The Levite vindicated.

20:1 Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was gathered together as one man, from Danדָּן
Dān, “judgment” or “he judged”) was the first of the two sons of Jacob and Bilhah (Jacob’s fifth son). His mother, Bilhah, was Rachel’s handmaid, who becomes one of Jacob’s concubines, the tribe descended from Dan For more info click here
even to Beershebaבְּאֵר שֶׁבַע
romanized: Bəʾēr Ševaʿ, or Beer Sheva, officially Be’er-Sheva lit. ’Well of the Oath or Well of the Seven’click here
, with the land of Gileadגִּלְעָד
or Gilad (/ˈɡɪliəd/; Gilʿāḏ) is the ancient, historic, biblical name of the mountainous northern part of the region of Transjordan. The region is bounded in the west by the Jordan River, in the north by the deep ravine of the river Yarmouk and the region of Bashan, and in the southwest by what were known during antiquity as the “plains of Moab”, with no definite boundary to the east.
, to YAHWEH יְהֹוָה
Hebrew Yəhōwā, one vocalization of the Tetragrammaton יהוה‎ (YHWH), the proper name of the God of Israel in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. It is considered one of the seven names of God in Judaism and a form of God’s name in Christianity. Covenant making covenant keeping GOD. For more info click here
in Mizpeh.

20:2 And the chief of all the people, [even] of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of Elohim הָאֱלֹהִים
His God – Hebrew Noun: Common Masculine Plural Construct root word is Elohim for more info on the word click here
four hundred thousand footmen that drew sword.

20:3(Now the children of Benjaminבִּנְיָמִי
Bīnyāmīn Meaning: “Son of (the) right” or “Son of My right hand” was the last of the two sons of Jacob and Rachel (Jacob’s thirteenth child and twelfth and youngest son) For more info click here
heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mizpeh.) Then said the children of Israel, Tell [us], how was this wickedness ?

20:4 And the Levite, the husband of the woman that was killed, answered and said, I came to Gibeah that [belongs] to Benjaminבִּנְיָמִי
Bīnyāmīn Meaning: “Son of (the) right” or “Son of My right hand” was the last of the two sons of Jacob and Rachel (Jacob’s thirteenth child and twelfth and youngest son) For more info click here
, I and my concubineˈkäNGkyəˌbīn noun– chiefly historical (in polygamous societies) a woman who lives with a man but has lower status than his wife or wives., to lodge.

20:5 And the men of Gibeah (meaning hill) rose against me, and encircle the house around me by night, [and] thought to have killed me and my concubineˈkäNGkyəˌbīn noun– chiefly historical (in polygamous societies) a woman who lives with a man but has lower status than his wife or wives. have they forced, that she is dead.
20:6 And I took my concubineˈkäNGkyəˌbīn noun– chiefly historical (in polygamous societies) a woman who lives with a man but has lower status than his wife or wives., and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel for they have committed lewdness and senselessness in Israel.
20:7 Look, ya’ll [are] all children of Israel ; give here your advice and counsel.

War Declared.


20:8 And all the people got up as one man, saying, We will not any [of us] go to his tent, neither will we any [of us] turn into his house.
20:9 But now this [shall be] the thing which we will do to Gibeah ; [we will go up] by lot against it;
20:10 And 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 provisions for the people, that they may do, when they come to Gibeah of Benjaminבִּנְיָמִי
Bīnyāmīn Meaning: “Son of (the) right” or “Son of My right hand” was the last of the two sons of Jacob and Rachel (Jacob’s thirteenth child and twelfth and youngest son) For more info click here
, according to all the senselessness that they have worked in Israel.

20:11 So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, united together as one man.
20:12 And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjaminבִּנְיָמִי
Bīnyāmīn Meaning: “Son of (the) right” or “Son of My right hand” was the last of the two sons of Jacob and Rachel (Jacob’s thirteenth child and twelfth and youngest son) For more info click here
, saying, What wickedness [is] this that is done among you?

20:13 Now therefore deliver [us] the men, the children of Belialבְּלִיַּעַל‎
Bəlīyyaʿal is a term occurring in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament which later became personified as the devil in Christian texts of the New Testament. Alternate spellings include Baalial, Balial, Belhor, Beliall, Beliar, Berial, Bylyl and Beliya’al. A Hebrew word “used to characterize the wicked or worthless”.
, that [are] in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel. But the children of Benjaminבִּנְיָמִי
Bīnyāmīn Meaning: “Son of (the) right” or “Son of My right hand” was the last of the two sons of Jacob and Rachel (Jacob’s thirteenth child and twelfth and youngest son) For more info click here
wouldn’t listen to the voice of their brothers the children of Israel

20:14 And the children of Benjaminבִּנְיָמִי
Bīnyāmīn Meaning: “Son of (the) right” or “Son of My right hand” was the last of the two sons of Jacob and Rachel (Jacob’s thirteenth child and twelfth and youngest son) For more info click here
gathered themselves together out of the cities to Gibeah (meaning hill), to go out to battle against the children of Israel.

20:15 And the children of Benjaminבִּנְיָמִי
Bīnyāmīn Meaning: “Son of (the) right” or “Son of My right hand” was the last of the two sons of Jacob and Rachel (Jacob’s thirteenth child and twelfth and youngest son) For more info click here
were counted at that time out of the cities twenty and six thousand men that drew sword, beside the inhabitants of Gibeah, which were counted seven hundred chosen men.

20:16 Among all this people [there were] seven hundred chosen men left handed; everyone could sling stones at a hair [width], and not miss.
20:17 And the men of Israel, beside Benjaminבִּנְיָמִי
Bīnyāmīn Meaning: “Son of (the) right” or “Son of My right hand” was the last of the two sons of Jacob and Rachel (Jacob’s thirteenth child and twelfth and youngest son) For more info click here
, were counted four hundred thousand men that drew sword all these [were] men of war.

20:18 And the children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of ELבֵּית־אֵל
Transliteration:bêṯ-‘ēl Pronunciation:bayth-ale’ — Hebrew Noun: Proper Name — Bethel = “house of God” ancient place and seat of worship in Ephraim on border of Benjamin, identified with Luz (former name) – a place in south country of Judah, not far from Beersheba and Ziklag click here
, and asked counsel of Elohim בֵאלֹהִים
His God – Hebrew Noun: Common Masculine Plural Construct root word is Elohim for more info on the word click here
, and said, Which of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjaminבִּנְיָמִי
Bīnyāmīn Meaning: “Son of (the) right” or “Son of My right hand” was the last of the two sons of Jacob and Rachel (Jacob’s thirteenth child and twelfth and youngest son) For more info click here
? And YAHWEH יְהֹוָה
Hebrew Yəhōwā, one vocalization of the Tetragrammaton יהוה‎ (YHWH), the proper name of the God of Israel in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. It is considered one of the seven names of God in Judaism and a form of God’s name in Christianity. Covenant making covenant keeping GOD. For more info click here
said, Judah [shall go up] first.

20:19 And the children of Israel got up in the morning, and camped against Gibeah.
20:20 And the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjaminבִּנְיָמִי
Bīnyāmīn Meaning: “Son of (the) right” or “Son of My right hand” was the last of the two sons of Jacob and Rachel (Jacob’s thirteenth child and twelfth and youngest son) For more info click here
; and the men of Israel put themselves in array to fight against them at Gibeah.

20:21 And the children of Benjaminבִּנְיָמִי
Bīnyāmīn Meaning: “Son of (the) right” or “Son of My right hand” was the last of the two sons of Jacob and Rachel (Jacob’s thirteenth child and twelfth and youngest son) For more info click here
came forth out of Gibeah, and destroyed down to the ground of the Israelites that day twenty and two thousand men.

20:22 And 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.
20:23 (And the children of Israel went up and wept before YAHWEH יְהֹוָה
Hebrew Yəhōwā, one vocalization of the Tetragrammaton יהוה‎ (YHWH), the proper name of the God of Israel in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. It is considered one of the seven names of God in Judaism and a form of God’s name in Christianity. Covenant making covenant keeping GOD. For more info click here
until evening, and asked counsel of YAHWEH יְהֹוָה
Hebrew Yəhōwā, one vocalization of the Tetragrammaton יהוה‎ (YHWH), the proper name of the God of Israel in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. It is considered one of the seven names of God in Judaism and a form of God’s name in Christianity. Covenant making covenant keeping GOD. For more info click here
, saying, Shall I go up again to battle against the children of Benjaminבִּנְיָמִי
Bīnyāmīn Meaning: “Son of (the) right” or “Son of My right hand” was the last of the two sons of Jacob and Rachel (Jacob’s thirteenth child and twelfth and youngest son) For more info click here
my brother ? And YAHWEH יְהֹוָה
Hebrew Yəhōwā, one vocalization of the Tetragrammaton יהוה‎ (YHWH), the proper name of the God of Israel in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. It is considered one of the seven names of God in Judaism and a form of God’s name in Christianity. Covenant making covenant keeping GOD. For more info click here
said, Go up against him.)

20:24 And the children of Israel came near against the children of Benjaminבִּנְיָמִי
Bīnyāmīn Meaning: “Son of (the) right” or “Son of My right hand” was the last of the two sons of Jacob and Rachel (Jacob’s thirteenth child and twelfth and youngest son) For more info click here
the second day.

20:25 And Benjaminבִּנְיָמִי
Bīnyāmīn Meaning: “Son of (the) right” or “Son of My right hand” was the last of the two sons of Jacob and Rachel (Jacob’s thirteenth child and twelfth and youngest son) For more info click here
went forth against them out of Gibeah the second day, and destroyed down to the ground of the sons of Israel again eighteen thousand men ; all these drew the sword.

Benjamin vanquished.


20:26 Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came to the house of ELבֵּית־אֵל
Transliteration:bêṯ-‘ēl Pronunciation:bayth-ale’ — Hebrew Noun: Proper Name — Bethel = “house of God” ancient place and seat of worship in Ephraim on border of Benjamin, identified with Luz (former name) – a place in south country of Judah, not far from Beersheba and Ziklag For more info click here
, and wept, and sat there before YAHWEH יְהֹוָה
Hebrew Yəhōwā, one vocalization of the Tetragrammaton יהוה‎ (YHWH), the proper name of the God of Israel in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. It is considered one of the seven names of God in Judaism and a form of God’s name in Christianity. Covenant making covenant keeping GOD. For more info click here
, and fasted that day until evening, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before YAHWEH יְהֹוָה
Hebrew Yəhōwā, one vocalization of the Tetragrammaton יהוה‎ (YHWH), the proper name of the God of Israel in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. It is considered one of the seven names of God in Judaism and a form of God’s name in Christianity. Covenant making covenant keeping GOD. For more info click here
.

20:27 And the children of Israel inquired of YAHWEH יְהֹוָה
Hebrew Yəhōwā, one vocalization of the Tetragrammaton יהוה‎ (YHWH), the proper name of the God of Israel in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. It is considered one of the seven names of God in Judaism and a form of God’s name in Christianity. Covenant making covenant keeping GOD. For more info click here
, (because the ark of the covenant of Elohim הָאֱלֹהִים
His God – Hebrew Noun: Common Masculine Plural Construct root word is Elohim for more info on the word click here
[was] there in those days),

20:28 And Phinehas פִּינְחָס
ˈfɪniəs/; Modern: Pīnẖas Ancient Greek: Φινεες Phinehas or Phineas was a priest during the Israelites’ Exodus journey. The grandson of Aaron and son of Eleazar, the High Priests (Exodus 6:25), he distinguished himself as a youth at Shittim with his zeal against the heresy of Peor For more info click here
s, the son of Eleazarאֶלְעָזָר
Transliteration: ‘elʿāzār Pronunciation:el-aw-zawr’ Eleazar = “God has helped” 1. the high priest son of Aaron 2. Abinadab’s son who cared for the ark 3. the priest who rebuilt and dedicated the restored walls of Jerusalem in time of Ezra 4. one of David’s mighty warriors 5. a Levite 6.someone of the linage of Parosh For more info click here
, the son of Aaron Aaron is an English masculine given name. The ‘h’ phoneme in the original Hebrew pronunciation “Aharon” (אהרן) is dropped in the Greek, Ἀαρών, from which the English form, Aaron, is derived. The brother of Moses, is described in the Torah, the Quran and the Baha’i Iqan. The origin of the biblical name is uncertain; however, an Ancient Egyptian origin may indicate “aha rw” meaning “warrior lion”, For more info click here, stood before it in those days,) saying, Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjaminבִּנְיָמִי
Bīnyāmīn Meaning: “Son of (the) right” or “Son of My right hand” was the last of the two sons of Jacob and Rachel (Jacob’s thirteenth child and twelfth and youngest son) For more info click here
my brother, or shall I cease ? And YAHWEH יְהֹוָה
Hebrew Yəhōwā, one vocalization of the Tetragrammaton יהוה‎ (YHWH), the proper name of the God of Israel in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. It is considered one of the seven names of God in Judaism and a form of God’s name in Christianity. Covenant making covenant keeping GOD. For more info click here
said, Go up; for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand.

20:29 And Israel lay in wait around Gibeah.
20:30 And the children of Israel went up against the children of Benjaminבִּנְיָמִי
Bīnyāmīn Meaning: “Son of (the) right” or “Son of My right hand” was the last of the two sons of Jacob and Rachel (Jacob’s thirteenth child and twelfth and youngest son) For more info click here
on the third day, and put themselves in array against Gibeah, like at other times.

20:31 And the children of Benjaminבִּנְיָמִי
Bīnyāmīn Meaning: “Son of (the) right” or “Son of My right hand” was the last of the two sons of Jacob and Rachel (Jacob’s thirteenth child and twelfth and youngest son) For more info click here
went out against the people, [and] were drawn away from the city ; and they began to strike of the people, [and] kill, as at other times, in the highways, of which one goes up to the house of ELבֵּית־אֵל
Transliteration:bêṯ-‘ēl Pronunciation:bayth-ale’ — Hebrew Noun: Proper Name — Bethel = “house of God” ancient place and seat of worship in Ephraim on border of Benjamin, identified with Luz (former name) – a place in south country of Judah, not far from Beersheba and Ziklag For more info click here
, and the other to Gibeah in the field, about thirty men of Israel.

20:32 And the children of Benjaminבִּנְיָמִי
Bīnyāmīn Meaning: “Son of (the) right” or “Son of My right hand” was the last of the two sons of Jacob and Rachel (Jacob’s thirteenth child and twelfth and youngest son) For more info click here
said, They [are] struck down down before us, as at the first. But the children of Israel said, Let us escape, and draw them from the city to the highways.

20:33 And all the men of Israel got up out of their place, and put themselves in array at Baaltamar and lay in wait of Israel came out of their places, [even] out of the meadows of Gibeah.
20:34 And there came against Gibeah ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and the battle was sore but they didn’t know that evil [was] near them.
20:35 And YAHWEH יְהֹוָה
Hebrew Yəhōwā, one vocalization of the Tetragrammaton יהוה‎ (YHWH), the proper name of the God of Israel in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. It is considered one of the seven names of God in Judaism and a form of God’s name in Christianity. Covenant making covenant keeping GOD. For more info click here
struck Benjaminבִּנְיָמִי
Bīnyāmīn Meaning: “Son of (the) right” or “Son of My right hand” was the last of the two sons of Jacob and Rachel (Jacob’s thirteenth child and twelfth and youngest son) For more info click here
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.

20:36 So the children of Benjaminבִּנְיָמִי
Bīnyāmīn Meaning: “Son of (the) right” or “Son of My right hand” was the last of the two sons of Jacob and Rachel (Jacob’s thirteenth child and twelfth and youngest son) For more info click here
saw that they were struck down because the men of Israel gave room to the Benjamites, because they trusted to lay in wait that they had set beside Gibeah.

20:37 And the layers in wait hurried, and rushed on Gibeah ; and the layers in wait drew [themselves] along, and struck all the city with the edge of the sword.
20:38 Now there was an appointed sign between the men of Israel and the layers in wait, that they should make a great flame with smoke rise up out of the city.
20:39 And when the men of Israel turned in the battle, Benjaminבִּנְיָמִי
Bīnyāmīn Meaning: “Son of (the) right” or “Son of My right hand” was the last of the two sons of Jacob and Rachel (Jacob’s thirteenth child and twelfth and youngest son) For more info click here
began to strike [and] kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons because they said, Surely they are struck down down before us, as [in] the first battle.

20:40 But when the flame began to arise up out of the city with a pillar of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them, and, see, the flame of the city ascended up to the heavens הַשָּׁמַיִם
Pronunciation: hah’-shaw-mah’-yim Hebrew Noun: Common Masculine Plural Absolute – the visible heavens, the abode of the stars like the visible universe, the sky, the atmosphere For more info click here
.

20:41 And when the men of Israel turned again, the men of Benjaminבִּנְיָמִי
Bīnyāmīn Meaning: “Son of (the) right” or “Son of My right hand” was the last of the two sons of Jacob and Rachel (Jacob’s thirteenth child and twelfth and youngest son) For more info click here
were amazed for they saw that evil was come on them.

20:42 Therefore they turned [their backs] before the men of Israel to the roadדֶּרֶךְ‎
Transliteration:dereḵ Pronunciation:deh’-rek way, road, distance, journey, manner, path, direction For more info click here
to the wildernessמִדְבָּר
Transliteration: miḏbār Pronunciation; mid-bawr’ desert, south, speech, wilderness For more info click here
; but the battle overtook them; and them which [came] out of the cities they destroyed in the middle of them.

20:43 [This] they enclosed the Benjamites around about, [and] chased them, [and] trod them down with ease over against Gibeah toward the sun rising.
20:44 And there fell of Benjaminבִּנְיָמִי
Bīnyāmīn Meaning: “Son of (the) right” or “Son of My right hand” was the last of the two sons of Jacob and Rachel (Jacob’s thirteenth child and twelfth and youngest son) For more info click here
eighteen thousand men ; all these [were] men of valor.

20:45 And they turned and escaped toward the wildernessמִדְבָּר
Transliteration: miḏbār Pronunciation; mid-bawr’ desert, south, speech, wilderness For more info click here
to the rock of Rimmon and they gleaned of them in the highways five thousand men ; and pursued hard after them to Gidom, and killed two thousand men of them.

20:46 So that all which fell that day of Benjaminבִּנְיָמִי
Bīnyāmīn Meaning: “Son of (the) right” or “Son of My right hand” was the last of the two sons of Jacob and Rachel (Jacob’s thirteenth child and twelfth and youngest son) For more info click here
were twenty five thousand men that drew the sword ; all these [were] men of valor.

20:47 But six hundred men turned and escaped to the wilderness to the rock Rimmon, and abode in the rock Rimmon four months.
20:48 And the men of Israel turned again on the sons of Benjaminבִּנְיָמִי
Bīnyāmīn Meaning: “Son of (the) right” or “Son of My right hand” was the last of the two sons of Jacob and Rachel (Jacob’s thirteenth child and twelfth and youngest son) For more info click here
, and struck them with the edge of the sword, as well the men of [every] city, as the animals, and all that came to hand also they set on fire all the cities that they came to.

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