Judges 20 Parallel Bible

swipe to see more →

	GWT God's Word Translation	ESV English Standard Version	NIV New International Version
1	All the people of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and from Gilead came to Mizpah. The congregation stood united in the presence of the LORD.	Then all the people of Israel came out, from Dan to Beersheba, including the land of Gilead, and the congregation assembled as one man to the LORD at Mizpah.	Then all Israel from Dan to Beersheba and from the land of Gilead came together as one and assembled before the LORD in Mizpah.
2	The leaders of all Israel's tribes took their places in the congregation of God's people. There were 400,000 foot soldiers with swords.	And the chiefs of all the people, of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, 400,000 men on foot that drew the sword.	The leaders of all the people of the tribes of Israel took their places in the assembly of God’s people, four hundred thousand men armed with swords.
3	The people of Benjamin heard that Israel had come to Mizpah. The people of Israel said, \|Tell us how such an evil thing could happen.\|	(Now the people of Benjamin heard that the people of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.) And the people of Israel said, “Tell us, how did this evil happen?”	(The Benjamites heard that the Israelites had gone up to Mizpah.) Then the Israelites said, “Tell us how this awful thing happened.”
4	The Levite, the husband of the murdered woman, answered, \|My concubine and I went to Gibeah in Benjamin to spend the night.	And the Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered and said, “I came to Gibeah that belongs to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to spend the night.	So the Levite, the husband of the murdered woman, said, “I and my concubine came to Gibeah in Benjamin to spend the night.
5	The citizens of Gibeah came to attack me. They surrounded the house [where I was staying] that night. They intended to kill me, but instead, they raped my concubine until she died.	And the leaders of Gibeah rose against me and surrounded the house against me by night. They meant to kill me, and they violated my concubine, and she is dead.	During the night the men of Gibeah came after me and surrounded the house, intending to kill me. They raped my concubine, and she died.
6	So I took my concubine and cut her into pieces. Then I sent the pieces throughout the territory of Israel. I did this because the citizens of Gibeah did this perverted and godless thing in Israel.	So I took hold of my concubine and cut her in pieces and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel, for they have committed abomination and outrage in Israel.	I took my concubine, cut her into pieces and sent one piece to each region of Israel’s inheritance, because they committed this lewd and outrageous act in Israel.
7	All you people of Israel, tell me what you think. Give me your advice right now!\|	Behold, you people of Israel, all of you, give your advice and counsel here.”	Now, all you Israelites, speak up and tell me what you have decided to do.”
8	All the people stood united, saying, \|None of us will go to his tent or return to his house.	And all the people arose as one man, saying, “None of us will go to his tent, and none of us will return to his house.	All the men rose up together as one, saying, “None of us will go home. No, not one of us will return to his house.
9	This is what we'll do to Gibeah. We'll decide by lot who should attack it.	But now this is what we will do to Gibeah: we will go up against it by lot,	But now this is what we’ll do to Gibeah: We’ll go up against it in the order decided by casting lots.
10	We'll take one-tenth of all the men from the tribes of Israel to get supplies for the troops. When the troops go to Gibeah in the territory of Benjamin they can punish the citizens of Gibeah for the godless thing they did in Israel.\|	and we will take ten men of a hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and a hundred of a thousand, and a thousand of ten thousand, to bring provisions for the people, that when they come they may repay Gibeah of Benjamin for all the outrage that they have committed in Israel.”	We’ll take ten men out of every hundred from all the tribes of Israel, and a hundred from a thousand, and a thousand from ten thousand, to get provisions for the army. Then, when the army arrives at Gibeah in Benjamin, it can give them what they deserve for this outrageous act done in Israel.”
11	So all the men of Israel assembled. They stood united against the city.	So all the men of Israel gathered against the city, united as one man.	So all the Israelites got together and united as one against the city.
12	The tribes of Israel sent men throughout the tribe of Benjamin. They asked, \|How could such an evil thing happen among you?	And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, “What evil is this that has taken place among you?	The tribes of Israel sent messengers throughout the tribe of Benjamin, saying, “What about this awful crime that was committed among you?
13	Now hand over those worthless men in Gibeah. We must put them to death to rid ourselves of this kind of evil in Israel.\| But the men of Benjamin refused to listen to the men of Israel.	Now therefore give up the men, the worthless fellows in Gibeah, that we may put them to death and purge evil from Israel.” But the Benjaminites would not listen to the voice of their brothers, the people of Israel.	Now turn those wicked men of Gibeah over to us so that we may put them to death and purge the evil from Israel.” But the Benjamites would not listen to their fellow Israelites.
14	So the men of Benjamin went from their towns and assembled at Gibeah to go to war with the men of Israel.	Then the people of Benjamin came together out of the cities to Gibeah to go out to battle against the people of Israel.	From their towns they came together at Gibeah to fight against the Israelites.
15	That day 26,000 men armed with swords came from Benjamin's cities and organized for battle along with 700 of Gibeah's best men.	And the people of Benjamin mustered out of their cities on that day 26,000 men who drew the sword, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah, who mustered 700 chosen men.	At once the Benjamites mobilized twenty-six thousand swordsmen from their towns, in addition to seven hundred able young men from those living in Gibeah.
16	Out of all these troops, the best 700 were left-handed. Each could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.	Among all these were 700 chosen men who were left-handed; every one could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.	Among all these soldiers there were seven hundred select troops who were left-handed, each of whom could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.
17	The men of Israel (Benjamin not included) totaled 400,000 soldiers armed with swords.	And the men of Israel, apart from Benjamin, mustered 400,000 men who drew the sword; all these were men of war.	Israel, apart from Benjamin, mustered four hundred thousand swordsmen, all of them fit for battle.
18	The men of Israel went to Bethel. They asked God, \|Who will go first to fight Benjamin?\| The LORD answered, \|Judah will go first.\|	The people of Israel arose and went up to Bethel and inquired of God, “Who shall go up first for us to fight against the people of Benjamin?” And the LORD said, “Judah shall go up first.”	The Israelites went up to Bethel and inquired of God. They said, “Who of us is to go up first to fight against the Benjamites?” The LORD replied, “Judah shall go first.”
19	The Israelites got up early in the morning and camped at Gibeah.	Then the people of Israel rose in the morning and encamped against Gibeah.	The next morning the Israelites got up and pitched camp near Gibeah.
20	So the men of Israel went to war with the men of Benjamin. The Israelites formed their battle line facing Gibeah.	And the men of Israel went out to fight against Benjamin, and the men of Israel drew up the battle line against them at Gibeah.	The Israelites went out to fight the Benjamites and took up battle positions against them at Gibeah.
21	That day the men of Benjamin came out from Gibeah. They slaughtered 22,000 of Israel's men.	The people of Benjamin came out of Gibeah and destroyed on that day 22,000 men of the Israelites.	The Benjamites came out of Gibeah and cut down twenty-two thousand Israelites on the battlefield that day.
22	But Israel's troops got reinforcements. They formed their battle line where they had formed it on the first day.	But the people, the men of Israel, took courage, and again formed the battle line in the same place where they had formed it on the first day.	But the Israelites encouraged one another and again took up their positions where they had stationed themselves the first day.
23	The Israelites went and cried in the presence of the LORD until evening. They asked the LORD, \|Should we continue to wage war against our close relatives, the men of Benjamin?\| The LORD answered, \|Go fight them!\|	And the people of Israel went up and wept before the LORD until the evening. And they inquired of the LORD, “Shall we again draw near to fight against our brothers, the people of Benjamin?” And the LORD said, “Go up against them.”	The Israelites went up and wept before the LORD until evening, and they inquired of the LORD. They said, “Shall we go up again to fight against the Benjamites, our fellow Israelites?” The LORD answered, “Go up against them.”
24	On the second day the Israelite troops advanced against Benjamin.	So the people of Israel came near against the people of Benjamin the second day.	Then the Israelites drew near to Benjamin the second day.
25	Benjamin went out from Gibeah to meet them. This time they slaughtered 18,000 men from Israel who were armed with swords.	And Benjamin went against them out of Gibeah the second day, and destroyed 18,000 men of the people of Israel. All these were men who drew the sword.	This time, when the Benjamites came out from Gibeah to oppose them, they cut down another eighteen thousand Israelites, all of them armed with swords.
26	Then all the men of Israel and all the troops went to Bethel. They sat there and cried in the presence of the LORD and fasted that day until evening. Then they sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to the LORD.	Then all the people of Israel, the whole army, went up and came to Bethel and wept. They sat there before the LORD and fasted that day until evening, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.	Then all the Israelites, the whole army, went up to Bethel, and there they sat weeping before the LORD. They fasted that day until evening and presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to the LORD.
27	In those days the ark of God's promise was at Bethel.	And the people of Israel inquired of the LORD (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,	And the Israelites inquired of the LORD. (In those days the ark of the covenant of God was there,
28	(Phinehas, son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron, served in front of it.) So the people of Israel asked the LORD, \|Should we continue to wage war against our close relatives, the men of Benjamin? Or should we stop?\| The LORD answered, \|Go! Tomorrow I will hand them over to you.\|	and Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron, ministered before it in those days), saying, “Shall we go out once more to battle against our brothers, the people of Benjamin, or shall we cease?” And the LORD said, “Go up, for tomorrow I will give them into your hand.”	with Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, ministering before it.) They asked, “Shall we go up again to fight against the Benjamites, our fellow Israelites, or not?” The LORD responded, “Go, for tomorrow I will give them into your hands.”
29	Then Israel placed troops in ambush around Gibeah.	So Israel set men in ambush around Gibeah.	Then Israel set an ambush around Gibeah.
30	On the third day the men of Israel went to fight the men of Benjamin. They formed their battle line facing Gibeah as they did before.	And the people of Israel went up against the people of Benjamin on the third day and set themselves in array against Gibeah, as at other times.	They went up against the Benjamites on the third day and took up positions against Gibeah as they had done before.
31	The men of Benjamin went out to attack Israel's troops and were led away from the city. They started to inflict casualties as before. They killed about 30 men from Israel in the open country and on the roads to Bethel and Gibeah.	And the people of Benjamin went out against the people and were drawn away from the city. And as at other times they began to strike and kill some of the people in the highways, one of which goes up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah, and in the open country, about thirty men of Israel.	The Benjamites came out to meet them and were drawn away from the city. They began to inflict casualties on the Israelites as before, so that about thirty men fell in the open field and on the roads—the one leading to Bethel and the other to Gibeah.
32	The men of Benjamin shouted, \|They're defeated as before!\| But the men of Israel had said, \|Let's flee in order to lead them from the city to the roads.\|	And the people of Benjamin said, “They are routed before us, as at the first.” But the people of Israel said, “Let us flee and draw them away from the city to the highways.”	While the Benjamites were saying, “We are defeating them as before,” the Israelites were saying, “Let’s retreat and draw them away from the city to the roads.”
33	So the men of Israel left their positions. They formed their battle line at Baal Tamar. Meanwhile, those waiting in ambush rushed from their position to the west of Gibeah.	And all the men of Israel rose up out of their place and set themselves in array at Baal-tamar, and the men of Israel who were in ambush rushed out of their place from Maareh-geba.	All the men of Israel moved from their places and took up positions at Baal Tamar, and the Israelite ambush charged out of its place on the west of Gibeah.
34	Then 10,000 of Israel's best men attacked Gibeah. The battle was fierce. But Benjamin's men didn't realize their own evil was about to overtake them.	And there came against Gibeah 10,000 chosen men out of all Israel, and the battle was hard, but the Benjaminites did not know that disaster was close upon them.	Then ten thousand of Israel’s able young men made a frontal attack on Gibeah. The fighting was so heavy that the Benjamites did not realize how near disaster was.
35	So the LORD defeated them in front of Israel. On that day the Israelites slaughtered 25,100 men from Benjamin who were armed with swords.	And the LORD defeated Benjamin before Israel, and the people of Israel destroyed 25,100 men of Benjamin that day. All these were men who drew the sword.	The LORD defeated Benjamin before Israel, and on that day the Israelites struck down 25,100 Benjamites, all armed with swords.
36	Then the men of Benjamin realized they were defeated. The Israelites had allowed the men of Benjamin to take back some ground. The Israelites relied on those waiting in ambush near Gibeah.	So the people of Benjamin saw that they were defeated. The men of Israel gave ground to Benjamin, because they trusted the men in ambush whom they had set against Gibeah.	Then the Benjamites saw that they were beaten. Now the men of Israel had given way before Benjamin, because they relied on the ambush they had set near Gibeah.
37	The men in ambush quickly charged toward Gibeah. They spread out in the city and killed everyone.	Then the men in ambush hurried and rushed against Gibeah; the men in ambush moved out and struck all the city with the edge of the sword.	Those who had been in ambush made a sudden dash into Gibeah, spread out and put the whole city to the sword.
38	The men of Israel had arranged with those waiting in ambush that they would make a big column of smoke rise from the city as a signal.	Now the appointed signal between the men of Israel and the men in the main ambush was that when they made a great cloud of smoke rise up out of the city	The Israelites had arranged with the ambush that they should send up a great cloud of smoke from the city,
39	Then the men of Israel would turn around in the battle. The men of Benjamin had already killed about 30 men of Israel. They even said, \|Israel is completely defeated, just like in the first battle.\|	the men of Israel should turn in battle. Now Benjamin had begun to strike and kill about thirty men of Israel. They said, “Surely they are defeated before us, as in the first battle.”	and then the Israelites would counterattack. The Benjamites had begun to inflict casualties on the Israelites (about thirty), and they said, “We are defeating them as in the first battle.”
40	But when the column of smoke started to rise from the city, the men of Benjamin turned around and saw the whole city going up in smoke.	But when the signal began to rise out of the city in a column of smoke, the Benjaminites looked behind them, and behold, the whole of the city went up in smoke to heaven.	But when the column of smoke began to rise from the city, the Benjamites turned and saw the whole city going up in smoke.
41	Then the men of Israel turned around, and the men of Benjamin panicked. They realized that their evil had overtaken them.	Then the men of Israel turned, and the men of Benjamin were dismayed, for they saw that disaster was close upon them.	Then the Israelites counterattacked, and the Benjamites were terrified, because they realized that disaster had come on them.
42	They turned in front of Israel toward the road to the desert. But the battle caught up with the men of Benjamin. Israel slaughtered whoever came out of the cities on the road to the desert.	Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel in the direction of the wilderness, but the battle overtook them. And those who came out of the cities were destroying them in their midst.	So they fled before the Israelites in the direction of the wilderness, but they could not escape the battle. And the Israelites who came out of the towns cut them down there.
43	They closed in on the men of Benjamin and pursued them without stopping. They overtook them east of Gibeah.	Surrounding the Benjaminites, they pursued them and trod them down from Nohah as far as opposite Gibeah on the east.	They surrounded the Benjamites, chased them and easily overran them in the vicinity of Gibeah on the east.
44	There were 18,000 experienced men from Benjamin who died in battle.	Eighteen thousand men of Benjamin fell, all of them men of valor.	Eighteen thousand Benjamites fell, all of them valiant fighters.
45	The others turned and fled into the desert to Rimmon Rock. But the men of Israel killed 5,000 more on the roads. They caught up with another 2,000 and killed them near Gidom.	And they turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon. Five thousand men of them were cut down in the highways. And they were pursued hard to Gidom, and 2,000 men of them were struck down.	As they turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, the Israelites cut down five thousand men along the roads. They kept pressing after the Benjamites as far as Gidom and struck down two thousand more.
46	In all, 25,000 men from Benjamin who were armed with swords were killed that day. They were all experienced men.	So all who fell that day of Benjamin were 25,000 men who drew the sword, all of them men of valor.	On that day twenty-five thousand Benjamite swordsmen fell, all of them valiant fighters.
47	But 600 men turned and fled into the desert to Rimmon Rock. They stayed at Rimmon Rock for four months.	But 600 men turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon and remained at the rock of Rimmon four months.	But six hundred of them turned and fled into the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, where they stayed four months.
48	Then the men of Israel went back to attack the rest of the territory of Benjamin. They killed all the people and cattle they found in every city. They also burned down every city they came to.	And the men of Israel turned back against the people of Benjamin and struck them with the edge of the sword, the city, men and beasts and all that they found. And all the towns that they found they set on fire.	The men of Israel went back to Benjamin and put all the towns to the sword, including the animals and everything else they found. All the towns they came across they set on fire.
	Read God's Word Translation Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations.	Read English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles.	Read New International Version Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.

Judges 20 Parallel Bible Translations