The Decree of the Assembly

1  וַיֵּצְאוּ֮ (And came out) כָּל־ (all) בְּנֵ֣י (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ (of Israel), וַתִּקָּהֵ֨ל (and gathered together) הָעֵדָ֜ה (the congregation) כְּאִ֣ישׁ (as man) אֶחָ֗ד (one) לְמִדָּן֙ (from Dan) וְעַד־ (and to) בְּאֵ֣ר (Beer-) שֶׁ֔בַע (sheba), וְאֶ֖רֶץ (and from the land) הַגִּלְעָ֑ד (of Gilead), אֶל־ (before) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) הַמִּצְפָּֽה׃ (at Mizpah). 2  וַיִּֽתְיַצְּב֞וּ (And stationed themselves) פִּנּ֣וֹת (the leaders) כָּל־ (of all) הָעָ֗ם (the people), כֹּ֚ל (all) שִׁבְטֵ֣י (the tribes) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel), בִּקְהַ֖ל (in the assembly) עַ֣ם (of the people) הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים (of God): אַרְבַּ֨ע (Four) מֵא֥וֹת (hundred) אֶ֛לֶף (thousand) אִ֥ישׁ (soldiers), רַגְלִ֖י (foot soldiers) שֹׁ֥לֵֽף (who drew) חָֽרֶב׃פ (the sword). 3  וַֽיִּשְׁמְעוּ֙ (And heard) בְּנֵ֣י (the sons) בִנְיָמִ֔ן (of Benjamin) כִּֽי־ (that) עָל֥וּ (had gone up) בְנֵֽי־ (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel) הַמִּצְפָּ֑ה (to Mizpah), וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ (and said) בְּנֵ֣י (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel), דַּבְּר֕וּ (Tell us), אֵיכָ֥ה (how) נִהְיְתָ֖ה (did happen) הָרָעָ֥ה (the wicked thing) הַזֹּֽאת׃ (this)?

4  וַיַּ֜עַן (And answered) הָאִ֣ישׁ (the) הַלֵּוִ֗י (Levite), אִ֛ישׁ (the husband) הָאִשָּׁ֥ה (of the woman) הַנִּרְצָחָ֖ה (who was murdered), וַיֹּאמַ֑ר (and said), הַגִּבְעָ֙תָה֙ (Into Gibeah) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (which is) לְבִנְיָמִ֔ן (to Benjamin), בָּ֛אתִי (came) אֲנִ֥י (I) וּפִֽילַגְשִׁ֖י (and my concubine) לָלֽוּן׃ (to lodge). 5  וַיָּקֻ֤מוּ (And arose) עָלַי֙ (against me) בַּעֲלֵ֣י (the masters) הַגִּבְעָ֔ה (of Gibeah) וַיָּסֹ֧בּוּ (and they surrounded) עָלַ֛י (against me) אֶת־ (-) הַבַּ֖יִת (the house) לָ֑יְלָה (at night). אוֹתִי֙ (Me) דִּמּ֣וּ (they intended) לַהֲרֹ֔ג (to kill), וְאֶת־ (and instead) פִּילַגְשִׁ֥י (my concubine) עִנּ֖וּ (they ravished), וַתָּמֹֽת׃ (so that she died). 6  וָֽאֹחֵ֤ז (And I took hold) בְּפִֽילַגְשִׁי֙ (of my concubine), וָֽאֲנַתְּחֶ֔הָ (and cut her in pieces), וָֽאֲשַׁלְּחֶ֔הָ (and sent her) בְּכָל־ (throughout all) שְׂדֵ֖ה (the territory) נַחֲלַ֣ת (of the inheritance) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel), כִּ֥י (because) עָשׂ֛וּ (they had committed) זִמָּ֥ה (lewdness) וּנְבָלָ֖ה (and outrage) בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (in Israel). 7  הִנֵּ֥ה (Behold), כֻלְּכֶ֖ם (all you⁺) בְּנֵ֣י (sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel), הָב֥וּ (give) לָכֶ֛ם (for you⁺) דָּבָ֥ר (a word) וְעֵצָ֖ה (and counsel) הֲלֹֽם׃ (here).

8  וַיָּ֙קָם֙ (And arose) כָּל־ (all) הָעָ֔ם (the people) כְּאִ֥ישׁ (as man) אֶחָ֖ד (one), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), לֹ֤א (Not) נֵלֵךְ֙ (will go) אִ֣ישׁ (a man) לְאָהֳל֔וֹ (to his tent), וְלֹ֥א (and not) נָס֖וּר (will turn back) אִ֥ישׁ (a man) לְבֵיתֽוֹ׃ (to his house). 9  וְעַתָּ֕ה (And) זֶ֣ה (this is) הַדָּבָ֔ר (the thing) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) נַעֲשֶׂ֖ה (we will do) לַגִּבְעָ֑ה (to Gibeah), עָלֶ֖יהָ (against it) בְּגוֹרָֽל׃ (by lot). 10  וְלָקַ֣חְנוּ (And we will take) עֲשָׂרָה֩ (ten) אֲנָשִׁ֨ים (men) לַמֵּאָ֜ה (of a hundred) לְכֹ֣ל׀ (throughout all) שִׁבְטֵ֣י (the tribes) יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (of Israel), וּמֵאָ֤ה (and a hundred) לָאֶ֙לֶף֙ (of a thousand), וְאֶ֣לֶף (and a thousand) לָרְבָבָ֔ה (of a myriad), לָקַ֥חַת (to make) צֵדָ֖ה (provisions) לָעָ֑ם (for the people), לַעֲשׂ֗וֹת (that they may repay) לְבוֹאָם֙ (when they come) לְגֶ֣בַע (to Geba) בִּנְיָמִ֔ן (in Benjamin) כְּכָל־ (according to all) הַ֨נְּבָלָ֔ה (the vileness) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) עָשָׂ֖ה (they have done) בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (in Israel).

11  וַיֵּֽאָסֵ֞ף (And were gathered) כָּל־ (all) אִ֤ישׁ (the men) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (of Israel) אֶל־ (against) הָעִ֔יר (the city) כְּאִ֥ישׁ (as man) אֶחָ֖ד (one) חֲבֵרִֽים׃פ (united). 12  וַֽיִּשְׁלְח֞וּ (And sent) שִׁבְטֵ֤י (the tribes) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (of Israel) אֲנָשִׁ֔ים (men) בְּכָל־ (through all) שִׁבְטֵ֥י (the tribes) בִנְיָמִ֖ן (of Benjamin), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), מָ֚ה (What is) הָרָעָ֣ה (the wickedness) הַזֹּ֔את (this) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) נִהְיְתָ֖ה (has occurred) בָּכֶֽם׃ (among you⁺). 13  וְעַתָּ֡ה (And now) תְּנוּ֩ (deliver up) אֶת־ (-) הָאֲנָשִׁ֨ים (the men), בְּנֵֽי־ (the sons) בְלִיַּ֜עַל (of worthlessness), אֲשֶׁ֤ר (who are) בַּגִּבְעָה֙ (in Gibeah), וּנְמִיתֵ֔ם (that we may put them to death) וּנְבַעֲרָ֥ה (and remove) רָעָ֖ה (the evil) מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (from Israel).

וְלֹ֤א (Not) אָבוְֵּ֣֙ (were willing) בִּנְיָמִ֔ן (the Benjamite) לִשְׁמֹ֕עַ (listen) בְּק֖וֹל (to the voice) אֲחֵיהֶ֥ם (of their brothers), בְּנֵֽי־ (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (of Israel). 14  וַיֵּאָסְפ֧וּ (And gathered together) בְנֵֽי־ (the sons) בִנְיָמִ֛ן (of Benjamin) מִן־ (from) הֶעָרִ֖ים (their cities) הַגִּבְעָ֑תָה (to Gibeah) לָצֵ֥את (to go out) לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה (to battle) עִם־ (against) בְּנֵ֥י (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (of Israel). 15  וַיִּתְפָּֽקְדוּ֩ (And numbered) בְנֵ֨י (the sons) בִנְיָמִ֜ן (of Benjamin) בַּיּ֤וֹם (at the time) הַהוּא֙ (that) מֵהֶ֣עָרִ֔ים (from their cities) עֶשְׂרִ֨ים (twenty) וְשִׁשָּׁ֥ה (and six) אֶ֛לֶף (thousand) אִ֖ישׁ (men) שֹׁ֣לֵֽף (who drew) חָ֑רֶב (the sword), לְ֠בַד (besides) מִיֹּשְׁבֵ֤י (the dwellers) הַגִּבְעָה֙ (of Gibeah), הִתְפָּ֣קְד֔וּ (who numbered) שְׁבַ֥ע (seven) מֵא֖וֹת (hundred) אִ֥ישׁ (men) בָּחֽוּר׃ (select). 16  מִכֹּ֣ל׀ (Among all) הָעָ֣ם (the people) הַזֶּ֗ה (this) שְׁבַ֤ע (were seven) מֵאוֹת֙ (hundred) אִ֣ישׁ (men) בָּח֔וּר (select), אִטֵּ֖ר (restricted) יַד־ (of hand) יְמִינ֑וֹ (right), כָּל־ (each) זֶ֗ה (of these) קֹלֵ֧עַ (slinging) בָּאֶ֛בֶן (with a stone) אֶל־ (at) הַֽשַּׂעֲרָ֖ה (a hair) וְלֹ֥א (and not) יַחֲטִֽא׃פ (missing).

17  וְאִ֨ישׁ (And the men) יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל (of Israel) הִתְפָּֽקְד֗וּ (mobilized themselves), לְבַד֙ (apart from) מִבִּנְיָמִ֔ן (Benjamin), אַרְבַּ֨ע (four) מֵא֥וֹת (hundred) אֶ֛לֶף (thousand) אִ֖ישׁ (men) שֹׁ֣לֵֽף (who drew) חָ֑רֶב (the sword), כָּל־ (each) זֶ֖ה (of these) אִ֥ישׁ (a man) מִלְחָמָֽה׃ (of war).

Civil War against Benjamin

18  וַיָּקֻ֜מוּ (And they arose) וַיַּעֲל֣וּ (and went up) בֵֽית־ (to Beth-) אֵל֮ (el) וַיִּשְׁאֲל֣וּ (and inquired) בֵאלֹהִים֒ (of God), וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ (and said) בְּנֵ֣י (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel), מִ֚י (Who) יַעֲלֶה־ (shall go up) לָּ֣נוּ (of us) בַתְּחִלָּ֔ה (first) לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה (into battle) עִם־ (against) בְּנֵ֣י (the sons) בִנְיָמִ֑ן (of Benjamin)?

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (And said) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH), יְהוּדָ֥ה (Judah) בַתְּחִלָּֽה׃ (first).

19  וַיָּק֥וּמוּ (And rose) בְנֵֽי־ (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel) בַּבֹּ֑קֶר (in the morning), וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ (and encamped) עַל־ (against) הַגִּבְעָֽה׃פ (Gibeah). 20  וַיֵּצֵא֙ (And went out) אִ֣ישׁ (the men) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel) לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה (to battle) עִם־ (against) בִּנְיָמִ֑ן (Benjamin) וַיַּעַרְכ֨וּ (and arrayed) אִתָּ֧ם (themselves) אִֽישׁ־ (the men) יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל (of Israel) מִלְחָמָ֖ה (to fight) אֶל־ (at) הַגִּבְעָֽה׃ (Gibeah).

21  וַיֵּצְא֥וּ (And came out) בְנֵֽי־ (the sons) בִנְיָמִ֖ן (of Benjamin) מִן־ (from) הַגִּבְעָ֑ה (Gibeah), וַיַּשְׁחִ֨יתוּ (and they destroyed) בְיִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל (in Israel) בַּיּ֣וֹם (on the day) הַה֗וּא (that), שְׁנַ֨יִם (two) וְעֶשְׂרִ֥ים (and twenty) אֶ֛לֶף (thousand) אִ֖ישׁ (men) אָֽרְצָה׃ (to the ground).

22  וַיִּתְחַזֵּ֥ק (And strengthened themselves) הָעָ֖ם (the people), אִ֣ישׁ (the men) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel) וַיֹּסִ֙פוּ֙ (and added) לַעֲרֹ֣ךְ (to array) מִלְחָמָ֔ה (the battle line) בַּמָּק֕וֹם (at the place) אֲשֶׁר־ (where) עָ֥רְכוּ (they had arrayed) שָׁ֖ם (there) בַּיּ֥וֹם (on the day) הָרִאשֽׁוֹן׃ (first). 23  וַיַּעֲל֣וּ (And went up) בְנֵֽי־ (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (of Israel) וַיִּבְכּ֣וּ (and wept) לִפְנֵֽי־ (before the face of) יְהוָה֮ (YHWH) עַד־ (until) הָעֶרֶב֒ (the evening), וַיִּשְׁאֲל֤וּ (and they inquired) בַֽיהוָה֙ (of YHWH), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), הַאוֹסִ֗יף (Shall I add) לָגֶ֙שֶׁת֙ (to draw near) לַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה (for the battle) עִם־ (against) בְּנֵ֥י (the sons) בִנְיָמִ֖ן (of Benjamin) אָחִ֑י (my brother)?

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (And said) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH), עֲל֥וּ (Go up) אֵלָֽיו׃פ (against him).

24  וַיִּקְרְב֧וּ (And approached) בְנֵֽי־ (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל (of Israel) אֶל־ (to) בְּנֵ֥י (the sons) בִנְיָמִ֖ן (of Benjamin) בַּיּ֥וֹם (on the day) הַשֵּׁנִֽי׃ (second). 25  וַיֵּצֵא֩ (And went out) בִנְיָמִ֨ן׀ (Benjamin) לִקְרָאתָ֥ם׀ (against them) מִֽן־ (from) הַגִּבְעָה֮ (Gibeah) בַּיּ֣וֹם (on the day) הַשֵּׁנִי֒ (second), וַיַּשְׁחִיתוּ֩ (and they cut down) בִבְנֵ֨י (from the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל (of Israel) ע֗וֹד (another) שְׁמֹנַ֨ת (eight) עָשָׂ֥ר (and ten) אֶ֛לֶף (thousand) אִ֖ישׁ (men) אָ֑רְצָה (to the ground), כָּל־ (all) אֵ֖לֶּה (these) שֹׁ֥לְפֵי (drawing) חָֽרֶב׃ (the sword).

26  וַיַּעֲל֣וּ (And went up) כָל־ (all) בְּנֵי֩ (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֨ל (of Israel), וְכָל־ (and all) הָעָ֜ם (the people), וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ (and they came) בֵֽית־ (to Beth-) אֵ֗ל (el), וַיִּבְכּוּ֙ (and wept). וַיֵּ֤שְׁבוּ (And they sat) שָׁם֙ (there) לִפְנֵ֣י (before the face of) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH) וַיָּצ֥וּמוּ (and fasted) בַיּוֹם־ (the day) הַה֖וּא (that) עַד־ (until) הָעָ֑רֶב (the evening), וַֽיַּעֲל֛וּ (and they offered) עֹל֥וֹת (burnt offerings) וּשְׁלָמִ֖ים (and peace offerings) לִפְנֵ֥י (before the face of) יְהוָֽה׃ (YHWH). 27  וַיִּשְׁאֲל֥וּ (And inquired) בְנֵֽי־ (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel) בַּֽיהוָ֑ה (of YHWH), וְשָׁ֗ם (and was there) אֲרוֹן֙ (the ark) בְּרִ֣ית (of the covenant) הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים (of God) בַּיָּמִ֖ים (in the days) הָהֵֽם׃ (those). 28  וּ֠פִינְחָס (And Phinehas) בֶּן־ (son) אֶלְעָזָ֨ר (of Eleazar) בֶּֽן־ (son) אַהֲרֹ֜ן (of Aaron) עֹמֵ֣ד׀ (stood) לְפָנָ֗יו (before it) בַּיָּמִ֣ים (in the days) הָהֵם֮ (those), לֵאמֹר֒ (saying), הַאוֹסִ֨ף (Shall I add) ע֜וֹד (again) לָצֵ֧את (to go out) לַמִּלְחָמָ֛ה (into battle) עִם־ (against) בְּנֵֽי־ (the sons) בִנְיָמִ֥ן (of Benjamin) אָחִ֖י (my brother), אִם־ (or) אֶחְדָּ֑ל (shall I cease)?

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH), עֲל֔וּ (Go up), כִּ֥י (for) מָחָ֖ר (tomorrow) אֶתְּנֶ֥נּוּ (I will give them) בְיָדֶֽךָ׃ (into your hand).

29  וַיָּ֤שֶׂם (And set) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (Israel) אֹֽרְבִ֔ים (those lying in wait) אֶל־ (to) הַגִּבְעָ֖ה (Gibeah) סָבִֽיב׃פ (all around). 30  וַיַּעֲל֧וּ (And went up) בְנֵֽי־ (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל (of Israel) אֶל־ (against) בְּנֵ֥י (the sons) בִנְיָמִ֖ן (of Benjamin) בַּיּ֣וֹם (on the day) הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֑י (third), וַיַּעַרְכ֥וּ (and they arrayed) אֶל־ (against) הַגִּבְעָ֖ה (Gibeah) כְּפַ֥עַם (as time) בְּפָֽעַם׃ (upon time). 31  וַיֵּצְא֤וּ (And went out) בְנֵֽי־ (the sons) בִנְיָמִן֙ (of Benjamin) לִקְרַ֣את (against) הָעָ֔ם (the people), הָנְתְּק֖וּ (and they were drawn away) מִן־ (from) הָעִ֑יר (the city). וַיָּחֵ֡לּוּ (And they began) לְהַכּוֹת֩ (to strike down) מֵהָעָ֨ם (some of the people) חֲלָלִ֜ים (and kill some), כְּפַ֣עַם׀ (as time) בְּפַ֗עַם (upon time), בַּֽמְסִלּוֹת֙ (in the highways), אֲשֶׁ֨ר (of which) אַחַ֜ת (one) עֹלָ֣ה (goes up) בֵֽית־ (to Beth-) אֵ֗ל (el), וְאַחַ֤ת (and one) גִּבְעָ֙תָה֙ (to Gibeah) בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה (and in the field), כִּשְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים (about thirty) אִ֖ישׁ (men) בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (of Israel).

32  וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ (And said) בְּנֵ֣י (the sons) בִנְיָמִ֔ן (of Benjamin), נִגָּפִ֥ים (Are struck down) הֵ֛ם (they) לְפָנֵ֖ינוּ (before us) כְּבָרִאשֹׁנָ֑ה (as at first).

וּבְנֵ֧י (And the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל (of Israel) אָמְר֗וּ (said), נָנ֙וּסָה֙ (Let us flee) וּֽנְתַקְּנֻ֔הוּ (and draw them away) מִן־ (from) הָעִ֖יר (the city) אֶל־ (to) הַֽמְסִלּֽוֹת׃ (the highways).

33  וְכֹ֣ל׀ (And all) אִ֣ישׁ (the men) יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (of Israel) קָ֚מוּ (rose) מִמְּקוֹמ֔וֹ (from their place), וַיַּעַרְכ֖וּ (and arrayed) בְּבַ֣עַל (at Baal-) תָּמָ֑ר (tamar), וְאֹרֵ֧ב (and those lying in wait) יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל (of Israel) מֵגִ֥יחַ (burst forth) מִמְּקֹמ֖וֹ (from their place) מִמַּֽעֲרֵה־ (in Maareh-) גָֽבַע׃ (Geba). 34  וַיָּבֹאוּ֩ (And came) מִנֶּ֨גֶד (over against) לַגִּבְעָ֜ה (Gibeah) עֲשֶׂרֶת֩ (ten) אֲלָפִ֨ים (thousand) אִ֤ישׁ (men) בָּחוּר֙ (select) מִכָּל־ (from all) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (Israel), וְהַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה (and the battle) כָּבֵ֑דָה (was fierce). וְהֵם֙ (And they) לֹ֣א (not) יָדְע֔וּ (did know) כִּֽי־ (that) נֹגַ֥עַת (upon) עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם (them) הָרָעָֽה׃פ (evil was). 35  וַיִּגֹּ֨ף (And defeated) יְהוָ֥ה׀ (YHWH) אֶֽת־ (-) בִּנְיָמִן֮ (Benjamin) לִפְנֵ֣י (before the face of) יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ (Israel), וַיַּשְׁחִיתוּ֩ (and destroyed) בְנֵ֨י (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל (of Israel) בְּבִנְיָמִן֙ (in Benjamin) בַּיּ֣וֹם (the day) הַה֔וּא (that) עֶשְׂרִ֨ים (twenty) וַחֲמִשָּׁ֥ה (and five) אֶ֛לֶף (thousand) וּמֵאָ֖ה (and a hundred) אִ֑ישׁ (men), כָּל־ (all) אֵ֖לֶּה (these) שֹׁ֥לֵף (drawing) חָֽרֶב׃ (the sword). 36  וַיִּרְא֥וּ (And saw) בְנֵֽי־ (the sons) בִנְיָמִ֖ן (of Benjamin) כִּ֣י (that) נִגָּ֑פוּ (they were defeated).

וַיִּתְּנ֨וּ (And had given) אִֽישׁ־ (the men) יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל (of Israel) מָקוֹם֙ (ground) לְבִנְיָמִ֔ן (to Benjamin), כִּ֤י (because) בָֽטְחוּ֙ (they trusted) אֶל־ (in) הָ֣אֹרֵ֔ב (those lying in wait) אֲשֶׁר (whom) שָׂ֖מוּ (they had set) אֶל־ (against) הַגִּבְעָֽה׃ (Gibeah). 37  וְהָאֹרֵ֣ב (And those lying in wait) הֵחִ֔ישׁוּ (quickly), וַֽיִּפְשְׁט֖וּ (and rushed) אֶל־ (upon) הַגִּבְעָ֑ה (Gibeah). וַיִּמְשֹׁךְ֙ (And spread out) הָאֹרֵ֔ב (those lying in wait) וַיַּ֥ךְ (and struck) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) הָעִ֖יר (the city) לְפִי־ (with the mouth) חָֽרֶב׃ (of the sword).

38  וְהַמּוֹעֵ֗ד (And an appointed sign) הָיָ֛ה (there was) לְאִ֥ישׁ (between the men) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel) עִם־ (and between) הָאֹרֵ֑ב (those lying in wait), הֶ֕רֶב (that they would make a great) לְהַעֲלוֹתָ֛ם (rise up) מַשְׂאַ֥ת (cloud) הֶעָשָׁ֖ן (of smoke) מִן־ (from) הָעִֽיר׃ (the city). 39  וַיַּהֲפֹ֥ךְ (And would turn) אִֽישׁ־ (the men) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel) בַּמִּלְחָמָ֑ה (in the battle),

וּבִנְיָמִ֡ן (and Benjamin) הֵחֵל֩ (had begun) לְהַכּ֨וֹת (to strike) חֲלָלִ֤ים (and kill) בְּאִֽישׁ־ (of the men) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (of Israel)— כִּשְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים (about thirty) אִ֔ישׁ (men)— כִּ֣י (for) אָמְר֔וּ (they said), אַךְ֩ (Surely) נִגּ֨וֹף (being struck) נִגָּ֥ף (is struck) הוּא֙ (he) לְפָנֵ֔ינוּ (before us), כַּמִּלְחָמָ֖ה (as in the battle) הָרִאשֹׁנָֽה׃ (the first). 40  וְהַמַּשְׂאֵ֗ת (And the cloud) הֵחֵ֛לָּה (began) לַעֲל֥וֹת (to rise) מִן־ (from) הָעִ֖יר (the city) עַמּ֣וּד (in a column) עָשָׁ֑ן (of smoke), וַיִּ֤פֶן (and looked) בִּנְיָמִן֙ (Benjamin) אַחֲרָ֔יו (behind them), וְהִנֵּ֛ה (and there was) עָלָ֥ה (going up) כְלִיל־ (all) הָעִ֖יר (the city) הַשָּׁמָֽיְמָה׃ (to the heavens).

41  וְאִ֤ישׁ (And the men) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (of Israel) הָפַ֔ךְ (turned back), וַיִּבָּהֵ֖ל (were alarmed) אִ֣ישׁ (the men) בִּנְיָמִ֑ן (of Benjamin), כִּ֣י (for) רָאָ֔ה (they saw) כִּֽי־ (that) נָגְעָ֥ה (had come) עָלָ֖יו (upon them) הָרָעָֽה׃ (disaster). 42  וַיִּפְנ֞וּ (And they turned) לִפְנֵ֨י (before the faces of) אִ֤ישׁ (the men) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (of Israel) אֶל־ (in) דֶּ֣רֶךְ (the direction) הַמִּדְבָּ֔ר (of the wilderness), וְהַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה (and the battle) הִדְבִּיקָ֑תְהוּ (overtook him), וַאֲשֶׁר֙ (and whoever came) מֵהֶ֣עָרִ֔ים (out of the cities) מַשְׁחִיתִ֥ים (they destroyed) אוֹת֖וֹ (him) בְּתוֹכֽוֹ׃ (in the midst of him). 43  כִּתְּר֤וּ (They surrounded) אֶת־ (-) בִּנְיָמִן֙ (Benjamin) הִרְדִיפֻ֔הוּ (chased them), מְנוּחָ֖ה (and easily) הִדְרִיכֻ֑הוּ (trampled them down) עַ֛ד (as far as) נֹ֥כַח (the front) הַגִּבְעָ֖ה (of Gibeah) מִמִּזְרַח־ (toward the rising) שָֽׁמֶשׁ׃ (of the sun). 44  וַֽיִּפְּלוּ֙ (And fell) מִבִּנְיָמִ֔ן (of Benjamin) שְׁמֹנָֽה־ (eight) עָשָׂ֥ר (and ten) אֶ֖לֶף (thousand) אִ֑ישׁ (men), אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) אֵ֖לֶּה (of these) אַנְשֵׁי־ (men) חָֽיִל׃ (of valor).

45  וַיִּפְנ֞וּ (And they turned) וַיָּנֻ֤סוּ (and fled) הַמִּדְבָּ֙רָה֙ (the toward wilderness) אֶל־ (to) סֶ֣לַע (the rock) הָֽרִמּ֔וֹן (of Rimmon), וַיְעֹֽלְלֻ֙הוּ֙ (and they gleaned) בַּֽמְסִלּ֔וֹת (on the highways) חֲמֵ֥שֶׁת (five) אֲלָפִ֖ים (thousand) אִ֑ישׁ (men), וַיַּדְבִּ֤יקוּ (and they pursued relentlessly) אַחֲרָיו֙ (them) עַד־ (up to) גִּדְעֹ֔ם (Gidom), וַיַּכּ֥וּ (and they struck) מִמֶּ֖נּוּ (of them) אַלְפַּ֥יִם (two thousand) אִֽישׁ׃ (men).

46  וַיְהִי֩ (And were) כָל־ (all) הַנֹּ֨פְלִ֜ים (who fell) מִבִּנְיָמִ֗ן (of Benjamin) עֶשְׂרִים֩ (twenty) וַחֲמִשָּׁ֨ה (and five) אֶ֥לֶף (thousand) אִ֛ישׁ (men) שֹׁ֥לֵֽף (who drew) חֶ֖רֶב (the sword) בַּיּ֣וֹם (on the day) הַה֑וּא (that), אֶֽת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) אֵ֖לֶּה (of these) אַנְשֵׁי־ (men) חָֽיִל׃ (of valor). 47  וַיִּפְנ֞וּ (And turned) וַיָּנֻ֤סוּ (and fled) הַמִּדְבָּ֙רָה֙ (into the wilderness) אֶל־ (to) סֶ֣לַע (rock) הָֽרִמּ֔וֹן (of the Rimmon) שֵׁ֥שׁ (six) מֵא֖וֹת (hundred) אִ֑ישׁ (men), וַיֵּֽשְׁבוּ֙ (and they stayed) בְּסֶ֣לַע (at the rock) רִמּ֔וֹן (of Rimmon) אַרְבָּעָ֖ה (four) חֳדָשִֽׁים׃ (months). 48  וְאִ֨ישׁ (And the men) יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל (of Israel) שָׁ֣בוּ (turned back) אֶל־ (against) בְּנֵ֤י (the sons) בִנְיָמִן֙ (of Benjamin), וַיַּכּ֣וּם (and they struck them) לְפִי־ (with the mouth) חֶ֔רֶב (of the sword), מֵעִ֤יר (from every city) מְתֹם֙ (men) עַד־ (even to) בְּהֵמָ֔ה (and beasts), עַ֖ד (even to) כָּל־ (all) הַנִּמְצָ֑א (they found); גַּ֛ם (also) כָּל־ (to all) הֶעָרִ֥ים (the cities) הַנִּמְצָא֖וֹת (that are found) שִׁלְּח֥וּ (they set) בָאֵֽשׁ׃פ (the fire).