Judges 20:1-28 ▼

1 And all the sons of Israel came out, and the congregation gathered together as one man from Dan and to Beersheba, and from the land of Gilead, before YHWH at Mizpah.

2 And the leaders of all the people, all the tribes of Israel, stationed themselves in the assembly of the people of God: Four hundred thousand soldiers, foot soldiers who drew the sword.

3 And the sons of Benjamin heard that the sons of Israel had gone up to Mizpah, and the sons of Israel said, “Tell us, how did this wicked thing happen?”

4 And the Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered and said, “Into Gibeah, which is to Benjamin, I and my concubine came to lodge.

5 And arose against me the masters of Gibeah, and they surrounded the house against me at night. They intended to kill me, and instead my concubine they ravished, so that she died.

6 And I took hold of my concubine and cut her in pieces and sent her throughout all the territory of the inheritance of Israel, because they had committed lewdness and outrage in Israel.

7 Behold, all you? sons of Israel, give for you? a word and counsel here.”

8 And all the people arose as one man, saying, “Not a man will go to his tent, nor will a man turn back to his house.

9 And this is the thing that we will do to Gibeah, against it by lot.

10 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 a myriad, to make provisions for the people, that they may repay when they come to Gibeah in Benjamin, according to all the vileness that they have done in Israel.”

11 And all the men of Israel were gathered against the city as one man united.

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

13 And now deliver up the men, the sons of worthlessness, who are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death and remove the evil from Israel.” And the Benjamite were not willing to listen to the voice of their brothers, the sons of Israel.

14 And the sons of Benjamin gathered together from their cities to Gibeah to go out to battle against the sons of Israel.

15 And the sons of Benjamin numbered at that time from their cities twenty-six thousand men who drew the sword, besides those dwelling in Gibeah, who numbered seven hundred select men.

16 Among all this people were seven hundred select men, restricted of right hand, each of these slinging with a stone at a hair and not missing.

17 And the men of Israel mobilized themselves, apart from Benjamin, four hundred thousand men who drew the sword, each of these a man of war.

18 And they arose and went up to Bethel and inquired of God, and the sons of Israel said, “Who shall go up of us first into battle against the sons of Benjamin?” And YHWH said, “Judah first.”

19 And the sons of Israel rose in the morning and encamped against Gibeah.

20 And the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin, and the men of Israel arrayed themselves to fight at Gibeah.

21 And the sons of Benjamin came out from Gibeah and they destroyed in Israel on that day two and twenty thousand men to the ground.

22 And the people, the men of Israel, strengthened themselves and added to array the battle line at the place where they had arrayed on the first day.

23 And the sons of Israel went up and wept before the face of YHWH until the evening, and they inquired of YHWH, saying, “Shall I add to draw near for the battle against the sons of Benjamin my brother?” And YHWH said, “Go up against him.”

24 And the sons of Israel approached to the sons of Benjamin on the second day.

25 And Benjamin went out against them from Gibeah on the second day, and they cut down from the sons of Israel another eighteen thousand men to the ground, all these drawing the sword.

26 And all the sons of Israel went up, and all the people, and they came to Bethel and wept. And they sat there before the face of YHWH and fasted that day until the evening, and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the face of YHWH.

27 And the sons of Israel inquired of YHWH, and was there the ark of the covenant of God in those days.

28 And Phinehas son of Eleazar son of Aaron stood before it in those days, saying, “Shall I add again to go out into battle against the sons of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease?” And YHWH said, “Go up, for tomorrow I will give them into your hand.”