¹ Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was gathered together as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, unto the LORD in Mizpeh.

² And the chief 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.

³ (Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mizpeh.) Then said the children of Israel, Tell us, how was this wickedness?

⁴ And the Levite, the husband of the woman that was slain, answered and said, I came into Gibeah that belongeth to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge.

⁵ And the men of Gibeah rose against me, and beset the house round about upon me by night, and thought to have slain me: and my concubine have they forced, that she is dead.

⁶ 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 folly in Israel.

⁷ Behold, ye are all children of Israel; give here your advice and counsel.

⁸ 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 into his house.

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

¹⁰ And we will take ten men of an hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and an hundred of a thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand, to fetch victual for the people, that they may do, when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, according to all the folly that they have wrought in Israel.

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

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

¹³ Now therefore deliver us the men, the children of Belial, which 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.

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

¹⁵ And the children of Benjamin were numbered at that time out of the cities twenty and six thousand men that drew sword, beside the inhabitants of Gibeah, which were numbered seven hundred chosen men.

¹⁶ Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men lefthanded; every one could sling stones at an hair breadth, and not miss.

¹⁷ And the men of Israel, beside Benjamin, were numbered four hundred thousand men that drew sword: all these were men of war.

¹⁸ And the children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of God, and asked counsel of God, and said, Which of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And the LORD said, Judah shall go up first.

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

²⁰ And the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin; and the men of Israel put themselves in array to fight against them at Gibeah.

²¹ And the children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah, and destroyed down to the ground of the Israelites that day twenty and two thousand men.

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

²³ (And the children of Israel went up and wept before the LORD until even, and asked counsel of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up again to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother? And the LORD said, Go up against him.)

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

²⁵ 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.

²⁶ Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.

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

²⁸ 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 them into thine hand.

²⁹ And Israel set liers in wait round about Gibeah.

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

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

³² 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 from the city unto the highways.

³³ And all the men of Israel rose up out of their place, and put themselves in array at Baaltamar: and the liers in wait of Israel came forth out of their places, even out of the meadows of Gibeah.

³⁴ And there came against Gibeah ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and the battle was sore: but they knew not that evil was near them.

³⁵ And the LORD smote Benjamin before Israel: and the children of Israel destroyed of the Benjamites that day twenty and five thousand and an hundred men: all these drew the sword.

³⁶ So the children of Benjamin saw that they were smitten: for the men of Israel gave place to the Benjamites, because they trusted unto the liers in wait which they had set beside Gibeah.

³⁷ And the liers in wait hasted, and rushed upon Gibeah; and the liers in wait drew themselves along, and smote all the city with the edge of the sword.

³⁸ Now there was an appointed sign between the men of Israel and the liers in wait, that they should make a great flame with smoke rise up out of the city.

³⁹ And when the men of Israel retired in the battle, 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.

⁴⁰ But when the flame began to arise up out of the city with a pillar of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them, and, behold, the flame of the city ascended up to heaven.

⁴¹ And when the men of Israel turned again, the men of Benjamin were amazed: for they saw that evil was come upon them.

⁴² Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel unto the way of the wilderness; but the battle overtook them; and them which came out of the cities they destroyed in the midst of them.

⁴³ Thus they inclosed the Benjamites round about, and chased them, and trode them down with ease over against Gibeah toward the sunrising.

⁴⁴ And there fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men; all these were men of valor.

⁴⁵ 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 pursued hard after them unto Gidom, and slew two thousand men of them.

⁴⁶ So that all which fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and five thousand men that drew the sword; all these were men of valor.

⁴⁷ But six hundred men turned and fled to the wilderness unto the rock Rimmon, and abode in the rock Rimmon four months.

⁴⁸ And the men of Israel turned again upon the children of Benjamin, and smote them with the edge of the sword, as well the men of every city, as the beast, and all that came to hand: also they set on fire all the cities that they came to.

---

¹ Then all the children ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 went out, ^H3318 and the congregation ^H5712 was gathered together ^H6950 as one ^H259 man, ^H376 from Dan ^H1835 even to Beersheba, ^H884 with the land ^H776 of Gilead, ^H1568 unto the LORD ^H3068 in Mizpeh. ^H4709

² And the chief ^H6438 of all the people, ^H5971 even of all the tribes ^H7626 of Israel, ^H3478 presented ^H3320 themselves in the assembly ^H6951 of the people ^H5971 of God, ^H430 four ^H702 hundred ^H3967 thousand ^H505 footmen ^{H376 H7273} that drew ^H8025 sword. ^H2719

³ (Now the children ^H1121 of Benjamin ^H1144 heard ^H8085 that 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 was ^H1961 this wickedness? ^H7451

⁴ And the Levite, ^{H3881 H376} the husband ^H376 of the woman ^H802 that was slain, ^H7523 answered ^H6030 and said, ^H559 I came ^H935 into Gibeah ^H1390 that belongeth to Benjamin, ^H1144 I and my concubine, ^H6370 to lodge. ^H3885

⁵ And the men ^H1167 of Gibeah ^H1390 rose ^H6965 against me, and beset ^H5437 the house ^H1004 round about ^H5437 upon me by night, ^H3915 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 the country ^H7704 of the inheritance ^H5159 of Israel: ^H3478 for they have committed ^H6213 lewdness ^H2154 and folly ^H5039 in Israel. ^H3478

⁷ Behold, ye are all children ^H1121 of Israel; ^H3478 give ^H3051 here ^H1988 your advice ^H1697 and counsel. ^H6098

⁸ And all the people ^H5971 arose ^H6965 as one ^H259 man, ^H376 saying, ^H559 We will not any ^H376 of us go ^H3212 to his tent, ^H168 neither will we any ^H376 of us turn ^H5493 into his house. ^H1004

⁹ But now this shall be the thing ^H1697 which we will do ^H6213 to Gibeah; ^H1390 we will go up by lot ^H1486 against it;

¹⁰ And we will take ^H3947 ten ^H6235 men ^H582 of an hundred ^H3967 throughout all the tribes ^H7626 of Israel, ^H3478 and an hundred ^H3967 of a thousand, ^H505 and a thousand ^H505 out of ten thousand, ^H7233 to fetch ^H3947 victual ^H6720 for the people, ^H5971 that they may do, ^H6213 when they come ^H935 to Gibeah ^H1387 of Benjamin, ^H1144 according to all the folly ^H5039 that they have wrought ^H6213 in Israel. ^H3478

¹¹ So all the men ^H376 of Israel ^H3478 were gathered ^H622 against the city, ^H5892 knit together ^H2270 as one ^H259 man. ^H376

¹² And the tribes ^H7626 of Israel ^H3478 sent ^H7971 men ^H582 through all the tribe ^H7626 of Benjamin, ^H1144 saying, ^H559 What wickedness ^H7451 is this that is done ^H1961 among you?

¹³ Now therefore deliver ^H5414 us the men, ^H582 the children ^H1121 of Belial, ^H1100 which are in Gibeah, ^H1390 that we may put them to death, ^H4191 and put away ^H1197 evil ^H7451 from Israel. ^H3478 But the children ^H1121 of Benjamin ^H1144 would ^H14 not hearken ^H8085 to the voice ^H6963 of their brethren ^H251 the children ^H1121 of Israel: ^H3478

¹⁴ But the children ^H1121 of Benjamin ^H1144 gathered themselves together ^H622 out of the cities ^H5892 unto Gibeah, ^H1390 to go out ^H3318 to battle ^H4421 against the children ^H1121 of Israel. ^H3478

¹⁵ And the children ^H1121 of Benjamin ^H1144 were numbered ^H6485 at that time ^H3117 out of the cities ^H5892 twenty ^H6242 and six ^H8337 thousand ^H505 men ^H376 that drew ^H8025 sword, ^H2719 beside the inhabitants ^H3427 of Gibeah, ^H1390 which were numbered ^H6485 seven ^H7651 hundred ^H3967 chosen ^H977 men. ^H376

¹⁶ Among all this people ^H5971 there were seven ^H7651 hundred ^H3967 chosen ^H977 men ^H376 lefthanded; ^{H334 H3027 H3225} every one could sling ^H7049 stones ^H68 at an hair ^H8185 breadth, and not miss. ^H2398

¹⁷ And the men ^H376 of Israel, ^H3478 beside Benjamin, ^H1144 were numbered ^H6485 four ^H702 hundred ^H3967 thousand ^H505 men ^H376 that drew ^H8025 sword: ^H2719 all these were men ^H376 of war. ^H4421

¹⁸ And the children ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 arose, ^H6965 and went up ^H5927 to the house ^H1004 of God, ^{H430 H1008} and asked ^H7592 counsel of God, ^H430 and said, ^H559 Which ^H4310 of us shall go up ^H5927 first ^H8462 to the battle ^H4421 against the children ^H1121 of Benjamin? ^H1144 And the LORD ^H3068 said, ^H559 Judah ^H3063 shall go up first. ^H8462

¹⁹ And the children ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 rose up ^H6965 in the morning, ^H1242 and encamped ^H2583 against Gibeah. ^H1390

²⁰ And the men ^H376 of Israel ^H3478 went out ^H3318 to battle ^H4421 against Benjamin; ^H1144 and the men ^H376 of Israel ^H3478 put themselves in array ^H6186 to fight ^H4421 against them at Gibeah. ^H1390

²¹ And the children ^H1121 of Benjamin ^H1144 came forth ^H3318 out of Gibeah, ^H1390 and destroyed down ^H7843 to the ground ^H776 of the Israelites ^H3478 that day ^H3117 twenty ^H6242 and two ^H8147 thousand ^H505 men. ^H376

²² And the people ^H5971 the men ^H376 of Israel ^H3478 encouraged ^H2388 themselves, and set their battle ^H4421 again ^H3254 in array ^H6186 in the place ^H4725 where they put themselves in array ^H6186 the first ^H7223 day. ^H3117

²³ (And the children ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 went up ^H5927 and wept ^H1058 before ^H6440 the LORD ^H3068 until even, ^H6153 and asked ^H7592 counsel of the LORD, ^H3068 saying, ^H559 Shall I go up ^H5066 again ^H3254 to battle ^H4421 against the children ^H1121 of Benjamin ^H1144 my brother? ^H251 And the LORD ^H3068 said, ^H559 Go up ^H5927 against him.)

²⁴ And the children ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 came near ^H7126 against the children ^H1121 of Benjamin ^H1144 the second ^H8145 day. ^H3117

²⁵ And Benjamin ^H1144 went forth ^H3318 against ^H7125 them out of Gibeah ^H1390 the second ^H8145 day, ^H3117 and destroyed down ^H7843 to the ground ^H776 of the children ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 again eighteen ^{H8083 H6240} thousand ^H505 men; ^H376 all these drew ^H8025 the sword. ^H2719

²⁶ Then all the children ^H1121 of Israel, ^H3478 and all the people, ^H5971 went up, ^H5927 and came ^H935 unto the house ^H1004 of God, ^{H430 H1008} and wept, ^H1058 and sat ^H3427 there before ^H6440 the LORD, ^H3068 and fasted ^H6684 that day ^H3117 until even, ^H6153 and offered ^H5927 burnt offerings ^H5930 and peace offerings ^H8002 before ^H6440 the LORD. ^H3068

²⁷ And the children ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 enquired ^H7592 of the LORD, ^H3068 (for the ark ^H727 of the covenant ^H1285 of God ^H430 was there in those days, ^H3117

²⁸ And Phinehas, ^H6372 the son ^H1121 of Eleazar, ^H499 the son ^H1121 of Aaron, ^H175 stood ^H5975 before ^H6440 it in those days,) ^H3117 saying, ^H559 Shall I yet again ^H3254 go out ^H3318 to battle ^H4421 against the children ^H1121 of Benjamin ^H1144 my brother, ^H251 or shall I cease? ^H2308 And the LORD ^H3068 said, ^H559 Go up; ^H5927 for to morrow ^H4279 I will deliver ^H5414 them into thine hand. ^H3027

²⁹ And Israel ^H3478 set ^H7760 liers in wait ^H693 round about ^H5439 Gibeah. ^H1390

³⁰ And the children ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 went up ^H5927 against the children ^H1121 of Benjamin ^H1144 on the third ^H7992 day, ^H3117 and put themselves in array ^H6186 against Gibeah, ^H1390 as at other times. ^H6471

³¹ And the children ^H1121 of Benjamin ^H1144 went out ^H3318 against ^H7125 the people, ^H5971 and were drawn away ^H5423 from the city; ^H5892 and they began ^H2490 to smite ^H5221 of the people, ^H5971 and kill, ^H2491 as at other times, ^H6471 in the highways, ^H4546 of which one ^H259 goeth up ^H5927 to the house ^H1004 of God, ^{H430 H1008} and the other ^H259 to Gibeah ^H1390 in the field, ^H7704 about thirty ^H7970 men ^H376 of Israel. ^H3478

³² And the children ^H1121 of Benjamin ^H1144 said, ^H559 They are smitten down ^H5062 before ^H6440 us, as at the first. ^H7223 But the children ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 said, ^H559 Let us flee, ^H5127 and draw ^H5423 them from the city ^H5892 unto the highways. ^H4546

³³ And all the men ^H376 of Israel ^H3478 rose up ^H6965 out of their place, ^H4725 and put themselves in array ^H6186 at Baaltamar: ^H1193 and the liers in wait ^H693 of Israel ^H3478 came forth ^H1518 out of their places, ^H4725 even out of the meadows ^H4629 of Gibeah. ^H1387

³⁴ And there came ^H935 against ^H5048 Gibeah ^H1390 ten ^H6235 thousand ^H505 chosen ^H977 men ^H376 out of all Israel, ^H3478 and the battle ^H4421 was sore: ^H3513 but they knew ^H3045 not that evil ^H7451 was near ^H5060 them.

³⁵ And the LORD ^H3068 smote ^H5062 Benjamin ^H1144 before ^H6440 Israel: ^H3478 and the children ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 destroyed ^H7843 of the Benjamites ^H1145 that day ^H3117 twenty ^H6242 and five ^H2568 thousand ^H505 and an hundred ^H3967 men: ^H376 all these drew ^H8025 the sword. ^H2719

³⁶ So the children ^H1121 of Benjamin ^H1144 saw ^H7200 that they were smitten: ^H5062 for the men ^H376 of Israel ^H3478 gave ^H5414 place ^H4725 to the Benjamites, ^H1145 because they trusted ^H982 unto the liers in wait ^H693 which they had set ^H7760 beside Gibeah. ^H1390

³⁷ And the liers in wait ^H693 hasted, ^H2363 and rushed ^H6584 upon Gibeah; ^H1390 and the liers in wait ^H693 drew themselves along, ^H4900 and smote ^H5221 all the city ^H5892 with the edge ^H6310 of the sword. ^H2719

³⁸ Now there was an appointed sign ^H4150 between the men ^H376 of Israel ^H3478 and ^H5973 the liers in wait, ^H693 that they should make a great ^H7235 flame ^H4864 with smoke ^H6227 rise up ^H5927 out of the city. ^H5892

³⁹ And when the men ^H376 of Israel ^H3478 retired ^H2015 in the battle, ^H4421 Benjamin ^H1144 began ^H2490 to smite ^H5221 and kill ^H2491 of the men ^H376 of Israel ^H3478 about thirty ^H7970 persons: ^H376 for they said, ^H559 Surely ^H5062 they 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 out of the city ^H5892 with a pillar ^H5982 of smoke, ^H6227 the Benjamites ^H1145 looked ^H6437 behind ^H310 them, and, behold, the flame ^H3632 of the city ^H5892 ascended up ^H5927 to heaven. ^H8064

⁴¹ And when the men ^H376 of Israel ^H3478 turned again, ^H2015 the men ^H376 of Benjamin ^H1144 were amazed: ^H926 for they saw ^H7200 that evil ^H7451 was come ^H5060 upon them.

⁴² Therefore they turned ^H6437 their backs before ^H6440 the men ^H376 of Israel ^H3478 unto the way ^H1870 of the wilderness; ^H4057 but the battle ^H4421 overtook ^H1692 them; and them which came out of the cities ^H5892 they destroyed ^H7843 in the midst ^H8432 of them.

⁴³ Thus they inclosed ^H3803 the Benjamites ^H1145 round about, ^H3803 and chased ^H7291 them, and trode them down ^H1869 with ease ^H4496 over against ^H5227 Gibeah ^H1390 toward the sunrising. ^{H4217 H8121}

⁴⁴ And there fell ^H5307 of Benjamin ^H1144 eighteen ^{H8083 H6240} thousand ^H505 men; ^H376 all these were men ^H582 of valour. ^H2428

⁴⁵ And they turned ^H6437 and fled ^H5127 toward the wilderness ^H4057 unto the rock ^H5553 of Rimmon: ^H7417 and they gleaned ^H5953 of them in the highways ^H4546 five ^H2568 thousand ^H505 men; ^H376 and pursued ^H1692 hard after ^H310 them unto Gidom, ^H1440 and slew ^H5221 two thousand ^H505 men ^H376 of them.

⁴⁶ So that all which fell ^H5307 that day ^H3117 of Benjamin ^H1144 were twenty ^H6242 and five ^H2568 thousand ^H505 men ^H376 that drew ^H8025 the sword; ^H2719 all these were men ^H582 of valour. ^H2428

⁴⁷ But six ^H8337 hundred ^H3967 men ^H376 turned ^H6437 and fled ^H5127 to the wilderness ^H4057 unto the rock ^H5553 Rimmon, ^H7417 and abode ^H3427 in the rock ^H5553 Rimmon ^H7417 four ^H702 months. ^H2320

⁴⁸ And the men ^H376 of Israel ^H3478 turned again ^H7725 upon the children ^H1121 of Benjamin, ^H1144 and smote ^H5221 them with the edge ^H6310 of the sword, ^H2719 as well the men ^H4974 of every city, ^H5892 as ^H5704 the beast, ^H929 and all that came to hand: ^H4672 also they set ^H7971 on fire ^H784 all the cities ^H5892 that they came to. ^H4672

---

¹ 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 Jehovah at Mizpah.

² 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.

³ (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?

⁴ 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.

⁵ And the men of Gibeah rose against me, and beset the house round about me by night; me they thought to have slain, and my concubine they forced, and she is dead.

⁶ 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 folly in Israel.

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

⁸ 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.

⁹ But now this is the thing which we will do to Gibeah: `we will go up' 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 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 folly that they have wrought in Israel.

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

¹² 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?

¹³ 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 Benjamin would not hearken to the voice of their brethren the children of Israel.

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

¹⁵ And the children of Benjamin were numbered on that day out of the cities twenty and six thousand men that drew sword, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah, who were numbered seven hundred chosen men.

¹⁶ Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men lefthanded; every one could sling stones at a hair-breadth, and not miss.

¹⁷ And the men of Israel, besides Benjamin, were numbered four hundred thousand men that drew sword: all these were men of war.

¹⁸ 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 Jehovah said, Judah `shall go up' first.

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

²⁰ 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.

²¹ 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.

²² 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.

²³ And the children of Israel went up and wept before Jehovah until even; and they asked of Jehovah, saying, Shall I again draw nigh to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother? And Jehovah said, Go up against him.

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

²⁵ 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.

²⁶ Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto Beth-el, and wept, and sat there before Jehovah, and fasted that day until even; and they offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings before Jehovah.

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

²⁸ 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 Jehovah said, Go up; for to-morrow I will deliver him into thy hand.

²⁹ And Israel set liers-in-wait against Gibeah round about.

³⁰ 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.

³¹ 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 highways, of which one goeth up to Beth-el, and the other to Gibeah, in the field, about thirty men of Israel.

³² 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.

³³ 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 brake forth out of their place, even out of Maareh-geba.

³⁴ 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.

³⁵ And Jehovah 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.

³⁶ So the children of Benjamin saw that they were smitten; for the men of Israel gave place to Benjamin, because they trusted unto the liers-in-wait whom they had set against Gibeah.

³⁷ And the liers-in-wait hasted, and rushed upon Gibeah; and the liers-in-wait drew themselves along, and smote all the city with the edge of the sword.

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

³⁹ 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.

⁴⁰ But 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 of the city went up `in smoke' to heaven.

⁴¹ And the men of Israel turned, and the men of Benjamin were dismayed; for they saw that evil was come upon them.

⁴² 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 cities destroyed them in the midst thereof.

⁴³ They inclosed the Benjamites round about, `and' chased them, `and' trod them down at `their' resting-place, as far as over against Gibeah toward the sunrising.

⁴⁴ And there fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men; all these `were' men of valor.

⁴⁵ 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.

⁴⁶ So that all who fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and five thousand men that drew the sword; all these `were' men of valor.

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

⁴⁸ And the men of Israel turned again 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.

---

¹ And all the sons of Israel go out, and the company is assembled as one man, from Dan even unto Beer-Sheba, and the land of Gilead, unto Jehovah, at Mizpeh.

² And the chiefs of all the people, of all the tribes of Israel, station themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen drawing sword.

³ And the sons of Benjamin hear that the sons of Israel have gone up to Mizpeh. And the sons of Israel say, `Speak ye, how hath this evil been?'

⁴ And the man, the Levite, husband of the woman who hath been murdered, answereth and saith, `Into Gibeah (which `is' to Benjamin) I have come, I and my concubine, to lodge;

⁵ and rise against me do the masters of Gibeah -- and they go round the house against me by night -- me they thought to slay, and my concubine they have humbled, and she dieth;

⁶ and I lay hold on my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and send her into all the country of the inheritance of Israel; for they have done wickedness and folly in Israel;

⁷ lo, ye `are' all sons of Israel; give for you a word and counsel here.'

⁸ And all the people rise as one man, saying, `None of us doth go to his tent, and none of us doth turn aside to his house;

⁹ and now, this `is' the thing which we do to Gibeah -- against it by lot!

¹⁰ and we have taken ten men of a hundred, of all the tribes of Israel, and a hundred of a thousand, and a thousand of a myriad, to receive provision for the people, to do, at their coming to Gibeah of Benjamin, according to all the folly which it hath done in Israel.'

¹¹ And every man of Israel is gathered unto the city, as one man -- companions.

¹² And the tribes of Israel send men among all the tribes of Benjamin, saying, `What `is' this evil which hath been among you?

¹³ And now, give up the men -- sons of worthlessness -- which `are' in Gibeah, and we put them to death, and we put away evil from Israel.' And `the sons of' Benjamin have not been willing to hearken to the voice of their brethren, the sons of Israel;

¹⁴ and the sons of Benjamin are gathered out of the cities to Gibeah, to go out to battle with the sons of Israel.

¹⁵ And the sons of Benjamin number themselves on that day; out of the cities `are' twenty and six thousand men drawing sword, apart from the inhabitants of Gibeah, `who' numbered themselves, seven hundred chosen men;

¹⁶ among all this people `are' seven hundred chosen men, bound of their right hand, each of these slinging with a stone at the hair, and he doth not err.

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

¹⁸ And they rise and go up to Beth-El, and ask of God, and the sons of Israel say, `Who doth go up for us at the commencement to battle with the sons of Benjamin?' and Jehovah saith, `Judah -- at the commencement.'

¹⁹ And the sons of Israel rise in the morning, and encamp against Gibeah,

²⁰ and the men of Israel go out to battle with Benjamin, and the men of Israel set themselves in array with them, `for' battle against Gibeah,

²¹ and the sons of Benjamin come out from Gibeah, and destroy in Israel on that day two and twenty thousand men -- to the earth.

²² And the people, the men of Israel, strengthen themselves, and add to set the battle in array in the place where they arranged themselves on the first day.

²³ And the sons of Israel go up and weep before Jehovah till the evening, and ask of Jehovah, saying, `Do I add to draw nigh to battle with the sons of Benjamin, my brother?' And Jehovah saith, `Go up against him.'

²⁴ And the sons of Israel draw near unto the sons of Benjamin on the second day,

²⁵ and Benjamin cometh out to meet them from Gibeah on the second day, and destroy among the sons of Israel again eighteen thousand men -- to the earth; all these are drawing sword.

²⁶ And all the sons of Israel go up, even all the people, and come in to Beth-El, and weep, and sit there before Jehovah, and fast on that day till the evening, and cause to ascend burnt-offerings and peace-offerings before Jehovah.

²⁷ And the sons of Israel ask of Jehovah, -- and there `is' the ark of the covenant of God in those days,

²⁸ and Phinehas son of Eleazar, son of Aaron, is standing before it in those days -- saying, `Do I add again to go out to battle with the sons of Benjamin, my brother, or do I cease?' And Jehovah saith, `Go up, for to-morrow I give him into thy hand.'

²⁹ And Israel setteth liers in wait against Gibeah, round about,

³⁰ and the sons of Israel go up against the sons of Benjamin, on the third day, and arrange themselves against Gibeah, as time by time.

³¹ And the sons of Benjamin come out to meet the people; they have been drawn away out of the city, and begin to smite `some' of the people -- wounded as time by time, in the highways (of which one is going up to Beth-El, and the other to Gibeah in the field), `are' about thirty men of Israel.

³² And the sons of Benjamin say, `They are smitten before us as at the beginning;' but the sons of Israel said, `Let us flee, and draw them away out of the city, unto the highways.'

³³ And all the men of Israel have risen from their place, and arrange themselves at Baal-Tamar, and the ambush of Israel is coming forth out of its place, out of the meadow of Gibeah.

³⁴ And they come in over against Gibeah -- ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel -- and the battle `is' grievous, and they have not known that the evil is striking against them.

³⁵ And Jehovah smiteth Benjamin before Israel, and the sons of Israel destroy in Benjamin, on that day, twenty and five thousand, and a hundred men; all these `are' drawing sword.

³⁶ And the sons of Benjamin see that they have been smitten -- and the men of Israel give place to Benjamin, for they have trusted unto the ambush which they had set against Gibeah,

³⁷ and the ambush have hasted, and push against Gibeah, and the ambush draweth itself out, and smiteth the whole of the city by the mouth of the sword.

³⁸ And there was the appointed sign to the men of Israel with the ambush -- their causing to go up a great volume of smoke from the city.

³⁹ And the men of Israel turn in battle, and Benjamin hath begun to smite the wounded among the men of Israel, about thirty men, for they said, `Surely they are utterly smitten before us, as `at' the first battle;

⁴⁰ and the volume hath begun to go up from the city -- a pillar of smoke -- and Benjamin turneth behind, and lo, gone up hath the perfection of the city toward the heavens.

⁴¹ And the men of Israel have turned, and the men of Benjamin are troubled, for they have seen that the evil hath stricken against them --

⁴² and they turn before the men of Israel unto the way of the wilderness, and the battle hath followed them; and those who `are' from the city are destroying them in their midst;

⁴³ they have compassed the Benjamites -- they have pursued them -- with ease they have trodden them down till over-against Gibeah, at the sun-rising.

⁴⁴ And there fall of Benjamin eighteen thousand men -- the whole of these `are' men of valour;

⁴⁵ and they turn and flee toward the wilderness, unto the rock of Rimmon; and they glean of them in the highways five thousand men, and follow after them unto Gidom, and smite of them two thousand men.

⁴⁶ And all those falling of Benjamin are twenty and five thousand men drawing sword, on that day -- the whole of these `are' men of valour;

⁴⁷ and there turn and flee into the wilderness, unto the rock of Rimmon six hundred men, and they dwell in the rock Rimmon four months.

⁴⁸ And the men of Israel have turned back unto the sons of Benjamin, and smite them by the mouth of the sword out of the city, -- men unto cattle, unto all that is found; also all the cities which are found they have sent into fire.

---

¹ Then all the people of Israel came out, from Dan to Beer-sheba, including the land of Gilead, and the congregation assembled as one man to the LORD at Mizpah.

² And the chiefs of all the people, of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand men on foot that drew the sword.

³ (Now the Benjaminites heard that the people of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.) And the people of Israel said, "Tell us, how was this wickedness brought to pass?"

⁴ And the Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered and said, "I came to Gib'e-ah that belongs to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to spend the night.

⁵ And the men of Gib'e-ah rose against me, and beset the house round about me by night; they meant to kill me, and they ravished my concubine, and she is dead.

⁶ 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 abomination and wantonness in Israel.

⁷ Behold, you people of Israel, all of you, give your advice and counsel here."

⁸ And all the people arose as one man, saying, "We will not any of us go to his tent, and none of us will return to his house.

⁹ But now this is what we will do to Gib'e-ah: we will go up 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 ten thousand, to bring provisions for the people, that when they come they may requite Gib'e-ah of Benjamin, for all the wanton crime which they have committed in Israel."

¹¹ So all the men of Israel gathered against the city, united as one man.

¹² And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, "What wickedness is this that has taken place among you?

¹³ Now therefore give up the men, the base fellows in Gib'e-ah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel." But the Benjaminites would not listen to the voice of their brethren, the people of Israel.

¹⁴ And the Benjaminites came together out of the cities to Gib'e-ah, to go out to battle against the people of Israel.

¹⁵ And the Benjaminites mustered out of their cities on that day twenty-six thousand men that drew the sword, besides the inhabitants of Gib'e-ah, who mustered seven hundred picked men.

¹⁶ Among all these were seven hundred picked men who were left-handed; every one could sling a stone at a hair, and not miss.

¹⁷ And the men of Israel, apart from Benjamin, mustered four hundred thousand men that drew sword; all these were men of war.

¹⁸ The people of Israel arose and went up to Bethel, and inquired of God, "Which of us shall go up first to battle against the Benjaminites?" And the LORD said, "Judah shall go up first."

¹⁹ Then the people of Israel rose in the morning, and encamped against Gib'e-ah.

²⁰ And the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin; and the men of Israel drew up the battle line against them at Gib'e-ah.

²¹ The Benjaminites came out of Gib'e-ah, and felled to the ground on that day twenty-two thousand men of the Israelites.

²² 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.

²³ 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 battle against our brethren the Benjaminites?" And the LORD said, "Go up against them."

²⁴ So the people of Israel came near against the Benjaminites the second day.

²⁵ And Benjamin went against them out of Gib'e-ah the second day, and felled to the ground eighteen thousand men of the people of Israel; all these were men who drew the sword.

²⁶ 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.

²⁷ And the people of Israel inquired of the LORD (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,

²⁸ and Phin'ehas the son of Elea'zar, son of Aaron, ministered before it in those days), saying, "Shall we yet again go out to battle against our brethren the Benjaminites, or shall we cease?" And the LORD said, "Go up; for tomorrow I will give them into your hand."

²⁹ So Israel set men in ambush round about Gib'e-ah.

³⁰ And the people of Israel went up against the Benjaminites on the third day, and set themselves in array against Gib'e-ah, as at other times.

³¹ And the Benjaminites went out against the people, and were drawn away from the city; and as at other times they began to smite and kill some of the people, in the highways, one of which goes up to Bethel and the other to Gib'e-ah, and in the open country, about thirty men of Israel.

³² And the Benjaminites said, "They are routed before us, as at the first." But the men of Israel said, "Let us flee, and draw them away from the city to the highways."

³³ And all the men of Israel rose up out of their place, and set themselves in array at Ba'al-ta'mar; and the men of Israel who were in ambush rushed out of their place west of Geba.

³⁴ And there came against Gib'e-ah ten thousand picked men out of all Israel, and the battle was hard; but the Benjaminites did not know that disaster was close upon them.

³⁵ And the LORD defeated Benjamin before Israel; and the men of Israel destroyed twenty-five thousand one hundred men of Benjamin that day; all these were men who drew the sword.

³⁶ So the Benjaminites saw that they were defeated. The men of Israel gave ground to Benjamin, because they trusted to the men in ambush whom they had set against Gib'e-ah.

³⁷ And the men in ambush made haste and rushed upon Gib'e-ah; the men in ambush moved out and smote all the city with the edge of the sword.

³⁸ Now the appointed signal between the men of Israel and the men in ambush was that when they made a great cloud of smoke rise up out of the city

³⁹ the men of Israel should turn in battle. Now Benjamin had begun to smite and kill about thirty men of Israel; they said, "Surely they are smitten down before us, as in the first battle."

⁴⁰ 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.

⁴¹ Then the men of Israel turned, and the men of Benjamin were dismayed, for they saw that disaster was close upon them.

⁴² 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 destroyed them in the midst of them.

⁴³ Cutting down the Benjaminites, they pursued them and trod them down from Nohah as far as opposite Gib'e-ah on the east.

⁴⁴ Eighteen thousand men of Benjamin fell, all of them men of valor.

⁴⁵ 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 two thousand men of them were slain.

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

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

⁴⁸ And the men of Israel turned back against the Benjaminites, and smote them with the edge of the sword, men and beasts and all that they found. And all the towns which they found they set on fire.

---

¹ Then 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 Yahweh at Mizpah.

² 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 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 was this wickedness brought to pass?

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

⁵ The men of Gibeah rose against me, and beset the house round about me by night; me they thought to have slain, and my concubine they forced, and she is dead.

⁶ 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 folly in Israel.

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

⁸ 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 to his house.

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

¹⁰ and 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 they have worked in Israel.

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

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

¹³ Now therefore deliver up the men, the base 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.

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

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

¹⁶ Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men left-handed; everyone could sling stones at a hair-breadth, and not miss.

¹⁷ The men of Israel, besides Benjamin, were numbered four hundred thousand men who drew sword: all these were men of war.

¹⁸ The children of Israel arose, and went up to Bethel, and asked counsel of God; and they said, Who shall go up for us first to battle against the children of Benjamin? Yahweh said, Judah [shall go up] first.

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

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

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

²² 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.

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

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

²⁵ 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.

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

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

²⁸ 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? Yahweh said, Go up; for tomorrow I will deliver him into your hand.

²⁹ Israel set liers-in-wait against Gibeah round about.

³⁰ 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.

³¹ The 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.

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

³³ 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.

³⁴ There came over against Gibeah ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and the battle was sore; but they didn't know that evil was close on them.

³⁵ Yahweh 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.

³⁶ So the children of Benjamin saw that they were struck; for the men of Israel gave place to Benjamin, because they trusted to the liers-in-wait whom they had set against Gibeah.

³⁷ The liers-in-wait hurried, and rushed on Gibeah; and the liers-in-wait drew themselves along, and struck all the city with the edge of the sword.

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

³⁹ The 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.

⁴⁰ But 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 of the city went up in smoke to the sky.

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

⁴² Therefore 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 midst of it.

⁴³ They enclosed the Benjamites round about, [and] chased them, [and] trod them down at [their] resting-place, as far as over against Gibeah toward the sunrise.

⁴⁴ There fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men; all these [were] men of valor.

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

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

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

⁴⁸ The men of Israel turned again on the children of Benjamin, and struck 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.

---

¹ Then all the children of Israel took up arms, and the people came together like one man, from Dan to Beer-sheba, and the land of Gilead, before the Lord at Mizpah.

² And the chiefs of the people, out of all the tribes of Israel, took their places in the meeting of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen armed with swords.

³ (Now the children of Benjamin had word that the children of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.) And the children of Israel said, Make clear how this evil thing took place.

⁴ Then the Levite, the husband of the dead woman, said in answer, I came to Gibeah in the land of Benjamin, I and my servant-wife, for the purpose of stopping there for the night.

⁵ And the townsmen of Gibeah came together against me, going round the house on all sides by night; it was their purpose to put me to death, and my servant-wife was violently used by them and is dead.

⁶ So I took her, cutting her into parts which I sent through all the country of the heritage of Israel: for they have done an act of shame in Israel.

⁷ Here you all are, you children of Israel; give now your suggestions about what is to be done.

⁸ Then all the people got up as one man and said, Not one of us will go to his tent or go back to his house:

⁹ But this is what we will do to Gibeah: we will go up against it by the decision of the Lord;

¹⁰ And we will take ten men out of every hundred, through all the tribes of Israel, a hundred out of every thousand, a thousand out of every ten thousand, to get food for the people, so that they may give to Gibeah of Benjamin the right punishment for the act of shame they have done in Israel.

¹¹ So all the men of Israel were banded together against the town, united like one man.

¹² And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin saying, What is this evil which has been done among you?

¹³ Now give up those good-for-nothing persons in Gibeah so that we may put them to death, clearing away the evil from Israel. But the children of Benjamin would not give ear to the voice of their brothers, the children of Israel.

¹⁴ And the children of Benjamin came together from all their towns to Gibeah, to go to war with the children of Israel.

¹⁵ And the children of Benjamin who came that day from the towns were twenty-six thousand men armed with swords, in addition to the people of Gibeah, numbering seven hundred of the best fighting-men,

¹⁶ Who were left-handed, able to send a stone at a hair without error.

¹⁷ And the men of Israel, other than Benjamin, were four hundred thousand in number, all armed with swords; they were all men of war.

¹⁸ And they got up and went up to Beth-el to get directions from God, and the children of Israel said, Who is to be the first to go up to the fight against the children of Benjamin? And the Lord said, Judah is to go up first.

¹⁹ So the children of Israel got up in the morning and put themselves in position against Gibeah.

²⁰ And the men of Israel went out to war against Benjamin (and the men of Israel put their forces in fighting order against them at Gibeah).

²¹ Then the children of Benjamin came out from Gibeah, cutting down twenty-two thousand of the Israelites that day.

²² But the people, the men of Israel, taking heart again, put their forces in order and took up the same position as on the first day.

²³ Now the children of Israel went up, weeping before the Lord till evening, requesting the Lord and saying, Am I to go forward again to the fight against the children of Benjamin my brother? And the Lord said, Go up against him.

²⁴ So the children of Israel went forward against the children of Benjamin the second day.

²⁵ And the second day Benjamin went out against them from Gibeah, cutting down eighteen thousand men of the children of Israel, all swordsmen.

²⁶ Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up to Beth-el, weeping and waiting there before the Lord, going without food all day till evening, and offering burned offerings and peace-offerings before the Lord.

²⁷ And the children of Israel made request to the Lord, (for the ark of the agreement of the Lord was there in those days,

²⁸ And Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, was in his place before it,) and said, Am I still to go on with the fight against the children of Benjamin my brother, or am I to give it up? And the Lord said, Go on; for tomorrow I will give him into your hands.

²⁹ So Israel put men secretly all round Gibeah to make a surprise attack on it.

³⁰ And the children of Israel went up against the children of Benjamin on the third day, and put themselves in fighting order against Gibeah as before.

³¹ And the children of Benjamin went out against the people, moving away from the town; and as before, at their first attack, they put to death about thirty men of Israel on the highways, of which one goes up to Beth-el and the other to Gibeah, and in the open country.

³² And the children of Benjamin said, They are giving way before us as at first. But the children of Israel said, Let us go in flight and get them away from the town, into the highways.

³³ So all the men of Israel got up and put themselves in fighting order at Baal-tamar: and those who had been waiting secretly to make a surprise attack came rushing out of their place on the west of Geba.

³⁴ And they came in front of Gibeah, ten thousand of the best men in all Israel, and the fighting became more violent; but the children of Benjamin were not conscious that evil was coming on them.

³⁵ Then the Lord sent sudden fear on Benjamin before Israel; and that day the children of Israel put to death twenty-five thousand, one hundred men of Benjamin, all of them swordsmen.

³⁶ So the children of Benjamin saw that they were overcome: and the men of Israel had given way before Benjamin, putting their faith in the watchers who were to make the surprise attack on Gibeah.

³⁷ And the watchers, rushing on Gibeah and overrunning it, put all the town to the sword without mercy.

³⁸ Now the sign fixed between the men of Israel and those making the surprise attack was that when they made a pillar of smoke go up from the town,

³⁹ The men of Israel were to make a turn about in the fight. And Benjamin had overcome and put to death about thirty of the men of Israel, and were saying, Certainly they are falling back before us as in the first fight.

⁴⁰ Then the sign went up out of the town in the pillar of smoke, and the Benjamites, turning back, saw all the town going up in smoke to heaven.

⁴¹ And the men of Israel had made a turn about, and the men of Benjamin were overcome with fear, for they saw that evil had overtaken them.

⁴² So turning their backs on the men of Israel, they went in the direction of the waste land; but the fight overtook them; and those who came out of the town were heading them off and putting them to the sword.

⁴³ And crushing Benjamin down, they went after them, driving them from Nohah as far as the east side of Gibeah.

⁴⁴ Eighteen thousand men of Benjamin came to their death, all strong men of war.

⁴⁵ And turning, they went in flight to the rock of Rimmon in the waste land: and on the highways five thousand of them were cut off by the men of Israel, who, pushing on hard after them to Geba, put to death two thousand more.

⁴⁶ So twenty-five thousand of the swordsmen of Benjamin came to their end that day, all strong men of war.

⁴⁷ But six hundred men, turning back, went in flight to the rock of Rimmon in the waste land, and were living on the rock of Rimmon for four months.

⁴⁸ And the men of Israel, turning again against the children of Benjamin, put to the sword without mercy all the towns and the cattle and everything there was, burning every town which came into their hands.