Judges 20 Parallel Bible

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	NLT New Living Translation	ESV English Standard Version	NIV New International Version
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.	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 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.	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	(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.	(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 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.	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	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.	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 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.	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	Now then, all of you—the entire community of Israel—must decide here and now what should be done about this!”	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	And all the people rose to their feet in unison and declared, “None of us will return home! No, not even one of us!	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	Instead, this is what we will do to Gibeah; we will draw lots to decide who will 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	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.”	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 Israelites were completely united, and they gathered together to attack the town.	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 Israelites sent messengers to the tribe of Benjamin, saying, “What a terrible thing has been done 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	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.	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	Instead, they came from their towns and gathered at Gibeah to fight the Israelites.	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	In all, 26,000 of their warriors armed with swords arrived in Gibeah to join the 700 elite troops who lived there.	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	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.	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	Israel had 400,000 experienced soldiers armed with swords, not counting Benjamin’s warriors.	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	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.”	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	So the Israelites left early the next morning and camped near 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	Then they advanced toward Gibeah to attack the men of Benjamin.	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	But Benjamin’s warriors, who were defending the town, came out and killed 22,000 Israelites on the battlefield that day.	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 the Israelites encouraged each other and took their positions again at the same place they had fought the previous 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	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.”	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	So the next day they went out again to fight against the men of 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	but the men of Benjamin killed another 18,000 Israelites, all of whom were experienced with the sword.	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 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.	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	The Israelites went up seeking direction from the LORD. (In those days the Ark of the Covenant of God was in 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	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.”	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	So the Israelites set an ambush all around Gibeah.	So Israel set men in ambush around Gibeah.	Then Israel set an ambush around Gibeah.
30	They went out on the third day and took their positions at the same place as 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	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.	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	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.	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	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.	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	There were 10,000 elite Israelite troops who advanced against Gibeah. The fighting was so heavy that Benjamin didn’t realize the impending disaster.	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 helped Israel defeat Benjamin, and that day the Israelites killed 25,100 of Benjamin’s warriors, all of whom were experienced swordsmen.	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 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.	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	Then those who were hiding rushed in from all sides and killed everyone in the town.	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	They had arranged to send up a large cloud of smoke from the town 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	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!”	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 warriors of Benjamin looked behind them and saw the smoke rising into the sky from every part of the town,	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	the men of Israel turned and attacked. At this point the men of Benjamin became terrified, because they realized disaster was close at hand.	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	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.	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	The Israelites surrounded the men of Benjamin and chased them relentlessly, finally overtaking 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	That day 18,000 of Benjamin’s strongest warriors 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 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.	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	So that day the tribe of Benjamin lost 25,000 strong warriors armed with swords,	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	leaving only 600 men who escaped to the rock of Rimmon, where they lived 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	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.	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.
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Judges 20 Parallel Bible Translations