International Standard Version

Hebrew Study Bible

1Then the entire Israeli nation—from Dan to Beer-sheba, including the territory of Gilead—came out for war. The army assembled as one united force to God at Mizpah.

1וַיֵּצְאוּ֮ כָּל־ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ וַתִּקָּהֵ֨ל הָעֵדָ֜ה כְּאִ֣ישׁ אֶחָ֗ד לְמִדָּן֙ וְעַד־ בְּאֵ֣ר שֶׁ֔בַע וְאֶ֖רֶץ הַגִּלְעָ֑ד אֶל־ יְהוָ֖ה הַמִּצְפָּֽה׃

2The officials of the entire nation, including every tribe of Israel, took their stand in the assembly of the people of God: 400,000 foot soldiers, all of them expert swordsmen.

2וַיִּֽתְיַצְּב֞וּ פִּנּ֣וֹת כָּל־ הָעָ֗ם כֹּ֚ל שִׁבְטֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל בִּקְהַ֖ל עַ֣ם הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים אַרְבַּ֨ע מֵא֥וֹת אֶ֛לֶף אִ֥ישׁ רַגְלִ֖י שֹׁ֥לֵֽף חָֽרֶב׃ פ

3While the descendants of Benjamin were learning that the Israelis had gone up to Mizpah, the Israelis asked, "Somebody tell us how this evil could happen?"

3וַֽיִּשְׁמְעוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י בִנְיָמִ֔ן כִּֽי־ עָל֥וּ בְנֵֽי־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל הַמִּצְפָּ֑ה וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל דַּבְּר֕וּ אֵיכָ֥ה נִהְיְתָ֖ה הָרָעָ֥ה הַזֹּֽאת׃

4So the descendant of Levi, the husband of the murdered woman, spoke up and replied, "I came to spend the night at Gibeah, which is part of Benjamin, along with my mistress.

4וַיַּ֜עַן הָאִ֣ישׁ הַלֵּוִ֗י אִ֛ישׁ הָאִשָּׁ֥ה הַנִּרְצָחָ֖ה וַיֹּאמַ֑ר הַגִּבְעָ֙תָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לְבִנְיָמִ֔ן בָּ֛אתִי אֲנִ֥י וּפִֽילַגְשִׁ֖י לָלֽוּן׃

5But the officials of Gibeah attacked me and surrounded the house because of me. They intended to kill me, but instead they tortured my mistress to death.

5וַיָּקֻ֤מוּ עָלַי֙ בַּעֲלֵ֣י הַגִּבְעָ֔ה וַיָּסֹ֧בּוּ עָלַ֛י אֶת־ הַבַּ֖יִת לָ֑יְלָה אוֹתִי֙ דִּמּ֣וּ לַהֲרֹ֔ג וְאֶת־ פִּילַגְשִׁ֥י עִנּ֖וּ וַתָּמֹֽת׃

6So I grabbed my mistress, cut her in pieces, and sent her remains throughout the territory of Israel's inheritance, because they've committed a vile, stupid outrage in Israel.

6וָֽאֹחֵ֤ז בְּפִֽילַגְשִׁי֙ וָֽאֲנַתְּחֶ֔הָ וָֽאֲשַׁלְּחֶ֔הָ בְּכָל־ שְׂדֵ֖ה נַחֲלַ֣ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כִּ֥י עָשׂ֛וּ זִמָּ֥ה וּנְבָלָ֖ה בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

7So look, all you Israelis! Speak up and give us your advice!"

7הִנֵּ֥ה כֻלְּכֶ֖ם בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל הָב֥וּ לָכֶ֛ם דָּבָ֥ר וְעֵצָ֖ה הֲלֹֽם׃

8Then the entire army stood up as a single unit and declared, "Nobody's going back to his tent, and nobody's going home!

8וַיָּ֙קָם֙ כָּל־ הָעָ֔ם כְּאִ֥ישׁ אֶחָ֖ד לֵאמֹ֑ר לֹ֤א נֵלֵךְ֙ אִ֣ישׁ לְאָהֳל֔וֹ וְלֹ֥א נָס֖וּר אִ֥ישׁ לְבֵיתֽוֹ׃

9This is what we'll do to Gibeah: we're going to assemble an army by lottery.

9וְעַתָּ֕ה זֶ֣ה הַדָּבָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר נַעֲשֶׂ֖ה לַגִּבְעָ֑ה עָלֶ֖יהָ בְּגוֹרָֽל׃

10We'll take ten men out of 100 from all of the tribes of Israel. We'll appoint 100 out of 1,000 and 1,000 out of 10,000 to supply provisions for the army. And when we reach Gibeah in the territory of Benjamin, we'll punish them for all of the stupid things that they've done in Israel."

10וְלָקַ֣חְנוּ עֲשָׂרָה֩ אֲנָשִׁ֨ים לַמֵּאָ֜ה לְכֹ֣ל ׀ שִׁבְטֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וּמֵאָ֤ה לָאֶ֙לֶף֙ וְאֶ֣לֶף לָרְבָבָ֔ה לָקַ֥חַת צֵדָ֖ה לָעָ֑ם לַעֲשׂ֗וֹת לְבוֹאָם֙ לְגֶ֣בַע בִּנְיָמִ֔ן כְּכָל־ הַ֨נְּבָלָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשָׂ֖ה בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

11That's how the army of Israel came to be gathered together to attack the city, united as a single unit.

11וַיֵּֽאָסֵ֞ף כָּל־ אִ֤ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֶל־ הָעִ֔יר כְּאִ֥ישׁ אֶחָ֖ד חֲבֵרִֽים׃ פ

12The tribes of Israel sent men throughout the entire tribe of Benjamin to ask them, "What is this evil thing that has occurred among you?

12וַֽיִּשְׁלְח֞וּ שִׁבְטֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֲנָשִׁ֔ים בְּכָל־ שִׁבְטֵ֥י בִנְיָמִ֖ן לֵאמֹ֑ר מָ֚ה הָרָעָ֣ה הַזֹּ֔את אֲשֶׁ֥ר נִהְיְתָ֖ה בָּכֶֽם׃

13Now then, hand over the men—those ungodly men, and we'll execute them in order to remove this evil from Israel." But the descendants of Benjamin wouldn't obey the request of their own relatives, the Israelis,

13וְעַתָּ֡ה תְּנוּ֩ אֶת־ הָאֲנָשִׁ֨ים בְּנֵֽי־ בְלִיַּ֜עַל אֲשֶׁ֤ר בַּגִּבְעָה֙ וּנְמִיתֵ֔ם וּנְבַעֲרָ֥ה רָעָ֖ה מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְלֹ֤א אָבוּ֙ (בְּנֵ֣י‪‬) בִּנְיָמִ֔ן לִשְׁמֹ֕עַ בְּק֖וֹל אֲחֵיהֶ֥ם בְּנֵֽי־ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

14so the descendants of Benjamin assembled from the cities of Gibeah to fight the Israelis in battle.

14וַיֵּאָסְפ֧וּ בְנֵֽי־ בִנְיָמִ֛ן מִן־ הֶעָרִ֖ים הַגִּבְעָ֑תָה לָצֵ֥את לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה עִם־ בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

15The day of the battle, the army from the descendants of Benjamin numbered 26,000 expert swordsmen from their cities, not including the inhabitants of Gibeah, who numbered 700 special forces soldiers.

15וַיִּתְפָּֽקְדוּ֩ בְנֵ֨י בִנְיָמִ֜ן בַּיּ֤וֹם הַהוּא֙ מֵהֶ֣עָרִ֔ים עֶשְׂרִ֨ים וְשִׁשָּׁ֥ה אֶ֛לֶף אִ֖ישׁ שֹׁ֣לֵֽף חָ֑רֶב לְ֠בַד מִיֹּשְׁבֵ֤י הַגִּבְעָה֙ הִתְפָּ֣קְד֔וּ שְׁבַ֥ע מֵא֖וֹת אִ֥ישׁ בָּחֽוּר׃

16Out of all these soldiers, 700 of them were left-handed—and each one could sling a stone at a hair and never miss.

16מִכֹּ֣ל ׀ הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֗ה שְׁבַ֤ע מֵאוֹת֙ אִ֣ישׁ בָּח֔וּר אִטֵּ֖ר יַד־ יְמִינ֑וֹ כָּל־ זֶ֗ה קֹלֵ֧עַ בָּאֶ֛בֶן אֶל־ הַֽשַּׂעֲרָ֖ה וְלֹ֥א יַחֲטִֽא׃ פ

17But the Israeli army—not counting the tribe of Benjamin—numbered 400,000 expert swordsmen, all of them battle-hardened soldiers.

17וְאִ֨ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל הִתְפָּֽקְד֗וּ לְבַד֙ מִבִּנְיָמִ֔ן אַרְבַּ֨ע מֵא֥וֹת אֶ֛לֶף אִ֖ישׁ שֹׁ֣לֵֽף חָ֑רֶב כָּל־ זֶ֖ה אִ֥ישׁ מִלְחָמָֽה׃

18The Israelis mounted up, traveled to Bethel, and asked God what to do. They said, "Who is to lead us in our opening attack against the descendants of Benjamin?" The LORD replied, "Judah is to open the attack."

18וַיָּקֻ֜מוּ וַיַּעֲל֣וּ בֵֽית־ אֵל֮ וַיִּשְׁאֲל֣וּ בֵאלֹהִים֒ וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מִ֚י יַעֲלֶה־ לָּ֣נוּ בַתְּחִלָּ֔ה לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה עִם־ בְּנֵ֣י בִנְיָמִ֑ן וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהוָ֖ה יְהוּדָ֥ה בַתְּחִלָּֽה׃

19So the Israelis got up in the morning, encamped near Gibeah,

19וַיָּק֥וּמוּ בְנֵֽי־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בַּבֹּ֑קֶר וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ עַל־ הַגִּבְעָֽה׃ פ

20and the army of Israel went out to fight the tribe of Benjamin, assembling in battle array against them at Gibeah.

20וַיֵּצֵא֙ אִ֣ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה עִם־ בִּנְיָמִ֑ן וַיַּעַרְכ֨וּ אִתָּ֧ם אִֽישׁ־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל מִלְחָמָ֖ה אֶל־ הַגִּבְעָֽה׃

21The descendants of Benjamin came out of Gibeah, and 22,000 soldiers of Israel fell in battle that day.

21וַיֵּצְא֥וּ בְנֵֽי־ בִנְיָמִ֖ן מִן־ הַגִּבְעָ֑ה וַיַּשְׁחִ֨יתוּ בְיִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא שְׁנַ֨יִם וְעֶשְׂרִ֥ים אֶ֛לֶף אִ֖ישׁ אָֽרְצָה׃

22But the army—the men of Israel—encouraged themselves and arrayed for battle again the next day in the same place where they had gathered the day before.

22וַיִּתְחַזֵּ֥ק הָעָ֖ם אִ֣ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיֹּסִ֙פוּ֙ לַעֲרֹ֣ךְ מִלְחָמָ֔ה בַּמָּק֕וֹם אֲשֶׁר־ עָ֥רְכוּ שָׁ֖ם בַּיּ֥וֹם הָרִאשֽׁוֹן׃

23From there the Israelis went up and wept in the LORD's presence until evening. Then they asked the LORD, "Should we attack the descendants of Benjamin again?" The LORD replied, "Attack them."

23וַיַּעֲל֣וּ בְנֵֽי־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וַיִּבְכּ֣וּ לִפְנֵֽי־ יְהוָה֮ עַד־ הָעֶרֶב֒ וַיִּשְׁאֲל֤וּ בַֽיהוָה֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הַאוֹסִ֗יף לָגֶ֙שֶׁת֙ לַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה עִם־ בְּנֵ֥י בִנְיָמִ֖ן אָחִ֑י וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהוָ֖ה עֲל֥וּ אֵלָֽיו׃ פ

24So the Israelis attacked the descendants of Benjamin for a second day,

24וַיִּקְרְב֧וּ בְנֵֽי־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל אֶל־ בְּנֵ֥י בִנְיָמִ֖ן בַּיּ֥וֹם הַשֵּׁנִֽי׃

25and the tribe of Benjamin went to war against them from Gibeah during that second day, and 18,000 soldiers from the Israelis—all of them expert swordsmen—fell to the ground.

25וַיֵּצֵא֩ בִנְיָמִ֨ן ׀ לִקְרָאתָ֥ם ׀ מִֽן־ הַגִּבְעָה֮ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשֵּׁנִי֒ וַיַּשְׁחִיתוּ֩ בִבְנֵ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל ע֗וֹד שְׁמֹנַ֨ת עָשָׂ֥ר אֶ֛לֶף אִ֖ישׁ אָ֑רְצָה כָּל־ אֵ֖לֶּה שֹׁ֥לְפֵי חָֽרֶב׃

26All the Israelis, including its army, went up from there to Bethel and wept, remaining there in the LORD's presence, fasting throughout the day until dusk, when they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings in the LORD's presence.

26וַיַּעֲל֣וּ כָל־ בְּנֵי֩ יִשְׂרָאֵ֨ל וְכָל־ הָעָ֜ם וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ בֵֽית־ אֵ֗ל וַיִּבְכּוּ֙ וַיֵּ֤שְׁבוּ שָׁם֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה וַיָּצ֥וּמוּ בַיּוֹם־ הַה֖וּא עַד־ הָעָ֑רֶב וַֽיַּעֲל֛וּ עֹל֥וֹת וּשְׁלָמִ֖ים לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָֽה׃

27The Israelis inquired of the LORD, since the Ark of the Covenant was there at that time

27וַיִּשְׁאֲל֥וּ בְנֵֽי־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בַּֽיהוָ֑ה וְשָׁ֗ם אֲרוֹן֙ בְּרִ֣ית הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים בַּיָּמִ֖ים הָהֵֽם׃

28while Eleazar's son Phinehas, a descendant of Aaron, served before it in those days. They asked, "Should we go out to war again against the descendants of our relative Benjamin, or shall we cease?" And the LORD answered, "Go out, and tomorrow I will deliver them into your control."

28וּ֠פִינְחָס בֶּן־ אֶלְעָזָ֨ר בֶּֽן־ אַהֲרֹ֜ן עֹמֵ֣ד ׀ לְפָנָ֗יו בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵם֮ לֵאמֹר֒ הַאוֹסִ֨ף ע֜וֹד לָצֵ֧את לַמִּלְחָמָ֛ה עִם־ בְּנֵֽי־ בִנְיָמִ֥ן אָחִ֖י אִם־ אֶחְדָּ֑ל וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ עֲל֔וּ כִּ֥י מָחָ֖ר אֶתְּנֶ֥נּוּ בְיָדֶֽךָ׃

29So Israel set soldiers in ambush around Gibeah.

29וַיָּ֤שֶׂם יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֹֽרְבִ֔ים אֶל־ הַגִּבְעָ֖ה סָבִֽיב׃ פ

30The Israelis went out against the descendants of Benjamin on the third day, arraying themselves against Gibeah as they had done previously.

30וַיַּעֲל֧וּ בְנֵֽי־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל אֶל־ בְּנֵ֥י בִנְיָמִ֖ן בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֑י וַיַּעַרְכ֥וּ אֶל־ הַגִּבְעָ֖ה כְּפַ֥עַם בְּפָֽעַם׃

31They attacked the army and were drawn away from the city as they began to inflict casualties on the soldiers along the roads to Bethel and Gibeah, just as they had done the other times. About 30 soldiers from Israel fell in battle there and in the fields.

31וַיֵּצְא֤וּ בְנֵֽי־ בִנְיָמִן֙ לִקְרַ֣את הָעָ֔ם הָנְתְּק֖וּ מִן־ הָעִ֑יר וַיָּחֵ֡לּוּ לְהַכּוֹת֩ מֵהָעָ֨ם חֲלָלִ֜ים כְּפַ֣עַם ׀ בְּפַ֗עַם בַּֽמְסִלּוֹת֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר אַחַ֜ת עֹלָ֣ה בֵֽית־ אֵ֗ל וְאַחַ֤ת גִּבְעָ֙תָה֙ בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה כִּשְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים אִ֖ישׁ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

32Then the descendants of Benjamin told themselves, "They're falling right in front of us, just like before!" But the army of Israel told themselves, "Let's draw them away by escaping to the highways from the city."

32וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י בִנְיָמִ֔ן נִגָּפִ֥ים הֵ֛ם לְפָנֵ֖ינוּ כְּבָרִאשֹׁנָ֑ה וּבְנֵ֧י יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל אָמְר֗וּ נָנ֙וּסָה֙ וּֽנְתַקְּנֻ֔הוּ מִן־ הָעִ֖יר אֶל־ הַֽמְסִלּֽוֹת׃

33So the entire army of Israel moved from their location and arrayed themselves at Baal-tamer while that part of their army moved from their ambush positions from Maareh-geba.

33וְכֹ֣ל ׀ אִ֣ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל קָ֚מוּ מִמְּקוֹמ֔וֹ וַיַּעַרְכ֖וּ בְּבַ֣עַל תָּמָ֑ר וְאֹרֵ֧ב יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל מֵגִ֥יחַ מִמְּקֹמ֖וֹ מִמַּֽעֲרֵה־ גָֽבַע׃

34As 10,000 of Israel's best soldiers came to fight Gibeah, the battle became fierce, but the army of Benjamin didn't know that disaster was close at hand.

34וַיָּבֹאוּ֩ מִנֶּ֨גֶד לַגִּבְעָ֜ה עֲשֶׂרֶת֩ אֲלָפִ֨ים אִ֤ישׁ בָּחוּר֙ מִכָּל־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְהַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה כָּבֵ֑דָה וְהֵם֙ לֹ֣א יָדְע֔וּ כִּֽי־ נֹגַ֥עַת עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם הָרָעָֽה׃ פ

35The LORD struck Benjamin in the full view of Israel. As a result, the Israelis destroyed 25,100 soldiers of Benjamin that day, all expert swordsmen.

35וַיִּגֹּ֨ף יְהוָ֥ה ׀ אֶֽת־ בִּנְיָמִן֮ לִפְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ וַיַּשְׁחִיתוּ֩ בְנֵ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל בְּבִנְיָמִן֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא עֶשְׂרִ֨ים וַחֲמִשָּׁ֥ה אֶ֛לֶף וּמֵאָ֖ה אִ֑ישׁ כָּל־ אֵ֖לֶּה שֹׁ֥לֵף חָֽרֶב׃

36Then the descendants of Benjamin realized that they had been defeated. The army of Israel pretended to retreat from the army of Benjamin, knowing that they had set some soldiers in ambush near Gibeah.

36וַיִּרְא֥וּ בְנֵֽי־ בִנְיָמִ֖ן כִּ֣י נִגָּ֑פוּ וַיִּתְּנ֨וּ אִֽישׁ־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל מָקוֹם֙ לְבִנְיָמִ֔ן כִּ֤י בָֽטְחוּ֙ אֶל־ הָ֣אֹרֵ֔ב אֲשֶׁר שָׂ֖מוּ אֶל־ הַגִּבְעָֽה׃

37The soldiers in ambush rushed out to attack Gibeah, deploying in force and executing the entire city with swords.

37וְהָאֹרֵ֣ב הֵחִ֔ישׁוּ וַֽיִּפְשְׁט֖וּ אֶל־ הַגִּבְעָ֑ה וַיִּמְשֹׁךְ֙ הָאֹרֵ֔ב וַיַּ֥ךְ אֶת־ כָּל־ הָעִ֖יר לְפִי־ חָֽרֶב׃

38Meanwhile, the army of Israel had arranged to signal their soldiers who had been hiding in ambush by sending up a cloud of smoke from the city.

38וְהַמּוֹעֵ֗ד הָיָ֛ה לְאִ֥ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עִם־ הָאֹרֵ֑ב הֶ֕רֶב לְהַעֲלוֹתָ֛ם מַשְׂאַ֥ת הֶעָשָׁ֖ן מִן־ הָעִֽיר׃

39The army of Israel turned around in the battle, and the army of Benjamin began to attack and kill about 30 soldiers, thinking, "Now we're really defeating them, just like before."

39וַיַּהֲפֹ֥ךְ אִֽישׁ־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בַּמִּלְחָמָ֑ה וּבִנְיָמִ֡ן הֵחֵל֩ לְהַכּ֨וֹת חֲלָלִ֤ים בְּאִֽישׁ־ יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ כִּשְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים אִ֔ישׁ כִּ֣י אָמְר֔וּ אַךְ֩ נִגּ֨וֹף נִגָּ֥ף הוּא֙ לְפָנֵ֔ינוּ כַּמִּלְחָמָ֖ה הָרִאשֹׁנָֽה׃

40But then the smoke began to rise from the city in a column. The army of Benjamin observed behind them that the whole city was going up in flames straight into the sky!

40וְהַמַּשְׂאֵ֗ת הֵחֵ֛לָּה לַעֲל֥וֹת מִן־ הָעִ֖יר עַמּ֣וּד עָשָׁ֑ן וַיִּ֤פֶן בִּנְיָמִן֙ אַחֲרָ֔יו וְהִנֵּ֛ה עָלָ֥ה כְלִיל־ הָעִ֖יר הַשָּׁמָֽיְמָה׃

41At that point, as the army of Israel turned back to face the army of Benjamin, the army of Benjamin was filled with terror, because they realized that disaster was about to overtake them.

41וְאִ֤ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ הָפַ֔ךְ וַיִּבָּהֵ֖ל אִ֣ישׁ בִּנְיָמִ֑ן כִּ֣י רָאָ֔ה כִּֽי־ נָגְעָ֥ה עָלָ֖יו הָרָעָֽה׃

42So they turned tail and ran away from the army of Israel toward the wilderness, but they were overtaken in battle when soldiers came out from the cities to destroy them.

42וַיִּפְנ֞וּ לִפְנֵ֨י אִ֤ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֶל־ דֶּ֣רֶךְ הַמִּדְבָּ֔ר וְהַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה הִדְבִּיקָ֑תְהוּ וַאֲשֶׁר֙ מֵהֶ֣עָרִ֔ים מַשְׁחִיתִ֥ים אוֹת֖וֹ בְּתוֹכֽוֹ׃

43They surrounded the army of Benjamin, pursuing them ceaselessly until they defeated them near the east-facing border of Gibeah.

43כִּתְּר֤וּ אֶת־ בִּנְיָמִן֙ הִרְדִיפֻ֔הוּ מְנוּחָ֖ה הִדְרִיכֻ֑הוּ עַ֛ד נֹ֥כַח הַגִּבְעָ֖ה מִמִּזְרַח־ שָֽׁמֶשׁ׃

44That's how 18,000 men from the tribe of Benjamin fell in battle, all of whom were valiant soldiers.

44וַֽיִּפְּלוּ֙ מִבִּנְיָמִ֔ן שְׁמֹנָֽה־ עָשָׂ֥ר אֶ֖לֶף אִ֑ישׁ אֶת־ כָּל־ אֵ֖לֶּה אַנְשֵׁי־ חָֽיִל׃

45The rest of them turned and ran into the wilderness in the direction of the rock of Rimmon, but 5,000 of them were killed on the highways while 2,000 of them were overtaken and killed near Gidom.

45וַיִּפְנ֞וּ וַיָּנֻ֤סוּ הַמִּדְבָּ֙רָה֙ אֶל־ סֶ֣לַע הָֽרִמּ֔וֹן וַיְעֹֽלְלֻ֙הוּ֙ בַּֽמְסִלּ֔וֹת חֲמֵ֥שֶׁת אֲלָפִ֖ים אִ֑ישׁ וַיַּדְבִּ֤יקוּ אַחֲרָיו֙ עַד־ גִּדְעֹ֔ם וַיַּכּ֥וּ מִמֶּ֖נּוּ אַלְפַּ֥יִם אִֽישׁ׃

46To sum up, the soldiers from the tribe of Benjamin who died that day totaled 25,000 men, all of them expert swordsmen and valiant soldiers.

46וַיְהִי֩ כָל־ הַנֹּ֨פְלִ֜ים מִבִּנְיָמִ֗ן עֶשְׂרִים֩ וַחֲמִשָּׁ֨ה אֶ֥לֶף אִ֛ישׁ שֹׁ֥לֵֽף חֶ֖רֶב בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא אֶֽת־ כָּל־ אֵ֖לֶּה אַנְשֵׁי־ חָֽיִל׃

47However, 600 soldiers ran into the wilderness in the direction of the rock of Rimmon, where they remained as fugitives for four months.

47וַיִּפְנ֞וּ וַיָּנֻ֤סוּ הַמִּדְבָּ֙רָה֙ אֶל־ סֶ֣לַע הָֽרִמּ֔וֹן שֵׁ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת אִ֑ישׁ וַיֵּֽשְׁבוּ֙ בְּסֶ֣לַע רִמּ֔וֹן אַרְבָּעָ֖ה חֳדָשִֽׁים׃

48Meanwhile, the army of Israel went back to fight the surviving descendants of Benjamin. They attacked the entire city with swords, including its cattle and everyone they could find. Then they set fire to all of the cities that they could find.

48וְאִ֨ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל שָׁ֣בוּ אֶל־ בְּנֵ֤י בִנְיָמִן֙ וַיַּכּ֣וּם לְפִי־ חֶ֔רֶב מֵעִ֤יר מְתֹם֙ עַד־ בְּהֵמָ֔ה עַ֖ד כָּל־ הַנִּמְצָ֑א גַּ֛ם כָּל־ הֶעָרִ֥ים הַנִּמְצָא֖וֹת שִׁלְּח֥וּ בָאֵֽשׁ׃ פ

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

Greek and Hebrew Study Bible courtesy Bible Hub and the Discovery Bible team.