Judges 20

Then allוַ כָּלthe sonsבְּנֵיof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלwent out,יֵּצְאוּand the communityוַ הָעֵדָהassembledתִּקָּהֵלas one man,כְּאִישׁ אֶחָדfrom DanלְמִדָּןtoוְעַדBeersheba,בְּאֵר שֶׁבַעand the landוְאֶרֶץof Gilead,הַגִּלְעָדtoאֶלYHWHיְהוָהat Mizpah.הַמִּצְפָּה

And the leading menפִּנּוֹתof allכָּלthe people,הָעָםallכֹּלthe tribesשִׁבְטֵיof Israel,יִשְׂרָאֵלtook their standוַיִּתְיַצְּבוּin the assemblyבִּקְהַלof the peopleעַםof Elohim,הָאֱלֹהִיםfourאַרְבַּעhundredמֵאוֹתthousandאֶלֶףfootרַגְלִיsoldiersאִישׁwho drewשֹׁלֵףthe sword.חָרֶב

Now the sonsוַ בְּנֵיof Benjaminבִנְיָמִןheardיִּשְׁמְעוּthatכִּיthe sonsבְנֵיof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלhad gone upעָלוּto Mizpah.הַמִּצְפָּהAnd the sonsוַ בְּנֵיof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלsaid,יֹּאמְרוּ“Tell us,דַּבְּרוּhowאֵיכָהdid thisהַזֹּאתevilהָרָעָהhappen?”נִהְיְתָה

And the man,וַ הָאִישׁthe Levite,הַלֵּוִיthe husbandאִישׁof the womanהָאִשָּׁהwho was murdered,הַנִּרְצָחָהansweredיַּעַןand said,וַיֹּאמַר“Iאֲנִיand my concubineוּפִילַגְשִׁיcameבָּאתִיto Gibeah,הַגִּבְעָתָהwhichאֲשֶׁרbelongs to Benjamin,לְבִנְיָמִןto spend the night.לָלוּן

And the lordsבַּעֲלֵיof Gibeahהַגִּבְעָהrose upוַיָּקֻמוּagainst meעָלַיand surroundedוַיָּסֹבּוּthe houseאֶת הַבַּיִתaround meעָלַיat night.לָיְלָהMeאוֹתִיthey intendedדִּמּוּto kill,לַהֲרֹגandוְmy concubineאֶת פִּילַגְשִׁיthey humiliated,עִנּוּand she died.וַתָּמֹת

So I took holdוָאֹחֵזof my concubineבְּפִילַגְשִׁיand cut her in piecesוָאֲנַתְּחֶהָand sent herוָאֲשַׁלְּחֶהָthroughout allבְּכָלthe fieldשְׂדֵהof the inheritanceנַחֲלַתof Israel,יִשְׂרָאֵלforכִּיthey have committedעָשׂוּinfamyזִמָּהand vilenessוּנְבָלָהin Israel.בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל

Look,הִנֵּהall of you,כֻלְּכֶםsonsבְּנֵיof Israel,יִשְׂרָאֵלgiveהָבוּ לָכֶםhereהֲלֹםyour wordדָּבָרand counsel.”וְעֵצָה

And allוַ כָּלthe peopleהָעָםaroseיָּקָםas oneכְּ אֶחָדman,אִישׁsaying,לֵאמֹר“We will notלֹאgo,נֵלֵךְany oneאִישׁto his tent,לְאָהֳלוֹnorוְלֹאwill any oneאִישׁturn asideנָסוּרto his house.לְבֵיתוֹ

But nowוְעַתָּהthis isזֶהthe thingהַדָּבָרthatאֲשֶׁרwe will doנַעֲשֶׂהto Gibeah:לַגִּבְעָהwe will go up against itעָלֶיהָby lot.בְּגוֹרָל

And we will takeוְלָקַחְנוּtenעֲשָׂרָהmenאֲנָשִׁיםof a hundredלַמֵּאָהfrom allלְכֹלthe tribesשִׁבְטֵיof Israel,יִשְׂרָאֵלand a hundredוּמֵאָהof a thousand,לָאֶלֶףand a thousandוְאֶלֶףof ten thousand,לָרְבָבָהto takeלָקַחַתprovisionsצֵדָהfor the people,לָעָםso that they may act,לַעֲשׂוֹתwhen they comeלְבוֹאָםto Gebaלְגֶבַעof Benjamin,בִּנְיָמִןaccording to allכְּכָלthe infamyהַנְּבָלָהthatאֲשֶׁרit has doneעָשָׂהin Israel.”בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל

So allוַ כָּלthe menאִישׁof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלgatheredיֵּאָסֵףagainstאֶלthe city,הָעִירunitedחֲבֵרִיםas oneכְּ אֶחָדman.אִישׁ

And the tribesוַ שִׁבְטֵיof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלsentיִּשְׁלְחוּmenאֲנָשִׁיםthrough allבְּכָלthe tribesשִׁבְטֵיof Benjamin,בִנְיָמִןsaying,לֵאמֹר“Whatמָהis thisהַזֹּאתevilהָרָעָהthatאֲשֶׁרhas happenedנִהְיְתָהamong you?בָּכֶם

Nowוְעַתָּהhand overתְּנוּthe perverseבְּנֵי בְלִיַּעַלmenאֶת הָאֲנָשִׁיםwhoאֲשֶׁרare in Gibeah,בַּגִּבְעָהso that we may put them to deathוּנְמִיתֵםand purgeוּנְבַעֲרָהthe evilרָעָהfrom Israel.”מִיִּשְׂרָאֵלBut the sonsוְ בְּנֵיof Benjaminבִּנְיָמִןwere notלֹאwillingאָבוּto listenלִשְׁמֹעַto the voiceבְּקוֹלof their brothers,אֲחֵיהֶםthe sonsבְּנֵיof Israel.יִשְׂרָאֵל

And the sonsוַ בְנֵיof Benjaminבִנְיָמִןgatheredיֵּאָסְפוּfromמִןthe citiesהֶעָרִיםto Gibeahהַגִּבְעָתָהto go outלָצֵאתto warלַמִּלְחָמָהwithעִםthe sonsבְּנֵיof Israel.יִשְׂרָאֵל

And the sonsוַ בְנֵיof Benjaminבִנְיָמִןwere countedיִּתְפָּקְדוּon thatבַּ הַהוּאdayיּוֹםfromמֵthe cities:הֶעָרִיםtwenty-sixעֶשְׂרִים וְשִׁשָּׁהthousandאֶלֶףmenאִישׁwho drewשֹׁלֵףthe sword,חָרֶבbesidesלְבַדthe inhabitantsמִיֹּשְׁבֵיof Gibeah,הַגִּבְעָהwho were counted:הִתְפָּקְדוּsevenשְׁבַעhundredמֵאוֹתchosenבָּחוּרmen.אִישׁ

Of allמִכֹּלthisהַזֶּהpeopleהָעָםthere were sevenשְׁבַעhundredמֵאוֹתchosenבָּחוּרmenאִישׁwho were left-handed;אִטֵּר יַד יְמִינוֹevery one of theseכָּל זֶהcould slingקֹלֵעַa stoneבָּאֶבֶןatאֶלa hairהַשַּׂעֲרָהandוְnotלֹאmiss.יַחֲטִא

And the menוְאִישׁof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלwere counted,הִתְפָּקְדוּapartלְבַדfrom Benjamin,מִבִּנְיָמִןfourאַרְבַּעhundredמֵאוֹתthousandאֶלֶףmenאִישׁwho drewשֹׁלֵףthe sword;חָרֶבallכָּלtheseזֶהwere menאִישׁof war.מִלְחָמָה

They aroseוַיָּקֻמוּand went upוַיַּעֲלוּto Bethelבֵית אֵלand inquiredוַיִּשְׁאֲלוּof Elohim;בֵאלֹהִיםand the sonsוַ בְּנֵיof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלsaid,יֹּאמְרוּ“Whoמִיshall go upיַעֲלֶהfor usלָּנוּfirstבַתְּחִלָּהto warלַמִּלְחָמָהwithעִםthe sonsבְּנֵיof Benjamin?”בִנְיָמִןAnd YHWHוַ יְהוָהsaid,יֹּאמֶר“Judahיְהוּדָהfirst.”בַתְּחִלָּה

So the sonsוַ בְנֵיof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלaroseיָּקוּמוּin the morningבַּבֹּקֶרand encampedוַיַּחֲנוּagainstעַלGibeah.הַגִּבְעָה

And the menוַ אִישׁof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלwent outיֵּצֵאto warלַמִּלְחָמָהwithעִםBenjamin,בִּנְיָמִןand the menוַ אִישׁof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלdrew upיַּעַרְכוּfor warמִלְחָמָהagainst themאִתָּםatאֶלGibeah.הַגִּבְעָה

And the sonsוַ בְנֵיof Benjaminבִנְיָמִןcame outיֵּצְאוּfromמִןGibeahהַגִּבְעָהand brought downוַיַּשְׁחִיתוּin Israelבְיִשְׂרָאֵלon thatבַּ הַהוּאdayיּוֹםtwenty-twoשְׁנַיִם וְעֶשְׂרִיםthousandאֶלֶףmenאִישׁto the ground.אָרְצָה

But the people,וַ הָעָםthe menאִישׁof Israel,יִשְׂרָאֵלstrengthened themselvesיִּתְחַזֵּקand againוַיֹּסִפוּdrew upלַעֲרֹךְfor warמִלְחָמָהin the placeבַּמָּקוֹםwhereאֲשֶׁר שָׁםthey had drawn upעָרְכוּon the firstבַּ הָרִאשׁוֹןday.יּוֹם

And the sonsוַ בְנֵיof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלwent upיַּעֲלוּand weptוַיִּבְכּוּbeforeלִפְנֵיYHWHיְהוָהuntilעַדevening,הָעֶרֶבand they inquiredוַיִּשְׁאֲלוּof YHWH,בַיהוָהsaying,לֵאמֹר“Shall I againהַאוֹסִיףdraw nearלָגֶשֶׁתto warלַמִּלְחָמָהwithעִםthe sonsבְּנֵיof Benjaminבִנְיָמִןmy brother?”אָחִיAnd YHWHוַ יְהוָהsaid,יֹּאמֶר“Go upעֲלוּagainst him.”אֵלָיו

So the sonsוַ בְנֵיof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלcame nearיִּקְרְבוּtoאֶלthe sonsבְּנֵיof Benjaminבִנְיָמִןon the secondבַּ הַשֵּׁנִיday.יּוֹם

And Benjaminוַ בִנְיָמִןwent outיֵּצֵאto meet themלִקְרָאתָםfromמִןGibeahהַגִּבְעָהon the secondבַּ הַשֵּׁנִיdayיּוֹםand brought downוַיַּשְׁחִיתוּamong the sonsבִבְנֵיof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלanotherעוֹדeighteenשְׁמֹנַת עָשָׂרthousandאֶלֶףmenאִישׁto the ground;אָרְצָהallכָּלtheseאֵלֶּהwere men who drewשֹׁלְפֵיthe sword.חָרֶב

Then allוַ כָלthe sonsבְּנֵיof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלand allוְכָלthe peopleהָעָםwent upיַּעֲלוּand cameוַיָּבֹאוּto Bethelבֵית אֵלand wept,וַיִּבְכּוּand they satוַיֵּשְׁבוּthereשָׁםbeforeלִפְנֵיYHWHיְהוָהand fastedוַיָּצוּמוּon thatבַ הַהוּאdayיּוֹםuntilעַדevening,הָעָרֶבand they offeredוַיַּעֲלוּburnt offeringsעֹלוֹתand peace offeringsוּשְׁלָמִיםbeforeלִפְנֵיYHWH.יְהוָה

And the sonsוַ בְנֵיof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלinquiredיִּשְׁאֲלוּof YHWHבַּיהוָה—and thereוְשָׁםwas the arkאֲרוֹןof the covenantבְּרִיתof Elohimהָאֱלֹהִיםin thoseבַּ הָהֵםdays,יָּמִים

and Phinehasוּפִינְחָסsonבֶּןof Eleazar,אֶלְעָזָרsonבֶּןof Aaron,אַהֲרֹןwas standingעֹמֵדbefore itלְפָנָיוin thoseבַּ הָהֵםdays—יָּמִיםsaying,לֵאמֹר“Shall I againהַאוֹסִףgo outלָצֵאתonce moreעוֹדto warלַמִּלְחָמָהwithעִםthe sonsבְּנֵיof Benjaminבִנְיָמִןmy brother,אָחִיorאִםshall I cease?”אֶחְדָּלAnd YHWHוַ יְהוָהsaid,יֹּאמֶר“Go up,עֲלוּforכִּיtomorrowמָחָרI will give himאֶתְּנֶנּוּinto your hand.”בְיָדֶךָ

So Israelוַ יִשְׂרָאֵלsetיָּשֶׂםmen in ambushאֹרְבִיםagainst Gibeahאֶל הַגִּבְעָהall around.סָבִיב

And the sonsוַ בְנֵיof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלwent upיַּעֲלוּagainstאֶלthe sonsבְּנֵיof Benjaminבִנְיָמִןon the thirdבַּ הַשְּׁלִישִׁיdayיּוֹםand drew upוַיַּעַרְכוּagainstאֶלGibeahהַגִּבְעָהasכְּat other times.פַעַם בְּפָעַם

And the sonsוַ בְנֵיof Benjaminבִנְיָמִןwent outיֵּצְאוּto meetלִקְרַאתthe people;הָעָםthey were drawn awayהָנְתְּקוּfromמִןthe city,הָעִירand they beganוַיָּחֵלּוּto strikeלְהַכּוֹתsome of the people,מֵהָעָםleaving them dead,חֲלָלִיםasכְּat other times,פַעַם בְּפַעַםon the highways,בַּמְסִלּוֹתof whichאֲשֶׁרoneאַחַתgoes upעֹלָהto Bethelבֵית אֵלand oneוְאַחַתto Gibeahגִּבְעָתָהin the field:בַּשָּׂדֶהaboutכִּthirtyשְׁלֹשִׁיםmenאִישׁof Israel.בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל

And the sonsוַ בְּנֵיof Benjaminבִנְיָמִןsaid,יֹּאמְרוּ“Theyהֵםare struck downנִגָּפִיםbefore usלְפָנֵינוּasכְּat the first.”בָרִאשֹׁנָהBut the sonsוּבְנֵיof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלsaid,אָמְרוּ“Let us fleeנָנוּסָהand draw them awayוּנְתַקְּנֻהוּfromמִןthe cityהָעִירtoאֶלthe highways.”הַמְסִלּוֹת

And allוְכֹלthe menאִישׁof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלrose upקָמוּfrom their placeמִמְּקוֹמוֹand drew upוַיַּעַרְכוּat Baal-tamar,בְּבַעַל תָּמָרand the ambushוְאֹרֵבof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלburst outמֵגִיחַfrom its place,מִמְּקֹמוֹfrom the clearingמִמַּעֲרֵהof Geba.גָבַע

And there cameוַיָּבֹאוּoppositeמִנֶּגֶדGibeahלַגִּבְעָהtenעֲשֶׂרֶתthousandאֲלָפִיםchosenבָּחוּרmenאִישׁfrom allמִכָּלIsrael,יִשְׂרָאֵלand the warוְהַמִּלְחָמָהwas heavy;כָּבֵדָהbut theyוְהֵםdid notלֹאknowיָדְעוּthatכִּיthe evilהָרָעָהwas reachingנֹגַעַתthem.עֲלֵיהֶם

And YHWHוַ יְהוָהstruck downיִּגֹּףBenjaminאֶת בִּנְיָמִןbeforeלִפְנֵיIsrael,יִשְׂרָאֵלand the sonsוַ בְנֵיof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלbrought downיַּשְׁחִיתוּin Benjaminבְּבִנְיָמִןon thatבַּ הַהוּאdayיּוֹםtwenty-fiveעֶשְׂרִים וַחֲמִשָּׁהthousandאֶלֶףone hundredוּמֵאָהmen;אִישׁallכָּלtheseאֵלֶּהwere men who drewשֹׁלֵףthe sword.חָרֶב

So the sonsוַ בְנֵיof Benjaminבִנְיָמִןsawיִּרְאוּthatכִּיthey were struck down.נִגָּפוּThe menוַ אִישׁof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלhad givenיִּתְּנוּgroundמָקוֹםto Benjamin,לְבִנְיָמִןbecauseכִּיthey trustedבָטְחוּinאֶלthe ambushהָאֹרֵבthatאֲשֶׁרthey had setשָׂמוּagainstאֶלGibeah.הַגִּבְעָה

And the ambushוְהָאֹרֵבhurriedהֵחִישׁוּand rushedוַיִּפְשְׁטוּagainstאֶלGibeah;הַגִּבְעָהand the ambushוַ הָאֹרֵבmarchedיִּמְשֹׁךְand struckוַיַּךְallאֶת כָּלthe cityהָעִירwith the edgeלְפִיof the sword.חָרֶב

Now the agreed signalוְהַמּוֹעֵדbetween the menלְאִישׁof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלandעִםthe ambushהָאֹרֵבwasהָיָהthat they should send upלְהַעֲלוֹתָםfromמִןthe cityהָעִירa greatהֶרֶבcloudמַשְׂאַתof smoke.הֶעָשָׁן

Then the menוַ אִישׁof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלturnedיַּהֲפֹךְin the war,בַּמִּלְחָמָהand Benjaminוּבִנְיָמִןbeganהֵחֵלto strikeלְהַכּוֹתmen deadחֲלָלִיםamong the menבְּאִישׁof Israel,יִשְׂרָאֵלaboutכִּthirtyשְׁלֹשִׁיםmen,אִישׁforכִּיthey said,אָמְרוּ“Surelyאַךְtheyהוּאare completelyנִגּוֹףstruck downנִגָּףbefore us,לְפָנֵינוּasכַּin the firstהָרִאשֹׁנָהwar.”מִּלְחָמָה

But the signalוְהַמַּשְׂאֵתbeganהֵחֵלָּהto go upלַעֲלוֹתfromמִןthe city,הָעִירa columnעַמּוּדof smoke;עָשָׁןand Benjaminוַ בִּנְיָמִןturnedיִּפֶןbehind him,אַחֲרָיוand look,וְהִנֵּהthe wholeכְלִילcityהָעִירwas going upעָלָהtoward the heavens.הַשָּׁמָיְמָה

And the menוְאִישׁof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלturned,הָפַךְand the menוַ אִישׁof Benjaminבִּנְיָמִןwere terrified,יִּבָּהֵלforכִּיthey sawרָאָהthatכִּיthe evilהָרָעָהhad reachedנָגְעָהthem.עָלָיו

So they turnedוַיִּפְנוּbeforeלִפְנֵיthe menאִישׁof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלtowardאֶלthe wayדֶּרֶךְof the wilderness,הַמִּדְבָּרbut the warוְהַמִּלְחָמָהovertook them,הִדְבִּיקָתְהוּand those whoוַאֲשֶׁרcame from the citiesמֵהֶעָרִיםwere destroyingמַשְׁחִיתִיםthemאוֹתוֹin their midst.בְּתוֹכוֹ

They surroundedכִּתְּרוּBenjamin,אֶת בִּנְיָמִןpursued him,הִרְדִיפֻהוּtrod him downהִדְרִיכֻהוּwithout restמְנוּחָהas far asעַדoppositeנֹכַחGibeahהַגִּבְעָהtoward the sunrise.מִמִּזְרַח שָׁמֶשׁ

And there fellוַיִּפְּלוּof Benjaminמִבִּנְיָמִןeighteenשְׁמֹנָה עָשָׂרthousandאֶלֶףmen;אִישׁallאֶת כָּלtheseאֵלֶּהwere menאַנְשֵׁיof valor.חָיִל

And they turnedוַיִּפְנוּand fledוַיָּנֻסוּtoward the wildernessהַמִּדְבָּרָהtoאֶלthe cragסֶלַעof Rimmon;הָרִמּוֹןand they gleanedוַיְעֹלְלֻof themהוּon the highwaysבַּמְסִלּוֹתfiveחֲמֵשֶׁתthousandאֲלָפִיםmen,אִישׁand they pursued closelyוַיַּדְבִּיקוּafter himאַחֲרָיוas far asעַדGidom,גִּדְעֹםand struckוַיַּכּוּof themמִמֶּנּוּtwo thousandאַלְפַּיִםmen.אִישׁ

So allכָלwho fellהַנֹּפְלִיםof Benjaminמִבִּנְיָמִןwereוַיְהִיtwenty-fiveעֶשְׂרִים וַחֲמִשָּׁהthousandאֶלֶףmenאִישׁwho drewשֹׁלֵףthe swordחֶרֶבon thatבַּ הַהוּאday;יּוֹםallאֶת כָּלtheseאֵלֶּהwere menאַנְשֵׁיof valor.חָיִל

But sixשֵׁשׁhundredמֵאוֹתmenאִישׁturnedוַיִּפְנוּand fledוַיָּנֻסוּtoward the wildernessהַמִּדְבָּרָהtoאֶלthe cragסֶלַעof Rimmon,הָרִמּוֹןand they stayedוַיֵּשְׁבוּat the cragבְּסֶלַעof Rimmonרִמּוֹןfourאַרְבָּעָהmonths.חֳדָשִׁים

And the menוְאִישׁof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלturned backשָׁבוּagainstאֶלthe sonsבְּנֵיof Benjaminבִנְיָמִןand struck themוַיַּכּוּםwith the edgeלְפִיof the sword,חֶרֶבfrom the entireמְתֹםcityמֵעִירtoעַדthe livestock,בְּהֵמָהtoעַדallכָּלthat was found;הַנִּמְצָאalsoגַּםallכָּלthe citiesהֶעָרִיםthat were foundהַנִּמְצָאוֹתthey gave overשִׁלְּחוּto fire.בָאֵשׁ