Judges 20 שׁוֹפְטִים

Hebrew · transliteration · JPS 1917

¹וַיֵּצְאוּ֮ כָּל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ וַתִּקָּהֵ֨ל הָעֵדָ֜ה כְּאִ֣ישׁ אֶחָ֗ד לְמִדָּן֙ וְעַד־בְּאֵ֣ר שֶׁ֔בַע וְאֶ֖רֶץ הַגִּלְעָ֑ד אֶל־יְהוָ֖ה הַמִּצְפָּֽה׃

vayyetzu kal-bene yisra'el vattikkahel ha'eda ke'ish echad lemiddan ve'ad-be'er sheva' ve'eretz haggil'ad el-ADONAI hammitzpa

Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was assembled as one man, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, with the land of Gilead, unto the LORD at Mizpah.

²וַיִּֽתְיַצְּב֞וּ פִּנּ֣וֹת כָּל־הָעָ֗ם כֹּ֚ל שִׁבְטֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל בִּקְהַ֖ל עַ֣ם הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים אַרְבַּ֨ע מֵא֥וֹת אֶ֛לֶף אִ֥ישׁ רַגְלִ֖י שֹׁ֥לֵֽף חָֽרֶב׃

vayyityatzevu pinnot kal-ha'am kol shivte yisra'el bikhal am ha'elohim arba' meot elef ish ragli sholef charev

And the chiefs of all the people, even of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen that drew sword.—

³וַֽיִּשְׁמְעוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י בִנְיָמִ֔ן כִּֽי־עָל֥וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל הַמִּצְפָּ֑ה וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל דַּבְּר֕וּ אֵיכָ֥ה נִהְיְתָ֖ה הָרָעָ֥ה הַזֹּֽאת׃

vayyishme'u bene vinyamin ki-alu vene-yisra'el hammitzpa vayyomru bene yisra'el dabberu ekha nihyeta hara'a hazzot

Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mizpah.—And the children of Israel said: ‘Tell us, how was this wickedness brought to pass?’

⁴וַיַּ֜עַן הָאִ֣ישׁ הַלֵּוִ֗י אִ֛ישׁ הָאִשָּׁ֥ה הַנִּרְצָחָ֖ה וַיֹּאמַ֑ר הַגִּבְעָ֨תָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לְבִנְיָמִ֔ן בָּ֛אתִי אֲנִ֥י וּפִֽילַגְשִׁ֖י לָלֽוּן׃

vayya'an ha'ish hallevi ish ha'isha hannirtzacha vayyomar haggiv'ata asher levinyamin bati ani ufilagshi lalun

And the Levite, the husband of the woman that was murdered, answered and said: ‘I came into Gibeah that belongeth to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge.

⁵וַיָּקֻ֤מוּ עָלַי֙ בַּעֲלֵ֣י הַגִּבְעָ֔ה וַיָּסֹ֧בּוּ עָלַ֛י אֶת־הַבַּ֖יִת לָ֑יְלָה אוֹתִי֙ דִּמּ֣וּ לַהֲרֹ֔ג וְאֶת־פִּילַגְשִׁ֥י עִנּ֖וּ וַתָּמֹֽת׃

vayyakumu alay ba'ale haggiv'a vayyasobbu alay et-habbayit layla oti dimmu laharog ve'et-pilagshi innu vattamot

And the men of Gibeah rose against me, and beset the house round about upon me by night; me they thought to have slain, and my concubine they forced, and she is dead.

⁶וָֽאֹחֵ֤ז בְּפִֽילַגְשִׁי֙ וָֽאֲנַתְּחֶ֔הָ וָֽאֲשַׁלְּחֶ֔הָ בְּכָל־שְׂדֵ֖ה נַחֲלַ֣ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כִּ֥י עָשׂ֛וּ זִמָּ֥ה וּנְבָלָ֖ה בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

va'ochez befilagshi va'anattecheha va'ashallecheha bekhal-sede nachalat yisra'el ki asu zimma unevala beyisra'el

And I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel; for they have committed lewdness and wantonness in Israel

⁷הִנֵּ֥ה כֻלְּכֶ֖ם בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל הָב֥וּ לָכֶ֛ם דָּבָ֥ר וְעֵצָ֖ה הֲלֹֽם׃

hinne khullekhem bene yisra'el havu lakhem davar ve'etza halom

Behold, ye are all here, children of Israel, give here your advice and council.’

⁸וַיָּ֨קָם֙ כָּל־הָעָ֔ם כְּאִ֥ישׁ אֶחָ֖ד לֵאמֹ֑ר לֹ֤א נֵלֵךְ֙ אִ֣ישׁ לְאָהֳל֔וֹ וְלֹ֥א נָס֖וּר אִ֥ישׁ לְבֵיתֽוֹ׃

vayyakam kal-ha'am ke'ish echad lemor lo nelekh ish le'aholo velo nasur ish leveto

And all the people arose as one man, saying: ‘We will not any of us go to his tent, neither will we any of us turn unto his house.

⁹וְעַתָּ֕ה זֶ֣ה הַדָּבָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר נַעֲשֶׂ֖ה לַגִּבְעָ֑ה עָלֶ֖יהָ בְּגוֹרָֽל׃

ve'atta ze haddavar asher na'ase laggiv'a aleha begoral

But now this is the thing which we will do to Gibeah: we will go up against it by lot;

¹⁰וְלָקַ֣חְנוּ עֲשָׂרָה֩ אֲנָשִׁ֨ים לַמֵּאָ֜ה לְכֹ֣ל ׀ שִׁבְטֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וּמֵאָ֤ה לָאֶ֨לֶף֙ וְאֶ֣לֶף לָרְבָבָ֔ה לָקַ֥חַת צֵדָ֖ה לָעָ֑ם לַעֲשׂ֗וֹת לְבוֹאָם֙ לְגֶ֣בַע בִּנְיָמִ֔ן כְּכָל־הַ֨נְּבָלָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשָׂ֖ה בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

velakachnu asara anashim lamme'a lekhol shivte yisra'el ume'a la'elef ve'elef larvava lakachat tzeda la'am la'asot levo'am legeva' binyamin kekhal-hannevala asher asa beyisra'el

and we will take ten men of a hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and a hundred of a thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand, to fetch victuals for the people, that they may do, when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, according to all the wantonness that they have wrought in Israel.’

¹¹וַיֵּֽאָסֵ֞ף כָּל־אִ֤ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֶל־הָעִ֔יר כְּאִ֥ישׁ אֶחָ֖ד חֲבֵרִֽים׃

vayye'asef kal-ish yisra'el el-ha'ir ke'ish echad chaverim

So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together as one man.

¹²וַֽיִּשְׁלְח֞וּ שִׁבְטֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֲנָשִׁ֔ים בְּכָל־שִׁבְטֵ֥י בִנְיָמִ֖ן לֵאמֹ֑ר מָ֚ה הָרָעָ֣ה הַזֹּ֔את אֲשֶׁ֥ר נִהְיְתָ֖ה בָּכֶֽם׃

vayyishlechu shivte yisra'el anashim bekhal-shivte vinyamin lemor ma hara'a hazzot asher nihyeta bakhem

And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying: ‘What wickedness is this that is come to pass among you?

¹³וְעַתָּ֡ה תְּנוּ֩ אֶת־הָאֲנָשִׁ֨ים בְּנֵֽי־בְלִיַּ֜עַל אֲשֶׁ֤ר בַּגִּבְעָה֙ וּנְמִיתֵ֔ם וּנְבַעֲרָ֥ה רָעָ֖ה מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְלֹ֤א אָבוּ֙ בִּנְיָמִ֔ן לִשְׁמֹ֕עַ בְּק֖וֹל אֲחֵיהֶ֥ם בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

ve'atta tenu et-ha'anashim bene-veliyya'al asher baggiv'a unemitem uneva'ara ra'a miyyisra'el velo avu binyamin lishmoa bekol achehem bene-yisra'el

Now therefore deliver up the men, the base fellows that are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel.’ But the children of Benjamin would not hearken to the voice of their brethren the children of Israel.

¹⁴וַיֵּאָסְפ֧וּ בְנֵֽי־בִנְיָמִ֛ן מִן־הֶעָרִ֖ים הַגִּבְעָ֑תָה לָצֵ֥את לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה עִם־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

vayye'asfu vene-vinyamin min-he'arim haggiv'ata latzet lammilchama im-bene yisra'el

And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together out of their cities unto Gibeah, to go out to battle against the children of Israel.

¹⁵וַיִּתְפָּֽקְדוּ֩ בְנֵ֨י בִנְיָמִ֜ן בַּיּ֤וֹם הַהוּא֙ מֵהֶ֣עָרִ֔ים עֶשְׂרִ֨ים וְשִׁשָּׁ֥ה אֶ֛לֶף אִ֖ישׁ שֹׁ֣לֵֽף חָ֑רֶב לְ֠בַד מִיֹּשְׁבֵ֤י הַגִּבְעָה֙ הִתְפָּ֣קְד֔וּ שְׁבַ֥ע מֵא֖וֹת אִ֥ישׁ בָּחֽוּר׃

vayyitpakdu vene vinyamin bayyom hahu mehe'arim esrim veshisha elef ish sholef charev levad miyyoshve haggiv'a hitpakdu sheva' meot ish bachur

And the children of Benjamin numbered on that day out of the cities twenty and six thousand men that drew sword, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah, who numbered seven hundred chosen men.

¹⁶מִכֹּ֣ל ׀ הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֗ה שְׁבַ֤ע מֵאוֹת֙ אִ֣ישׁ בָּח֔וּר אִטֵּ֖ר יַד־יְמִינ֑וֹ כָּל־זֶ֗ה קֹלֵ֧עַ בָּאֶ֛בֶן אֶל־הַֽשַּׂעֲרָ֖ה וְלֹ֥א יַחֲטִֽא׃

mikkol ha'am hazze sheva' meot ish bachur itter yad-yemino kal-ze kolea ba'even el-hassa'ara velo yachati

All this people, even seven hundred chosen men, were left-handed; every one could sling stones at a hair-breadth, and not miss.

¹⁷וְאִ֨ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל הִתְפָּֽקְד֗וּ לְבַד֙ מִבִּנְיָמִ֔ן אַרְבַּ֨ע מֵא֥וֹת אֶ֛לֶף אִ֖ישׁ שֹׁ֣לֵֽף חָ֑רֶב כָּל־זֶ֖ה אִ֥ישׁ מִלְחָמָֽה׃

ve'ish yisra'el hitpakdu levad mibbinyamin arba' meot elef ish sholef charev kal-ze ish milchama

And the men of Israel, beside Benjamin, numbered four hundred thousand men that drew sword; all these were men of war.

¹⁸וַיָּקֻ֜מוּ וַיַּעֲל֣וּ בֵֽית־אֵל֮ וַיִּשְׁאֲל֣וּ בֵאלֹהִים֒ וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מִ֚י יַעֲלֶה־לָּ֣נוּ בַתְּחִלָּ֔ה לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה עִם־בְּנֵ֣י בִנְיָמִ֑ן וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהוָ֖ה יְהוּדָ֥ה בַתְּחִלָּֽה׃

vayyakumu vayya'alu vet-el vayyish'alu velohim vayyomru bene yisra'el mi ya'ale-lanu vattechilla lammilchama im-bene vinyamin vayyomer ADONAI yehuda vattechilla

And the children of Israel arose, and went up to Beth-el, and asked counsel of God; and they said: ‘Who shall go up for us first to battle against the children of Benjamin?’ And the LORD said: ‘Judah first.’

¹⁹וַיָּק֥וּמוּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בַּבֹּ֑קֶר וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ עַל־הַגִּבְעָֽה׃

vayyakumu vene-yisra'el babboker vayyachanu al-haggiv'a

And the children of Israel rose up in the morning, and encamped against Gibeah.

²⁰וַיֵּצֵא֙ אִ֣ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה עִם־בִּנְיָמִ֑ן וַיַּעַרְכ֨וּ אִתָּ֧ם אִֽישׁ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל מִלְחָמָ֖ה אֶל־הַגִּבְעָֽה׃

vayyetze ish yisra'el lammilchama im-binyamin vayya'arkhu ittam ish-yisra'el milchama el-haggiv'a

And the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin; and the men of Israel set the battle in array against them at Gibeah.

²¹וַיֵּצְא֥וּ בְנֵֽי־בִנְיָמִ֖ן מִן־הַגִּבְעָ֑ה וַיַּשְׁחִ֨יתוּ בְיִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא שְׁנַ֨יִם וְעֶשְׂרִ֥ים אֶ֛לֶף אִ֖ישׁ אָֽרְצָה׃

vayyetzu vene-vinyamin min-haggiv'a vayyashchitu veyisra'el bayyom hahu shenayim ve'esrim elef ish artza

And the children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah, and destroyed down to the ground of the Israelites on that day twenty and two thousand men.

²²וַיִּתְחַזֵּ֥ק הָעָ֖ם אִ֣ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיֹּסִ֨פוּ֙ לַעֲרֹ֣ךְ מִלְחָמָ֔ה בַּמָּק֕וֹם אֲשֶׁר־עָ֥רְכוּ שָׁ֖ם בַּיּ֥וֹם הָרִאשֽׁוֹן׃

vayyitchazzek ha'am ish yisra'el vayyosifu la'arokh milchama bammakom asher-arkhu sham bayyom harishon

And the people, the men of Israel, encouraged themselves, and set the battle again in array in the place where they set themselves in array the first day.

²³וַיַּעֲל֣וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וַיִּבְכּ֣וּ לִפְנֵֽי־יְהוָה֮ עַד־הָעֶרֶב֒ וַיִּשְׁאֲל֤וּ בַֽיהוָה֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הַאוֹסִ֗יף לָגֶ֨שֶׁת֙ לַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה עִם־בְּנֵ֥י בִנְיָמִ֖ן אָחִ֑י וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהוָ֖ה עֲל֥וּ אֵלָֽיו׃

vayya'alu vene-yisra'el vayyivku lifne-ADONAI ad-ha'erev vayyish'alu baADONAI lemor haosif lageshet lammilchama im-bene vinyamin achi vayyomer ADONAI alu elav

And the children of Israel went up and wept before the LORD until even; and they asked of the LORD, saying: ‘Shall I again draw nigh to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother?’ And the LORD said: ‘Go up against him.’

²⁴וַיִּקְרְב֧וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל אֶל־בְּנֵ֥י בִנְיָמִ֖ן בַּיּ֥וֹם הַשֵּׁנִֽי׃

vayyikrevu vene-yisra'el el-bene vinyamin bayyom hasheni

And the children of Israel came near against the children of Benjamin the second day.

²⁵וַיֵּצֵא֩ בִנְיָמִ֨ן ׀ לִקְרָאתָ֥ם ׀ מִֽן־הַגִּבְעָה֮ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשֵּׁנִי֒ וַיַּשְׁחִיתוּ֩ בִבְנֵ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל ע֗וֹד שְׁמֹנַ֨ת עָשָׂ֥ר אֶ֛לֶף אִ֖ישׁ אָ֑רְצָה כָּל־אֵ֖לֶּה שֹׁ֥לְפֵי חָֽרֶב׃

vayyetze vinyamin likratam min-haggiv'a bayyom hasheni vayyashchitu vivne yisra'el od shemonat asar elef ish artza kal-elle sholfe charev

And Benjamin went forth against them out of Gibeah the second day, and destroyed down to the ground of the children of Israel again eighteen thousand men; all these drew the sword.

²⁶וַיַּעֲל֣וּ כָל־בְּנֵי֩ יִשְׂרָאֵ֨ל וְכָל־הָעָ֜ם וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ בֵֽית־אֵ֗ל וַיִּבְכּוּ֙ וַיֵּ֤שְׁבוּ שָׁם֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה וַיָּצ֥וּמוּ בַיּוֹם־הַה֖וּא עַד־הָעָ֑רֶב וַֽיַּעֲל֛וּ עֹל֥וֹת וּשְׁלָמִ֖ים לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָֽה׃

vayya'alu khal-bene yisra'el vekhal-ha'am vayyavou vet-el vayyivku vayyeshvu sham lifne ADONAI vayyatzumu vayyom-hahu ad-ha'arev vayya'alu olot ushelamim lifne ADONAI

Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto Beth-el, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day until even; and they offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings before the LORD.

²⁷וַיִּשְׁאֲל֥וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בַּֽיהוָ֑ה וְשָׁ֗ם אֲרוֹן֙ בְּרִ֣ית הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים בַּיָּמִ֖ים הָהֵֽם׃

vayyish'alu vene-yisra'el baADONAI vesham aron berit ha'elohim bayyamim hahem

And the children of Israel asked of the LORD—for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,

²⁸וּ֠פִינְחָס בֶּן־אֶלְעָזָ֨ר בֶּֽן־אַהֲרֹ֜ן עֹמֵ֣ד ׀ לְפָנָ֗יו בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵם֮ לֵאמֹר֒ הַאוֹסִ֨ף ע֜וֹד לָצֵ֧את לַמִּלְחָמָ֛ה עִם־בְּנֵֽי־בִנְיָמִ֥ן אָחִ֖י אִם־אֶחְדָּ֑ל וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ עֲל֔וּ כִּ֥י מָחָ֖ר אֶתְּנֶ֥נּוּ בְיָדֶֽךָ׃

ufinchas ben-el'azar ben-aharon omed lefanav bayyamim hahem lemor haosif od latzet lammilchama im-bene-vinyamin achi im-echdal vayyomer ADONAI alu ki machar ettenennu veyadekha

and Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days—saying: ‘Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease?’ And the LORD said: ‘Go up; for to-morrow I will deliver him into thy hand.’

²⁹וַיָּ֤שֶׂם יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֹֽרְבִ֔ים אֶל־הַגִּבְעָ֖ה סָבִֽיב׃

vayyasem yisra'el orvim el-haggiv'a saviv

And Israel set liers-in-wait against Gibeah round about.

³⁰וַיַּעֲל֧וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל אֶל־בְּנֵ֥י בִנְיָמִ֖ן בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֑י וַיַּעַרְכ֥וּ אֶל־הַגִּבְעָ֖ה כְּפַ֥עַם בְּפָֽעַם׃

vayya'alu vene-yisra'el el-bene vinyamin bayyom hashelishi vayya'arkhu el-haggiv'a kefa'am befa'am

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

³¹וַיֵּצְא֤וּ בְנֵֽי־בִנְיָמִן֙ לִקְרַ֣את הָעָ֔ם הָנְתְּק֖וּ מִן־הָעִ֑יר וַיָּחֵ֡לּוּ לְהַכּוֹת֩ מֵהָעָ֨ם חֲלָלִ֜ים כְּפַ֣עַם ׀ בְּפַ֗עַם בַּֽמְסִלּוֹת֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר אַחַ֜ת עֹלָ֣ה בֵֽית־אֵ֗ל וְאַחַ֤ת גִּבְעָ֨תָה֙ בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה כִּשְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים אִ֖ישׁ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

vayyetzu vene-vinyamin likrat ha'am hanteku min-ha'ir vayyachellu lehakkot meha'am chalalim kefa'am befa'am bamsillot asher achat ola vet-el ve'achat giv'ata bassade kishloshim ish beyisra'el

And the children of Benjamin went out against the people, and were drawn away from the city; and they began to smite and kill of the people, as at other times, in the field, in the highways, of which one goeth up to Beth-el, and the other to Gibeah, about thirty men of Israel.

³²וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י בִנְיָמִ֔ן נִגָּפִ֥ים הֵ֛ם לְפָנֵ֖ינוּ כְּבָרִאשֹׁנָ֑ה וּבְנֵ֧י יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל אָמְר֗וּ נָנ֨וּסָה֙ וּֽנְתַקְּנֻ֔הוּ מִן־הָעִ֖יר אֶל־הַֽמְסִלּֽוֹת׃

vayyomru bene vinyamin niggafim hem lefanenu kevarishona uvene yisra'el amru nanusa unetakkenuhu min-ha'ir el-hamsillot

And the children of Benjamin said: ‘They are smitten down before us, as at the first.’ But the children of Israel said: ‘Let us flee, and draw them away from the city unto the highways.’

³³וְכֹ֣ל ׀ אִ֣ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל קָ֚מוּ מִמְּקוֹמ֔וֹ וַיַּעַרְכ֖וּ בְּבַ֣עַל תָּמָ֑ר וְאֹרֵ֧ב יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל מֵגִ֥יחַ מִמְּקֹמ֖וֹ מִמַּֽעֲרֵה־גָֽבַע׃

vekhol ish yisra'el kamu mimmekomo vayya'arkhu beva'al tamar ve'orev yisra'el megiach mimmekomo mimma'are-gava'

And all the men of Israel rose up out of their place, and set themselves in array at Baal-tamar; and the liers-in-wait of Israel broke forth out of their place, even out of Maareh-geba.

³⁴וַיָּבֹאוּ֩ מִנֶּ֨גֶד לַגִּבְעָ֜ה עֲשֶׂרֶת֩ אֲלָפִ֨ים אִ֤ישׁ בָּחוּר֙ מִכָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְהַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה כָּבֵ֑דָה וְהֵם֙ לֹ֣א יָדְע֔וּ כִּֽי־נֹגַ֥עַת עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם הָרָעָֽה׃

vayyavou minneged laggiv'a aseret alafim ish bachur mikkal-yisra'el vehammilchama kaveda vehem lo yad'u ki-noga'at alehem hara'a

And there came over against Gibeah ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and the battle was sore; but they knew not that evil was close upon them.

³⁵וַיִּגֹּ֨ף יְהוָ֥ה ׀ אֶֽת־בִּנְיָמִן֮ לִפְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ וַיַּשְׁחִיתוּ֩ בְנֵ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל בְּבִנְיָמִן֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא עֶשְׂרִ֨ים וַחֲמִשָּׁ֥ה אֶ֛לֶף וּמֵאָ֖ה אִ֑ישׁ כָּל־אֵ֖לֶּה שֹׁ֥לֵף חָֽרֶב׃

vayyiggof ADONAI et-binyamin lifne yisra'el vayyashchitu vene yisra'el bevinyamin bayyom hahu esrim vachamisha elef ume'a ish kal-elle sholef charev

And the LORD smote Benjamin before Israel; and the children of Israel destroyed of Benjamin that day twenty and five thousand and a hundred men; all these drew the sword.

³⁶וַיִּרְא֥וּ בְנֵֽי־בִנְיָמִ֖ן כִּ֣י נִגָּ֑פוּ וַיִּתְּנ֨וּ אִֽישׁ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל מָקוֹם֙ לְבִנְיָמִ֔ן כִּ֤י בָֽטְחוּ֙ אֶל־הָ֣אֹרֵ֔ב אֲשֶׁר שָׂ֖מוּ אֶל־הַגִּבְעָֽה׃

vayyiru vene-vinyamin ki niggafu vayyittenu ish-yisra'el makom levinyamin ki vatchu el-ha'orev asher samu el-haggiv'a

So the children of Benjamin saw that they were smitten. And the men of Israel gave place to Benjamin, because they trusted unto the liers-in-wait whom they had set against Gibeah.—

³⁷וְהָאֹרֵ֣ב הֵחִ֔ישׁוּ וַֽיִּפְשְׁט֖וּ אֶל־הַגִּבְעָ֑ה וַיִּמְשֹׁךְ֙ הָאֹרֵ֔ב וַיַּ֥ךְ אֶת־כָּל־הָעִ֖יר לְפִי־חָֽרֶב׃

veha'orev hechishu vayyifshetu el-haggiv'a vayyimshokh ha'orev vayyakh et-kal-ha'ir lefi-charev

And the liers-in-wait hastened, and rushed upon Gibeah; and the liers-in-wait drew forth, and smote all the city with the edge of the sword.

³⁸וְהַמּוֹעֵ֗ד הָיָ֛ה לְאִ֥ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עִם־הָאֹרֵ֑ב הֶ֕רֶב לְהַעֲלוֹתָ֛ם מַשְׂאַ֥ת הֶעָשָׁ֖ן מִן־הָעִֽיר׃

vehammo'ed haya le'ish yisra'el im-ha'orev herev leha'alotam mas'at he'ashan min-ha'ir

Now there was an appointed sign between the men of Israel and the liers-in-wait, that they should make a great beacon of smoke rise up out of the city.—

³⁹וַיַּהֲפֹ֥ךְ אִֽישׁ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בַּמִּלְחָמָ֑ה וּבִנְיָמִ֡ן הֵחֵל֩ לְהַכּ֨וֹת חֲלָלִ֤ים בְּאִֽישׁ־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ כִּשְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים אִ֔ישׁ כִּ֣י אָמְר֔וּ אַךְ֩ נִגּ֨וֹף נִגָּ֥ף הוּא֙ לְפָנֵ֔ינוּ כַּמִּלְחָמָ֖ה הָרִאשֹׁנָֽה׃

vayyahafokh ish-yisra'el bammilchama uvinyamin hechel lehakkot chalalim be'ish-yisra'el kishloshim ish ki amru akh niggof niggaf hu lefanenu kammilchama harishona

And the men of Israel turned in the battle, and Benjamin began to smite and kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons; for they said: ‘Surely they are smitten down before us, as in the first battle.’

⁴⁰וְהַמַּשְׂאֵ֗ת הֵחֵ֛לָּה לַעֲל֥וֹת מִן־הָעִ֖יר עַמּ֣וּד עָשָׁ֑ן וַיִּ֤פֶן בִּנְיָמִן֙ אַחֲרָ֔יו וְהִנֵּ֛ה עָלָ֥ה כְלִיל־הָעִ֖יר הַשָּׁמָֽיְמָה׃

vehammas'et hechella la'alot min-ha'ir ammud ashan vayyifen binyamin acharav vehinne ala khelil-ha'ir hashamayma

But when the beacon began to arise up out of the city in a pillar of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them, and, behold, the whole of the city went up in smoke to heaven.

⁴¹וְאִ֤ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ הָפַ֔ךְ וַיִּבָּהֵ֖ל אִ֣ישׁ בִּנְיָמִ֑ן כִּ֣י רָאָ֔ה כִּֽי־נָגְעָ֥ה עָלָ֖יו הָרָעָֽה׃

ve'ish yisra'el hafakh vayyibbahel ish binyamin ki ra'a ki-nag'a alav hara'a

And the men of Israel turned, and the men of Benjamin were amazed; for they saw that evil was come upon them.

⁴²וַיִּפְנ֞וּ לִפְנֵ֨י אִ֤ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֶל־דֶּ֣רֶךְ הַמִּדְבָּ֔ר וְהַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה הִדְבִּיקָ֑תְהוּ וַאֲשֶׁר֙ מֵהֶ֣עָרִ֔ים מַשְׁחִיתִ֥ים אוֹת֖וֹ בְּתוֹכֽוֹ׃

vayyifnu lifne ish yisra'el el-derekh hammidbar vehammilchama hidbikathu va'asher mehe'arim mashchitim oto betokho

Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel unto the way of the wilderness; but the battle followed hard after them; and they that came out of the city destroyed them in the midst of the men of Israel.

⁴³כִּתְּר֤וּ אֶת־בִּנְיָמִן֙ הִרְדִיפֻ֔הוּ מְנוּחָ֖ה הִדְרִיכֻ֑הוּ עַ֛ד נֹ֥כַח הַגִּבְעָ֖ה מִמִּזְרַח־שָֽׁמֶשׁ׃

kitteru et-binyamin hirdifuhu menucha hidrikhuhu ad nokhach haggiv'a mimmizrach-shamesh

They inclosed the Benjamites round about, and chased them, and overtook them at their resting-place, as far as over against Gibeah toward the sunrising.

⁴⁴וַֽיִּפְּלוּ֙ מִבִּנְיָמִ֔ן שְׁמֹנָֽה־עָשָׂ֥ר אֶ֖לֶף אִ֑ישׁ אֶת־כָּל־אֵ֖לֶּה אַנְשֵׁי־חָֽיִל׃

vayyippelu mibbinyamin shemona-asar elef ish et-kal-elle anshe-chayil

And there fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men; all these were men of valour.

⁴⁵וַיִּפְנ֞וּ וַיָּנֻ֤סוּ הַמִּדְבָּ֨רָה֙ אֶל־סֶ֣לַע הָֽרִמּ֔וֹן וַיְעֹֽלְלֻ֨הוּ֙ בַּֽמְסִלּ֔וֹת חֲמֵ֥שֶׁת אֲלָפִ֖ים אִ֑ישׁ וַיַּדְבִּ֤יקוּ אַחֲרָיו֙ עַד־גִּדְעֹ֔ם וַיַּכּ֥וּ מִמֶּ֖נּוּ אַלְפַּ֥יִם אִֽישׁ׃

vayyifnu vayyanusu hammidbara el-sela' harimmon vay'olluhu bamsillot chameshet alafim ish vayyadbiku acharav ad-gid'om vayyakku mimmennu alpayim ish

And they turned and fled toward the wilderness unto the rock of Rimmon; and they gleaned of them in the highways five thousand men; and followed hard after them unto Gidom, and smote of them two thousand men.

⁴⁶וַיְהִי֩ כָל־הַנֹּ֨פְלִ֜ים מִבִּנְיָמִ֗ן עֶשְׂרִים֩ וַחֲמִשָּׁ֨ה אֶ֥לֶף אִ֛ישׁ שֹׁ֥לֵֽף חֶ֖רֶב בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא אֶֽת־כָּל־אֵ֖לֶּה אַנְשֵׁי־חָֽיִל׃

vayhi khal-hannoflim mibbinyamin esrim vachamisha elef ish sholef cherev bayyom hahu et-kal-elle anshe-chayil

So that all who fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and five thousand men that drew the sword; all these were men of valour.

⁴⁷וַיִּפְנ֞וּ וַיָּנֻ֤סוּ הַמִּדְבָּ֨רָה֙ אֶל־סֶ֣לַע הָֽרִמּ֔וֹן שֵׁ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת אִ֑ישׁ וַיֵּֽשְׁבוּ֙ בְּסֶ֣לַע רִמּ֔וֹן אַרְבָּעָ֖ה חֳדָשִֽׁים׃

vayyifnu vayyanusu hammidbara el-sela' harimmon shesh meot ish vayyeshvu besela' rimmon arba'a chodashim

But six hundred men turned and fled toward the wilderness unto the rock of Rimmon, and abode in the rock of Rimmon four months.

⁴⁸וְאִ֨ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל שָׁ֣בוּ אֶל־בְּנֵ֤י בִנְיָמִן֙ וַיַּכּ֣וּם לְפִי־חֶ֔רֶב מֵעִ֤יר מְתֹם֙ עַד־בְּהֵמָ֔ה עַ֖ד כָּל־הַנִּמְצָ֑א גַּ֛ם כָּל־הֶעָרִ֥ים הַנִּמְצָא֖וֹת שִׁלְּח֥וּ בָאֵֽשׁ׃

ve'ish yisra'el shavu el-bene vinyamin vayyakkum lefi-cherev me'ir metom ad-behema ad kal-hannimtza gam kal-he'arim hannimtzaot shillechu va'esh

And the men of Israel turned back upon the children of Benjamin, and smote them with the edge of the sword, both the entire city, and the cattle, and all that they found; moreover all the cities which they found they set on fire.

World Messianic Bible (English numbering)

¹Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was assembled as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, to the LORD at Mizpah.

²The chiefs of all the people, even of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen who drew sword.

³(Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.) The children of Israel said, “Tell us, how did this wickedness happen?”

⁴The Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered, “I came into Gibeah that belongs to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to spend the night.

⁵The men of Gibeah rose against me, and surrounded the house by night. They intended to kill me and they raped my concubine, and she is dead.

⁶I took my concubine and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel; for they have committed lewdness and folly in Israel.

⁷Behold, you children of Israel, all of you, give here your advice and counsel.”

⁸All the people arose as one man, saying, “None of us will go to his tent, neither will any of us turn to his house.

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

¹⁰and we will take ten men of one hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and one hundred of one thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand to get food for the people, that they may do, when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, according to all the folly that the men of Gibeah have done in Israel.”

¹¹So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together as one man.

¹²The tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, “What wickedness is this that has happened among you?

¹³Now therefore deliver up the men, the wicked fellows who are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death and put away evil from Israel.” But Benjamin would not listen to the voice of their brothers, the children of Israel.

¹⁴The children of Benjamin gathered themselves together out of the cities to Gibeah, to go out to battle against the children of Israel.

¹⁵The children of Benjamin were counted on that day out of the cities twenty-six thousand men who drew the sword, in addition to the inhabitants of Gibeah, who were counted seven hundred chosen men.

¹⁶Among all these soldiers there were seven hundred chosen men who were left-handed. Every one of them could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.

¹⁷The men of Israel, besides Benjamin, were counted four hundred thousand men who drew sword. All these were men of war.

¹⁸The children of Israel arose, went up to Bethel, and asked counsel of God. They asked, “Who shall go up for us first to battle against the children of Benjamin?” The LORD said, “Judah first.”

¹⁹The children of Israel rose up in the morning and encamped against Gibeah.

²⁰The men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin; and the men of Israel set the battle in array against them at Gibeah.

²¹The children of Benjamin came out of Gibeah, and on that day destroyed twenty-two thousand of the Israelite men down to the ground.

²²The people, the men of Israel, encouraged themselves, and set the battle again in array in the place where they set themselves in array the first day.

²³The children of Israel went up and wept before the LORD until evening; and they asked of the LORD, saying, “Shall I again draw near to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother?” The LORD said, “Go up against him.”

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

²⁵Benjamin went out against them out of Gibeah the second day, and destroyed down to the ground of the children of Israel again eighteen thousand men. All these drew the sword.

²⁶Then all the children of Israel and all the people went up, and came to Bethel, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day until evening; then they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.

²⁷The children of Israel asked the LORD (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,

²⁸and Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days), saying, “Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease?” The LORD said, “Go up; for tomorrow I will deliver him into your hand.”

²⁹Israel set ambushes all around Gibeah.

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

³¹The children of Benjamin went out against the people, and were drawn away from the city; and they began to strike and kill of the people as at other times, in the highways, of which one goes up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah, in the field, about thirty men of Israel.

³²The children of Benjamin said, “They are struck down before us, as at the first.” But the children of Israel said, “Let’s flee, and draw them away from the city to the highways.”

³³All the men of Israel rose up out of their place and set themselves in array at Baal Tamar. Then the ambushers of Israel broke out of their place, even out of Maareh Geba.

³⁴Ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel came over against Gibeah, and the battle was severe; but they didn’t know that disaster was close to them.

³⁵The LORD struck Benjamin before Israel; and the children of Israel destroyed of Benjamin that day twenty-five thousand one hundred men. All these drew the sword.

³⁶So the children of Benjamin saw that they were struck, for the men of Israel yielded to Benjamin because they trusted the ambushers whom they had set against Gibeah.

³⁷The ambushers hurried, and rushed on Gibeah; then the ambushers spread out, and struck all the city with the edge of the sword.

³⁸Now the appointed sign between the men of Israel and the ambushers was that they should make a great cloud of smoke rise up out of the city.

³⁹The men of Israel turned in the battle, and Benjamin began to strike and kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons; for they said, “Surely they are struck down before us, as in the first battle.”

⁴⁰But when the cloud began to arise up out of the city in a pillar of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them; and behold, the whole city went up in smoke to the sky.

⁴¹The men of Israel turned, and the men of Benjamin were dismayed; for they saw that disaster had come on them.

⁴²Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel to the way of the wilderness, but the battle followed hard after them; and those who came out of the cities destroyed them in the middle of it.

⁴³They surrounded the Benjamites, chased them, and trod them down at their resting place, as far as near Gibeah toward the sunrise.

⁴⁴Eighteen thousand men of Benjamin fell; all these were men of valor.

⁴⁵They turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon. They gleaned five thousand men of them in the highways, and followed hard after them to Gidom, and struck two thousand men of them.

⁴⁶So that all who fell that day of Benjamin were twenty-five thousand men who drew the sword. All these were men of valor.

⁴⁷But six hundred men turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, and stayed in the rock of Rimmon four months.

⁴⁸The men of Israel turned again on the children of Benjamin, and struck them with the edge of the sword—including the entire city, the livestock, and all that they found. Moreover they set all the cities which they found on fire.

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Hebrew: Westminster Leningrad Codex (ketiv shown with the qere in brackets). JPS 1917 and the Hebrew use Hebrew verse numbers; the English column uses English numbering, which sometimes differs by a verse.

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Judges 20 שׁוֹפְטִים

Hebrew · transliteration · JPS 1917

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