اَلْقُضَاة 20

١ 1 فَخَرَجَ جَمِيعُ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ، وَٱجْتَمَعَتِ ٱلْجَمَاعَةُ كَرَجُلٍ وَاحِدٍ، مِنْ دَانَ إِلَى بِئْرِ سَبْعٍ مَعَ أَرْضِ جِلْعَادَ، إِلَى ٱلرَّبِّ فِي ٱلْمِصْفَاةِ.

All the Israelites from Dan to Beersheba, including the land of Gilead, went and gathered at Mizpah before the Lord. The assembly was united in purpose.

٢ 2 وَوَقَفَ وُجُوهُ جَمِيعِ ٱلشَّعْبِ، جَمِيعُ أَسْبَاطِ إِسْرَائِيلَ فِي مَجْمَعِ شَعْبِ ٱللهِ، أَرْبَعُ مِئَةِ أَلْفِ رَاجِلٍ مُخْتَرِطِي ٱلسَّيْفِ.

The leaders of all the people of every Israelite tribe took their assigned positions in the assembled army of God's people, four hundred thousand soldiers armed with swords.

٣ 3 فَسَمِعَ بَنُو بَنْيَامِينَ أَنَّ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ قَدْ صَعِدُوا إِلَى ٱلْمِصْفَاةِ. وَقَالَ بَنُو إِسْرَائِيلَ: «تَكَلَّمُوا، كَيْفَ كَانَتْ هَذِهِ ٱلْقَبَاحَةُ؟»

The tribe of Benjamin found out that the Israelites had assembled at Mizpah. The Israelites asked, “Tell us, how could such an evil act have happened?”

٤ 4 فَأَجَابَ ٱلرَّجُلُ ٱللَّاوِيُّ بَعْلُ ٱلْمَرْأَةِ ٱلْمَقْتُولَةِ وَقَالَ: «دَخَلْتُ أَنَا وَسُرِّيَّتِي إِلَى جِبْعَةَ ٱلَّتِي لِبَنْيَامِينَ لِنَبِيتَ.

The Levite, the husband of the woman who had been murdered, explained, “I and my concubine came to spend the night at the town of Gibeah in the territory of Benjamin.

٥ 5 فَقَامَ عَلَيَّ أَصْحَابُ جِبْعَةَ وَأَحَاطُوا عَلَيَّ بِٱلْبَيْتِ لَيْلًا وَهَمُّوا بِقَتْلِي، وَأَذَلُّوا سُرِّيَّتِي حَتَّى مَاتَتْ.

The leaders of Gibeah came to attack me at night. They surrounded the house, intending to kill me. They raped my concubine and she died.

٦ 6 فَأَمْسَكْتُ سُرِّيَّتِي وَقَطَّعْتُهَا وَأَرْسَلْتُهَا إِلَى جَمِيعِ حُقُولِ مُلْكِ إِسْرَائِيلَ، لِأَنَّهُمْ فَعَلُوا رَذَالَةً وَقَبَاحَةً فِي إِسْرَائِيلَ.

I took my concubine and cut her into pieces, and I sent these pieces of her to every part of the country that had been given to Israel, because those men had done something shameful and disgusting in Israel.

٧ 7 هُوَذَا كُلُّكُمْ بَنُو إِسْرَائِيلَ. هَاتُوا حُكْمَكُمْ وَرَأْيَكُمْ هَهُنَا».

So all of you Israelites have to decide here and now what you're going to do about it!”

٨ 8 فَقَامَ جَمِيعُ ٱلشَّعْبِ كَرَجُلٍ وَاحِدٍ وَقَالُوا: «لَا يَذْهَبُ أَحَدٌ مِنَّا إِلَى خَيْمَتِهِ وَلَا يَمِيلُ أَحَدٌ إِلَى بَيْتِهِ.

Everyone stood up and unitedly declared, “None of us are going home to our tents! None of us are going home to our houses!

٩ 9 وَٱلْآنَ هَذَا هُوَ ٱلْأَمْرُ ٱلَّذِي نَعْمَلُهُ بِجِبْعَةَ. عَلَيْهَا بِٱلْقُرْعَةِ.

This is what we're going to do to Gilboah: we will attack it with our forces chosen by lot.

١٠ 10 فَنَأْخُذُ عَشَرَةَ رِجَالٍ مِنَ ٱلْمِئَةِ مِنْ جَمِيعِ أَسْبَاطِ إِسْرَائِيلَ، وَمِئَةً مِنَ ٱلْأَلْفِ، وَأَلْفًا مِنَ ٱلرِّبْوَةِ، لِأَجْلِ أَخْذِ زَادٍ لِلشَّعْبِ لِيَفْعَلُوا عِنْدَ دُخُولِهِمْ جِبْعَةَ بِبَنْيَامِينَ حَسَبَ كُلِّ ٱلْقَبَاحَةِ ٱلَّتِي فَعَلَتْ بِإِسْرَائِيلَ».

We'll take ten men from a hundred from all the Israelite tribes, then a hundred from a thousand, then a thousand from ten thousand, to arrange food for the army, so when the troops reach Gibeah in Benjamin, they can pay them back for all these disgusting things they've done in Israel.”

١١ 11 فَٱجْتَمَعَ جَمِيعُ رِجَالِ إِسْرَائِيلَ عَلَى ٱلْمَدِينَةِ مُتَّحِدِينَ كَرَجُلٍ وَاحِدٍ.

All the men of Israel were in agreement and gathered to attack the town.

١٢ 12 وَأَرْسَلَ أَسْبَاطُ إِسْرَائِيلَ رِجَالًا إِلَى جَمِيعِ أَسْبَاطِ بَنْيَامِينَ قَائِلِينَ: «مَا هَذَا ٱلشَّرُّ ٱلَّذِي صَارَ فِيكُمْ؟

The Israelite tribes also sent men throughout the territory of Benjamin, asking the people, “What are you doing about this terrible evil that has taken place among you?

١٣ 13 فَٱلْآنَ سَلِّمُوا ٱلْقَوْمَ بَنِي بَلِيَّعَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ فِي جِبْعَةَ لِكَيْ نَقْتُلَهُمْ وَنَنْزِعَ ٱلشَّرَّ مِنْ إِسْرَائِيلَ». فَلَمْ يُرِدْ بَنُو بَنْيَامِينَ أَنْ يَسْمَعُوا لِصَوْتِ إِخْوَتِهِمْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ.

Hand over these wicked men so we can execute them and get rid of this evil from Israel!” But the Benjamites refused to listen to what their fellow Israelites had to say.

١٤ 14 فَٱجْتَمَعَ بَنُو بَنْيَامِينَ مِنَ ٱلْمُدُنِ إِلَى جِبْعَةَ لِكَيْ يَخْرُجُوا لِمُحَارَبَةِ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ.

They left their towns and assembled at Gibeah to go and fight the other Israelites.

١٥ 15 وَعُدَّ بَنُو بَنْيَامِينَ فِي ذَلِكَ ٱلْيَوْمِ مِنَ ٱلْمُدُنِ سِتَّةً وَعِشْرِينَ أَلْفَ رَجُلٍ مُخْتَرِطِي ٱلسَّيْفِ، مَا عَدَا سُكَّانَ جِبْعَةَ ٱلَّذِينَ عُدُّوا سَبْعَ مِئَةِ رَجُلٍ مُنْتَخَبِينَ.

That day a total of twenty-six thousand men armed with swords were called up from the towns of Benjamin, in addition to the seven hundred seasoned warriors from Gibeah.

١٦ 16 مِنْ جَمِيعِ هَذَا ٱلشَّعْبِ سَبْعُ مِئَةِ رَجُلٍ مُنْتَخَبُونَ عُسْرٌ. كُلُّ هَؤُلَاءِ يَرْمُونَ ٱلْحَجَرَ بِٱلْمِقْلَاعِ عَلَى ٱلشَّعْرَةِ وَلَا يُخْطِئُونَ.

Making up part of this army were seven hundred experienced soldiers who used their left hands. All of them could fire a slingshot and not miss by even a hair's breadth.

١٧ 17 وَعُدَّ رِجَالُ إِسْرَائِيلَ، مَا عَدَا بَنْيَامِينَ، أَرْبَعَ مِئَةِ أَلْفِ رَجُلٍ مُخْتَرِطِي ٱلسَّيْفِ. كُلُّ هَؤُلَاءِ رِجَالُ حَرْبٍ.

The Israelite army (excluding Benjamin) numbered four hundred thousand seasoned warriors, all armed with swords.

١٨ 18 فَقَامُوا وَصَعِدُوا إِلَى بَيْتِ إِيلَ وَسَأَلُوا ٱللهَ وَقَالَ بَنُو إِسْرَائِيلَ: «مَنْ يَصْعَدُ مِنَّا أَوَّلًا لِمُحَارَبَةِ بَنِي بَنْيَامِينَ؟» فَقَالَ ٱلرَّبُّ: «يَهُوذَا أَوَّلًا».

The Israelites went to Bethel and asked God, “Which ones of us should be the first to go and fight the Benjamites?” “Judah is to go first,” the Lord replied.

١٩ 19 فَقَامَ بَنُو إِسْرَائِيلَ فِي ٱلصَّبَاحِ وَنَزَلُوا عَلَى جِبْعَةَ.

The next morning the Israelites left and set up their camp near Gibeah.

٢٠ 20 وَخَرَجَ رِجَالُ إِسْرَائِيلَ لِمُحَارَبَةِ بَنْيَامِينَ، وَصَفَّ رِجَالُ إِسْرَائِيلَ أَنْفُسَهُمْ لِلْحَرْبِ عِنْدَ جِبْعَةَ.

Then they marched out for battle with the army of Benjamin, taking up their positions to attack Gibeah.

٢١ 21 فَخَرَجَ بَنُو بَنْيَامِينَ مِنْ جِبْعَةَ وَأَهْلَكُوا مِنْ إِسْرَائِيلَ فِي ذَلِكَ ٱلْيَوْمِ ٱثْنَيْنِ وَعِشْرِينَ أَلْفَ رَجُلٍ إِلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ.

But the Benjamites came out of Gibeah and slaughtered twenty-two thousand Israelites on the battlefield that day.

٢٢ 22 وَتَشَدَّدَ ٱلشَّعْبُ، رِجَالُ إِسْرَائِيلَ، وَعَادُوا فَٱصْطَفُّوا لِلْحَرْبِ فِي ٱلْمَكَانِ ٱلَّذِي ٱصْطَفُّوا فِيهِ فِي ٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْأَوَّلِ.

But the Israelites encouraged one other to be confident, and they took up the same positions they had on the first day.

٢٣ 23 ثُمَّ صَعِدَ بَنُو إِسْرَائِيلَ وَبَكَوْا أَمَامَ ٱلرَّبِّ إِلَى ٱلْمَسَاءِ، وَسَأَلُوا ٱلرَّبَّ قَائِلِينَ: «هَلْ أَعُودُ أَتَقَدَّمُ لِمُحَارَبَةِ بَنِي بَنْيَامِينَ أَخِي؟» فَقَالَ ٱلرَّبُّ: «ٱصْعَدُوا إِلَيْهِ».

The Israelites went and cried before the Lord until the evening and asked, “Should we go and attack the Benjamites again, our relatives?” “Go and attack them,” the Lord replied.

٢٤ 24 فَتَقَدَّمَ بَنُو إِسْرَائِيلَ إِلَى بَنِي بَنْيَامِينَ فِي ٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلثَّانِي،

So the second day they advanced to attack the army of Benjamin.

٢٥ 25 فَخَرَجَ بَنْيَامِينُ لِلِقَائِهِمْ مِنْ جِبْعَةَ فِي ٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلثَّانِي، وَأَهْلَكَ مِنْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ أَيْضًا ثَمَانِيَةَ عَشَرَ أَلْفَ رَجُلٍ إِلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ. كُلُّ هَؤُلَاءِ مُخْتَرِطُو ٱلسَّيْفِ.

However, Benjamites came out of Gibeah once more and slaughtered eighteen thousand Israelites, all armed with swords.

٢٦ 26 فَصَعِدَ جَمِيعُ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ وَكُلُّ ٱلشَّعْبِ وَجَاءُوا إِلَى بَيْتِ إِيلَ وَبَكَوْا وَجَلَسُوا هُنَاكَ أَمَامَ ٱلرَّبِّ، وَصَامُوا ذَلِكَ ٱلْيَوْمَ إِلَى ٱلْمَسَاءِ، وَأَصْعَدُوا مُحْرَقَاتٍ وَذَبَائِحَ سَلَامَةٍ أَمَامَ ٱلرَّبِّ.

Then all the Israelites and all their army went to Bethel, and sat crying there before the Lord. That day they fasted until evening and gave burnt offerings and friendship offerings to the Lord.

٢٧ 27 وَسَأَلَ بَنُو إِسْرَائِيلَ ٱلرَّبَّ، وَهُنَاكَ تَابُوتُ عَهْدِ ٱللهِ فِي تِلْكَ ٱلْأَيَّامِ،

The Israelites asked the Lord what to do. At that time the Ark of God's Agreement was kept there.

٢٨ 28 وَفِينَحَاسُ بْنُ أَلِعَازَارَ بْنِ هَارُونَ وَاقِفٌ أَمَامَهُ فِي تِلْكَ ٱلْأَيَّامِ، قَائِلِينَ: «أَأَعُودُ أَيْضًا لِلْخُرُوجِ لِمُحَارَبَةِ بَنِي بَنْيَامِينَ أَخِي أَمْ أَكُفُّ؟» فَقَالَ ٱلرَّبُّ: «ٱصْعَدُوا، لِأَنِّي غَدًا أَدْفَعُهُمْ لِيَدِكَ».

Phinehas, son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron, was the priest. The Israelites asked the Lord, “Should go and we fight again against our relatives from Benjamin, or not?” “Yes, go! Tomorrow I will hand them over to you,” the Lord replied.

٢٩ 29 وَوَضَعَ إِسْرَائِيلُ كَمِينًا عَلَى جِبْعَةَ مُحِيطًا.

Then the Israelites set up an ambush around Gibeah.

٣٠ 30 وَصَعِدَ بَنُو إِسْرَائِيلَ عَلَى بَنِي بَنْيَامِينَ فِي ٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلثَّالِثِ وَٱصْطَفُّوا عِنْدَ جِبْعَةَ كَٱلْمَرَّةِ ٱلْأُولَى وَٱلثَّانِيَةِ.

On the third day they took up the same positions they had as before.

٣١ 31 فَخَرَجَ بَنُو بَنْيَامِينَ لِلِقَاءِ ٱلشَّعْبِ وَٱنْجَذَبُوا عَنِ ٱلْمَدِينَةِ، وَأَخَذُوا يَضْرِبُونَ مِنَ ٱلشَّعْبِ قَتْلَى كَٱلْمَرَّةِ ٱلْأُولَى وَٱلثَّانِيَةِ فِي ٱلسِّكَكِ ٱلَّتِي إِحْدَاهَا تَصْعَدُ إِلَى بَيْتِ إِيلَ، وَٱلْأُخْرَى إِلَى جِبْعَةَ فِي ٱلْحَقْلِ، نَحْوَ ثَلَاثِينَ رَجُلًا مِنْ إِسْرَائِيلَ.

The Benjamites came out to attack them and were lured away from the town as they began to kill Israelites as they had before. Some thirty Israelites died on the battlefield and along the roads, the one that goes towards Bethel and the other that goes back towards Gibeah.

٣٢ 32 وَقَالَ بَنُو بَنْيَامِينَ: «إِنَّهُمْ مُنْهَزِمُونَ أَمَامَنَا كَمَا فِي ٱلْأَوَّلِ». وَأَمَّا بَنُو إِسْرَائِيلَ فَقَالُوا: «لِنَهْرُبْ وَنَجْذِبْهُمْ عَنِ ٱلْمَدِينَةِ إِلَى ٱلسِّكَكِ».

“We're defeating them, just like before,” the Benjamites shouted. But the Israelites said, “Let's run away from them and lure them away from the town towards the roads.”

٣٣ 33 وَقَامَ جَمِيعُ رِجَالِ إِسْرَائِيلَ مِنْ أَمَاكِنِهِمْ وَٱصْطَفُّوا فِي بَعْلِ تَامَارَ، وَثَارَ كَمِينُ إِسْرَائِيلَ مِنْ مَكَانِهِ مِنْ عَرَاءِ جِبْعَةَ.

The main army of Israelites left where they were and took up positions at Baal-tamar, while those in the ambush west of Gibeah charged out to attack from where they had been hiding.

٣٤ 34 وَجَاءَ مِنْ مُقَابِلِ جِبْعَةَ عَشَرَةُ آلَافِ رَجُلٍ مُنْتَخَبُونَ مِنْ كُلِّ إِسْرَائِيلَ، وَكَانَتِ ٱلْحَرْبُ شَدِيدَةً، وَهُمْ لَمْ يَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ ٱلشَّرَّ قَدْ مَسَّهُمْ.

Ten thousand seasoned Israelite warriors attacked Gibeah, and the fighting was so intense the Benjamites didn't realize they were on the brink of disaster.

٣٥ 35 فَضَرَبَ ٱلرَّبُّ بَنْيَامِينَ أَمَامَ إِسْرَائِيلَ، وَأَهْلَكَ بَنُو إِسْرَائِيلَ مِنْ بَنْيَامِينَ فِي ذَلِكَ ٱلْيَوْمِ خَمْسَةً وَعِشْرِينَ أَلْفَ رَجُلٍ وَمِئَةَ رَجُلٍ. كُلُّ هَؤُلَاءِ مُخْتَرِطُو ٱلسَّيْفِ.

So the Lord defeated Benjamin before Israel. That day the Israelites killed twenty-five thousand one hundred Benjamites, all armed with swords.

٣٦ 36 وَرَأَى بَنُو بَنْيَامِينَ أَنَّهُمْ قَدِ ٱنْكَسَرُوا. وَأَعْطَى رِجَالُ إِسْرَائِيلَ مَكَانًا لِبَنْيَامِينَ لِأَنَّهُمُ ٱتَّكَلُوا عَلَى ٱلْكَمِينِ ٱلَّذِي وَضَعُوهُ عَلَى جِبْعَةَ.

The Benjamites saw that they were defeated. The Israelites had fallen back before the Benjamites because they were confident the ambush they had put in place near Gibeah would be successful.

٣٧ 37 فَأَسْرَعَ ٱلْكَمِينُ وَٱقْتَحَمُوا جِبْعَةَ، وَزَحَفَ ٱلْكَمِينُ وَضَرَبَ ٱلْمَدِينَةَ كُلَّهَا بِحَدِّ ٱلسَّيْفِ.

The men from the ambush raced to attack the town, and they killed everyone in it.

٣٨ 38 وَكَانَ ٱلْمِيعَادُ بَيْنَ رِجَالِ إِسْرَائِيلَ وَبَيْنَ ٱلْكَمِينِ، إِصْعَادَهُمْ بِكَثْرَةٍ، عَلَامَةَ ٱلدُخَانِ مِنَ ٱلْمَدِينَةِ.

The agreement was that they would send up a great cloud of smoke to show the town had fallen.

٣٩ 39 وَلَمَّا ٱنْقَلَبَ رِجَالُ إِسْرَائِيلَ فِي ٱلْحَرْبِ ٱبْتَدَأَ بَنْيَامِينُ يَضْرِبُونَ قَتْلَى مِنْ رِجَالِ إِسْرَائِيلَ نَحْوَ ثَلَاثِينَ رَجُلًا، لِأَنَّهُمْ قَالُوا: «إِنَّمَا هُمْ مُنْهَزِمُونَ مِنْ أَمَامِنَا كَٱلْحَرْبِ ٱلْأُولَى».

The Israelite army turned to attack the Benjamites, who had already killed about thirty Israelites. The Benjamites were saying, “We're completely defeating them, just like the first battle!”

٤٠ 40 وَلَمَّا ٱبْتَدَأَتِ ٱلْعَلَامَةُ تَصْعَدُ مِنَ ٱلْمَدِينَةِ، عَمُودَ دُخَانٍ، ٱلْتَفَتَ بَنْيَامِينُ إِلَى وَرَائِهِ وَإِذَا بِٱلْمَدِينَةِ كُلِّهَا تَصْعَدُ نَحْوَ ٱلسَّمَاءِ.

However, when the Israelites saw the columns of smoke rising heavenwards to form a great cloud over the whole of the town,

٤١ 41 وَرَجَعَ رِجَالُ إِسْرَائِيلَ وَهَرَبَ رِجَالُ بَنْيَامِينَ بِرَعْدَةٍ، لِأَنَّهُمْ رَأَوْا أَنَّ ٱلشَّرَّ قَدْ مَسَّهُمْ.

they turned on their enemies. The Benjamites were horrified when they saw it and realized they were doomed.

٤٢ 42 وَرَجَعُوا أَمَامَ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ فِي طَرِيقِ ٱلْبَرِّيَّةِ، وَلَكِنَّ ٱلْقِتَالَ أَدْرَكَهُمْ، وَٱلَّذِينَ مِنَ ٱلْمُدُنِ أَهْلَكُوهُمْ فِي وَسَطِهِمْ.

They turned and ran from the Israelites towards the desert, but the battle caught up with them, and the Israelites also killed those who left the towns on the way.

٤٣ 43 فَحَاوَطُوا بَنْيَامِينَ وَطَارَدُوهُمْ بِسُهُولَةٍ، وَأَدْرَكُوهُمْ مُقَابَلَ جِبْعَةَ لِجِهَةِ شُرُوقِ ٱلشَّمْسِ.

Chasing after the Benjamites, the Israelites surrounded them, easily overtaking them east of Gibeah.

٤٤ 44 فَسَقَطَ مِنْ بَنْيَامِينَ ثَمَانِيَةَ عَشَرَ أَلْفَ رَجُلٍ، جَمِيعُ هَؤُلَاءِ ذَوُو بَأْسٍ.

Eighteen thousand Benjamites were killed, all of them courageous warriors.

٤٥ 45 فَدَارُوا وَهَرَبُوا إِلَى ٱلْبَرِّيَّةِ إِلَى صَخْرَةِ رِمُّونَ. فَٱلْتَقَطُوا مِنْهُمْ فِي ٱلسِّكَكِ خَمْسَةَ آلَافِ رَجُلٍ، وَشَدُّوا وَرَاءَهُمْ إِلَى جِدْعُومَ، وَقَتَلُوا مِنْهُمْ أَلْفَيْ رَجُلٍ.

Some of the Benjamites that were left ran towards Pomegranate Rock in the desert, and the Israelites killed another five thousand men on the way. They chased another group of Benjamites as far as Gidom and killed another thousand.

٤٦ 46 وَكَانَ جَمِيعُ ٱلسَّاقِطِينَ مِنْ بَنْيَامِينَ خَمْسَةً وَعِشْرِينَ أَلْفَ رَجُلٍ مُخْتَرِطِي ٱلسَّيْفِ فِي ذَلِكَ ٱلْيَوْمِ. جَمِيعُ هَؤُلَاءِ ذَوُو بَأْسٍ.

So that day twenty-five thousand Benjamite were killed, all armed with swords and all courageous warriors.

٤٧ 47 وَدَارَ وَهَرَبَ إِلَى ٱلْبَرِّيَّةِ إِلَى صَخْرَةِ رِمُّونَ سِتُّ مِئَةِ رَجُلٍ، وَأَقَامُوا فِي صَخْرَةِ رِمُّونَ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ.

There were six hundred who ran away to Pomegranate Rock in the desert and they stayed there four months.

٤٨ 48 وَرَجَعَ رِجَالُ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ إِلَى بَنِي بَنْيَامِينَ وَضَرَبُوهُمْ بِحَدِّ ٱلسَّيْفِ مِنَ ٱلْمَدِينَةِ بِأَسْرِهَا، حَتَّى ٱلْبَهَائِمَ، حَتَّى كُلَّ مَا وُجِدَ. وَأَيْضًا جَمِيعُ ٱلْمُدُنِ ٱلَّتِي وُجِدَتْ أَحْرَقُوهَا بِٱلنَّارِ.

The Israelites went back into the territory of the Benjamites, and going from town to town, they killed everything: people, animals, everything they found. Then they burned down every town on their way.