Nlt Parallel Bible with Kjvp for Judges 20

1 Then all the Israelites were united as one man, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, including those from across the Jordan in the land of Gilead. The entire community assembled in the presence of the LORD at Mizpah.

2 The leaders of all the people and all the tribes of Israel-- 400,000 warriors armed with swords-- took their positions in the assembly of the people of God.

3 (Word soon reached the land of Benjamin that the other tribes had gone up to Mizpah.) The Israelites then asked how this terrible crime had happened.

4 The Levite, the husband of the woman who had been murdered, said, "My concubine and I came to spend the night in Gibeah, a town that belongs to the people of Benjamin.

5 That night some of the leading citizens of Gibeah surrounded the house, planning to kill me, and they raped my concubine until she was dead.

6 So I cut her body into twelve pieces and sent the pieces throughout the territory assigned to Israel, for these men have committed a terrible and shameful crime.

7 Now then, all of you-- the entire community of Israel-- must decide here and now what should be done about this!"

8 And all the people rose to their feet in unison and declared, "None of us will return home! No, not even one of us!

9 Instead, this is what we will do to Gibeah; we will draw lots to decide who will attack it.

10 One tenth of the men from each tribe will be chosen to supply the warriors with food, and the rest of us will take revenge on Gibeah of Benjamin for this shameful thing they have done in Israel."

11 So all the Israelites were completely united, and they gathered together to attack the town.

12 The Israelites sent messengers to the tribe of Benjamin, saying, "What a terrible thing has been done among you!

13 Give up those evil men, those troublemakers from Gibeah, so we can execute them and purge Israel of this evil." But the people of Benjamin would not listen.

14 Instead, they came from their towns and gathered at Gibeah to fight the Israelites.

15 In all, 26,000 of their warriors armed with swords arrived in Gibeah to join the 700 elite troops who lived there.

16 Among Benjamin's elite troops, 700 were left-handed, and each of them could sling a rock and hit a target within a hairsbreadth without missing.

17 Israel had 400,000 experienced soldiers armed with swords, not counting Benjamin's warriors.

18 Before the battle the Israelites went to Bethel and asked God, "Which tribe should go first to attack the people of Benjamin?" The LORD answered, "Judah is to go first."

19 So the Israelites left early the next morning and camped near Gibeah.

20 Then they advanced toward Gibeah to attack the men of Benjamin.

21 But Benjamin's warriors, who were defending the town, came out and killed 22,000 Israelites on the battlefield that day.

22 But the Israelites encouraged each other and took their positions again at the same place they had fought the previous day.

23 For they had gone up to Bethel and wept in the presence of the LORD until evening. They had asked the LORD, "Should we fight against our relatives from Benjamin again?" And the LORD had said, "Go out and fight against them."

24 So the next day they went out again to fight against the men of Benjamin,

25 but the men of Benjamin killed another 18,000 Israelites, all of whom were experienced with the sword.

26 Then all the Israelites went up to Bethel and wept in the presence of the LORD and fasted until evening. They also brought burnt offerings and peace offerings to the LORD.

27 The Israelites went up seeking direction from the LORD. (In those days the Ark of the Covenant of God was in Bethel,

28 and Phinehas son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron was the priest.) The Israelites asked the LORD, "Should we fight against our relatives from Benjamin again, or should we stop?" The LORD said, "Go! Tomorrow I will hand them over to you."

29 So the Israelites set an ambush all around Gibeah.

30 They went out on the third day and took their positions at the same place as before.

31 When the men of Benjamin came out to attack, they were drawn away from the town. And as they had done before, they began to kill the Israelites. About thirty Israelites died in the open fields and along the roads, one leading to Bethel and the other leading back to Gibeah.

32 Then the warriors of Benjamin shouted, "We're defeating them as we did before!" But the Israelites had planned in advance to run away so that the men of Benjamin would chase them along the roads and be drawn away from the town.

33 When the main group of Israelite warriors reached Baal-tamar, they turned and took up their positions. Meanwhile, the Israelites hiding in ambush to the west of Gibeah jumped up to fight.

34 There were 10,000 elite Israelite troops who advanced against Gibeah. The fighting was so heavy that Benjamin didn't realize the impending disaster.

35 So the LORD helped Israel defeat Benjamin, and that day the Israelites killed 25,100 of Benjamin's warriors, all of whom were experienced swordsmen.

36 Then the men of Benjamin saw that they were beaten.The Israelites had retreated from Benjamin's warriors in order to give those hiding in ambush more room to maneuver against Gibeah.

37 Then those who were hiding rushed in from all sides and killed everyone in the town.

38 They had arranged to send up a large cloud of smoke from the town as a signal.

39 When the Israelites saw the smoke, they turned and attacked Benjamin's warriors.By that time Benjamin's warriors had killed about thirty Israelites, and they shouted, "We're defeating them as we did in the first battle!"

40 But when the warriors of Benjamin looked behind them and saw the smoke rising into the sky from every part of the town,

41 the men of Israel turned and attacked. At this point the men of Benjamin became terrified, because they realized disaster was close at hand.

42 So they turned around and fled before the Israelites toward the wilderness. But they couldn't escape the battle, and the people who came out of the nearby towns were also killed.

43 The Israelites surrounded the men of Benjamin and chased them relentlessly, finally overtaking them east of Gibeah.

44 That day 18,000 of Benjamin's strongest warriors died in battle.

45 The survivors fled into the wilderness toward the rock of Rimmon, but Israel killed 5,000 of them along the road. They continued the chase until they had killed another 2,000 near Gidom.

46 So that day the tribe of Benjamin lost 25,000 strong warriors armed with swords,

47 leaving only 600 men who escaped to the rock of Rimmon, where they lived for four months.

48 And the Israelites returned and slaughtered every living thing in all the towns-- the people, the livestock, and everything they found. They also burned down all the towns they came to.

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

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

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 ?

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

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

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

7 Behold ^H2009 , ye are all ^H3605 children ^H1121 of Israel; ^H3478 give ^H3051 here ^H1988 your advice ^H1697 and counsel. ^H6098

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

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;

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

19 And the children ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 rose up ^H6965 in the morning, ^H1242 and encamped ^H2583 against ^H5921 Gibeah. ^H1390

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

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

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

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.)

24 And the children ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 came near ^H7126 against ^H413 the children ^H1121 of Benjamin ^H1144 the second ^H8145 day. ^H3117

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

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

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

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

29 And Israel ^H3478 set ^H7760 liers in wait ^H693 round about ^H5439 ^H413 Gibeah. ^H1390

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 .

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

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

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 .

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

Bible Language _Beta

Judges 20 (NLT) New Living Translation