From Gary... It could happen to you

OK, it is a little hard to believe her, based on previous experience, but give her a chance.  She just might be truly willing to change- to turn her life around.  It can be done, because about 40 years ago, I did.  People laughed at me, made fun of me, even called me things like "Moses Ben Rose".  But God gave me the strength to somehow overcome my problems and life has been vastly different since then.  Here is an example from Scripture of someone who really changed- and it took awhile for people to accept it...

Acts, Chapter 9

 1 But Saul, still breathing threats and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest,  2 and asked for letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.  3 As he traveled, he got close to Damascus, and suddenly a light from the sky shone around him. 4 He fell on the earth, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 

  5  He said, “Who are you, Lord?” 

The Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.   6  But rise up, and enter into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 

  7  The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the sound, but seeing no one.  8 Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened, he saw no one. They led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.  9 He was without sight for three days, and neither ate nor drank. 

  10  Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!” 

He said, “Behold, it’s me, Lord.” 

  11  The Lord said to him, “Arise, and go to the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judah for one named Saul, a man of Tarsus. For behold, he is praying,   12  and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in, and laying his hands on him, that he might receive his sight.” 

  13  But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he did to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 Here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” 

  15  But the Lord said to him, “Go your way, for he is my chosen vessel to bear my name before the nations and kings, and the children of Israel.   16  For I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name’s sake.” 

  17  Ananias departed, and entered into the house. Laying his hands on him, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord, who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me, that you may receive your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he received his sight. He arose and was baptized.  19 He took food and was strengthened. Saul stayed several days with the disciples who were at Damascus.  20 Immediately in the synagogues he proclaimed the Christ, that he is the Son of God.  21 All who heard him were amazed, and said, “Isn’t this he who in Jerusalem made havoc of those who called on this name? And he had come here intending to bring them bound before the chief priests!” 

  22  But Saul increased more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ. 23 When many days were fulfilled, the Jews conspired together to kill him,  24 but their plot became known to Saul. They watched the gates both day and night that they might kill him,  25 but his disciples took him by night, and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket.  26 When Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join himself to the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.  27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.

Paul changed, I believe it because the Bible tells me so.  And I believe it because I know it can happen.  Someone, a long time ago, used to say to me- If I even enter a church building it will fall on me.  He felt this way for a good reason- he had done some terrible things.  But God could have changed him if he was willing; he was not.  I was and am still malleable in the hands of the great physician. How about you, would the thought of people laughing at you deter you from following God to your fullest?  Think about it- anything is possible!!!

From Mark Copeland... Cursing And Cleansing

                          "THE GOSPEL OF MARK"

                    Cursing And Cleansing (11:12-19)

INTRODUCTION

1. In our previous study, we saw where Jesus and His disciples arrived
   in Jerusalem...
   a. Together with a large crowd coming to observe the Passover week
   b. With the first day of their visit (Sunday) beginning with the
      triumphal entry and ending with a quick visit to the temple - Mk 11:1-11

2. On the next day (Monday), two things occur which may seem out of
   character for Jesus...
   a. The cursing of the fig tree - Mk 11:12-14
   b. The cleansing of the temple - Mk 11:15-19

[The two may be related, so let’s consider them together beginning
with...]

I. THE CURSING OF THE FIG TREE

   A. THE NARRATIVE...
      1. Having spent the night in Bethany, Jesus and His disciples make
         their way back toward Jerusalem - Mk 11:11-12
      2. Hungry, Jesus sees a fig tree with leaves from a distance and
         approaches to see if there is anything on it - Mk 11:12-13
      3. There is nothing but leaves, Mark noting that it was not the
         season for figs - Mark 11:13
      4. In response, Jesus says to the tree, "Let no one eat fruit from
         you ever again" - Mk 11:14
      5. Mark commented that it was heard by His disciples - Mk 11:14

   B. SOME OBSERVATIONS...
      1. In Palestine fig trees produced crops of small edible buds in
         March followed by the appearance of large green leaves in early
         April. - Bible Knowledge Commentary
         a. This early green "fruit" (buds) was common food for local
            peasants - ibid.
         b. An absence of these buds despite the tree’s green foliage
            promising their presence indicated it would bear no fruit
            that year - ibid.
         c. Thus this fig tree gave the appearance of offering edible
            food, but did not
      2. The way in which Mark organizes his material in these verses
         (fig tree/cleansing of temple/fig tree) suggests a connection
         between the cleansing of the temple and the cursing of the fig
         tree - ESV Study Bible
      4. The incident of the fig tree both interprets the cleansing of
         the temple and is interpreted by the latter incident - New
         International Biblical Commentary (NIBC)
         a. Jesus’ disappointment with the fig tree is like his
            disappointment with Israel and the temple, her chief shrine
            - ibid.
         b. His judgment pronounced upon the tree is like the threat of
            God’s judgment soon to fall upon the city of Jerusalem,
            which Jesus’ words and actions in Mk 11:15-19 prefigure
            - ibid.
      5. The cursing of the tree (v. 14) is known as a prophetic
         sign-act, familiar to readers of the OT, an action in which a
         prophet demonstrates symbolically his message (e.g., Isa 20:1-6;
         Jer 13:1-11; 19:1-13; Ezek 4:1-15) - NIBC
      6. The act is not to be taken simply as a rash act of anger, but
         as a solemn prophetic word pronounced for the benefit of the
         disciples (and for the readers) - ibid.

[Seeing that the two events (the cursing of the fig tree and the
cleansing of the temple) appear related, let’s now look more closely
at...]

II. THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE

   A. THE NARRATIVE...
      1. Jesus returns to Jerusalem and enters the temple - Mk 11:15-16
         a. Driving out those who bought and sold in the temple
         b. Overturning the tables of the money changers, the seats of
            those who sold doves
         c. Not allowing any to carry wares through the temple
      2. He teaches in the temple - Mk 11:17-18
         a. "Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of
            prayer for all nations’ ? But you have made it a ‘den of
            thieves.’" - cf. 1Ki 8:41-43; Isa 56:7
         b. The scribes and chief priests heard this and wanted to kill
            Him
         c. They feared Him, for all the people were astonished at His
            teaching
      3. At evening, He left the city, spending the night on Mt. Olivet
         - cf. Lk 21:37

   B. SOME OBSERVATIONS...
      1. The "temple" was the court of the Gentiles, an outer court
         where non-Jews were permitted
         a. Tables were set up to enable pilgrims to change their
            respective currencies into coins for the annual temple tax,
            as well as to purchase pigeons, lambs, oil, salt, etc., for
            various sin and thanksgiving sacrifices - ESV Study Bible
         b. The business activity turns the house of prayer into a den
            of robbers (Jer 7:11); Gentiles in particular were hindered
            by the temple commerce in the outer court - ibid.
      2. This may have been the second time Jesus cleansed the temple
         a. John records a similar incident at the beginning of Jesus’
            ministry - Jn 2:13-17
         b. Many commentators think it happened only once; but with
            Jesus’ zeal for His Father’s house, there is good reason to
            believe He did it twice
         c. The cleansing of the temple may have been to fulfill
            prophecy - Mal 3:1-3
      3. Was the act of cleansing the temple "out of character" for
         Jesus?  No!
         a. Jesus had been angry before, and would be again soon - cf.
            Mk 3:5; Mt 23:13-36
         b. Jesus was filled with righteous indignation, consistent with
            the qualities of deity - cf. Ro 2:4-6; 2Th 1:7-9
      4. It may helpful to remember...
         a. When it came to personal affront, Jesus bore it meekly - cf.
            Isa 53:7; 1Pe 2:23
         b. But when God or His temple were maligned, especially by
            hardhearted and self-righteous religious leaders, then
            Jesus acted with righteous indignation in defense of God’s
            honor
         c. We tend to defend selves rather than God, displaying
            self-righteous indignation

CONCLUSION

1. The moral and religious depravity of the religious leaders prompted
   Jesus’ actions

2. Both the cursing of the fig tree and the cleansing of the temple were
   prophetic sign acts that foretold the impending judgment upon the
   nation of Israel that would occur with the destruction of Jerusalem
   (fulfilled in 70 AD) - cf. Mk 13:1-2

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

From Jim McGuiggan... The Word of the Cross

The Word of the Cross

The Corinthian church, made up mostly of Gentiles and some Jews knew they had come to God through Jesus Christ. Paul everywhere insists on that.

It wasn't that they didn't know it and admit it--it was that they didn't have a real understanding of how cutting the cross was. They didn't know (any more than we) how the way God made himself known in the cross of Christ subverted all other approaches to living and self-understanding.

Non-Christian Jews and Greeks rejected the crucified Christ. Their presuppositions became their view of reality and their view of reality led them to conclude something about a message of a crucified Messiah and a human dying on a cross to enable us to know God (or rather be known by God).

Jews sought signs that proved God was with them; the kind of signs they were used to in ancient times, the kind of signs that fitted in with their history and theology. When offered the sign of the crucified Christ they called it an insult.

Greeks looked at the young Jew dying on a tree as the way to knowing God and they called it "dumb".

In coming to Christ the Corinthian Christians said "no" to what the world said "yes" to and "yes" to what the world said "no" to. That should have meant they wouldn't be bringing their pre-Christ ways of judging into their "in Christ" relationships. But they did. In having (essentially) a Jewish (kind of Christ) or a Greek (kind of) Christ they were parceling Christ out; they were dividing him. "He appeals to us all by submitting to our cultural shaping" they seemed to be saying. "No," said Paul, "he appeals to us all by repudiating our cultures with their fixed ways of approaching God. He repudiates our 'wisdon' and 'power' and offers wisdom and power of a different order."

Paul wasn't absolutely opposed to "signs" or "wisdom" because he offered both (1 Cor 2:4,6; 2 Cor 12:12). He was opposed to boxing God in. (C.S. Lewis' The Silver Chair. In it Aslan gives Jill four signs but warns her that they won't look like what she has in mind so she must keep her eyes open.) To say this or that is the only way God will signify his presence, or that this or that wisdom won't compute well--that's to box him in with our presuppositions.

In discussing Liberal Protestantism, Alister McGrath (Mystery of the Cross, page 69) says, "Its exponents had unconsciously turned their cultural presuppositions into a view of reality which dictated what Jesus must have been like-on the basis of which they asserted that this was what Jesus was really like, this is what the real significance of Jesus was."

And their return to the "simple teachings" of Jesus Christ was a return to a Jesus stripped of all the creedal statments about him, it's a Christ stripped of dogma. He is, in some ways, more understandable, less mysterious, but he is less worthy of our trusting ourselves to him, he is less worthy of the trouble it takes to understand him. Forsyth knew the non-theological Christ is more popular, that he gets more applause, but he isn't mighty to save, he doesn't break us down and then recreate us. He gives us a tonic, a bit of inspiration, some assurance that we can truly follow in his steps. In short, he is like us, only very much better in every way. Truth is, Christ is precious to us in the ways he is like us but he in infinitely more precious to us in the ways that he is unlike us.

Jew and Greek judged the cross and found it lacking. Paul claimed the cross judged Jews and Greeks and found them lacking.

Liberal Protestantism's culture judged the cross and found it lacking, found it uncivilized, found it didn't fit into a humane way of looking at things, so they tamed it. They made it into something it wasn't--a straightforward moral pattern. They couldn't dismiss it right off as absurd or as fundamentally offensive (after all it was in the Bible), so they made it into an heroic deed we should all follow. Self-denial, self-sacrifice, heroism--all these "lessons" could be drawn from the cross, and God admired the response of Jesus. He admired it because he saw a gallant and incredibly good man showing us how to live; but it said nothing about the character or purposes of God. It confirmed our already existing views of the kind of God God was. And it wasn't really God's idea. A cross was a human invention, a cross was a symbol of man's capacity to torture another. The cross revealed sick humans; it revealed nothing about God! If anything, the cross repulsed God and wha! t he was able to salvage from the whole affair was Christ's heroic bearing of it. So the liberal view of things told us.

But the message of the cross isn't only a call to moral uprightness, it isn't only a pattern of how to live. To reduce it to that was one of the great errors of Protestant Liberalism and it looks no better on us than on them. We need to allow it its full programme (to the degree that we recognize it), we need to allow it its offence to reason and status quo religion.

We may reduce the word of the cross to: "We are to live humbly, self-sacrificially, keeping our commitments and treating one another with justice and mercy." All this is derivable from the cross, of course; but none of it offends the Jew, none of it appears stupid to a Greek. The OT and Greek moral teaching is filled with instruction and encouragement to live in these ways, but this is not the message of the cross. Paul has something more radical in mind when he addresses the Corinthians about the word of the cross. I'm not suggesting that we can get to the bottom of it but I am saying that reducing the cross to a call to certain forms of moral uprightness is to narrow it and lose its power and wisdom.

The word of the cross is supposed to offend. God meant it to expose as foolishness and disbelief the ways of humankind in their approach (or lack of approach) to him.

The cross is the peculiar, even unique way to "know" God. It's only there we can get a picture of who God is. See how Paul reworks the Shema in 1 Corinthians 8:5-6 which tells us our inherited doctrine of (Jewish) monotheism needed a Christological reframing.

Paul isn't saying that humans had to be agnostics before Jesus came on the scene, so when he claims that it is through the crucified Christ (the cross) that we know the wisdom and power of God he is speaking of a particular depth and kind of knowledge that comes only through that crucified Lord.

1 John 3:16 says, "This is how we know what love is..." How radical is that? Would John have denied the love of God prior to Christ's coming? Obviously not. Would he have said no one knew anything about the love of God prior to Christ's cross? That can't be true. He knew that God loved humanity and that many humans understood that God loved them, but he still wants to say, "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us."

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.

From Gary... Bible Reading and Study. May 31

Bible Reading and Study

May 31

Judges 19, 20

Jdg 19:1 It happened in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the farther side of the hill country of Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Bethlehem Judah.

Jdg 19:2 His concubine played the prostitute against him, and went away from him to her father's house to Bethlehem Judah, and was there the space of four months.

Jdg 19:3 Her husband arose, and went after her, to speak kindly to her, to bring her again, having his servant with him, and a couple of donkeys: and she brought him into her father's house; and when the father of the young lady saw him, he rejoiced to meet him.

Jdg 19:4 His father-in-law, the young lady's father, retained him; and he abode with him three days: so they ate and drink, and lodged there.

Jdg 19:5 It happened on the fourth day, that they arose early in the morning, and he rose up to depart: and the young lady's father said to his son-in-law, Strengthen your heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward you shall go your way.

Jdg 19:6 So they sat down, ate, and drank, both of them together: and the young lady's father said to the man, Please be pleased to stay all night, and let your heart be merry.

Jdg 19:7 The man rose up to depart; but his father-in-law urged him, and he lodged there again.

Jdg 19:8 He arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart; and the young lady's father said, Please strengthen your heart and stay until the day declines; and they ate, both of them.

Jdg 19:9 When the man rose up to depart, he, and his concubine, and his servant, his father-in-law, the young lady's father, said to him, Behold, now the day draws toward evening, please stay all night: behold, the day grows to an end, lodge here, that your heart may be merry; and tomorrow get you early on your way, that you may go home.

Jdg 19:10 But the man wouldn't stay that night, but he rose up and departed, and came over against Jebus (the same is Jerusalem): and there were with him a couple of donkeys saddled; his concubine also was with him.

Jdg 19:11 When they were by Jebus, the day was far spent; and the servant said to his master, Please come and let us turn aside into this city of the Jebusites, and lodge in it.

Jdg 19:12 His master said to him, We won't turn aside into the city of a foreigner, that is not of the children of Israel; but we will pass over to Gibeah.

Jdg 19:13 He said to his servant, Come and let us draw near to one of these places; and we will lodge in Gibeah, or in Ramah.

Jdg 19:14 So they passed on and went their way; and the sun went down on them near to Gibeah, which belongs to Benjamin.

Jdg 19:15 They turned aside there, to go in to lodge in Gibeah: and he went in, and sat him down in the street of the city; for there was no man who took them into his house to lodge.

Jdg 19:16 Behold, there came an old man from his work out of the field at even: now the man was of the hill country of Ephraim, and he sojourned in Gibeah; but the men of the place were Benjamites.

Jdg 19:17 He lifted up his eyes, and saw the wayfaring man in the street of the city; and the old man said, Where are you going? Where did you come from?

Jdg 19:18 He said to him, We are passing from Bethlehem Judah to the farther side of the hill country of Ephraim; from there am I, and I went to Bethlehem Judah: and I am now going to the house of Yahweh; and there is no man who takes me into his house.

Jdg 19:19 Yet there is both straw and provender for our donkeys; and there is bread and wine also for me, and for your handmaid, and for the young man who is with your servants: there is no want of anything.

Jdg 19:20 The old man said, Peace be to you; howsoever let all your wants lie on me; only don't lodge in the street.

Jdg 19:21 So he brought him into his house, and gave the donkeys fodder; and they washed their feet, and ate and drink.

Jdg 19:22 As they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain base fellows, surrounded the house, beating at the door; and they spoke to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man who came into your house, that we may know him.

Jdg 19:23 The man, the master of the house, went out to them, and said to them, No, my brothers, please don't act so wickedly; seeing that this man is come into my house, don't do this folly.

Jdg 19:24 Behold, here is my daughter a virgin, and his concubine; them I will bring out now, and humble them, and do with them what seems good to you: but to this man don't do any such folly.

Jdg 19:25 But the men wouldn't listen to him: so the man laid hold on his concubine, and brought her forth to them; and they knew her, and abused her all the night until the morning: and when the day began to spring, they let her go.

Jdg 19:26 Then came the woman in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of the man's house where her lord was, until it was light.

Jdg 19:27 Her lord rose up in the morning, and opened the doors of the house, and went out to go his way; and behold, the woman his concubine was fallen down at the door of the house, with her hands on the threshold.

Jdg 19:28 He said to her, Up, and let us be going; but none answered: then he took her up on the donkey; and the man rose up, and got him to his place.

Jdg 19:29 When he was come into his house, he took a knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her, limb by limb, into twelve pieces, and sent her throughout all the borders of Israel.

Jdg 19:30 It was so, that all who saw it said, There was no such deed done nor seen from the day that the children of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt to this day: consider it, take counsel, and speak.

Jdg 20:1 Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was assembled as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, to Yahweh at Mizpah.

Jdg 20:2 The chiefs of all the people, even of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen who drew sword.

Jdg 20:3 (Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.) The children of Israel said, Tell us, how was this wickedness brought to pass?

Jdg 20:4 The Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered, I came into Gibeah that belongs to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge.

Jdg 20:5 The men of Gibeah rose against me, and surrounded the house by night. They thought to have slain me, and they forced my concubine, and she is dead.

Jdg 20:6 I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel; for they have committed lewdness and folly in Israel.

Jdg 20:7 Behold, you children of Israel, all of you, give here your advice and counsel.

Jdg 20:8 All the people arose as one man, saying, We will not any of us go to his tent, neither will we any of us turn to his house.

Jdg 20:9 But now this is the thing which we will do to Gibeah: we will go up against it by lot;

Jdg 20:10 and we will take ten men of one hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and one hundred of one thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand, to get food for the people, that they may do, when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, according to all the folly that they have worked in Israel.

Jdg 20:11 So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together as one man.

Jdg 20:12 The tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, What wickedness is this that is happen among you?

Jdg 20:13 Now therefore deliver up the men, the base fellows, who are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel. But Benjamin would not listen to the voice of their brothers the children of Israel.

Jdg 20:14 The children of Benjamin gathered themselves together out of the cities to Gibeah, to go out to battle against the children of Israel.

Jdg 20:15 The children of Benjamin were numbered on that day out of the cities twenty-six thousand men who drew the sword, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah, who were numbered seven hundred chosen men.

Jdg 20:16 Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men left-handed; everyone could sling stones at a hair-breadth, and not miss.

Jdg 20:17 The men of Israel, besides Benjamin, were numbered four hundred thousand men who drew sword: all these were men of war.

Jdg 20:18 The children of Israel arose, and went up to Bethel, and asked counsel of God; and they said, Who shall go up for us first to battle against the children of Benjamin? Yahweh said, Judah shall go up first.

Jdg 20:19 The children of Israel rose up in the morning, and encamped against Gibeah.

Jdg 20:20 The men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin; and the men of Israel set the battle in array against them at Gibeah.

Jdg 20:21 The children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah, and destroyed down to the ground of the Israelites on that day Twenty-two thousand men.

Jdg 20:22 The people, the men of Israel, encouraged themselves, and set the battle again in array in the place where they set themselves in array the first day.

Jdg 20:23 The children of Israel went up and wept before Yahweh until even; and they asked of Yahweh, saying, Shall I again draw near to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother? Yahweh said, Go up against him.

Jdg 20:24 The children of Israel came near against the children of Benjamin the second day.

Jdg 20:25 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.

Jdg 20:26 Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came to Bethel, and wept, and sat there before Yahweh, and fasted that day until even; and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before Yahweh.

Jdg 20:27 The children of Israel asked of Yahweh (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,

Jdg 20:28 and Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days), saying, Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease? Yahweh said, Go up; for tomorrow I will deliver him into your hand.

Jdg 20:29 Israel set ambushes all around Gibeah.

Jdg 20:30 The children of Israel went up against the children of Benjamin on the third day, and set themselves in array against Gibeah, as at other times.

Jdg 20:31 The children of Benjamin went out against the people, and were drawn away from the city; and they began to strike and kill of the people, as at other times, in the highways, of which one goes up to Bethel, and the other to Gibeah, in the field, about thirty men of Israel.

Jdg 20:32 The children of Benjamin said, They are struck down before us, as at the first. But the children of Israel said, Let us flee, and draw them away from the city to the highways.

Jdg 20:33 All the men of Israel rose up out of their place, and set themselves in array at Baal Tamar: and the ambushers of Israel broke forth out of their place, even out of Maareh Geba.

Jdg 20:34 There came over against Gibeah ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and the battle was sore; but they didn't know that evil was close on them.

Jdg 20:35 Yahweh struck Benjamin before Israel; and the children of Israel destroyed of Benjamin that day twenty-five thousand one hundred men: all these drew the sword.

Jdg 20:36 So the children of Benjamin saw that they were struck; for the men of Israel gave place to Benjamin, because they trusted the ambushers whom they had set against Gibeah.

Jdg 20:37 The ambushers hurried, and rushed on Gibeah; and the ambushers drew themselves along, and struck all the city with the edge of the sword.

Jdg 20:38 Now the appointed sign between the men of Israel and the ambushers was that they should make a great cloud of smoke rise up out of the city.

Jdg 20:39 The men of Israel turned in the battle, and Benjamin began to strike and kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons; for they said, Surely they are struck down before us, as in the first battle.

Jdg 20:40 But when the cloud began to arise up out of the city in a pillar of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them; and behold, the whole of the city went up in smoke to the sky.

Jdg 20:41 The men of Israel turned, and the men of Benjamin were dismayed; for they saw that evil had come on them.

Jdg 20:42 Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel to the way of the wilderness; but the battle followed hard after them; and those who came out of the cities destroyed them in its midst.

Jdg 20:43 They surrounded the Benjamites, chased them, and trod them down at their resting place, as far as over against Gibeah toward the sunrise.

Jdg 20:44 There fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men; all these were men of valor.

Jdg 20:45 They turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon: and they gleaned of them in the highways five thousand men, and followed hard after them to Gidom, and struck of them two thousand men.

Jdg 20:46 So that all who fell that day of Benjamin were twenty-five thousand men who drew the sword; all these were men of valor.

Jdg 20:47 But six hundred men turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, and abode in the rock of Rimmon four months.

Jdg 20:48 The men of Israel turned again on the children of Benjamin, and struck them with the edge of the sword, both the entire city, and the livestock, and all that they found: moreover all the cities which they found they set on fire.

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Young's Literal Translation

Judges

Judges 19 1

It happened in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the farther side of the hill-country of Ephraim, who took to him a  concubine out of Beth-lehem-judah.

And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that a certain Levite, sojourning on the further side of mount Ephraim, took him a concubine out of Bethlehem-Judah.

And it cometh to pass, in those days, when there is no king in Israel, that there is a man a Levite, a sojourner in the sides of the hill-country of Ephraim, and he taketh to him a wife, a concubine, out of Beth-Lehem-Judah;

Judges 19 2

His concubine played the prostitute against him, and went away from him to her father`s house to Beth-lehem-judah, and was there the space of four months.

And his concubine played the whore against him, and went away from him to her father`s house to Bethlehem-Judah, and was there some time, -- four months.

and commit whoredom against him doth his concubine, and she goeth from him unto the house of her father, unto Beth-Lehem-Judah, and is there days -- four months.

Judges 19 3

Her husband arose, and went after her, to speak kindly to her, to bring her again, having his servant with him, and a couple of donkeys: and she brought him into her father`s house; and when the father of the young lady saw him, he rejoiced to meet him.

And her husband rose up and went after her, to speak kindly to her, to bring her again; and his servant was with him, and a couple of asses. And she brought him into her father`s house; and when the father of the damsel saw him he rejoiced to meet him.

And her husband riseth and goeth after her, to speak unto her heart, to bring her back, and his young man [is] with him, and a couple of asses; and she bringeth him into the house of her father, and the father of the young woman seeth him, and rejoiceth to meet him.

Judges 19 4

His father-in-law, the young lady`s father, retained him; and he abode with him three days: so they ate and drink, and lodged there.

And his father-in-law, the damsel`s father, retained him, and he abode with him three days; and they ate and drank, and lodged there.

And keep hold on him doth his father-in-law, father of the young woman, and he abideth with him three days, and they eat and drink, and lodge there.

Judges 19 5

It happened on the fourth day, that they arose early in the morning, and he rose up to depart: and the young lady`s father said to his son-in-law, Strengthen your heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward you shall go your way.

And it came to pass on the fourth day, that they arose early in the morning, and he rose up to depart; and the damsel`s father said to his son-in-law, Refresh thy heart with a morsel of bread, and afterwards ye may go your way.

And it cometh to pass, on the fourth day, that they rise early in the morning, and he riseth to go, and the father of the young woman saith unto his son-in-law, `Support thy heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward ye go on.`

Judges 19 6

So they sat down, and ate and drink, both of them together: and the young lady`s father said to the man, Please be pleased to stay all night, and let your heart be merry.

And they sat down, and ate and drank, both of them together. And the damsel`s father said to the man, Be content, I pray thee, and pass the night, and let thy heart be glad.

And they sit and eat both of them together, and drink, and the father of the young woman saith unto the man, `Be willing, I pray thee, and lodge all night, and let thy heart be glad.`

Judges 19 7

The man rose up to depart; but his father-in-law urged him, and he lodged there again.

And the man rose up to depart, but his father-in-law urged him, and he lodged there again.

And the man riseth to go, and his father-in-law presseth on him, and he turneth back and lodgeth there.

Judges 19 8

He arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart; and the young lady`s father said, Please strengthen your heart and stay until the day declines; and they ate, both of them.

And he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart; but the damsel`s father said, Refresh thy heart, I pray thee. And they lingered until the afternoon, and they did eat both of them.

And he riseth early in the morning, on the fifth day, to go, and the father of the young woman saith, `Support, I pray thee, thy heart;` and they have tarried till the turning of the day, and they eat, both of them.

Judges 19 9

When the man rose up to depart, he, and his concubine, and his servant, his father-in-law, the young lady`s father, said to him, Behold, now the day draws toward evening, please stay all night: behold, the day grows to an end, lodge here, that your heart may be merry; and tomorrow get you early on your way, that you may go home.

And the man rose up to depart, he, and his concubine, and his servant; and his father-in- law, the damsel`s father, said to him, Behold now, the day draws toward evening -- I pray you stay all night; behold, the day is declining, lodge here, and let thy heart be merry; and to-morrow get you early on your way, that thou mayest go to thy tent.

And the man riseth to go, he and his concubine, and his young man, and his father-in-law, father of the young woman, saith to him, `Lo, I pray thee, the day hath fallen toward evening, lodge all night, I pray thee; lo, the declining of the day! lodge here, and let thine heart be glad -- and ye have risen early to-morrow for your journey, and thou hast gone to thy tent.`

Judges 19 10

But the man wouldn`t stay that night, but he rose up and departed, and came over against Jebus (the same is Jerusalem): and there were with him a couple of donkeys saddled; his concubine also was with him.

But the man would not tarry the night; and he rose up and departed, and came opposite to Jebus, that is, Jerusalem; and there were with him two asses saddled, and his concubine was with him.

And the man hath not been willing to lodge all night, and he riseth, and goeth, and cometh in till over-against Jebus (It [is] Jerusalem), and with him [are] a couple of asses saddled; and his concubine [is] with him.

Judges 19 11

When they were by Jebus, the day was far spent; and the servant said to his master, Please come and let us turn aside into this city of the Jebusites, and lodge in it.

They were near Jebus, and the day was far spent; and the servant said to his master, Come, I pray thee, and let us turn aside into this city of the Jebusites, and lodge in it. 

They [are] near Jebus, and the day hath gone greatly down, and the young man saith unto his lord, `Come, I pray thee, and we turn aside unto this city of the Jebusite, and lodge in it.`

Judges 19 12

His master said to him, We won`t turn aside into the city of a foreigner, that is not of the children of Israel; but we will pass over to Gibeah.

But his master said to him, We will not turn aside into the city of a stranger, which is not of the children of Israel, but we will pass on to Gibeah.

And his lord saith unto him, `Let us not turn aside unto the city of a stranger, that is not of the sons of Israel, thither, but we have passed over unto Gibeah.`

Judges 19 13

He said to his servant, Come and let us draw near to one of these places; and we will lodge in Gibeah, or in Ramah.

And he said to his servant, Come and let us draw near to one of these places, and lodge in Gibeah, or in Ramah.

And he saith to his young man, `Come, and we draw near to one of the places, and have lodged in Gibeah, or in Ramah.`

Judges 19 14

So they passed on and went their way; and the sun went down on them near to Gibeah, which belongs to Benjamin.

And they passed on and went their way; and the sun went down upon them [when they were] by Gibeah, which belongs to Benjamin.

And they pass over, and go on, and the sun goeth in upon them near Gibeah, which is to Benjamin;

Judges 19 15

They turned aside there, to go in to lodge in Gibeah: and he went in, and sat him down in the street of the city; for there was no man who took them into his house to lodge.

And they turned aside thither, to go in, to lodge in Gibeah. And he went in, and sat down in the open place of the city; and there was no one that received him into his house to pass the night.

and they turn aside there to go in to lodge in Gibeah, and he goeth in and sitteth in a broad place of the city, and there is no man gathering them into the house to lodge.

Judges 19 16

Behold, there came an old man from his work out of the field at even: now the man was of the hill-country of Ephraim, and he sojourned in Gibeah; but the men of the place were Benjamites.

And behold, there came an old man from his work out of the field at even; and the man was of mount Ephraim, and he sojourned in Gibeah; but the men of the place were Benjaminites.

And lo, a man, an aged one, hath come from his work from the field in the evening, and the man [is] of the hill-country of Ephraim, and he [is] a sojourner in Gibeah, and the men of the place [are] Benjamites.

Judges 19 17

He lifted up his eyes, and saw the wayfaring man in the street of the city; and the old man said, Where go you? and whence come you?

And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the wayfaring man in the open place of the city; and the old man said, Whither goest thou? and whence comest thou?

And he lifteth up his eyes, and seeth the man, the traveller, in a broad place of the city, and the aged man saith, `Whither goest thou? and whence comest thou?`

Judges 19 18

He said to him, We are passing from Beth-lehem-judah to the farther side of the hill-country of Ephraim; from there am I, and I went to Beth-lehem-judah: and I am [now] going to the house of Yahweh; and there is no man who takes me into his house.

And he said to him, We are travelling from Bethlehem-Judah towards the further side of mount Ephraim; from thence am I; and I went to Bethlehem-Judah, and I have to do with the house of Jehovah; and there is no man that receives me into his house.

And he saith unto him, `We are passing over from Beth-Lehem-Judah unto the sides of the hill-country of Ephraim -- thence I [am], and I go unto Beth-Lehem- Judah; and to the house of Jehovah I am going, and there is no man gathering me into the house,

Judges 19 19

Yet there is both straw and provender for our donkeys; and there is bread and wine also for me, and for your handmaid, and for the young man who is with your servants: there is no want of anything.

And we have both straw and provender for our asses; and I have bread and wine also for me, and for thy handmaid, and for the young man with thy servants: there is no lack of anything.

and both straw and provender are for our asses, and also bread and wine there are for me, and for thy handmaid, and for the young man with thy servants; there is no lack of anything.`

Judges 19 20

The old man said, Peace be to you; howsoever let all your wants lie on me; only don`t lodge in the street.

Then the old man said, Peace be with thee; only let all thy wants lie on me; but lodge not in the street.

And the old man saith, `Peace to thee; only, all thy lack [is] on me, only in the broad place lodge not.`

Judges 19 21

So he brought him into his house, and gave the donkeys fodder; and they washed their feet, and ate and drink.

And he brought him into his house, and gave the asses provender; and they washed their feet, and ate and drank.

And he bringeth him in to his house, and mixeth [food] for the asses, and they wash their feet, and eat and drink.

Judges 19 22

As they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain base fellows, beset the house round about, beating at the door; and they spoke to the master of the house, the old  man, saying, Bring forth the man who came into your house, that we may know him.

They were making their hearts merry, when behold, the men of the city, sons of Belial, surrounded the house, beating at the door; and they spoke to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man that came into thy house, that we may know him. 

They are making their heart glad, and lo, men of the city, men -- sons of worthlessness -- have gone round about the house, beating on the door, and they speak unto the old man, the master of the house, saying, `Bring out the man who hath come unto thine house, and we know him.`

Judges 19 23

The man, the master of the house, went out to them, and said to them, No, my brothers, please don`t act so wickedly; seeing that this man is come into my house, don`t do this folly.

And the man, the master of the house, went out to them, and said to them, No, my brethren, I pray you, do not wickedly; seeing that this man is come into my house, do not this villany.

And the man, the master of the house, goeth out unto them, and saith unto them, `Nay, my brethren, do not evil, I pray you, after that this man hath come in unto my house, do not this folly;

Judges 19 24

Behold, here is my daughter a virgin, and his concubine; them I will bring out now, and humble you them, and do with them what seems good to you: but to this man don`t do any such folly.

Behold, my daughter, who is a virgin, and his concubine; let me bring them out, and humble ye them, and do to them as is good in your sight; but to this man do not so vile a thing.

lo, my daughter, the virgin, and his concubine, let me bring them out, I pray you, and humble ye them, and do to them that which is good in your eyes, and to this man do not this foolish thing.`

Judges 19 25

But the men wouldn`t listen to him: so the man laid hold on his concubine, and brought her forth to them; and they knew her, and abused her all the night until the morning: and when the   day began to spring, they let her go.

But the men would not hearken to him; and the man took his concubine, and brought her forth to them; and they knew her, and abused her all the night until the morning; and let her go when the morning-dawn arose.

And the men have not been willing to hearken to him, and the man taketh hold on his concubine, and bringeth [her] out unto them without, and they know her, and roll themselves upon her all the night, till the morning, and send her away in the ascending of the dawn;

Judges 19 26

Then came the woman in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of the man`s house where her lord was, until it was light.

And the woman came at the dawning of the day, and fell down at the entrance of the man`s house where her lord was, till it was light.

and the woman cometh in at the turning of the morning, and falleth at the opening of the man`s house, where her lord [is], till the light.

Judges 19 27

Her lord rose up in the morning, and opened the doors of the house, and went out to go his way; and, behold, the woman his concubine was fallen down at the door of the house, with her hands on the threshold.

And her lord rose up in the morning, and opened the door of the house, and went out to go his way, and behold, there lay the woman his concubine at the entrance of the house, and her hands were upon the threshold.

And her lord riseth in the morning, and openeth the doors of the house, and goeth out to go on his way, and lo, the woman, his concubine, is fallen at the opening of the house, and her hands [are] on the threshold,

Judges 19 28

He said to her, Up, and let us be going; but none answered: then he took her up on the donkey;   and the man rose up, and got him to his place.

And he said to her, Up, and let us go; but no one answered. And he took her upon the ass; and the man rose up, and went to his place.

and he saith unto her, `Rise, and we go;` and there is none answering, and he taketh her on the ass, and the man riseth and goeth to his place,

Judges 19 29

When he was come into his house, he took a knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her, limb by limb, into twelve pieces, and sent her throughout all the borders of Israel.

And when he was come into his house, he took the knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her, according to her bones, into twelve pieces, and sent her into all the borders of Israel.

and cometh in unto his house, and taketh the knife, and layeth hold on his concubine, and cutteth her in pieces to her bones -- into twelve pieces, and sendeth her into all the border of Israel.

Judges 19 30

It was so, that all who saw it said, There was no such deed done nor seen from the day that the children of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt to this day: consider it, take counsel, and speak.

And it came to pass that every one that saw it said, There was no such deed done nor seen from the day that the children of Israel came out of Egypt to this day. Think it over, advise, and speak.

And it hath come to pass, every one who seeth hath said, `There hath not been --yea, there hath not been seen like this, from the day of the coming up of the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt till this day; set your [heart] upon it, take counsel, and speak.`

Judges 20 1

Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was assembled as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, to Yahweh at Mizpah.

And all the children of Israel went forth, and the assembly gathered together as one man, from Dan to Beer-sheba, and the land of Gilead, unto Jehovah at Mizpah.

And all the sons of Israel go out, and the company is assembled as one man, from Dan even unto Beer-Sheba, and the land of Gilead, unto Jehovah, at Mizpeh.

Judges 20 2

The chiefs of all the people, even of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen who drew sword.

And the heads of all the people, of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the congregation of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen that drew sword.

And the chiefs of all the people, of all the tribes of Israel, station themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen drawing sword.

Judges 20 3

(Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.) The children of Israel said, Tell us, how was this wickedness brought to pass?

And the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel had gone up to Mizpah. And the children of Israel said, Tell [us], how was this wickedness?

And the sons of Benjamin hear that the sons of Israel have gone up to Mizpeh. And the sons of Israel say, `Speak ye, how hath this evil been?`

Judges 20 4

The Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered, I came into Gibeah that belongs to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge.

Then the Levite, the husband of the woman that was murdered, answered and said, I came to Gibeah that [belongs] to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge.

And the man, the Levite, husband of the woman who hath been murdered, answereth and saith, `Into Gibeah (which [is] to Benjamin) I have come, I and my concubine, to lodge;

Judges 20 5

The men of Gibeah rose against me, and beset the house round about me by night; me they thought to have slain, and my concubine they forced, and she is dead.

And the citizens of Gibeah rose against me, and surrounded the house because of me, by night; they thought to slay me, and my concubine have they humbled so that she died.

and rise against me do the masters of Gibeah -- and they go round the house against me by night -- me they thought to slay, and my concubine they have humbled, and she dieth;

Judges 20 6

I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel; for they have committed lewdness and folly in Israel.

Then I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout the country of the inheritance of Israel; for they have committed lewdness and villany in Israel.

and I lay hold on my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and send her into all the country of the inheritance of Israel; for they have done wickedness and folly in Israel;

Judges 20 7

Behold, you children of Israel, all of you, give here your advice and counsel.

Behold, all ye, children of Israel, deliberate and give here [your] counsel.

lo, ye [are] all sons of Israel; give for you a word and counsel here.`

Judges 20 8

All the people arose as one man, saying, We will not any of us go to his tent, neither will we any of us turn to his house.

And all the people rose up as one man, saying, We will not any one go to his tent, neither will we any one turn into his house.

And all the people rise as one man, saying, `None of us doth go to his tent, and none of us doth turn aside to his house;

Judges 20 9

But now this is the thing which we will do to Gibeah: [we will go up] against it by lot; 

But now this is the thing which we will do to Gibeah: [we go] by lot against it;

and now, this [is] the thing which we do to Gibeah -- against it by lot!

Judges 20 10

and we will take ten men of one hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and one hundred of one thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand, to get victuals for the people, that they may do, when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, according to all the folly that they have worked in Israel.

and we will take ten men of a hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and a hundred of a thousand, and a thousand of ten thousand, to fetch victuals for the people, that they may do, when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, according to all the villany that they have wrought in Israel.

and we have taken ten men of a hundred, of all the tribes of Israel, and a hundred of a thousand, and a thousand of a myriad, to receive provision for the people, to do, at their coming to Gibeah of Benjamin, according to all the folly which it hath done in Israel.`

Judges 20 11

So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together as one man.

And all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together as one man.

And every man of Israel is gathered unto the city, as one man -- companions.

Judges 20 12

The tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, What wickedness is this that is happen among you?

And the tribes of Israel sent men to all the families of Benjamin, saying, What wickedness is this that has been done among you?

And the tribes of Israel send men among all the tribes of Benjamin, saying, `What [is] this evil which hath been among you?

Judges 20 13

Now therefore deliver up the men, the base fellows, who are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel. But Benjamin would not listen to the voice of their brothers the children of Israel.

And now give up the men, the sons of Belial, who 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.

And now, give up the men -- sons of worthlessness -- which [are] in Gibeah, and we put them to death, and we put away evil from Israel.` And [the sons of] Benjamin have not been willing to hearken to the voice of their brethren, the sons of Israel; 

Judges 20 14

The children of Benjamin gathered themselves together out of the cities to Gibeah, to go out to battle against the children of Israel.

And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together out of the cities of Gibeah, to go out to battle against the children of Israel.

and the sons of Benjamin are gathered out of the cities to Gibeah, to go out to battle with the sons of Israel.

Judges 20 15

The children of Benjamin were numbered on that day out of the cities twenty-six thousand men   who drew the sword, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah, who were numbered seven hundred chosen men.

And the children of Benjamin were numbered at that time out of the cities, twenty-six thousand men that drew sword, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah, who were numbered seven hundred chosen men.

And the sons of Benjamin number themselves on that day; out of the cities [are] twenty and six thousand men drawing sword, apart from the inhabitants of Gibeah, [who] numbered themselves, seven hundred chosen men;

Judges 20 16

Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men left-handed; everyone could sling   stones at a hair-breadth, and not miss.

Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men left-handed; all these slang stones at a hair [breadth], and missed not.

among all this people [are] seven hundred chosen men, bound of their right hand, each of these slinging with a stone at the hair, and he doth not err.

Judges 20 17

The men of Israel, besides Benjamin, were numbered four hundred thousand men who drew sword: all these were men of war.

And the men of Israel, besides Benjamin, were numbered four hundred thousand men that drew sword: all these were men of war.

And the men of Israel numbered themselves, apart from Benjamin, four hundred thousand men, drawing sword, each of these a man of war.

Judges 20 18

The children of Israel arose, and went up to Bethel, and asked counsel of God; and they said, Who   shall go up for us first to battle against the children of Benjamin? Yahweh said, Judah [shall go up] first.

And the children of Israel arose and went up to Bethel, and inquired of God, and said, Which of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And Jehovah said, Judah first.

And they rise and go up to Beth-El, and ask of God, and the sons of Israel say, `Who doth go up for us at the commencement to battle with the sons of Benjamin?` and Jehovah saith, `Judah -- at the commencement.`

Judges 20 19

The children of Israel rose up in the morning, and encamped against Gibeah.

And the children of Israel rose up in the morning and encamped against Gibeah.

And the sons of Israel rise in the morning, and encamp against Gibeah,

Judges 20 20

The men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin; and the men of Israel set the battle in array against them at Gibeah.

And 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.

and the men of Israel go out to battle with Benjamin, and the men of Israel set themselves in array with them, [for] battle against Gibeah,

Judges 20 21

The children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah, and destroyed down to the ground of the Israelites on that day Twenty-two thousand men.

And the children of Benjamin went forth out of Gibeah, and destroyed to the ground of the Israelites that day twenty-two thousand men.

and the sons of Benjamin come out from Gibeah, and destroy in Israel on that day two and twenty thousand men -- to the earth.

Judges 20 22

The people, the men of Israel, encouraged themselves, and set the battle again in array in the place where they set themselves in array the first day.

And the people, the men of Israel, took courage, and set the battle again in array in the place where they put themselves in array the first day.

And the people, the men of Israel, strengthen themselves, and add to set the battle in array in the place where they arranged themselves on the first day.

Judges 20 23

The children of Israel went up and wept before Yahweh until even; and they asked of Yahweh, saying, Shall I again draw near to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother? Yahweh said, Go up against him.

And the children of Israel went up and wept before Jehovah until even, and inquired of Jehovah, saying, Shall I go up again to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother? And Jehovah said, Go up against him.

And the sons of Israel go up and weep before Jehovah till the evening, and ask of Jehovah, saying, `Do I add to draw nigh to battle with the sons of Benjamin, my brother?` And Jehovah saith, `Go up against him.`

Judges 20 24

The children of Israel came near against the children of Benjamin the second day.

And the children of Israel came near against the children of Benjamin the second day.

And the sons of Israel draw near unto the sons of Benjamin on the second day,

Judges 20 25

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.

And Benjamin went forth against them out of Gibeah the second day, and again destroyed to the ground of the children of Israel eighteen thousand men: all these drew the sword.

and Benjamin cometh out to meet them from Gibeah on the second day, and destroy among the sons of Israel again eighteen thousand men -- to the earth; all these are drawing sword.

Judges 20 26

Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came to Bethel, and wept, and sat there before Yahweh, and fasted that day until even; and they offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings before Yahweh.

Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up and came to Bethel, and wept, and abode there before Jehovah, and fasted that day until even, and offered up burnt- offerings and peace-offerings before Jehovah.

And all the sons of Israel go up, even all the people, and come in to Beth-El, and weep, and sit there before Jehovah, and fast on that day till the evening, and cause to ascend burnt-offerings and peace-offerings before Jehovah.

Judges 20 27

The children of Israel asked of Yahweh (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days, 

And the children of Israel inquired of Jehovah (and the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,

And the sons of Israel ask of Jehovah, -- and there [is] the ark of the covenant of God in those days,

Judges 20 28

and Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days), saying, Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease? Yahweh said, Go up; for tomorrow I will deliver him into your hand.

and Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days), saying, Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease? And Jehovah said, Go up; for to-morrow I will give them into thy hand.

and Phinehas son of Eleazar, son of Aaron, is standing before it in those days --saying, `Do I add again to go out to battle with the sons of Benjamin, my brother, or do I cease?` And Jehovah saith, `Go up, for to-morrow I give him into thy hand.`

Judges 20 29

Israel set liers-in-wait against Gibeah round about.

And Israel set liers in wait against Gibeah, round about.

And Israel setteth liers in wait against Gibeah, round about,

Judges 20 30

The children of Israel went up against the children of Benjamin on the third day, and set themselves in array against Gibeah, as at other times.

And the children of Israel went up against the children of Benjamin on the third day, and put themselves in array against Gibeah, as at the other times.

and the sons of Israel go up against the sons of Benjamin, on the third day, and arrange themselves against Gibeah, as time by time.

Judges 20 31

The children of Benjamin went out against the people, and were drawn away from the city; and they began to strike and kill of the people, as at other times, in the highways, of which one goes up to Bethel, and the other to Gibeah, in the field, about thirty men of Israel.

And the children of Benjamin went out against the people, and were drawn away from the city, and began to smite of the people, slaying as at the former times, in the highways, of which one leads to Bethel and the other to Gibeah in the field, about thirty men of Israel.

And the sons of Benjamin come out to meet the people; they have been drawn away out of the city, and begin to smite [some] of the people -- wounded as time by time, in the highways (of which one is going up to Beth-El, and the other to Gibeah in the field), [are] about thirty men of Israel.

Judges 20 32

The children of Benjamin said, They are struck down before us, as at the first. But the children of Israel said, Let us flee, and draw them away from the city to the highways.

And the children of Benjamin said, They are smitten down before us, as at the first. And the children of Israel said, Let us flee, that we may draw them from the city to the highways.

And the sons of Benjamin say, `They are smitten before us as at the beginning;` but the sons of Israel said, `Let us flee, and draw them away out of the city, unto the highways.`

Judges 20 33

All the men of Israel rose up out of their place, and set themselves in array at Baal-tamar: and the liers-in-wait of Israel broke forth out of their place, even out of Maareh-geba.

And all the men of Israel rose up out of their place, and put themselves in array at Baal- Tamar; and the ambush of Israel rushed forth out of their place, out of the meadows of Geba.

And all the men of Israel have risen from their place, and arrange themselves at Baal-Tamar, and the ambush of Israel is coming forth out of its place, out of the meadow of Gibeah.

Judges 20 34

There came over against Gibeah ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and the battle was sore; but they didn`t know that evil was close on them.

And there came from opposite Gibeah ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and the battle was severe; but they knew not that disaster was coming upon them. 

And they come in over against Gibeah -- ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel -- and the battle [is] grievous, and they have not known that the evil is striking against them.

Judges 20 35

Yahweh struck Benjamin before Israel; and the children of Israel destroyed of Benjamin that day twenty-five thousand one hundred men: all these drew the sword.

And Jehovah smote Benjamin before Israel; and the children of Israel destroyed of the Benjaminites that day twenty-five thousand one hundred men: all these drew the sword.

And Jehovah smiteth Benjamin before Israel, and the sons of Israel destroy in Benjamin, on that day, twenty and five thousand, and a hundred men; all these [are] drawing sword.

Judges 20 36

So the children of Benjamin saw that they were struck; for the men of Israel gave place to Benjamin, because they trusted to the liers-in-wait whom they had set against Gibeah.

And the children of Benjamin saw that they were smitten. -- And the men of Israel gave place to Benjamin, because they trusted to the ambush that they had set against Gibeah.

And the sons of Benjamin see that they have been smitten -- and the men of Israel give place to Benjamin, for they have trusted unto the ambush which they had set against Gibeah,

Judges 20 37

The liers-in-wait hurried, and rushed on Gibeah; and the liers-in-wait drew themselves along, and struck all the city with the edge of the sword.

And the ambush hasted, and fell upon Gibeah; and the ambush drew along, and smote the whole city with the edge of the sword.

and the ambush have hasted, and push against Gibeah, and the ambush draweth itself out, and smiteth the whole of the city by the mouth of the sword.

Judges 20 38

Now the appointed sign between the men of Israel and the liers-in-wait was that they should make a great cloud of smoke rise up out of the city.

Now there was an appointed sign between the men of Israel and the ambush, that they should make a thick column of smoke rise up out of the city.

And there was the appointed sign to the men of Israel with the ambush -- their causing to go up a great volume of smoke from the city.

Judges 20 39

The men of Israel turned in the battle, and Benjamin began to strike and kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons; for they said, Surely they are struck down before us, as in the first battle.

And when the men of Israel turned back in the battle, Benjamin began to smite, slaying of the men of Israel about thirty men; for they said, Surely they are quite routed before us as in the first battle.

And the men of Israel turn in battle, and Benjamin hath begun to smite the wounded among the men of Israel, about thirty men, for they said, `Surely they are utterly smitten before us, as [at] the first battle;

Judges 20 40

But when the cloud began to arise up out of the city in a pillar of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them; and, behold, the whole of the city went up in smoke to the sky.

And when the burning began to rise up out of the city as a pillar of smoke, Benjamin looked behind, and behold, the whole city ascended [in smoke] to the heavens.

and the volume hath begun to go up from the city -- a pillar of smoke -- and Benjamin turneth behind, and lo, gone up hath the perfection of the city toward the heavens.

Judges 20 41

The men of Israel turned, and the men of Benjamin were dismayed; for they saw that evil had come on them.

Then the men of Israel turned back, and the men of Benjamin were amazed, for they saw that disaster was come upon them.

And the men of Israel have turned, and the men of Benjamin are troubled, for they have seen that the evil hath stricken against them --

Judges 20 42

Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel to the way of the wilderness; but the battle followed hard after them; and those who came out of the cities destroyed them in the midst of it.

And they turned before the men of Israel to the way of the wilderness; but the battle overtook them; and those who came out of the cities destroyed them in their midst.

and they turn before the men of Israel unto the way of the wilderness, and the battle hath followed them; and those who [are] from the city are destroying them in their midst;

Judges 20 43

They enclosed the Benjamites round about, [and] chased them, [and] trod them down at [their]   resting-place, as far as over against Gibeah toward the sunrise.

They encompassed the Benjaminites, chased them, trode them down at the resting-place over against Gibeah toward the sun-rising.

they have compassed the Benjamites -- they have pursued them -- with ease they have trodden them down till over-against Gibeah, at the sun-rising.

Judges 20 44

There fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men; all these [were] men of valor.

And there fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men: all these, men of valour.

And there fall of Benjamin eighteen thousand men -- the whole of these [are] men of valour;

Judges 20 45

They turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon: and they gleaned of them in the highways five thousand men, and followed hard after them to Gidom, and struck of them two thousand men.

And they turned and fled towards the wilderness to the cliff of Rimmon, and they gleaned of them in the highways five thousand men; and pursued hard after them to Gidom, and slew two thousand men of them.

and they turn and flee toward the wilderness, unto the rock of Rimmon; and they glean of them in the highways five thousand men, and follow after them unto Gidom, and smite of them two thousand men.

Judges 20 46

So that all who fell that day of Benjamin were twenty-five thousand men who drew the sword; all these [were] men of valor.

So that all who fell that day of Benjamin were twenty-five thousand men that drew the sword: all these, men of valour.

And all those falling of Benjamin are twenty and five thousand men drawing sword, on that day -- the whole of these [are] men of valour;

Judges 20 47

But six hundred men turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, and abode in the rock of Rimmon four months.

And six hundred men turned and fled to the wilderness to the cliff of Rimmon, and abode at the cliff of Rimmon four months.

and there turn and flee into the wilderness, unto the rock of Rimmon six hundred men, and they dwell in the rock Rimmon four months.

Judges 20 48

The men of Israel turned again on the children of Benjamin, and struck them with the edge of the sword, both the entire city, and the cattle, and all that they found: moreover all the cities which they found they set on fire.

And the men of Israel turned again upon the children of Benjamin, and smote them with the edge of the sword, as well the men of [every] city as the cattle, and all that was found; even all the cities that were found did they set on fire.

And the men of Israel have turned back unto the sons of Benjamin, and smite them by the mouth of the sword out of the city, -- men unto cattle, unto all that is found; also all the cities which are found they have sent into fire.

Study Questions...

Why was the Levite pursuing his concubine? 19:1-3

How many days was the Levite in Bethlehem? 19:8

What did the wicked men of Gibeah want from the Levite?

What did the Levite do to his concubine? 19:29-30

Who killed the Levite's concubine? 20:4-6

How did Gibeah (Benjamin) respond to the request to give up the criminals? 20:13

What was unusual about 700 men of Benjamin and Gilead? 20:16

How many days was there civil war? 20:30

How many of the tribe of Benjamin escaped? 20:47