1 T hen all the sons of Israel from Dan to Beersheba, including the land of Gilead, came out, and the congregation assembled as one man to the Lord at Mizpah.

Then all the Israelites came out, and the congregation assembled as one man to the Lord at Mizpah, from Dan even to Beersheba, including the land of Gilead.

2 T he chiefs of all the people, even of all the tribes of Israel, took their stand in the assembly of the people of God, 400, 000 foot soldiers who drew the sword.

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 who drew the sword.

3 ( Now 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 wickedness take place?”

(Now the Benjamites heard that the Israelites had gone up to Mizpah.) There the Israelites asked, How did this wickedness happen?

4 S o the Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered and said, “I came with my concubine to spend the night at Gibeah which belongs to Benjamin.

And the Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, replied, I came to Gibeah which belongs to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to spend the night.

5 B ut the men of Gibeah rose up against me and surrounded the house at night because of me. They intended to kill me; instead, they ravished my concubine so that she died.

And the men of Gibeah rose against me and beset the house round about me by night; they meant to kill me and they raped my concubine, and she is dead.

6 A nd I took hold of my concubine and cut her in pieces and sent her throughout the land of Israel’s inheritance; for they have committed a lewd and disgraceful act in Israel.

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 folly in Israel.

7 B ehold, all you sons of Israel, give your advice and counsel here.”

Behold, you Israelites, all of you, give here your advice and counsel.

8 T hen all the people arose as one man, saying, “Not one of us will go to his tent, nor will any of us return to his house.

And all the people arose as one man, saying, Not any of us will go to his tent, and none of us will return to his home.

9 B ut now this is the thing which we will do to Gibeah; we will go up against it by lot.

But now this we will do to Gibeah: we will go up by lot against it,

10 A nd we will take 10 men out of 100 throughout the tribes of Israel, and 100 out of 1, 000, and 1, 000 out of 10, 000 to supply food for the people, that when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, they may punish them for all the disgraceful acts that they have committed in Israel.”

And we will take ten men of 100 throughout all the tribes of Israel, and 100 of 1, 000, and 1, 000 out of 10, 000, to bring provisions for the men, that when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin they may do to them according to all the folly which they have committed in Israel.

11 T hus all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, united as one man.

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

12 T hen the tribes of Israel sent men through the entire tribe of Benjamin, saying, “What is this wickedness that has taken place among you?

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

13 N ow then, deliver up the men, the worthless fellows in Gibeah, that we may put them to death and remove this wickedness from Israel.” But the sons of Benjamin would not listen to the voice of their brothers, the sons of Israel.

Now therefore, give up the men, the base fellows in Gibeah, that we may put them to death and put away evil from Israel. But the Benjamites would not listen to the voice of their kinsmen the Israelites.

14 T he sons of Benjamin gathered from the cities to Gibeah, to go out to battle against the sons of Israel.

But the Benjamites out of the cities assembled at Gibeah to go out to battle against the other Israelites.

15 F rom the cities on that day the sons of Benjamin were numbered, 26, 000 men who draw the sword, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah who were numbered, 700 choice men.

And the Benjamites mustered out of their cities at that time 26, 000 men who drew the sword, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah, who mustered 700 chosen men.

16 O ut of all these people 700 choice men were left-handed; each one could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.

Among all these were 700 chosen left-handed men; every one could sling stones at a hair and not miss.

17 T hen the men of Israel besides Benjamin were numbered, 400, 000 men who draw the sword; all these were men of war. Civil War, Benjamin Defeated

And the men of Israel, other than Benjamin, mustered 400, 000 men who drew the sword; all these were men of war.

18 N ow the sons of Israel arose, went up to Bethel, and inquired of God and said, “Who shall go up first for us to battle against the sons of Benjamin?” Then the Lord said, “Judah shall go up first.”

The Israelites arose and went up to the house of God and asked counsel of God and said, Which of us shall take the lead to battle against the Benjamites? And the Lord said, Judah shall go up first.

19 S o the sons of Israel arose in the morning and camped against Gibeah.

Then the Israelites rose in the morning and encamped against Gibeah.

20 T he men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin, and the men of Israel arrayed for battle against them at Gibeah.

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

21 T hen the sons of Benjamin came out of Gibeah and felled to the ground on that day 22, 000 men of Israel.

The Benjamites came forth out of Gibeah and felled to the ground that day 22, 000 men of the Israelites.

22 B ut the people, the men of Israel, encouraged themselves and arrayed for battle again in the place where they had arrayed themselves the first day.

But the people, the men of Israel, took courage and strengthened themselves and again set their battle line in the same place where they formed it the first day.

23 T he sons of Israel went up and wept before the Lord until evening, and inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall we again draw near for battle against the sons of my brother Benjamin?” And the Lord said, “Go up against him.”

And the Israelites went up and wept before the Lord until evening and asked of the Lord, Shall we go up again to battle against our brethren the Benjamites? And the Lord said, Go up against them.

24 T hen the sons of Israel came against the sons of Benjamin the second day.

So the Israelites came near against the Benjamites the second day.

25 B enjamin went out against them from Gibeah the second day and felled to the ground again 18, 000 men of the sons of Israel; all these drew the sword.

And Benjamin went forth out of Gibeah against them the second day and felled to the ground the Israelites again, 18, 000 men, all of whom were swordsmen.

26 T hen all the sons of Israel and all the people went up and came to Bethel and wept; thus they remained there before the Lord and fasted that day until evening. And they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord.

Then all the Israelites, the whole army, went up and came to the house of God and wept; and they sat there before the Lord and fasted that day until evening and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord.

27 T he sons 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—for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,

28 a nd Phinehas the son of Eleazar, Aaron’s son, stood before it to minister in those days), saying, “Shall I yet again go out to battle against the sons of my brother Benjamin, or shall I cease?” And the Lord said, “Go up, for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand.”

And Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, ministered before it in those days—saying, Shall we yet again go out to battle against our brethren the Benjamites or shall we quit? And the Lord said, Go up, for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand.

29 S o Israel set men in ambush around Gibeah.

So Israel set men in ambush round about Gibeah.

30 T he sons of Israel went up against the sons of Benjamin on the third day and arrayed themselves against Gibeah as at other times.

And the Israelites went up against the Benjamites on the third day and set themselves in array against Gibeah as at other times.

31 T he sons of Benjamin went out against the people and were drawn away from the city, and they began to strike and kill some of the people as at other times, on the highways, one of which goes up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah, and in the field, about thirty men of Israel.

And the Benjamites went out against their army and were drawn away from the city; and they began to smite and kill some of the people as at other times, 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.

32 T he sons of Benjamin said, “They are struck down before us, as at the first.” But the sons of Israel said, “Let us flee that we may draw them away from the city to the highways.”

And the Benjamites said, They are routed before us as at first. But the Israelites said, Let us flee and draw them from the city to the highways.

33 T hen all the men of Israel arose from their place and arrayed themselves at Baal-tamar; and the men of Israel in ambush broke out of their place, even out of Maareh-geba.

And all the men of Israel rose out of their places and set themselves in array at Baal-tamar, and the men of Israel in ambush rushed out of their place in the meadow of Geba.

34 W hen ten thousand choice men from all Israel came against Gibeah, the battle became fierce; but Benjamin did not know that disaster was close to them.

And there came against Gibeah 10, 000 chosen men out of all Israel, and the battle was hard; but the Benjamites did not know disaster was close upon them.

35 A nd the Lord struck Benjamin before Israel, so that the sons of Israel destroyed 25, 100 men of Benjamin that day, all who draw the sword.

And the Lord overcame Benjamin before Israel, and the Israelites destroyed of the Benjamites that day 25, 100 men, all of whom were swordsmen.

36 S o the sons of Benjamin saw that they were defeated. When the men of Israel gave ground to Benjamin because they relied on the men in ambush whom they had set against Gibeah,

So the Benjamites saw that they were defeated. The men of Israel gave ground to the Benjamites, because they trusted in the men in ambush whom they had set against Gibeah.

37 t he men in ambush hurried and rushed against Gibeah; the men in ambush also deployed and struck all the city with the edge of the sword.

And the men in ambush quickly rushed upon Gibeah, and the liers-in-wait moved out and smote all the city with the sword.

38 N ow the appointed sign between the men of Israel and the men in ambush was that they would make a great cloud of smoke rise from the city.

Now the appointed signal between the men of Israel and the men in ambush was that when they made a great cloud of smoke arise from the city,

39 T hen the men of Israel turned in the battle, and Benjamin began to strike and kill about thirty men of Israel, for they said, “Surely they are defeated before us, as in the first battle.”

The men of Israel should all turn back in battle. Now Benjamin had begun to smite and kill some of the men of Israel, about thirty persons. They said, Surely they are falling before us as in the first battle.

40 B ut when the cloud began to rise from the city in a column of smoke, Benjamin looked behind them; and behold, the whole city was going up in smoke to heaven.

But when the cloud began to rise 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 heavens.

41 T hen the men of Israel turned, and the men of Benjamin were terrified; for they saw that disaster was close to them.

When the men of Israel turned back again, the men of Benjamin were dismayed, for they saw that disaster had come upon them.

42 T herefore, they turned their backs before the men of Israel toward the direction of the wilderness, but the battle overtook them while those who came out of the cities destroyed them in the midst of them.

Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel and fled toward the wilderness, but the battle followed close behind and overtook them; and the inhabitants of the cities destroyed those who came through them in their midst.

43 T hey surrounded Benjamin, pursued them without rest and trod them down opposite Gibeah toward the east.

They surrounded the Benjamites, pursued them, and overtook and trod them down at their resting-place as far as opposite Gibeah toward the east.

44 T hus 18, 000 men of Benjamin fell; all these were valiant warriors.

And there fell 18, 000 men of Benjamin, all of them men of valor.

45 T he rest turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, but they caught 5, 000 of them on the highways and overtook them at Gidom and killed 2, 000 of them.

And turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, and Israel picked off on the highways 5, 000 men of them; they pursued hard after them to Gidom and slew 2, 000 more of them.

46 S o all of Benjamin who fell that day were 25, 000 men who draw the sword; all these were valiant warriors.

So that all of Benjamin who fell that day were 25, 000 men who drew the sword, all of them men of valor.

47 B ut 600 men turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, and they remained at the rock of Rimmon four months.

But 600 men turned and fled to the wilderness to the rock Rimmon and remained at the rock Rimmon four months.

48 T he men of Israel then turned back against the sons of Benjamin and struck them with the edge of the sword, both the entire city with the cattle and all that they found; they also set on fire all the cities which they found.

And the men of Israel turned back against the Benjamites and smote them with the sword, men and beasts and all that they found. Also they set on fire all the towns to which they came.