Judges 20:12-26
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 20
12Then the tribes of Israel sent men through the entire tribe of Benjamin, saying, 'What is this wickedness that has taken place among you? 13Now then, turn over the men, the worthless men who are in Gibeah, so that we may put them to death and remove this wickedness from Israel.' But the sons of Benjamin would not listen to the voice of their brothers, the sons of Israel. 14Instead, the sons of Benjamin gathered from the cities to Gibeah, to go out to battle against the sons of Israel. 15From the cities on that day the sons of Benjamin were counted, twenty-six thousand men who drew the sword, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah who were counted, seven hundred choice men. 16Out of all these people seven hundred choice men were left-handed; each one could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.
19So the sons of Israel got up in the morning and camped against Gibeah.
20The men of Israel went to battle against Benjamin, and the men of Israel lined up for battle against them at Gibeah.
21Then the sons of Benjamin came out of Gibeah and struck to the ground on that day twenty-two thousand men of Israel.
22But the people, the men of Israel, showed themselves courageous and lined up for battle again in the place where they had lined themselves up on the first day.
23And the sons of Israel went up and wept before the Lord until evening, and inquired of the Lord, saying, 'Shall we again advance for battle against the sons of my brother Benjamin?' And the Lord said, 'Go up against him.'
24So the sons of Israel came against the sons of Benjamin on the second day.
25And Benjamin went out against them from Gibeah the second day and struck to the ground again eighteen thousand men of the sons of Israel; all of these drew the sword.
26Then all the sons of Israel and all the people went up and came to Bethel, and they wept and remained there before the Lord, and fasted that day until evening. And they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord.
King James Version
Chapter 20
12And 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.
18And 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.
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 20
12Then the tribes of Israel sent men throughout the tribe of Benjamin, saying, "What is this evil act that has happened among you? 13Hand over the wicked men in Gibeah so we can put them to death and eradicate evil from Israel." But the Benjaminites would not listen to their fellow Israelites. 14Instead, the Benjaminites gathered together from their cities to Gibeah to go out and fight against the Israelites. 15On that day the Benjaminites mobilized twenty-six thousand armed men from their cities, besides seven hundred fit young men rallied by the inhabitants of Gibeah. 16There were seven hundred fit young men who were left-handed among all these troops; all could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.
19In the morning, the Israelites set out and camped near Gibeah.
20The men of Israel went out to fight against Benjamin and took their battle positions against Gibeah.
21The Benjaminites came out of Gibeah and slaughtered twenty-two thousand men of Israel on the field that day.
22But the Israelite troops rallied and again took their battle positions in the same place where they positioned themselves on the first day.
New Living Translation
13Give up those evil men, those troublemakers from Gibeah, so we can execute them and purge Israel of this evil.' But the people of Benjamin would not listen.
14Instead, they came from their towns and gathered at Gibeah to fight the Israelites.
15In all, 26,000 of their warriors armed with swords arrived in Gibeah to join the 700 elite troops who lived there.
16Among Benjamin’s elite troops, 700 were left-handed, and each of them could sling a rock and hit a target within a hairsbreadth without missing.
17Israel had 400,000 experienced soldiers armed with swords, not counting Benjamin’s warriors.
19So the Israelites left early the next morning and camped near Gibeah.
20Then they advanced toward Gibeah to attack the men of Benjamin.
21But Benjamin’s warriors, who were defending the town, came out and killed 22,000 Israelites on the battlefield that day.
English Standard Version
Chapter 20
12And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, "What evil is this that has taken place among you? 13Now therefore give up the men, the worthless fellows in Gibeah, that we may put them to death and purge evil from Israel." But the Benjaminites would not listen to the voice of their brothers, the people of Israel. 14Then the people of Benjamin came together out of the cities to Gibeah to go out to battle against the people of Israel. 15And the people of Benjamin mustered out of their cities on that day 26,000 men who drew the sword, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah, who mustered 700 chosen men. 16Among all these were 700 chosen men who were left-handed; every one could sling a stone at a hair and not miss. 17And the men of Israel, apart from Benjamin, mustered 400,000 men who drew the sword; all these were men of war.
19Then the people of Israel rose in the morning and encamped against Gibeah.
20And the men of Israel went out to fight against Benjamin, and the men of Israel drew up the battle line against them at Gibeah.
21The people of Benjamin came out of Gibeah and destroyed on that day 22,000 men of the Israelites.
22But the people, the men of Israel, took courage, and again formed the battle line in the same place where they had formed it on the first day.
23And the people of Israel went up and wept before the Lord until the evening. And they inquired of the Lord, "Shall we again draw near to fight against our brothers, the people of Benjamin?" And the Lord said, "Go up against them."
24So the people of Israel came near against the people of Benjamin the second day.
25And Benjamin went against them out of Gibeah the second day, and destroyed 18,000 men of the people of Israel. All these were men who drew the sword.
26Then all the people of Israel, the whole army, went up and came to Bethel and wept. They sat there before the Lord and fasted that day until evening, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord.
New International Version
13Now turn those wicked men of Gibeah over to us so that we may put them to death and purge the evil from Israel." But the Benjamites would not listen to their fellow Israelites.
14From their towns they came together at Gibeah to fight against the Israelites.
15At once the Benjamites mobilized twenty-six thousand swordsmen from their towns, in addition to seven hundred able young men from those living in Gibeah.
16Among all these soldiers there were seven hundred select troops who were left-handed, each of whom could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.
17Israel, apart from Benjamin, mustered four hundred thousand swordsmen, all of them fit for battle.
19The next morning the Israelites got up and pitched camp near Gibeah.
20The Israelites went out to fight the Benjamites and took up battle positions against them at Gibeah.
21The Benjamites came out of Gibeah and cut down twenty-two thousand Israelites on the battlefield that day.
22But the Israelites encouraged one another and again took up their positions where they had stationed themselves the first day.
New King James Version
Chapter 20
12Then the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, “What is this wickedness that has occurred among you? 13Now therefore, deliver up the men, the perverted men who are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death and remove the evil from Israel!” But the children of Benjamin would not listen to the voice of their brethren, the children of Israel. 14Instead, the children of Benjamin gathered together from their cities to Gibeah, to go to battle against the children of Israel. 15And from their cities at that time the children of Benjamin numbered twenty-six thousand men who drew the sword, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah, who numbered seven hundred select men. 16Among all this people were seven hundred select men who were left-handed; every one could sling a stone at a hair’s breadth and not miss. 17Now besides Benjamin, the men of Israel numbered four hundred thousand men who drew the sword; all of these were men of war.
19So the children of Israel rose 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 battle array to fight against them at Gibeah.
21Then the children of Benjamin came out of Gibeah, and on that day cut down to the ground twenty-two thousand men of the Israelites.
22And the people, that is, the men of Israel, encouraged themselves and again formed the battle line at the place where they had put themselves in array on the first day.
