Judges:20

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* Then went forth all the sons of Israel , and the assembly came together as one man , from Dan even to Beersheba with the land of Gilead , unto Yahweh at Mizpah . * And the chiefs of all the peopleall the tribes of Israelpresented themselves in the convocation of the people of God , four hundred thousand footmen , that drew the sword . * And the sons of Benjamin heard that the sons of Israel had gone up to Mizpah . Then said the sons of Israel , Tell , In what manner was brought to pass this vileness ? * And the Levite , husband of the woman that was cut in pieces , responded and said , Into Gibeah that pertaineth to Benjamin , I entered , I and my concubine , to tarry the night . * And the owners of Gibeah rose up against me , and beset the house , for my sake , by night , me , they thought to slay , and , my concubine , they so humbled , that she died . * So I laid hold on my concubine , and cut her in pieces , and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel , because they had wrought lewdness and impiety , in Israel . * Lo ! ye all , are sons of Israel , give your word and counsel , here . * Then arose all the people , as one man , saying , No man of us will go to his tent , and no man of us will turn aside to his house . * Now , therefore , this is the thing , that we will do to Gibeah , against it by lot ; * and we will take ten men of a hundred , of all the tribes of Israel , and a hundred of a thousand , and a thousand of ten thousand , to fetch provisions for the people , that they may do , when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin , according to all the impiety that it hath wrought in Israel . * So all the men of Israel were gathered together against the city , as one man knit together . * And the tribes of Israel sent men throughout all the divisions of Benjamin , saying , What is this vile thing that hath been brought to pass , among you ? * Now , therefore , deliver up the menthe sons of the Abandoned Onewho are in Gibeah , that we may put them to death , and vileness be consumed out of Israel . But Benjamin would not hearken unto the voice of their brethren , the sons of Israel . * Then did the sons of Benjamin gather themselves together out of the cities , unto Gibeah , to go forth to battle against the sons of Israel . * And the sons of Benjamin were numbered on that day , out of the cities , twenty-six thousand men , that drew the sword , besides , of the inhabitants of Gibeah , were numbered seven hundred chosen men . * Out of all this people , were seven hundred chosen men , left-handed , any one of whom could sling with a stone to a hairs-breadth , and not miss . * And , the men of Israel , were numbered , apart from Benjamin , four hundred thousand men , that drew the sword , every one of these being a man of war . * And they arose , and went up to Bethel , and asked of God , and the sons of Israel said , Who shall go up for us first , to fight against the sons of Benjamin ? And Yahweh said Judah , first . * And the sons of Israel arose in the morning , and encamped against Gibeah . * And the men of Israel went forth , to fight against Benjamin , so the men of Israel set themselves in array against them , to fight against Gibeah . * Then came forth the sons of Benjamin out of Gibeah , and laid low of Israel , on that day , twenty-two thousand men , to the ground . * And the people , the men of Israel , encouraged themselves , and again set themselves in array for battle in the place where they had set themselves in array on the first day . * Now the sons of Israel had gone up , and wept before Yahweh , until the evening , and asked of Yahweh , saying , Shall I again draw near to battle against the sons of Benjamin , my brother ? And Yahweh said , Go up against him . * So the sons of Israel came near against the sons of Benjamin , on the second day . * And Benjamin came forth to meet them out of Gibeah , on the second day , and laid low , of the sons of Israel , yet eighteen thousand men , to the ground , all these , drew the sword . * Then went up all the sons of Israel , and all the people , and came to Bethel , and wept , and tarried there before Yahweh , and fasted on that day , until the evening , and caused to go up ascending-sacrifices and peace-offerings , before Yahweh . * And the sons of Israel asked of Yahweh , there , being the ark of the covenant of God , in those days ; * and Phinehas , son of Eleazar , son of Aaron , was standing before it in those days , saying : Shall I yet again go forth to battle , against the sons of Benjamin , my brother , or shall I forbear ? And Yahweh said Go up , for , to-morrow , will I deliver him into thy hand . * And Israel set liers in wait against Gibeah , round about . * So the sons of Israel went up against the sons of Benjamin , on the third day , and set themselves in array against Gibeah , as time after time . * And the sons of Benjamin came forth against the people , they were drawn away from the city , and began to smite of the people , slaying as time after time , in the highways , whereof , one , goeth up to Bethel , and , the other , to Gibeah in the field , about thirty men in Israel . * Then said the sons of Benjamin , They are , being smitten , before us , as at the first . But the sons of Israel had said Let us flee , and draw them away from the city , into the highways . * And , all the men of Israel , rose up out of their place , and set themselves in array in Baal-tamar , and , the liers in wait of Israel , began to break forth out of their place , out of the forest of Gibeah . * And there came over against Gibeah ten thousand chosen men , out of all Israel , and the battle was severe , they , not knowing that disaster was overtaking them . * Thus Yahweh smote Benjamin before Israel , and the sons of Israel destroyed in Benjamin , that day , twenty-five thousand and one hundred men , all these , drew the sword . * So the sons of Benjamin saw that they were smitten , and that the men of Israel had given place to Benjamin , because they trusted to the liers in wait , whom they had set near Gibeah . * And , the liers in wait , hasted , and rushed upon Gibeah , and the liers in wait marched forward , and smote all the city with the edge of the sword . * Now , the appointed sign , between the men of Israel and the liers in wait , had been , to cause a great cloud of smoke to ascend out of the city . * So , when the men of Israel turned in the battle , and , the Benjamites , began to smite and slay of the sons of Israel , about thirty men , for they said , Yea ! they are , smitten , before us , as in the first battle , * then , the cloud , began to ascend out of the city , a pillar of smoke , and the Benjamites looked behind them , and lo ! the whole city flamed up towards the heavens . * And , when , the men of Israel , turned , then were the men of Benjamin dismayed , for they saw that disaster had overtaken them . * And , when they turned before the men of Israel unto the way of the desert , the battle , over took them , while , as for them that came out of the cities , they began to destroy them in their midst : * they hemmed in the Benjamites , they pursued them , with ease , trode they them down , as far as over against Gibeah , towards sunrise . * So there fell of Benjamin , eighteen thousand men , all these being men of valour . * And , when they turned and fled towards the desert unto the cliff Rimmon , then gleaned they of them , in the highways , five thousand men , and they followed hard after them as far as Gidom , and smote of them , two thousand men . * So then it came to pass that , all the fallen of Benjamin , were twenty-five thousand men , that drew the sword , on that day , all these being men of valour . * But there turned and fled , towards the desert , unto the cliff Rimmon , six hundred men , who abode in the cliff Rimmon , four months . * Thus , the men of Israel , turned against the sons of Benjamin , and smote them with the edge of the sword , beginning with the city , each and every one down to the beast , even to every one that was met with , moreover , all the cities they came to , they set on fire .

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