Juízes 20— comparação

1Então todos os filhos de Israel saíram, e a congregação se reuniu como um só homem, desde Dã até Berseba, juntamente com a terra de Gileade, perante o SENHOR em Mispá.

2Os chefes de todo o povo, de todas as tribos de Israel, apresentaram-se na assembleia do povo de Deus, quatrocentos mil homens de infantaria que empunhavam a espada.

3(Ora, os filhos de Benjamim ouviram que os filhos de Israel haviam subido a Mispá.) E os filhos de Israel disseram: “Contem-nos, como aconteceu essa maldade?”

4O levita, marido da mulher assassinada, respondeu: “Eu cheguei a Gibeá, que pertence a Benjamim, eu e a minha concubina, para passar a noite.

5Os homens de Gibeá se levantaram contra mim e cercaram a casa de noite. Tinham a intenção de me matar e estupraram a minha concubina, e ela morreu.

6Eu peguei a minha concubina, cortei-a em pedaços e a enviei por toda a terra da herança de Israel; porque cometeram lascívia e loucura em Israel.

7Eis aqui todos vocês, filhos de Israel; deem a sua palavra e o seu conselho.”

8Todo o povo se levantou como um só homem, dizendo: “Nenhum de nós irá para a sua tenda, nem nenhum de nós voltará para a sua casa.

9Mas agora é isto que faremos a Gibeá: subiremos contra ela por sorteio;

10tomaremos dez homens de cada cem em todas as tribos de Israel, cem de cada mil, e mil de cada dez mil, para buscar provisões para o exército, para que estes, ao chegarem a Gibeá de Benjamim, possam tratá-la conforme toda a loucura que os homens de Gibeá cometeram em Israel.”

11Assim todos os homens de Israel se reuniram contra a cidade, unidos como um só homem.

12As tribos de Israel enviaram homens por toda a tribo de Benjamim, dizendo: “Que maldade é esta que aconteceu no meio de vocês?

13Agora, pois, entreguem os homens, aqueles homens perversos que estão em Gibeá, para que os matemos e extirpemos o mal de Israel.”

14Os filhos de Benjamim saíram das suas cidades e se reuniram em Gibeá, para saírem à batalha contra os filhos de Israel.

15Os filhos de Benjamim foram contados naquele dia das várias cidades: vinte e seis mil homens que empunhavam a espada, além dos habitantes de Gibeá, dentre os quais foram contados setecentos homens escolhidos.

16Entre todos esses soldados havia setecentos homens escolhidos que eram canhotos. Cada um deles podia atirar com a funda uma pedra em um fio de cabelo sem errar.

17Os homens de Israel, sem contar os de Benjamim, foram contados em quatrocentos mil homens que empunhavam a espada. Todos estes eram homens de guerra.

18Os filhos de Israel se levantaram, subiram a Betel e consultaram a Deus. Eles perguntaram: “Quem de nós subirá primeiro para batalhar contra os filhos de Benjamim?”

19Os filhos de Israel levantaram-se pela manhã e acamparam contra Gibeá.

20Os homens de Israel saíram para lutar contra Benjamim; e os homens de Israel se colocaram em ordem de batalha contra eles junto a Gibeá.

21Os filhos de Benjamim saíram de Gibeá e, naquele dia, derrubaram por terra vinte e duas mil pessoas de Israel.

22Mas o povo, os homens de Israel, se encorajaram e tornaram a formar a linha de batalha no mesmo lugar onde a haviam formado no primeiro dia.

23Os filhos de Israel subiram e choraram perante o SENHOR até a tarde; e consultaram o SENHOR, dizendo: “Devo aproximar-me novamente para lutar contra os filhos de Benjamim, meu irmão?”

24Os filhos de Israel se aproximaram dos filhos de Benjamim no segundo dia.

25Benjamim saiu de Gibeá ao encontro deles no segundo dia, e derrubou por terra mais dezoito mil homens dos filhos de Israel. Todos estes empunhavam a espada.

26Então todos os filhos de Israel e todo o povo subiram, vieram a Betel, choraram e sentaram-se ali perante o SENHOR, e jejuaram naquele dia até a tarde; em seguida, ofereceram holocaustos e ofertas pacíficas perante o SENHOR.

27Os filhos de Israel consultaram o SENHOR (pois a arca da aliança de Deus estava ali naqueles dias,

28e Fineias, filho de Eleazar, filho de Arão, ministrava perante ela naqueles dias), dizendo: “Devo ainda sair novamente para lutar contra os filhos de Benjamim, meu irmão, ou devo parar?”

29Israel preparou emboscadas ao redor de Gibeá.

30Os filhos de Israel subiram contra os filhos de Benjamim no terceiro dia e se colocaram em ordem de batalha contra Gibeá, como nas outras vezes.

31Os filhos de Benjamim saíram ao encontro do exército, e foram afastados da cidade; e começaram a ferir e a matar alguns do povo como nas outras vezes, nas estradas, uma das quais sobe para Betel e a outra para Gibeá, através do campo, cerca de trinta homens de Israel.

32Os filhos de Benjamim disseram: “Eles estão sendo derrotados diante de nós, como da primeira vez.” Mas os filhos de Israel haviam dito: “Fujamos e vamos atraí-los da cidade para as estradas.”

33Todos os homens de Israel se levantaram de seus lugares e formaram a linha de batalha em Baal-Tamar. E os homens de Israel que estavam na emboscada saíram dos seus esconderijos em Maaré-Geba.

34Dez mil homens escolhidos de todo o Israel vieram contra Gibeá, e a batalha foi feroz; mas os benjamitas não sabiam que a desgraça estava perto deles.

35O SENHOR feriu Benjamim diante de Israel; e os filhos de Israel destruíram de Benjamim naquele dia vinte e cinco mil e cem homens. Todos estes empunhavam a espada.

36Então os filhos de Benjamim viram que estavam sendo derrotados, pois os homens de Israel recuaram diante de Benjamim porque confiavam na emboscada que haviam preparado contra Gibeá.

37Os homens da emboscada se apressaram e arremeteram contra Gibeá; depois a emboscada se espalhou e feriu toda a cidade ao fio da espada.

38Ora, o sinal combinado entre os homens de Israel e a emboscada era que estes fizessem subir da cidade uma grande nuvem de fumaça.

39Os homens de Israel viraram-se na batalha, e Benjamim começou a ferir e a matar dos homens de Israel cerca de trinta pessoas; pois diziam: “Certamente eles estão sendo derrotados diante de nós, como na primeira batalha.”

40Mas quando a nuvem começou a subir da cidade numa coluna de fumaça, os benjamitas olharam para trás, e eis que a cidade inteira subia em fumaça para o céu.

41Os homens de Israel se viraram, e os homens de Benjamim ficaram aterrorizados, pois viram que a desgraça havia caído sobre eles.

42Portanto, deram as costas diante dos homens de Israel e fugiram em direção ao deserto, mas a batalha os alcançou com força; e aqueles que saíram das cidades os destruíram no meio do caminho.

43Eles cercaram os benjamitas, os perseguiram e os pisotearam no seu local de descanso, até perto de Gibeá, em direção ao nascente.

44Caíram dezoito mil homens de Benjamim; todos eles eram homens de valor.

45Eles viraram-se e fugiram em direção ao deserto, para a rocha de Rimom. E os israelitas apanharam cinco mil homens deles nas estradas, os perseguiram de perto até Gidom, e mataram dois mil homens deles.

46Assim, todos os de Benjamim que caíram naquele dia foram vinte e cinco mil homens que empunhavam a espada. Todos estes eram homens de valor.

47Mas seiscentos homens deram meia-volta e fugiram em direção ao deserto, para a rocha de Rimom, e ficaram na rocha de Rimom por quatro meses.

48Os homens de Israel voltaram-se contra os filhos de Benjamim, e os feriram ao fio da espada — incluindo a cidade inteira, os rebanhos e tudo o que encontraram. Além disso, incendiaram todas as cidades que encontraram.

1Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was assembled as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, to Yahweh at Mizpah.

2The chiefs 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 who drew sword.

3(Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.) The children of Israel said, “Tell us, how did this wickedness happen?”

4The Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered, “I came into Gibeah that belongs to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to spend the night.

5The men of Gibeah rose against me, and surrounded the house by night. They intended to kill me and they raped my concubine, and she is dead.

6I 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.

7Behold, you children of Israel, all of you, give here your advice and counsel.”

8All the people arose as one man, saying, “None of us will go to his tent, neither will any of us turn to his house.

9But now this is the thing which we will do to Gibeah: we will go up against it by lot;

10and we will take ten men of one hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and one hundred of one thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand to get food for the people, that they may do, when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, according to all the folly that the men of Gibeah have done in Israel.”

11So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together as one man.

12The tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, “What wickedness is this that has happened among you?

13Now therefore deliver up the men, the wicked fellows who are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death and put away evil from Israel.” But Benjamin would not listen to the voice of their brothers, the children of Israel.

14The children of Benjamin gathered themselves together out of the cities to Gibeah, to go out to battle against the children of Israel.

15The children of Benjamin were counted on that day out of the cities twenty-six thousand men who drew the sword, in addition to the inhabitants of Gibeah, who were counted seven hundred chosen men.

16Among all these soldiers there were seven hundred chosen men who were left-handed. Every one of them could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.

17The men of Israel, besides Benjamin, were counted four hundred thousand men who drew sword. All these were men of war.

18The children of Israel arose, went up to Bethel, and asked counsel of God. They asked, “Who shall go up for us first to battle against the children of Benjamin?” Yahweh said, “Judah first.”

19The children of Israel rose up in the morning and encamped against Gibeah.

20The men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin; and the men of Israel set the battle in array against them at Gibeah.

21The children of Benjamin came out of Gibeah, and on that day destroyed twenty-two thousand of the Israelite men down to the ground.

22The people, the men of Israel, encouraged themselves, and set the battle again in array in the place where they set themselves in array the first day.

23The children of Israel went up and wept before Yahweh until evening; and they asked of Yahweh, saying, “Shall I again draw near to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother?” Yahweh said, “Go up against him.”

24The children of Israel came near against the children of Benjamin the second day.

25Benjamin went out 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.

26Then all the children of Israel and all the people went up, and came to Bethel, and wept, and sat there before Yahweh, and fasted that day until evening; then they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before Yahweh.

27The children of Israel asked Yahweh (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,

28and 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?” Yahweh said, “Go up; for tomorrow I will deliver him into your hand.”

29Israel set ambushes all around Gibeah.

30The children of Israel went up against the children of Benjamin on the third day, and set themselves in array against Gibeah, as at other times.

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

32The children of Benjamin said, “They are struck down before us, as at the first.” But the children of Israel said, “Let’s flee, and draw them away from the city to the highways.”

33All the men of Israel rose up out of their place and set themselves in array at Baal Tamar. Then the ambushers of Israel broke out of their place, even out of Maareh Geba.

34Ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel came over against Gibeah, and the battle was severe; but they didn’t know that disaster was close to them.

35Yahweh struck Benjamin before Israel; and the children of Israel destroyed of Benjamin that day twenty-five thousand one hundred men. All these drew the sword.

36So the children of Benjamin saw that they were struck, for the men of Israel yielded to Benjamin because they trusted the ambushers whom they had set against Gibeah.

37The ambushers hurried, and rushed on Gibeah; then the ambushers spread out, and struck all the city with the edge of the sword.

38Now the appointed sign between the men of Israel and the ambushers was that they should make a great cloud of smoke rise up out of the city.

39The men of Israel turned in the battle, and Benjamin began to strike and kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons; for they said, “Surely they are struck down before us, as in the first battle.”

40But when the cloud began to arise up out of the city in a pillar of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them; and behold, the whole city went up in smoke to the sky.

41The men of Israel turned, and the men of Benjamin were dismayed; for they saw that disaster had come on them.

42Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel to the way of the wilderness, but the battle followed hard after them; and those who came out of the cities destroyed them in the middle of it.

43They surrounded the Benjamites, chased them, and trod them down at their resting place, as far as near Gibeah toward the sunrise.

44Eighteen thousand men of Benjamin fell; all these were men of valor.

45They turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon. They gleaned five thousand men of them in the highways, and followed hard after them to Gidom, and struck two thousand men of them.

46So that all who fell that day of Benjamin were twenty-five thousand men who drew the sword. All these were men of valor.

47But six hundred men turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, and stayed in the rock of Rimmon four months.

48The men of Israel turned again on the children of Benjamin, and struck them with the edge of the sword—including the entire city, the livestock, and all that they found. Moreover they set all the cities which they found on fire.