Israel Prepares for War
1 All the people of Israel from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, as well as from the land of Gilead in the east, answered the call. They gathered in one body in the Lord's presence at Mizpah. 2 The leaders of all the tribes of Israel were present at this gathering of God's people, and there were 400,000 foot soldiers. 3 Meanwhile the people of Benjamin heard that all the other Israelites had gathered at Mizpah.
The Israelites asked, “Tell us, how was this crime committed?” 4 The Levite whose concubine had been murdered answered, “My concubine and I went to Gibeah in the territory of Benjamin to spend the night. 5 The men of Gibeah came to get me and surrounded the house at night. They intended to kill me; instead they raped my concubine, and she died. 6 I took her body, cut it in pieces, and sent one piece to each of the twelve tribes of Israel. These people have committed an evil and immoral act among us. 7 All of you here are Israelites. What are we going to do about this?”
8 All the people stood up together and said, “None of us, whether he lives in a tent or in a house, will go home. 9 This is what we will do: we will draw lots and choose some men to attack Gibeah. 10 One tenth of the men in Israel will provide food for the army, and the others will go and punish Gibeah for this immoral act that they have committed in Israel.” 11 So all the men in Israel assembled with one purpose—to attack the town.
12 The Israelite tribes sent messengers all through the territory of the tribe of Benjamin to say, “What is this crime that you have committed? 13 Now hand over those perverts in Gibeah, so that we can kill them and remove this evil from Israel.” But the people of Benjamin paid no attention to the other Israelites. 14 From all the cities of Benjamin they came to Gibeah to fight the other people of Israel. 15-16 They called out twenty-six thousand soldiers from their cities that day. Besides these, the citizens of Gibeah gathered seven hundred specially chosen men who were left-handed. Every one of them could sling a stone at a strand of hair and never miss. 17 Not counting the tribe of Benjamin, the Israelites gathered 400,000 trained soldiers.
The War against the Benjaminites
18 The Israelites went to the place of worship at Bethel, and there they asked God, “Which tribe should attack the Benjaminites first?”
The Lord answered, “The tribe of Judah.”
19 So the Israelites started out the next morning and camped near the city of Gibeah. 20 They went to attack the army of Benjamin, and placed the soldiers in position facing the city. 21 The army of Benjamin came out of the city, and before the day was over they had killed twenty-two thousand Israelite soldiers. 22-23 Then the Israelites went to the place of worship and mourned in the presence of the Lord until evening. They asked him, “Should we go again into battle against our brothers the Benjaminites?”
The Lord answered, “Yes.”
So the Israelite army was encouraged, and they placed their soldiers in position again, where they had been the day before. 24 They marched against the army of Benjamin a second time. 25 And for the second time the Benjaminites came out of Gibeah, and this time they killed eighteen thousand trained Israelite soldiers. 26 Then all the people of Israel went up to Bethel and mourned. They sat there in the Lord's presence and did not eat until evening. They offered fellowship sacrifices and burned some sacrifices whole—all in the presence of the Lord. 27-28 God's Covenant Box was there at Bethel in those days, and Phinehas, the son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron, was in charge of it. The people asked the Lord, “Should we go out to fight our brothers the Benjaminites again, or should we give up?”
The Lord answered, “Fight. Tomorrow I will give you victory over them.”
29 So the Israelites put some soldiers in hiding around Gibeah. 30 Then for the third straight day they marched against the army of Benjamin and placed their soldiers in battle position facing Gibeah, as they had done before. 31 The Benjaminites came out to fight and were led away from the city. As they had before, they began killing some Israelites in the open country, on the road to Bethel and on the road to Gibeah. They killed about thirty Israelites. 32 The Benjaminites said, “We've beaten them just as before.”
But the Israelites had planned to retreat and lead them away from the city onto the roads. 33 So when the main army of the Israelites pulled back and regrouped at Baaltamar, the men surrounding Gibeah suddenly rushed out of their hiding places in the rocky country around the city. 34 Ten thousand men, specially chosen out of all Israel, attacked Gibeah, and the fighting was hard. The Benjaminites had not realized that they were about to be destroyed. 35 The Lord gave Israel victory over the army of Benjamin. The Israelites killed 25,100 of the enemy that day, 36 and the Benjaminites realized they were defeated.
How the Israelites Won
The main body of the Israelite army had retreated from the Benjaminites because they were relying on the men that they had put in hiding around Gibeah. 37 These men ran quickly toward Gibeah; they spread out in the city and killed everyone there. 38 The main Israelite army and the men in hiding had arranged a signal. When they saw a big cloud of smoke going up from the town, 39 the Israelites out on the battlefield were to turn around. By this time the Benjaminites had already killed the thirty Israelites. They told themselves, “Yes, we've beaten them just as before.” 40 Then the signal appeared; a cloud of smoke began to go up from the town. The Benjaminites looked behind them and were amazed to see the whole city going up in flames. 41 Then the Israelites turned around, and the Benjaminites were thrown into panic because they realized that they were about to be destroyed. 42 They retreated from the Israelites and ran toward the open country, but they could not escape. They were caught between the main army and the men who were now coming out of the city, and they were destroyed. 43 The Israelites had the enemy trapped, and without stopping they pursued them as far as a point east of Gibeah, killing them as they went. 44 Eighteen thousand of the best Benjaminite soldiers were killed. 45 The others turned and ran toward the open country to Rimmon Rock. Five thousand of them were killed on the roads. The Israelites continued to pursue the rest to Gidom, killing two thousand. 46 In all, twenty-five thousand Benjaminites were killed that day—all of them brave soldiers.
47 But six hundred men were able to escape to the open country to Rimmon Rock, and they stayed there four months. 48 The Israelites turned back against the rest of the Benjaminites and killed them all—men, women, and children, and animals as well. They burned every town in the area.
Israēls karo ar Benjāmina cilti
1 Tad visi Israēla dēli, visa sapulce no Dāna līdz Bēršebai un Gileāda zemei, kā viens vīrs gāja un sapulcējās pie Kunga Micpā. 2 Dieva tautas sapulcē cēlās visas tautas balsti no visām Israēla ciltīm, četri simti tūkstoši vīru – kājnieku, zobena nesēju.
3 Benjāmina dēli uzzināja, ka Israēla dēli dodas uz Micpu. Tad Israēla dēli teica: “Stāstiet, kā varēja notikt tāds ļaunums!” 4 Un levīts, nogalinātās sievas vīrs, sacīja: “Mēs ar blakussievu ienācām pārnakšņot Gibā, kas pieder Benjāminam. 5 Bet Gibas vīri cēlās pret mani un ielenca manu naktsmītni. Tie domāja mani nonāvēt, bet manu blakussievu piesmēja tā, ka viņa nomira. 6 Tad es paķēru savu blakussievu, sacirtu gabalos un izsūtīju pa visiem Israēla novadiem, jo nelietību un vājprātu tie darījuši Israēlā. 7 Raugiet nu, Israēla dēli, sakiet šeit savu vārdu un spriedumu!” 8 Un visa tauta kā viens vīrs cēlās un sacīja: “Mēs neiesim savās teltīs un neiegriezīsimies savā namā! 9 Darīsim Gibai tā – iesim pret to, kā lozes kritīs! 10 Ņemsim no katras Israēla cilts desmit vīrus no simta un simtu no tūkstoša, un tūkstoti no desmit tūkstošiem, lai tie ņem ēdamo ļaudīm, kad būs nonākuši Benjāmina Gibā, un atriebsim to vājprātu, ko tie darījuši Israēlā.” 11 Tā Israēla vīri visi kā viens pulcējās pret šo pilsētu.
12 Israēla ciltis sūtīja vīrus pa visu Benjāmina cilti, sacīdami: “Kas tā par ļaundarību, kas pie jums notikusi?! 13 Izdodiet tos Gibas vīrus, neliešus, ka tos nonāvējam un izsveļam ļaunumu no Israēla!” Bet benjāminieši negribēja klausīt savus brāļus, Israēla dēlus. 14 Benjāmina dēli no pilsētām sapulcējās Gibā, lai dotos karā pret Israēla dēliem. 15 Todien no pilsētām tika sapulcēti Benjāmina dēli – kopā divdesmit seši tūkstoši vīru, zobena nesēju, neskaitot Gibas iedzīvotājus, no kuriem bija sapulcēti septiņi simti izlases vīru. 16 No visiem šiem ļaudīm septiņi simti izlases vīru bija kreiļi – ikviens no tiem sviež akmeni uz mata un neaizmet garām!
17 Līdzās benjāminiešiem tika sapulcēti četri simti tūkstoši Israēla vīru, zobena nesēju, kas visi bija karotāji. 18 Viņi cēlās un devās uz Bēteli izjautāt Dievu. Israēla dēli vaicāja: “Kurš no mums pirmais dosies karot ar Benjāmina dēliem?” Un Kungs atbildēja: “Jūda pirmais!” 19 Tad Israēla dēli cēlās no rīta un apmetās nometnē iepretī Gibai.
20 Israēla vīri izgāja cīnīties ar benjāminiešiem un izkārtojās kaujai pie Gibas. 21 Benjāmina dēli iznāca no Gibas un todien nonāvēja divdesmit divus tūkstošus Israēla vīru. 22 Bet tauta, Israēla vīri, saņēmās un atkal izkārtojās kaujai tajā pašā vietā, kur tie bija stāvējuši iepriekšējā dienā. 23 Un Israēla dēli gāja un raudāja Kunga priekšā līdz vakaram un prasīja Kungam: “Vai mums vēl karot pret mūsu brāļiem, Benjāmina dēliem?” Un Kungs tiem atbildēja: “Dodieties pret tiem!”
24 Nākamajā dienā Israēla dēli devās pret Benjāmina dēliem. 25 Benjāminieši izgāja tiem pretī no Gibas un otrajā dienā atkal nonāvēja astoņpadsmit tūkstošus vīru no Israēla dēliem – tie visi bija zobena nesēji. 26 Tad visi Israēla dēli, visa tauta, gāja un nonāca Bētelē, raudāja un sēdēja tur Kunga priekšā, todien gavēdami līdz vakaram. Viņi nesa sadedzināmos upurus un miera upurus Kunga priekšā. 27 Un Israēla dēli izjautāja Kungu, jo tajā laikā tur atradās Dieva derības šķirsts. 28 Tolaik tā priekšā stāvēja Pinhāss, Elāzāra dēls, Ārona dēla dēls, un viņš sacīja: “Vai man atkal doties karot ar saviem brāļiem, Benjāmina dēliem, vai mitēties?” Un Kungs atbildēja: “Ejiet, jo rīt es viņus nodošu tavās rokās!” 29 Un Israēls izlika slēpņus apkārt Gibai.
30 Trešajā dienā Israēla dēli atkal devās pret Benjāmina dēliem un izkārtojās pret Gibu kā iepriekšējās reizēs. 31 Benjāmina dēli iznāca tautai pretī un tika aizvilināti no pilsētas. Viņi devās uzbrukumā kā iepriekš un kādus trīsdesmit israēliešus nokāva klajā laukā uz lielceļiem, no kuriem viens ved uz Bēteli un otrs uz Gibu. 32 Benjāmina dēli sprieda: “Mēs tos sakausim tāpat kā iepriekš!” Bet Israēla dēli sarunāja: “Bēgsim un aizvilināsim viņus no pilsētas uz ceļa!” 33 Tad visi israēlieši cēlās no savām vietām un izvietojās pie Baal-Tāmāras, un israēlieši, kas bija slēpņos, triecās no savām vietām Gibas klajumā. 34 Desmit tūkstoši izlases vīru no visa Israēla nāca uz Gibu no pretējās puses. Cīņa bija sīva, bet benjāminieši nezināja, ka posts tiem jau klāt.
35 Kungs sakāva Benjāminu Israēla priekšā, un Israēla dēli todien nonāvēja Benjāminā divdesmit piecus tūkstošus un simts vīrus – tie visi bija zobena nesēji. 36 Benjāmina dēli redzēja, ka ir sakauti, un Israēla vīri pašķīra benjāminiešiem ceļu, jo viņi paļāvās uz tiem, kas bija slēpnī pie Gibas. 37 Tie, kas bija slēpnī, steigšus metās uz Gibu – viņi devās turp un izkāva visu pilsētu ar zobena asmeni. 38 Israēliešiem bija noruna ar tiem, kas slēpnī, – kad no pilsētas celsies liels dūmu mākonis, 39 tad israēlieši kaujā lai griežas atpakaļ. Benjāminieši sāka tos kaut un nonāvēja ap trīsdesmit israēliešu vīru, sacīdami: “Mēs taču tos noteikti sakausim kā iepriekšējā kaujā!” 40 No pilsētas sāka celties mākonis – dūmu stabs. Benjāminieši pavērās atpakaļ, un redzi – visa pilsēta izkūpēja gaisā! 41 Tad israēlieši griezās atpakaļ, bet Benjāmina vīri izbijās, redzēdami, ka tiem jau posts klāt. 42 Viņi nogriezās israēliešu priekšā uz tuksneša ceļu, un kauja nāca tiem pa pēdām, bet tie, kuri nāca no pilsētām, tos grāva no vidus. 43 Tie aplenca benjāminiešus un sekoja viņiem līdz apstāšanās vietai, trenkdami tos, līdz tie bija austrumu pusē Gibai. 44 Benjāminiešiem krita astoņpadsmit tūkstoši vīru – tie visi bija stipri vīri! 45 Viņi nogriezās un bēga tuksnesī uz Rimmonas klinti, un pieci tūkstoši vīru tika notverti uz lielceļiem. Tos neatlaidīgi vajāja līdz Gidomai, un tika nokauti vēl divi tūkstoši vīru. 46 Pavisam todien benjāminiešiem krita divdesmit pieci tūkstoši vīru, zobena nesēju – tie visi bija stipri vīri! 47 Bet seši simti vīru nogriezās un bēga tuksnesī uz Rimmona klinti, un tie mitinājās uz Rimmonas klints četrus mēnešus. 48 Tad israēlieši griezās atpakaļ pret Benjāmina dēliem un ar zobena asmeni izkāva pilnīgi visu pilsētu, pat lopus un visu, ko vien uzgāja, un visas pilsētas, kas tur bija, tie nodedzināja.
