up and tell me what you have decided to do.(M)”

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.(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.
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1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)

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