Judges 20 – New American Standard Bible 2020 (NASB20)

Resolve to Punish the Guilty

1 Then all ^H3605 the sons ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 from Dan ^H1835 to Beersheba ^H884, including the land ^H776 of Gilead ^H1568, came ^H3318 out ^H3318, and the congregation ^H5712 assembled ^H6950 as one ^H259 person ^H376 to the LORD ^H3068 at Mizpah ^H4709.

2 And the [fn]leaders ^H6438 of all ^H3605 the people ^H5971, all ^H3605 the tribes ^H7626 of Israel ^H3478, took ^H3320 their stand ^H3320 in the assembly ^H6951 of the people ^H5971 of God ^H430, four ^H702 hundred ^H3967 thousand ^H505 foot ^H7273 [fn]soldiers ^H376 who drew ^H8025 the sword ^H2719. 3 (Now the sons ^H1121 of Benjamin ^H1144 heard ^H8085 that the sons ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 had gone ^H5927 up ^H5927 to Mizpah ^H4709.) And the sons ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 said ^H559, “Tell ^H1696 us, how ^H351 did this ^H2088 wickedness ^H7451 take ^H1961 place ^H1961?” 4 So the Levite ^H3881, the husband ^H376 of the woman ^H802 who was murdered ^H7523, answered ^H6030 and said ^H559, “I came ^H935 with my concubine ^H6370 to spend ^H3885 the ^H3885 night ^H3885 at Gibeah ^H1390 which ^H834 belongs to Benjamin ^H1144. 5 But the [fn]citizens ^H1167 of Gibeah ^H1390 rose ^H6965 up ^H6965 against ^H5921 me and surrounded ^H5437 the house ^H1004 at night ^H3915, [fn]threatening ^H5921 me. They intended ^H1819 to kill ^H2026 me; instead, they raped ^H6031 my concubine ^H6370 so that she died ^H4191. 6 And I took ^H270 hold ^H270 of my concubine ^H6370 and cut ^H5408 her in ^H5408 pieces ^H5408, and sent ^H7971 her throughout ^H3605 the land ^H7704 of Israel’s ^H3478 inheritance ^H5159; for they have committed ^H6213 an outrageous ^H2154 sin ^H2154 and vile ^H5039 act ^H5039 in Israel ^H3478. 7 Behold ^H2009, all ^H3605 you sons ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478, give ^H3051 your [fn]response ^H1697 and advice ^H6098 here ^H1988.”

8 Then all ^H3605 the people ^H5971 rose ^H6965 up ^H6965 as one ^H259 person ^H376, saying ^H559, “Not one ^H376 of us will go ^H1980 to his tent ^H168, nor ^H3808 will any ^H376 of us go ^H5493 home ^H1004. 9 But now ^H6258 this ^H2088 is the thing ^H1697 which ^H834 we will do ^H6213 to Gibeah ^H1390; we will go up against ^H5921 it by lot ^H1486. 10 And we will take ^H3947 ten ^H6235 men ^H376 out of a hundred ^H3967 throughout ^H3605 the tribes ^H7626 of Israel ^H3478, and a hundred ^H3967 out of a thousand ^H505, and a thousand ^H505 out of ten ^H6235 thousand ^H505 to [fn]supply ^H3947 provisions ^H6720 for the people ^H5971, so that when they come ^H935 to [fn]Gibeah ^H1390 of Benjamin ^H1144, they may [fn]punish ^H6213 them for all ^H3605 the vile ^H5039 sin ^H5039 that they have committed ^H6213 in Israel ^H3478.” 11 So all ^H3605 the men ^H376 of Israel ^H3478 were gathered ^H622 against ^H413 the city ^H5892, [fn]united ^H2270 as one ^H259 man ^H376.

12 Then the tribes ^H7626 of Israel ^H3478 sent ^H7971 men ^H376 through the entire ^H3605 [fn]tribe ^H7626 of Benjamin ^H1144, saying ^H559, “What ^H4100 is this ^H2088 wickedness ^H7451 that has taken ^H1961 place ^H1961 among you? 13 Now ^H6258 then, turn ^H5414 over ^H5414 the men ^H376, the [fn]worthless ^H1100 men ^H1121 who ^H834 are in Gibeah ^H1390, so that we may put ^H4191 them to ^H4191 death ^H4191 and remove ^H1197 this wickedness ^H7451 from Israel ^H3478.” But the sons ^H1121 of Benjamin ^H1144 would ^H14 not listen ^H8085 to the voice ^H6963 of their brothers ^H251, the sons ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478. 14 Instead, the sons ^H1121 of Benjamin ^H1144 gathered ^H622 from the cities ^H5892 to Gibeah ^H1390, to go ^H3318 out ^H3318 to battle ^H4421 against ^H5973 the sons ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478. 15 From the cities ^H5892 on that day ^H3117 the sons ^H1121 of Benjamin ^H1144 were [fn]counted ^H6485, twenty-six ^H6242 H8337 thousand ^H505 men ^H376 who drew ^H8025 the sword ^H2719, besides ^H905 H4480 the inhabitants ^H3427 of Gibeah ^H1390 who were [fn]counted ^H6485, seven ^H7651 hundred ^H3967 choice ^H977 men ^H376. 16 Out of all ^H3605 these ^H2088 people ^H5971 seven ^H7651 hundred ^H3967 choice ^H977 men ^H376 were left-handed ^{H334 H3225 H3027}; each ^H3605 one ^H2088 could sling ^H7049 a stone ^H68 at a hair ^H8185 and not miss ^H2398.

17 Then the men ^H376 of Israel ^H3478 besides ^H905 H4480 Benjamin ^H1144 were [fn]counted ^H6485, four ^H702 hundred ^H3967 thousand ^H505 men ^H376 who drew ^H8025 the sword ^H2719; all ^H3605 of these ^H2088 were men ^H376 of war ^H4421.

Civil War, Benjamin Defeated

18 Now the sons ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 set ^H6965 out ^H6965, went ^H5927 up ^H5927 to Bethel ^H1008, and inquired ^H7592 of God ^H430 and said ^H559, “Who ^H4310 shall go ^H5927 up ^H5927 first ^H8462 for us to battle ^H4421 against ^H5973 the sons ^H1121 of Benjamin ^H1144?” Then the LORD ^H3068 said ^H559, “Judah ^H3063 shall go up first ^H8462.”

19 So the sons ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 got ^H6965 up ^H6965 in the morning ^H1242 and camped ^H2583 against ^H5921 Gibeah ^H1390.

20 The men ^H376 of Israel ^H3478 went ^H3318 to battle ^H4421 against ^H5973 Benjamin ^H1144, and the men ^H376 of Israel ^H3478 lined ^H6186 up ^H6186 for battle ^H4421 against ^H854 them at Gibeah ^H1390. 21 Then the sons ^H1121 of Benjamin ^H1144 came ^H3318 out ^H3318 of Gibeah ^H1390 and [fn]struck ^H7843 to the ground ^H776 on that day ^H3117 twenty-two ^H8147 H6242 thousand ^H505 men ^H376 of Israel ^H3478. 22 But the people ^H5971, the men ^H376 of Israel ^H3478, showed ^H2388 themselves courageous ^H2388 and lined ^H6186 up ^H6186 for battle ^H4421 again ^H3254 in the place ^H4725 where ^H834 H8033 they had lined ^H6186 themselves up ^H6186 on the first ^H7223 day ^H3117. 23 And the sons ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 went ^H5927 up ^H5927 and wept ^H1058 before ^H6440 the LORD ^H3068 until ^H5704 evening ^H6153, and inquired ^H7592 of the LORD ^H3068, saying ^H559, “Shall we again ^H3254 advance ^H5066 for battle ^H4421 against ^H5973 the sons ^H1121 of my brother ^H251 Benjamin ^H1144?” And the LORD ^H3068 said ^H559, “Go ^H5927 up ^H5927 against ^H413 him.”

24 So the sons ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 [fn]came ^H7126 against ^H413 the sons ^H1121 of Benjamin ^H1144 on the second ^H8145 day ^H3117. 25 And Benjamin ^H1144 went ^H3318 out ^H3318 against ^H7122 them from Gibeah ^H1390 the second ^H8145 day ^H3117 and struck ^H7843 to the ground ^H776 again ^H5750 eighteen ^H8083 H6240 thousand ^H505 men ^H376 of the sons ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478; all ^H3605 of these ^H428 drew ^H8025 the sword ^H2719. 26 Then all ^H3605 the sons ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 and all ^H3605 the people ^H5971 went ^H5927 up ^H5927 and came ^H935 to Bethel ^H1008, and they wept ^H1058 and remained ^H3427 there ^H8033 before ^H6440 the LORD ^H3068, and fasted ^H6684 that day ^H3117 until ^H5704 evening ^H6153. And they offered ^H5927 burnt ^H5930 offerings ^H5930 and peace ^H8002 offerings ^H8002 before ^H6440 the LORD ^H3068. 27 And the sons ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 inquired ^H7592 of the LORD ^H3068 (for the ark ^H727 of the covenant ^H1285 of God ^H430 was there ^H8033 in those ^H1992 days ^H3117, 28 and Phinehas ^H6372 the son ^H1121 of Eleazar ^H499, Aaron’s ^H175 son ^H1121, stood ^H5975 before ^H6440 it to minister in those ^H1992 days ^H3117), saying ^H559, “Shall I yet ^H5750 again ^H3254 go ^H3318 out ^H3318 to battle ^H4421 against ^H5973 the sons ^H1121 of my brother ^H251 Benjamin ^H1144, or ^H518 shall I stop ^H2308?” And the LORD ^H3068 said ^H559, “Go ^H5927 up ^H5927, for tomorrow ^H4279 I will hand ^H5414 H3027 them over ^H5414 to you.”

29 So Israel ^H3478 set ^H7760 men in ^H693 ambush ^H693 around ^H5439 Gibeah ^H1390. 30 And the sons ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 went ^H5927 up ^H5927 against ^H413 the sons ^H1121 of Benjamin ^H1144 on the third ^H7992 day ^H3117 and lined ^H6186 up ^H6186 against ^H413 Gibeah ^H1390 as at other ^H6471 times ^H6471. 31 When the sons ^H1121 of Benjamin ^H1144 went ^H3318 out ^H3318 against ^H7122 the people ^H5971, they were lured ^H5423 away ^H5423 from the city ^H5892, and they began ^H2490 to strike ^H5221 and ^H5221 kill ^H5221 H2490 some ^H4480 of the people ^H5971 as at other ^H6471 times ^H6471, on the roads ^H4546 (one ^H259 of which ^H834 goes ^H5927 up ^H5927 to Bethel ^H1008, and the other ^H259 to Gibeah ^H1390), and in the field ^H7704, about thirty ^H7970 men ^H376 of Israel ^H3478. 32 And the sons ^H1121 of Benjamin ^H1144 said ^H559, “They are defeated ^H5062 before ^H6440 us, like the first ^H7223 time ^H7223.” But the sons ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 said ^H559, “Let’s flee ^H5127, so that we may draw ^H5423 them away ^H5423 from the city ^H5892 to the roads ^H4546.” 33 Then all ^H3605 the men ^H376 of Israel ^H3478 rose ^H6965 from their place ^H4725 and lined ^H6186 up ^H6186 at Baal-tamar ^H1193; and the men of Israel ^H3478 in ^H693 ambush ^H693 charged ^H1518 from their place ^H4725, from Maareh-geba ^H4626 H1387. 34 When ten ^H6235 thousand ^H505 choice ^H977 men ^H376 from all ^H3605 Israel ^H3478 came ^H935 against ^H5048 Gibeah ^H1390, the battle ^H4421 became ^H3513 [fn]fierce ^H3513; but [fn]Benjamin did not know ^H3045 that disaster ^H7451 was [fn]close ^H5060 to them. 35 And the LORD ^H3068 struck ^H5062 Benjamin ^H1144 before ^H6440 Israel ^H3478, so that the sons ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 destroyed ^H7843 25,100 ^{H6242 H2568 H505 H3967} men ^H376 of Benjamin ^H1144 that [fn]day ^H3117, all ^H3605 who ^H428 drew ^H8025 the sword ^H2719.

36 So the sons ^H1121 of Benjamin ^H1144 saw ^H7200 that they were [fn]defeated ^H5062. When the men ^H376 of Israel ^H3478 gave ^H5414 [fn]ground ^H4725 to Benjamin ^H1144 because ^H3588 they relied ^H982 on the men in ^H693 ambush ^H693 whom ^H834 they had set ^H7760 against ^H413 Gibeah ^H1390, 37 the men in ^H693 ambush ^H693 hurried ^H2363 and rushed ^H6584 against ^H413 Gibeah ^H1390; the men in ^H693 ambush ^H693 also deployed ^H4900 and struck ^H5221 all ^H3605 the city ^H5892 with the edge ^H6310 of the sword ^H2719. 38 Now the agreed ^H4150 sign ^H4150 between the men ^H376 of Israel ^H3478 and the men in ^H693 ambush ^H693 was that they would make ^H7235 a great ^H7235 cloud ^H4864 of smoke ^H6227 rise ^H5927 from the city ^H5892. 39 Then the men ^H376 of Israel ^H3478 turned ^H2015 in the battle ^H4421, and Benjamin ^H1144 began ^H2490 to strike ^H5221 and ^H5221 kill ^H5221 H2490 about thirty ^H7970 men ^H376 of Israel ^H3478, for they said ^H559, “Undoubtedly ^H389 H5062 they are [fn]defeated ^H5062 before ^H6440 us, as in the first ^H7223 battle ^H4421.” 40 But when the cloud ^H4864 began ^H2490 to rise ^H5927 from the city ^H5892 in a column ^H5982 of smoke ^H6227, Benjamin ^H1144 looked ^H6437 behind ^H310 them; and behold ^H2009, the entire ^H3632 city ^H5892 was going ^H5927 up ^H5927 in smoke to heaven ^H8064. 41 Then the men ^H376 of Israel ^H3478 turned ^H2015, and the men ^H376 of Benjamin ^H1144 were terrified ^H926; for they saw ^H7200 that disaster ^H7451 was [fn]close ^H5060 to them. 42 Therefore, they turned ^H6437 their backs before ^H6440 the men ^H376 of Israel ^H3478 to flee in the direction ^H413 H1870 of the wilderness ^H4057, but the battle ^H4421 overtook ^H1692 them while ^H834 those who ^H834 attacked from the cities ^H5892 were annihilating ^H7843 them in the midst ^H8432 of them. 43 They surrounded ^H3803 Benjamin ^H1144, pursued ^H7291 them without rest ^H4496, and trampled ^H1869 them down ^H1869 opposite ^H5227 Gibeah ^H1390 toward ^H4480 the [fn]east ^H4217 H8121. 44 So eighteen ^H8083 H6240 thousand ^H505 men ^H376 of Benjamin ^H1144 fell ^H5307; all ^H3605 of these ^H428 were valiant ^H2428 men ^H376. 45 [fn]The rest turned ^H6437 and fled ^H5127 toward the wilderness ^H4057 to the rock ^H5553 of Rimmon ^H7417, but they [fn]caught ^H5953 five ^H2568 thousand ^H505 of them on the roads ^H4546 and overtook ^H1692 them [fn]at Gidom ^H1440, and [fn]killed ^H5221 two ^H505 thousand ^H505 of them. 46 So all ^H3605 those of Benjamin ^H1144 who fell ^H5307 that day ^H3117 were twenty-five ^H2568 H6242 thousand ^H505 men ^H376 who drew ^H8025 the sword ^H2719; all ^H3605 of these ^H428 were valiant ^H2428 men ^H376. 47 But six ^H8337 hundred ^H3967 men ^H376 turned ^H6437 and fled ^H5127 toward the wilderness ^H4057 to the rock ^H5553 of Rimmon ^H7417; and they remained ^H3427 at the rock ^H5553 of Rimmon ^H7417 for four ^H702 months ^H2320. 48 The men ^H376 of Israel ^H3478 then turned ^H7725 back ^H7725 against ^H413 the sons ^H1121 of Benjamin ^H1144 and struck ^H5221 them with the edge ^H6310 of the sword ^H2719, both ^H4480 the entire ^H4974 city ^H5892 with the cattle ^H929 and all ^H3605 that they found ^H4672; they also ^H1571 set ^H7971 on fire ^H784 all ^H3605 the cities ^H5892 which they found ^H4672.