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Judges 20:23 (NLT) New Living Translation

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 NMS the children H1121 of Israel H3478 went out H3318 W-VQY3MP , and the congregation H5712 was gathered together H6950 as one H259 MMS man H376 , from Dan H1835 even to H5704 W-PREP Beer H884 - sheba , with the land H776 W-NFS of Gilead H1568 , unto H413 PREP the LORD H3068 EDS in Mizpeh H4709 .
2 And the chief H6438 CFP of all H3605 NMS the people H5971 , even of all H3605 NMS the tribes H7626 of Israel H3478 , presented themselves H3320 in the assembly H6951 of the people H5971 NMS of God H430 D-EDP , four H702 MFS hundred H3967 BFP thousand H505 W-BMS footmen H376 NMS that drew H8025 sword H2719 GFS .
3 (Now the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144 heard H8085 W-VQY3MP that H3588 CONJ 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 D-AFS ?
4 And the Levite H3881 , the husband H376 D-NMS of the woman H802 D-NFS that was slain H7523 , answered H6030 W-VQY3MS and said H559 W-VQY3MS , I came H935 into Gibeah H1390 that H834 RPRO belongeth to Benjamin H1144 , I H589 PPRO-1MS and my concubine H6370 , to lodge H3885 .
5 And the men H1167 CMP of Gibeah H1390 rose H6965 against H5921 PREP-1MS me , and beset the house round about H5437 upon H5921 PREP-1MS me by night H3915 NFS , 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 B-CMS the country H7704 CMS of the inheritance H5159 of Israel H3478 : for H3588 CONJ they have committed H6213 VQQ3MP lewdness H2154 NFS and folly H5039 in Israel H3478 .
7 Behold H2009 IJEC , ye are all H3605 children H1121 of Israel H3478 ; give H3051 VQI2MP here H1988 your advice H1697 VQPMS and counsel H6098 .
8 And all H3605 NMS the people H5971 arose H6965 W-VQY3MS as one H259 MMS man H376 NMS , saying H559 L-VQFC , We will not H3808 NADV any H376 NMS of us go H1980 to his tent H168 , neither H3808 W-NADV will we any H376 NMS of us turn H5493 into his house H1004 .
9 But now H6258 W-ADV this H2088 DPRO shall be the thing H1697 D-NMS which H834 RPRO we will do H6213 to Gibeah H1390 ; we will go up by lot H1486 against H5921 PREP-3FS it ;
10 And we will take H3947 ten H6235 men H376 NMP 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 W-BMS out of ten thousand H7233 , to fetch H3947 L-VQFC victual H6720 for the people H5971 , that they may do H6213 L-VQFC , when they come H935 to Gibeah H1387 of Benjamin H1144 , according to all H3605 the folly H5039 that H834 RPRO they have wrought H6213 VQQ3MS in Israel H3478 .
11 So all H3605 NMS the men H376 NMS of Israel H3478 were gathered H622 against H413 PREP the city H5892 D-GFS , knit together H2270 as one H259 MMS man H376 NMS .
12 And the tribes H7626 of Israel H3478 sent H7971 men H376 through all H3605 B-CMS the tribe H7626 of Benjamin H1144 , saying H559 L-VQFC , What H4100 IGAT wickedness H7451 D-AFS is this H2063 D-DFS that H834 RPRO is done H1961 among you ?
13 Now H6258 W-ADV therefore deliver H5414 us the men H376 D-NMP , the children H1121 of Belial H1100 , which H834 RPRO are in Gibeah H1390 , that we may put them to death H4191 , and put away H1197 evil H7451 AFS from Israel H3478 . But the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144 would H14 VQQ3MP not H3808 W-NPAR hearken H8085 to the voice H6963 B-NMS of their brethren H251 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 LMS :
14 But the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144 gathered themselves together H622 out of H4480 PREP the cities H5892 unto Gibeah H1390 , to go out H3318 to battle H4421 against H5973 PREP the children H1121 of Israel H3478 LMS .
15 And the children H1121 CMP of Benjamin H1144 were numbered H6485 at that H1931 D-PPRO-3MS time H3117 B-AMS out of the cities H5892 twenty H6242 and six H8337 thousand H505 W-BMS men H376 NMS that drew H8025 sword H2719 NFS , beside H905 the inhabitants H3427 of Gibeah H1390 , which were numbered H6485 seven H7651 hundred H3967 BFP chosen H970 men H376 NMS .
16 Among all H3605 NMS this H2088 D-PMS people H5971 there were seven H7651 hundred H3967 BFP chosen H977 men H376 NMS left H334 - handed ; every one H3605 NMS could sling H7049 stones H68 at H413 PREP a hair H8185 breadth , and not H3808 W-NPAR miss H2398 .
17 And the men H376 NMS of Israel H3478 , beside H905 Benjamin H1144 , were numbered H6485 four H702 MFS hundred H3967 BFP thousand H505 W-BMS men H376 NMS that drew H8025 sword H2719 NFS : all H3605 NMS these H2088 DPRO were men H376 NMS 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 W-VQY3MS , Which H4310 IPRO of us shall go up H5927 VQY3MS first H8462 to the battle H4421 against H5973 PREP the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144 ? And the LORD H3068 EDS said H559 W-VQY3MS , Judah H3063 shall go up first H8462 .
19 And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 rose up H6965 in the morning H1242 B-NMS , and encamped H2583 against H5921 PREP Gibeah H1390 .
20 And the men H376 NMS of Israel H3478 went out H3318 W-VQY3MS to battle H4421 against H5973 PREP Benjamin H1144 ; and the men H376 NMS of Israel H3478 put themselves in array H6186 to fight H4421 NFS against H854 them at H413 PREP Gibeah H1390 .
21 And the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144 came forth H3318 W-VQY3MP out of H4480 PREP Gibeah H1390 , and destroyed down H7843 to the ground H776 NFS-3FS of the Israelites H3478 that H1931 D-PPRO-3MS day H3117 B-AMS twenty H6242 W-MMP and two H8147 ONUM thousand H505 W-BMS men H376 NMS .
22 And the people H5971 the men H376 NMS of Israel H3478 encouraged themselves H2388 , and set H6186 their battle H4421 NFS again H3254 in array H6186 in the place H4725 where H834 RPRO they put themselves in array H6186 the first H7223 day H3117 B-AMS .
23 (And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 went up H5927 and wept H1058 W-VQY3MP before H6440 the LORD H3068 EDS until H5704 PREP even H6153 , and asked counsel H7592 of the LORD H3068 NAME-4MS , saying H559 W-VQY3MS , Shall I go up H5066 again H3254 to battle H4421 against H5973 PREP the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144 my brother H251 ? And the LORD H3068 EDS said H559 W-VQY3MS , Go up H5927 against H413 him . )
24 And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 came near H7126 against H413 PREP the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144 the second H8145 day H3117 B-AMS .
25 And Benjamin H1144 went forth H3318 W-VQY3MS against H7125 them out of H4480 Gibeah H1390 the second H8145 D-ONUM day H3117 B-AMS , and destroyed H7843 down to the ground H776 NFS-3FS of the children H1121 of Israel H3478 again H5750 ADV eighteen H8083 thousand H505 W-BMS men H376 NMS ; all H3605 NMS these H428 PMP drew H8025 the sword H2719 GFS .
26 Then all H3605 CMS the children H1121 of Israel H3478 , and all H3605 W-CMS the people H5971 , went up H5927 , and came H935 W-VQY3MP unto the house of God H1008 , and wept H1058 W-VQY3MP , and sat H3427 W-VQY3MP there H8033 ADV before H6440 L-CMP the LORD H3068 EDS , and fasted H6684 that H1931 D-PPRO-3MS day H3117 until H5704 PREP even H6153 , and offered H5927 burnt offerings H5930 CFP and peace offerings H8002 before H6440 L-CMP the LORD H3068 NAME-4MS .
27 And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 inquired H7592 of the LORD H3068 , (for the ark H727 of the covenant H1285 NFS of God H430 D-EDP was there H8033 W-ADV in those H1992 days H3117 BD-NMP ,
28 And Phinehas H6372 , the son H1121 of Eleazar H499 , the son H1121 of Aaron H175 , stood H5975 before H6440 L-CMP-3MS it in those H1992 D-PPRO-3MP days H3117 BD-NMP , ) saying H559 W-VQY3MS , Shall I yet H5750 ADV again H3254 go out H3318 to battle H4421 against H5973 PREP the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144 my brother H251 , or H518 PART shall I cease H2308 ? And the LORD H3068 EDS said H559 W-VQY3MS , Go up H5927 ; for H3588 CONJ tomorrow H4279 NMS I will deliver H5414 them into thine hand H3027 .
29 And Israel H3478 set H7760 W-VQY3MS liers in wait H693 round about H5439 Gibeah H1390 .
30 And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 went up H5927 against H413 PREP the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144 on the third H7992 D-ONUM day H3117 B-AMS , and put themselves in array H6186 against H413 PREP Gibeah H1390 , as at other times H6471 .
31 And the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144 went out H3318 W-VQY3MP against H7125 L-VQFC the people H5971 , and were drawn away H5423 from H4480 PREP the city H5892 D-GFS ; and they began H2490 to smite H5221 L-VHFC of the people H5971 , and kill H2491 NMP , as at other times H6471 , in the highways H4546 , of which H834 RPRO one H259 OFS goeth up H5927 to the house of God H1008 , and the other H259 to Gibeah H1390 in the field H7704 B-NMS , about thirty H7970 men H376 NMS of Israel H3478 .
32 And the children H1121 W-CMP of Benjamin H1144 said H559 , They H1992 PPRO-3MP are smitten down H5062 before H6440 us , as at the first H7223 . But the children H1121 W-CMP of Israel H3478 said H559 VQQ3MP , Let us flee H5127 , and draw H5423 them from H4480 PREP the city H5892 D-GFS unto H413 PREP the highways H4546 .
33 And all H3605 W-CMS the men H376 NMS of Israel H3478 rose up H6965 VQQ3MP out of their place H4725 M-CMS-3MS , 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 H4725 M-CMS-3MP , even out of the meadows H4629 of Gibeah H1390 .
34 And there came H935 W-VQY3MP against H5048 M-PREP Gibeah H1390 ten H6235 thousand H505 MMP chosen H977 men H376 NMS out of all H3605 M-CMS Israel H3478 , and the battle H4421 was sore H3513 : but they H1992 W-PPRO-3MP knew H3045 VQQ3MP not H3808 NADV that H3588 CONJ evil H7451 D-AFS was near H5060 them .
35 And the LORD H3068 EDS smote H5062 Benjamin H1144 before H6440 L-CMP Israel H3478 : and the children H1121 CMP of Israel H3478 destroyed H7843 of the Benjamites H1144 that H1931 D-PPRO-3MS day H3117 B-AMS twenty H6242 and five H2568 thousand H505 W-BMS and a hundred H3967 men H376 NMS : all H3605 NMS these H428 PMP drew H8025 the sword H2719 GFS .
36 So the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144 saw H7200 W-VQY3MP that H3588 CONJ they were smitten H5062 : for the men H376 NMS of Israel H3478 gave H5414 W-VQY3MP place H4725 NUM-MS to the Benjamites H1144 , because H3588 CONJ they trusted H982 unto H413 PREP the liers in wait H693 which H834 RPRO they had set H7760 VQQ3MP beside H413 PREP Gibeah H1390 .
37 And the liers in wait H693 hasted H2363 , and rushed H6584 W-VQY3MP upon H413 PREP Gibeah H1390 ; and the liers in wait H693 drew themselves along H4900 , and smote H5221 W-VHY3MS all H3605 NMS the city H5892 D-GFS with the edge H6310 L-CMS of the sword H2719 GFS .
38 Now there was H1961 VQQ3MS an appointed sign H4150 between the men H376 L-NMS 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 PREP the city H5892 D-GFS .
39 And when the men H376 NMS of Israel H3478 retired H2015 in the battle H4421 , Benjamin H1144 began H2490 VHQ3MS to smite H5221 L-VHFC and kill H2491 NMP of the men H376 NMS of Israel H3478 about thirty H7970 persons H376 NMS : for H3588 CONJ they said H559 VQQ3MP , Surely H389 ADV they H1931 PPRO-3MS are smitten down H5062 before H6440 us , as in the first H7223 battle H4421 .
40 But when the flame H4864 began H2490 to arise up H5927 L-VQFC out of H4480 PREP the city H5892 D-GFS with a pillar H5982 of smoke H6227 NMS , the Benjamites H1144 looked H6437 behind H310 PREP-3MS them , and , behold H2009 IJEC , the flame H3632 of the city H5892 D-GFS ascended up H5927 to heaven H8064 D-NMP-3FS .
41 And when the men H376 NMS of Israel H3478 turned again H2015 VQQ3MS , the men H376 NMS of Benjamin H1144 were amazed H926 : for H3588 CONJ they saw H7200 VQQ3MS that H3588 CONJ evil H7451 D-AFS was come H5060 VQQ3FS upon H5921 PREP-3MS them .
42 Therefore they turned H6437 their backs before H6440 L-CMP the men H376 NMS of Israel H3478 unto H413 PREP the way H1870 NMS of the wilderness H4057 D-NMS ; but the battle H4421 overtook H1692 them ; and them which H834 W-RPRO came out of the cities H5892 they destroyed H7843 in the midst H8432 of them .
43 Thus they enclosed the Benjamites round about H3803 , and chased H7291 them , and trod them down H1869 VHQ3MP-3MS with ease H4496 over against H5704 PREP Gibeah H1390 toward the sunrising H4217 .
44 And there fell H5307 W-VQY3MP of Benjamin H1144 eighteen H8083 thousand H505 W-BMS men H376 NMS ; all H3605 NMS these H428 PMP were men H376 NMS of valor H2428 NMS .
45 And they turned H6437 and fled H5127 W-VQY3MP toward the wilderness H4057 unto H413 PREP the rock H5553 NMS of Rimmon H7417 : and they gleaned H5953 of them in the highways H4546 five H2568 thousand H505 MMP men H376 NMS ; and pursued hard H1692 after H310 PREP-3MS them unto H5704 PREP Gidom H1440 , and slew H5221 W-VHY3MP two thousand H505 men H376 NMS of H4480 M-PREP-3MS them .
46 So that all H3605 NMS which fell H5307 that H1931 D-PPRO-3MS day H3117 B-AMS of Benjamin H1144 were H1961 W-VQY3MS twenty H6242 and five H2568 thousand H505 W-BMS men H376 NMS that drew H8025 the sword H2719 GFS ; all H3605 NMS these H428 PMP were men H376 NMS of valor H2428 NMS .
47 But six H8337 RFS hundred H3967 BFP men H376 NMS turned H6437 and fled H5127 W-VQY3MP to the wilderness H4057 unto H413 PREP the rock H5553 NMS Rimmon H7417 , and abode H3427 in the rock H5553 Rimmon H7417 four H702 MMS months H2320 .
48 And the men H376 W-NMS of Israel H3478 turned again H7725 VQQ3MP upon H413 PREP the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144 , and smote H5221 them with the edge H6310 L-CMS of the sword H2719 GFS , as well the men H4974 of every city H5892 M-NFS , as H5704 PREP the beast H929 NFS , and all H3605 NMS that came to hand H4672 : also H1571 CONJ they set H7971 on fire H784 all H3605 NMS the cities H5892 that they came to H4672 .
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