1 Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was gathered together as one man, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, 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 enquired 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 Baal-tamar: 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 valour. 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 valour. 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.
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.
