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1. Then all the People of Israel came out. The congregation met in the presence of GOD at Mizpah. They were all there, from Dan to Beersheba, as one person!
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1. Then all H3605 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 went out H3318 , and the congregation H5712 was gathered together H6950 as one H259 man H376 , from Dan H4480 H1835 even to H5704 Beer H884 -sheba , with the land H776 of Gilead H1568 , unto H413 the LORD H3068 in Mizpeh H4709 .
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2. The leaders of all the people, representing all the tribes of Israel, took their places in the gathering of God's people. There were 400 divisions of sword-wielding infantry.
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2. And the chief H6438 of all H3605 the people H5971 , even of all H3605 the tribes H7626 of Israel H3478 , presented themselves H3320 in the assembly H6951 of the people H5971 of God H430 , four H702 hundred H3967 thousand H505 footmen H376 H7273 that drew H8025 sword H2719 .
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3. Meanwhile the Benjaminites got wind that the Israelites were meeting at Mizpah. The People of Israel said, "Now tell us. How did this outrageous evil happen?"
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3. (Now the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144 heard H8085 that H3588 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 were gone up H5927 to Mizpeh H4709 .) Then said H559 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 , Tell H1696 us , how H349 was H1961 this H2063 wickedness H7451 ?
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4. The Levite, the husband of the murdered woman, spoke: "My concubine and I came to spend the night at Gibeah, a Benjaminite town.
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4. And the Levite H376 H3881 , the husband H376 of the woman H802 that was slain H7523 , answered H6030 and said H559 , I came H935 into Gibeah H1390 that H834 belongeth to Benjamin H1144 , I H589 and my concubine H6370 , to lodge H3885 .
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5. That night the men of Gibeah came after me. They surrounded the house, intending to kill me. They gang-raped my concubine and she died.
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5. And the men H1167 of Gibeah H1390 rose H6965 against H5921 me , and beset the house round about H5437 H853 H1004 upon H5921 me by night H3915 , and thought H1819 to have slain H2026 me : and my concubine H6370 have they forced H6031 , that she is dead H4191 .
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6. So I took my concubine, cut up her body, and sent her piece by piece--twelve pieces!--to every part of Israel's inheritance. This vile and outrageous crime was committed in Israel!
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6. And I took H270 my concubine H6370 , and cut her in pieces H5408 , and sent H7971 her throughout all H3605 the country H7704 of the inheritance H5159 of Israel H3478 : for H3588 they have committed H6213 lewdness H2154 and folly H5039 in Israel H3478 .
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7. So, Israelites, make up your minds. Decide on some action!"
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7. Behold H2009 , ye are all H3605 children H1121 of Israel H3478 ; give H3051 here H1988 your advice H1697 and counsel H6098 .
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8. All the people were at once and as one person on their feet. "None of us will go home; not a single one of us will go to his own house.
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8. And all H3605 the people H5971 arose H6965 as one H259 man H376 , saying H559 , We will not H3808 any H376 of us go H1980 to his tent H168 , neither H3808 will we any H376 of us turn H5493 into his house H1004 .
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9. Here's our plan for dealing with Gibeah: We'll march against it by drawing lots.
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9. But now H6258 this H2088 shall be the thing H1697 which H834 we will do H6213 to Gibeah H1390 ; we will go up by lot H1486 against H5921 it;
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10. We'll take ten of every hundred men from all the tribes of Israel (a hundred of every thousand, and a thousand of every ten thousand) to carry food for the army. When the troops arrive at Gibeah they will settle accounts for this outrageous and vile evil that was done in Israel."
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10. And we will take H3947 ten H6235 men H376 of a hundred H3967 throughout all H3605 the tribes H7626 of Israel H3478 , and a hundred H3967 of a thousand H505 , and a thousand H505 out of ten thousand H7233 , to fetch H3947 victual H6720 for the people H5971 , that they may do H6213 , when they come H935 to Gibeah H1387 of Benjamin H1144 , according to all H3605 the folly H5039 that H834 they have wrought H6213 in Israel H3478 .
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11. So all the men in Israel were gathered against the city, totally united.
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11. So all H3605 the men H376 of Israel H3478 were gathered H622 against H413 the city H5892 , knit together H2270 as one H259 man H376 .
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12. The Israelite tribes sent messengers throughout the tribe of Benjamin saying, "What's the meaning of this outrage that took place among you?
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12. And the tribes H7626 of Israel H3478 sent H7971 men H376 through all H3605 the tribe H7626 of Benjamin H1144 , saying H559 , What H4100 wickedness H7451 is this H2063 that H834 is done H1961 among you?
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13. Surrender the men right here and now, these hell-raisers of Gibeah. We'll put them to death and burn the evil out of Israel." But they wouldn't do it. The Benjaminites refused to listen to their brothers, the People of Israel.
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13. Now H6258 therefore deliver H5414 us H853 the men H376 , the children H1121 of Belial H1100 , which H834 are in Gibeah H1390 , that we may put them to death H4191 , and put away H1197 evil H7451 from Israel H4480 H3478 . But the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144 would H14 not H3808 hearken H8085 to the voice H6963 of their brethren H251 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 :
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14. Instead they raised an army from all their cities and rallied at Gibeah to go to war against the People of Israel.
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14. But the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144 gathered themselves together H622 out of H4480 the cities H5892 unto Gibeah H1390 , to go out H3318 to battle H4421 against H5973 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 .
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15. In no time at all they had recruited from their cities twenty-six divisions of sword-wielding infantry. From Gibeah they got 700 hand-picked fighters, the best.
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15. And the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144 were numbered H6485 at that H1931 time H3117 out of the cities H4480 H5892 twenty H6242 and six H8337 thousand H505 men H376 that drew H8025 sword H2719 , beside H905 the inhabitants H4480 H3427 of Gibeah H1390 , which were numbered H6485 seven H7651 hundred H3967 chosen H970 men H376 .
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16. There were another 700 super marksmen who were ambidextrous--they could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.
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16. Among all H4480 H3605 this H2088 people H5971 there were seven H7651 hundred H3967 chosen H977 men H376 left H334 H3027 H3225 -handed ; every one H3605 H2088 could sling H7049 stones H68 at H413 a hair H8185 breadth , and not H3808 miss H2398 .
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17. The men of Israel, excluding Benjamin, mobilized 400 divisions of sword-wielding fighting men.
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17. And the men H376 of Israel H3478 , beside H905 Benjamin H4480 H1144 , were numbered H6485 four H702 hundred H3967 thousand H505 men H376 that drew H8025 sword H2719 : all H3605 these H2088 were men H376 of war H4421 .
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18. They set out and went to Bethel to inquire of God. The People of Israel said, "Who of us shall be first to go into battle with the Benjaminites?" GOD said, "Judah goes first."
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18. And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 arose H6965 , and went up H5927 to the house of God H1008 , and asked counsel H7592 of God H430 , and said H559 , Which H4310 of us shall go up H5927 first H8462 to the battle H4421 against H5973 the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144 ? And the LORD H3068 said H559 , Judah H3063 shall go up first H8462 .
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19. The People of Israel got up the next morning and camped before Gibeah.
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19. And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 rose up H6965 in the morning H1242 , and encamped H2583 against H5921 Gibeah H1390 .
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20. The army of Israel marched out against Benjamin and took up their positions, ready to attack Gibeah.
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20. And the men H376 of Israel H3478 went out H3318 to battle H4421 against H5973 Benjamin H1144 ; and the men H376 of Israel H3478 put themselves in array H6186 to fight H4421 against H854 them at H413 Gibeah H1390 .
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21. But the Benjaminites poured out of Gibeah and devastated twenty-two Israelite divisions on the ground.
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21. And the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144 came forth H3318 out of H4480 Gibeah H1390 , and destroyed down H7843 to the ground H776 of the Israelites H3478 that H1931 day H3117 twenty H6242 and two H8147 thousand H505 men H376 .
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22. The army took heart. The men of Israel took up the positions they had deployed on the first day.
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22. And the people H5971 the men H376 of Israel H3478 encouraged themselves H2388 , and set H6186 their battle H4421 again H3254 in array H6186 in the place H4725 where H834 H8033 they put themselves in array H6186 the first H7223 day H3117 .
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23. The Israelites went back to the sanctuary and wept before GOD until evening. They again inquired of GOD, "Shall we again go into battle against the Benjaminites, our brothers?" GOD said, "Yes. Attack."
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23. (And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 went up H5927 and wept H1058 before H6440 the LORD H3068 until H5704 even H6153 , and asked counsel H7592 of the LORD H3068 , saying H559 , Shall I go up H5066 again H3254 to battle H4421 against H5973 the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144 my brother H251 ? And the LORD H3068 said H559 , Go up H5927 against H413 him.)
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24. On the second day, the Israelites again advanced against Benjamin.
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24. And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 came near H7126 against H413 the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144 the second H8145 day H3117 .
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25. This time as the Benjaminites came out of the city, on this second day, they devastated another eighteen Israelite divisions, all swordsmen.
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25. And Benjamin H1144 went forth H3318 against H7125 them out of H4480 Gibeah H1390 the second H8145 day H3117 , and destroyed H7843 down to the ground H776 of the children H1121 of Israel H3478 again H5750 eighteen H8083 H6240 thousand H505 men H376 ; all H3605 these H428 drew H8025 the sword H2719 .
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26. All the People of Israel, the whole army, were back at Bethel, weeping, sitting there in the presence of GOD. That day they fasted until evening. They sacrificed Whole-Burnt-Offerings and Peace-Offerings before GOD.
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26. Then all H3605 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 , and all H3605 the people H5971 , went up H5927 , and came H935 unto the house of God H1008 , and wept H1058 , and sat H3427 there H8033 before H6440 the LORD H3068 , and fasted H6684 that H1931 day H3117 until H5704 even H6153 , and offered H5927 burnt offerings H5930 and peace offerings H8002 before H6440 the LORD H3068 .
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27. And they again inquired of GOD. The Chest of God's Covenant was there at that time with
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27. And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 inquired H7592 of the LORD H3068 , (for the ark H727 of the covenant H1285 of God H430 was there H8033 in those H1992 days H3117 ,
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28. Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, as the ministering priest. They asked, "Shall we again march into battle against the Benjaminites, our brothers? Or should we call it quits?" And GOD said, "Attack. Tomorrow I'll give you victory."
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28. And Phinehas H6372 , the son H1121 of Eleazar H499 , the son H1121 of Aaron H175 , stood H5975 before H6440 it in those H1992 days H3117 ,) saying H559 , Shall I yet H5750 again H3254 go out H3318 to battle H4421 against H5973 the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144 my brother H251 , or H518 shall I cease H2308 ? And the LORD H3068 said H559 , Go up H5927 ; for H3588 tomorrow H4279 I will deliver H5414 them into thine hand H3027 .
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29. This time Israel placed men in ambush all around Gibeah.
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29. And Israel H3478 set H7760 liers in wait H693 round about H5439 H413 Gibeah H1390 .
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30. On the third day when Israel set out, they took up the same positions before the Benjaminites as before.
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30. And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 went up H5927 against H413 the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144 on the third H7992 day H3117 , and put themselves in array H6186 against H413 Gibeah H1390 , as at other times H6471 H6471 .
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31. When the Benjaminites came out to meet the army, they moved out from the city. Benjaminites began to cut down some of the troops just as they had before. About thirty men fell in the field and on the roads to Bethel and Gibeah.
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31. And the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144 went out H3318 against H7125 the people H5971 , and were drawn away H5423 from H4480 the city H5892 ; and they began H2490 to smite H5221 of the people H4480 H5971 , and kill H2491 , as at other times H6471 H6471 , in the highways H4546 , of which H834 one H259 goeth up H5927 to the house of God H1008 , and the other H259 to Gibeah H1390 in the field H7704 , about thirty H7970 men H376 of Israel H3478 .
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32. The Benjaminites started bragging, "We're dropping them like flies, just as before!"
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32. And the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144 said H559 , They H1992 are smitten down H5062 before H6440 us , as at the first H7223 . But the children H1121 of Israel H3478 said H559 , Let us flee H5127 , and draw H5423 them from H4480 the city H5892 unto H413 the highways H4546 .
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33. But the Israelites strategized: "Now let's retreat and pull them out of the city onto the main roads." So every Israelite moved farther out to Baal Tamar; at the same time the Israelite ambush rushed from its place west of Gibeah.
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33. And all H3605 the men H376 of Israel H3478 rose up H6965 out of their place H4480 H4725 , and put themselves in array H6186 at Baal H1193 -tamar : and the liers in wait H693 of Israel H3478 came forth H1518 out of their places H4480 H4725 , even out of the meadows H4480 H4629 of Gibeah H4480 H1390 .
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34. Ten crack divisions from all over Israel now arrived at Gibeah--intense, bloody fighting! The Benjaminites had no idea that they were about to go down in defeat--
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34. And there came H935 against H4480 H5048 Gibeah H1390 ten H6235 thousand H505 chosen H977 men H376 out of all H4480 H3605 Israel H3478 , and the battle H4421 was sore H3513 : but they H1992 knew H3045 not H3808 that H3588 evil H7451 was near H5060 them.
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35. GOD routed them before Israel. The Israelites decimated twenty-five divisions of Benjamin that day--25,100 killed. They were all swordsmen.
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35. And the LORD H3068 smote H5062 H853 Benjamin H1144 before H6440 Israel H3478 : and the children H1121 of Israel H3478 destroyed H7843 of the Benjamites H1144 that H1931 day H3117 twenty H6242 and five H2568 thousand H505 and a hundred H3967 men H376 : all H3605 these H428 drew H8025 the sword H2719 .
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36. The Benjaminites saw that they were beaten. The men of Israel acted like they were retreating before Benjamin, knowing that they could depend on the ambush they had prepared for Gibeah.
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36. So the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144 saw H7200 that H3588 they were smitten H5062 : for the men H376 of Israel H3478 gave H5414 place H4725 to the Benjamites H1144 , because H3588 they trusted H982 unto H413 the liers in wait H693 which H834 they had set H7760 beside H413 Gibeah H1390 .
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37. The ambush erupted and made quick work of Gibeah. The ambush spread out and massacred the city.
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37. And the liers in wait H693 hasted H2363 , and rushed H6584 upon H413 Gibeah H1390 ; and the liers in wait H693 drew themselves along H4900 , and smote H5221 H853 all H3605 the city H5892 with the edge H6310 of the sword H2719 .
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38. The strategy for the main body of the ambush was that they send up a smoke signal from the city.
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38. Now there was H1961 an appointed sign H4150 between the men H376 of Israel H3478 and the liers in wait H693 , that they should make a great H7235 flame H4864 with smoke H6227 rise up H5927 out of H4480 the city H5892 .
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39. Then the men of Israel would turn in battle. When that happened, Benjamin had killed about thirty Israelites and thought they were on their way to victory, yelling out, "They're on the run, just as in the first battle!"
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39. And when the men H376 of Israel H3478 retired H2015 in the battle H4421 , Benjamin H1144 began H2490 to smite H5221 and kill H2491 of the men H376 of Israel H3478 about thirty H7970 persons H376 : for H3588 they said H559 , Surely H389 they H1931 are smitten down H5062 H5062 before H6440 us , as in the first H7223 battle H4421 .
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40. But then the signal went up from the city--a huge column of smoke. When the Benjaminites looked back, there it was, the whole city going up in smoke.
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40. But when the flame H4864 began H2490 to arise up H5927 out of H4480 the city H5892 with a pillar H5982 of smoke H6227 , the Benjamites H1144 looked H6437 behind H310 them, and, behold H2009 , the flame H3632 of the city H5892 ascended up H5927 to heaven H8064 .
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41. By the time the men of Israel had turned back on them, the men of Benjamin fell apart--they could see that they were trapped.
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41. And when the men H376 of Israel H3478 turned again H2015 , the men H376 of Benjamin H1144 were amazed H926 : for H3588 they saw H7200 that H3588 evil H7451 was come H5060 upon H5921 them.
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42. Confronted by the Israelites, they tried to get away down the wilderness road, but by now the battle was everywhere. The men of Israel poured out of the towns, killing them right and left,
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42. Therefore they turned H6437 their backs before H6440 the men H376 of Israel H3478 unto H413 the way H1870 of the wilderness H4057 ; but the battle H4421 overtook H1692 them ; and them which H834 came out of the cities H4480 H5892 they destroyed H7843 in the midst H8432 of them.
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43. hot on their trail, picking them off east of Gibeah.
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43. Thus they enclosed the Benjamites round about H3803 H853 H1144 , and chased H7291 them, and trod them down H1869 with ease H4496 over against H5704 H5227 Gibeah H1390 toward the sunrising H4480 H4217 H8121 .
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44. Eighteen divisions of Benjaminites were wiped out, all their best fighters.
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44. And there fell H5307 of Benjamin H4480 H1144 eighteen H8083 H6240 thousand H505 men H376 ; H853 all H3605 these H428 were men H376 of valor H2428 .
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45. Five divisions turned to escape to the wilderness, to Rimmon Rock, but the Israelites caught and slaughtered them on roads. Keeping the pressure on, the Israelites brought down two more divisions.
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45. And they turned H6437 and fled H5127 toward the wilderness H4057 unto H413 the rock H5553 of Rimmon H7417 : and they gleaned H5953 of them in the highways H4546 five H2568 thousand H505 men H376 ; and pursued hard H1692 after H310 them unto H5704 Gidom H1440 , and slew H5221 two thousand H505 men H376 of H4480 them.
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46. The total of the Benjaminites killed that day came to twenty-five divisions of infantry, their best swordsmen.
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46. So that all H3605 which fell H5307 that H1931 day H3117 of Benjamin H4480 H1144 were H1961 twenty H6242 and five H2568 thousand H505 men H376 that drew H8025 the sword H2719 ; H853 all H3605 these H428 were men H376 of valor H2428 .
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47. Six hundred men got away. They made it to Rimmon Rock in the wilderness and held out there for four months.
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47. But six H8337 hundred H3967 men H376 turned H6437 and fled H5127 to the wilderness H4057 unto H413 the rock H5553 Rimmon H7417 , and abode H3427 in the rock H5553 Rimmon H7417 four H702 months H2320 .
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48. The men of Israel came back and killed all the Benjaminites who were left, all the men and animals they found in every town, and then torched the towns, sending them up in flames.
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48. And the men H376 of Israel H3478 turned again H7725 upon H413 the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144 , and smote H5221 them with the edge H6310 of the sword H2719 , as well the men H4974 of every city H4480 H5892 , as H5704 the beast H929 , and all H3605 that came to hand H4672 : also H1571 they set H7971 on fire H784 all H3605 the cities H5892 that they came to H4672 .
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