A Guerra entre os Israelitas e os Benjamitas
1Então todos os israelitas, de Dã a Berseba, e de Gileade, saíram como um só homem e se reuniram em assembleia perante o Senhor, em Mispá. 2Os líderes de todo o povo das tribos de Israel tomaram seus lugares na assembleia do povo de Deus, quatrocentos mil soldados armados de espada. 3(Os benjamitas souberam que os israelitas haviam subido a Mispá.) Os israelitas perguntaram: “Como aconteceu essa perversidade?”
4Então o levita, marido da mulher assassinada, disse: “Eu e a minha concubina chegamos a Gibeá de Benjamim para passar a noite. 5Durante a noite os homens de Gibeá vieram para atacar-me e cercaram a casa, com a intenção de matar-me. Então violentaram minha concubina, e ela morreu. 6Peguei minha concubina, cortei-a em pedaços e enviei um pedaço a cada região da herança de Israel, pois eles cometeram essa perversidade e esse ato vergonhoso em Israel. 7Agora, todos vocês, israelitas, manifestem-se e deem o seu veredicto”.
8Todo o povo se levantou como se fosse um só homem, dizendo: “Nenhum de nós irá para casa. Nenhum de nós voltará para o seu lar. 9Mas é isto que faremos agora contra Gibeá: separaremos, por sorteio, de todas as tribos de Israel, 10de cada cem homens dez, de cada mil homens cem, de cada dez mil homens mil, para conseguirem provisões para o exército poder chegar a Gibeá20.10 Muitos manuscritos dizem Geba, variante de Gibeá. de Benjamim e dar a eles o que merecem por esse ato vergonhoso cometido em Israel”. 11E todos os israelitas se ajuntaram e se uniram como um só homem contra a cidade.
12As tribos de Israel enviaram homens a toda a tribo de Benjamim, dizendo: “O que vocês dizem dessa maldade terrível que foi cometida no meio de vocês? 13Agora, entreguem esses canalhas de Gibeá, para que os matemos e eliminemos esse mal de Israel”.
Mas os benjamitas não quiseram ouvir seus irmãos israelitas. 14Vindos de suas cidades, reuniram-se em Gibeá para lutar contra os israelitas. 15Naquele dia, os benjamitas mobilizaram vinte e seis mil homens armados de espada que vieram das suas cidades, além dos setecentos melhores soldados que viviam em Gibeá. 16Dentre todos esses soldados havia setecentos canhotos, muito hábeis, e cada um deles podia atirar com a funda uma pedra num cabelo sem errar.
17Israel, sem os de Benjamim, convocou quatrocentos mil homens armados de espada, todos eles homens de guerra.
18Os israelitas subiram a Betel20.18 Ou subiram à casa de Deus; também no versículo 26. e consultaram a Deus. “Quem de nós irá lutar primeiro contra os benjamitas?”, perguntaram.
O Senhor respondeu: “Judá irá primeiro”.
19Na manhã seguinte, os israelitas se levantaram e armaram acampamento perto de Gibeá.
20Os homens de Israel saíram para lutar contra os benjamitas e tomaram posição de combate contra eles em Gibeá. 21Os benjamitas saíram de Gibeá e, naquele dia, mataram vinte e dois mil israelitas no campo de batalha. 22Mas os homens de Israel procuraram animar-se uns aos outros e novamente ocuparam as mesmas posições do primeiro dia. 23Os israelitas subiram, choraram perante o Senhor até a tarde e consultaram o Senhor: “Devemos atacar de novo os nossos irmãos benjamitas?”
O Senhor respondeu: “Vocês devem atacar”.
24Então os israelitas avançaram contra os benjamitas no segundo dia. 25Dessa vez, quando os benjamitas saíram de Gibeá para enfrentá-los, derrubaram outros dezoito mil israelitas, todos eles armados de espada.
26Então todos os israelitas subiram a Betel, e ali se assentaram, chorando perante o Senhor. Naquele dia, jejuaram até a tarde e apresentaram holocaustos e ofertas de comunhão20.26 Ou de paz ao Senhor. 27E os israelitas consultaram ao Senhor. (Naqueles dias, a arca da aliança estava ali, 28e Fineias, filho de Eleazar, filho de Arão, ministrava perante ela.) Perguntaram: “Sairemos de novo ou não, para lutar contra os nossos irmãos benjamitas?”
O Senhor respondeu: “Vão, pois amanhã eu os entregarei nas suas mãos”.
29Então os israelitas armaram uma emboscada em torno de Gibeá. 30Avançaram contra os benjamitas no terceiro dia e tomaram posição contra Gibeá, como tinham feito antes. 31Os benjamitas saíram para enfrentá-los e foram atraídos para longe da cidade. Começaram a ferir alguns dos israelitas como tinham feito antes, e uns trinta homens foram mortos em campo aberto e nas estradas, uma que vai para Betel e a outra que vai para Gibeá.
32Enquanto os benjamitas diziam: “Nós os derrotamos como antes”, os israelitas diziam: “Vamos retirar-nos e atraí-los para longe da cidade, para as estradas”.
33Todos os homens de Israel saíram dos seus lugares e ocuparam posições em Baal-Tamar, e a emboscada israelita atacou da sua posição a oeste20.33 Conforme alguns manuscritos da Septuaginta e a Vulgata. de Gibeá. 34Então dez mil dos melhores soldados de Israel iniciaram um ataque frontal contra Gibeá. O combate foi duro, e os benjamitas não perceberam que a desgraça estava próxima deles. 35O Senhor derrotou Benjamim perante Israel, e naquele dia os israelitas feriram vinte e cinco mil e cem benjamitas, todos armados de espada. 36Então os benjamitas viram que estavam derrotados.
Os israelitas bateram em retirada diante de Benjamim, pois confiavam na emboscada que tinham preparado perto de Gibeá. 37Os da emboscada avançaram repentinamente para dentro de Gibeá, espalharam-se e mataram todos os habitantes da cidade à espada. 38Os israelitas tinham combinado com os da emboscada que estes fariam subir da cidade uma grande nuvem de fumaça, 39e então os israelitas voltariam a combater.
Os benjamitas tinham começado a ferir os israelitas, matando cerca de trinta deles, e disseram: “Nós os derrotamos como na primeira batalha”. 40Mas, quando a coluna de fumaça começou a se levantar da cidade, os benjamitas se viraram e viram a fumaça subindo ao céu. 41Então os israelitas se voltaram contra eles, e os homens de Benjamim ficaram apavorados, pois perceberam que a sua desgraça havia chegado. 42Assim, fugiram da presença dos israelitas tomando o caminho do deserto, mas não conseguiram escapar do combate. E os homens de Israel que saíram das cidades os mataram ali. 43Cercaram os benjamitas e os perseguiram, e facilmente os alcançaram nas proximidades de Gibeá, no lado leste. 44Dezoito mil benjamitas morreram, todos eles soldados valentes. 45Quando se viraram e fugiram rumo ao deserto, para a rocha de Rimom, os israelitas abateram cinco mil homens ao longo das estradas. Até Gidom eles pressionaram os benjamitas e mataram mais de dois mil homens.
46Naquele dia, vinte e cinco mil benjamitas que portavam espada morreram, todos eles soldados valentes. 47Seiscentos homens, porém, viraram as costas e fugiram para o deserto, para a rocha de Rimom, onde ficaram durante quatro meses. 48Os israelitas voltaram a Benjamim e passaram todas as cidades à espada, matando inclusive os animais e tudo o que encontraram nelas. E incendiaram todas as cidades por onde passaram.
1Then 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. 2And 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? 4And 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.20.4 the Levite: Heb. the man the Levite 5And 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.20.5 forced: Heb. humbled 6And 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. 7Behold, 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. 9But now this shall be the thing which we will do to Gibeah; we will go up by lot against it; 10And 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. 11So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together as one man.20.11 knit…: Heb. fellows
12¶ And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, What wickedness is this that is done among you? 13Now 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: 14But the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together out of the cities unto Gibeah, to go out to battle against the children of Israel. 15And 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. 16Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men lefthanded; every one could sling stones at an hair breadth, and not miss. 17And 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. 19And the children of Israel rose up in the morning, and encamped against Gibeah. 20And 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. 21And 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. 22And 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.) 24And the children of Israel came near against the children of Benjamin the second day. 25And 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. 27And the children of Israel enquired of the LORD, (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? And the LORD said, Go up; for to morrow I will deliver them into thine hand. 29And Israel set liers in wait round about Gibeah. 30And 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. 31And 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.20.31 to smite…: Heb. to smite of the people wounded as at, etc20.31 the house…: or, Beth-el 32And 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. 33And 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. 34And 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. 35And 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. 36So 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. 37And 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.20.37 drew…: or, made a long sound with the trumpet 38Now 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.20.38 sign: or, time20.38 and: Heb. with20.38 flame: Heb. elevation 39And 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.20.39 to smite…: Heb. to smite the wounded 40But 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.20.40 the flame of: Heb. the whole consumption of 41And when the men of Israel turned again, the men of Benjamin were amazed: for they saw that evil was come upon them.20.41 was come…: Heb. touched them 42Therefore 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. 43Thus they inclosed the Benjamites round about, and chased them, and trode them down with ease over against Gibeah toward the sunrising.20.43 with ease…: or, from Menuchah, etc20.43 over…: Heb. unto over against 44And there fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men; all these were men of valour. 45And 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. 46So that all which fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and five thousand men that drew the sword; all these were men of valour. 47But six hundred men turned and fled to the wilderness unto the rock Rimmon, and abode in the rock Rimmon four months. 48And 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.20.48 came to hand: Heb. was found20.48 they came…: Heb. were found
